The Official 101st Tour de France, thread.

[Stat Brother]

Definitely a good stage to back out of pre stage analysis!!

Nobody was expecting Tony Martin, today, a great ride.

I'm also pleased for Gallopin and Machado, it's great to see even if it's just for the day.

 

[Stat Brother]

Sorry if I derailed it. I'll keep quiet if you go back to it as you're right, yesterdays predictions were pretty good.

No, away you go, I doubt I'd be able to get as close as that again, so I'm bowing out, it was beginning to feel like a take over!!

 

[1066familyman]

No, away you go, I doubt I'd be able to get as close as that again, so I'm bowing out, it was beginning to feel like a take over!!

No, I don't want the job. Just a simple analysis, which you do very well, would suffice if you don't want to chuck in predictions as well. Keeps the thread ticking along nicely. Although predictions are always good fun.

 

[Stat Brother]

I'm not too sure what to think of Vosges France.
The terrain looks absolutely ideal for cycling, it's giving the impression of being a bit of a big boys Sussex.
Nicely undulating with some long flat routes as well as some arse kicking climbs.
Not exposed and very green, happy days.

But it does seem a little Germanic not many pleasant villages and market town squares.

 

[Stat Brother]

Best Bike Bling of the 2014 Tour

http://www.bicycling.com/tour-de-france/tour-features/best-bike-bling-2014-tour

 

[Stat Brother]

...

 

[Stat Brother]

July 14, Stage 10: Mulhouse - La Planche des Belles Filles 161.5km

Stage details

Distance: 161.5km

Category: High mountains

Highest point: 1,202m

 

[Horton's halftime iceberg]

Missed out the key information, MIDDAY start on the telly, how will I ever meet my deadlines......

 

[Horton's halftime iceberg]

Lotto owe Europcar after yesterdays break, so will hopefully help them in return in todays break, he's not looked on form but Rolland my names sake for the Bastille Day stage - national holiday in France so big big crazy crowds today.

 

[teaboy]

Surely we need a P&P Bastille Day Special bingo for today? Feel free to add your own.

"A Frenchman in Yellow on France's national holiday"
"quatorze juillet"
A bar conversation context
"What every Frenchman dreams of"
A sarcastic mention of the World Cup
"Biggest day in professional bicycle racing"

 

[Stat Brother]

Surely we need a P&P Bastille Day Special bingo for today? Feel free to add your own.

"A Frenchman in Yellow on France's national holiday"
"quatorze juillet"
A bar conversation context
"What every Frenchman dreams of"
A sarcastic mention of the World Cup
"Biggest day in professional bicycle racing"

I'm going to have a shot every time they mention an American rider for no apparent reason.

 

[Stat Brother]

I just hope today Contador isn't able to rough up Nibs on the penultimate climb.
If he does he'll have an unassailable lead in the race by the finish line.


Team Vinny Nibby.

 

[Horton's halftime iceberg]

Surely we need a P&P Bastille Day Special bingo for today? Feel free to add your own.

"A Frenchman in Yellow on France's national holiday"
"quatorze juillet"
A bar conversation context
"What every Frenchman dreams of"
A sarcastic mention of the World Cup
"Biggest day in professional bicycle racing"

The French have not won their own race since 1995 and Bernard Hinault
Its like the British and Wimbledon
David Brailslford has said he will get a Frenchman to win the Tour
The Frenchman will turn himself inside out to get the stage win on Bastille Day

 

[martin tyler]

Without Froome what are the chances for Richie Porte today? Is he good enough to win this overall?

 

[Bold Seagull]

Without Froome what are the chances for Richie Porte today? Is he good enough to win this overall?

They've lost Xabier Zandio one of their experienced climbing domestique's as well as Froome, so Sky are light in the mountains. Can't see him winning overall given the quality of the teams around him, but no reason he couldn't grab a stage win I guess.

 

[Spreadbetting Seagull]

I know he's had more falls this Tour than Geraint Thomas, but Talansky is 66/1 with Paddy Power for todays stage....

 

[Horton's halftime iceberg]

I know he's had more falls this Tour than Geraint Thomas, but Talansky is 66/1 with Paddy Power for todays stage....

The falls will affect him in a race like this, bigger problems for him would be the GC teams allowing him to go up the road for a few minutes with a break, hence the 66/1, however I would love it

 

[Horton's halftime iceberg]

Sagan up the road trying to win the green jersey before the rest day

Fantastic battle for the polka dots already, Thomas wins first points sprinting up hill with Rodriguiz, on the second climb Tony Martin in pursuit

 

[teaboy]

The weather looks terrible! I've been spotting where I'd die on descents. Pretty much everywhere, if you were wondering.

 

[Horton's halftime iceberg]

Not just you Machada Chute and OUT