Tour de France 2011 thread

gregmcc

gregmcc

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As there is no official thread yet - thought I'd start one seen as though it starts tomorrow.

Le Tour

Anyoneelse going to be glued to DSTV between 20:00 and 22:00 for the next 3 weeks :)
 
Yip me - I love cycling. Although many of my friends do not understand the intricacies of cycling (e.g. the function of a domestique etc.) and therefore write it off as a boring sport. They're missing out on some serious action. Golf and sailing are boring :p. I'll concede most of the flat stages are rather boring, except until the sprint, but I like the scenery etc. The mountain stages are awesome! Going for Andy Schleck as I did last year...time to pay-back Contador for the infamous "Chaingate" incident last year.
 
Definitely going to be interesting this year. Contador is already saying he's not 100% ready for it but will see how he feels on the hills, but this could just be a tactic.
 
gregmcc said:
Definitely going to be interesting this year. Contador is already saying he's not 100% ready for it but will see how he feels on the hills, but this could just be a tactic.
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Yeah he cleaned up in the Giro - completely dominating his opponents! I hope he is tired from that and won't be able to respond to the accelerations of Schleck! :D

On that note, I couldn't believe that Supersport only showed 30 min highlights of the Giro per night. It should be at least 1 hour, if not 2 hours like the TdF.
 
This is the only reason i am sorry i cancelled my dstv sub.
Go Schleck!!

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Medal%20Tour%20De%20France%201.JPG

Medal%20Tour%20De%20France%202.JPG


Last years ones..
 
gregmcc said:
Thankfully TdF gets more coverage - a 30 min and 2 hour slot, otherwise i'd burn their building down!
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I remember back in the day (1990's) you had to wait up till 11PM for supersport to air the day's results, and the slot was only 15 minutes long.
 
Awesome...love the Tour (and cycling). Thanks...didn't even realise it was starting tomorrow.
 
First Mountain-top finish today.

I don't think we'll see any major attacks from the main GC contenders today (I think they'll save the big attacks for Saturday's stage), but we may very well see a GC contender win the stage as they will probably close down whatever advantage the breakaway has on the final climb. I'm very interested to see how Cadel Evans rides today.
 
Really been some insane accidents so far :eek:
 
been an awesome race so far - don't know if Voeckler will be caught though, he is looking par for the course. Been supporting the Schlecks since 2009 and hope Andy does it this time round
 
My money's on Andy. He was toying with the others in the Pyrenees ;)
 
powermzii said:
been an awesome race so far - don't know if Voeckler will be caught though, he is looking par for the course. Been supporting the Schlecks since 2009 and hope Andy does it this time round
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I'll be astonished if Voeckler makes it to Paris in the yellow jersey... I think he might hang in there for a day or two in the Alps but that'll be it. Sanchez, well who knows, he is looking strong 'tho.
Still, if Leopard Trek don't loose any riders they are looking pretty good for the win IMO. I still don't think Andy and Frank have really, really gone on the attack just yet but they will have to 'cos Cadel is looking strong. He has no team mates around him when they get to the business end of the big climbs, nor for that matter does Alberto but those boys can ride the hell out of a time trial and I don't think the Schleck's can leave it 'till Saturday to decide the race one way or another.
I'm also beginning to think Contador really is riding with a couple of problems... Last year Andy couldn't make a move without Alberto covering it and this year Frank and Andy have ridden him off their wheels... I so wasn't expecting to see that happen.
I get a little cranky without my TDF fix on the rest day 'tho.
 
Alan said:
My money's on Andy. He was toying with the others in the Pyrenees ;)
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The problem is that he's running out of time - both Evans & Contador will smash him in the Time Trial on Saturday...I reckon he needs to be about 1:30-2min on them. Also Contador said he wasn't going to attack the Pyrenees and that he preferred the Alps (Contandor confident to be better in Alps). Furthermore, Andy seemed to not want to crack his own brother on the Plateau...and slowed down everytime he saw his brother couldn't follow.

greg0205 said:
I'll be astonished if Voeckler makes it to Paris in the yellow jersey... I think he might hang in there for a day or two in the Alps but that'll be it. Sanchez, well who knows, he is looking strong 'tho.
Still, if Leopard Trek don't loose any riders they are looking pretty good for the win IMO. I still don't think Andy and Frank have really, really gone on the attack just yet but they will have to 'cos Cadel is looking strong. He has no team mates around him when they get to the business end of the big climbs, nor for that matter does Alberto but those boys can ride the hell out of a time trial and I don't think the Schleck's can leave it 'till Saturday to decide the race one way or another.
I'm also beginning to think Contador really is riding with a couple of problems... Last year Andy couldn't make a move without Alberto covering it and this year Frank and Andy have ridden him off their wheels... I so wasn't expecting to see that happen.
I get a little cranky without my TDF fix on the rest day 'tho.
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If Voekler gets the yellow jersey on Sunday then he's on some serious juice :p

Sanchez is a very strong descender - he could gain a few seconds on tomorrow's stage if he so feels like it. The other GC contenders must not let him get away like they did in the Pyrenees.

Contador has confirmed he has an injury to his knee but he's getting better.

Cadel Evans is unlikely to ever launch an attack on the mountains because he can't really...he doesn't have those vicious accelerations of F and A Schleck or Contador. Besides he only has to follow Contador & the Schlecks in the mountains and he'll comfortably win the Tour.
 
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