2014 Tour de France

[GAV!N]

Another great stage last night. Nibali stamped all over it, but it was a great battle for the podium behind. Great to see two French riders on it...now for the ITT. 15 seconds splitting 2nd to 4th! Should be great viewing.

Kittel seems to have been missing since the first week. Can he come back tonight?

[Xplora]

Majka owes Mick Rogers a drink.

The KOM/Rogers story has really impressed me, tbh. Saxo have potentially established themselves as a much better team than the allegedly legendary Sky train - they lost their leader but proceeded to win stages and take a different jersey when the GC was out of reach. Majka and Rogers have done something with their Tour while Porte et al might as well have gone home already. Both teams faced the same challenge, the loss of their guaranteed podium in the GC, but only one responded.

Not hating on Sky, but honestly, if I was sitting in a boardroom with Saxo's CEO and Murdoch I know who would have the smile on their face.

[sogood]

So what this TdF has shown is, a rider can be that much better than all others without dope. 7mins better!

[jasonc]

So what this TdF has shown is, a rider can be that much better than all others without dope. 7mins better!

are you suggesting the shark is juiced up?

[sogood]

are you suggesting the shark is juiced up?

Not at all! I believe innocent until proven otherwise. But based on the judgement criteria used by others from past years, anyone who stands out in performance must have been doped up. So I think this year's edition has shown it's not that simple. Yet again, we did lose a few key GC contenders early.

[skull]

So what this TdF has shown is, a rider can be that much better than all others without dope. 7mins better!

You have to contribute that due to the other leaders that, would have been his competition, crashed out and had others wait for them as to why there is such a huge gap between the leader and the rest.

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

[jasonc]

So what this TdF has shown is, a rider can be that much better than all others without dope. 7mins better!

You have to contribute that due to the other leaders that, would have been his competition, crashed out and had others wait for them as to why there is such a huge gap between the leader and the rest.

+1

I don't think Froome would have been able to get near nibbles. The Contador v Nibali battle would have been epic

[skull]

Yeah Alberto would have been great.

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

[biker jk]

Nibali's ascent of the Hautacam was the 26th fastest in history. Look at the list of the faster riders all from the EPO era and note that Nibali was quicker than the 2008 ascent of more recent known dopers Piepoli, Cobo and Frank Schleck. To be suspicious of Nibali's performance is understandable.

http://www.climbing-records.com/2014/07 ... se-to.html

[rpmspinman]

+1

I don't think Froome would have been able to get near nibbles. The Contador v Nibali battle would have been epic

+1. Im hoping Bertie can come back next year and really compete with Nibali. If Froome still has what it takes I'd like to see him throw his spanner in the works too in 2015'.

[sogood]

You have to contribute that due to the other leaders that, would have been his competition, crashed out and had others wait for them as to why there is such a huge gap between the leader and the rest.

That's only one aspect, not as if there weren't exits in past editions. BikerJK's link on the Hautacam climb data is good. An essentially solo HC attack from 10 km out and at 26th position, blowing all others out of the water is pretty impressive. So it does show that riders can really stand out without dope. The judgement criteria used in past years (by apparent performance) is not valid. And Nabali didn't even look too distressed.

[AUbicycles]

Agreed... Contador, Froome and Nibali battle could be epic based on what we are seeing now and expectations. But I would also like to see some other riders in the mix.

[Dragster1]

+1

I don't think Froome would have been able to get near nibbles. The Contador v Nibali battle would have been epic

+1. Im hoping Bertie can come back next year and really compete with Nibali. If Froome still has what it takes I'd like to see him throw his spanner in the works too in 2015'.

They should have Quintana battling on the hills also next year

[rpmspinman]

Yes, Quintana included in a 4 way battle. Worthy of the late nights.

[g-boaf]

T-Mobile was identified by German authorities as having a systematic doping system in place. It's one of the reasons cycling gets no media coverage in Germany.

Sueddeutsche Zeitung: http://www.sueddeutsche.de/sport/tour-d ... -1.2062540" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Der Tagesspiegel: http://www.tagesspiegel.de/sport/vierte ... 47810.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Frankfurter Rundschau: http://www.fr-online.de/sport/vierter-t ... icker.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Deutsche Welle: http://www.dw.de/as-tour-approaches-par ... a-17807849" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Spiegel: http://www.spiegel.de/sport/sonst/livet ... 01485.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Spiegel: http://www.spiegel.de/thema/tour_de_france_2014/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen: http://www.zdfsport.de/zdfsport-startseite-4002.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (top meldungen)
Die Welt: http://www.welt.de/sport/article1305079 ... iumph.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I'm sure you'd agree they are among the major media outlets.

Yes, Quintana included in a 4 way battle. Worthy of the late nights.

I missed most of last night's stage. Just too tired.

[bigfriendlyvegan]

Late night thought: If the Japanese rider won the King of the Mountains classification, he'd be covered in little Japanese flags.

[biker jk]

T-Mobile was identified by German authorities as having a systematic doping system in place. It's one of the reasons cycling gets no media coverage in Germany.

Sueddeutsche Zeitung: http://www.sueddeutsche.de/sport/tour-d ... -1.2062540" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Der Tagesspiegel: http://www.tagesspiegel.de/sport/vierte ... 47810.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Frankfurter Rundschau: http://www.fr-online.de/sport/vierter-t ... icker.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Deutsche Welle: http://www.dw.de/as-tour-approaches-par ... a-17807849" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Spiegel: http://www.spiegel.de/sport/sonst/livet ... 01485.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Spiegel: http://www.spiegel.de/thema/tour_de_france_2014/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen: http://www.zdfsport.de/zdfsport-startseite-4002.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (top meldungen)
Die Welt: http://www.welt.de/sport/article1305079 ... iumph.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I'm sure you'd agree they are among the major media outlets.

In fairness to RonK, I believe he was referring to the German public TV stations dropping live coverage of the TdF due to the doping controversies involving German teams and riders.

[sogood]

I missed most of last night's stage. Just too tired.

Same. Incentive just wasn't strong enough last night. Watched till close to 12 with some friends and then exited for home and bed. At only 4 minutes lead, the breakaway just wasn't good enough to make it exciting. At least LA paused with Pantani and rode in pair to dish out some pain. Nibali just flew away from Nieve and everyone else...

[g-boaf]

I wanted to at least see all of Col du Tourmalet but only saw 1/2 of it. Knew I'd have a busy day today so that was it.

[RonK]

T-Mobile was identified by German authorities as having a systematic doping system in place. It's one of the reasons cycling gets no media coverage in Germany.

Sueddeutsche Zeitung: http://www.sueddeutsche.de/sport/tour-d ... -1.2062540" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Der Tagesspiegel: http://www.tagesspiegel.de/sport/vierte ... 47810.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Frankfurter Rundschau: http://www.fr-online.de/sport/vierter-t ... icker.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Deutsche Welle: http://www.dw.de/as-tour-approaches-par ... a-17807849" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Spiegel: http://www.spiegel.de/sport/sonst/livet ... 01485.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Spiegel: http://www.spiegel.de/thema/tour_de_france_2014/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen: http://www.zdfsport.de/zdfsport-startseite-4002.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (top meldungen)
Die Welt: http://www.welt.de/sport/article1305079 ... iumph.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I'm sure you'd agree they are among the major media outlets

Yes they are media outlets. But I'm sure you realise that I'm referring to the situation where the major German television broadcasters don't cover cycling.

As revealed by an easy Google search.

For instance, can you tell us which major German network is broadcasting the TDF this year? Or is Kittel just talking bumpf here?

[Joel Bohorquez]

Nibali defends Tour dominance as victory looms
http://www.sbs.com.au/cyclingcentral/ne ... tory-looms" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

"The difference to my rivals is that they have had a good day when they've gained time but then paid for it the next day.

"Stages like these are hard, you have to manage the pressure, the race and also mentally it isn't easy. Someone who has a good day can pay for it the next."

Nibali has not had a bad day, that's because he is not even pushing himself, he is in cruise control.

I am not a fan of any team or any rider maybe that's because I come from a country with little cycling tradition (Venezuela), I just enjoy racing and I really admire these guys and how hard they ride.

I have always enjoyed watching the TdF and this year is not the exception, maybe it is because I have not a favorite rider.
IMO Nibali is not doping but I've been naive in the past (I thought LA was not doping either hehe), but it is understandable to be suspicious with his performance compare to the remainder riders.
I think Contador and Froome would have made this a tighter competition and there are other riders such as Quintana that can challenge these guys.

Froome in perfect condition (without any crash in the Tour or in the CDD) would have had a difficult TdF with his team; I think he would have been left isolated in several stages, the same with Nibali by the Tinkoff Saxo team that looked strong.

AG2R is a team to watch next year, I think Pozzovivo/Bardet could be very challenging (Pozzovivo got sick in the Giro and I think that's why he underperformed).

Either way, truth be told, Nibali's win this year makes last year Froome win look tight and difficult hehe. Not even LA enjoyed such a comfortable lead by this stage of the race.

Let's wait for the ITT and see how everything will finally pan out.

[TonyMax]

Some of the Strava stats of one of the riders posted earlier are just amazing, 83 pages of KOM entries...

http://www.strava.com/athletes/186522/segments/leader" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[ldrcycles]

One of other blokes at the servo where i work got the television working, so i was able to watch the stage while i worked last night/this morning . What a fantastic stage, and incredible to have french riders 2nd and 3rd! I know it's still quite some way off but sooner or later there might be a French winner for the first time in my lifetime!

[toolonglegs]

I missed all of yesterday's stage... Rode up Hautacam as far as I could ( 500m to go ) in the morning. Much tougher than Alpe D'Huez I find. But in the arvy the pull of solitude on the stunning climb up to Pont d'Espagne versus huge crowds at the base of Hautacam was an easy decision

[AUbicycles]

In Germany the discussion was specifically Free to air however you can still get it on Eurosport.

I understand that one of the two main non commercial channels (similar to ABC) may be restarting tour de france coverage.

Not to forget, with the tour on during tge day in Europe it can make it tough at work. I would setup a TV or stream coverage.