[Closed] TdF (The Real) Stage 1 - Setting The Tone [Spoilers]

Gilbert has had a crap season so far, but he did show some form yesterday, He will be on home territory and the course is perfect for him....but he has had a crap season...he will want the win, although i can see Sagan getting it, mind you Cadel might decide to make a point.

Just about to go to the Cote de Lierneux to watch it, first time I will see the Tour live, I'm a little excited!

Gilbert, Sagan, or you can see Evans having a pop, he loves races that end with a sharp sharp dig.

I'd love to see Cancellara prove a point today after his ruined early classics campaign

Gotta be Sagan today, he`s been hoovering up wins like this all season. Failing that cant see past Phil or possibly Valv, no way sky will let Cuddles go surely?

Cav in his slimmed down form might be a much bigger contender in this type of race than he would have been in previous years. He should stay with the bunch (as if he doesn't he'll never get the olympic gold) but I can't see him sprinting up that hill.

I expect Cuddles to do something. He's going to lose time in the TT and needs to grab seconds whenever he can. I think he'll try to make use of any confusion and splits.

Eddie the Boss for the win to get my score up!

+1 on Cuddles trying to make something of this stage - it's very similar to others that he's helped split the field up and gain time even if not the actual stage win.

Gonna be an exciting one today, no matter what the outcome. Too many who want it, I'm expecting a big fight. Although then again, someone might just jump out the pack early on and surprise everyone.

I've found the right thread now, apologies RealMan for doubting you.

Gilbert will cry himself to sleep if he doesn't win today. I predict he attacks at 5k out and gets caught in a little Tommy V kinda way.

(Yes I know this is different to the prediction I made in my other thread, but i can change my mind if I want to. And Cancellara to hang on to yellow too).

Cuddles ....no chance. Stage 1, teams watching him like a hawk, everyone fresh.

Can believe so many top riders lost huge chunks of time on a 7 min course yesterday (Scarponi, Sanchez, cry baby Schleck)

A non GC contender will win today. Will be perfect for a Sanchez, Valv, Sagan or Gilbert.

Gilbert will be up for it given his poor season to date and Belgian finish.

People forget that Evans can TT and by Wiggins' own admission, there'll be no fireworks from him in the mountains. I suspect it'll be indurain type riding fronm Twiggo, with his team simply riding so fast as to deter attacks.

I still have concerns over Wiggins performing every day in the mountains given his Vuelta performace. He has a fantastic team this year though. Good ride from Tejay yesterday and no doubt he will be glued to Evans when it goes uphill. Hope Ryder has recovered as his team is also strong.

Hope it isnt a 2 horse race to Paris.

Froome for podium ??? (dont think so but would be nice if he drags Wiggo round the hills and finishes high)

Good ride from Tejay yesterday and no doubt he will be glued to Evans when it goes uphill.

Yeah, got him as one of my climbers, so was very pleased to see him do so well in the TT.

I've found the right thread now, apologies RealMan for doubting you.

😀 That's ok, I did post it very early. Wasn't sure what time I was going to be back.

Can believe so many top riders lost huge chunks of time on a 7 min course yesterday (Scarponi, Sanchez, cry baby Schleck)

You can't believe climbers lost time to generalists or time trial specialists? I hope you say the same when people lose 10 mins on big mountains to climbers on the final ascent of the day.

Double post

Although Cav has shed some weight for Box hill so this may stand him in good stead for todays stage and other more bumpier ones.

Slightly out on a limb but Edvald Boassen Hagen maybe? He's a fantastic all-rounder and capable on those uphill finishes. Seems tailer made for Gilbert but everyone else is going to know that too!

Reckon anyone could do it from a lone break? Catch the bunch by surprise a few km out and just about hold onto it? I love those nail-biting will-he-won't-he finishes. 🙂

Slightly out on a limb but Edvald Boassen Hagen maybe? He's a fantastic all-rounder and capable on those uphill finishes. Seems tailer made for Gilbert but everyone else is going to know that too!

Reckon anyone could do it from a lone break? Catch the bunch by surprise a few km out and just about hold onto it? I love those nail-biting will-he-won't-he finishes.

How could I forget about EBH :roll:good call Crazy, he has a good sprint finish as well.

I love those nail-biting will-he-won't-he finishes.

RealMan: exactly although the one I was thinking of was David Millar's suicide break heading into a rain-soaked Barcelona a few years ago - he got caught about 300m from the line...

atlaz - Member

Can believe so many top riders lost huge chunks of time on a 7 min course yesterday (Scarponi, Sanchez, cry baby Schleck)

You can't believe climbers lost time to generalists or time trial specialists? I hope you say the same when people lose 10 mins on big mountains to climbers on the final ascent of the day.

??

I can believe that nibali, ryder , menchov all managed to limit their losses yesterday.

As for other GC riders Schleck, Basso, Sanchez, Scarponi, V D Broeck. Are they any less of 'specialist' than Menchov (who generally falls off) or Hesjedal. Just amazed that on such a short course they could lose heaps of time.

Goss seemed to hold off Cav quite easily there. Hmmmm.

Cav's been beaten a few times lately in the Tour de Romandie, make you wonder if he has lost some power or the others have gained perhaps both. Not writing him off by any means, going to be an interesting Tour.

Cav not going for green.

Will want stage wins, then pull out. Then win Olympics 🙂

make you wonder if he has lost some power or the others have gained perhaps both.

Wouldn't be surprised, the olympic course isn't a flat sprinters course, If he is serious about the olympics, loosing a bit of weight and a bit of power might make some sense. It would mean his sprinting suffers but he will still be in contention at the end.

This is getting scrappy...

Wow, that's steep!

Told you so 😀

Loved the celebration too.

I think he looked a bit of a bell during the celebration.

[img] [/img]

Look into those eyes..

Pook - Member

I think he looked a bit of a bell during the celebration.

looked a bell....ha ha, whatever.He has just given fabu and EBH a lesson in riding and picked up his 340th win of the season.

He's f'ckin class.

I wasn't debating that.

do you want him to do a pistolero, or a cav making a phonecall,cleaning his glasses etc etc etc.

Awesome ride from an awesome rider.

I don't really think he gave them "a lesson in riding". Certainly showed that the Swiss and Californian wins were not because he was lacking quality opposition.

BTW, is the yellow helmet for the leading team a new thing? Can't remember it before

BTW, is the yellow helmet for the leading team a new thing? Can't remember it before

Think it might just be a thing sky are doing.

RealMan - Member

BTW, is the yellow helmet for the leading team a new thing? Can't remember it before

Think it might just be a thing sky are doing.

No its not.

Its the leading team...new for this year (helmets that is..not competition).

(do you watch with the sound off ??)

So all teams have to come with a supply of yellow helmets? That seems a bit odd. Fair enough though.

(do you watch with the sound off ??)

Most of the time, yeah.. 🙂

what ...an extra 9 helmets in yellow per team. Not sure that'll cripple the likes of sky and radio shack. Bearing in mind that about 15 teams wont even bother (cofidis, sojur, europcar etc)

Not sure why you find it odd.

some reading if you're bored

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12260/Tour-de-France-Yellow-helmets-for-Sky-Procycling-riders-who-lead-best-team-standings.aspx

😀

what ...an extra 9 helmets in yellow per team.

Well no, you'd need some spares for any that get damaged, plus you might want some with vents and some without, and you may have different sizes, so you can't just have a spare for everyone, you have a spare for each rider. So before long you've got like 20-30 helmets.

Just seems odd compared to the other tour related clothing.

I imagine it's a Sky sponsored rule.
#conspiracytheory

you've missed the point....even if it was 60 helmets its no big deal to these massive teams. Have you ever seen their Service De Course ?? How many teams have helmets with no vents other than Sky (excluding those minging giro's that have just been introduced which a lot of riders wont wear.)

It highlights them as the leading team so cant see why it would be an issue to the 3 or 4 teams that are likely to occupy that spot.

Oh of course, I'm not saying it would be a problem for any of the teams (a bit of a ball ache for who ever is in charge of kit maybe). I also think it looks pretty cool.

However, it is different to the other tour related kit, I didn't think teams had to provide anything until this.

A windy day but great fun, saw these blokes on their bikes:

[img] [/img]

Saw this bloke looking for his bike:
[img] [/img]

I had the 1, 2, 3 in my Fantasy TdF team.
#shouldveputabeton

I have to admit, having poked around the Radioshack service course at the Tour de Luxembourg, a load of free helmets is the least they have to track down. They had the new Madone's there, but unused as they were due to be shown at the tour de suisse, plus the main bikes, plus second bikes, plus TT bikes and spares (although these were sent home after the first stage).

Surely they could have thought of another colour for the leading team though? The easiest way to spot jersey holders is the matching helmet, this makes it a bit tougher

Just watched the highlights.
ITV4 need to put another 50p in the freeview bandwidth meter!
Picture looked like it had been processed by a zx Spectrum.