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

['Dale]

Blast from the past

 

Cav's 1st win in Paris.

 

[nickc]

Remember that one day when they dominated that stage for Sagan's only win....

 

Yip - it was the longest sprint lead out in history

[Daideron]

Happy Martin, I am wondering the same thing! Brailsfords comment during the interview last night about Froome, saying that he should have won last year, makes you wonder if there is a leadership problem there.

Personally I was happy Wiggins won last year, but it was honestly a once off deal. The stars aligned and made it easier than most Tours by way of a lack of mountains for someone like Wiggins to win. Had he ridden this year, Wiggins would have been ridden out of contention on the first mountain stage, IMHO.

SKY have incredible riders, and Froome has shown humility and tackled issues head on, in contrast to Wiggins who only did interviews when it suited him, threw his toys out of the cott if anyone dared ask anything about drugs and seemed more interested in trying to portray himself as a bad-boy Mod Rocker.

 

So who will lead SKY? Froome looks able to repeat his victory, while Wiggins looks vulnerable and scared of downhills. (Not a good thing if you want to win Grand Tours)

Another thing I noticed, and maybe I am just reading too much into this, but the guys on SKY seemed happier this Tour. Froome, Porte and the rest seemed to smile a lot more, and showed a good rapport within the team. Wiggins rarely smiled, and it seemed to filter down through the team. Butbagain this is just my opinion.

Will be interesting to see what happens from here on in. Here's hoping Froome establishes himself a multiple tour winner, and Wiggins returns to the track and does what he does better than most, destroy records and win titles

[Big H*]

Hinault always ready for a fight...

Here he's klapping an intruder from the 2012 podium.

 

 

.....and the Badger and the Mayan Priest are the same length. Nairo just looks much much shorter. Was he not relieved to get a second vase from Lemond. He actually looked scared that they may have forgotten it!!!!!

 

DID YOU KNOW THAT RICHIE FROOME WAS BORN IN NAIROBI AND WAS EDUCATED IN JOHANNESBURG??????

[Wez-O]

Happy with the outcome yesterday. For all intents and purposes, Froome is South African and glad that Kittel brought Cav down to earth throughout the tour.

 

In Froome, Quintana and Kittel, cycling has found three superstars to lead the sport forward in the post druggie era and it's a breath of fresh air that all three appear to be down to earth modest guys who just love riding their bikes.

[Face Plant]

biggest disappointments this year? IMO it has to be Andy Schleck and Cadel Evans

[zuludog]

who knows Froomes address in Parkhurst? i think we should deliver flowers to the door.

[Wez-O]

biggest disappointments this year? IMO it has to be Andy Schleck and Cadel Evans

I didn't really expect much from Schleck, and from where he was at the end of last year / beginning of this year where he couldn't even finish a tour in China nor Oz, I think this was a decent effort from him. I'm sure he will come back stronger next year.

Evans was a massive disappointment for sure as was Pinot and Van Garderen in the first 2 weeks (although he made a brave come back in the Alps by attacking nearly every day and but for a puncture probably would have won Alp du Huez).

 

Unluckiest rider of the tour has to be Valverde who would almost certainly have finished second had it not been for a puncture at the worst possible time on the crosswinds stage. It also cost Movistar the team classification.

[nochain]

Really happy for Froome!!In the end he won by more than 5 minutes but I can't remember a yellow jersey being put under so much pressure for some time....both on and off the bike...he took everything they gave and when ever he could made sure he showed everybody who is the strongest rider!

 

Great job by all the teams that took the race to Sky!!Made the tour what it was....they could have all just accepted defeat after the first mountain and TT but chose to fight them all the way to Paris!

[Wyatt Earp]

Chris Froome showed grace, poise, humanity & humility in victory. What a champion. What a gentleman.

 

All of those (both here on the hub and elsewhere) who have cast aspersions against him, should be hanging their heads in shame!

 

Well said.

[Wyatt Earp]

Sagan looks like a tool with that green beard. Clearly run out of showboating ideas...

 

Never a truer word spoken

[nochain]

By the way....I did not see them enter Paris,did they give Jens a solo ride onto the first lap?

Sounds like he will not be back so was hoping they would do something special for him?

 

Also thanks to Dale for keeping the Dope talking to the minimum on this topic....made for some great race talk!

[nickc]

Never a truer word spoken

 

You both Green with Envy maybe ??

[Chro Mo]

Awesome thread guys!!!!

 

I promise I will not tout Ryder Hesjedal as an outside chance for a while!

 

Thanks for all the awesome updates and input.

 

Onward to the Vuelta!!!!

[Wyatt Earp]

You both Green with Envy maybe ??

 

Barking up the wrong three there buddy.

[nickc]

Barking up the wrong three there buddy.

 

Barking up the wrong three - no this is only his second green jersey, next years tour he will maybe get his third.