That was as boring as a stage of a bike race can be. Two man break inevitably getting caught, followed by a bunch sprint where the obvious favourite wins easily. Stages like yesterdays are the really good ones, keep watching and you will see some great entertainment.
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The Official 101st Tour de France, thread.
- Thread starter Stat Brother
- Start date
That was as boring as a stage of a bike race can be. Two man break inevitably getting caught, followed by a bunch sprint where the obvious favourite wins easily. Stages like yesterdays are the really good ones, keep watching and you will see some great entertainment.
Too easy, Kittel won't be beaten unless he falls off. Or Lotto and Quickstep stop doing all the work from 10km out, it is easy for Giant to just do the work in the last 3km. The other teams have to make them do more, that was what was so remarkable about HTC, they would lead out from 20/25km out and still have enough men for the finish.
Lotto keep doing all this work, then where is Greipel? He didn't even contest the finish.
Bold Seagull
strong and stable with me, or...
It was still a fast exciting run in. Greipel & Lotto just don't seem to be able to get it together - was it part of their train caught in the crash? Shame Cav is out injured as that would have been hell of a finish if it had been Cav behind Kittel rather than Sagan at the end.
Yeah I know, Kittel's dominance is just putting a bit of a dampener on the flat stages for me.
Tom Hark Preston Park
Will Post For Cash
- Jul 6, 2003
- 72,321
Once again London - and the UK - rises to the occasion. Magnifique!
I'm fairly new to watching cycling, so don't know a huge amount. But it looks to me that any time there is a sniff of a sprint finish, Kittel is going to win the stage. It seems that Kittel will win again tomorrow. He is just a machine.
Froome recons that stage 5 will shake up the GC with lots of cobbles. That should be interesting.
Froome recons that stage 5 will shake up the GC with lots of cobbles. That should be interesting.
Goring Gull
New member
Having enjoyed the tour in Yorkshire thie weekend all i can say is fantastic and Yorkshire have done a cracking job of turning out and supporting the event.
- Thread starter
- #269
Like I was saying yesterday [MENTION=23454]HawkTheSeagull[/MENTION]'s reaction is classic Phil & Paul.
Us gnarly old hackers are tutting and rolling our eyes at the commentary, due to the transitional nature of the stage.
Whereas newbies are buying into the 'will they won't they' nature of P & P.
I still enjoyed the stage.
Just how many people live in Great Little Bottom or where ever?
Thousands lining the route again.
Tomorrow is going to be a real culture shock for the riders.
As Pantani says there's plenty better to come, so stick with it Hawk.
Wednesday's stage is the next appointment viewing.
If you're really lucky [MENTION=19321]Pogue Mahone[/MENTION], [MENTION=225]Hamilton[/MENTION] and I'm sure others who have, will be about to spice up the commentary, as they have ridden the cobbled course.
Goring Gull
New member
Because you never get any morons in an Albion away crowd do you? hahahahahahaha Some people you always get the odd idiot - Althpugh alot of people have no idea of how fast these cyclists are going.
Motogull
Todd Warrior
- Sep 16, 2005
- 10,475
Brilliant. Take your chances when can. How long before you get another chance to do something like that again?
Uncle C
Well-known member
Gazwag
5 millionth post poster
With all the trouble on the tunnel will it effect how everything gets to France in time for tomorrow's start
Pogue Mahone
Well-known member
- Apr 30, 2011
- 10,946
What trouble on the tunnel?
If the tunnel is a no go, they'll take everything on the boat. The riders will all have travelled by plane earlier.
Pogue Mahone
Well-known member
- Apr 30, 2011
- 10,946
That must have been fun. I wish I had come. Schoolboy error, decision-making-wise.
- Thread starter
- #276
Stage details
Distance: 163.5
Category: Flat
Highest point: 159m
After three days in the United Kingdom, the peloton return to French shores. Yet again, this should be another clear cut chance for the sprinters and an opportunity to extend or reduce the lead in the green jersey competition. In order to stop Peter Sagan from repeating his 2013 success, the pure sprinters will have to take points at every opportunity.
By this point we will have already had a snapshot of who is in form and who hasn't got their preparation quite right. It will be one of the last chances for the pure sprinters to get on the score board before we hit the mountains at the weekend.
The riders will head east from the French coast, tackling two fourth category climbs and running alongside the Belgian boarder, before the finish in Lille, in anticipation of the following day’s key stage.
Lille has featured 14 times as a finishing town for the Tour de France. The last time was 20 years ago for the opening prologue, which was won by Chris Boardman. It was his first of three Tour de France stage wins and the result would put him into the yellow jersey for the first time. He would go onto win the prologues in 1997 and 1998, making him the Brit with the most time in the yellow jersey until Bradley Wiggins in 2012 on his way to team Sky’s first ever Tour victory.
Distance: 163.5
Category: Flat
Highest point: 159m
After three days in the United Kingdom, the peloton return to French shores. Yet again, this should be another clear cut chance for the sprinters and an opportunity to extend or reduce the lead in the green jersey competition. In order to stop Peter Sagan from repeating his 2013 success, the pure sprinters will have to take points at every opportunity.
By this point we will have already had a snapshot of who is in form and who hasn't got their preparation quite right. It will be one of the last chances for the pure sprinters to get on the score board before we hit the mountains at the weekend.
The riders will head east from the French coast, tackling two fourth category climbs and running alongside the Belgian boarder, before the finish in Lille, in anticipation of the following day’s key stage.
Lille has featured 14 times as a finishing town for the Tour de France. The last time was 20 years ago for the opening prologue, which was won by Chris Boardman. It was his first of three Tour de France stage wins and the result would put him into the yellow jersey for the first time. He would go onto win the prologues in 1997 and 1998, making him the Brit with the most time in the yellow jersey until Bradley Wiggins in 2012 on his way to team Sky’s first ever Tour victory.
Pogue Mahone
Well-known member
- Apr 30, 2011
- 10,946
The calm before the storm.
Bladders
Twats everywhere
What time does it start on the telly and what channel? I'm going to watch it with an open mind and see if I'm genuinely missing out on something great.
EDIT: or should I start with the highlights later tonight?
EDIT 2: ..and basic tactics, what should I be looking out for so I understand whats happening?
EDIT: or should I start with the highlights later tonight?
EDIT 2: ..and basic tactics, what should I be looking out for so I understand whats happening?
Last edited:
Pogue Mahone
Well-known member
- Apr 30, 2011
- 10,946
If you want to watch with an open mind, great. However, even to cycling fans, today is likely to be a very boring stage. It's flat as a pancake, and Kittel will almost certainly win, with everyone else just behind.
Tomorrow's stage, which includes some painful sections of cobbles, would be better. But the best stages to watch are when the Tour reaches the mountains - both for the scenery and the competition.
It's on ITV 4 and Eurosport, coverage starts at about midday.
Bladders
Twats everywhere
That suits me better as I'm out all day today but might be able to catch some of it tomorrow.
What time does it start?
EDIT: Ooops, just seen, Midday.
