Cycling - Tours, Giros & UCI events

Discussion in 'General Football & Other Sport' started by Moose, Jun 18, 2018.

  1. Moose

    Moose First Team Captain

    It's like cricket, in that it needs investment to understand what's going on between the action bits.

    A days stage might be 250km long, so it's not all out all the time and those not competing for the overall leaderboard, the 'GC', or that day's stage may conserve energy for the next day.
     
  2. RookeryDad

    RookeryDad Squad Player

    I can barely cycle.

    I struggled to ride the Missus’ bike back from the repair shop the other day.

    But there is something engrossing for me about the grand tours. The best of test cricket & boxing combined.

    As with cricket, the more time you invest, the more you appreciate the bursts of action.

    And the sheer brutality of the mountain stages.

    The final splendour is the commentary of Carlton Kirby.

    Pure Partridge.
     
    Moose likes this.
  3. Carpster

    Carpster Squad Player

    Wow. Way to make sound even worse.
     
  4. Moose

    Moose First Team Captain

    Well, if you don’t wish to give it a try what are you hoping for? That we suddenly realise you are right?
     
  5. Carpster

    Carpster Squad Player

    If I threw a stick, you’d leave, right?
     
  6. Moose

    Moose First Team Captain

    No, but I'd be relieved if you said something of interest.

    There really isn't much point hanging around enthusiast's conversations if you are not one. Start a thread about sports you like or your favourite brand of sausage rolls.
     
  7. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator Staff Member

    Tuesday and Wednesday going to be the key in the Pyrenees.

    Will Froome attack the 2 "Toms" as he has before late on in the Tour.
     
  8. Moose

    Moose First Team Captain

    Race halted temporarily after Police tear gas a farmer’s demonstration and apparently tear gas the peleton.
     
  9. Carpster

    Carpster Squad Player

    Really? I was going to give it go today. Wouldn't mind some tips to look out for.
     
  10. Moose

    Moose First Team Captain

    Back on.

    It’s likely there will be two races today. A breakaway that may stay away and then the race between the overall leaders to take time off each other. They will attack each other on the last mountain climb and then it’s a thrilling 10km descent at 60 odd mph to the finish.
     
  11. UEA_Hornet

    UEA_Hornet First Team Captain

    Yikes. I hope none of them have asthma...
     
  12. Moose

    Moose First Team Captain

    Fortunately if they do it’s permitted that they take the same medicines for it that millions of other people do.
     
  13. Carpster

    Carpster Squad Player

    OK. Thanks for that. I will have a look.
     
  14. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator Staff Member

    Hard luck for Adam Yates - sums up this tour really.
     
    Moose likes this.
  15. RookeryDad

    RookeryDad Squad Player

    The most traditional element, & possibly the most opaque to the layman, is when the French constabulary pepper spray Team Sky.

    All the rest is riding a bike.
     
  16. RookeryDad

    RookeryDad Squad Player

    Are the asthmatics allowed to use motorised bicycles or did I misunderstand Carlton Kirby?
     
  17. RookeryDad

    RookeryDad Squad Player

    Carp, Wednesday could be weird.

    In an unprecedented stage, the Tour is embracing the spirit of T20 cricket.

    Three huge ascents in 40 miles.

    Pedal like **** from the flag?!

    The tactics, which are the foundation of grand tour cycling, will be made up as they go.

    Sky are in an oddly tricky position as, unless they open up more time over Dumoulin in third, the Dutch guy could just romp home in the time trial.
     
    TripleH and Moose like this.
  18. RookeryDad

    RookeryDad Squad Player

    Moose, any thoughts on the TT?

    How much do G & CF need in hand to be confident of fending off Dumoulin?

    Of course, 3 days up the Pyrenees will affect TD too.
     
  19. TripleH

    TripleH Academy Graduate

    If you have a passing interest in watching cycling and want to give it a try then today could be the day, as Rookerys post indicates it's a short one and the equivalent of 20/20 cricket and could see a new audience, the grid start will be an anti climax though.

    I'd back Thomas to have enough time over Dumoulin in the tt so Dumoulin needs to attack, along with Bardet, Roglic even Quintana - lets see what they are made of

    Disclaimer - If sky manage to neutralise all the attacks then disregard everything I've just said
     
    Moose likes this.
  20. Moose

    Moose First Team Captain

    I think TripleH is right that Thomas has enough time. I don’t think that Froome does, so he needs to attack Dumoulin and to do so without damaging Thomas.

    This stage is either going to kick off big time or be completely neutralised. I can’t see anything in-between.
     
  21. Moose

    Moose First Team Captain

    Today’s side competition is whether any cycling fan can act like an even bigger ****head than what has gone before. Another sport the French are leading the world at.
     
    Diamond likes this.
  22. RookeryDad

    RookeryDad Squad Player

    Ideal if Sky can break Dumoulin today to allow a mano a mano between G & CF over final mountain stage & TT.

    Unideally, I've got a call with my US team at 3pm.

    Do I have the tv on in the background risking a 'Yes, yes, yes!' as Froome bursts ahead up the Pyrenees?

    Or does anyone on here fancy stepping in?

    You'd just have to keep to neutral business type q's: 'How are sales?', 'How do you get on with Adam last week?'

    The bonus is you get to vent your spleen about the distributor.

    The US lot are impressed & bemused in equal measure by English swearing.
     
  23. RookeryDad

    RookeryDad Squad Player

    Macron to drop a steamer on Froome from an overhanging branch?

    Superb when Brailsford suggested that in future the TdF could be just for French teams.

    Div 3 South level!
     
    Moose likes this.
  24. Moose

    Moose First Team Captain

    If Romain Bardet rode for Sky the controversy would be over in an instant.
     
    TripleH likes this.
  25. RookeryDad

    RookeryDad Squad Player

    Well, maybe they should sign a French rider.

    The TdF disruption is getting out of hand.

    In a team of 8 you could find space for one.

    Our best player is Doucoure so the French must be good at some sports.
     
  26. Moose

    Moose First Team Captain

    Whoah, super G today. Saw off all his rivals. Great performances from Quintana and Martin too.

    Looks like the Sky leadership changed hands today.
     
  27. RookeryDad

    RookeryDad Squad Player

    Despite my promptings, my call ended with NQ 200m from the line.

    Looks like no 5th win for CF this time.

    Also, NQ had, in effect, a double puncture. His front tyre was punctured & a team mate gave him his front wheel. He took an agonising length of time to fix it on, maybe turning something the wrong way. Then 2 mins down the road, NQ stopped to have the wheel actually, properly fixed on. He was then pushed for about half a mile by his roadie to help him catch the peleton.
     
  28. TripleH

    TripleH Academy Graduate

    G hit the spot
     
  29. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator Staff Member

    Can Thomas beat his rivals in the time trial as Dumulion is pretty handy at those ?

    Read Gilbert rode 60km yesterday with a broken kneecap !!
     
  30. RookeryDad

    RookeryDad Squad Player

    Forza Gilbert!

    Channeling Neymar.
     
  31. Moose

    Moose First Team Captain

  32. TripleH

    TripleH Academy Graduate

    Yeah he wont lose nearly 2 mins on the time trial, most TT's that G has been in previous tours he's been saving his legs for Froome, Providing he doesn't come off again i'd actually have him as an outside bet to take the TT stage, he's got the best form, the extra boost from the jersey plus the stage is up and down.

    Having said that he did stick it in the barrier on the Dauphine the other month so there would be an understandable element of safety in his riding
     
    Moose likes this.
  33. Moose

    Moose First Team Captain

    The scent of victory can make it hard to ride as Yates found the other day. He had the stage in his grasp, but may have started to overthink it before he fell.
     
  34. HappyHornet24

    HappyHornet24 Crapster Staff Member

    A slight move off on a tangent here so forgive me, but are any of you cycling fans also cyclists and, if so, are you riding in "Velo South" later this year?
     
    zztop likes this.
  35. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator Staff Member

    Going to be a close battle for 2nd and 3rd with Roglic taking 19 seconds out of Froome and Dumoulin.

    Surely Thomas has the Tour won baring a fall ?
     

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