Who else is watching the Tour de France?

[Acuda]

Originally Posted by Nyc77

How far back do you think you would have to go to find a CLEAN Tour De France winner.You could argue Evens and Schleck are clean but I find it hard to believe. Then you would have to go back quite a ways. How many have been clean in the last 30 years...

Thoughts?

Cadel was a client of Ferrari (so that makes me wonder) and Schleck shows poor form (other than Liege) and then suddenly is great in the Tour, so that has me suspicious. But then again, I think most riders are not clean.

Maybe, Gino Bartali back in the 30s- LOL. Shoot I don't have a clue. Heck, riders back in the 60s used amphetamines. I don't drink coffee and I remember drinking a ton of yerba mate tea prior to a ride and felt jittery and terrible. I can't imagine how meth would have felt climbing in the hot Alpine sun.

Good question though...

[artemis agrotera]

who ever the wanker was who put pins on the road.... go play your games somewhere else.
At least Wiggins showed fantastic sportsmanship by holding up the other riders...

[odanny]

Wiggins had a chance to rebuild his image, which has suffered under the weight of some profane Tweets (in response to someone asking him if he dopes). And since Cadel poses no real threat at this time, he looks good holding up for him.

This is Wiggins tour wire to wire. Froom will follow orders, although the Tour would get real interesting if their was an intra team race for the maillot journ.

[artemis agrotera]

Originally Posted by odanny

Wiggins had a chance to rebuild his image, which has suffered under the weight of some profane Tweets (in response to someone asking him if he dopes). And since Cadel poses no real threat at this time, he looks good holding up for him.

This is Wiggins tour wire to wire. Froom will follow orders, although the Tour would get real interesting if their was an intra team race for the maillot journ.

agree, Wiggins has it.
I am hopeful of some miracle, Cadel getting a burst might help actually having some support...
the first time trial was deflating. Cadel can't rely on taking back time on that this year. He has tonight and Wednesday to make a move...

[harhar]

Originally Posted by artemis agrotera

who ever the wanker was who put pins on the road.... go play your games somewhere else.
At least Wiggins showed fantastic sportsmanship by holding up the other riders...

I agree, a great show of sportsmanship from the SKY team. And what a horrible person for doing such a thing. Unfathomable.

I've been watching the tour for the past few years, and have loved it so far this year.

And though I don't actually care for Wiggins all that much, he and his team look very very strong. BMC appears to only have Tejay (as Cadel is struggling) ... I also don't care for Sagan, but like Wiggins is making all of the right moves for the green jersey.

On a personal and more general note, I love the tour because it's equal parts strategy, personal and team glory, drama, tradition and pain. Plus it shows off the best parts of France and lasts for almost the entire month; it's a shame it isn't more popular here...Although it's a good thing because, if it were more popular there'd be that many more spoilers to watch out for.

[Avondrood]

Originally Posted by harhar

.I've been watching the tour for the past few years, and have loved it so far this year.

I've also been watching the tour for quite some years, but I must be honest, I find it one of the most boring - if not the most boring - tour since I've started watching. I think it also has to do with this years layout of the tour: more than 100 kilometers of individual time trials and only two arrivals uphill. Also Contador and Andy Schleck not being there doesn't help the show. This 99th version certainly wasn't the most historic in my book...

[harhar]

Originally Posted by Avondrood

I've also been watching the tour for quite some years, but I must be honest, I find it one of the most boring - if not the most boring - tour since I've started watching. I think it also has to do with this years layout of the tour: more than 100 kilometers of individual time trials and only two arrivals uphill. Also Contador and Andy Schleck not being there doesn't help the show. This 99th version certainly wasn't the most historic in my book...

I can understand. I was expecting more competition for the yellow jersey, the green has all been decided and so has the KOM.

Plus I think there were too many crashes in the beginning taking away some key players like Cavendish, Farrah, Sammy Sanchez and a few others.

I guess the most excitement, so far, is watching Voeckler swat fans away.

[odanny]

Whenever someone locks up the Tour in the first week, and clearly entered the Tour as the worlds best rider, it makes it somewhat anti climactic. Knowing that Wiggins is a great TT it seems this years Tour was customized for a first time British champion.

I will say I am glad that two sprinters have more stage wins than Cavendish, but I expect all three to be tied after Cavendish wins again on the Champs-Élysées Sunday.

My fave Tour still remains the 2006 Tour, where Floyd Landis was champion for around two weeks.

[artemis agrotera]

Originally Posted by harhar

I agree, a great show of sportsmanship from the SKY team. And what a horrible person for doing such a thing. Unfathomable.

I've been watching the tour for the past few years, and have loved it so far this year.

And though I don't actually care for Wiggins all that much, he and his team look very very strong. BMC appears to only have Tejay (as Cadel is struggling) ... I also don't care for Sagan, but like Wiggins is making all of the right moves for the green jersey.

On a personal and more general note, I love the tour because it's equal parts strategy, personal and team glory, drama, tradition and pain. Plus it shows off the best parts of France and lasts for almost the entire month; it's a shame it isn't more popular here...Although it's a good thing because, if it were more popular there'd be that many more spoilers to watch out for.

Wiggins has grown on me over the last 3 weeks... Terribly disappointed forCadel, but that's the race..,, really need to be a complete rider and lady luck on your side.

Wonder how the French will a Brit winning. Bike racing is getting more global.. Agree with the beautiful
backdrop of France. High on my to do list is to follow the tour and see those gorgeous parts of the country

Congratulations to Wiggins & Sky.