2012 Tour de France

Strange Rover
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Re: 2012 Tour de France

Postby Strange Rover » Fri Jul 20, 2012 2:08 pm

I dont see anything wrong with how Wiggins and Sky have played this out...these guys are here to win. They are not here to provide an entertaining race...that is the job of the race organisers...so if you think the race is boring that because of the course, not the racers.

Sky has just absolutley dominated this race...its that simple. Look at what happened last night...there were attacks from everywhere...and nothing even came close to disrupting either Wiggins or Froome...and then they attacked and they rode away. Their level is way beyond everybody else at this race.

I read somewhere the organisers plan was to have a long ITT early in the tour to force the climbers to ride aggressively in the mountains to regain time and then gain time against the TT specalists before the final TT...only thing that didnt work was that the TT specalists have been the strongest climbers and so havnt had to do anything more that just follow wheels in the mountains. Carnt imagine the organisers will make the same mistake again

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redcorpsjames
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Re: 2012 Tour de France

Postby redcorpsjames » Fri Jul 20, 2012 3:12 pm

maybe after the second time trail everyone was like there is no point of attacking to win anymore because they all had pull back at least 56 mins off the sky riders. They were attacking for the podium. IMHO this tour de france was the worst race I have seen. Im expecting that it is going to be a good tour de france next year. lots of famous mtn climbs. Andy schleck, Contador, Evans, levi will come back. and we will see brad wiggins handover the rightful leadership to froome (unless he goes to another team). If thats the case then brad wiggins wont have any chance to defend his yellow jersey
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DavidS
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Re: 2012 Tour de France

Postby DavidS » Fri Jul 20, 2012 4:26 pm

Yes a very boring tour.

Compared to 2011 where Schleck went off 2 mountains out only to have Cadel slowly reel him in. The last mountain stage had Contador attacking. Cadel had to make time up in the last time trial to win and could only do this because he limited his losses on the mountains. Plenty of heroics last year.

2012: Wiggo sucks wheel for 3 weeks, does quick time trials and wins.

There's really no comparison.

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Parrott
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Re: 2012 Tour de France

Postby Parrott » Fri Jul 20, 2012 4:44 pm

There could have been more mountain top finishes but to be fair to the organisers this tour has to alarge extent been neutralised by a team that is much stronger on the climbs than any other. They have recuited well, prepared, planned and executed their strategy well. The result has neutalised the race unfortunately.
The other teams will have to lift their game for next year, particularly given the climbing and tt ability of Froome.

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paladin
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Re: 2012 Tour de France

Postby paladin » Fri Jul 20, 2012 5:24 pm

Unbelievable!

From another website:

News just in: Bradley Wiggins is in fact the farmer from Shaun the Sheep –

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MichaelB
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Re: 2012 Tour de France

Postby MichaelB » Fri Jul 20, 2012 5:27 pm

DavidS wrote:Yes a very boring tour.

Compared to 2011 where Schleck went off 2 mountains out only to have Cadel slowly reel him in. The last mountain stage had Contador attacking. Cadel had to make time up in the last time trial to win and could only do this because he limited his losses on the mountains. Plenty of heroics last year.

2012: Wiggo sucks wheel for 3 weeks, does quick time trials and wins.

There's really no comparison.

DS
That's pretty much how Indurain won 5 TdF's

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biker jk
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Re: 2012 Tour de France

Postby biker jk » Fri Jul 20, 2012 6:13 pm

Parrott wrote:There could have been more mountain top finishes but to be fair to the organisers this tour has to alarge extent been neutralised by a team that is much stronger on the climbs than any other. They have recuited well, prepared, planned and executed their strategy well. The result has neutalised the race unfortunately.
The other teams will have to lift their game for next year, particularly given the climbing and tt ability of Froome.
Yes, it's not often that the domestique is stronger than the team leader who is wearing yellow.

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sogood
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Re: 2012 Tour de France

Postby sogood » Fri Jul 20, 2012 7:01 pm

norbs wrote:Even now I am still cranky about last night.
http://norbs.tk/9c
Be warned, some sweary bits.
Question is, whether the removal of race radio for the riders would have livened up the race?
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norbs
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Re: 2012 Tour de France

Postby norbs » Fri Jul 20, 2012 7:18 pm

sogood wrote:
norbs wrote:Even now I am still cranky about last night.
http://norbs.tk/9c
Be warned, some sweary bits.
Question is, whether the removal of race radio for the riders would have livened up the race?
There is a pretty good argument against them, but the riders seem to want them. Safety is the main argument.

Good thought though. Certainly worth a bloggy post later on.

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singlespeedscott
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2012 Tour de France

Postby singlespeedscott » Fri Jul 20, 2012 7:33 pm

norbs wrote:
sogood wrote:
norbs wrote:Even now I am still cranky about last night.
http://norbs.tk/9c
Be warned, some sweary bits.
Question is, whether the removal of race radio for the riders would have livened up the race?
There is a pretty good argument against them, but the riders seem to want them. Safety is the main argument.

Good thought though. Certainly worth a bloggy post later on.
Safety! That's ridiculous! They are covered by multiple camera crews on the road and in the air for the entire race .
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Re: 2012 Tour de France

Postby Baldy » Fri Jul 20, 2012 10:21 pm

biker jk wrote:
Parrott wrote:There could have been more mountain top finishes but to be fair to the organisers this tour has to alarge extent been neutralised by a team that is much stronger on the climbs than any other. They have recuited well, prepared, planned and executed their strategy well. The result has neutalised the race unfortunately.
The other teams will have to lift their game for next year, particularly given the climbing and tt ability of Froome.
Yes, it's not often that the domestique is stronger than the team leader who is wearing yellow.
Taking this trend to its logical conclusion,my tip for the 2016 tour is Richard Branson.

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Mulger bill
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Re: 2012 Tour de France

Postby Mulger bill » Fri Jul 20, 2012 11:41 pm

For mine, the adjective that best sums up this years Tour is "uninspiring".
...whatever the road rules, self-preservation is the absolute priority for a cyclist when mixing it with motorised traffic.
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vander
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Re: 2012 Tour de France

Postby vander » Sat Jul 21, 2012 12:22 am

Possibly best 20-30km of the tour. Cavendish is AMAZING!

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Mulger bill
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Re: 2012 Tour de France

Postby Mulger bill » Sat Jul 21, 2012 12:33 am

Yeah, monster sprint with sodall leadout. How would this bloke go on the track?
...whatever the road rules, self-preservation is the absolute priority for a cyclist when mixing it with motorised traffic.
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maryusdemetry
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Re: 2012 Tour de France

Postby maryusdemetry » Sat Jul 21, 2012 7:06 am

Cadel is as slow as a wet weekend. Nibali isn't really all there. And there isn't another first class climber in the peleton.
I think Wiggins/Froome would win stages if they were actually forced to ride hard. Currently they don't have to do anything to win, and thats the safest bet.

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biker jk
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Re: 2012 Tour de France

Postby biker jk » Sat Jul 21, 2012 8:13 am

maryusdemetry wrote:Cadel is as slow as a wet weekend. Nibali isn't really all there. And there isn't another first class climber in the peleton.
I think Wiggins/Froome would win stages if they were actually forced to ride hard. Currently they don't have to do anything to win, and thats the safest bet.
Ivan Basso thinks Sky are going pretty hard on the climbs, and he's no slouch.

“Look. It’s the same discussion as always, it’s like watching the Tour when Lance [Armstrong] or [Miguel] Indurain raced. You could try to attack, get ahead, but then what are you going to do? Just to have a laugh?” Basso said, sitting on the steps of the team bus.

“If he [Wiggins] goes as they have been, where Richie Porte is pulling and you are on the wheel pushing 420 watts, then explain to me, where are you going to go?

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Chuck
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Re: 2012 Tour de France

Postby Chuck » Sat Jul 21, 2012 9:51 am

vander wrote:Cavendish is AMAZING!
Very impressive finish and a great reward for being an unselfish teammate. 22 stage wins at the Tour now equalling the record for sprinters, not bad :) Calls that the sun had set on the OSW were a tad premature :mrgreen:
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brentono
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Re: 2012 Tour de France

Postby brentono » Sat Jul 21, 2012 11:46 am

Stage 18 - Nice leadout from Bradley Wiggins and also from Edvald Boasson Hagen,
who dragged Mark Cavendish up to the final stage of the Sprint.
Mark Cavendish jumped early, which was a smart move, and got him the deserved win.
Peter Sagan made an error, moving off Cavendish's wheel (on the turn) in this sprint
and being on the wrong side of the road. Probably just happy with his Green Jersey. :)
Still it was good to see the W.C. Cavendish get involved in the Tour, and Sprint.
Another lackluster day for G.C. and it would seem, with another boring T.T. to come,
not much more to see, in this years Tour.
Cheers
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Re: 2012 Tour de France

Postby LM324 » Sat Jul 21, 2012 12:33 pm

norbs wrote:Even now I am still cranky about last night.


http://norbs.tk/9c


Be warned, some sweary bits.
Norbs is that your blog? I took a quick look at the posts and really enjoyed it. I will follow it :)

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bigfriendlyvegan
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Re: 2012 Tour de France

Postby bigfriendlyvegan » Sat Jul 21, 2012 12:50 pm

Mulger bill wrote:Yeah, monster sprint with sodall leadout. How would this bloke go on the track?
2 x world madison champion. Did a lot of riding on the track with some guy named Brad.

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foo on patrol
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Re: 2012 Tour de France

Postby foo on patrol » Sat Jul 21, 2012 8:05 pm

maryusdemetry wrote:Cadel is as slow as a wet weekend. Nibali isn't really all there. And there isn't another first class climber in the peleton.
I think Wiggins/Froome would win stages if they were actually forced to ride hard. Currently they don't have to do anything to win, and thats the safest bet.
You might wanna have a look at the team around him, before hanging crap on him. :wink: He is still better than 99% of the wanna be arm chair critics here and add to that his age, so before you hang crap on him, stop and think! :idea: :roll:

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Re: 2012 Tour de France

Postby vander » Sat Jul 21, 2012 8:36 pm

foo on patrol wrote:
maryusdemetry wrote:Cadel is as slow as a wet weekend. Nibali isn't really all there. And there isn't another first class climber in the peleton.
I think Wiggins/Froome would win stages if they were actually forced to ride hard. Currently they don't have to do anything to win, and thats the safest bet.
You might wanna have a look at the team around him, before hanging crap on him. :wink: He is still better than 99% of the wanna be arm chair critics here and add to that his age, so before you hang crap on him, stop and think! :idea: :roll:

Foo
Everyone saying about Cadels age being against him, I dont think it is, granted he has had a bad year (not just tour) but I still think he has a few good years in him. Look at Chris Horner this year at 40 probably up there with his best ever tour. Dont count Cadel out yet, he will be back stronger (or as strong) than ever.

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foo on patrol
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Re: 2012 Tour de France

Postby foo on patrol » Sat Jul 21, 2012 9:36 pm

^^ Yeah I agree with you Vander but his team is not strong enough to support him!^^ :(

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greyhoundtom
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Re: 2012 Tour de France

Postby greyhoundtom » Sun Jul 22, 2012 6:41 am

Stage 19: 53.5km, ITT Bonneval to Chartres
1 Bradley Wiggins (GBR) Sky 1hr 04min 13sec
2 Christopher Froome (GBR) Sky 0:01:16
3 Luis Leon Sanchez (ESP) Rabobank 0:01:50
4 Peter Velits (SVK) Omega Pharma-QuickStep 0:02:02
5 Richie Porte (AUS) Sky 0:02:25
6 Patrick Gretsch (GER) Argos-Shimano 0:02:28
7 Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC 0:02:34
8 Vasili Kiryienka (BLR) Movistar 0:02:46
9 Rein Taaramae (EST) Cofidis 0:02:50
10 Jeremy Roy (FRA) FDJ-Big Mat 0:03:05

General classification
1 Bradley Wiggins (GBR) Sky 84hr 26min 31sec
2 Christopher Froome (GBR) Sky 0:03:21
3 Vincenzo Nibali (ITA) Liquigas-Cannondale 0:06:19
4 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (BEL) Lotto Belisol 0:10:15
5 Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC 0:11:04
6 Haimar Zubeldia (ESP) RadioShack-Nissan 0:15:43
7 Cadel Evans (AUS) BMC 0:15:51
8 Pierre Rolland (FRA) Europcar 0:16:31
9 Janez Brajkovic (SLO) Astana 0:16:38
10 Thibaut Pinot (FRA) FDJ-Big Mat 0:17:17

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biker jk
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Re: 2012 Tour de France

Postby biker jk » Sun Jul 22, 2012 1:06 pm

greyhoundtom wrote:Stage 19: 53.5km, ITT Bonneval to Chartres
1 Bradley Wiggins (GBR) Sky 1hr 04min 13sec
2 Christopher Froome (GBR) Sky 0:01:16
3 Luis Leon Sanchez (ESP) Rabobank 0:01:50
4 Peter Velits (SVK) Omega Pharma-QuickStep 0:02:02
5 Richie Porte (AUS) Sky 0:02:25
6 Patrick Gretsch (GER) Argos-Shimano 0:02:28
7 Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC 0:02:34
8 Vasili Kiryienka (BLR) Movistar 0:02:46
9 Rein Taaramae (EST) Cofidis 0:02:50
10 Jeremy Roy (FRA) FDJ-Big Mat 0:03:05

General classification
1 Bradley Wiggins (GBR) Sky 84hr 26min 31sec
2 Christopher Froome (GBR) Sky 0:03:21
3 Vincenzo Nibali (ITA) Liquigas-Cannondale 0:06:19
4 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (BEL) Lotto Belisol 0:10:15
5 Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC 0:11:04
6 Haimar Zubeldia (ESP) RadioShack-Nissan 0:15:43
7 Cadel Evans (AUS) BMC 0:15:51
8 Pierre Rolland (FRA) Europcar 0:16:31
9 Janez Brajkovic (SLO) Astana 0:16:38
10 Thibaut Pinot (FRA) FDJ-Big Mat 0:17:17
Interesting. The last time 3rd place was that far behind the leader was 2005 (the Armstrong era). Also, the last time there was +17 mins from 1st to 10th was 2004 (the Armstrong era).

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