2014 Tour de France

[martinjs]

What I like about Nibali is his ability and hunger to go out alone and win a stage, no being towed up to just before the finish line and ride in!
A couple of times now his team has failed and left him alone, no issue, chase down the people trying to get away and then "Catch ya latter" as he rides of into the distance!

Martin

[Xplora]

That ability sadly has been associated with PED use. ^^^^ I like seeing riders have a go, but the reality is that team radios makes it very very hard for anyone to get away and maintain some element of fear in the peloton.

[moosterbounce]

Aussie Aussie Aussie oi oi oi!!

[m@]

Aussie Aussie Aussie oi oi oi!!

Like!

[Xplora]

+1!!!! That man is having some awesome form - winning stages in back to back GTs. Can he get one in Spain?

[AUbicycles]

Simon Gerrans has withdrawn. Hasn't been a big contender in the sprint finishes and no blamining him either (we know who to blame... right).

But on the sprints - it has been mixed up quite a bit, not completely dominated by only one or two riders. Obviously influenced by the crashes and withdrawals.

[rpmspinman]

Big Mick. What can you say about that man. Yeeeewww

[rodneycc]

Yeah Mick's had a great year. I just don't know about this guy though being involved in a few near miss drug doping scandals and his associations. I hope I'm really wrong but I dunno and reserve my judgment until he retires and writes a tell all book...

[GAV!N]

Pretty cynical there Rodney. He was cleared of his clenbuterol positive test and hasn't been a part of any disgraced teams in the past.

Anyhoo, fantastic stage last night. I was on the edge of my seat. That decent was gnarly. Two BIG nights now...last chances for those wanting a podium. Should be some good racing.

[RonK]

Pretty cynical there Rodney. He was cleared of his clenbuterol positive test and hasn't been a part of any disgraced teams in the past.

Some people have short memories - Rogers was a long time member of German team Telekom/T-Mobile, along with Jan Ullrich, Eric Zabel, Rolf Aldag, Alex Zulle and Bjarne Riis (surprise, surprise, his current boss), disgraced dopers all.

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.

It beggars belief that his teammates when in it up to their eyeballs but he never succumbed. He is at least as suspect as Stuart O'Grady, yet another confessed doper.

[GAV!N]

Fair enough, my oversight (and short memory). Didn't realise T-Mobile was Telekom.

[Xplora]

It beggars belief that his teammates when in it up to their eyeballs but he never succumbed. He is at least as suspect as Stuart O'Grady, yet another confessed doper.

The saving grace to this is that he was out for quite a while after the clenbuterol ban and the sport has form on quality riders benefitting from a long break from training - Horner did great in the Vuelta after some time out, Mick similarly rejuvenated.

[RonK]

It beggars belief that his teammates when in it up to their eyeballs but he never succumbed. He is at least as suspect as Stuart O'Grady, yet another confessed doper.

The saving grace to this is that he was out for quite a while after the clenbuterol ban and the sport has form on quality riders benefitting from a long break from training - Horner did great in the Vuelta after some time out, Mick similarly rejuvenated.

I'd be pretty sure I'm not the only one who would consider Horner a very poor example.

[biker jk]

Pretty cynical there Rodney. He was cleared of his clenbuterol positive test and hasn't been a part of any disgraced teams in the past.

Some people have short memories - Rogers was a long time member of German team Telekom/T-Mobile, along with Jan Ullrich, Eric Zabel, Rolf Aldag, Alex Zulle and Bjarne Riis (surprise, surprise, his current boss), disgraced dopers all.

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.

It beggars belief that his teammates when in it up to their eyeballs but he never succumbed. He is at least as suspect as Stuart O'Grady, yet another confessed doper.

Moreover, let's not forget Rogers pumping out 450 watts in the Team Sky mountain climbing train with Ivan Basso saying "what can you do" in defeat.

[AUbicycles]

I agree with the sentiment - and it is not unjust as we, as passionate cycling fans have been burnt a lot. I am also aware that there is a generation of ex-pro's who are regarded as legends (before festina and T-Mobile) and have escaped scrutiny.

[cyclotaur]

Let it go ....

[Joel Bohorquez]

Great stage tonight. What a ride from Majka to win the stage.
It was a very exciting stage with fights for podium, polka dot and white jerseys.
Peraud sticking again to Nibali's wheel and gaining time to climb to the podium.
Tinkoff Saxo performance made me wonder of what a challenge Contador would've been in the yellow jersey competition. IMO Bertie would probably be in yellow tonight.
Nibali dominance is thanks to the lack of proper contendor but he will be a very well deserved winner (hopefully).
Tomorrow another great stage.
I am really enjoying this TDF.

[rpmspinman]

Great stage tonight. What a ride from Majka to win the stage.
It was a very exciting stage with fights for podium, polka dot and white jerseys.
Peraud sticking again to Nibali's wheel and gaining time to climb to the podium.
Tinkoff Saxo performance made me wonder of what a challenge Contador would've been in the yellow jersey competition. IMO Bertie would probably be in yellow tonight.
Nibali dominance is thanks to the lack of proper contendor but he will be a very well deserved winner (hopefully).
Tomorrow another great stage.
I am really enjoying this TDF.

This is why Im a bit disappointed that Bertie couldnt make it. It would have been an epic battle. One for the books I reckon.

[Xplora]

It's not all bad IMO. It shows that the TdF is a proper race, a genuine challenge, rather than a sideshow that was Team Sky's towline for the past two years. How many people whinged about Wiggins and Froome dominating?

[rpmspinman]

It's not all bad IMO. It shows that the TdF is a proper race, a genuine challenge, rather than a sideshow that was Team Sky's towline for the past two years. How many people whinged about Wiggins and Froome dominating?

True. I have enjoyed watching the battle for minor placings. Definitely better than the Team Sky tactics.

[danny the boy]

The young riders are making it interesting still, as they did in the Giro. Some talent around at the moment in the U/25 bracket.

[Joel Bohorquez]

BTW Rafal wink was very funny. It was like: "I got it under control baby".

[Xplora]

I think cycling does have a unique opportunity amongst some of the sports where we can follow multiple races within the race, and the nature of the peloton makes it much easier to follow them all, because the whole group is together for much of the time. The climbers are in with the sprinters, in with the GC, and the younger riders. It doesn't do the sport any favours to follow the freight train for the whole race, the coverage should reflect that.... but sport does have a difficult time balancing "fans of the sport" vs "fans of the teams" vs "fans of the scenery" vs "fans of the leaders". The last one pays the bills, but the Sky train isn't going to attract people to cycling.

Funnily enough, I'm more conflicted about who to follow than ever. Orica, Saxo, Trek, AGR, Cannondale have all given me a reason to be enthusiastic about them this year.

[flashpixx]

Majka owes Mick Rogers a drink.

[roller]

Funnily enough, I'm more conflicted about who to follow than ever. Orica, Saxo, Trek, AGR, Cannondale have all given me a reason to be enthusiastic about them this year.

just cheer for all of them!


my super-domestique (wife) abandoned after the portillon last night, I cracked on the peyresourde, had to abandon the stage on the decent.


hopefully tonight i'll make it all the way to the finish.