Checked and works for me.
Thanks for the tips for watching on HD ITVX. Hubby is going to subscribe.
I'm sure nbt will set up the STW 'Velo Tour of France' game'.
Been thinking about it and whichever of the favourites wins it will make quite a good story. It’s all some form of redemption after previous years’ disappointment or recovery from significant setbacks. The most delicious mix of those in my mind would be Roglič who’s had his arse handed to him by each of the other main contenders AND is coming back from a big crash.
Still think Pogačar is the main favourite but for now I’m on Team Rog
Watty
PSA: ITVX sub for a year is currently £19.99 down from £59.99, just in time for the Tour 😃
Is there a code or a link for this price? It's snowing at full price for me 😞
EDIT: answering my own question, you need to go via the app on an apple device
Sorry NBT, I didn’t realise it was Apple only.
No worries I have an iPhone so can use that, but was initially checking on an android tablet
Still think Pogačar is the main favourite but for now I’m on Team Rog
Roglič went down in my estimation with that whole thing with Kuss at the Vuelta last year. But still, I wouldn't mind if he won because it would be more interesting than Pog winning again.
Roglic... the wheel sucker until the last 200 metres (not a fan).... Pog, the wheel to suck for anyone who can. Yes, I'm a fan.
Roglič went down in my estimation with that whole thing with Kuss at the Vuelta last year.
To be fair, he followed team orders despite being the stronger rider. Much like any other team where a rider emerges to challenge. Then took the honourable exit to another team for GC. The irony is, had he still been at Visma, he’d probably have Ving working for him after five stages of Ving being beaten up by UAE, and not really recovering fully from that crash
Heat could be an issue – who does well in that?
Chris Froome, ironically...
Maybe more germane here is that Pogi seems less good with it. Oh, and Simon Yates if you think back to the Giro - I think - where he struggled with it. I wonder if that means Adam has similar genetic tendencies.
Look at it slightly differently, and it may, on some days, come down to how well individual teams and riders manage heat as well as any physiological predispositions. Quite a lot of teams are now using core temperature sensors - https://corebodytemp.com/ - to monitor athletes' core body temperature.
Anyway, really looking forward to this year's Tour. In no particular order: Pogi v Jonas, can Roglic perform with Bora, how will Remco cope in the high mountains, can Carlo Rodriguez quietly make it onto the podium, Egan Bernal's ongoing fight to get back to 100%, Sir Cav's record stage win mission, `Pidcock and descents, Richard Carapaz being feisty, Wout van Aeart doing improbable things, Kwiato being quietly brilliant, Mikel Landa's sad, puppy dog eyes, G as a super dom' again, the scenery and cols that I've ridden myself, and loads more.
Stuff I'm not looking forward to: Carlton Kirby's endless drivel and Sean Kelly's regular use of 'continue on', the 'on is redundant and all your other words are in the wrong order.
Anyway, really looking forward to this year’s Tour. In no particular order: Pogi v Jonas, can Roglic perform with Bora, how will Remco cope in the high mountains, can Carlo Rodriguez quietly make it onto the podium, Egan Bernal’s ongoing fight to get back to 100%, Sir Cav’s record stage win mission, `Pidcock and descents, Richard Carapaz being feisty, Wout van Aeart doing improbable things, Kwiato being quietly brilliant, Mikel Landa’s sad, puppy dog eyes, G as a super dom’ again, the scenery and cols that I’ve ridden myself, and loads more
You forgot MVdP being MVdP
Cavendish confirmed with Morkov as lead out.
https://twitter.com/AstanaQazTeam/status/1805169969648341235
Yay. Go Cav!
Pog is going to smash it
Good to see quite a few young brits coming through this year
Just watched Pidcock in the MTB short track, **** hell it was like watching a grown up race toddlers.
And the XCO looked even easier. What is going on there in Ineos? I get he's got the olympic goal, but a race like that 1 week before the tour? High risk to say the least. Not taking anything away from Pidcock's MTB talent which is obviously immense, in terms of risk/investment vs that win, is it worth it for Ineos? Luckily it paid off. Certainly is entertaining. On the tour, hope he goes for stages and wins one in spectacular style, and I bet Jim is hoping the same because a tour stage is worth way more than a XC win.
Ineos line up confirmed
https://twitter.com/INEOSGrenadiers/status/1805179199897911718
You forgot MVdP being MVdP
I get the impression that he's basically Jasper's last lead-out man, but it would be great to see him go head-to-head with Van Aert for some rolling stage wins.
Ineos line up confirmed
https://twitter.com/INEOSGrenadiers/status/1805179199897911718/blockquote >
I didn't see Ben Turner coming, but it makes sense. I was wondering if they'd include Josh Tarling for a tilt at the time trials and some experience.
Yep, National Road Championships this weekend (almost all nations) so always interesting to see who’ll be sporting a new stripy jersey a few days later at the Tour.
1 DE LIE Arnaud Lotto Dstny 100 15 4:55:19
2 PHILIPSEN Jasper Alpecin - Deceuninck 75 10 ,,
3 MEEUS Jordi BORA - hansgrohe 60 7 ,,
4 NYS Thibau Lidl - Trek 50 4 ,,
5 VAN AERT Wout Team Visma | Lease a Bike 40 2 ,,
6 MERLIER Tim Soudal Quick-Step 30 1 ,,
7 VAN EETVELT Lennert Lotto Dstny 20 ,,
8 REX Laurenz Intermarché - Wanty 10 ,,
9 NAESEN Oliver Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team 5 0:02
10 MENTEN Milan Lotto Dstny 3 ,,
quite the competition for the Belgique stripes (yeah right remco had a cold 😉 )
De Lie looked awesome in that sprint - beat a murderer's row of world class sprinters. Philipsen straight in his wheel and couldn't come round.
Not sure how he is fixed for a leadout with Lotto - the big TdF sprint stages get so tactically congested, but he should be able to do some stuff in the Tour.
Is it worth getting Discovery+ to watch the Tdf?
How much more coverage will I get compared with ITV4?
I know there's usually a special thread but this dropped into the club chat...velogames TdF:
Is it worth getting Discovery+ to watch the Tdf?
Eurosport coverage (which should be the same) for Tdf is pretty much from race start now I think.
Eurosport coverage (which should be the same) for Tdf is pretty much from race start now I think.
ITV4 is live for almost all stages start to finish as well. Has been for a couple of years now except there are a lot of adverts for donkey sanctuaries and funeral plans.
I know there’s usually a special thread but this dropped into the club chat…velogames TdF:
> https://www.velogames.com/velogame/2024
I've been waiting for that, thanks for posting!
The STW Grand Tours velogames minileague ID is 347313627
For anyone who entered the Giro or the Dauphine velogames, your team should be automatically entered as soon as your create it - there are 7 in there already, as I speak.
https://www.velogames.com/velogame/2024/leaguescores.php?league=347313627
Good luck to all the virtual Directeurs Sportifs
Note that as teams are still being announced, the valogames list will be updated as the week goes on to add other riders and perhaps refine the points
Just looking through the teams....graphics that I saw included starts' stages wins etc
Pogacar has 11 wins from 4 starts! He could well end up as the most stage wins of all time at that rate and the way that he races.
Handy guide to the stages here, which ones to skip until the closing kms and which to settle in for and see the whole thing
https://twitter.com/cyclingyazz/status/1805284097792582001?s=46&t=yRQNMEdCGRiV6tO7y1r0Mw
Just watched Pidcock in the MTB short track, **** hell it was like watching a grown up race toddlers.
Yeah but what the hell is it with him and those stupid dogs ??
Kuss withdrawn from Jumbo team with covid, no crafty second Grand Tour win chance for him.
Yeah but what the hell is it with him and those stupid dogs ??
All the roadies seem to be at it these days. Dogs at the finish, on the podium...
shame no loulou, the opening stage looked right up his street and 3 days in yellow 😕 maybe Remco fancies it ?
https://twitter.com/ProCyclingStats/status/1805519173289681282
If I enter a Velogames team now, can I continue to make changes until the teams are confirmed?
usually its midnight the day before
Yates has the coolest dog
can I continue to make changes until the teams are confirmed
Deadline is usually just before the race rolls out. In this case
Make sure to enter your team ahead of the entry deadline of 12:30 CEST (Central European Summer Time) on Saturday 29th June 2024. Good luck to all directors!
After last years successful gamble on Yates gc e/w this year's flutter is Ayuso gc e/w (was going to go with yates again but 33/1 vs 22/1 clouded my judgement)
And last years failure of Girmay to win stage 1, which would have been amazing, this year thinking a select group sprint, so WvA at 12/1.
My Velogames team is in (although I may change on Friday). This year there seems to be a clear winner, but anyone's sprinter could win a stage. I think one can't go wrong with at least 2 UAE riders.
Bloody hell, Intermarché - Wanty are fielding 13 riders according to Velogames 😀 😀
https://twitter.com/roadcc/status/1805578740560224478?t=0vz2saJZePqCPLcdNRJjxQ&s=19
That's an impressive amount of snow still blocking the Galibier....
Cycling Weekly have started banging on about how Cav will definitely win at least one stage, greatest sprinter of all time, most Tour wins ever blah blah.
Which is more or less what they said last year right up to the point he hit the deck.
Geraint Thomas was talking Cav up on the podcast, saying most of the rest of the field aren't really on form. It's a big ask, there's so many good sprinter's now. Would be amazing to see though.
https://www.cyclist.co.uk/in-depth/british-riders-tour-de-france
Guide to the British riders in this year's Tour.
To be fair, Cav was going well last year. He won the Giro finale don't forget. This year not so good BUT if everything flows then he's got it. Imagine if it was him with the MvdP leadout.
(That's SIR Cav to you)
Here's Mr Pogačar saying he's got even better at bike riding than he was at the Giro:
https://twitter.com/Domestique___/status/1805876642612461866
Personally, after everyone else has played up their underdog status I quite like the fact he's just coming out and saying he feels good.
