The Official 98th Tour de France, thread, 2011.

[1066familyman]

Makes things interesting but no doubt their directeur sportif will be keeping an eye on them and keeping them updated.

Sherwin just confirming this as race radio contact is on.

 

[1066familyman]

Just as you posted that 2 dropped off the back at the same time.

...and may have cost them the 4 seconds they're now down.

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

Karpets is a huge man. Made the other Katusha riders look like midgets.

 

[1066familyman]

4 secs down overall for Sky then....not too bad really I suppose.

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

Not sure why they are rating HTC so highly as a chance to win the stage.

If HTC try to go too quick they will blow up a few riders along the way.

 

[1066familyman]

Karpets is a huge man. Made the other Katusha riders look like midgets.

Just looked at his wiki page....6ft 3 and 12.4 stone it says. I wonder what Big Mig was/is ?

 

[1066familyman]

Not sure why they are rating HTC so highly as a chance to win the stage.

If HTC try to go too quick they will blow up a few riders along the way.

One of them has just gone down !

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

Just looked at his wiki page....6ft 3 and 12.4 stone it says. I wonder what Big Mig was/is ?

6ft 2

Axel Merckx was about 6ft 4 if i remember rightly.

 

[Pantani]

6ft 2

Axel Merckx was about 6ft 4 if i remember rightly.

Magnus Backstedt is 6' 4" too. Huge man. Johan Vansummeren is the tallest currently, I believe.

 

[1066familyman]

Leopard Trek just knocked Htc off of 3rd spot

 

[Pantani]

Superb ride from BMC, was not expecting that. Hushovd to be in yellow for many days from here.

 

[1066familyman]

Superb ride from BMC, was not expecting that. Hushovd to be in yellow for many days from here.

Agreed. Sprint stage tomorrow too and I'm particularly looking forward to it as it starts in Olonne Sur Mer and takes in the rather beautiful Apremont. We holidayed in Olonne Sur Mer two years ago and visited Apremont amongst other places- lovely memories.

 

[Stat Brother]

Good stuff. I always enjoy the TTT.
2 for 2 for predictions, and that's where it will end.

 

[Pantani]

Good stuff. I always enjoy the TTT.
2 for 2 for predictions, and that's where it will end.

You just need to believe SB. Keep in mind some of those incredibly annoying motivational messages intoned by Chris Boardman before and after every ad break.

I had always resolved never to buy a Boardman bike due to the Halfords connection, now I have another reason.

 

[Stat Brother]

There's no getting away from the fact he's making some serious money from those sales.
Expect a team to be riding Boardman's within 5 years, at the Tour.

 

[Pantani]

There's no getting away from the fact he's making some serious money from those sales.
Expect a team to be riding Boardman's within 5 years, at the Tour.

One of the lesser sides are riding them already. Someone who was in the Tour of California.

Just looked it up, it is the catchily named UnitedHealthCare Pro Cycling Team that ride them.

 

[Stoichkov]

There's no getting away from the fact he's making some serious money from those sales.
Expect a team to be riding Boardman's within 5 years, at the Tour.

Boardman was a top whinger in his time - always had an excuse up his sleeve for why his form wasn't 100%. I used to get fed up of hearing him drone on about it. Basically a very good British Time Trialler who was found out as soon as the road went uphill

 

[Pantani]

Boardman was a top whinger in his time - always had an excuse up his sleeve for why his form wasn't 100%. I used to get fed up of hearing him drone on about it. Basically a very good British Time Trialler who was found out as soon as the road went uphill

True, although he was not helped by riding in an era when doping really was rife.

 

[Stat Brother]

Hiya stoichkov, just a couple more of the old guard to go, and will have a full house, adding to some good new voices, too.

 

[Stoichkov]

True, although he was not helped by riding in an era when doping really was rife.

Without wanting to open a doping binfest, how can you be sure he himself was clean?