Tour de France 2015 thread **Please use spoiler tags before midnight**

Darkglasses

Alberto Contador

Bouhanni at the opening, looks like he'll be starting with bandages.

Darkglasses

Alberto Contador

Added a poll for the crack.

RobFowl

Thibaut Pinot

Darkglasses wrote: »

Added a poll for the crack.

Where's Dan.....

Darkglasses

Alberto Contador

RobFowl wrote: »

Where's Dan.....

Not in my top 8 anyway.

happytramp

RobFowl wrote: »

Where's Dan.....

12th with two stage wins

Arequipa

Nairo Quintana

Arequipa wrote: »

I am looking forward to the TDF 2015..
Barring injury/crashes/illness.. There should be an exciting lineup..

Who do you think will win & why?

I think between Contador e Froome. I will get a ban if It say why.

happytramp

Need advice re casting my vote is this purely who I think is 'going' to win or who really really hope can and does win?

Arequipa

Alberto Contador

Who would be the strongest time trialer out of the 4?!

I would guess.

-Froome
-Contador
-Nibali
-Quintana?!

Arequipa

Alberto Contador

Nice little interview of Froome on GCN a couple of days ago...

http://youtu.be/o-ednvYZdgU

Interesting.. Froome suggests he might try going into Week 1 of the Tour slightly under trained so as to peak in Week 3....

Pudsy33

Nairo Quintana

Arequipa wrote: »

Who would be the strongest time trialer out of the 4?!

I would guess.

-Froome
-Contador
-Nibali
-Quintana?!

That's probably the right order but with the lack of TT miles means that it's a bit irrelevant.

Lusk_Doyle

happytramp wrote: »

12th with two stage wins

Nah. Michal Kwiatkowski will get stage three ahead of him and Michael Matthews (if he is there) will get the other punchy one!

Pudsy33

Nairo Quintana

Lusk_Doyle wrote: »

Nah. Michal Kwiatkowski will get stage three ahead of him and Michael Matthews (if he is there) will get the other punchy one!

Kwiatkowski has looked distinctly off the boil this year. I don't think the uphill finishes of the Murs will suit him as much as Martin, Valverde and the likes. Plus Martin will have a shot at winning summit finishes too. Not sure Matthews will have much joy but I haven't looked at all the stages in detail.

MPFG

Pudsy33 wrote: »

Kwiatkowski has looked distinctly off the boil this year. I don't think the uphill finishes of the Murs will suit him as much as Martin, Valverde and the likes. Plus Martin will have a shot at winning summit finishes too. Not sure Matthews will have much joy but I haven't looked at all the stages in detail.

Some stages suit Matthews like stage 6 but some are too steep for him imo like stage 3 & stage 8

I agree re Kwaitkowski. He didn't look top at Suiise unless he is going to pull a Nibali

Stage 3 is between Valverde, Martin & Purito I think
I also thought Dan Martin looked in top shape at the presentation this evening

L'Enfer du Nord

Pudsy33 wrote: »

That's probably the right order but with the lack of TT miles means that it's a bit irrelevant.

Indeed, a more important question might be who is the best TTT:

Sky, SaxoTinkov, Astana, Mobistar?

Pudsy33

Nairo Quintana

L'Enfer du Nord wrote: »

Indeed, a more important question might be who is the best TTT:

Sky, SaxoTinkov, Astana, Mobistar?

Movistar are stacked with Malori, Dowsett, and Castroviejo.

MPFG

Pudsy33 wrote: »

Movistar are stacked with Malori, Dowsett, and Castroviejo.

Movistar have really brought the best TTT team and could put Quintana or indeed Valverde in yellow

SKY are next with Porte, Koing back in and hopefully they learned from the Dauphine to ride well not just blow it in first 5 KM

Mind you the stage should be between BMC & OGE however it depends on who is left by stage 9 and how they feel after a very hard week...its is possible some of the Movistar guys might not make it for instance

RobFowl

Thibaut Pinot

Pudsy33 wrote: »

Kwiatkowski has looked distinctly off the boil this year. I don't think the uphill finishes of the Murs will suit him as much as Martin, Valverde and the likes. Plus Martin will have a shot at winning summit finishes too. Not sure Matthews will have much joy but I haven't looked at all the stages in detail.

Wish I was so off the boil that I'd win a classic wearing the rainbow stripes 😎

Pudsy33

Nairo Quintana

RobFowl wrote: »

Wish I was so off the boil that I'd win a classic wearing the rainbow stripes 😎

Rainbow stripes part is irrelevant. To be honest I'd forgotten about that win so I take your point. That said he was very poorin his last race, hence my comment.

topcat77

Vincenzo Nibali

MPFG wrote: »

Movistar have really brought the best TTT team and could put Quintana or indeed Valverde in yellow

SKY are next with Porte, Koing back in and hopefully they learned from the Dauphine to ride well not just blow it in first 5 KM

Mind you the stage should be between BMC & OGE however it depends on who is left by stage 9 and how they feel after a very hard week...its is possible some of the Movistar guys might not make it for instance

Will be a very interesting TTT with the Côte de Cadoudal climb at the end.

pajor

Thibaut Pinot

I'm a bit bummed out that this year will be the first time I'll be working full time during the TDF.

Mais c'est la vie.

pelevin

Thibaut Pinot

pajor wrote: »

I'm a bit bummed out that this year will be the first time I'll be working full time during the TDF.

Mais c'est la vie.

Especially with Eurosport though you could with discipline manage to avoid news of the race & watch it evenings anyway. I think their 'highlihghts' tends to be something close to the last 2 hour's racing.

pajor

Thibaut Pinot

pelevin wrote: »

Especially with Eurosport though you could with discipline manage to avoid news of the race & watch it evenings anyway. I think their 'highlihghts' tends to be something close to the last 2 hour's racing.

I can only try. Have downloaded the app to my work phone though, keep me up to date.

Problem is the Dutch looove the TDF so is sorta everywhere. Especially with it starting here this year!

pelevin

Thibaut Pinot

Oh right, you're not in the holy Celtic isle. A lot harder task over there to stay ignorant I'd say all right.

MPFG

What I have done is I have to Eurosport App on tablet and take break from 3.30pm to 4.30pm (GMT) and watch last hour of race or hour and a half
(Then just start earlier in morning or finish later in evening)

then watch highlights again at home

MPFG

Here is an alternative look at Tour

http://video.eurosport.com/cycling/tour-de-france/2015/bonjour-le-tour-your-ultimate-guide-to-the-tour-de-france_vid378769/video.shtml

RobFowl

Thibaut Pinot

Pudsy33 wrote: »

Rainbow stripes part is irrelevant. To be honest I'd forgotten about that win so I take your point. That said he was very poorin his last race, hence my comment.

Rainbow jersey one of the most visible in peleton so harder to win while wearing it. Makes a classic win all the more impressive, Bettini the last to manage it AFAIR.
Having a mediocre last race doesn't mean a bad season and may simply have been using it for training...

MPFG

I love Marc Madiot

http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/marc-madiot/marc-madiot-blog-tinkov-can-boycott-the-tour-de-france-but-fdj-will-race

REBELSAFC

Vincenzo Nibali

Boom pulling out (if confirmed) will be a major set back for Nibali, especially during the cobble stage. Boom was a major factor in Nibali gaining time during the corresponding stage last year

JK.BMC

REBELSAFC wrote: »

Boom pulling out (if confirmed) will be a major set back for Nibali, especially during the cobble stage. Boom was a major factor in Nibali gaining time during the corresponding stage last year

Boom was with Belkin last year
But I know what you mean
Interesting to watch Froome and the other stick insects on the pave

pelevin

Thibaut Pinot

Was it Fuglsang who was with Nibali at the end of the stage? Don't think Boom would have been allowed attack his team leader at the death there!

Pudsy33

Nairo Quintana

It was Fuglsang, Boom won the stage for Belkin. Anyway he is racing it appears.

spock.

Thibaut Pinot

Nico's diaries are back.
www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/cycling/tour-de-france-diary-every-single-day-in-this-first-week-is-a-potentially-risky-one-31351110.html

pelevin

Thibaut Pinot

Yeah just saw on CN Boom is riding. Outside of the issue of why his cortisol levels are low, I think Astana haven't much choice in the matter of Boom riding. They apparently asked the UCI to let them replace Boom with Zanotti, the UCI refused, & in such a brutal 3 weeks would any team voluntarily sacrifice a team member? I think their hand is forced to have Boom ride.

Kevincavan83

Alberto Contador

pelevin wrote: »

Yeah just saw on CN Boom is riding. Outside of the issue of why his cortisol levels are low, I think Astana haven't much choice in the matter of Boom riding. They apparently asked the UCI to let them replace Boom with Zanotti, the UCI refused, & in such a brutal 3 weeks would any team voluntarily sacrifice a team member? I think their hand is forced to have Boom ride.

True

Tar.Aldarion

any stream for the start of this

gordongekko

How do they decide the starting order for the itt. There doesn'ts eem to be any order to it.

REBELSAFC

Vincenzo Nibali

pelevin wrote: »

Was it Fuglsang who was with Nibali at the end of the stage? Don't think Boom would have been allowed attack his team leader at the death there!

My memory must be fading. A mixmatch of cobbles,Nibali,Boom and Astana must have confused me

Pudsy33

Nairo Quintana

gordongekko wrote: »

How do they decide the starting order for the itt. There doesn'ts eem to be any order to it.

They rank the team's, so MTN first all the way to Astana. So an MTN guy goes first, and Astana guy 15th and then it repeats. It's up to the teams what order they send out their men.

ednwireland

dans diary back also

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/other-sports/dan-martin-s-tour-de-france-diary-i-feel-better-than-i-have-ever-done-1.2272649

Pudsy33

Nairo Quintana

ednwireland wrote: »

dans diary back also

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/other-sports/dan-martin-s-tour-de-france-diary-i-feel-better-than-i-have-ever-done-1.2272649

He's aiming for stage 3, 8 and a podium. Class

SummerRebel

It appears James Startt and Frankie Andreu aren't doing 'Tour Talk' this year on Bicycling.com Loved their coverage in previous years.

Shedite27

Not sure if it's been posted anywhere but this is one of the coolest cycling videos I've ever seen. OricaGreenEdge had a GoPro on his head attending the scene of yesterday's crash

Roquentin

Vincenzo Nibali

degenkolb to win todays stage

SummerRebel

This review of the TDF game is pretty funny:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHvgfbyR1oU

dastardly00

Alberto Contador

https://twitter.com/carltonkirby/status/618888320651800576

Arequipa

Alberto Contador

I think after week one of the Tour ...

Froome looks the strongest
Quintana & outsider Van der Garderan next
Then contador
And Nibali...

Contador stayed outta trouble & will get stronger in the mountains...
I think we are lucky as viewers that none of the big GC boys have been taken out by the crashes or cobbles so far...

Roquentin

Vincenzo Nibali

froome id say. to be tested by quintana. nibali is gone. and contador has it tough

ThisRegard

Just realised I won't be somewhere where I can watch the tour for the last 5 stages, bit of a pisser.

irishrover99

Anyone tell me what's the point of the mavic neutral service car. I really can't remember anyone ever using one and I've been watching cycling a long time, and not even taking a spare wheel
Same with the Vittorio car in the giro


And how is virenque still doing ads for festina

tigerboon

ThisRegard wrote: »

Just realised I won't be somewhere where I can watch the tour for the last 5 stages, bit of a pisser.

Same. Plan to record it on Sky and exercise a sports news blackout when away. Don't think there's enough room to record that many stages. Might have to be selective about which stages to record.