 | | | 
06.07.2008, 14:10
| Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Perthia
Posts: 1,236
Groaned at 1 Time in 1 Post
Thanked 905 Times in 446 Posts
| | Official EF Tour de France thread
Why not a TdF thread to get us through the next 3 weeks of the great race.
Go Cadel!
Last edited by Yokine; 06.07.2008 at 14:37.
| 
06.07.2008, 14:29
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Tir na nÓg
Posts: 3,628
Groaned at 54 Times in 35 Posts
Thanked 2,388 Times in 1,209 Posts
| | Re: Official EF Tour de France thread
On paper he looks to be the one to look out for, but I rekon we could be in for a few surprises this year. First week will be interesting without the prologue to set the game in motion.
People are talking about Valverde too... and he has the yellow now. But three weeks to go, I don't see him in yellow at the end.
I reckon Cadel or someone up and coming rider out to prove a point.
| 
06.07.2008, 14:58
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Züri
Posts: 7,553
Groaned at 164 Times in 105 Posts
Thanked 8,424 Times in 3,486 Posts
| | Re: Official EF Tour de France thread
What makes this thread 'Official'?
Just wondering...
| 
06.07.2008, 15:06
|  | Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Dietikon ZH
Posts: 2,303
Groaned at 24 Times in 21 Posts
Thanked 3,402 Times in 1,079 Posts
| | Re: Official EF Tour de France thread | Quote: | |  | | | What makes this thread 'Official'?
Just wondering... | | | | | The lack of a competing thread at this stage...
I am also going for Cadel, just hope he does do the typical aussie trick of crashing somewhere along the tour.. | 
06.07.2008, 15:37
| Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Perthia
Posts: 1,236
Groaned at 1 Time in 1 Post
Thanked 905 Times in 446 Posts
| | Re: Official EF Tour de France thread | Quote: | |  | | | What makes this thread 'Official'?
Just wondering... | | | | | Just playing along with the thread title used for the EM08 discussion Official EF EURO2008 thread | 
07.07.2008, 12:14
|  | Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Lausanne (or out on my bike)
Posts: 1,780
Groaned at 8 Times in 6 Posts
Thanked 856 Times in 495 Posts
| | Re: Official EF Tour de France thread
A great quote from Thomas Voeckler at bicycling.com:
"I like being in breaks. I look at the scenery. I watch the crowd and look to see if I recognize anybody. I think about eating and drinking and turing over my legs. And sometimes I sing a song."
Go Thomas!
| 
07.07.2008, 12:20
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Tir na nÓg
Posts: 3,628
Groaned at 54 Times in 35 Posts
Thanked 2,388 Times in 1,209 Posts
| | Re: Official EF Tour de France thread | Quote: | |  | | | A great quote from Thomas Voeckler at bicycling.com:
"I like being in breaks. I look at the scenery. I watch the crowd and look to see if I recognize anybody. I think about eating and drinking and turing over my legs. And sometimes I sing a song."
Go Thomas! | | | | | I don't suppose he'll be disappointed with opening his account for the KOM either. Coincidence? or does he have his eyes on polka dots in Paris?
He can climb reasonably well and with Soler injured who knows.
| 
07.07.2008, 12:22
| Senior Member | | Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: SZ
Posts: 432
Groaned at 3 Times in 2 Posts
Thanked 349 Times in 184 Posts
| | Re: Official EF Tour de France thread | Quote: | |  | | |
People are talking about Valverde too... and he has the yellow now. But three weeks to go, I don't see him in yellow at the end. | | | | | Can't figure why Valverde reckons his team will defend the yellow right now. It's too soon in the race, they should be looking to get rid of it; it's too much hard work in the first week.
But I reckon they might lose it tomorrow in the TT - go David Millar!!!
And go Cav today!!!
| 
07.07.2008, 12:54
|  | Senior Member | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Zurich
Posts: 265
Groaned at 5 Times in 3 Posts
Thanked 60 Times in 33 Posts
| | Re: Official EF Tour de France thread
The yellow has one second on everyone else but looks like 1 sec is enough as that gives him the advantage of going at the end of the time trail and he will have the time checks on everybody else. Thats a huge bonus!
Considering time trials are the Achilles heel of valverde..I dont think he would mind keeping yellow till tomorrow..honestly I expected more attacks on him yesterday..
anyways my favourite for GC is Dennis Menchov..I think Spanish have won enough this year..go Menchov go | 
07.07.2008, 13:05
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Tir na nÓg
Posts: 3,628
Groaned at 54 Times in 35 Posts
Thanked 2,388 Times in 1,209 Posts
| | Re: Official EF Tour de France thread | Quote: | |  | | | Can't figure why Valverde reckons his team will defend the yellow right now. It's too soon in the race, they should be looking to get rid of it; it's too much hard work in the first week.
But I reckon they might lose it tomorrow in the TT - go David Millar!!!
And go Cav today!!! | | | | | | Quote: | |  | | | The yellow has one second on everyone else but looks like 1 sec is enough as that gives him the advantage of going at the end of the time trail and he will have the time checks on everybody else. Thats a huge bonus!
Considering time trials are the Achilles heel of valverde..I dont think he would mind keeping yellow till tomorrow..honestly I expected more attacks on him yesterday..
anyways my favourite for GC is Dennis Menchov..I think Spanish have won enough this year..go Menchov go  | | | | | I was wondering about this yesterday, looked like Valverde's team were putting too much effort in at the front too early in the tour. Maybe its a Rahul said to give him the position for the TT, but I think if he is a real contender he would be just worrying about limiting losses at this point then wasting energy defending the yellow.
Menchov will blow up on the first mountain top finish, he won't be able to hold the likes of Valverde here. My thinking is the tour is wide open this year. Of the so called "favourites" I rekon Evans is the one to look for, but I really think the tour winner is going to be someone lurking in the shadows with no pressure on him. Someone who can perhaps get away in a break on a mountain stage due to being seen as little risk and then going the whole way.
Having said all that... ...Anyone think Cunego could do it?
EDIT: Just spotted this article about Cunego.
__________________ This message is a natural product. The variations in spelling and grammar enhance it's individual character.
Interested in skiing, Snowboarding or Mountain Biking in Switzerland? Information in English available here.
Last edited by Eire; 07.07.2008 at 13:40.
| 
07.07.2008, 13:33
|  | Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Lausanne (or out on my bike)
Posts: 1,780
Groaned at 8 Times in 6 Posts
Thanked 856 Times in 495 Posts
| | Re: Official EF Tour de France thread
The way Valverde's team is riding makes it appear that they share the opinion of all of this doubters that he doesn't have the stamina to last the full three weeks of the tour, and so the team should try to spend as much time in yellow at the beginning of it as possible while Valverde still has the legs. I agree with the doubters and his team - I'm not sure he can last the distance, while at the same time several of his competitors have already proved that they can. It should be interesting anyway.
| 
12.07.2008, 17:49
|  | Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: France, near Geneva
Posts: 865
Groaned at 8 Times in 7 Posts
Thanked 2,777 Times in 728 Posts
| | Re: Official EF Tour de France thread
Oh surprise, the Tour got its first case of doping. An aging moron taking EPO*. There goes the 10th (?)"renewal Tour" then... Altho' I just heard the rugby moron who Sarkozy appointed as sports minister saying that it was a good thing  . What's he going to say when the DNA analysis on Valverde's blood bag from the Puerto case, held up by a spanish judge, comes through?
* Everyone knows that you take EPO out of season to get your red cells back up after having extracted a liter or two for a rainy day. Then you're clean for the Tour. Just need a quick refill and you too can tottle up to La Toussuire like Landis...
The fun starts when the test for reinjecting your own blood comes in. It's supposed to be ready for the Olympics. We already have one for injecting someone else's blood. Not a difficult analytical challenge.
| 
13.07.2008, 18:03
|  | Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Dietikon ZH
Posts: 2,303
Groaned at 24 Times in 21 Posts
Thanked 3,402 Times in 1,079 Posts
| | Re: Official EF Tour de France thread | Quote: | |  | | | I am also going for Cadel, just hope he does do the typical aussie trick of crashing somewhere along the tour.. | | | | | Oops, I must have jinxed him...meant to write "doesn't" in my original quote... | 
13.07.2008, 18:17
|  | Forum Veteran | | Join Date: May 2008 Location: ZH
Posts: 821
Groaned at 16 Times in 15 Posts
Thanked 653 Times in 349 Posts
| | Re: Official EF Tour de France thread | Quote: | |  | | | Why not a TdF thread to get us through the next 3 weeks of the great race.
| | | | | Can't speak for others but lost complete interest after all the regular doping cases. Also after Lance the tour is just not the same for me.
| 
13.07.2008, 19:05
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Tir na nÓg
Posts: 3,628
Groaned at 54 Times in 35 Posts
Thanked 2,388 Times in 1,209 Posts
| | Re: Official EF Tour de France thread | Quote: | |  | | | Also after Lance the tour is just not the same for me. | | | | | You mean you don't know which doped up lycra clad junkie is going to win?
Only difference in the Lance era was we knew who would take it before the tour started.
| 
05.07.2017, 08:43
|  | Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: ZG & GR
Posts: 674
Groaned at 4 Times in 3 Posts
Thanked 914 Times in 343 Posts
| | Re: Official EF Tour de France thread
Anybody following Le Tour?
What do you think about the disqualification of Peter Sagan because of the incident with Mark Cavendish?
| 
05.07.2017, 09:05
| Forum Legend | | Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: ZH
Posts: 5,320
Groaned at 58 Times in 48 Posts
Thanked 2,708 Times in 1,614 Posts
| | Re: Official EF Tour de France thread
Right decision. Cave must be gutted, off the tour as well.
| 
06.07.2017, 06:37
|  | Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Zug
Posts: 1,192
Groaned at 10 Times in 10 Posts
Thanked 1,651 Times in 665 Posts
| | Re: Official EF Tour de France thread | Quote: | |  | | | Right decision. Cave must be gutted, off the tour as well. | | | | | I think it's now widely accepted as a wrong decision. Sagan did not deviate from his line, more than anyone else and Cav went for a gap that wasn't there. Cav was also already heading for the deck when Sagan's elbow came out and it is widely accepted that
a. Sagan usually sprints with his elbows out
b. it is likely that the elbow came out to right his balance
c. The elbow didn't actually touch Cav
I believe that there is an appeal happening.
| 
06.07.2017, 06:40
| Forum Legend | | Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: ZH
Posts: 5,320
Groaned at 58 Times in 48 Posts
Thanked 2,708 Times in 1,614 Posts
| | Re: Official EF Tour de France thread | Quote: | |  | | | I think it's now widely accepted as a wrong decision. Sagan did not deviate from his line, more than anyone else and Cav went for a gap that wasn't there. Cav was also already heading for the deck when Sagan's elbow came out and it is widely accepted that
a. Sagan usually sprints with his elbows out
b. it is likely that the elbow came out to right his balance
c. The elbow didn't actually touch Cav
I believe that there is an appeal happening. | | | | | Are you watching the same tour... there was plenty of room to get through.
| 
06.07.2017, 06:51
|  | Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Zug
Posts: 1,192
Groaned at 10 Times in 10 Posts
Thanked 1,651 Times in 665 Posts
| | Re: Official EF Tour de France thread | Quote: | |  | | | I believe that there is an appeal happening. | | | | | I believe I'm a day behind!
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Thread Tools | | Display Modes | Linear Mode |
Posting Rules
| You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | All times are GMT +2. The time now is 22:40. | |