2017 Tour de France

[Patchelicious]

Probably the most insightful, accurate and unbiased account of the TDF

 

[Fat Boab]

Probably the most insightful, accurate and unbiased account of the TDF

 

 

Don't be a tjop-per.....

[Bonus]

Love the sound of the helis when they come up over the hill on top of the group.

 

There are also 5 or 6 VIP Helis that shadow the tour and land anywhere and everywhere to let the VIPs out to stand at the side of the road briefly, before taking to the air again.

 

They landed in the field behind us when we were watching stage 13 :-)

[Bonus]

Feeling sad . . . . ?

[gummibear]

I feel like a druggy with withdrawal symptoms   

[Mongoose!]

Think Peter Sagan is glad its over?

[GrumpyOldGuy]

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:

 

Stage 14:

 

Stage15:

 

Stage 20:

 

Yah, no one rider really stood out for me except Barguil, I think he has improved over the year quite incredibly, Bardet was great but he has been up there for a few years now, so Yah, just Barguil for me

Team wise I think AG2R and Sunweb were outstanding, Sunweb in particular seem to be a well balanced happy team and it shows in the results this year,.... however many disappointed me, teams and riders alike, Astana sent a really mediocre team to support Aru, who, was always going to be a contender, I dont know what they were thinking

Quintana, as usual, promised plenty delivered  little, to be honest I dont think it was just fatigue from the Giro, I dont buy that, Mollema also rode a tough Giro yet he was up and in it all the time, Quintana in my opinion has firstly no enthusiasm or motivation, and secondly he had no legs,... Movistar as a team disappointed me as well, Benatti is a great sprinter yet no one tried to support him, the team appeared dispondant and unmotivated and were just going through the motions, Katusha... were hardly there and Martin seems to be struggling, maybe its just time, he has been up there for so long we expect him to stay there, but to me, like 'Berto he is no longer up on the pinnacle of the sport,.... Bahrain Merida.....well, I dont even know why they spent the money, Colbrelli was left alone and swamped in every sprint, he never stood a chance, frankly I think they could have stayed at home, saved the cost and had the same success.

 

To me, as usual, the Tour is over hyped and this year was no exception, Roll on Vuelta.  

[Harryn]

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

 

Yeah. I thought once Sagan,  Kittel, and Cav exited that it would give him the perfect platform to lap up the sprint stages like my cat does Whiskas (roast chicken flavour).

 

But wow, what a dissapointment. Especially yesterday on the Champs where he won last year, but he totally mis-timed it.

 

 Though wow, apparently the other day he was pushing something like 1800 watts, which one has to massively respect. But,  he had a k@k tour, and I am sure he is not a happy chap today.

[J Wakefield]

Hub folk, I would like to say thanks for the great convo's in this post during the Tour was Kiff.

[NelAndre]

I have some newbie questions about "Le Tour". Only followed the Tour the last 3 years or so and I enjoyed it immensely. It is a fantastic event to follow, from the drop of the white flag to the chaos of the finish it kept me spellbound. However I do wonder about the following:

 

1) What makes a GC contender, as opposed to a points/jersey winner? Is the GC contenders the best overall cyclist and do they finish closest to 1st everyday?

2) Why do you not attack the leader when they have a mechanical? Is a mechanical not just part and parcel of cycling?

3) Why is the last stage not also used to try and win the race?

4) Is "Le Tour" the toughest of the Grand Tours?

[Sepia]

Hub folk, I would like to say thanks for the great convo's in this post during the Tour was Kiff.

Yes, thank you all.  Really good to hear the insights and follow up.

Special mention to Bonus.

[dev null]

I have some newbie questions about "Le Tour". Only followed the Tour the last 3 years or so and I enjoyed it immensely. It is a fantastic event to follow, from the drop of the white flag to the chaos of the finish it kept me spellbound. However I do wonder about the following:

 

1) What makes a GC contender, as opposed to a points/jersey winner? Is the GC contenders the best overall cyclist and do they finish closest to 1st everyday?

2) Why do you not attack the leader when they have a mechanical? Is a mechanical not just part and parcel of cycling?

3) Why is the last stage not also used to try and win the race?

4) Is "Le Tour" the toughest of the Grand Tours?

 

On point (4). I personally feel La Vuelta is the toughest of the GTs. The climbs are tougher, and it is generally hotter. According to moi.

[The Crazy German]

Maybe its the same guys who make the decisions on rider penalties during the TDF?

Nope that's an international jury.

 

The combativity is 5 frenchies ans Greg Lemond.

 

The UCI jury has quite some frenchies as they are closer by but the top spots are often not French. In the past it was often Martin Bruin who said he would also have kicked Sagan home and would have relegated home boy Demare.

 

This year the number two spot went to a spaniard and the top spot was held by a belgian(very capable guy)(might be biased as I had quite a few drinks paid by him and his mates and coleagues back in the days)

 

edit There where two ladies as well of which one Italian edit end

[splat]

Hub folk, I would like to say thanks for the great convo's in this post during the Tour was Kiff.

It was great having you back again 

[Butterbean]

I have some newbie questions about "Le Tour". Only followed the Tour the last 3 years or so and I enjoyed it immensely. It is a fantastic event to follow, from the drop of the white flag to the chaos of the finish it kept me spellbound. However I do wonder about the following:

 

1) What makes a GC contender, as opposed to a points/jersey winner? Is the GC contenders the best overall cyclist and do they finish closest to 1st everyday?

2) Why do you not attack the leader when they have a mechanical? Is a mechanical not just part and parcel of cycling?

3) Why is the last stage not also used to try and win the race?

4) Is "Le Tour" the toughest of the Grand Tours?

1) depends on the terrain, but since most Grand Tours include some serious climbing stages, you're most likely to gain major time on the climbs. Even if there's a flat stage with wind to cause breaks and time gaps, it can be quickly made up in the mountains. So, it seems that if you're a climbers that can TT, you're sorted for a GC contention place.

 

2) and 3) the unwritten rules of sportsmanship, and celebration. You don't attack the Yellow jersey due to mechanical as a mechanical is basically an unforseen circumstance. Crash? Your fault. Lose a wheel? Your fault. But mechanical will always be debated as who's fault? It's just not cricket to attack the malliot Jeune when the bikes makes him stop. Same unspoken rule for last stage. If you haven't beaten him by stage 20, you lost and you need to cede. The last stage is a always a nice slow celebratory ride through to Paris and the sprinters get let loose to fight it out. Seems the sprint jersey is almost contestable, but will need a very close points race to need that. GC guys just hang on and stay in position out of respect.

 

4) I think Vuelta often has a tougher route, but since the teams seem to always bring their biggest guns to Le Tour, I think it shows the best teams and riders. They're on show as it's the race with the biggest viewership, biggest non cyclists viewership, and most notoriety. Vuelta was always the race that you could dope to the gills as the Spanish weren't too bothered about that whole dope malarchy, so they would go all out. I think that's still on most people's minds with the Vuelta so the Tour has to definitely be the most important race in which to perform. So, in summary, Vuelta probably has the tougher route, but Tour is tougher overall.

[nathrix]

How much do you think a signed (not even washed, looking at framing it) Chris Froome original Barloworld cycling jersey (not many of them around if any signed by CF) is worth after his 4th TDF win and should i hold onto it in the event of a 5th win which should make it worth even more?