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There's too many I think that could have a chance at this, and a lot more want it. I don't want to completely rule out Cav either. Riders start in about 10 minutes.
is it sunny?
No prologue this year? Ah what; I always enjoy the prologue. Loved it when it was here in That London a few years ago. Fantastic atmosphere, great spectacle.
Why they not do the prologue?
Reckon Cav will have a crack at the intermediate sprint.
Why they not do the prologue?
They've mixed it up for a while now, sometimes had a road stage first, sometimes the prologue. Bit of variety.
Well I don't like it. I think they should start with the individual TT as the prologue. It's a great way for loads of people to enjoy the Tour in a smallish area, and have a bit of a party too.
It has been a kind of tradition since 1967 that the Tour starts with a prologue. But, as in 2008, we will start with a road stage. We wanted to shake up the teams’ plans a little bit and change the way they operate. Only 10 riders can realistically contend for victory in a prologue. But each one of the 198 riders could win this stage and pull on the yellow jersey.
Sunshine today! And 22°C to 15°C – sounds wonderful!
I like the prologue too, there's more then enough flat stages to keep me entertained.
First crash of the tour already 😯
Reckon Cav will have a crack at the intermediate sprint.
I think he only bothers with stage wins.
I think he only bothers with stage wins.
Changes to the way the points are allocated means he's going to HAVE to go for intermediate sprints or he'll never get anywhere near the green jersey.
The police seized and searched the Quick Step team bus, but according to team manager Wilfried Peeters, it was just a normal control.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/bmc-soigneur-implicated-in-drug-investigation
Ouch, another big stack! Who was that, Van de Walle was in there I'm sure...
Jeez that street furniture looks well dodgy"...".......
Ouch
I always thought the Prologue served a specific purpose - it gave every single rider a different time.
The race will start tomorrow with well over 100 riders sharing exactly the same time.
Shibboleth - Member
I always thought the Prologue served a specific purpose - it gave every single rider a different time.
The race will start tomorrow with well over 100 riders sharing exactly the same time.
POSTED 19 MINUTES AGO # REPORT-POST
The prologue didn't even count towards the time in years gone by. It's still a great spectacle though.
The race will start tomorrow with well over 100 riders sharing exactly the same time.
But that's what makes it exciting. Pretty much anyone could win this stage, it's not a pure sprinters stage, it's not one for the climbers, it could literally be anyone.
The TTT tomorrow will sort out all the times properly. 37km to go and the break is at 1'30" so that'll be pulled back, it's going to be interesting at the finish.
I don't understand Cavs thinking today TBH. He isn't going to be anyway near the front at the end of todays stage, so why not use the HTC train for the intermediate sprint? if he loses the green jersey by 10 points he'll kick himself
Should be an interesting finish
Cav has said he's won on worse but been dropped on less, let's see...
Haze, I was under the impression, and I think Matt Goss is too, that stages like todays are his to contest, flat stages are Cavendish's
OOOOHHH! Big stack - some muppet spectator hanging too far into the road.
Edit: Christ it's carnage, blown the peloton to pieces. 🙁
Woolly what a crash! Big split for some of the big names to make up
Sounds about right Warton, just passing on what the man himself has said!
Bloody hell it's getting nervous down there, they're absolutely motoring! Some really near misses around that roundabout too.
They're doing about 55kph!
Contador lost 34 seconds. A lot of time at this stage.
Contador was in the stack?
Yeah, his number is all ripped so he obviously came down. Big ripple effect right across the peloton.
He's currently in a group about 35 seconds down.
Another crash!
Yep another.
Caught behind and now out to 40 seconds. Another crash to the second group. I reckon Gilbert.
Geraint Thomas is still in that front group! Another big crash though - total carnge!
Gilbert.
Brilliant finish.
impressive.
Contador loses 1'20".
Great ride by Geraint Thomas - if Sky win the TTT tomorrow as they're favourite to do, it'll be G in yellow.
What a great last 10km. 🙂
Brilliant attack and death from spartacus.
Third place to Hushovd apparently.
Anyone see Bassos adjustable seatpost?
Great weather out here for the Tour today 😉 didn't get many of the riders today, looking to get them tomorrow in the TTT
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wtf was going on with cancellara? - he can't have blown up in that distance, surely
looked like he was scared of losing out to gilbert and didn't want to drag him further away just to get trashed on the run in
(should've turned the motor on 🙄 )
if Sky win the TTT tomorrow as they're favourite to do, it'll be G in yellow
Geraint Thomas in the crys melyn ? The Western Mail will go barmy !
Highlights just starting on ITV4 now.
wtf was going on with cancellara? - he can't have blown up in that distance, surely
Weird wasn't it, totally sat up. Just seen Cavs sprint too, looks like he had no legs at all...
wasn't expecting to need his motor so he had the wrong bike 😉
Having a few GC riders down by a minute might make it more interesting, they'll need to do some attacking rather than negative riding to make the time up on cuddles. Good ride by G, not sure why he left Wiggins though I suppose the team want a shot at yellow? Suprised to see Wiggins held up it all seemed very chaotic towards the end.
[i]wtf was going on with cancellara?[/i]
I think he's a big boy with one trick on an uphill finish and as soon as he realised that Gilbert was on him and would kill him in the sprint, he had to sit up or would have contributed to Gilbert gaining even more time.
See in this video at 53 seconds
it looks like vinocheatcov is trying to shoulder charge the spectator. If he hadnt tried to do that there would have been no crash.
What a knob end.
Ignore my comments, G got the white jersey which makes a bit more sense now.
Also it seems all the GC riders are only 6 secs down as that last crash aws in the last 3k even though the bunch was split.
[i]is trying to shoulder charge the spectator[/i]
Watch it again.
He's realised he's going to hit the spectator and has thrown his bike to the left, but has to balance it somehow.
[i]What a knob end[/i]
No, just unsighted at 45-50 km/h.
I've watched it a few times. He has definitely tried to shoulder charge them. He was not unsighted either as he could see past the rider infront as he was closer to the verge. I will say that I am not a fan of his, dont think he should be allowed to race and will take any opportunity to slag him off.
I'm going to disagree; anyone on a bike, particularly racing, particularly in the first stage of the Tour has far more to lose by hitting anything stationary, person or not.
You just wouldn't, especially at speed; it's like hitting a wall covered in meat.
Think I'd be keeping a close eye on the fast moving objects coming my way!
spec seemed to be partly hidden by a flag, maybe ?
oh, and standing in the road, looking the other way - dozy ****
So it's a bit like hitting lady gaga? I think many people would take that opportunity if it presented itself.
it does look like he does it deliberately but I think he has just done it to prepare for the impact tbh. As noted why would you?
Spectator stood in the road looking the other way (presumably watching one of the front riders who's already gone past?) and just leaning out.
No rider would intentionally hit someone - it bloody hurts for one thing, I know cos I've done it and it was about 1/3 the speed that they were going! All it needs at that speed is the slightest wobble and everyone will go down. No-one's fault really (apart from the spectator), just a racing incident.
A copper got hit a few years back at the finish oiof a stage, he got sriously injured i think.
project - I think it was the rider that was badly hurt & copper broke his leg "only"
Also it seems all the GC riders are only 6 secs down as that last crash aws in the last 3k even though the bunch was split.
Contador and Sanchez are 1.30 down
Ooh, makes for an exciting race now, wih some proper attacking, rather than the cagey gems of chess we've bin used to in recent years. Bertie has no option but to attack, and the others have to be ready to respond.
Does seem a bit unfair that he came in in front of Wiggo and Schleck yet they don't lose any time. Silly rule imo. He would've bin affected by the second crash as well, surely? Would definitely have slowed him down a bit with all the carnage.
The others will need that 1'20". If Bertie can make that time up and still win, it will prove he really is the best rider in't World.
THe only reason for that that I can think of is that they only caught up with the front group because of the final crash and so weren't actually held up by it. Well that or they don't like Contador and don't want him to win...
seems vino got back to the main group - I think we can all rejoice at that
Must be trolling, no one would crash on purpose. I don't like him either though.
She should have taken note of this vid:
it looks like vinocheatcov is trying to shoulder charge the spectator.
he clearly turns his bike, but on a straight road at high speed.. you might dodge a pothole on the ground, but most of your momentum is going to continue forwards, as it does. not at fault in any way.
Is contadors bike different to his team mates to show the drug cheat easier?
Just like Larry's bike was different from his Radio Shack "team mates".
Let's hope Cadel's low key preparation this year works.
it wasnt Vino that hit the spectator. believe it or not there are 8 others in the team wearing the same clothes. how could anyone actually think he got up, rode away from contador et al and caught up the main field travelling at 55kph in 6 km's.
The tour could be a cracker thus year, contador has to go for it. Evans could be in with a shot if he can go with beef power Bernie and boring Andy..
I bet the locals will recognise the spectator and he/she will hear about that for years. Passed within a few miles of my folks place but because of an operation they're back here and we're watching it on TV rather than with a beer at the finish.