The 2005 Tour de France thread!

[g force]

Yep, him or Basso would probably start as favourites, maybe Kloden too, but i depends on what stages they run.

Is Jan going to bother? I wonder if he's going to have oen more go with Lance gone, although i've seen nothing to suggest he could beat any of the 3 already mentioned.

 

[E.J.]

Fuck, I did not expect Vino and Ullrich to wilt so easily. Valverde looked fucking good though as did Rasmussun. Podium finish for either of them?

And speaking of Valverde can anyone give me any info on him. I've only just had a brief look at this thread, as well as listening on the reports of the various stages of Le Tour on Five Live.

 

[nogoodboyo]

Valverde looked strong, Rasmussen too - but Ras seemed to know his only chance was to attack at the 1k-ish area and Lance and Valverde stayed with him... I was more impressed by Valverde tbh. Staying with Lance all the way given the pace of the stage... impressive.

 

[g force]

Vinko takes Stage 11!

Not a real surprise given what an amazing rioder he is but that was still a mighty impressive piece of climbing by the guy.

Still, Discovery looked strong in the peloton helping to protect Lance.

 

[stavros]

Well Vino's attacked on two days, Ullrich doesn't seem to do attacking, so you might expect Basso to go for it sooner or later. Rasmussen looks very comfortable and has proved he can go on a lone rampage, although I'm not sure he has the experience and physical maturity to do that consistently yet.

 

[g force]

Boonen withdraws!

Bugger and arse...still, at least McEwen won't win the green jersey.


Hushvod still in contention on Stage 12 - Lance looking comfortable.

 

[stavros]

Surprised about Boonen but I think Hushovd should take the green without too much fuss if he gets to Paris.

 

[rubbershoes]

fucking hell

another day without team support for lance and he's gaining time on his rivals.

what a beast

 

[stavros]

You say no help but it almost seemed that Ullrich and Kloden had defected to Discovery the way they seemed to close down Vino's break. He is surely going to leave TMob asap.

 

[Sigmund Fraud]

Its all over really. Bassos 2nd place is pretty much unassailable due to his improved TT form. The battle is now for 3rd between Rasmussen and Ullrich - Ras needs to limit his losses in the TT on the penultimate day, but it weighs in at 55km, Ullrich has a chance of overhauling the 3 minutes he needs to get on the podium.

Not expecting too much this week tbh - I spose McEwens quest for green will probably be the main talking point.

 

[rubbershoes]

for the first time in about ten years I don;t have cable TV so no Eurosport

ITV2 is on freeview and has a good highlight prog

no cable needed

 

[Jenerys]

ITV2 is on freeview and has a good highlight prog

And the commentators say stuff like "it will take a suitcase full of courage"

 

[rubbershoes]

i was watching the live coverage yesterday and had to leave to go to a barbecue just as they started the final climb

 

[g force]

Can anyone see lance being beaten? I think it was all over a few days ago...I mean Basso is now second but he's such a long way behind that he'll never catch him, esp with the way Discovery are riding at the moment.

Kinda hoping Ras manages to stay third, he's been very impressive.

If anything this tour is makign me very excited about next year - Basso, Cuenego, Valverde, Rasmussen, Boonen, Vinko. Will Hincapie lead Discovery in 06 or was that deal coming to and end and the team splitting?

 

[stavros]

Vino has said the only team he'd go to would be Discovery and he must be pissed off with T-Mobile, what with Ullrich and Kloden seeming to chase his breaks. DSC are going to need a new leader so it would seem the obvious route to go.

I've read a little about Cuenego and was a bit disappointed he ain't doing the TdF. Is he that good that he could be a future challenger?

Finally whilst the team who front ITV's stuff are dead good, I do wonder why repeats of Trisha and Ricki Lake are more valued than live daily coverage. And as for the ITV1 coverage, how in the hell can you 6 stages justice in 55 ad-interrupted minutes?

 

[g force]

Well in terms of terrestrial TV coverage it's a niche sport that sponsors aren't interested in. It's a shame because a decent time slot would get more people into the sport - i've laready written an email to ITV to complain about the TV coverage.

 

[Juice Terry]

Glad to see Oscar Pereira take todays stage, felt really sorry for him after he was pipped by Hincapie the other day, after doing all the work all day over what seemed like the entire Pyrenees.

 

[g force]

Stavros - CSC have got Basso though and he's their leader. Vino might fancy going there as opposed to the obvious favouritism shown to Jan at T-Mobile/

I'd love to see him at Illes to partner Valverde and some fot he up and coming spaniards, but I'm not sure he'd fancy a spain-based team.

 

[stavros]

I actually said DSC as a shortening because I could be arsed to type out Discovery. At the moment Basso'll be the bookie's favourite for next year so CSC would be the last team Vino goes to.

In sponsor terms, if cycling is a niche sport to them then it surely makes sense for the BBC to be the rights and replace all the shitty tennis and golf. The Beeb's cycling team at the Olympics were pretty good, as were our cyclists so there is a definite scope for viewing figures.

Phil Liggett was right in that no-one really deserved a stage win more than Pereira because he has attacked all through the mountains.

 

[rubbershoes]

And as for the ITV1 coverage, how in the hell can you 6 stages justice in 55 ad-interrupted minutes?

didn't channel 4 give it just half an hour, less ad breaks of course

at least it's on TV and at a time i can watch, and i'm thankful for that. ch 4 used to show it at 6pm which made it a real rush to get home in time

 

[stavros]

C4 did it daily though, so that meant half an hour for each stage, as opposed to less than 10 minutes currently. It really should be on every day and live on at least ITV2, a channel which otherwise seems to be filled with very niche repeats which no-one's going to watch.

 

[shandy]

Just watching today's coverage on Eurosport. David Duffield in the studio and good value as always. Just referred to german cyclists as "well-drilled".

Absolutely shocking that this isn't on terrestrial tv. It would be perfect live on BBC2 every afternoon and I'm sure it'd get a good audience.

 

[fen_boy]

If anyone's interested, veteran cyclist Mick Ives, four time world masters champion, is attempting to ride the full route of the Tour in the same time as the pros, just two days ahead of the race proper, to raise money for Cancer Research. Apparently he'll become the first O.A.P. to do so

I have a bit of a vested interest in it, as my old man is driving the support van

If anyone fancies sponsoring him check out his site link

Geoff Thomas (former Palace player, recently recovered from leukemia) is also attempting it (though they aren't doing it together). It should be very interesting to see how they get on.

Geoff Thomas is still going and is due to finish it today - well done that man.

 

[richsaint]

Geoff Thomas is still going and is due to finish it today - well done that man.

Has anyone seen the photo's of him on his site? He's lost a hell of a lot of weight since he started! Check out the 18th July entry in his diary: geoff-thomas.com

I guess that's what riding the tour does to you

I just got a call from my dad, he says Mick should be finishing on saturday. I can't weight to find out what's taken the most out of him, following the tour in the same time as the pros or spending three weeks stuck on the road with my old man

Edit to add: Well done and congratulations to both

 

[stavros]

He's lost a hell of a lot of weight since he started

It could be the new mega-marketed diet scheme; "Want to lose 2 stone in 3 weeks? Why not cycle 3 and a half thousand miles round France up mountains that cars used to find difficult?" Imagine the take up from middle-aged housewives.

 

[stavros]

Oh yeah, todays stage. Where the fuck did Guirini get that kick from? It was fecking lethal.

 

[Sigmund Fraud]

I've read a little about Cuenego and was a bit disappointed he ain't doing the TdF. Is he that good that he could be a future challenger?

Cunego obliterated his team leader, Gilberto Simoni in the 2004 Giro D'Italia...and he was only 22. He is a future TdF winner in waiting, make no mistake. He missed this tour down to contracting mononucleosis, a viral infection that dramatically weakens the body and can affect the ability to build fitness and strength for as long as 12 months; Iban Mayo contracted this in the 2004 tour and has had a pants year. I expect Mayo to come back with a bang next year, Cunego might have to wait till the 2007 TdF for a serious challenge.

Basso, Cadel Evans and Valdeverde will fight out the tour next year methinks...in fact I think you could put your shirt on Basso.

 

[stavros]

Ullrich? Vino? Rasmussen?

 

[Sigmund Fraud]

Rasmussen will never win the tour. He can't Time Trial and the only way to win the tour without time trialing ability is to be as good / drugged as Pantani. Pantani was able to overcome his lack of TT skill by racking up an 8 minute advantage in the mountains and limiting his losses in the TT's. Rasmussen isn't as good a climber as Pantani and hasn't been able to hang on to Ullrich, Basso and Armstrong when he needed to. He'll win polka dot again but never the Tdf.

Ullrich can't beat Basso now so why should he be able to in a years time? Sorry but 2003 was his year, he was in shit hot form and Armstrong was the weakest he's ever been...Jan still couldn't beat him.

Vino is too reckless to win the Tdf. Great to watch but seems to blow too much energy on attacks at bad times. And he'll be 33 next year. Disco has said they'll not be signing him so Cofidis and Ag2r are in the running...neither team is going to cut it in the crucial TTT.

Basso, Valdeverde, Evans, Botero, Landis - one of these will win next year and like I say, my moneys on Basso.

 

[alfajobrob]

Final T.T

Wow....what a fucking great last performance from Lance in the T.T

Jan, Vino done their best, but at the end of the day there was only one winner & he caned them all.....

I felt sorry for Rasmussen, not too badly though as he's got the polka, just hope Thor gets the Green, though it will probably Robbie again....