Tour de France 2011

[Bruce Wayne]

It has been a great Tour, and I like to think the closeness of it all is a sign that things are relatively clean. Schleck for me is a more talented rider, but he rode terribly defensively early on, whereas Cadel has given it a go pretty much from the start. He's been a changed rider since his World Championship win and would be a deserving winner this time round.

Without doubt a tale of what might have been for Wiggins. The likes of Uran, Thomas and EBH have looked good since his retirement so you'd think his support would have been ok. Hopefully he'll recover to give the Vuelta a good go.

 

[formerly manx toffee]

Think green lads, green....

 

[Goat]

Fairly sure its white and brown these cats are on.

 

[Hibbert&Ernie]

I'm hoping for Cadel to win tomorrow and he 'should' make up that time, but we saw last year that Schleck can do a decent time trial. We'll soon find out.

Decent compared to Contador, not Evans.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Decent compared to Contador, not Evans.

Well yes, but in 2009 Contador beat Cancellara in the final time trial.

 

[davek]

It has been a great Tour, and I like to think the closeness of it all is a sign that things are relatively clean. Schleck for me is a more talented rider, but he rode terribly defensively early on, whereas Cadel has given it a go pretty much from the start. He's been a changed rider since his World Championship win and would be a deserving winner this time round.

Without doubt a tale of what might have been for Wiggins. The likes of Uran, Thomas and EBH have looked good since his retirement so you'd think his support would have been ok. Hopefully he'll recover to give the Vuelta a good go.

Fair comment, he probably was too conservative early on (possibly inhibited by what looked like indecision by the team management about which brother had the best chance of an overall win?), and certainly whingeing too much. But just for that long breakaway two days ago he deserves it. As one commentator said after it: if he does hang onto yellow, that move to strike for home 60km out on the way to the finish up Galibier will be seen as one of the epic rides in Tour history.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Before last years Tour I would have agreed with you as Schleck is an exciting rider, but I didn't like how pally he and Contador were after the Tourmalet, and he's not done anything at all this year. It might be effective but I don't like riders that only turn out for the Tour each year.

Cuddles by contrast has been fantastic after his Worlds win. He contributed massively to a wonderful Giro last year, and was doing well in the Tour as well before his injury. He also regularly contributes to the smaller stage races. Sure, he doesn't have the acceleration of Schleck, or indeed Contador, but he has more courage than both Schleck's combined.

 

[chicoazul]

Haven't they ran out of syringes yet?

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Cuddles is under way. Go on lad.

 

[davek]

The course looks a bit bumpy. Might just take the wind out of an Evans charge.

May the best rider win.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Should be interesting. The first time check seemed to have Evans as having gained about 8 seconds. Should be interesting. Probably safe to say that Frank will lose big time.

Latest check is 12 seconds gain for Evans.

 

[davek]

Should be interesting. The first time check seemed to have Evans as having gained about 8 seconds. Should be interesting. Probably safe to say that Frank will lose big time.

Latest check is 12 seconds gain for Evans.

If that's at 15k he's in trouble unless he's dosing his effort to finish stronger in the last 10K or so. I can see Schleck holding him off.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Evans with the same time as Contador at the first checkpoint. Interesting. Tony Martin nailed the course and I can't see anyone getting close to him for the win.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Schleck is up 27 seconds on Cadel so far, so Evans is half way there.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Gap down to 1 second now. Cadel will be in yellow in 30 minutes.