Tour de France

[TDMVPDPOY]

Hey anyone watching this or what?

latest standings

1.Fabian CANCELLARA SUI SAX 14:54:00

2.Geraint THOMAS GBR SKY +00:00:23

3.Cadel EVANS AUS BMC +00:00:39

4.Ryder HESJEDAL CAN GRM +00:00:46

5.Sylvain CHAVANEL FRA QST +00:01:01

ps. dunno how strong cadels team is, but i hope he wins it this year...

[Slomo]

From what I've heard the favorites on paper this early are Contador (considered to be the strongest individual) and Armstrong (considered to have the strongest team).

I'm hoping Brajkovic can win a stage for Slovenia this year.

[sonic21]

unfortunately for cadel, he doesn't have a good team. Contador and Andy Shleck should dominate in mountain. Lance has the better team though.

[TDMVPDPOY]

i cant stand the aussie contingent riders in the TDF, they have a few good riders if join force under one team, maybe a guy like cadel can win it...but no.

if tdf was a individual sport then cadel would win it easy...lol.

did you guys watch todays stage? lol 5 riders breakaway...pwned

[Penya]

I think that Armstrong will not win the Tour, but he'll try to screw Contador.

I wish Cancellara could win it, but it's unlikely. Dude is a stud though.

[TD=HOF]

Did y'all see those two guys tryin to squabble after today's stage?

[TDMVPDPOY]

i dunno whats the point of sprinters just going for the green jersey and choking in the mountain stages, wouldnt it be best to win the damn tour then just the stages for green jersey...

[Slomo]

Is anybody watching stage 17?

Beautiful fight between Contador and Schleck on the last big hill of the tour.

[Slomo]

i dunno whats the point of sprinters just going for the green jersey and choking in the mountain stages, wouldnt it be best to win the damn tour then just the stages for green jersey...

Cycling is really a team sport. All the bonuses and award are split between the team members. The team's UCI ranking is a big factor when sponsors come to the negotiating table.

So from a team perspective you want as much hill points, sprinter points, yellow jerseys and stage wins as you can. And to get those you need specialists and a good strategy. From an individual point of view you want to bring your specialist to the point when he can win something because you will profit from it too.

[Slomo]

Final results:
Yellow Jersey (Overall winner): Alberto Contador - Spain - Team Astana
Green Jersey (sprinter points): Petacchi Alessandro - Italy - Team Lampre
Polka-dot Jersey (best climber): Charteau Anthony - France - Team Bouygues Telecom
Best Team: Radioshack - USA

[DAF86]

Serious question: What do you find entertaining about watching cycling on TV?

[Brazil]

Serious question: What do you find entertaining about watching cycling on TV?

Serious question: have you ever tried to understand how it works and actually watch an entire stage ?

[lefty]

Serious question: have you ever tried to understand how it works and actually watch an entire stage ?
I tried, I understand how it works, and it's really boring

[sonic21]

huge crowds turn out for the Tour de France, it's not boring to everyone.

[DAF86]

Serious question: have you ever tried to understand how it works and actually watch an entire stage ?

No, that's why I'm asking.

[DAF86]

huge crowds turn out for the Tour de France, it's not boring to everyone.

I know that, that doesn't anwer my question though.

[Brazil]

Serious question: What do you find entertaining about watching cycling on TV?

First you have to distinguish a mountain stage and a regular stage.

The main interest of a regular stage is to analyse and follow the work of the escaped group, what teams are represented ? what are the interests ? who is working to win the stage ? who is working to consolidate a jersey ? Then you have the interesting part about the main group, the teams of the sprinters working to stabilize a gap, the non represented teams to work to launch counter attacks followed by one or two guys of a team who already has a guy ahead, how the yellow jersey is working with his team to get the more protection possible ? etc...

For the mountain stage no need to be a fan to appreciate the fight between the leaders.

On top of that you have almost a sociological approach of the competition: the role players bringing waters to the leaders, the big teams representing the riches, the little teams acting like the blue colars, the young guns trying to earn the respect. It is working like an insect colony.

Cycling is not an easy sport to appreciate but when you take the time to know the teams, the interests, the basic strategies.. you can have a lot of pleasure to follow a stage.

Tbh I lost a little bit of interest due to all the doping stuff, the reign of Lance... but I was a huge fan of the Hinault / Lemon / Fignon / Indurain / Jalabert / Pantani / Virenque / Roche / Delgado.

[lefty]

huge crowds turn out for the Tour de France, it's not boring to everyone.
Outside of France, it's boring

But I respect the fact that the passion Frenchies have for TDF is genuine

But what cracks me up is that Americans don't give a shit about Tour De France, yet Lance Armstrong brings out the homers lying within

Oh yeah an American won the TDF !!!!! We rule USA USA !!!!:lobt2:

[LoneStarState'sPride]

But what cracks me up is that Americans don't give a shit about Tour De France, yet Lance Armstrong brings out the homers lying within

Oh yeah an American won the TDF !!!!! We rule USA USA !!!!:lobt2:

LOL, that cracks me up too. I don't mind too much though, that's just how we roll lol :king

[sonic21]

Outside of France, it's boring
there was as much crowd when the Tour went to London, Amsterdam, Belgium, Italy, Spain.

I think spaniards are more passionate by the Tour than Frenchies.

[lefty]

there was as much crowd when the Tour went to London, Amsterdam, Belgium, Italy, Spain.

I think spaniards are more passionate by the Tour than Frenchies.
Actually those are Frenchies traveling to those countries :p:

But yeah, I forgot about Spaniards, they are hardcore fans