Tour de France 2012

[Agteros]

 

Ms 'Froome' has been very queit since. Wonder if she still lives in Monaco?

She most probably just got carried with the excitement of her bf doing well. She up'ed and left to go support him, so why not get excited? Problem is that she is a prolific tweeter. I'm pretty sure she got told / asked to tone it down a bit.

 

With Wiggins in the press about the dope questions, and her on Tweeter I can understand why the team prevented the riders from speaking to the press too.

 

Will not be surprised if Wiggins leading his man out this afternoon was also part of the/a plan to manage perceptions of the team out in the wild!

 

But that is just me... and hubbers know best

[Lucky Luke.]

Good opportunity to test Wiggins today. The final climb in particular is a long, steep one - 10km, nearly 8% average, ramping up to 18% max, with a long, difficult descent to the finish 35km from the summit.

 

The road is extremely narrow too, which will force riders to jockey for position and suit an attacking strategy.

 

If NIbali or Van den Broeck gets a gap what will Sky do? I guess Froome will have to try pace him back rather than chase down the attackers.

Edited July 15, 2012 by Lucky Luke.

[Lucky Luke.]

http://www.steephill.tv/galleries/2005/crouzette-portel/pictures/get%20in%20your%20granny..%231aeac.jpg

[Lucky Luke.]

The last time the Mur de Peguere featured on the race was in 1973 when yellow jersey holder Luis Ocana of Spain decided, for the entire peloton, not to descend the climb for fear of crashing.

 

 

In his quest for novelty 39 years later, Prudhomme was only too happy to re-discover the ascension which he hopes will leave a lasting memory.

 

 

"We've discovered the Mur de Peguere," the Frenchman said with a smile recently.

 

 

"Although it did appear on the Tour in the 1973 edition, the peloton refused to ride the descent. This time, they won't because we'll be going up instead of down.

 

 

"It is bound to leave a lasting impression on everyone."

 

 

 

http://media.sbs.com.au/cyclingcentral/upload_media/1843_peguere-500.jpg

 

 

The final 3.6 km are where it gets complicated with an average gradient of 12 percent and some passages at 18 percent.

 

 

http://www.sbs.com.a...s-unraced-climb

Edited July 15, 2012 by Lucky Luke.

[splat]

Does anyone know why Sanchez gesticulated at the peleton just before he was caught yesterday?

Was he just upset at getting caught before the line?

 

I saw this Tweet, but it doesnt shed much light on it:

luis leon sanchez ‏@LLEONSANCHEZ

I beg @bradwiggins' pardon. He is the leader of the race so he and his team have the right to do whatever they want. See you.

[Lucky Luke.]

Sanchez obviously thought Sky had no reason to chase down his break. Boasson Hagen wanted to win yesterday though, because Hushovd won the stage that finished there last year with a massive solo effort. The Norwegian fans must have been encouraging him to go for the win. Not much chance for him to outsprint Greipel and Sagan, but at least he got himself on to the podium.

[kosmonooit]

Back to the mountains, still rooting for The Wig and Team Sky, hope all this media fuss over Chris is over and he can get on with the job.

 

Big downhill after the last climb, might favour the 'devil may care' descenders in the front bunch ie Nibali?

[LukeV-2]

Seeing Wiggins lead out like that was awesome though.. Unexpected.. I don't like him very much but he does have a bit of good in him it seems..

 

Another thing, in that supersport quiz for the Jawbones... They asked who the last spanish rider to win the tour was... Who was it?? Didn't Contador get it taken away from him?

[Lucky Luke.]

Contador won in 2009 as well

[LukeV-2]

Contador won in 2009 as well

 

Oh ok.. Thanks for educating me on that.

['Dale]

Contador won in 2009 as well

 

And in 2007 where he claimed both yellow and white jerseys... A rare feat in modern cycling.

 

Looking forward to watch him race again from next month.

Edited July 15, 2012 by ' Dale

['Dale]

Back to the mountains, still rooting for The Wig and Team Sky, hope all this media fuss over Chris is over and he can get on with the job.

 

Big downhill after the last climb, might favour the 'devil may care' descenders in the front bunch ie Nibali?

 

Some leg breaking steepness today:

 

Km 30.0 – Col du Portel (601 m)5.3 kilometre-long climb at 6.3% – category 2

Km 126.5 – Port de Lers (1 517 m)11.4 kilometre-long climb at 7% – category 1

Km 152.5 – Mur de Péguère (1 375 m)9.3 kilometre-long climb at 7.9% – category 1

['Dale]

Wiggo considers releasing his blood data to proof that he's riding without gummy berry juice.

 

http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/07/news/bradley-wiggins-mulls-releasing-blood-data-to-bolster-clean-racing-argument_229792

[kosmonooit]

So three big climbs - at the end of the 3rd there's going to be a select group, and from there its all downhill, so if a superior descender can get a break and give it horns ..... not a long stretch to the finish.

 

http://www.cyclingfans.net/2012/images/2012_tour_de_france_stage14_profile_live_tv.png

[dev null]

I must say I really did not like Wiggo when the race started, you know, him being a real POM. But I do respect him now given how hard he works to get where he is now, as well as that attitude of calling a spade a spade. I hate all this modern PC crap as well as being diplomatic. If you want diplomatic, get a politician.

[Tumbleweed]

Wiggo seems intent on being a Lance. Don't dangle out that kind of offer. You'll get eaten alive for that. Riding for EBH yesterday was stupid. But reminds one of "riding" for Tyler in the Dauphine years back. Didn't turn out well either, did it?