However you see it Sky's squad for the Vuelta looks like it'll be stronger than most Tour teams. Be interested to see if Tiernan Locke rides in that. Could be two very good Tours for Sky.
I'd love to see Contador's biological paaport before and during.
Well here it is. I didn't realise there's no prologue this year so a decent chance for Cav to wear the yellow jersey for the first time as first stage is flat.
I'm looking forward to stage 18. Assuming Froome is still in good shape I'd expect Sky to do their usual and set a really high tempo to just leave the elite climbers to battle it out. Who's going to be brave/mad enough to go for broke on the first assent of Alpe d'Huez? I'm banking on Columbian Quintana to throw up a decent show on a few of the climbs as he's been altitude training for months (and I've have a wad on him for a place).
still don't see the attraction in a load of blokes riding bikes but hey ho
just glad that the selfishness of Wiggins has shone through and the good old British public have failed to see it, it will all come out in a book one day with froome saying one thing and good ol brad saying another
still don't see the attraction in a load of blokes riding bikes but hey ho
I used to think that - but last year I was thoroughly engrossed.
Really looking forward to it this year - I even had a decent Tour chat with a cyclo fascist at work this week. I seemed to ask all the right questions :-)
In the break-bumper they just showed a picture of the France 1958 team. I don't know who he was, but the guy at the back was the spit of Mark Kinsella.
He's really champing at the bit isn't he? I think it's a sign he can hardly wait for the big action to begin. He doesn't want to just win it, he wants to rip it up.
He's really champing at the bit isn't he? I think it's a sign he can hardly wait for the big action to begin. He doesn't want to just win it, he wants to rip it up.
Love the way he broke away today ...far too early and perhaps purely to avoid the peloton pack in the descent ...but showed he has intent ... BFR, possibly you are right but I think he may have enough discipline to do it
He needs to bide his time. There's a lot of riding to do and the Tour is a long way from being won..
Getting the yellow jersey too early means that Sky are going to have to waste a lot of energy defending it.
Froome is a good rider and the red hot favourite, but I'm not convinced he's the type to stick to orders and follow a strategy.
Like when he stood up for Brad in last years Tour? Like in any sport the best riders adapt to the situation. Just as with Nibali launching attacks off the front in the Giro on smaller climbs, when there isn't strong teams at the front it's well worth it. Considering he passed up the opportunity to win a Vuelta and Giro for Brad, and the style of rider he is, plus the strategies he's followed in his major Tours I'd disagree. Unlike Brad, he has the ability to ride away from rivals in the mountains when they weaken, that will be part of his strategy and make him much more flexible in his approach.
Like when he stood up for Brad in last years Tour?
As I recall there were a couple of occasions when he attacked off the front and looked somewhat peeved to be told to go back and pace Wiggins in, as Gary Imlach put it in the commentary in stage 17 he, Wiggins and the team car were having a three way conversation, I doubt they were discussing the scenery...
Unlike Brad, he has the ability to ride away from rivals in the mountains when they weaken, that will be part of his strategy and make him much more flexible in his approach.
That's true, so why sprint ahead of the peloton now? The only consequence will be that other teams will unite with a common purpose of stopping Sky and Froome, I can't see them settling for a three week ride around France trailing Froome and Porte and allowing another one/two for Sky.
Sky are already doing a lot of work at the head of the peloton, they don't need the extra hassle of defending a yellow jersey and with Froome tucked in one second back along with most of the other riders tso here's no need to hit the front now. It's the teams and riders with a strategy that win grand tour races - and bear in mind that his attacking in last year's Vuelta without Wiggins apparently holding him back didn't work. No doubt Froome wants to win the race in the manner of Hinault but he should wait until the mountains and save his energy, by then most teams will be in survival mode.
Feel sorry for the poor chap trying to cycle with a broken hip!
Geraint Thomas is the chap you're looking for, putting professional footballers to shame!!! It'll be interesting to see how Sky use him in the Team time Trial tomorrow.
Feel sorry for the poor chap trying to cycle with a broken hip!
Geraint Thomas is the chap you're looking for, putting professional footballers to shame!!! It'll be interesting to see how Sky use him in the Team time Trial tomorrow.
Hard as nails, he'll be Ok unless the Sky doctor says otherwise.
I'm not sure what use he'll be in the TTT today. He doesn't have to finish with the Sky team, but he needs to be within 10% of their time otherwise the decision will be made for him.
Comments
I'd love to see Contador's biological paaport before and during.
I'm looking forward to stage 18. Assuming Froome is still in good shape I'd expect Sky to do their usual and set a really high tempo to just leave the elite climbers to battle it out. Who's going to be brave/mad enough to go for broke on the first assent of Alpe d'Huez? I'm banking on Columbian Quintana to throw up a decent show on a few of the climbs as he's been altitude training for months (and I've have a wad on him for a place).
Let the show begin.
cue NLA.......
just glad that the selfishness of Wiggins has shone through and the good old British public have failed to see it,
it will all come out in a book one day with froome saying one thing and good ol brad saying another
Really looking forward to it this year - I even had a decent Tour chat with a cyclo fascist at work this week. I seemed to ask all the right questions :-)
Oh massive crash!!!!
Kittel wins the stage and takes the yellow jersey.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/23027760
He doesn't want to just win it, he wants to rip it up.
Getting the yellow jersey too early means that Sky are going to have to waste a lot of energy defending it.
Froome is a good rider and the red hot favourite, but I'm not convinced he's the type to stick to orders and follow a strategy.
As I recall there were a couple of occasions when he attacked off the front and looked somewhat peeved to be told to go back and pace Wiggins in, as Gary Imlach put it in the commentary in stage 17 he, Wiggins and the team car were having a three way conversation, I doubt they were discussing the scenery...
Fast forward to around the 30 minute mark:
Unlike Brad, he has the ability to ride away from rivals in the mountains when they weaken, that will be part of his strategy and make him much more flexible in his approach.
That's true, so why sprint ahead of the peloton now? The only consequence will be that other teams will unite with a common purpose of stopping Sky and Froome, I can't see them settling for a three week ride around France trailing Froome and Porte and allowing another one/two for Sky.
Sky are already doing a lot of work at the head of the peloton, they don't need the extra hassle of defending a yellow jersey and with Froome tucked in one second back along with most of the other riders tso here's no need to hit the front now. It's the teams and riders with a strategy that win grand tour races - and bear in mind that his attacking in last year's Vuelta without Wiggins apparently holding him back didn't work. No doubt Froome wants to win the race in the manner of Hinault but he should wait until the mountains and save his energy, by then most teams will be in survival mode.