Giro d'Italia / Tour de France

[nimrod]

A hero comes to the fore every year...The Jensie I'm a bit partial to a Voeckler breakaway and mad riding in the mountains in a vain attempt to defend the yellow jersey too.

Exactly, that's why the tour is so great.

 

[Knockout Ned]

Those 2 and a half minutes Nibali has over Contador could make things interesting later on, think what you want about Bertie but he can be relied upon to launch some big attacks to make that time up...

 

[EdgeOfTheAlps]

Those 2 and a half minutes Nibali has over Contador could make things interesting later on, think what you want about Bertie but he can be relied upon to launch some big attacks to make that time up...

How's Nibali in the TT? with that one the last day in the GC will he be able save enough time to challenge or is the race already Contador's to lose?

 

[Knockout Ned]

He's improved but Contador is decent, TT is around 50km iirc so not sure if we'll see a huge swing.

Expect Contador will want to have all but put it to bed by then, he has the better of Nibali on the climbs.

 

[EdgeOfTheAlps]

He's improved but Contador is decent, TT is around 50km iirc so not sure if we'll see a huge swing.

Expect Contador will want to have all but put it to bed by then, he has the better of Nibali on the climbs.

Yeh I know Contador is still a very good climber and TT rider, I wonder if Nibali can nick a bit more time on any of the punchier stages before the mountains. Mind you the mountain stages are small this year, no stage with several more than a couple of tough of 1's / HC

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Nibali rode a superb TT in the Giro. Plus he is just as good a climber as Alberto. Could be a cracking race to Paris.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

I expect Alberto to have a go on the climb to La Planche Des Belle Filles in a couple of days. That is a pretty vicious ramp. Otherwise look out for the stage over the Tourmalet and finishing at Hautacam, which is an utter bastard of a climb.

 

[Knockout Ned]

Contador to launch an attack over the d'Izoard and solo to victory in Risoul.

Admittedly I'm a little biased and a bit of a romantic having ridden the d'Izoard last year!

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Izoard is EVIL. Just Evil. Such a tough climb. Mind you I wish they were going over the Galibier rather than turning right at the top of the Lauteret and heading down again, and the Cimme De La Bonnette de Restefond needs to be in the tour again soon.

Nice to see the Petit and Grand Ballon in the tour this year. Vosges mountains are underrated.

 

[Knockout Ned]

Galibier would have been a welcome addition, whilst the Lauteret doesn't have the gradients it's still a pretty long slog.

Ripping descent down into Briancon though...

 

[Johnny75]

Those 2 and a half minutes Nibali has over Contador could make things interesting later on, think what you want about Bertie but he can be relied upon to launch some big attacks to make that time up...

I hope Nibali (or Richie Porte, although that's a very loooooong shot) wins as Contador is a convicted cheat. Great viewing already, the stage from Ypes across the cobbles was brutal.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Porte has a similar chance to Wiggins the year he came fourth - stay with Contador and Nibali in the mountains (Contador and Armstrong in Wiggo's race) and then hope to get some time back on the time trial. I think Geraint Thomas has a good chance of finishing quite high up the GC as well. He has really improved over the last couple of years.

 

[Johnny75]

I like Thomas and thought his interview and leadership were excellent across the cobbles. He's an all rounder isn't he? I almost feel for Quintana as he might have demolished this race had he been in it. I quite like ITV's coverage too which is so much better than their football offering, on a par with Eurosport for me, but then I am a casual watcher not a knowledgeable one.

You follow the cycling calendar closely then Paddy?

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

I have watched the Tour since the mid eighties when Channel 4 started their highlights coverage. Added to that Eurosport and now ITV 4 means I get good coverage of the Giro and the Vuelta. I tend to keep an eye on things like the Criterium, Paris-Roubaix, Leige-Bastogne-Liege, and Paris-Nice, but don't follow them as avidly as the grand tours.

ITV4 is very good - I really like Phil Liggett as a commentator. And as a bonus I don't need a translator to find out what Sean Kelly is saying.

 

[Donegal Wolf]

I have watched the Tour since the mid eighties when Channel 4 started their highlights coverage. Added to that Eurosport and now ITV 4 means I get good coverage of the Giro and the Vuelta. I tend to keep an eye on things like the Criterium, Paris-Roubaix, Leige-Bastogne-Liege, and Paris-Nice, but don't follow them as avidly as the grand tours.

ITV4 is very good - I really like Phil Liggett as a commentator. And as a bonus I don't need a translator to find out what Sean Kelly is saying.

To be honest even in Ireland we need a translator for Sean Kelly.

I think Nibali will find it difficult to beat Contador he has building nicely for this all season and has a strong team around him especially Rogers riding well.

 

[Knockout Ned]

Contador was way off the pace last year, he'll be looking to put that right this time.

Eurosport viewer mostly, I do like the ITV4 coverage though and record the highlights show for when I don't have time to watch live. I prefer Eurosport but ITV have much more reliable schedules for recordings.

 

[Johnny75]

Proper fight this afternoon. All the main players more or less still in it.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Brilliant ride so far by Tony Martin. Looks like Galopin has a good chance of pinching yellow.

 

[nimrod]

good stage today. fireworks tomorrow. wish i was working from home, full on day in london instead. shame

 

[thehistorymakers]

good stage today. fireworks tomorrow. wish i was working from home, full on day in london instead. shame

Yes , big day tomorrow . All to play for. Martin was superb today.