The Tour de France will kick off with a road stage instead of a prologue, like in 2013, when its Corsican adventure started with Marcel Kittel pulling on the yellow jersey everyone expected to see on Mark Cavendish's back. The British sprinter is already plotting revenge. First of all, because the Grand Start will take place in Great Britain, on his home turf and in front of his home crowds. Second, because the stage finishes a stone's throw away from where his mother used to live. And finally, because pulling on the fabled jersey for the first time would fit in nicely with his numerous accomplishments. I think he is the odds-on favourite to take this stage with gorgeous landscapes and pancake-flat roads in the final 60 kilometres.
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Cavendish to be in yellow at the end of the day? Would be great to see. Although I think Sagan would look pretty damn good in yellow too...
Big nerves as always in the first week, let alone the first day, and lots of fresh legs full of energy, with all the sprinters who are gagging for a chance to get in yellow, so I'm expecting some crashes. Also expecting some big moves from the non sprinters in the final few km, although think it will be waaaaay too fast for them to get away.
(Yes, I'm that lazy)
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Don't look too deeply into those eyes - you might get lost. Yes, it's the [url= http://www.steephill.tv/2014/tour-de-france/photos/stage-00/ ]presentation photos[/url]. Some epic eyebrow game from the Trek rider in the first photo.
And some [url= http://www.steephill.tv/2013/tour-de-france/photos/ ]photos from last year[/url] including of course
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Let's hope [i]that[/i] doesn't happen again..
A few useful links
[url= http://live.cyclingnews.com/ ]Live Cycling News Text Updates[/url]
[url= http://www.steephill.tv/tour-de-france/ ]Steephill[/url]
[url= http://www.letour.fr/le-tour/2014/us/live/aso/ ]Official Tour Live Feed App[/url]
[url= http://www.letour.fr/le-tour/2014/us/classifications.html ]Classifications[/url]
[url= http://www.letour.fr/le-tour/2014/us/withdrawals.html ]Withdrawals[/url]
[url=www.velogames.com/tour-de-france/2014/leaguescores.php?league=28182017]Fantasy League Standings[/url]
[url= http://www.velogames.com/tour-de-france/2014/leaguescores.php?league=29121638 ]Loser League Standings[/url]
We've got nearly 100 entrants (way more than last year) in both leagues combined for this year's fantasy tour - but there's still time to enter.
www.velogames.com - create a team, then enter the mini leagues using the following codes.
Winners league: 28182017
Losers league: 29121638 (You have to spend all 100 credits, but the aim is to pick the worst riders - lowest score wins).
You have to register two accounts for two teams.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/contador-froome-is-the-tour-de-france-favourite (duh)
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/cycling/28149718
And to finish it off, here's the [url= http://www.cyclingnews.com/tour-de-france/start-list ]Start List[/url]. Here's to a spectacular 3 weeks of racing!
Thought I'd chuck this one up a bit early. Obviously bear in mind that some of the links won't be live till tomorrow.
[quote=RealMan ]Although I think Sagan would look pretty damn good in yellow too...
Yeah, we know all about you and Peter.
If Cav doesn't win tomorrow I will be gutted!
The rest of the tour just won't mean as much to me, if he does win the crowd will go bat shit crazy!
Yay, good to see you and it back. Peter is looking lovely with all that manly hair.
I'm going to go out on a limb and say Cav won't win a single stage this year. Hope I'm wrong but I can see Kittel beating him in the bunch sprints every time.
surely the emotion, opportunity and sheer desire suggests Cav will do it - I hope so !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What i want- cav win
What i predict- All the lead out trains to fall apart on the last up and downs into Harrogate. A Gilbert/Sagan type or a random lead out man to win from a broken field.
I can't wait to see the British version of this guy:
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...and possibly, this guy:
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Blimey we manage to get by with one rugby thread, one world cup thread, one F1 thread... But how many tdf ones? Yes I know I'm one of those people posting in a thread I shouldn't have opened... Pot, kettle, black...
Let's hope we don't see the English equivalent of this one.
Lawrence Jelly Bear gets taken out.
Blimey we manage to get by with one rugby thread, one world cup thread, one F1 thread... But how many tdf ones?
Once it kicks off, I imagine it will just be Realman's threads. Hopefully the mods will do a little pruning.
Yay. Tdf only starts when the realman thread is up. Is happy
Blimey we manage to get by with one rugby thread, one world cup thread, one F1 thread... But how many tdf ones?
There's only so much that can be said about some guys playing with a ball I guess. And F1 is just tedious. Guys riding bikes? Loads to talk about..
Harry_the_Spider - Member
Let's hope we don't see the English equivalent of this one.
No danger 😕
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Agreed, Jamie, and Leffeboy. Good to see these threads back again!
Really want to see Cav take the stage! Watching Cav back in HTC days is what drew me to the Tour proper.
Very much looking forward to Realman's daily post... they definitely help me make fantasy cycling choices.
Don't think kittel can win the the first stage... it has to be pancake flat for him to shine, so fingers crossed for Cav
Ro5ey you may be right about Kittel. Good chance for Cav. Although Vivianni has had the better of him a few times this season.
Yay... Thanks realman...really enjoy your tdf daily threads
I'd forgotten all about the legendary RealMan TdF thread (and the joy it brought in previous years). It was therefore a pleasant surprise to stumble upon it again!
Thank you, RealMan...
I was wondering if the annual Realman TdF thread would resurface, glad to see it back.
and
Cav for the win Saturday and Monday
Sagan Sunday
...Oh, and Cav for the win tomorrow (assuming Kittel has a shred of decency in him!).
Telly times?;-)
Prudhomme doesn't let the riders roll out until RealMan's got his thread up for the day. Glad to see these back as they are THE TdF threads. Thanks in advance for the next 3 weeks
telly times
On ITV -
Stage 1 - Saturday 5 July
Live on ITV 1030-1545 and on ITV4 1030-1700
Highlights on ITV4 1900-2000
How's the weather looking?
I'm going to imagine it's wet at the mo, but drying off later.
Jamie - I'm being optimistic!
[url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/5live/on-air ]BBC 5Live[/url] are live from Leeds city centre at the moment, quite interesting stuff, and some big cheeses getting interviewed.
Weather, it's just stopped raining here at the top of Harrogate and the clouds look like they are wanting to break...
Yay!!
And yay to RealMan from his threads...
It's dry in Leeds now, think it's going to be clear all day as clearing from West.
Cheers chaps!
Live from 11.00 on Eurosport, loads of preview stuff ahead of that. Wouldn't be the same without Eurosport commentary.
Is David Harman doing Eurosport with Sean Kelly ?? I know David's not been doing it for a couple of years, be nice if he came back..
Bring back David Duffield too, a legend 🙂
Bring back David Duffield too, a legend
Hear hear!
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Busy.
Not long to go - be sure to familiarize yourself with the rules.
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Think I'm gonna watch on ITV4 for the Millar commentary. There's some internet tv links on the Steephill page (linked in the OP).
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STW's vehicles of choice are in abundance.
The start should be fun to watch as there might be a decent scramble to get in a break and get some points on the climbs with the KOM jersey up for grabs (so the break should be entertaining too).
My God Froome is dull.
Glad Millar is on the commentary team. Looks like he will bring some contemporary views to the party.
Millar looks like Trigger.
Froome is a robot, which is what SKY want.
Fantastic turnout!
Anyone get anything good from the caravan?
Slim pickings here.
Ffs Jill Douglas is a presenter on itv4 🙁
C'mon ..........get on with it!
Cavs bracelets dont look very aero
Isn't the TDF supposed to be a race FFS get on with it
finally a race
Whats the Jens, take it easy on Day 1? **** that I'm off
Looks like Jens has been cooped up too long...
The visdeo feed from the cars/motorbikes is bloody awful
Also sat here at 9pm at night in Oz I'm a little dusty eyed seeing the green fields of England on the world stage and I'm proud of the numbers that have turned out to make it a great day.
Would be great if Jens got the KOM jersey 🙂
bloody hell there's a lot people out!!!
bloody hell there's a lot people out!!!
't costs nowt lad.
't costs nowt lad.
not according to our commentators (paul & phil) saying how much people were paying for camping
At last all the talking is over. The main event has arrived, and the highlight of the summer is underway. Yep, the Realman threads are on STW.
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..and a bit of bike porn.
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Thanks bear, good work. 8)
Go on then - where do we reckon the break will be caught?
I'm going for A61 between Ripley and Killinghall
Spent many happy hours cycling the Yorkshire Dales. Some in the depths of winter when the weather wasn't as kind as today. Can't wait to see them beat my PB over the Buttertubs climb (just let 'em try!!!).
I'm with Mikewsmith (not literally). Watching late at night in Hong Kong and feeling misty eyed.
Amazing crowds. Well done Yorkshire. Shame about the strange Royal interlude at Harewood House!
Just watched the GCN preview of tomorrow. Quite a tough stage so early on. Could be some serious GC action over those climbs. Can't wait, but for the moment let's enjoy the Dales.
I was chatting with this fella back in January
http://www.sbs.com.au/cyclingcentral/mike-tomalaris/blog/129112/ready-to-drop-the-tour-flag
during a lunch stop on our MTB event where he flew in from the Tour Down Under to do the commentary for SBS. He was asking what to expect in Yorkshire, I'm ashamed to say I did tell him to prepare for rain and cold weather. That and to ask the locals to speak slower.
Watching my 2nd TdF from the USA and I am reveling in how fantastic Yorkshire looks. People will think the sun shines there on a regular basis!
Have to agree Mike. Yorkshire looks just beautiful on t'telly and brought back many memories. and look at the crowds!! Fantastic effort.
I bet beach road in Melbourne will be chockers tomorrow!!
Love the rolling helicopter shots of the Dales. It's like the start of Emmerdale 😀
Liking the look of thoes lotto belisol bikes this year.
Enjoying the dry stone wall facts.
😀 Think he got a bit confused with the measurements!
and we've got Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwin commentating on the NBC coverage.
Rode these roads on a sportive a few weeks ago. Beautiful. Glad to see the sun is out.
I don't think I can listen to the commentary any more, Im going to kill someone if I hear the word Yorkshire one more ****ing time.
Yes it's lovely, but I don't need to hear it every 20 decking seconds 😈
just turned it on. As ever can't be surprised to see jensie in the break on day one
Looking like the proper tight mountain roads already. Might make a few interesting moments.
Oh and the sheep
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Arrrgg bloody itv producers gone to adverts just as leaders reach the climb!
ITV coverage is un-watchable for me, would cost a fortune in new TV's.
Paid a months subs for the Eurosport player and it has been superb so far.
That World Cup advert for Belgium vs Argentina is annoying me. "Brace yourself. It's going to be emotional"
Bollocks
Like a proper mountain summit with the crowds there!
Jens attacks!!
Jens ******* Voight