TDF: a shiny new thread for 2012

[pll]

Next year the thread should allow spoilers. I'm doing my best not to comment on the stage I am watching right now. [need to comment... Argh]

ETA: I do have to comment, though, to say that I find nasty how some cycling Twitter feeds (including @inrgn) refer to Froome as "Froome-dog". So, when there is not really a story, they start insulting and provoking riders to create one?

[jobob]

I'm kind of surprised Tommy V isn't wearing a polkadot helmet today, he tends to go all in on the accessories.

Maybe if he keeps that jersey today, he'll pull out all the stops tomorrow.

My 2 cents about spoilers -- I'm watching on DVR delay, but I figure I'm in this thread at my own risk. If I'm spoiled by looking at this particular thread, that's my own fault. If it really mattered to me, I'd simply stay away from this thread.

[ny biker]

Next year the thread should allow spoilers. I'm doing my best not to comment on the stage I am watching right now. [need to comment... Argh]

ETA: I do have to comment, though, to say that I find nasty how some cycling Twitter feeds (including @inrgn) refer to Froome as "Froome-dog". So, when there is not really a story, they start insulting and provoking riders to create one?

I assumed it was just a nickname. They all have nicknames for each other.

[Eden]

Next year the thread should allow spoilers. I'm doing my best not to comment on the stage I am watching right now. [need to comment... Argh]

ETA: I do have to comment, though, to say that I find nasty how some cycling Twitter feeds (including @inrgn) refer to Froome as "Froome-dog". So, when there is not really a story, they start insulting and provoking riders to create one?

Are you sure it is an insult? I know a guy who goes by the nickname Z-dog, it's not an insult, he likes it.....

[pll]

Are you sure it is an insult? I know a guy who goes by the nickname Z-dog, it's not an insult, he likes it.....

It might be his nickname but the references to it (as Wiggins' dog) do not exactly read endearing:
"@inrgn: Today's Wiggins' Froome-dog was a loyal Pyrenees shepherd dog."

[ny biker]

Who is @inrgn?

[pll]

Tweeter feed of the Inner Ring cycling blog (http://inrng.com/), which is a good blog.

ETA: just noticed I swapped some letters... the twitter feed is https://twitter.com/inrng

[jobob]

It might be his nickname but the references to it (as Wiggins' dog) do not exactly read endearing:
"@inrgn: Today's Wiggins' Froome-dog was a loyal Pyrenees shepherd dog."

I don't see that as an insult. Boasson-Hagen is sometimes referred to as BoDog (or BoHog). And I think inring's quip was a pretty apt assessment of today's stage ... I see that as a compliment to Froome's loyalty, actually.

[Veronica]

My 2 cents about spoilers -- I'm watching on DVR delay, but I figure I'm in this thread at my own risk. If I'm spoiled by looking at this particular thread, that's my own fault. If it really mattered to me, I'd simply stay away from this thread.

I never look at this thread until I've watched this race, just in case. Also avoid twitter and google news.


I wonder whom Froome will be riding for next year.

Veronica

[jobob]

Ah, looks like Tommy V has the mountains classification pretty much wrapped up, he leads it by 11 points with only a few low category climbs left.

He's going to be awash in polka dots tomorrow. Helmet, socks, maybe shorts, possibly even bike. You read it here first.

[Eden]

I wonder whom Froome will be riding for next year.

Veronica

I wonder whom will be riding for Froome he's young, but he's held out admirably. Had he been an opponent rather than a teammate of Wiggins, he would be a substantial threat

(btw - I know that is grammatically incorrect, but couldn't resist the silly rhyme )

[malkin]

Didn't Froome's girlfriend used "Froome-Dog" to refer to him on twitter?

[jobob]

I wonder whom Froome will be riding for next year.

Veronica

Good question.

Thing is, I don't really see Wiggins as a long-term GC contender; this particular tour played very well to his strengths but if there were more mountains and less TT, or if Wiggins couldn't keep up in the mountains as well as he did, I suspect support would have switched to Froome early on. Wiggins might not have Team Sky's wholehearted (CG) support next year.

I wonder whom will be riding for Froome

LOL! Precisely.

[Veronica]

Sky put together a really strong climbing team this year - Froome, Rogers, Port, BoHog , Knees... all to really support Wiggins.

Next year they may give more support to Cav. It's an interesting dilemma they've got.

Veronica

[Veronica]

Oh and I predict no more Radioshack-Nissan next year. What a disaster that merger has become! It's a shame - they have some really good riders.

Veronica