The OFFICIAL Tour de France, thread.

[Gwylan]

Titanium is used in space ships. SPACE SHIPS!!

It is practically indestructable. Doesn't rust either. Steel is good, but Titanium is true bike porn. Which I thought the program was about. I suppose though it is his bike not mine. I doubt you would get two bikes the same if you asked everyone to put together their perfect bike. I for example would have gone for some crazy paint scheme probably involving pink. Most would consider this madness.

Sorry, I wasn't implying that it wasn't - I'm fully aware of the strength of titanium (I knew my Chemistry A level would be useful one day) but his budget might not have stretched to titanium and given those constraints, steel would be worthwhile option.

 

[Stat Brother]

I take it that's your dream bike that costs £12k, not the bike you're actually cycling on.

My mistake this is only 8k! (I was looking at it on a US site $12k)
Time RXR VIP as posted on the 'bike sex' thread

2 questions that hopefully somebody can help me with. who will be taking over saxobank and will they be investing much, and who will contador be riding for next year?

There you go.
Alberto Contador To Leave Astana - BikeRadar

 

[Pantani]

Sorry, I wasn't implying that it wasn't - I'm fully aware of the strength of titanium (I knew my Chemistry A level would be useful one day) but his budget might not have stretched to titanium and given those constraints, steel would be worthwhile option.

Very true. I suppose I just want to say what I would have done. Still a handbuilt, bespoke frame is far beyond my pocket at this time. Whether it is made of steel, titanium or papier mache.

 

[Stat Brother]

The best Contador rumour I'd heard was that Fernando Alonso was going to fund a Spanish Pro Tour team around Bert.

 

[Gwylan]

The best Contador rumour I'd heard was that Fernando Alonso was going to fund a Spanish Pro Tour team around Bert.

Yes, I read that too.

Ad why not? Spain seem to win everything else.

BTW, one other thing about that bike last night - how to secure it. I'd be so paranoid about leaving 4 grand's worth of bike lying around, I'd be petrified to take it anywhere. How do people with expensive bikes cope?

 

[Stat Brother]

Well he solved that by making it look like a £500 dog.

 

[Gwylan]

Well he solved that by making it look like a £500 dog.

(although I can laugh, I had an ancient, 3-speed boneshaker nicked from outside my flat in London - the resale value must have been a fiver)

 

[Stoichkov]

The best Contador rumour I'd heard was that Fernando Alonso was going to fund a Spanish Pro Tour team around Bert.

The best Contador rumour is he was one of Eufemiano Fuentes clients

 

[Stat Brother]

Belleville Rendez-Vous 10:30 - Some might say it's the best cycling film ever. But that could be a bit of a 'bum steer' as it's an eccentric hand drawn cartoon, that's right out there!, but I enjoy it.

Don't forget this, The Sunday Times film of the week.

 

[Horton's halftime iceberg]

I guess we ought to begin wrapping this up, with the TdF awards:-

Best Rider
Best Team
Best Stage
Best Individual performance

Rider with most to prove next year
Team with most to prove
(they were the politest I could make them!)

Worst judging decision

The Ty award for best tipster.

Feel free to add any others, it's early.

Back from my Tour of part of the Tour de France, so what a great way to avoid the pile of work (and washing) than ponder the race as a whole.

Best Rider; Bert and Andy looked so good in previous years you would have thought drugs, but the watage outputs this year aparantly show the race is cleaner and Bert is showing what he can do without the extras.

Outside the top 5, Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin 1 -0 Sky), Nicolas Roche where could he have finished if Gadret did what he was paid to do.

Best Team; Bbox, two fantastic stage wins and the polkadot jersey almost unaposed. We heard rumours that a hotel chain was ready to pick up the team after Bbox sponsorship has ended which is great news for the team and area, especially with a Vendee start in 2011. Also a mention to the backroom staff at team Sky who never once failed to a thumbs up or wave on seeing our home nations flags, they looked genuinly excited to be there, at one of the food stops they even had chuppa chup style lollies for the riders.

Best Stage;Stage 8 Station des Rousses - Morzine-Avoriaz, and stage 3 on the cobbles.

I would like to say the ones in the pyreneese but felt these two stages made for a close race. Stage 19 the time trial from Bordeaux - Pauillac was my personal favorite as me and the wife always have the best time on this stage. For example this year we were between two chateauxs in vine yards on a hill with a bend where you could see up and down the road. Dutch family one side, French familiy the other, chairs, paper, bag of food and drink and loads of catchs and overtaking as we were 7 k from the end. Apart from the Nante wash out we think these are one of the best stages you can get too for overall TDF experience.

Best Individual performance; Thomas Voeckler stage 15 break away win, real guts. However all the french winners this year, made especailly good while watched in random French bars drinking cold bière pression and everyone stands and aplauds at the end.

Thomas Geraint (Rotterdam timetrial and cobbles) and Andy Scleck cobbles and climb to Avoriaz.

Cancellara looks unbeatable in a TT.

Rider with most to prove next year I love the fact that cycling as a sport is always looking for the next best thing.

It will be Andy Scleck, new team, brother back and to see if he can not lose 1:10 in the first time trial, a team time trail is back I believe, he sounds and looks confident he can do it, roll on October and see what the 2011 route offers the GC contendors.

Will riders like Van de Brocke, Gesink get better team support, will Horner get a GC ride. Will sky launch the next Manx wonder Peter Kennaugh, the person many believe is Brailsfords possible tour winner (no pressure then).

Cav...its not easy being green, could he win all the sprint stages?

Team with most to prove SKY...its going to be fasinating to see how they process this years attempts. Most people felt Brailsford is trying to replicate what he has done on the track to the road and that their are too many varibles he cannot control. Its going to be great watching him try over the next four years, he has to pay for the buses and the 200k a year Wiggens contract somehoe.

Worst judging decision Well for me by a rider, Bert taking time from Andy on chaingate. Still it won him the tour by those 39 seconds.

Best tears; Cav, Best crash stage 2 pile up, best fight Barrado, best guts Voigt, best MOD look Brad, best PR Team Livestrong - Big Trucks, chalk bot, free 'just do it' yellow chalk to draw giant penis on roads

Most ominous quote "It's me who was weaker, it's not him who was better." Alberto Contador

Best quote ''If John Gadret is found dead in his hotel room in the morning, I will probably be the primary suspect.'' Nicolas Roche, lets hope he gets a transfer to a big team and does what his dad managed.


Viva La Tour de France

Saturday 2nd July 2011: First stage, Passage du Gois - Mont des Alouettes, 180 km
Sunday 3rd July 2011: Second stage, Les Essarts, Team time-trial, 23 km
Monday 4th July 2011: Third stage starts in Olonne-sur-Mer

 

[Horton's halftime iceberg]

Got to be in it to win it..

Team Sky | Pro Cycling | Competition

Nice for popping down the shops on.

C. Big Mig

 

[Stat Brother]

Have entered, and you know what, I'd probably sell it, if I won!

 

[Pantani]

Have entered, and you know what, I'd probably sell it, if I won!

Really? I bet once you had it in your hands you would find it difficult to let it go. That being said if you got £12k for it you could spend £4k on a bike that would still be fantastically good and have £8k left over.

 

[Stat Brother]

Yeah, there are plenty of bikes that cost less that I wouldn't give up no matter what 'friction' it caused, in the house.
I think it's a front fork thing.

 

[1066familyman]

The best Contador rumour I'd heard was that Fernando Alonso was going to fund a Spanish Pro Tour team around Bert.

Yep, I remember Paul Sherwen saying on one of the commentaries that Fernando Alonso is a massive cycling fan and rumoured to do just that.

Thanks for those programme tips by the way. Enjoyed the history of the bike one although I wasn't a huge fan of the presenter. My 11 yr old boy stayed up to watch it with me as it's the school holidays - cue awkward silence when that lady appeared Ended up recording the Tom Simpson documentary so I can sit down and enjoy another time.

 

[1066familyman]

Good to read Hortons halftime iceburg as he reports back on here

As for next years TdF. We stayed in Olonne-sur-mer for our family holiday last year and explored the Vendee. Lovely holiday it was too.

 

[Stoichkov]

If your in the south of england, I recommend a trip over to see the Tour of Flanders and Paris Roubaix in April.

Get an early Euro Tunnel train, quick run down the motorway, watch it in 2/3 places and you'll be home by 9.

A great day out...

 

[Fazz62]

HHI

Excellent post on your review of the tour.
Presume you have read this article......

The Science of Sport: Tour de France 2009: Contador VO2max

 

[Horton's halftime iceberg]

Wow thats detailed, I could not manage it all but either way its a blinding by science. I get most of my doping news from the two podcasts below, the are very good and full of rumour and inuendo.

VeloCast Cycling Podcast | A Cycling Podcast Featuring The Week Mountain Bike News

Home - realpeloton.com

I am almost afraid to read from Landis to Lance or any of David Walsh's books although many say he is making a carear of accusing Lance.

However I have read Paul Kimmages 'rough ride' and the Pantani and Simpson books that cover a lot about doping. Without evidence I do believe this has been the cleanest race for years. Certain teams like Sky, Garmin and HTC has strong anti doping stances and riders were having good and bad days. I have not studied the Watage stats personally but people are saying they have dropped back to what is seen as pheasble.

I like to think the authoritys are getting better at catching cheats, but am always suspious of previous dopers who have not talked openly about their crimes, unlike Miller whos accounts are fasinating to listen too.

BBC Sport - Cycling - David Millar expresses Olympic regrets
BBC Sport - Millar reveals road to drugs ruin

On Dr Eufemiano Fuentes and blood doping it always amazes me that the footballers, tennis players and altletes seemed to have eluded detection scott free. Also if you read accounts of when blood doping goes wrong and makes you ill, its revolting.

Looks like we may have both a Scleck and Contador team for next year, means a couple of the current teams may lose out, hopefully Sky have pulled enough strings to stay in without winning a stage or having a top 10 finisher.

 

[Horton's halftime iceberg]

Will be odd to see Contador riding in a Saxo Bank top next year all we need is Astana-Bank to sponsor the Schlecks new team for a complete 360.

Hoping they stay fit and injury free this should make for a great race next year.

From Cycling News & Race Results | Cyclingnews.com

Riis has secured Contador as team leader but now must rebuild his team for 2011. Andy and Frank Schleck have already confirmed they are moving on and look set to create their own team in Luxembourg with Riis’ former directeur sportif Kim Andersen and former press officer Brian Nygaard managing the team. A number of staff and experienced riders are also expected to jump ship and work with the Schlecks, including Jens Voigt, Stuart O’Grady. New signings could include Germany’s Linus Gerdemann, Fabian Wegmann Domenik Klemme.

Fabian Cancellara is expected to stay with Riis’ team in 2011 because he has a year remaining on his contract. Emerging talent Richie Porte is also expected to stay with the team as a second team leader for stage races.