ercles on 14/7/2009 at 15:08
lol MLS.
Onto real sports, who else has been watching le tour so far? It's been a fairly interesting set of races so far, although I think it's going to be a boring few days until they hit the alps now. It's going to be fascinating to see how the Armstrong/Contador dynamic develops up the big climbs.
Unfortunately Cadel Evans continues to break Australia's heart by sticking with an awful team and preventing himself from enjoying any form of success.
quinch on 14/7/2009 at 21:45
I just took out one months subscription with Eurosport to watch The Tour on my PC due to my growing interest in cycling. I still haven't really got the foggiest idea what is going on to be honest but the scenery is extraordinary.
Today's race was a go-slow for 164km in protest about radio communications or something.
Can't wait for the routes in the Alps. It's good that they are right at the end of The Tour this year.
I loved it when they all got held up at that level crossing. That was really funny.
ercles on 14/7/2009 at 22:30
Yeah today was a bit shite, although Cavendish is an absolute monster once he get's daylight between him and the finish line. The whole protest seems to be circulating around the fact that the organizers are experimenting with removing the radios from the riders helmets. The radios are basically used by the team managers to relay information about how the breakaways are unfolding and change team orders during a race. The teams can still keep in touch with the managers by dropping back to chat with the team car, but this lead to a clusterfuck during the race as there was constant movement at the back of the peleton.
I'm not particularly sure why the race organisers want to do away with the radios, it may be to create a less predictable race and more exciting race.
quinch on 14/7/2009 at 23:55
I think the organizers are just being French traditionalists which I can understand. Do electronics have to permeate everything these days? I also preferred it before the helmets became obligatory. Can't tell who's who and it was hard enough before.
Still a great contest. Looks to be quite close as well. Maybe Armstrong will do it again...
I thought Evans was unpopular with aficionados due to his non-combatant style?
(
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D568_-2E2Uo) Alan Partridge Le Tour commentary
heywood on 15/7/2009 at 00:36
I got my first decent road bike when I was 15 back in the late 80s and I've been following the tour every year since. Watching Greg Lemond come back from being shot even inspired me to try racing for a bit.
I think the organizers really dropped the ball this year. Starting with a long prologue that put the jersey out of reach for some of the headbangers who might have made the first stages interesting. Then, by applying the full time gaps from the TTT against the individuals' times, they eliminated many of the guys who might have put in attacks in the mountains. Then, the strange route through the Pyrenees which made only one climb in 3 days count for anything. Now, the radio ban for 2 stages.
And I don't know that it will get better in the Alps since all of the stages end at the bottom of a descent. There might not be any shakeup of the standings until the time trial. I am looking forward to the finish on Ventoux, but by that time there may only be one or two guys left in contention.
I'm not much of an Armstrong fan, but I am impressed by his form and attitude. And I'll admit that if he weren't here, the tour would really be boring this year. I'd love to see Contador and Armstrong stay close through the time trial and then duke it out on Ventoux. I know Armstrong is probably dying to win that stage after letting Pantani take it in 2000 and attacking too late to catch Virenque in 2002.
ercles on 15/7/2009 at 03:45
Being an Australian is the major component of me supporting Evans. I'm not entirely sure non-combative is the right term to describe a man who threatened to cut off the head of a journo that bumped his dog. In the past he has been too reactive to really succeed in the mountains, but this year he has over compensated, attacking at silly points. But honestly the biggest factor has always been never having any help, especially last year when he lost to a non-time trialist in Sastre, purely because he was so exhausted from holding the yellow jersey purely on his own for a long period of time.
heywood on 15/7/2009 at 14:49
Yeah, Cadel was the favorite last year and didn't exactly display grace under pressure. I think he turned a lot of fans and journalists off. Also, Lotto's key domestiques like Horner and Popovych never seemed very motivated or dedicated to supporting him. And this year he's got nobody.
Lotto is primarily a Belgian domestic team who shouldn't really be competing in the grand tours. I think they keep one or two top riders on the payroll just to guarantee their tour invite. They wasted McEwen by never giving him a consistent leadout man. If Robbie had guys like Hincapie and Renshaw to deliver him to the front of the sprint, he'd have dominated just like Cavendish is doing now. Too bad he didn't leave until his good years were past.
I don't understand why Evans re-signed. He must have known they wouldn't have anybody to support him. I hope they're paying him a lot of money.
Matthew on 16/7/2009 at 17:46
This is all very interesting guys but ASHES and THE OPEN thank you
nickie on 16/7/2009 at 19:33
Ah! I was wondering when someone was going to start on the Ashes. Don't you just love it when us Brits celebrate a draw?
At least Strauss seems to be cracking on a bit this time, making his 5000th Test run. And Cook did well too, even if the others were a tad dismal. But Collingwood can be forgiven I think after his sterling performance in Cardiff. I had thought that Cardiff thread was about the Ashes but was disappointed. I can only watch on Sundays unfortunately but I'm listening on the Beeb. I just hope they stick in there a bit more tomorrow.
Can't comment on the Open I'm afraid - I'm not a very big fan.
