The Official 100th Tour de France thread, 2013.

[Stat Brother]

He did. I just hate his type of rider.

When you see Jens V working his tail off only to finally crack, guys like this I can't respect their wins.

There's lots of reasons to get in the break, Jens and Dave weren't there to win, in fairness their team mates were unlikely too either, although Bakelants was as aggressive as Albasini.

That way is a hell of a lot easier than taking turn after turn pushing the break away train along to the point where the main peleton can't catch them.
No break away would ever succeed if there weren't riders who worked their butts off. When they win we applaud them. When guys like this win, nobody remembers them or takes great joy in their wins.

In the last 5kms Trenkin gambled that the other would catch Simon.
Had they not Trenkin would have lost the chance of a Tour stage win, who's to say another would ever present itself.
He didn't do anything different to Rojas & Talansky.

Albasini may have done nothing had it not been for Lars Bak, where does it end?


As said, on a level I do agree there was more than a touch of winning ugly today, because of Simon's attack.
Had he popped out and done over Simon in the last 50 metres then I'd have a very different opinion.

 

[1066familyman]

As a nod to my 14yr old who has an amazing memory for stage finishes, and to remind myself that it did actually happen - here's the Mont Ventoux stage finish from 2009 and a rather surprising 2nd place finisher:

[yt]5_eUVpjlj-A[/yt]

Perhaps a break can stay away tomorrow too? I'd absolutely love it if a young Frenchie could hold off all the GC boys and nick the win on Bastille Day. And if it's Rudy Molard, even better.

 

[Stat Brother]

July 14, Stage 15: Givors - Mont Ventoux 242.5km

 

[1066familyman]

No predictions again SB? You sure you still want this job

I'm going for:

1. Rudy Molard
2. Romain Bardet
3. Thomas Voeckler

Tommy of course gifting the stage win to Rudy as he hands over the baton to the future of French cycling on Bastille day.

Vive la révolution!

Of course, all those blokes riding for GC might have some say in all this, but who cares about that?

 

[Stat Brother]

There's no downhill, there's only one winner, no point predicting.

It's a done deal.

 

[Triggaaar]

He did. I just hate his type of rider.

While I basically feel the same, isn't that the basic job of a sprinter?

 

[teaboy]

While I basically feel the same, isn't that the basic job of a sprinter?

Sort of, but everyone knows that, and they'll be a passenger on their own team's train. In a break like today's there were no 'teams' as such (no more than 2 riders from any one team) so everyone had to work together to make it stick - there were no domestiques there today. Passengers aren't welcome as they benefit from the collective work of others without pulling their weight. However, it's a race and judgement is as important as speed, power and guts. Trenkin judged his sprint perfectly. It may not be stylish, or gallant, but he took the win and that's all the history books will show.

I think everyone wanted Simon to win - the courage of a solo attack that is almost certain to fail is great to watch and is to be respected. Very rarely it succeeds - sadly today was not one of those days.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

A pedant writes ...

Can someone tell the commentators that Matteo Trentin, being Italian, pronounces his surname TRENTEEN, not Trontann (as if he was French)?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hU7kJAFRvjU

 

[teaboy]

A pedant writes ...

Can someone tell the commentators that Matteo Trentin, being Italian, pronounces his surname TRENTEEN, not Trontann (as if he was French)?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hU7kJAFRvjU

Have Phil and Paul got something wrong?

 

[Stat Brother]

A pedant writes ...

Can someone tell the commentators that Matteo Trentin, being Italian, pronounces his surname TRENTEEN, not Trontann (as if he was French)?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hU7kJAFRvjU

Pedantic pedant writes ...

A la the Foreign Legion when you job Quickstep, you're own nationality no longer exists, you are a Belgiumer.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Have Phil and Paul got something wrong?

Carlton was doing it too.

By the way, has anyone got any news on Harmon? He was supposed to be back for the Tour, and I've had my fill of Carlton "Ohhhhhhhhh" Kirby.

 

[teaboy]

Pedantic pedant writes ...

A la the Foreign Legion when you job Quickstep, you're own nationality no longer exists, you are a Belgiumer.

And if you need proof of that just watch his post-race interview with Ned. (40 mins into the ITV4 highlights).

WAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITTTTT!!!

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

Bastille day and a hill. Will Rolland make his move to seal the Polka Dot for this year today?

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Quintana today. I forgot that it was Bastille Day, but am not overly bothered, as nobody French will be up there. Famous last words...

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

Haven't spotted Rodriguez much this tour, this is the kind of stage he might make a move for a stage win.

 

[teaboy]

I'm expecting Tommy V to go on a crazy attack and gurn his way to a famous defeat. This stage has Quintana written all over it, so there's a very good chance he'll be dropped before the final climb. This year's Tour's mental - anything could happen. Marcel Kittel, anyone?

 

[Stat Brother]

[tweet]356362271536062464[/tweet]

 

[Foolg]

Someone throw some names at me please? I'll be in bed Ill all day and fancy a flutter, seeing as I won't be up to anything else all day.

 

[Stat Brother]

Someone throw some names at me please? I'll be in bed Ill all day and fancy a flutter, seeing as I won't be up to anything else all day.

Thibaut Pinot's going to win, how many other names do you want?

 

[JCL - the new kid in town]

What's happened to schleck? I thought he was a good climber a few years ago when he was challenging contador