Tour De France 2012

[formerly manx toffee]

Good piece on Cavendish on the BBC. He is arrogant but definitely a winner and someone who knows what it takes.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/25405240

 

[Bruce Wayne]

It's interesting to see that Vuelta winner Chris Horner cannot get a contract for this season. Bit odd that no team is willing to touch a grand tour winner. Adds a lot of smoke to the doubts over the legality of his win.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Massive day at the Giro today. Going over both the Gavia and the Stelvio before a summit finish. Looks absolutely awful.

On the Gavia

and the Stelvio

Mental.

 

[Get_Jo_On]

Yeah two long descents in pretty terrible conditions, will feel great to have your rear wheel kicking out!

Very important stage, a short stage following a rest day. All very dependant on how Uran and the GC contenders managed their recovery as they'll be pushed with a lot of attacks I'd imagine, Movistar setting a quick pace but they don't want to leave Quintana totally isolated on the final climb, although he looks like he's finding his legs.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

In dry conditions you could see the favourites playing it safe until the final climb, but with things as they are you could see someone taking a flyer to chance their arm. Quintana and Pozzovivo have said they've been unwell recently, all of which makes for a pretty unpredictable days racing.

 

[Moomin]

Massive day at the Giro today. Going over both the Gavia and the Stelvio before a summit finish. Looks absolutely awful.

On the Gavia

and the Stelvio

Mental.

Is that how much speed they take during the Tour???

I shall be watching the drug riddled cheats on the 5th of July, looking forward to it.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

It's a shame, the Tour always has the good weather, but for me, the Giro is a much better route. You get nothing like this in the Tour.

 

[Get_Jo_On]

It's all a bit more unpredictable and fun as there doesn't seem to be anyone who's riding to *superhuman levels. *read- doping.

Although this descent is mental, Evans has lost time as with Basso.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Looks like the race is all over the shop. Bloody hope Eurosport don't play silly buggers with the tennis.

 

[Get_Jo_On]

It's all going to go off on the final climb as there's talk the racing will be neutralised on the last descent. There's going to be a select group of about 40riders now, all GC contenders pretty much present. - edit - Cataldo has just attacked, smart move considering. I like him!

 

[Bruce Wayne]

This is a bit nuts innit? I'm doing a race over the Stelvio in 3 weeks time

 

[Get_Jo_On]

Yeah it's totally mental, I don't fancy those conditions. Good luck with that!!

I'm planning on doing the alps in a year, just need to up my training program slightly as I'm not a lightweight climb by any stretch, I'll just call myself a puncher!!

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Looks like they're all getting down alright. No idea if any gaps have appeared though, or quite whether it has been neutralised or not.

It's always been scorching whenever I've ridden in the French alps. Was single figure temperatures in the Dolomites last June/July though, with a blizzard on one of the days. Just gotta dress accordingly I suppose.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

They're saying Cataldo has 3 minutes on the main group. Wowza.

 

[Get_Jo_On]

Yeah, looks like this race neutralisation is a bit of a farce! He took his moment and could get a good stage win, was so unlucky to get pipped on Saturday was it?