2011 Tour de France

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CommuRider
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Re: 2011 Tour de France

Postby CommuRider » Wed Jul 27, 2011 8:42 pm

David_G wrote:
martinjs wrote:Quick foot note to Hangdog98, AFL is not just a Melbourne sport. It's one of the most popular sports in Australia. Played and watched big time in Victoria, SA, WA, Tasmania, ACT and apparently pretty big in NT, also very popular in Southern NSW and is growing in Sydney and Brisbane. The AFL Grand final was watched by 3.72 million viewers last year in Australia and apparently is watched in growing numbers all over the world. Also it's the closest sport we have to a truly Australian sporting event.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AFL_Grand_Final

Have a look at some of the names of people they have had at the Grandfinal at Half time, can be found at the bottom of the website. The first ever VFL football match was in 1897 and the game was played even longer than that in Southern parts of Australia.
Not as big as the TDF but not to shabby.

Martin

+1 from me.
95,000 plus people cheering for him at half time or before the game would be quite a tribute. I've been to about 20 GFs and it is the biggest annual sporting event in Australia, good fit with Le Tour being the biggest annual sporting event on Earth.

...ok but how many people watched the TdF and Cadel's TT worldwide? The Europeans are mad about the sport....am sure the viewing figures in proportion were higher than the America's Cup too.
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Hangdog98
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Re: 2011 Tour de France

Postby Hangdog98 » Wed Jul 27, 2011 9:42 pm

The Victorian football chasing game is about as popular in Sydney as ice hockey. Don't believe what the Victorian AFL spin doctors tell you. I seriously don't know anybody that watches it, in fact I don't think I know anybody who knows anything about it except that about a decade or two ago, a Melbourne team was renamed the Sydney Swans and they played it somewhere. I'm not sure if they're still around but it fizzled out fairly quickly. I'm sure there are thousands of supporters in SA and NT to match the hysteria in Melbourne but seriously martinjs, it's not even on the radar up here. I would say, hand on heart that cycling is probably more popular in Australia's biggest city than AFL.

David G, I've never been to the Victorian game but I have been to the TDF and 95,000 people cheering is just the people visible at the start of the average stage without counting the million or so along the route each day. Judging by your profile pic...you would know this. AFL isn't up there with anything on a TDF scale. The 2000 Sydney Olympics is probably the only Australian sporting event that could be compared with the TDF.

Now stop trying to promote AFL and get back to praising Cadel Evans as the greatest Australian Sportsman since Robbie McEwan :D

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Re: 2011 Tour de France

Postby CommuRider » Wed Jul 27, 2011 9:53 pm

Watching Aussie Rules and admiring Cadel Evans ain't mutually exclusive. I like most sports.
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Re: 2011 Tour de France

Postby martinjs » Wed Jul 27, 2011 10:19 pm

Hangdog98 wrote:The Victorian football chasing game is about as popular in Sydney as ice hockey. Don't believe what the Victorian AFL spin doctors tell you. I seriously don't know anybody that watches it, in fact I don't think I know anybody who knows anything about it except that about a decade or two ago, a Melbourne team was renamed the Sydney Swans and they played it somewhere. I'm not sure if they're still around but it fizzled out fairly quickly. I'm sure there are thousands of supporters in SA and NT to match the hysteria in Melbourne but seriously martinjs, it's not even on the radar up here. I would say, hand on heart that cycling is probably more popular in Australia's biggest city than AFL.

David G, I've never been to the Victorian game but I have been to the TDF and 95,000 people cheering is just the people visible at the start of the average stage without counting the million or so along the route each day. Judging by your profile pic...you would know this. AFL isn't up there with anything on a TDF scale. The 2000 Sydney Olympics is probably the only Australian sporting event that could be compared with the TDF.

Now stop trying to promote AFL and get back to praising Cadel Evans as the greatest Australian Sportsman since Robbie McEwan :D
Not about pushing AFL, just correcting your facts, I love cycling and watching TDF as well, but I'm not a single focus sports supporter.
I love cycling watching and doing, swimming doing and watching (but less likely to) AFL, Cricket, V8 Supercars, Moto GP, superbikes. I don't count a sport on how many people watch it, soccer bores me to tears (used to like playing but not watching) Rowing and canoeing is pretty good to watch and do. I'm just not a single focus person, I've always followed cycling to a degree but before turning back to cycling this time in 2007 I followed the TDF on radio and TV without staying up for it. Since 2007 I've been watching it more and more every year and I agree that Cadel's effort rates up there with the very best. :D
I grew up in Bendigo, do a bit of Googling and you will find a pretty good cycling history and events there, including people who went to the commonwealth and Olympic games.

Maybe Sydney isn't real big but parts of NSW's are, along with cycling mind you. :D :wink:

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MikeyD360
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Re: 2011 Tour de France

Postby MikeyD360 » Wed Jul 27, 2011 11:11 pm

Umm.. Say What?

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Re: 2011 Tour de France

Postby Livetoride » Wed Jul 27, 2011 11:17 pm

MikeyD360 wrote:Umm.. WT??

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That's friggin off
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2011 Tour de France

Postby Redbull » Wed Jul 27, 2011 11:25 pm

MikeyD360 wrote:Umm.. WT??

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Its what you get when you ride more TDFs than anyone (equal with one other) and are the most successful team man of all time.
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Re: 2011 Tour de France

Postby David_G » Wed Jul 27, 2011 11:40 pm

Hangdog98 wrote: David G, I've never been to the Victorian game but I have been to the TDF and 95,000 people cheering is just the people visible at the start of the average stage without counting the million or so along the route each day. Judging by your profile pic...you would know this. AFL isn't up there with anything on a TDF scale. The 2000 Sydney Olympics is probably the only Australian sporting event that could be compared with the TDF.

Now stop trying to promote AFL and get back to praising Cadel Evans as the greatest Australian Sportsman since Robbie McEwan :D
I don't know where you got the idea that I was saying that the Gf is better than Le Tour, I was suggesting that if Cadel did appear at it he would be wildly appreciated for his efforts, I've been to one TdF and that was for every stage in 2009, so I've probably spent more time watching cycling than the grand finals, they are both the best of their sports.
I was also defending the AFL fans a bit because it was mentioned in several threads that only "bogans" would be there, well I don't think that is anywhere near correct.
That would be like saying that the drunks on the way up Alpe d'Huez were your average cyclist or cycling fans, which in my experience they aren't, they are just your average drunks.

If you've never been to an AFL game, well that's your loss, I've been to plenty :)

The 2000 Olympics were 11 years ago and apart from Cathy Freeman's contribution all I can remember of it was the Bridge getting set fire...again.

Cadel does live in Victoria each summer so it would be great to have him at the biggest sporting event in Victoria, that's all I was saying.
Last edited by David_G on Thu Jul 28, 2011 9:50 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Hangdog98
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Re: 2011 Tour de France

Postby Hangdog98 » Thu Jul 28, 2011 12:13 am

I was suggesting that if Cadel did appear at it he would be wildly appreciated for his efforts
I'm often bemused at the appearance of soccer stars on the MotoGP grid in Spain and Italy. I think to myself "who is this clown?" I can't imagine the reception a Champion Victorian Ball Chaser would have gotten at the UCI World Champs in Geelong but I suspect it would confuse the hell out of many non-Victorians (who is this clown in tight short shorts and a tank top?) I do however respect that the game is very popular in Victoria and some other parts of Australia and not by accident. Yes, by local standards it has quite the following.

However I can't, for the life of me, see the connection between Cadel's TDF victory and a local football code's grand final nor understand why he would want to be there to celebrate his cycling victory. Does he follow the game? I'm sure most Victorians see the point, but I don't. If Cadel is a fan then I suppose he will be wildly appreciative of sharing the spotlight with the likes of Mr kazaley and... errr... other famous players.
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I wonder if the Victorians are talking about this on the Victorian Rules Football forums?

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Re: 2011 Tour de France

Postby norbs » Thu Jul 28, 2011 9:16 am

I seem to remember the crowds at the Worlds in Geelong were pretty good considering there was a replay of the GF on that weekend.

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Re: 2011 Tour de France

Postby martinjs » Thu Jul 28, 2011 10:19 am

However I can't, for the life of me, see the connection between Cadel's TDF victory and a local football code's grand final nor understand why he would want to be there to celebrate his cycling victory. Does he follow the game?
I think I saw something in another tread or website where Cadel thanked the Collingwood army (there supporters) for there support, that would suggest to me he has a bit more than a passing interest in AFL, but really Collingwood? :roll: :lol:


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Re: 2011 Tour de France

Postby snark » Thu Jul 28, 2011 10:31 am

martinjs wrote:I think I saw something in another tread or website where Cadel thanked the Collingwood army (there supporters) for there support, that would suggest to me he has a bit more than a passing interest in AFL, but really Collingwood? :roll: :lol:
The Geelong Advertiser (no comments about its reputability!) said multiple times this week that Cadel is a Geelong supporter.

Cheers,
Simon (who is a big AFL fan (and attending member) and but doesn't follow either club mentioned above).
Phil Liggett, TdF 2011, Alpe-d'Huez: "I reckon tonight in hindsight he may have won the Tour de France tomorrow."

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Re: 2011 Tour de France

Postby David_G » Thu Jul 28, 2011 11:36 am

No claims here that he is a Collingwood fan, just thanking people, he may have done the same at other clubs


http://www.collingwoodfc.com.au/tabid/5 ... fault.aspx
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Re: 2011 Tour de France

Postby MichaelB » Thu Jul 28, 2011 12:48 pm

Now, back to cycling - stolen from Cyclingnews forum. Apparently a cartoon from L'Equip

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Re: 2011 Tour de France

Postby wagr1213 » Thu Jul 28, 2011 1:55 pm

martinjs wrote: I think I saw something in another tread or website where Cadel thanked the Collingwood army (there supporters) for there support, that would suggest to me he has a bit more than a passing interest in AFL, but really Collingwood? :roll: :lol:


Martin

PPPPfffffftttttttt!!!!! a passing comment !
Seriously taken out of context, off Cadels website, in relation to Aussie supporters in general due to someone seen in a Colliwobbles jumper spectating roadside along with the Koalas, crocodiles etc and assorted other standout Aussie icons.

See comment below and note the * footnote. (*) I don't have anything against supporters, you just stand out like dogs ..... In Europe.

From Cadels Website
"A huge thank you to everyone involved in this project, from team mates on the road, my teammates in the cars/trucks plane and bus around the race, the engineers at BMC, the management in the offices in Switzerland, Belgium, Australia, California. My coaches past and present, and all those who helped me to get here today; masseurs, physio's/osteopaths, orthopaedic surgeons (!), all the Aussie flag bearers; kangaroos, koala's, surflife savers, Collingwood supporters (*) and that nutty 'Crikey Cadel' crocodile (very original). I hope you enjoyed the ride thus far. I know I have! (*) I don't have anything against supporters, you just stand out like dogs ..... In Europe. We can be proud of it, Julia told me herself! "

Anything for the aerial ping pong brigade to try and bring cycling into their own little world and try and make leather kicking look good and give football some credibility when its outshone by a greater sporting achievement!!!
Footy players are not even close to comparing with cyclists in sports athleticism.
AFL GF - "Oh my god ive pulled a hammy" gotta get off the field quick" theres at least half an hour till the buzzer. bugger that!
TDF - Damn that barb wire fence was a bit bit of a rasp and that blasted Alp was a bit tough - Oh well back on the bike an keep goin!!! Only a few more days to go

Well done Cadel - You are the man - Ably supported by a great Team
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Re: 2011 Tour de France

Postby Gassy » Thu Jul 28, 2011 2:28 pm

Went into Bicycling Superstore at lunch time to fill in some time, noticed they had hardly any road bikes. Asked what the go was. Apparently they have sold something like 50 bikes just since Cadel won. They were pretty happy as you might expect.

So watch out on the roads..
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Re: 2011 Tour de France

Postby ni78ck » Thu Jul 28, 2011 2:36 pm

Gassy wrote:Went into Bicycling Superstore at lunch time to fill in some time, noticed they had hardly any road bikes. Asked what the go was. Apparently they have sold something like 50 bikes just since Cadel won. They were pretty happy as you might expect.

So watch out on the roads..
this happens with most sports. years ago it was golf, when greg norman played in australia i heard sales would triple! :shock:
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Re: 2011 Tour de France

Postby CommuRider » Thu Jul 28, 2011 2:55 pm

MichaelB wrote:Now, back to cycling - stolen from Cyclingnews forum. Apparently a cartoon from L'Equip

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Cadel isn't bucktoothed!!!! Lovely, I'd frame that.
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Re: 2011 Tour de France

Postby JV911 » Thu Jul 28, 2011 2:59 pm

Cadel Evans won the Tour de France, but kept thanking his team and pointing out that he couldn't have achieved victory without them. Marcus Burghardt was one of the riders who helped the Australian get the first Tour win for his country. Burghardt, a classics specialist, was extremely important in the first week, on narrow roads with wet surface. He helped Evans stay clear of all trouble and set the foundation for the successful overall win.

Read more: http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/9212/ ... z1TNBkALks
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Re: 2011 Tour de France

Postby JV911 » Thu Jul 28, 2011 3:31 pm

Gassy wrote:Went into Bicycling Superstore at lunch time to fill in some time, noticed they had hardly any road bikes. Asked what the go was. Apparently they have sold something like 50 bikes just since Cadel won. They were pretty happy as you might expect.

So watch out on the roads..
Two-wheeled champion Cadel Evans broke all Australian cycling records when he pedalled into Tour de France history, but the win has also cemented a record of another kind for Melbourne entrepreneurs Jason Wyatt and Sam Salter.

Traffic to their bike website, bikexchange.com.au, spiked 50 per cent on Sunday night alone. The site, which sells bikes, accessories and holidays, is well on track to break its own records with a predicted 520,000 visitors for July.

Wyatt predicted Evans' win would be a turning point in the Australian industry.


Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/small-business/en ... z1TMQbgfR2
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Re: 2011 Tour de France

Postby JV911 » Thu Jul 28, 2011 3:41 pm

Why Evans beat the Schleck brothers by Robert Millar

So why did Cadel Evans win this year's Tour de France over the Schlecks? Leopard Trek had the two of them to use tactically. They had numerous mountaintop finishes suited to their climbing abilities more than the gutsy Australian. On paper, the new team looked a stronger unit than BMC. There was even less time trialling than usual for the brothers to worry about. So what went wrong?

Well maybe that's not quite the right way of asking the question, because when you finish second and third, not that much went wrong. I think it's better to ask, what did Cadel do right that Andy and Fränk Schleck didn't quite match?


http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/robert ... k-brothers
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Re: 2011 Tour de France

Postby Kenzo » Thu Jul 28, 2011 4:22 pm

JV911 wrote:Why Evans beat the Schleck brothers by Robert Millar

So why did Cadel Evans win this year's Tour de France over the Schlecks? Leopard Trek had the two of them to use tactically. They had numerous mountaintop finishes suited to their climbing abilities more than the gutsy Australian. On paper, the new team looked a stronger unit than BMC. There was even less time trialling than usual for the brothers to worry about. So what went wrong?

Well maybe that's not quite the right way of asking the question, because when you finish second and third, not that much went wrong. I think it's better to ask, what did Cadel do right that Andy and Fränk Schleck didn't quite match?


http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/robert ... k-brothers
Great blog/post by Millar.

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Re: 2011 Tour de France

Postby CommuRider » Thu Jul 28, 2011 4:34 pm

As an aside, quite what the yellow jersey wearer thought he was doing in no-man’s land was beyond me, his DS needed to either tell him to wait for his teammates in the chasing group behind or talk to the Saxo Bank guys about getting Contador to knock off the pace and let him get up to the front. If that had happened and they all rode in the front until the base of the last climb then there might have been a panic at BMC. As it was, Voeckler lost his podium place by continuing to chase on his own for too long.
Yep, what was Voeckler thinking?
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Re: 2011 Tour de France

Postby goneriding » Thu Jul 28, 2011 4:40 pm

Personally, I think they spent too much time worrying about Bertie in the early stages and, as per last year, didn't really consider Evans that much of a threat. That played nicely into Cadel's hands because he already had an advantage and just had to follow wheels with the advantage he already had.

When it became clear that Bertie wasn't the challenge, it was too late and Evans had plenty of gas in the tank to finish the job as evidenced by his mini attacks when he was chasing down the Schlecks. That and the fact that the BMC team was very slick and protected him. It makes you wonder what the podium in 2007 might have looked like had the team been better. 2008 might have been the same.
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Re: 2011 Tour de France

Postby martinjs » Thu Jul 28, 2011 4:50 pm

I just pre ordered the Tour de France 2011 highlights DVD from out supplier, means I get 10% of the purchase price. :D 8) Now I only have to wait, not coming out until September. :(

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