2017 Tour de France

[Gnarly]

Wow how's Adam Hansen, finishing 18 Grand Tours in a row!!! 

[PygaSchmyga]

My uninformed unapologetic fanboy notes:

 

1.Froome is pure class. Arguably the best rider of his generation.

 

2. Meintjies is a superstar. Wow.

 

3. The DQ of Sagan was a travesty. He is also pure class.

 

4. I can't stand Aru. It's irrational, its unfair, but there it is. But ya, boy he is talented. But he is an ape.

 

5. I can't mourn the decline of Contador. I don't like him either.

 

6. Impey is flippin unbelievable. I really wanted his break to go to the line today. Anyway, he made South Africa proud especially yesterday.

 

7. Bouhani is pure drek. I am glad he did not win a stage.

 

8. Lance's stages podcasts were brilliant. He should be allowed to come out of the cycling wilderness. I would like to see him in the commentary box.

 

9. No tour tomorrow. Sucks.

any thoughts on squidlips Greipel?  I am keen to see if we go 10 for 10!

[PygaSchmyga]

 

Winnings from TDF, I know it's not the only cash they get, but I wonder if you work out ROI for teams on winning alone, some would have negative ROI.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

In LA s podcast he mentions teams typically cost around $20m per year. It would seem that there is f0k0l return to be had on that kind of coin.  Rich man's game for team owners.  I cant see any angle for an economic benefit

[kosmonooit]

My post-Tour thoughts

 

Missed Valverde and Gee ...was not surprised at Niro's non-performance

 

Kudu's to Chris - his resilience and fortitude, and the biggest budget by far helped as well, but that's cycling. Class dudes on the team: Kwaito, I've been a supporter of him all along. But Chris showed strain, cracks started to appear, can he make it 5? I do get irritated with the Brit thing, he is not a product of British Cycling, I have probably spent more time in the UK than him though I would love a British Passport as well. Sir Chris .. pfffft. Vive la République!

 

Compare to the Giro with Tom - who stuck with the climbers and won by means of TT - maybe this will be the challenge to Chris, remember he beat him at the Olympics last year. Will we see them both at the Vuelta? Or must we wait a frigging year?

 

I loved the passage through beautiful France, and the fans and people on the side of the road fantastique!  Still need to get there in July to take it all in in-person.

 

Would be cool to see more of a Women's  Race, a few more stages perhaps. A real race. Perhaps a start has been made, but was this years 2 , too 'cosmétique'?  Anne won .. good.

 

No I didn't listen to LA's podcast, plenty of other more creditable sources to tune in to. He does not deserve to be heard imo I get offended at the mere mention of him.

 

Thanks all for the chats .. life goes on I guess.

[Imploder]

 

Winnings from TDF, I know it's not the only cash they get, but I wonder if you work out ROI for teams on winning alone, some would have negative ROI.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Compare this with the total prize money for the British Open, this past weekend:

$10,250,000   

 

Jordan Spieth just pocketed a cool - $1.8M

[nathrix]

 

Winnings from TDF, I know it's not the only cash they get, but I wonder if you work out ROI for teams on winning alone, some would have negative ROI.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Prize money is a joke!

[scotty]

Looking at the prize money Moviestar must be thinking WTF. 

[Fat Boab]

My post-Tour thoughts

 

 I do get irritated with the Brit thing, he is not a product of British Cycling, I have probably spent more time in the UK than him though I would love a British Passport as well. Sir Chris .. pfffft. Vive la République!

 

 

Fortunately one's nationality is decided on more reasoned arguments than merely duration of residency, or whether one is a product of 'British Cycling'.

 

But putting that to one side, I would think some of his improvement/success is in part due to the systems and methods developed by British Cycling, the national governing body for cycling in GB, which Sky have utilised.  

[Ofaniy]

Compare this with the total prize money for the British Open, this past weekend:

$10,250,000   

 

Jordan Spieth just pocketed a cool - $1.8M

And Golf is not even a sport. The mind boggles

[Ofaniy]

My post-Tour thoughts

 

Missed Valverde and Gee ...was not surprised at Niro's non-performance

 

Kudu's to Chris - his resilience and fortitude, and the biggest budget by far helped as well, but that's cycling. Class dudes on the team: Kwaito, I've been a supporter of him all along. But Chris showed strain, cracks started to appear, can he make it 5? I do get irritated with the Brit thing, he is not a product of British Cycling, I have probably spent more time in the UK than him though I would love a British Passport as well. Sir Chris .. pfffft. Vive la République!

 

Compare to the Giro with Tom - who stuck with the climbers and won by means of TT - maybe this will be the challenge to Chris, remember he beat him at the Olympics last year. Will we see them both at the Vuelta? Or must we wait a frigging year?

 

I loved the passage through beautiful France, and the fans and people on the side of the road fantastique!  Still need to get there in July to take it all in in-person.

 

Would be cool to see more of a Women's  Race, a few more stages perhaps. A real race. Perhaps a start has been made, but was this years 2 , too 'cosmétique'?  Anne won .. good.

 

No I didn't listen to LA's podcast, plenty of other more creditable sources to tune in to. He does not deserve to be heard imo I get offended at the mere mention of him.

 

Thanks all for the chats .. life goes on I guess.

Dumoulin is not riding Vuelta. Other things to Focus on. Neither is G Thomas. So if Froome rides his only competition will be Nibali probably. Maybe El Pistolero can do something. He did seem to finish the Tour strong. 

 

Also totally over UK Postal and their boring ways....

[Plentipotential]

My post-Tour thoughts

 

Kudu's to Chris - his resilience and fortitude, and the biggest budget by far helped as well, but that's cycling. Class dudes on the team: Kwaito, I've been a supporter of him all along. But Chris showed strain, cracks started to appear, can he make it 5? I do get irritated with the Brit thing, he is not a product of British Cycling, I have probably spent more time in the UK than him though I would love a British Passport as well. Sir Chris .. pfffft. Vive la République!

 

 

If he is not a product of British cycling then who is he a product of? Certainly not the Republic.

[Cav']

Guys for me who really put up their hand this Tour making their presence known:

Barguil, Roglic, Benoot, Calmejane, Kittel, Uran, Kwiatkowski.

 

As for the Saffa's: 

Meintjes tried the best he could giving the legs and team support he has, Impey always impresses, Reinardt was the Saffa who stood out the most; always up there in the final km's pulling huge turns - Much stronger lead out man than Eisel or Renshaw imo. Venter was nowhere unfortunately. 

 

Uran was the ultimate darkhorse, Vaugters needs to reassess his team dynamics: to think they came to the tour with Rolland as their leader. I hope he stays at Cannondale though as they really suit his personality.

 

Froome, Uran, Contador, Nibali, Zakarin, Bardet and Aru all confirmed for the Vuelta and there is not much flat terrain to be ridden which will make it much more exciting than the Tour:

Stage 11:

http://www.procyclingstats.com/races/profilesmaps/201701/original/vuelta-a-espana-2017-stage-11-observatorio-astronomico-1484252543.jpg

Stage 14:

http://www.procyclingstats.com/races/profilesmaps/201701/original/vuelta-a-espana-2017-stage-14-sierra-de-la-pandera-1484252560.jpg

Stage15:

http://www.procyclingstats.com/races/profilesmaps/201701/original/vuelta-a-espana-2017-stage-15-sierra-nevada-alto-hoya-1484252566.jpg

Stage 20:

http://www.procyclingstats.com/races/profilesmaps/201701/original/vuelta-a-espana-2017-stage-20-alto-de-l-angliru-1484252595.jpg

[Pure Savage]

Guys for me who really put up their hand this Tour making their presence known:

Barguil, Roglic, Benoot, Calmejane, Kittel, Uran, Kwiatkowski.

 

As for the Saffa's: 

Meintjes tried the best he could giving the legs and team support he has, Impey always impresses, Reinardt was the Saffa who stood out the most; always up there in the final km's pulling huge turns - Much stronger lead out man than Eisel or Renshaw imo. Venter was nowhere unfortunately. 

 

Uran was the ultimate darkhorse, Vaugters needs to reassess his team dynamics: to think they came to the tour with Rolland as their leader. I hope he stays at Cannondale though as they really suit his personality.

 

Froome, Uran, Contador, Nibali, Zakarin, Bardet and Aru all confirmed for the Vuelta and there is not much flat terrain to be ridden which will make it much more exciting than the Tour:

Stage 11:

http://www.procyclingstats.com/races/profilesmaps/201701/original/vuelta-a-espana-2017-stage-11-observatorio-astronomico-1484252543.jpg

Stage 14:

http://www.procyclingstats.com/races/profilesmaps/201701/original/vuelta-a-espana-2017-stage-14-sierra-de-la-pandera-1484252560.jpg

Stage15:

http://www.procyclingstats.com/races/profilesmaps/201701/original/vuelta-a-espana-2017-stage-15-sierra-nevada-alto-hoya-1484252566.jpg

Stage 20:

http://www.procyclingstats.com/races/profilesmaps/201701/original/vuelta-a-espana-2017-stage-20-alto-de-l-angliru-1484252595.jpg

Yes, but there is also 42km of pan flat time trial! The next best GC rider, Uran, will need 2 and half minutes over Froome, Bardet would need 6 minutes.

[Eugene Oppelt]

Channelling my inner Uran Uran with my sokkies and my bidon.

What a ride! 

 

inspiring stuff.

 

 

 

 

 

[kosmonooit]

Fortunately one's nationality is decided on more reasoned arguments than merely duration of residency, or whether one is a product of 'British Cycling'.

 

But putting that to one side, I would think some of his improvement/success is in part due to the systems and methods developed by British Cycling, the national governing body for cycling in GB, which Sky have utilised.  

 

Chris was and has being cited as recently as yesterday as British Cycling success story ... okay there is Dave "you can shove that up ur a$$" Brailsford at the helm of Team $ky. And Dave did spot him at the Common Wealth games in Oz about 10 years ago?

 

Chris's father is British born (I think) hence his entitlement to the passport - that's what Brailsford picked up on when he spotted him(Source: some doccie on Chris, interview with Dave) , But so are all my grandparents,,, and my grandfathers fought gallantly (and suffered immensely) for "king and country" but I need  a friggin expensive visa to just visit 'ole Blighty  now.

 

Culturally... is Chris a Brit?  More a child of Africa I say, but it is was it is and he has made the best of it. And done real well, up into the legends of cycling.

[Pure Savage]

Dumoulin is not riding Vuelta. Other things to Focus on. Neither is G Thomas. So if Froome rides his only competition will be Nibali probably. Maybe El Pistolero can do something. He did seem to finish the Tour strong. 

 

Also totally over UK Postal and their boring ways....

You cannot blame Sky for their tactics, everyone knows their tactics. The other teams are too lazy and do not have enough heart too attack and beat Sky.