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Can't wait..
Looking forward to it too. Suspect our colonial cousin Cadel will be in yellow this afternoon. Might bring a smile to his face....
I like Cadel Evans, I know most dont but there's something about his grumpy, squeaky midget ways that makes me smile against a backdrop of bland pro's.
The pace in this first hour is ferocious, they're almost sprinting! Everyone wants to be in the break...
Wiggins on the front as it hits the climb!
One RadioShack jersey, one clumsy owner, for sale. Offers to LA:-)
Can any of the other sky riders climb?
Wiggins for sure
Looks like sky are trying to break everyone else
Slightly strange tactics though, you really need about 4-5 riders to blow it to pieces on a climb (like the old US Postal used to do), it'll be a struggle with only 3. Radioshack are knackered after pacing LA back to the bunch though. There's people going out the back but most of the big names are still there without really stretching themselves.
Is Sean Kelly a lurker? Just said was crazy-legs wrote...
Is strange as they aren't exactly setting a high pace as group still has 30 - 40 riders
The route goes right past my mate's chalet on the route up to Avoriaz. I so wish I was there!
Last time I was up there it was like this though :
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Is Wiggins trying to destroy them by himself? Slightly dangerous tactic no?
Rest day tomorrow so I guess it's a risk worth taking. LA going out the back now.
Astana are taking it up at the front now.
Armstrong has blown!!
Great to see Sky taking the race by the scruff of the neck. The classic tour stages are built on gutsy riding and this looks to be a great day whatever happens.
Wiggins now looks to be on his own.
@ Stoner - What tyres for the col? 😆
LA should have bowed out gracefully last year, at least he was on the podium. Sky have been looking smug/confident all week, just hope they can walk the walk.
Last climb will be fireworks.
Think that was Wiggo's payback for last years tour.
Anything but SB8's as they were rubbish! 😉
wiggo still has help in the front group
I fancy Wiggo could make a move on Avoriaz.
Another crash for Armstrong...It's not his tour!
it's not really his day is it, oh dear
I really feel quite sorry for Armstrong. 🙁
Wiggins should move up a fair bit in the gc tonight
"And they come down like maniacs!!!"
I can't feel sorry for Armstrong to be honest, there's nothing worse than a sportsman trying in vain to hold on to the end of his career, why not just bow out gracefully? What exactly has he got to prove or is the man that self centered than he thinks he's still in prime condition?
Armstrong could have ridden round that one surely. Must be totally screwed to ride into that.
almost looked like the excuse he wanted - he wasn't too quick to get back on the bike. He should get behind Levi now.
Apart from Armstrong's tour ending today (assuming he doesn't have a recovery on the last climb; which he's done before), I'm suprised how many of the super-domestiques and climbers are suffering. The heat and the pace are pretty nasty today, plus an unusually hard week 1 I imagine
I think he's probably at the point where it's all gone wrong, it keeps going wrong and you just can't believe it, you just want to sit down on the road and let it all go.
Gotta feel sorry for that, it's not the end that anyone should have.
...Sean Kelly is indeed lurking! 😆
why is there so many damn commercial breaks on itv4!
Oh you commoner!
We're all watching in glorious HD on Eurosport. 🙂
To pay for the tour winners purse 😆
oh damn! u definitely don't get that channel on freeview =(
Still another 2 weeks to go. He might not be in it to win it anymore but he doesn't strike me as the kind of person to go out with a whimper.
I hope he doesn't do a Landis esque. recovery in a couple of days.
Still hoping for a Wiggins attack. He's not going to win sitting in the bunch for three weeks hoping the others crash. Looks like Contador is waiting to go though...
I can't feel sorry for Armstrong to be honest, there's nothing worse than a sportsman trying in vain to hold on to the end of his career, why not just bow out gracefully? What exactly has he got to prove or is the man that self centered than he thinks he's still in prime condition?
Yeah, how dare he do what he wants to do. Doesn't matter that he's still a better ride then about 90% of the riders in the race. Why doesn't he just put his bike on ebay and go watch deal or no deal. The idiot.
I think he's probably at the point where it's all gone wrong, it keeps going wrong and you just can't believe it, you just want to sit down on the road and let it all go.
+1. When you're at that point, dropping your water bottle on the ground can make you want to give up.
jimmyshand, looked like the rider behind him couldn't get round, and crashed into lance, causing him to go down.
LA will be 10 mins of yellow by tonight, but still early days. He wil make up time on time trials for sure and maybe hit the other climbs hard. Contador looking good tho but think Schlekt might do well, he looks comfortable
@ Realman, there is truly nothing worse than watching a once great sportsman try and carry on when he's not the man he was.
Ouch - the pain on roche's face! The winner is going to come from the mini peleton then.