The Official 99th Tour de France thread, 2012.

[Pantani]

Tommy again, doesn't matter how Kessiakoff does it he still gets beaten.

Score now: Voeckler 135, Kessiakoff 118

I make that 15 points but cycling news are saying he is only ten ahead.

 

[Stat Brother]

You won't beat Tommy !

For trying though Kessiakoff

Us and the French have certainly enjoyed this tour.



And that's all that counts.

 

[Horton's halftime iceberg]

It's alright, Stat Brother will be answering all the newbie questions, he's our official spokesman/media contact

Get this man some headphones now....

 

[Horton's halftime iceberg]

I like a detailed prediction, what can I say.

The profile of the last two climbs of today.

2 and a quarter...

 

[Stat Brother]

There is a team award, but Sky aren't in it, as it's the cumulative time of the first 3 (?) riders.

It's the ultimate team sacrifice sport.
Very much the 'team' riding for the individual.
Oh and as a 'nod' to this all prize money is pooled and then split between the whole team.
Traditionally the winner doesn't take any money, due to what can be made down the line.
I'm not so sure this is still the case as the money has gone up.

...

 

[Pantani]

2 and a quarter...

With 1 and a quarter descents...

 

[Stat Brother]

Get this man some headphones now....

Right that's it, I'm off and am going to start my own thread.

You lot are just like my imaginary friends, they don't like me either!

 

[1066familyman]

Radioshack-Nissan will keep hold of the team award - 4 riders in the top 20 GC is pretty impressive. That award doesn't compare to the others though, it's not a team sport in that way, it is as SB says, the team essentially riding for the individual and most often the team Leader. Most riders in it are just domestiques, which if you translate that from the French, you'll get the idea.

 

[Pantani]

15km until the fireworks start.

 

[Horton's halftime iceberg]

Do you think Liquigas are trying to get 2nd or going for the No 1 spot

 

[Indurain's Lungs]

Do you think Liquigas are trying to get 2nd or going for the No 1 spot

I think they're going for the stage win. They've admitted defeat really.

 

[Pantani]

Do you think Liquigas are trying to get 2nd or going for the No 1 spot

Stage win, plus whatever comes with it, but primarily the stage win.


The points for the intermediate sprint were won by:

1. Kadri (ALM) 20pts

2. Casar (FDJ) 17pts

3. Plaza (MOV) 15pts

4. Peraud (ALM) 13pts

5. Izaguirre (EUS) 11pts

6. Ten Dam (RAB) 10pts

7. Valverde (MOV) 9pts

8. Costa (MOV) 8pts

9. Vinokourov (AST) 7pts

10. Leipheimer (OPQ) 6pts

11. Stortoni (LAM) 5pts

12. Kessiakoff (AST) 4pts

13. Voeckler (EUC) 3pts

14. Hoogerland (VCD) 2pts

15. Martinez (EUS) 1pt

 

[Stat Brother]

Do you think Liquigas are trying to get 2nd or going for the No 1 spot

If yesterday is anything to go by, they are just going to burn themselves up, leaving Nibs out numbered when it counts.

 

[Horton's halftime iceberg]

Latest odds

Nibali 6/4

Froome 4/1

Valderde 10/1

Van de Broeck 14/1

Wiggins 16/1

Rolland 25/1

Evans & Tejay 40/1

If it ends like yesterday - Froome could be a good bet

 

[Horton's halftime iceberg]

Chute 3 SKY down

 

[1066familyman]

If yesterday is anything to go by, they are just going to burn themselves up, leaving Nibs out numbered when it counts.

Yep, can't help thinking the Lotto boys will be loving this.

 

[Horton's halftime iceberg]

Porte down lets hope he gets back up

 

[Pantani]

Porte will have to get a move on if he wants to be back at the front by the time they start climbing.

 

[Horton's halftime iceberg]

Porte will have to get a move on if he wants to be back at the front by the time they start climbing.

Even if he does - he could be spent

CAV should have pulled him back up

 

[Pantani]

Even if he does - he could be spent

CAV should have pulled him back up

I was thinking that too, he should have waited really.