And so we come to the 19th hole, it’s all gone so fast. Lots to share, for you to read while you get over your hangovers and tour withdrawal. I warn you now, this is quite long, and contains the obvious spoilers. Sorry it was posted so late as well, had to wait quite a while for a lot of this stuff to be made available.

Photos:

Steephill photos from the entire three weeks

ITV photos from the entire three weeks

The Big Picture tour photos, part one

The Big Picture tour photos, part two

It had to be him, didn’t it? A bit of competition just makes the win that much sweeter.

Wrote that last night in anticipation, guess I typed way too soon – feel free to blame me. Ah well, he couldn’t keep winning forever, 4 in a row will have to do for now. A very worthy winner in Kittel, just a shame I’ve got the feeling Cav was let down again by his team, they seemed so strong up until the last chicane.

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHwCOk_8R8I[/video]

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=as9IRMpX5oU[/video]

Tour giving you road bike fever? Thinking of giving it a go? Might be worth having a read of this

http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/humour-tips-for-becoming-a-roadie-14451/

…if a mountain biker says a ride is ‘technical’, you can assume that there is loose shale, several ledge drops, high-penalty (e.g., death) exposure on one side of the trail, or slick, mossy roots twisting along the singletrack. If a roadie calls a ride ‘technical’ on the other hand, it most likely means that there is a roundabout somewhere in the ride.

Also if you enjoy that article, you’ll probably enjoy this one too..

http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/humour-so-you-want-to-be-a-mountain-biker-14501/

And while we’re talking about mountain bikes, in case you missed it..

[video]http://vimeo.com/70721410[/video]

And a few other interesting articles:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/10-conclusions-from-the-2013-tour-de-france

http://www.itv.com/tourdefrance/news/100th-tour-de-france-in-quotes/

http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/tour-de-france-gallery-100-editions-in-100-photos

http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/tour-de-france-gallery-history-on-the-champs-elysees

http://www.bicycling.com/tour-de-france/expert-analysis/men-tour-hot-fast-and-sloppy

http://www.cyclesportmag.com/news-and-comment/our-man-in-the-bunch-4-pro-cycling-myths/

http://www.cyclesportmag.com/features/our-man-in-the-bunch-9-tactics/
and
http://www.cyclesportmag.com/features/our-man-in-the-bunch-10-tactics-part-2/

http://velonews.competitor.com/2013/07/news/despite-doubts-losses-and-errors-sky-came-through-as-a-team_296186

http://velonews.competitor.com/2013/07/news/along-the-road-to-annecy-semnoz-a-milestone-jens-voigts-last-attack-in-a-tour_296182 –

It’s almost for sure my last Tour, so I wanted to say goodbye in a special way. I gave everything. I’m happy. It’s almost done for me. I’ve had some great Tour memories. I’ve been on the podium with Andy Schleck and Carlos Sastre. I’m at peace with the Tour.

Come on ITV, offer him a commentary position..

http://velonews.competitor.com/2013/07/news/the-mild-and-merciless-chris-froome-could-be-winning-tours-for-a-while_296191

I’m planning on giving a few of these a go when I get home..

Recipes from ORICA-GreenEDGE Chef Nicki Strobel

Posted by Mitchelton-SCOTT on Saturday, June 29, 2013

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0mH2tcOozs[/video]

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibRnumNeMF0[/video]

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQJqppHjvfU[/video]

A few useful links

Final Classifications
Fantasy League Standings
Loser League Standings

Congratulations to The Blackest Rats by HitamTikus for winning the fantasy league, especially considering he did it without Sagan and with Pinot.. The Hounds of Zaroff by Ceri take 2nd place, and Shavin’ yer legs? by Greg Bowie take 3rd. I had to make do with a measly 5th.

However, I had it pretty much sewn up since the end of week one in the loser league, Time to do some crashing winning (losing?) comfortably. The Broom by scaredypants in 2nd, Hoppy on a go slow by Chris Hudson in 3rd. Only the first time we’ve done that though, so I imagine there will be a bit more competition next year…

And while it’s great to look backwards at what has happened in the past few weeks, it’s always good to look forwards as well.

http://www.letour.fr/le-tour/2013/us/grand-depart-2014.html

I can see it being very competitive next year, Mollema, Froome, Wiggins, Contador, Evans, Schleck, Rodriguez, Quintana (rumours that he could be riding a BMC next year), Valverde, Porte, etc. etc. Cav to have another chance at yellow, and lots of closed roads for the NIMBYers to complain about.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/andy-schleck-to-ride-for-trek-in-2014

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ten-dam-still-waiting-on-contract-offer-from-belkin

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/david-millar-hints-he-could-retire-in-2014

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ogrady-announces-his-retirement

Jens Voigt’s Final Tour

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/africans-inspired-by-froomes-tour-de-france-victory

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/this-yellow-jersey-will-stand-test-of-time-says-froome

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/23404893 – “Froome’s next target is September’s World Championships in Florence”

So service will resume as normal sometime early July. Thank you for all the kind words, really appreciate it. I’ve really had fun doing these threads, and I hope you’ve all enjoyed the tour as much as I have. If you’d like to show your appreciation then chuck a couple of quid this way as obviously we couldn’t do this without STW, or here if you’d prefer.

Chapeau and whats more this year you got them all out before the stage actually started

Not a single stage missed, setting a high bar for yourself next year.

…bollocks.

[img]http://i.imgur.com/Y2YgKMo.gif[/img]

Thanks realman. Great idea to add the donation links too.

Thanks…! A really brilliant feed, no coverage of this overseas, so this has been a lifesaver! 🙂

Really enjoyed this years tour. Glad you’ve done this thread as a bit of a come down because I’m desperately sad to see it finished and gutted Cav didn’t win yesterday although it seemed inevitable. His team just aren’t good enough but also he doesn’t seem to be as fast this year. Role on next year with Renshaw.

And next year!! I live in Halifax so i’ve not far to go. Need to pick a few good spots. I’m really tempted to be in Leeds for Le Grand Depart but it will be good in the Dales and it would be nice to see the finish. On top of that i’d really like to watch it live on TV. Second day maybe Crag Vale but they will fly up there. Maybe Holme Moss. Such a dilema. Can’t wait.

Somehow i’ve managed 7th in the fantasy league. Didn’t think i’d manage that without Sagan.

Once again thanks Realman. Looking forward to the Vuelta now.

Well done realman, I looked forward to the threads each day.

Really enjoyed the tour this year, and really looking forward to next year. I think if the main GC riders can balance themselves out between teams so as not to conflict with each other within a team ( and team orders) , then it’ll be a great race.

Is there a vid of all the punches?

Thanks RealMan 🙂 Hitam tikus is my strava alter ego.
I was also winner in our TNC league and I think 5th on Bikeradar.

Enjoyed these threads so suck a few quid to each of the links above as a thanks. Look forward to reading all the links above over the next few lunch breaks.

Is that John Terry in dirtyrider’s gif – I’d recognise that ‘robust’ tackling anywhere!

too skilful

Please can someone persuade Jens to stay.

Or give him a job doing in race interviews with the riders in the breakaway – on condition he has to be on his bike.

These two don’t know how to stop do they…

http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/criterium-aalst-2013/results

Bloody hell!! There was I thinking that all the riders would be waking up on Monday morning thinking “Thank God I don’t have to ride a bike today!”

Bit different for Geraint at least, he deserves some rest.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/23412233

RealMan, no chance of same again for Vuelta? I know its a lot to ask but the threads were that good.

forzafkawi – Member
Bloody hell!! There was I thinking that all the riders would be waking up on Monday morning thinking “Thank God I don’t have to ride a bike today!”

they make a lot of money doing these post-tour crits…

they make a lot of money doing these post-tour crits…

And you’re also on the form of your life, why waste it sitting around drinking beer when you can get a few more easy wins..

RealMan, no chance of same again for Vuelta? I know its a lot to ask but the threads were that good.

I could think about it I suppose, not sure how much demand there would be for it though, a lot more people follow the tour than the vuelta on here I think..

final stage article

guess I typed way too soon

nice one, RM- you’re not the only one. check the URL of the BC article above 😆

cheers, excellent posts.

RealMan – Member

I could think about it I suppose, not sure how much demand there would be for it though, a lot more people follow the tour than the vuelta on here I think…

tour, vuelta, whatever, it’s all bikes!

😀

I could think about it I suppose, not sure how much demand there would be for it though, a lot more people follow the tour than the vuelta on here I think..

We’d all follow the Vuelta more if there was more coverage. You CAN make a difference RM 🙂

all the stages on the Vuelta are the same aren’t they?
mountain pass > steeper mountain pass > even steeper mountain > mountain bike cassette steep mountain > 30% summit finish

all the stages on the Vuelta are the same aren’t they?
mountain pass > steeper mountain pass > even steeper mountain > mountain bike cassette steep mountain > 30% summit finish

Yes thats generally the format, you missed sprints finishes & TT though, its not quite the same in Holland however.

There was quite a lot of Vuelta action last year on here, but it didnt have the nice structured start that you gave the threads RM.. 🙂

sprint finish up mountain pass > TT up mountain pass

that better?

Much… good race Vuelta. 🙂

yeah, I think I prefer it to the Giro for some reason.
it seems harder somehow. and I like the way the Spanish race.

@RealMen – thanks for this, its been great

Nice work realman!

And a (final?) article from Robert Millar, sums up a lot of the tour quite well.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/robert-millar/cest-fantastique

Facts about Team Belkin in the 2013 Le Tour De France:
2350 Tacx bio bottles
567 SIS energy bars
945 SIS energy gels
52 kg pasta/rice
23 yoghurt packs
23 quark packs
207 baguettes
184 loaves
690 eggs
6 crashes
3 flat tires
63 bikes
2 riders in the top twenty
1 (proud) team

Only 3 flats? Not bad.

Been looking at the Vuelta, it doesn’t look that nuts this year actually.

Shocking stuff this too

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/french-senate-releases-positive-epo-cases-from-1998-tour-de-france

Perhaps why Stuart has just retired?

What I don’t get about that last article is why now? It is so old, the re testing was done back in 2004, the race they are talking about is 1998… Just why? Surely they are doing more harm than good both to themselves & to the sport keep dragging up all this?