I'm not sure I understand why Team Sky is not supporting Cavendish this year. Also, I haven't figured out who I'm pulling for big time. Who does it for you?
Printable View
I'm not sure I understand why Team Sky is not supporting Cavendish this year. Also, I haven't figured out who I'm pulling for big time. Who does it for you?
I'm still depressed about Andy Schleck.
Because Wiggins is a serious contender for the overall GC the team needs to spend their energy to look after him. Cav probably knew this was a possibility when he joined the team and it doesn't seem to be causing him much difficulty so far.Quote:
Originally Posted by skinimini
I'm bummed about Andy too, but with all the TTs in this course...well, you know. Anyway, there are only a few riders that I dislike anyway.
I'd say being caught up in the pile up was a difficulty..... and one that he probably would never have suffered had he been in possession of his lead out train.... to his credit I haven't seen any complaining about it though, at least not yet. It's a risk you take when you are a "free agent" sprinter.Quote:
Originally Posted by malkin
It will be interesting to see how he does this year. It not only takes strength, but wiles too when you don't have the team all around you. Robbie McEwan was a master at it when he was at the top of his game.
I wrote that before watching today's stage.
Although they can still crash with their lead out train.
Wow!
Another day, another sprint crash.
Amazing bike handling skills by Greipel! Tejay shows what a good boy he is by saying 'Hi Mom' on TV, Sagan still doesn't smile on on the podium and Fabu sets a record.
I want to play "In the Hall of the Mountain King" for Morkov!
Greipel really was great today. Somehow managed to avoid the crash, clipped out in the process, and still managed to motor to the line and win the stage.
And Tyler Farrar had a complete meltdown, even though it appears he only had himself to blame for leaning over the Argos guy. Greipel, however, kicked Farrar and in the process of not falling himself, took Sagan down. What a nasty crash.
It kinda looked like a Lampre rider moved right and squeezed Tyler over into the Argos guy. But it was hard to tell.Quote:
Originally Posted by pll
Farrar was leaning over before the Lampre guy moved left. Below are 3 screenshots - first, Farrar looks like he is leaning. In the second, Argos guy pushes back. In the third, Lampre guy has moved right and touched wheels with Farrar. As a whole, if you compare distances to the sidewalk, the entire group was moving towards the right.Quote:
Originally Posted by ny biker
I still think it will be Wiggins for the GC, barring injury or illness and if his team does as good of a job helping/protecting him as BMC is doing for Cadel so far (apparently Wiggins was a little miffed the other day saying he didn't think Sky was working for him like BMC has been for Evans). But I would love to see the dark horse rider from Canada, Ryder Hesjedal, take it. :cool:
Wiggins and Cavendish both seem to be pretty peeved about the support they're not getting from their team.
Meanwhile Garmin seems to be the bad-luck magnet this year. Ryder lost a lot of time today after a crash, Tommy D is out and numerous other riders have hit the pavement several times so far.
Greipel was impressive again today -- coming so close to the win after two crashes in the stage. And Sagan is just awesome -- I truly hope he makes it over the mountains and hangs on the green jersey. It's a big ask for a 22-year-old in his first grand tour, but I think he has a chance.
It was so painful to see all the riders on ground because of the crash.
He is not having a good year at all... my heart just went out to him though, watching him cross the finish line yesterday. :( I have a feeling he won't be finishing the tour, especially if he wants to participate in the Olympics later in the month.Quote:
Originally Posted by pll
Metz massacre.
I hate stages like this.
This year and last year... no patron, no supremely controlling team - lots more risk taking, lots more nervousness, too many crashes...
Peter Sagan really is quite amazing though, isn't he.... only 22 and he might be able to keep that green
I don't remember a tour with this many crashes. It's really mind-boggling.
So my DH just read a tweet that said Peter Sagan started the race this morning with a BELL on his handlebars. A Cycling News interview shows him explaining it was because the peloton was dangerous, and "also for fun, ringa dinga dinga". I need to find a photo of that one. :pQuote:
Originally Posted by Eden
He is making this years tour more fun to watch. Love it when they don't take themselves so seriously. :rolleyes:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/phot...in-metz/230306
Peter Sagan's bell. A new trend for pro's? ;)
HULK SMASHQuote:
Originally Posted by appletree
So it turns out that Greipel separated his shoulder in one of the crashes. And still came thisclose to winning the sprint.
Regarding the crashes....this year it seems the Pelaton does not care about who is caught up in the crashes. They don't slow. They still just chase and try and get their sprinters up there. When I first started watching the tour it seemed like they were more "gentlemenly" about holding up a bit to let the others catch up. They realized how unfortunate it was for those caught up behind a crash. No more nice guy in the tour!
I also have to have to admit I am a Sagan fan and love how he is making it fun for himself (and us watching)!
K
I have to say I am in awe of many cyclists, who do an effort to learn additional languages. Can you imagine that in basketball or football? Peter Sagan's English is improving so much and he is fluent in Italian. The celebrations are suggested by his team mates. He obliges and I find that kind of cute.
I wonder if race radios and copying of strategies are to blame for these crashes. I was reading the news release from Euskatel Euskadi, following yesterday's stage and one thing jumped at me. One of the riders said that everybody was trying to get to the front as if they were all going to win the Tour. Clearly, if every team is trying to get to the front, there is a physical impossibility!Quote:
Originally Posted by katluvr
Another factor that could be at play is the European crisis, in the sense that many sponsorships may be under risk. This might lead many riders to try to place well and impress, just in case their team goes belly up (think Team Geox -- despite winning the Vuelta a España, they lost sponsorship with little notice).
I went looking for the medical report from Lotto Belisol: "contusion of the right shoulder, a contusion of the right wrist, a cut on the thumb, a contusion of the left shoulder and lacerations to left knee, elbow and shoulder." Suspected dislocation of right shoulder in the first fall -- a site that he has injured before. Definitely impressive. I had thought the agony face at the finish line was more than the sprint effort.Quote:
Originally Posted by ny biker
Re: the language thing.
DH and I look at each other in dismay as the riders answer reporter's questions in 3, 4, 5 languages after each stage. I can't even learn one other language well, and I actually enjoy that type of learning.
I think it comes from early exposure to several languages... Cancellara, the most notable multi-language interviewee is Swiss - he probably grew up with people speaking German, Swiss German, Italian and French all around him. Other people that I know who speak many languages often learned at least 2 young. It wires your brain to be able to learn more. Makes me wish I'd been taught another when I was wee.Quote:
Originally Posted by Crankin
I am enjoying Sagan more and more!Quote:
Originally Posted by AppleTree
+1. He showed up to today's stage with his bell, again! See here.Quote:
Originally Posted by malkin
Also, to the theory of same tactics across teams, a quote from Voeckler:
the main thing responsible is this…” Voeckler said, pointing to the radio earpiece dangling out of the collar of his jersey.
“You’ve got the directeurs sportifs from 22 teams saying ‘you have to be up there, you have to be up there,’” Voeckler continued. “Well, if you have 198 riders like that on a road that’s only seven metres wide, then there’s not going to be room for anyone else. Voilà.” (Cycling News)
Now that's ironic. When they raced a stage (I think last year) with no radios, everyone was freaking out about it being too dangerous without them.Quote:
Originally Posted by pll
No kidding.Quote:
Originally Posted by redrhodie
I think there should be 1 or 2 designated radio wearers for each team. Like the prime domestique with proven bike handling skill.
Did NBC stop showing the early live broadcast?
Was it because of the broadcast of Cavendish saying "Oh please! @#$% off!" live on the air?
The early morning broadcast was on regular NBC, not NBC Sports (the former Versus). Here's the link ny_biker posted a few months ago: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/424535...ports-cycling/Quote:
Originally Posted by malkin
I'm enjoying catching up on the tour through video and pictures. I can't wait to see how it all shakes out in the end.
I'm biding time until the Olympics start. Now, there's my true sports passion and there are SO many years between them. Ugh.
I set my DVR to record "new episodes on any channel" for the tour and this morning it recorded from the non-HD version of NBC. Fail!! I love the scenic HD camera shots from the helicopter. Fortunately the DVR thinks the prime time coverage is also a "new episode" so I have that to watch.
Something that occurred to me about these crashes -- they really underscore how incredibly lucky Lance and all the 5-time winners were. Regardless of who did or did not take drugs, just managing to stay upright and uninjured for so many tours is pretty amazing. Same for a guy like Hincapie, or any of the sprinters who have won multiple green jerseys.
Just watched the race live. What a GREAT finish!! I won't mention the winner in case you haven't seen it but his country is so proud, as they should be.:D
Plus, I tried regular NBC and HD NBC. What a crazy difference!!
What an exciting stage today.
DH and I keep saying we never thought we'd see the day that cycling was on NBC for 2 days in a row.
At least I got to see some of the ads you guys were talking about. I like the Specialized one, but nothing will replace the mojito dance for me. Back the NBC app/Apple TV tomorrow.
Root, root, root for the home team!Quote:
Originally Posted by lovelygamer
And a kid besides!
I love it!
His team director was SO excited! I hate to think what would have happened if he lost. That was a great stage!
Wasn't that great? When I saw them freaking out in the car, it made me giddy for the whole team. :D I heard that is one of the smallest and poorest teams in his country.Quote:
Originally Posted by redrhodie
The text of his wikipedia page has been updated, although the picture is still from 2010 where he appears to have been presented with a cheese!
I forgot all about Jens' blog! I'm not a worthy fan. :(
http://bicycling.com/blogs/hardlyserious/
Enjoy!