Aicorner Posted July 17, 2009 Share Another friggin' "transitional stage" - what are they trying to transform into ? It's been said before and I have to say it again - this year's tour is boring boring boring. 3 weeks of defensive riding for a one day race on the second last day (especially when one team has half the good riders) just sucks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2 X 2 Posted July 17, 2009 Share Relax boet, if you watch closely you will notice that the flat stages, or the boring ones as you refer to them, are actually the stages where the sprinters are playing chess with each other. With every sprint finish the teams try different tactics against Highroad. Yesterday was particularly interessting, as they followed a tactic that almost worked, but Cavendish was still too fast. Altough I canot wait for today's stage in the mountains, I am also looking forward to the next sprint stage too see if the teams can outwit Highroad with the sprint finish. - Very exiting stuff. Today we'll see a different chess game with the climbers. You can be sure that the Schlecks, or at least one of them, will attack today and Evans will surely go with them, can't wait longer, and then the sparks will fly, because Astana will not allow it. - Very exiting stuff.Backlash2009-07-17 01:04:21 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flex Posted July 17, 2009 Share I reckon today is the day to leave work early... but I have to admit this week has been boooring so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotty Posted July 17, 2009 Share I'm watching a different TDF, the one on DSTV channel 5. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotSoBigBen Posted July 17, 2009 Share Damn I am off work sick with flu ...... but I can watch the whole stage today :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Eagle Posted July 17, 2009 Share Another friggin' "transitional stage" - what are they trying to transform into ? It's been said before and I have to say it again - this year's tour is boring boring boring. 3 weeks of defensive riding for a one day race on the second last day (especially when one team has half the good riders) just sucks. Heard of the term foreplay???just watch things start to heat up as from today.White Eagle2009-07-17 01:29:52 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flex Posted July 17, 2009 Share Damn I am off work sick with flu ...... but I can watch the whole stage today :-) I must have caught it from you because I am suddenly also feeling a bit sniffly... better play it safe and go home just now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotSoBigBen Posted July 17, 2009 Share Damn I am off work sick with flu ...... but I can watch the whole stage today :-) I must have caught it from you because I am suddenly also feeling a bit sniffly... better play it safe and go home just now I'm really sorry mate but best you go home immediatley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flex Posted July 17, 2009 Share BB - you're right. I am forwarding your post to my boss, it will have to suffice as a doctor's note Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aicorner Posted July 17, 2009 Share Sorry, the sprinters are not "playing chess" (but even if they were watching a 3 week chess game would be boring). The only tactical question at the moment is whether the break will work or whether Cav will win. Ho hum, another day of "1 minute for every 10km" Sorry, its also not foreplay. In my experience (recollection) that term refers to increasing tittilation building to an explosive climax. Not increasing boredom whcih makes anything different appear exciting. I hope I'm wrong and the predicitons of Schlecks/Evans attacking or today being the day are good because I'm so frutrated I'm almost ready to ride a bicycle myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean Badenhorst Posted July 17, 2009 Share Sigh. I was hoping Hubbers were discerning enough to appreciate that a three-week race is just that ? a three-week race! You may think these transitional stages are boring, but they actually have an effect on the GC contenders. Look what happened yesterday - Levi out with a broken wrist. That weakens Astana and gives the other GC contenders hope. Okay, not all transitional stages have such a dramatic effect on the GC, but they form an important part of the race. Each of these stages also wears some riders down while others maintain their strength or even ride into better form. Just be patient. Judge the race when it's finished ? and be grateful you weren't a cycling fan during the Indurain years... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#ten Posted July 17, 2009 Share if one doesn?t understand team tactics and dynamics it would be boring? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwissVan Posted July 17, 2009 Share Sorry' date=' the sprinters are not "playing chess" (but even if they were watching a 3 week chess game would be boring). The only tactical question at the moment is whether the break will work or whether Cav will win. Ho hum, another day of "1 minute for every 10km" Sorry, its also not foreplay. In my experience (recollection) that term refers to increasing tittilation building to an explosive climax. Not increasing boredom whcih makes anything different appear exciting. I hope I'm wrong and the predicitons of Schlecks/Evans attacking or today being the day are good because I'm so frutrated I'm almost ready to ride a bicycle myself. [/quote'] You mean you did not see Cannotfinish Cavendish glaring at Nicholas Roche regarding comments his father (Stephen Roche) made on TV about him? <?: prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2 X 2 Posted July 17, 2009 Share Sorry' date=' the sprinters are not "playing chess" (but even if they were watching a 3 week chess game would be boring). The only tactical question at the moment is whether the break will work or whether Cav will win. Ho hum, another day of "1 minute for every 10km" Sorry, its also not foreplay. In my experience (recollection) that term refers to increasing tittilation building to an explosive climax. Not increasing boredom whcih makes anything different appear exciting. I hope I'm wrong and the predicitons of Schlecks/Evans attacking or today being the day are good because I'm so frutrated I'm almost ready to ride a bicycle myself. [/quote'] Maybe you should try riding a bike and not watch the "boring" cycling Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aicorner Posted July 17, 2009 Share I'm so bored I have to respond :Many years ago, when I first started following the tour and when I became aware of team tactics, people like Eddie Merrcx or Bernard Hinault raced every day; and the tour (which we follwed on am radio !) was a 3 week race. Then Big Mig & Lance came along, learnt to win by recipe' (ie limit you losses in the mountains & gain time in the ITT) and predicitng the overall winner became less exciting; but at least there was still a real race for the stage on most days. This year its boring : the odd broken wrist or glare does not make it exciting; the negative team tactics (which I understand, better it seems than some) do not make it exciting, the fact that its 3 weeks long does not make it exciting, the chance of a break filled with low GC riders staying away does not make it exciting, the possibility of the winner only being decided on the second last day does not make the whole race exciting. Its boring !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eldron Posted July 17, 2009 Share I'm so bored I have to respond :Many years ago' date=' when I first started following the tour and when I became aware of team tactics, people like Eddie Merrcx or Bernard Hinault raced every day; and the tour (which we follwed on am radio !) was a 3 week race. Then Big Mig & Lance came along, learnt to win by recipe' (ie limit you losses in the mountains & gain time in the ITT) and predicitng the overall winner became less exciting; but at least there was still a real race for the stage on most days. This year its boring : the odd broken wrist or glare does not make it exciting; the negative team tactics (which I understand, better it seems than some) do not make it exciting, the fact that its 3 weeks long does not make it exciting, the chance of a break filled with low GC riders staying away does not make it exciting, the possibility of the winner only being decided on the second last day does not make the whole race exciting. Its boring !![/quote'] The tour is like 5 day cricket - as a whole it's exciting - hour by hour it's pretty slow - when wickets fall and 4's/6's are hit it's exciting again. Agreed - nobody can watch a stage like yesterday's in it's entirety and say they enjoyed it. I normally watch the transitional stages from 50km out on my rollers - a "free" hours training with some action in the background. TT's I'll watch the last 50 riders or so. Hill stages I'll watch the whole thing but do chores in between the big mountains unless the peleton is in tatters in which case I'll sit with my eyes glued for hours... Ok so there has to be a point to this pointless rant and it's this: watching hours and hours of tour footage and calling it boring is like banging your head against the wall for hours and then complaining you have a headache - watch what excites you and be happy. I can't stand a moaner - unless she's in my bedroom!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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