TDF: a shiny new thread for 2012

[malkin]

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.

Root, root, root for the home team!
And a kid besides!
I love it!

[redrhodie]

His team director was SO excited! I hate to think what would have happened if he lost. That was a great stage!

[lovelygamer]

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. I heard that is one of the smallest and poorest teams in his country.

[malkin]

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!

[jobob]

I forgot all about Jens' blog! I'm not a worthy fan.

http://bicycling.com/blogs/hardlyserious/

Enjoy!

[Norse]

Unbeknownst to us, our Tivo and cable decided to disconnect themselves in the quiet of the night Friday, so we missed Saturday's stage. Luckily, I had them communicating again in time to record yesterday's stage - what an exciting finish! I was so happy for that FDJ squad.

[redrhodie]

Rest day. They deserve it. I bet they're not doing much more than riding their bikes. Ahhh, rest.

The tour has been great, but I really miss Andy, and I miss loving to hate Alberto.

[pll]

Let's hope the rest day is kind to Brice Feillu, the lanterne rouge... the poor guy has being going through some serious suffering!

[emily_in_nc]

The tour has been great, but I really miss Andy, and I miss loving to hate Alberto.

I agree. I just don't really care who wins this year, I just want an interesting and close race. It has been fun even though I don't have a clear favorite nor anyone I dislike as much as Alberto.

[Jo-n-NY]

I agree. I just don't really care who wins this year, I just want an interesting and close race. It has been fun even though I don't have a clear favorite nor anyone I dislike as much as Alberto.

+2 on all counts

[ShutUpLegs]

I'm super sad about Ryder, I was so rooting for him! I hope Tyler can still pull something off in the later sprint stages. Actually, I'm sad for the whole Garmin team for that matter. My husband and I went to the TdF in 2009, and met a lot of the guys on Garmin (Tyler, Dave Z, Danny Pate, Christian VandeVelde). They even passed a poster around for me and all signed it. Christian put his arm around me and took a picture with me too..they just came off as really nice guys. I was giddy for the rest of the day, as my husband just rolled his eyes

[ny biker]

Rest day. They deserve it. I bet they're not doing much more than riding their bikes. Ahhh, rest.

Jens is going geocaching and getting a haircut.

BTW Wiggins is not my favorite rider, but I think his comments on doping at the press conference were hilarious.

http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/...e-clean_228247

Oddly enough most accounts of it leave off his final word, which started with "c."

[redrhodie]

I'm super sad about Ryder, I was so rooting for him! I hope Tyler can still pull something off in the later sprint stages. Actually, I'm sad for the whole Garmin team for that matter. My husband and I went to the TdF in 2009, and met a lot of the guys on Garmin (Tyler, Dave Z, Danny Pate, Christian VandeVelde). They even passed a poster around for me and all signed it. Christian put his arm around me and took a picture with me too..they just came off as really nice guys. I was giddy for the rest of the day, as my husband just rolled his eyes

I'd be giddy the rest of my life!

It is sad for the team, though. Lots of great riders out already. That crash that took out all those guys, so stupid. Jens wrote it was someone taking off their shoe covers at speed.

[Cynedra]

NY Rider,

I could blame Bradley for the choice of a few of his words, but totally agree with his sentiment. (Not sure I really blame him for the language for that matter.) From what I read from TeamSky, the French press had him in a press conference for about half an hour where they kept showing him videos of previous British cyclists who had lost or crashed after a good start and kept expecting him to comment on that. Then, after that silliness, he gets the drug question, after receiving lots of tweets to similar effect, and comments on articles etc. I think I'd be a bit upset too.

[pll]

Jens wrote it was someone taking off their shoe covers at speed.

I heard an interview of Jonathan Vaughters where he said they had heard from Lampre (Garmin and Lampre were staying at the same hotel) that apparently Petacchi handed his shoe covers to Daniele Vigano (the Lampre guy seen laying in the ditch, broken collarbone). Vigano had one hand off the handlebar trying to stuff the shoe covers in his jersey pockets. It was a downhill, mostly tailwind, everyone packed like sardines... all needed was a wobble.

ETA: here is the video clip of the interview -- at 1:24 he discusses the stage 6 crash.