Tour de France (1 Viewer)

[Gazolba]

Froome close to winning his fourth Tour. How much longer before he is accused of doing something illegal to win?

 

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[Covstu]

It's getting annoying the hate for the man to be honest. He has a great team around him but still a fantastic all rounder. Uran has done so well basically being on his own, AG2 have been great at attacking to keep it interesting too

 

[Covstu]

Interesting day at the TT. French public were awful to Froome and at the end I wanted him to catch Bardet!

 

[stupot07]

Very interesting day yesterday. The French public were a disgrace. That was some ride by Bodnar. Bardet completely imploded, hes very lucky HD managed to cling on to third And that froome didn't catch him. Been a strange tour, although on paper it looked close, there just hasn't been enough opportunities to really shake up and allow attacks on the GC.

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[oscillatewildly]

I won't watch it until the TV coverage opens and closes with Pink Floyd's 'Bike'.

 

[Gazolba]

I must admit I pretty much lost interest after Cavendish crashed out. I enjoy the sprints more than anything else.
I don't really care who wins the Tour, I care more about who wins the sprints.

 

[Covstu]

I must admit I pretty much lost interest after Cavendish crashed out. I enjoy the sprints more than anything else.
I don't really care who wins the Tour, I care more about who wins the sprints.

Opposite for me, sprint stages are fairly dull. Give me the mountains anyday!

 

[Gazolba]

Opposite for me, sprint stages are fairly dull. Give me the mountains anyday!

But the sprints take place after everyone has climbed the mountains. That's what makes them so incredible. How they have anything left at all is amazing.

 

[Covstu]

But the sprints take place after everyone has climbed the mountains. That's what makes them so incredible. How they have anything left at all is amazing.

Not many mountain stages end in a bunch sprint really? The actual sprinters are way back in the groupetto.

 

[ddsdube]

Mountains for me too, sprint stages are dull until the last 5k, especially without Cav to cheer on. Missed Sagan too, always entertaining and very harsh disqualification.

Can't change the theme tune... the accordion music annoys my wife so much!


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[stupot07]

Love this mountain stages. I like the last 5k in sprints but they are largely boring. A breakaway gets away and you know the trains are going to catch them within the last 2ks. The mountain stages are much more exciting when they are attacking each other, and you see them crack.

Cav made an interesting point about descending in his book. He said that everyone says Nibali and Bardet are brilliant descenders, but its the sprinters in the groupetto that take the most risks and arguably the most skillful descenders as they try to make up time lost on the climb to ensure they get in before the time limit, its just you don't get to see that on TV as its the wrong end of race

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[Covstu]

Love this mountain stages. I like the last 5k in sprints but they are largely boring. A breakaway gets away and you know the trains are going to catch them within the last 2ks. The mountain stages are much more exciting when they are attacking each other, and you see them crack.

Cav made an interesting point about descending in his book. He said that everyone says Nibali and Bardet are brilliant descenders, but its the sprinters in the groupetto that take the most risks and arguably the most skillful descenders as they try to make up time lost on the climb to ensure they get in before the time limit, its just you don't get to see that on TV as its the wrong end of race

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Not buying that they would take too much risks while sitting at the back, there would be no real point surely???

 

[stupot07]

Not buying that they would take too much risks while sitting at the back, there would be no real point surely???

I can't remember his exact words, will check when I get home. But he was saying that the sprinters are really poor climbers and struggle to get up the mountains, lose a lot of time often outside the cut off, but have to make that up on the descents so are often quicker down hill that people like nibali who's seen as the best descender.

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[Gazolba]

Looks like a women's Tour De France might be coming.
Women could cycle the Tour de France route, so why give them La Course?
Many women have already ridden the full course so its fully within their capabilities.

 

[Covstu]

I can't remember his exact words, will check when I get home. But he was saying that the sprinters are really poor climbers and struggle to get up the mountains, lose a lot of time often outside the cut off, but have to make that up on the descents so are often quicker down hill that people like nibali who's seen as the best descender.

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I don't doubt they are better to be fair, a lot heavier and more aero bikes. Just doesn't make much sense breaking your neck at the back of the race

 

[Covstu]

Looks like a women's Tour De France might be coming.
Women could cycle the Tour de France route, so why give them La Course?
Many women have already ridden the full course so its fully within their capabilities.

I agree they can do it but I suppose it would depend on when this would be put on would be key. Day before, day after, same day? Same time I.e, a few hours in between? Completely different time of the year? It's always going to be difficult to pull in the crowds if after the 'main event' but could be good before to wetbthe appetite plus the crowds would then have two days of cycling in one spot rather than just the one

 

[Gazolba]

I agree they can do it but I suppose it would depend on when this would be put on would be key. Day before, day after, same day? Same time I.e, a few hours in between? Completely different time of the year? It's always going to be difficult to pull in the crowds if after the 'main event' but could be good before to wetbthe appetite plus the crowds would then have two days of cycling in one spot rather than just the one

They could have the men's race every other year and the women's race in the other years. There are always the other minor tours for the men to ride.

 

[Covstu]

They could have the men's race every other year and the women's race in the other years. There are always the other minor tours for the men to ride.

i don't think that would stick to be honest, the Tour is huge in France particularly on the sponsorship front. I think the womens race is a slow burner which is slowly increasing in popularity but I cannot see it ever replacing the mens events but certainly can co-exist in and around the same time. For me the Womens race should start the day before so all the banners etc are up and would be a great prelude to the mens race. I think this constant exposure will eventually put them on level pegging through the years which would be great. I think if it was a day later, it might be a bit like getting to the party late and might not have the same affect.