Tour De France

[dibo]

So, 21 stages, 3600km, 180 riders, but only one maillot jaune.

Anyone else not getting a lot of sleep over the next three weeks as they ride with Cadel and co around le grand boucle and see if we have the first Australian to drink champagne while riding down the Champs Elyse in the yellow jersey?

My big night is going to be watching Stage 17 - 210km from Embrun in the south up across le Col du Galibier, le Col de la Croix de Fer, and then finishing on l'Alpe d'Huez - a 13km climb with 21 hairpin bends, it has to be seen to be believed. Just brutal, 3 'haute categorie' climbs... that will be the stage that decides the tour.

This is the climb on l'Alpe d'Huez:

Allez les Australiens et vive le Tour!

 

[Atomic]

Good start for Cadel Evans... 6th with no time lost to the leader. So far, so good

 

[dibo]

the worry is just how strong valverde looked on the final rise. he's going to cause problems in the mountains, evans is going to have to smash him on the TTs - he beat him by 2.40 on stage 19 last year though.

this site is awesome for tour coverage, and they're australian: http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/tour08/

 

[Atomic]

Agreed. Valverde exploded away at the finish... very impressive. That was one of Evens's problems last year in the mountain stages... he couldn't cover the attacks towards the end. Admittedly he didn't have the support of any team mates, a situation which, hopefully, will be different this year.

On that point, it will be interesting to see how well McEwan does in the chase for the green jersey with the his team focusing 100% on Evans. I suspect he will do well and I'm tipping a stage win tonight  verhead:

 

[dibo]

he's good enough to basically ride off hushovd or zabel's wheel and basically use *them* as a lead out rider for a sneaky win or two. his power off the wheel is ludicrous, and so he gets away with not too much help. his top speed over the last 200m is probably the best in the field, so as long as he finds a good wheel to come off he'll get a win or two. zabel and hushovd will probably respond by leaving the run later and later, and hoping nobody else poaches their wins.

hushovd is still my bet for the green, they'll have a full team effort aimed at getting it for him.

 

[Mariner Girl]

I absolutely love it and wouldn't miss a stage for quids. 

 

[BrisRecky]

i wouldnt rush home to watch it...but its o.k

 

[tuftman]

I love it, the intrigue of teamplay, with the odd track invasion by a dog,crowd member/protester or even Cadel getting angry with the cops.......Its gonna be painfull. Im especially looking forward to stage 17, 3 HC climbs(the finish is on the third one)

 

[Bear]

Wish there was an option in the poll "would watch a highlights package of the crashes, thats it" ;D

 

[RADINHO]

Wish there was an option in the poll "would watch a highlights package of the crashes, thats it" ;D

Dam straight

 

[BrisRecky]

Wish there was an option in the poll "would watch a highlights package of the crashes, thats it" ;D

or theres
the rider giving a slow motorcycle gendarme the middle finger package
the ohh F**K...a labradour...package
the why is that stupid F**K applying the brakes now package
and the ever popular...why is her yellow shirt tighter than mine package

 

[Mariner Girl]

Boys boys boys. *shaking my head*

 

[Atomic]

The 3rd biggest sporting event in the world and IMO has the best TV coverage of any sport on the planet. Any Tour "virgins" should tune in just to listen to SBS commentators Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen, and I bet after an hour, you'll be addicted.

 

[Mariner Girl]

I am suffering from MAJOR sleep deprivation right now. I watch the whole stage each night and then I am so excited by what Cadel is doing it takes me about an hour to get to sleep.

I am a bit worried about the next 3 stages in the Pyrenees. I know it is Cadel's territor, but last year he lost 50 sec + in the same stage as tonight. I am more concerned about him having to "go it alone" as his team is rather weak and can't protect him like the CSC and Columbia teams.

Fingers are well and truely crossed he gets through it.

BTW - How bloody bad was the weather in last night's stage. 

 

[Mariner Girl]

The 3rd biggest sporting event in the world and IMO has the best TV coverage of any sport on the planet. Any Tour "virgins" should tune in just to listen to SBS commentators Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen, and I bet after an hour, you'll be addicted.

And don't forget Gabriel and his wonderful cooking + Christian with the wine to accompany the dishes .

 

[dru]

Will watch the highlights show when I can but watching stages is out for me with my work roster.

Check results on the sbs site most mornings though.

I like watching out for the crazies, the guys who have climbed up to the top of chuches with their bikes.

 

[Atomic]

The 3rd biggest sporting event in the world and IMO has the best TV coverage of any sport on the planet. Any Tour "virgins" should tune in just to listen to SBS commentators Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen, and I bet after an hour, you'll be addicted.

And don't forget Gabriel and his wonderful cooking + Christian with the wine to accompany the dishes .

Ah yes... sorry about that, I did forget them. They add a wonderful insight into the various regions that the Tour visits... and I bet you're like me Mariner Girl in that you feel you can actually taste the food and wine that Gabriel and Christian are talking about

 

[Mariner Girl]

The 3rd biggest sporting event in the world and IMO has the best TV coverage of any sport on the planet. Any Tour "virgins" should tune in just to listen to SBS commentators Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen, and I bet after an hour, you'll be addicted.

And don't forget Gabriel and his wonderful cooking + Christian with the wine to accompany the dishes .

Ah yes... sorry about that, I did forget them. They add a wonderful insight into the various regions that the Tour visits... and I bet you're like me Mariner Girl in that you feel you can actually taste the food and wine that Gabriel and Christian are talking about

Yes, makes you wish you were right there. Have you noticed the ever present piano accordian
player serinading as you eat your meal?

 

[scottmac]

I am suffering from MAJOR sleep deprivation right now. I watch the whole stage each night and then I am so excited by what Cadel is doing it takes me about an hour to get to sleep.

I am a bit worried about the next 3 stages in the Pyrenees. I know it is Cadel's territor, but last year he lost 50 sec + in the same stage as tonight. I am more concerned about him having to "go it alone" as his team is rather weak and can't protect him like the CSC and Columbia teams.

Fingers are well and truely crossed he gets through it.

BTW - How bloody bad was the weather in last night's stage. 

Rather weak is an understatement!! If they do not step up tonight and support him they need to build a new team next year. If he was at the head of team columbia he would be a minute ahead already.

 

[dibo]

i think tonight's the night. cadel's competition is really down to just a few men, and he's got a minute on most of them, and he'll back up night after night. i think he's got the sort of strength across three weeks that nobody else will be able to match this year.

doesn't matter if he finishes third wheel every night - he'll be ahead of kirchen before they leave the pyrenees and he'll play defence on the others. no need to take le maillot jaune a day before you need to, it will only make him an even bigger target.

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