Tour de France 2014

He's ready...

http://road.cc/sites/default/files/imagecache/galleria_600/images/News/David%20Millar%20MSR%202012%20©%20Simon%20MacMichael.jpg

... but not going

I'm looking forward to being able to see a bit of the TdF from my seat at work. I've made sure I don't have any meetings that afternoon.

I feel a bit sad that David Millar won't be in it. He always said he wanted his kids to remember seeing him riding and his eldest is perhaps just reaching the stage for forming lasting memories.

In a similar sentimental vein, I'd love Cav to wear yellow, but he never wins early stages of the Tour, does he?

weird how so many Brits are missing the Tour that starts in the UK - Wiggins, Millar, Dowsett and Adam Yates who has had an excellent season so far (probably knackered now though). At least his brother Simon Yates is getting to start after returning from injury.

stoked for the july madness

Who I want to win: anyone but Froome. I could even live with Contador winning.

yates' selection appears to have been due to darryl impey going pos for masking agent. whoops!

I wish Froome had a bit more personality. Or a personality. I don't really have a favourite in mind this year for the GC, I'd just like to see some gutsy performances from relative newcomers I guess.

Peter Kennaugh, British champ, also left at home.

Not only has chris froomegot no personality but his girlfriend has deleted her twitter account , she at least brought some frisson. I wouldn't mind a Contador win but team Tinkoff wasn't looking all that strong in the dauphine, mind you sky haven't looked as strong as in previous years. Should be an exciting race, much more open than previous years.

I'm really hoping that valverde is nowhere near the podium but he's looking strong. Horner can sod off as well. Really excited to see how the next generation is going to go, Talansky looks good and garmin are clearly serious, Tejay Vangarderen needs to start delivering on his promise. It's a shame though that the Colombian invasion is staying at home and Wilco Kelderman is a bit young but it would have been good to see him there.

kennaugh decision is a bit odd, i thought he was good last year.

didn't realise michelle cound was froome's manager as well as his partner until recently!

madchen you should get on board the roman bardet bandwagon with me.

sweet endo from p. sagan esq here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhDODmoIF94

there was a longer vid with the entire descent but it got blocked on copyright grounds. really good stuff on the cycling podcast last week from david millar on sagan's bikehandling skills, just nobody else among the current PROs can match him.

sagan better handler, but i'll bet phinney is faster near-straightline descender. his position is just faster, mass/cross-section greater.

madchen you should get on board the roman bardet bandwagon with me.

Can I bring myself to join a brown shorts bandwagon?

the eternal question we must all face at some point.

TOUR DE FRANCE!!!!

Getting really excited about this one. Stage 3 comes within 2 miles of my house and goes down roads I ride every week - there have been signs up all over the place for the last few weeks warning people that they can't park or drive virtually anywhere on 7th July.

This will be my first chance to see it in Britain as an actual active racing cyclist. When it came in 94 I'd already stopped my brief teenage racing career three years previously, and the timing was exactly wrong for me: they were racing down south while I was at my graduation ceremony in Yorkshire, I moved back down south just days after they'd returned to France. This year it's the reverse - I'm down south while the race starts in Yorkshire. In 2007 I went and watched the prologue in Hyde Park, but I didn't get properly back into cycling until the following year, so I had no idea who I was looking at as they whizzed past.

Guys? Guys? Team presentations...

I wish I could go and see it but with a five-month-old baby it'd be hard work. However, cycling makes for great maternity leave telly so I mustn't grumble.

Embrace and Kimberley Walsh at the team presentations, eh? The cream of Yorkshire.

nibs' italian champion jersey is absolutely risible.

also tinkoff-saxo have gone a bit yellow fluo. should've gone pink inna ONCE style.

xp - yep, it's awful

Entirely inappropriate and tmi for this thread, surely, but I've been popping by the ILE TdF threads for years now and don't intend to miss out on this occasion. Cycling being one of my biggest passions, this year's TdF start to me is cruelly bittersweet: I was supposed to see and experience the whole circus in Haworth or Hebden Bridge and thereabouts in two days (stage 2: the route from, roughly, Keighley-Haworth-Hebden-through Cragg Vale-Ripponden is such an amazingly wonderful scenery and unique TdF route), where my former gf lives. But well, hence 'former'...

I really think the Yorkshire stages will give a huge boost to the area, for it's such a beautiful and surprisingly steep area, and knowing how beautiful it will be filmed, I've no doubt it will be a huge succes and attract heaps of cycling enthusiastics. Especially stage 2: one for the puncheurs, something you rarely see that early in a TdF.

It truly is a unique area to start off the TdF, in terms of landscape, sudden steep elevation and scenery. Not sure yet if I'll be able to bear watching it even on telly... But Prud'homme et al couldn't have been bought into a more perfect starting three stages.

I hope Froome and Sky tank it this TdF, not because I dislike him - which I don't - but their train is just too strong, bordering the unjust. Crossing fingers for a major upset (Talansky, Fugelsang, Mollema, Contador).

The sky train looks a lot weaker this year. Much less predictable race I think.

Nibali's italian champs jersey is a joke, I'm surprised the Italian federation signed off on it, but also not surprised.

Team presentation, what a load of guff. Tony martin os looking very lean, outside chance for a stage 1 win if cav can't get over the climbs? All the sprinters looking leaner for the TdF so should be interesting.

Velogames fantasy cycling mini league

http://www.velogames.com/
League Name: ILX
League Code: 04024625

Why does Sky seem weaker to you? I want to believe, no doubt, but they are pushing the highest wattages in the peloton, consistently.

Surely not because of the absence of Wiggins? For Froome he was just a burden.

Ps. Nibali's champ jersey wish awesome! Ridic jerseys are part of this whole sport!

They looked weak and disorganised at the dauphine, it wasn't the dominating performance we've come to expect. Porte especially seems a lot weaker than last year? Froome doesn't seem to do as well as say, Contador, without a train. I also think the rest of the peloton is getting better at not giving the sky train full reign. Look at how Talansky won the Dauphine that last stage was orchestrated chaos and both. Froome and Contador were left reeling.

Ps. Nibali's champ jersey wish awesome! Ridic jerseys are part of this whole sport!

^^ Truth. I'm kind of disappointed Lampre have toned it down a bit this year, but am also delighted with the Trek pinstripe.

I'm all for ridic jerseys, but the Italian jersey has pretty much always been a big fucking flag. Marc Madiot at FDJ won't even put the sponsors names on the French one. Heritage matters too.

2014 Italian National Jerseys

Wrong way

http://i59.tinypic.com/2j17us4.jpg

Right Way

http://i57.tinypic.com/9qa4g2.jpg

Also anyone else excited for La Course? Should make for some racing worth watching on the last day.

In the meantime there is 10 days of the Giro Rosa for the women to get through.

The BBC news has just shown a map with a straight dotted line from Leeds to Essex, and another from Essex to London.

They also interviewed people live in Leeds under a caption saying 'Central London'.

excited, as usual. know what lbi means about the sky team, but holding together against the assaults of fate (see this year's weak giro performance - not same team I know) can be tough. I've got a feeling contador will do it this year. the dauphiné was interesting in Froome and sky not being able to defend their lead.

I *do* like Froome too, prefer hím tó Wiggins, think he's a more exciting rider. here's hoping for an attacking race!

unfortunately I've got a friend visiting today who isn't a cycling fan so not sure how much of le depart I'll be able to watch.

Oh jeez, as the reporter tells us the race starts in Leeds and finishes in Paris, we are given a map of all of England and the northern third of France.

millar on itv team is f'ing great.

Yes! He's looking all of his 6'4" next to those two.

can't tell whether he's actually swallowing back disappointment after the sign-in interviews or whether it's just his usual awkward and intense mien.

I have both ITV and SBS on and Phil Liggett is talking about dry stone walls.

JENS IS ATTACKING :):):):)

my brother and I gave a yelp of delight when he jumped off the front.

relying on ilx for updates from about 13:10 on...

JENS <3 <3 <3

Pro-tip: the Cycling News Tour Tracker app is an amazing app to follow the tour live. And it's free!

Just gonna leave this here. Because I want to.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=243BJu0zB50

^nostalgia bomb, always loved the way it turns into Frere Jacques right at the end
my friends are at the top of the next climb, exciting!

cheers lbi! dl-ing now.

Incredible crowds today - it looked amazing when they went up Buttertubs

Cavendish you absolute plonker! Headbutts Gerands and falls himself. He head butted Veelers last year. What a tool.

Didn't see the replay yet, but pretty sure he's out of the Tour.

Disgracefully stupid maneuver.

haha wow, Talansky back on his bike!

Oh dear... tears

IAM are quite a stylish team, no?

Poor Talansky, nearly 20 mins back. They described him as 'cast to the wolves' which seems about right. I know why they're doing it but oof, still.

yow. if you can escape a break containing rogers sagan and kwiatkowski you deserve victory.

Def, but he had the fortune no one wants to go to the finish line with Sagan. Can only imagine how frustrated Sagan must be.

remember mid 00s boonen? "when you ride the finale with me, you're riding for second place" or something like that.

http://i60.tinypic.com/2zz2el2.jpg

Cofidis soigneur is a goodmcandidate for fat mantis

Some great racing today! Nibali's still dominating.

Great race from Nibale, but it kinda takes the excitement out the GC battle tbh. He's out of sight.

Porte loses almost 9 minutes btw...

but it kinda takes the excitement out the GC battle tbh

What GC battle? I think that ended when Contador crashed out.

Yeah at this point barring Nibali doing himself in it's all over but the shouting. And Sagan has a deadlock on the sprinting.

Well, on the green jersey anyway.

NBS, well obv. But today really sealed it. Sagan on green but it will be v interesting to see if he can win a stage this TdF.

Valverde kind of attacking today was a first shocker. Props to Pinot and Van Garderen today, really strong.

Valverde kind of attacking today was a first shocker

He's such a shameless wheel sucker, I'd be tempted to slam on the brakes and punch him

I know right? And yet, he's loved in the peloton, supposedly's a real likeable guy. But maybe you'd have to be, clinging on like that all the time.

True re Madchen's point (sprints vs sprinting).

I've never warmed to Sagan - he's such a cocky blighter and so daggy - but I found myself rooting for him to win a stage this year. Then he said something about coming second being written in the stars and I went back to finding it hilarious.

I have to say I've enjoyed him getting more and more resigned to not winning in his post stage interviews, he's a lot funnier when he's not winning.

http://vine.co/v/MQ9j1AhOh2K

Well that was all over the place (in a good way!).

Yeah that was good! Isouard descent was something to behold, too.

Had to miss that part but sounded great. Will catch up later.

Does anyone know what he was doing in that auto caravana? I've been girlie shopping this afternoon and am well behind on the sport.

Arnoud Démare had diarrhea all day, so when he had to go just went in a spectators caravan.

Man, I was pedalling along with Bauer then.

Damn right, we all were.

really thought they were going to make it :(((

Boy we were all quiet this past week here, weren't we.

enjoyed seeing Vos the Boss racing earlier on
who was the last Frenchman on the podium? a doped-up-to-the-eyeballs Richard Virenque?

Yeah Ned. I've enjoyed myself but it's not been the same without a fight for yellow.

Still, a deserved winner and a great tour.

the race for the podium has actually been really good!

peraud is a great story I think, I read about him when he turned PRO after switching from MTBs and his struggles with getting comfortable riding in a bunch, playing a team role, etc. you'd assume he wouldn't have too many grand tours left, though he's pretty lightly-raced for a 37-y.o. due to the late switch.

good to see nibali win. no great love for Astana or Vino, but European cycling isn't the same without Italian cycling. great to see Peraud & young Pinot up there as well.

reasonable/decent Tour. kinda amusing 'everything' was decided in that Paris-Roubaix stage. (Contador wouldn't have crashed if Nibali hadn't put 2 minutes 'behind him')

it was good to see so many helpers get their chance to shine because their team's top rider was gone/crap.

Yeah, definitely. Interesting to see Richie Porte crash and burn too - I wonder how much use he'd have been to Froome.

I missed nearly all of the final week because I'm on holiday (ironically in France), but I managed to catch Nibali's stage win in the Pyrenees the other day (I started watching maybe two minutes before he caught and zoomed straight past Nieve). I'm pleased for him (assuming he's clean, which I'd say is probably but not definitely the case). Also pleased for the French. And also pleased that Sky managed absolutely fuck all. And relieved that unrepentant cheat Valverde dropped off the podium.

i do hope it's not the red sox winning the world series, but i do enjoy seeing deserved (afaict) french success at tdf.

Kind of bummed about La Course, not the race itself which was everything a women's race can be, attack attack attack right from the gun. Not that we got to see it. Despite it being on at a convenient time for Oz, it started too early and ended up being a minor side show. Not having a combined podium at the end diminished the race. La course should have been scheduled to finish just before the Men hit the champs so we didn't have to watch the parade from Evry.

How the last shot of the coverage should have looked

http://i62.tinypic.com/33zfh3q.jpg

Really thou, Lacourse should have started back in Harrogate or Continued on from the Giro Rosa, see stage 9 here

http://prowomenscycling.com/2014/07/14/video-stage-9-giro-rosa-2014/

All the other highlights are on that blog

As for the tour, great race, Nibali is a well deserved winner. I think he could have taken it over Contador. as for Froome, he may have had it in him to get to the podium but I Sky would have imploded all the same so I'm not sure if he'd have made it beyond third. Anyway, you win the race you get to race. Nibali didn't put a foot wrong all race, he was very canny and took time whenever he could, I'm not sure Contador could have made back enough after the Roubaix stage, it would have been close though.

Super stoked for what Pinot does next, I hope being the great French hope isn't too much for him. Being heated by Peraud was probably a good thing in that regard.

Also, second hand lolworthy moment. Greg Lemond asking Vino is he would ever support a women's team, only thing that would have made it more priceless would have been Astana BePink rolling into shot behind him.

Need to catchup on Greg LeMond's Eurosport work, it has apparently been highly amusing, a bit too ADD for TV. (Probably how I would be)

what i saw of lemondtv was just terrible. i'm actually quite sympathetic to him, but, man.

re nibali- love the way the guy races, great winner. thought any shit he got about last year's vuelta and worlds was bullshit. but then, i totally loved the way vino raced, and now they are linked. *shrug emoticon*

oh man not gonna lie I checked out after early on cuz I thought it was gonna be boring w/o real contention for the yellow

are there good stages to watch in retrospect?

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/gallery/2014/jul/27/tour-de-france-2014-cycling-pictures#/?picture=443148015&index=0

i like this gallery

baden cooke rumor-mongering that froome started the race with the busted wrist from the dauphine crash! lordy.

gbx how many stages did u see before checking out - should check:

- s2 (mini northern classic)
- s5 (cobbles)
- s10 (belles filles finish)
- s14 (rafa majka winking @ camera)
- s15 (can the break stay away??)
- s18 (hautacam finish)

Is there a Way TdF 2015 thread? Can't find one...

Haven't seen one

i made one Tour De France 2015

Cool, thanks!