Tour de France 2012

[petatodd]

If only all the other GC riders were stronger we wouldn't have Sky being able to control like they do.

 

Hopefully ASO will learn from this procession and reduce TT to only one a year and cut out all the descent finishes, have more mountain top finishes where the best guys can give it their all. Or lose.

[Tumbleweed]

Some respect for Nibs from Wiggo:

 

"The team rode fantastically well again and we've created the ideal scenario by putting even more time into Cadel Evans, and although we weren't able to get rid of Nibali - who is very strong - it was a great day," said Wiggins.

"(Nibali) is a class bike rider. The guy has won the Vuelta (Tour of Spain), he's been on the podium at the Giro... and you can never underestimate him.

"They gave us a good go over on the climbs today and tomorrow is another day, another challenge."

[TNT1]

Oi! Just now TNT1 starts posting pictures of Wiggo! :eek:

 

I only post pics of redheads. Never gingers.

[Squier]

I agree that the Tour is less exciting than I had hoped... specifically referring to the race for yellow. But, I have to concede that it is only because Sky is so dominant. Yesterday was the first time that Wiggins actually countered an attack, instead of just having his team calmly ride back onto the attackers wheel. It doesn't make for great TV, but from a race perspective this is the ideal for any team leader.

 

I'm still left wondering if the Sky tactic would still work against explosive attackers like Schleck or Contador. Climbers that can create a gap with shere acceleration and sustain it. Something that Cadel was just unable to do. I doubt that Andy would ever really be able to compete against Wiggins, purely because of the massive difference in their TT'ing ability, but he would certainly give him nightmares in the mountains. Looking forward to seeing Contador again in the Vuelta, but we'll only really know what he can do to the Sky train by next year this time.

[Tumbleweed]

I agree that the Tour is less exciting than I had hoped... specifically referring to the race for yellow. But, I have to concede that it is only because Sky is so dominant. Yesterday was the first time that Wiggins actually countered an attack, instead of just having his team calmly ride back onto the attackers wheel. It doesn't make for great TV, but from a race perspective this is the ideal for any team leader.

 

I'm still left wondering if the Sky tactic would still work against explosive attackers like Schleck or Contador. Climbers that can create a gap with shere acceleration and sustain it. Something that Cadel was just unable to do. I doubt that Andy would ever really be able to compete against Wiggins, purely because of the massive difference in their TT'ing ability, but he would certainly give him nightmares in the mountains. Looking forward to seeing Contador again in the Vuelta, but we'll only really know what he can do to the Sky train by next year this time.

 

I think what you really need is attackers working "in concert" to tear Sky apart.

[TNT1]

I think what you really need is attackers working "in concert" to tear Sky apart.

 

Contador at his best would do that on his own. Nibali lacked the fire power yesterday, but he killed everyone but the two skyguys. So who is this attacker he would work in concert with?

[nickc]

I think what you really need is attackers working "in concert" to tear Sky apart.

 

Agree, but I think at this stage it only seems as if Nibali can do anything.

[scotty]

Contador at his best would do that on his own. Nibali lacked the fire power yesterday, but he killed everyone but the two skyguys. So who is this attacker he would work in concert with?

He tried that on Andy and it did not work, in fact it was quite hilarious to see the frustration on Contadors face.

[Tumbleweed]

Agree, but I think at this stage it only seems as if Nibali can do anything.

 

And he says he's going to try again today! Love his fighting spirit!

[Kranswurm]

I have found this TDF exciting.

The individual efforts of Sagan,Voeckler etc etc have been thrilling.

You cannot blame Sky for the lack of quality amongst their opponents to attack them effectively.

They are doing what they need to.

On another issue I wonder how good Froome would be without that Sky train in the front to pull him across the length and breadth of France.I think he is fantastic and my favourite rider this year but I doubt he would be lying second if he was on another team

[TNT1]

I think he is fantastic and my favourite rider this year but I doubt he would be lying second if he was on another team

 

Agreed. He'd be in yellow...

[patches]

http://verydemotivational.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/demotivational-posters-tour-de-france.jpg

[Kranswurm]

Agreed. He'd be in yellow...

 

No he would not...

[_C50_]

He tried that on Andy and it did not work, in fact it was quite hilarious to see the frustration on Contadors face.

 

He rode the Giro before the Tour. He was poked. With no Giro in his legs before the Tour it would've been a different story.

Edited July 19, 2012 by _C50_

[DaLoCo]

Wiggins is a ginger?

['Dale]

 

Yeah, I hear you, just another tick in the box every day.

I think if you want passion and crazy attacks (like me as well) you have to look to the Europeans, mostly the Italians and the Spanish but the French as well as we see with Voekler, they ride with their hearts going out on crazy breaks in the mist of the high mountains, hence for me the Giro and the Vuelta are better races visually, the Yanks bought a corporate mentality to the tour with LA and US Postal and later Discovery and now its been copied by Sky and Wiggo, effective it may be, but for me it also lacks the gutsy heart and soul of the other two grand tours.

 

Sounds true to me.

The Spaniard will be eligible to race next month.

GOG, I know you enjoy the Vuelta. :-)