The Official 99th Tour de France thread, 2012.

[Indurain's Lungs]

I thought he was well known. Pantani knows him certainly.


Note to self: stop discussing transfers with rivals before the transfer deadline is over

Grabsch, grivko, Lancaster?

 

[1066familyman]

Grabsch, grivko, Lancaster?

Ssshhh

Actually, Bert is a real mystery. What has happened to him these days!? Once upon a time he would have been a shoe in for me.

 

[Pantani]

I thought he was well known. Pantani knows him certainly.


Note to self: stop discussing transfers with rivals before the transfer deadline is over

I'm a big fan of Eastern European National Time Trial Champions.

 

[Pantani]

Grabsch, grivko, Lancaster?

Forgot about Grabsch less than four years since he was World Champion and he finished 1 minute 30 down on Martin in the German TT champs, a good pick I think. Lancaster is more a prologuer than proper TT specialist, imo.

 

[1066familyman]

Forgot about Grabsch less than four years since he was World Champion and he finished 1 minute 30 down on Martin in the German TT champs, a good pick I think. Lancaster is more a prologuer than proper TT specialist, imo.

Well I hadn't forgotten about Bert for the Criterium TT

 

[Indurain's Lungs]

You may notice from my team that I had to just swap out the tripe in my team leaders.

 

[Stat Brother]

Stage 9, the TT before a rest day:-

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Interesting article HERE

Wiggins Delivers Caustic Assessment Of His Critics - BikeRadar

 

[perseus]

BBC Report: BBC Sport - Tour de France: Bradley Wiggins retains yellow jersey as Pinot wins

Mentions the bit we missed as the French cameras followed Pinot.

 

[perseus]

Stage 9, the TT before a rest day:-

A guide to the Olympic Time Trials / Road Race ?

Olympic Road Race is 250 km

TT is 44 km

London 2012 Olympic Time Trial Route Unveiled - BikeRadar

 

[Horton's halftime iceberg]

Interesting article HERE

Wiggins Delivers Caustic Assessment Of His Critics - BikeRadar

Marvelous scenes from the Modfather...

"What do you say to the cynics who think that you have to be doped up to win the Tour de France?" Wiggins was asked.

After a pause, Wiggins replied: "They are just f***ing w*****s. I cannot be doing with people like that. It justifies their own bone-idleness because they can’t ever imagine applying themselves to anything in their lives. It’s easy for them to sit under a pseudonym on Twitter rather than get off their arses in their own life and apply themselves and work hard at something and achieve something, and that’s ultimately it. C**ts!"

Hurrah, they also mentioned that Belguim were to put in a legal bid to get him to ride under the flag of his birth.

 

[Stat Brother]

Dave Millar's twitter response:-
David Millar ‏@millarmind
Wiggo's now better at me in everything to do with cycling, profanity-filled interviews were all I had left. Now he's taken that crown. Darn.

Hurrah, they also mentioned that Belguim were to put in a legal bid to get him to ride under the flag of his birth.

To an Aussie father and English mum (for the newbs)

 

[Horton's halftime iceberg]

Dave Millar's twitter response:-
David Millar ‏@millarmind
Wiggo's now better at me in everything to do with cycling, profanity-filled interviews were all I had left. Now he's taken that crown. Darn.

Quality post.

Really looking forward to todays big TT. Bescanson was our first ever corporate trip. We arrived hours early sat pretty much on the finsh line all day being offered a few free peanuts and some champagne as Lance came cruising by for another win. Then ironically saw him go into the little dope test caravan. Fantastic memories.

I am hoping it will be less stressful today and that Brad posts a top time.

I would hope if they all stay upright and the weather is kind this is between Fabian, Tony Martin or Brad, would love the latter to show his metal. Be interesting if Froome puts in a good time.

 

[Pantani]

Apparently they have started already and some big names have finished too. Current top five:

1.Tony Martin (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) 53:40
2.Lieuwe Westra (Vacansoleil-DCM) +0:29
3.Gustav Erik Larsson (Vacansoleil-DCM) +0:39
4.Luis Leo Sanchez (Rabovank) +0:52
5.David Millar (Garmin-Sharp) +1:58

Don't think that will be good enough from Martin, you would expect to beat Westra by more than 30 seconds to beat Spartacus.

It is going to be a long day 182 riders with a 2 minute gap, then 3 minute gap for the last 10 equates to 6 hours 34 minutes between the first and last start time, add on the 50 minutes the ride takes and you are looking at 7 and a half hours from beginning to end.

Just checked the start times Brice Feillu (the first out of the gate) started at 9:45, that is early.

Start times listed here: TT start times

 

[Pantani]

Current top ten

1.Tony Martin (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) 53:40
2.Lieuwe Westra (Vacansoleil-DCM) +0:29
3.Gustav Erik Larsson (Vacansoleil-DCM) +0:39
4.Luis Leo Sanchez (Rabovank) +0:52
5.David Millar (Garmin-Sharp) +1:58
6. Steven Cummings (BMC) +2:07
7.Patrick Gretsch (Argos-Shimano) +2:19
8.Anthony Roux (FDJ-BigMat) +2:31
9.David Zabriskie (Garmin-Sharp) +2:34
10.Vladimir Karpets (Movistar) +3:29

Bert Grabsch outside the top ten, for those who went for him after last nights discussion.

You need to deduct an hour off those start times listed in previous post, I was wondering how Tony Martin could finish before he started

 

[Indurain's Lungs]

Apparently they have started already and some big names have finished too. Current top five:

1.Tony Martin (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) 53:40
2.Lieuwe Westra (Vacansoleil-DCM) +0:29

I'm having to pin my hopes on Westra for some points today then. Maybe the wind will kick up massively for the later starters!

 

[Pantani]

I'm having to pin my hopes on Westra for some points today then. Maybe the wind will kick up massively for the later starters!

Wiggins, Rogers and Westra shouldn't be too bad. Though I expect we all have Wiggins and Rogers.

 

[Pantani]

Voigt on a flyer, second on both intermediate checks.

 

[1066familyman]

Typical, had my suspicions dave z would be crap and was considering larsson instead. That'll learn me.

 

[Indurain's Lungs]

I'm having to pin my hopes on Westra for some points today then. Maybe the wind will kick up massively for the later starters!

Bugger, Voigt 1 second faster than Westra!!