The 100th Edition Of The Tour de France: Chirps, Opinions, News, Updates.

[mon-goose]

thanks

[dracs]

Good to see the 2 Belkin guys right up there!

['Dale]

Good to see the 2 Belkin guys right up there!

 

Their new sponsor must be very satisfied.

It's quite impressive as Rabo > Blanco > Belkin has gone through such instability

[jcza]

Todays stage

 

With the Pyrenees in the rear view mirror there’s less to look forward to this week in terms of terrain and scenery. But we’ve still got the biggest race on and it’s rare to see the top sprinters go head to head in the season, the Tour is one of the few times it happens and today should be the day.

 

The race cuts across Brittany but there’s coastal section for the finish where crosswinds or simply the fear of a crosswind could be enough to panic the peloton.

 

North and straight across Brittany. It’s mainly rural but the race passes through plenty of villages, meaning crowds and street furniture from start to finish.

 

The sole climb of the day is soft and only serves to spice up the show for the crowds. However the race reaches Cancale with 23km to go and turns west to track the coast. The road is not wide and there could be a crosswind.

 

An urban finish right along the sea front in St Malo without too many obstacles. With the wind coming in off the coast there are two options, either sprint right on the right of the road to benefit from the shelter offered by barriers, hoardings and spectators or go right to the left because nobody can sit on your wheel and get a draft.

[jcza]

Likely scenario

 

A bunch sprint with 98% probability, 1% for a breakaway staying away and 1% for a surprise late attack in the final kilometre. Each of the sprinters’ teams have one stage win each and they’ll be equally hungry for more success and therefore a joint effort to reel in any escapees is guaranteed. We’ll see Lotto-Belisol, Argos-Shimano and OPQS leading the charge whilst Cannondale can monitor matters.

 

The last 20km risk the self-fulfilling prophecy of crashes. Because of the crosswind and the narrow roads many will want to be at the front so they’re not caught out by crash or a split. But this means too many riders are trying to get to the front. Also with large crowds expected it only takes a spectator leaning forward for a photo to wreak carnage on the bunch.

 

Want a name? Well the stage finishes outside the town’s casino which suggests an element of luck. But would you bet against Mark Cavendish? Actually if the price was right you’d look at André Greipel and Marcel Kittel of course.

[nochain]

Good to see the 2 Belkin guys right up there!

Yes its good for the new sponsor.

It also plays into Sky's hands if you ask me.....long range attacks will be very difficult from now on.Belkin,Saxo and Movistar all have loads of interest in the podium and are not just going to sit by and let some other contender take their spot.

Good to have 4 teams in it after the first mountains.

[jcza]

Sprint science

 

If you’re tempted to groan at the prospect of another bunch sprint, don’t. I can understand why some resent 200km just for the action to come in the final two minutes. But there’s a real science and skill at work with the leadout trains, positioning and even the subtle fighting for place. It’s also an evolving field of cycling, whilst Mark Cavendish has overtaken André “the hare of the Landes” Darrigade for Tour stage wins, Darrigade didn’t have a lead out. This isn’t to knock Cavendish, instead it’s to say part of enjoyment of a sprint stage is not to wait for a rider to surge in the final 200 metres but instead to observe the action during the last hour.

 

All taken from The Inner Ring

[Lostee]

I'm at work and do not have the little devices... I just tried to stream live from the Super Sport website and I get the following error:

 

The live video stream is for registered DSTV subscribers only. If you have your smart card number click here to add it to your profile.

 

Anyone know what's up with SS or where else I can get the action?

[jcza]

I'm at work and do not have the little devices... I just tried to stream live from the Super Sport website and I get the following error:

 

The live video stream is for registered DSTV subscribers only. If you have your smart card number click here to add it to your profile.

 

Anyone know what's up with SS or where else I can get the action?

 

Google steephill tv - there will be a number of live streams

[Lostee]

Google steephill tv - there will be a number of live streams

 

Great stuff! Thanks a lot. A few sites are blocked here, but I doubt they know them all.

[raymakestv]

Never understood the idea of the costume of thr dude on the L

 

 

I think it means he likes boys. And banana's.

[Cippo]

 

 

Great stuff! Thanks a lot. A few sites are blocked here, but I doubt they know them all.

 

Try www.letour.fr with tracking updates that refresh every minute or so. All the GC and other classifications plus info on teams and riders can be checked.

[Warren_G]

Try www.letour.fr with tracking updates that refresh every minute or so. All the GC and other classifications plus info on teams and riders can be checked.

Thanks Cippo!

[GrumpyOldGuy]

I reckon that none of us will have an idea as to who might win the tour till that last week.

Also bear in mind, one can be as strong as an ox today and lose 5 minutes tomorrow.

 

Yeah, I do agree, I posted it somewhere else but its as Dan Martin said "Everybody in the tour will have bad days, the one who has the least number will win."

 

That pretty much sums it up for me.

[Cippo]

My mistake, it's actually Supersport that has a tracker, here is link

 

http://www.supersport.com/cycling/content.aspx?id=20310&view=full

[jcza]

Yeah, I do agree, I posted it somewhere else but its as Dan Martin said "Everybody in the tour will have bad days, the one who has the least number will win."

 

That pretty much sums it up for me.

 

Bookies all disagree - Froome priced at 1/7. That means bet R7 to win R1. Other favourites as follows:

 

Contador, Quintana & Valverde - ranging from 16/1 to 20/1.

Mollema, Rodriques, Martin & Kreuzinger - 66/1.

Ten Dam - 100/1

Evans, Schleck & the rest - 100/1 and more