Tour de France 2013

[jogy]

 

 

So today the 100th Tour de France is kicking off. I know the sport has got to with a lot the last few months. But are there any fans around here still around?

 

[Kiffster]

Yup, watching stage 1 right now live (thank God South Africa is in the same time zone as France lol)

 

I'm rooting for Contador to win this year's tour, and for Schleck, Froome and Cavendish to crash out lololol. I'll also be watching Daryl Impey, who is the only South African in the tour. Highly disappointed that Garmin did not pick Robbie Hunter this year

 

My other favorite riders are Valverde,, Sagan, Evans, Voigt and Philippe Gilbert

Also disappointing that Hushovd, Cancellara and Nibali are not in this year's tour...

 

 

Edit: Chaotic end to stage 1 LOL at bus stuck under banner!!!!

Edited July 5, 2013 by Werebot85

[El Dildo]

is everyone still doping?

[MARKUS.]

If you have insomnia, watch this for taking a nap. It always works for me

[GTAV92]

Well done Mark Cavendish wining stage five victory in Marseille

[Kiffster]

Daryl Impey second overall behind Simon Gerrans!

 

I know it won't stay that way for too long, but it would be so freakin awesome if Impey could wear the yellow jersey, even just for one day He'll be the first South African ever to do so!!!

[Kiffster]

HOLY SH*T!!! HE DID IT!!!!!

 

 

Impey is the first South African ever to lead the Tour de France!!! Congratz dude!!!!! Won't last long, but congrats!!

 

Also, it's very awkward to be the only one really talking about the tdf in here, but who cares

 

Edit: double posted again, sorry...

Edited July 4, 2013 by Werebot85

[GTAV92]

^^ Yep he sure did, taking the yellow jersey of his fellow team rider

 

 

[Kiffster]

^^ Yep he sure did, taking the yellow jersey of his fellow team rider

Well, it was thanks to Gerrans who asked team management if he could pass the jersey on to Impey to thank him for his hard work. But I hope Impey can wear the jersey for at least a few more days...

 

 

[Ari Gold]

Turns out that one of the managers of Orica-GreenEDGE, Andrew Ryan, went to the same school that I went to. So, naturally, I'm pleased to see their continuing success. Plus seeing Simon Gerrans do well is hardly a bad thing for Melbourne's cycling reputation, especially since Cadel seems a bit off pace this year.

[GTAV92]

Werebot85 - who do you think will win stage 7 today?(Montpellier - Albi) its one more chance for the sprinters too get a win before they go into the mountains, saying that the course today is by no means easy and there will be a couple of hard climbs. So i think a break away has a good chance to win the race today!

[Kiffster]

I agree 100%, this is the perfect stage for a breakaway to succeed. But it's difficult to predict. Yes there are a couple of difficult climbs, but the sprinters might give chase. The next few stages will be very difficult for them, so they might see today's stage as the last opportunity for a while for a stage win. But I do think that a break away group has the best chance to succeed today

[GTAV92]

Team Cannondale (like a boss) Peter Sagan gets his first win in this years Tour De France - And well done to Daryl Impey keeping the yellow jersey!

[Kiffster]

Team Cannondale (like a boss) Peter Sagan gets his first win in this years Tour De France - And well done to Daryl Impey keeping the yellow jersey!

Yup, so it wasn't the break away's day today Nice work by Cannondale and congrats to Sagan.

 

And Impey of course!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[GTAV92]

Team Cannondale (like a boss) Peter Sagan gets his first win in this years Tour De France - And well done to Daryl Impey keeping the yellow jersey!

Yup, so it wasn't the break away's day today Nice work by Cannondale and congrats to Sagan.

 

And Impey of course!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stage eight tomorrow which will be a real test for the climbers near the end - I am expecting Thomas Voeckler will make a break away from the pack, haven't seen much of him yet in this tour what do think Werebot85?

[Kiffster]

I think the overall contenders of this year's tour will show themselves for the first time tomorrow. Contador, Froome, Schleck and even Movistar's Valverde. (I just realized Nibali is not in this year's Tour, otherwise he would've been up there too). And I bet we'll see at least one rider from Euskaltel Euskadi in a breakaway Moving into their territory!!

 

The sad part is it will most likely be the last time that Impey will wear the yellow jersey... (Sad for me at least)

 

But it's really impossible to predict what's gonna happen.

 

 

Edit:

 

I am expecting Thomas Voeckler will make a break away from the pack

 

You were right! Voeckler broke away from the pack lol. Didn't get far before being swallowed up by the peloton again

 

 

Edit again: Froome wins stage 8. Yellow jersey jumps from South African to Kenyan born. Not a fan of team Sky, but well done to Froome. Great ride up the second climb. (C'mon Contador!!!!!) And nice effort by Valverde too

 

Tomorrow I expect Contador to try to catch up to the leaders (HOPEFULLY!!!). But I have a feeling Froome (like Wiggins last year) might hold on to yellow until the end...

Edited July 6, 2013 by Werebot85

[GTAV92]

YES - Well done Chris Froome

[Kiffster]

Stage 10 -- WHAT DA HELL DID CAVENDISH DO!!!!!! Knocking Tom Veelers off his bike!! DISQUALIFY!!!!!!!!

 

What do you guys think? Intentional? Not the first time he's done something stupid like this (if anyone reads this topic)

 

don't know which vid is the best so I'll just post both. Can't watch vids on my phone to see

 

 

 

 

 

Reminds me of Mark Renshaw's headbutting incident a couple years ago, and he was disqualified!!!

Edited July 11, 2013 by Werebot85

[Mark]

Looked a little naughty but I can see where he was coming from. He wanted to get on the wheel of the sprinters in front of him and Veelers did originally look like he was pulling off left.

 

Still, he got doused in urine today by spectators; that's not on. Regardless of his actions.

[Kiffster]

 

Still, he got doused in urine today by spectators; that's not on. Regardless of his actions.

Yeah, yesterday during the TT. I don't like Cavendish, but being drenched in urine is not cool at all.

 

Anyway, he was cleared of any wrongdoing...

Edited July 11, 2013 by Werebot85

[Nlwt]

Whether he meant it or not, getting drenched in piss is a bit wrong. I wouldn't have thought he did it intentionally tbh.

[GTAV92]

Good job from team Saxo Tinkoff near the end managing to get Alberto Contador some time off Chris Froome's yellow jersey lead, and a big up to Mark Cavendish making history getting 25 stage wins in the tour

[Kiffster]

Yeah, I want Contador to win this year, so well done to him and his team.

 

However, I feel bad for my other favorite, Valverde, who had the worst luck today with that rear wheel puncture His chances are gone for a podium finish

[GTAV92]

Werebot85:

Stage 14 tomorrow Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule / Lyon, I think team Saxo-Tinkoff need to keep up the pressure now if Alberto Contador stands any chance of winning the tour. Team sky don’t look as half a team as they were last year and poor Chris Froome is going to have to fight for his life to keep that yellow jersey. It’s going to be interesting to watch the race now as after tomorrow they hit the daddy “Mont Ventoux” I feel we could see a big turning point for the tour!

 

What are your thoughts?

 

[Kiffster]

Team Sky does not look that good at the moment, but do you think it's possible that they might be saving their energy for the final week? Or do you think they are really struggling?

 

I've had a look at the stage profiles and it's gonna be an epic final week. Like Stage 18 - where they'll have to climb the Alpe-D'Huez TWICE!!! And 3 mountain top finishes before they reach Paris.... Cannot wait!!!

 

Anyway, I think team Saxo Bank are gonna do everything in their power to try to get Contador closer to that yellow jersey, and after watching today's stage I have a feeling they're gonna succeed. Bit by bit

But Froome / Sky will be extra vigilant from now on... What remains of team Sky anyway, they've already lost a couple of riders..

Edited July 12, 2013 by Werebot85

[GTAV92]

 

Team Sky does not look that good at the moment, but do you think it's possible that they might be saving their energy for the final week? Or do you think they are really struggling?

 

I've had a look at the stage profiles and it's gonna be an epic final week. Like Stage 18 - where they'll have to climb the Alpe-D'Huez TWICE!!! And 3 mountain top finishes before they reach Paris.... Cannot wait!!!

 

Anyway, I think team Saxo Bank are gonna do everything in their power to try to get Contador closer to that yellow jersey, and after watching today's stage I have a feeling they're gonna succeed. Bit by bit

But Froome / Sky will be extra vigilant from now on... What remains of team Sky anyway, they've already lost a couple of riders..

Team sky are struggling to me - Chris Froome lost a marginal chunk of time today and he was saying before

"i need every second i can get" so why loose all this time today? Team sky could not pull back that gap - they had 4 riders chasing down Albert contador but couldn't do it (seems to me is no they have no more to give), We are heading back into the mountains once again and everyone is going to be attacking for the yellow jersey because they have seen team sky are very vulnerable at the moment. look what happened on the last mountain stage Richie Porte who was a meant to be helping Froome just vanished

 

id expect to see Thomas Voeckler break away again in the coming days

[Kiffster]

id expect to see Thomas Voeckler break away again in the coming days

Lol, he tried that before, but failed miserably I think we'll see more of Movistar's Quintano in the mountains. He was awesome in Stage 8. I also think he might win the white jersey in the end..

[GTAV92]

 

id expect to see Thomas Voeckler break away again in the coming days 

Lol, he tried that before, but failed miserably I think we'll see more of Movistar's Quintano in the mountains. He was awesome in Stage 8. I also think he might win the white jersey in the end..

I no right lol but serious don't under estimate him because hes done it in the past!

[Kiffster]

So today is the legendary Mont Ventoux

 

 

In 2009 Contador "won" the tour on this mountain, but this time Froome is in control. And Froome was pretty good in the Pyrenees while Contador struggled to keep up. I really hope this won't be the case again.

 

This stage is gonna be very interesting. I expect a lot of attacks on the slopes of Ventoux but Froome and Contador won't let the other one escape. And I know Mollema is second overall, but I don't know him that well, so I don't know if he's that good in the mountains or not. But it's likely that by the end of this stage, Contador will move up into second place. It will also be interesting to see what kind of damage Quintano will do this time around...

 

And today is Bastille Day, so GTAV92, Voeckler might try to break away again today

 

This final week is gonna be awesome! Contador FTW!!! (btw, who's your favorite to win this year GTAV92? Or anyone else lol)

 

 

Edit: well DAYUMM!!!!!! Froome demolished everyone!! And Contador couldn't keep up and cracked!! Not good!!

 

But well done to Froome as well as Quintana (future tdf winner?)

Edited July 14, 2013 by Werebot85

[GTAV92]

 

So today is the legendary Mont Ventoux

 

 

In 2009 Contador "won" the tour on this mountain, but this time Froome is in control. And Froome was pretty good in the Pyrenees while Contador struggled to keep up. I really hope this won't be the case again.

 

This stage is gonna be very interesting. I expect a lot of attacks on the slopes of Ventoux but Froome and Contador won't let the other one escape. And I know Mollema is second overall, but I don't know him that well, so I don't know if he's that good in the mountains or not. But it's likely that by the end of this stage, Contador will move up into second place. It will also be interesting to see what kind of damage Quintano will do this time around...

 

And today is Bastille Day, so GTAV92, Voeckler might try to break away again today

 

This final week is gonna be awesome! Contador FTW!!! (btw, who's your favorite to win this year GTAV92? Or anyone else lol)

 

 

Edit: well DAYUMM!!!!!! Froome demolished everyone!! And Contador couldn't keep up and cracked!! Not good!!

 

But well done to Froome as well as Quintana (future tdf winner?)

Yep Werebot85 you summed it all up nicely Well done Chris Froome and unlucky to Contador seems like that time he pulled back the other day has slipped back again. No action from Thomas Voeckler today, but im pretty sure in the coming week he might pull a surprise

 

My favorite to win the tour this year is Froome - watching him last year put so much effort in to help Sir Wigo win was amazing, so i think he deserves it! Im pretty sure Quintana will only get better and will stand a chance to win him self in the coming years - hes learning so much.

 

With the rest day tomorrow after we are heading into the Alps - so expect a lot of action as im sure the fight for the yellow jersey is not over with yet (one more thing the support from south Africa is good this year - seen loads of flags )