Tour de France 2012

['Dale]

What a final mountain stage.

Sky's top 2 just solid.

 

Great efforts by Liquigas to, once again, test Sky.

 

Edited July 19, 2012 by ' Dale

[Wyatt Earp]

Jeepers Froome needs to get rid of this girl if she keeps tweeting stuff like this. Does not do him any good at all. He needs to think about his career a little - no good being such a star worker, with an eye on the future, if your background staff is causing **** for you in the background.

 

Yeah my brother, I agree.

He has a job to do and a job it is, as I said just now, first place is not always the winner.

[Wyatt Earp]

I fully agree she should cut it out, but I can't imagine what will prevent him from getting some serious offers next year. The only problem is - will he have such a good opportunity again? Contador will be back, and cranky. Cran-ky.

 

He might not want more serious offers.

He knows where his bread is buttered, he knows that Sky played a pivotal part in his success.

He is having a dream tour and the winner for me this year.

Gone are the days when the dominant rider showed everyone a clean pair of heels despite team orders.

[onetrackmind]

I fully agree she should cut it out, but I can't imagine what will prevent him from getting some serious offers next year. The only problem is - will he have such a good opportunity again? Contador will be back, and cranky. Cran-ky.

 

His future is with Sky, in all seriousness. They have the bucks and the backup to make it happen for him, and they think he is British. Other than maybe Garmin, he is unlikely to get support like Sky. This year was not to be his, if Wiggins was healthy. That was always the way it would work. We all work for people whose job we can do far better. His time will come.

 

This little fling with some goose who upgraded from one of the local pros to an international one, and now proudly puts Monaco as her residence, will end.

 

Froomedog, there are plenty more groupies available now who won't make your name gat.

[kosmonooit]

Great team work from Sky once again today, they deserve to win.

 

As for the chirps from the finger-loose gf, yea agreed, getting out of hand and becoming a liability. Chris has been on a long road of recovery from bilharzia. just to be on the podium in Paris is going to be a great achievement. He didn't even feature in anyone's list of favourites, did he?

[Lucky Luke.]

Are LeakyGas massing for an all out assault on yellow? Nibs seemes to have finally got a team together. Unlike some hubbers he's recognised that the TdF is a team game and it's not good to have Sagan darting off here and there showboating. A bit like doing donuts in F1 or FMX in an MX race. Lol.

 

Sky seems to have a more balanced team than say, BMC and guys who have good form. Those who want Froome to speed off and do his own thing - do you try and show yourself to be cleverer than your boss? seems common sense to me to be a team player.

 

Funny also how so many hubbers want the dopers back to make the TdF more "interesting".

 

I really liked your post right up until the last sentence. When exactly did we dispense with the dopers?

[Lucky Luke.]

Jeepers Froome needs to get rid of this girl if she keeps tweeting stuff like this. Does not do him any good at all. He needs to think about his career a little - no good being such a star worker, with an eye on the future, if your background staff is causing **** for you in the background.

 

Too right, what a ****-stirring liability, have the good sense to keep those remarks to yourself. Making *** for Chris and making herself look like an attention seeking bozo at the same time.

[Zook]

He might not want more serious offers. He knows where his bread is buttered, he knows that Sky played a pivotal part in his success. He is having a dream tour and the winner for me this year. Gone are the days when the dominant rider showed everyone a clean pair of heels despite team orders.

 

Nobody suggested riding against team orders, that would be insane. Even ultra-calculating Armstrong let Landis go once he'd done his job. Top of the climb, Landis had killed himself to position Armstrong. Armstrong asked Landis if he wanted to win the stage, and when Landis said "yes", Armstrong's reply was "ride like you stole something". It didn't work out and Armstrong was pretty much forced to win it, but that's the type of legendary move Wiggins seems incapable of. The race is about numbers, but it's also about soul. Only defence, to me, is just in case Wiggins got a puncture and Froome was there to offer him a wheel.

 

On the other hand, very glad for the win today - Valverde deserved it.

[petatodd]

I fully agree she should cut it out, but I can't imagine what will prevent him from getting some serious offers next year. The only problem is - will he have such a good opportunity again? Contador will be back, and cranky. Cran-ky.

A long term contract at Sky perhaps?

 

And he seems to be a loyal honourable person. Not seems. Is.

 

Cycling is not like football. Contracts are honoured and there are rules about poaching.

 

And only a fool would leave Sky for any of the smaller teams.

 

Even BMC is no guarantee of success, look at their new signings. All have had a 'mare of a season. Not to mention the fagg up with the Hog at RSN.

[Chro Mo]

Sad to say, but this has been a boooooring tour!

 

I enjoyed the Vuelta last year and the Giro this year loads more!

Edited July 19, 2012 by Chro Mo

[T-Bob]

"Where are you, Brad? Can I get you a drink? Are you ok? Want me to pop back to the car for a sandwich? Do the rules allow me to push you?"

 

he must have said "you go ahead Brad and I'll let you chase that breakaway down for me" when he blew and couldn't counter yesterday. It's his job, 6 weeks ago he signed up for it whole heartedly, was stoked to be riding the tour and part of sky and took the money to do that job.

 

Dry your eyes princess, Sky have brought you along massively from Barloworld and will give you every chance to win every monument available in the up coming years.

 

There is a massive difference between being the leader, planning with the team around you and finding yourself in second and going 'well if it wasn't for Wiggins...' - Sky have planned this to the last degree and have been in total control as a team. I doubt Nabali, Evans and all the other much lauded favourites would sit there and claim 'how boring' the tour has been this year, they've been a schooling by Team (note the word 'team') sky.

 

Even Eddy Merckx said that not one wins a tour alone... and he pretty much won everything alone.

[Zook]

A long term contract at Sky perhaps?

 

And he seems to be a loyal honourable person. Not seems. Is.

 

Cycling is not like football. Contracts are honoured and there are rules about poaching.

 

2 year contract IIRC, and he's 27 so it's not a tragedy to spend another year with them. They're also likely to not hold him back if he keeps up that level of performance - would be stupid to, especially if there's less focus on TT next year. But sure as nuts the next contract negotiation is going to look different, if they make him play second fiddle to Wiggo indefinitely.

 

One thing I will say, though, is that he shouldn't embarrass his leader. If he is pulling the dude uphill and feels stronger, he shouldn't keep leaping off the front unless he's given the go-ahead to take off. Or wave his hand in Wiggins' face and make it obvious that he's not as strong, on international TV. He should bide his time, go when it counts and when he has team permission to do so.

Edited July 19, 2012 by Zook

[Chro Mo]

No-one doubts the strength and skill of Sky.

 

The racing has just been lacking a bit of magic - the same magic that draws us back year after year.

 

So, yes, the other teams have been schooled. They have been schooled to such an extent as to render the competition a race for second.

This is not the fault of Sky.

The whole experience of watching Sky dominate proceedings has been hugely impressive - in the manner of, say, watching the inevitable, gradual and supremely powerful movement of a glacier, winding its way to the sea, grinding down all in its path.

 

Impressive? Yes

Boring? Yes

 

Bring on the Vuelta, I need a bit of chourico to dispell the taste of boudin noir.

[GrumpyOldGuy]

 

Bring on the Vuelta, I need a bit of chourico to dispell the taste of boudin noir.

 

Yup, cant wait to see 'Berto fly up those mountains taking no prisoners, I am already practicing my Ole' Ole', Ole' and looking for some Spanish wine to put on ice.

[DaLoCo]

Lost all respect for Voeckler......sitting on his opponents wheel and sniping all the points

 

Hope they nail him for doping

[Vetseun]

Very boring tour. Nobody really tested Wiggens. Missed Andy and if El Pistolero was there I am sure it would have been an interesting tour. But then again I am lying on the couch working on my winter blubber layer so I should shut up