TdF

blue sleep · July 05, 2015, 02:44:38 PM

I can honestly say that it is this annual thread that got me interested in the TdF. So don't let me down! Where's the analysis I've come to depend on?

If you haven't seen yet, don't read below:

Should Cavendish take the blame for Martin's lost chance for the yellow jersey? If so, was it thoughtlessness or selfishness that caused him to literally stop pedaling? Or, as Cav says, did the failure lay with his lead out man?

hot dog eating face off · July 05, 2015, 02:58:03 PM

Fabian Cancellara!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

wherestheportojohn · July 05, 2015, 04:01:17 PM

Ima make myself the filling in a Cancellara and Greipel sammich.

tenacious1 · July 05, 2015, 04:53:38 PM

Quote from: blue sleep on July 05, 2015, 02:44:38 PM
Should Cavendish take the blame for Martin's lost chance for the yellow jersey? If so, was it thoughtlessness or selfishness that caused him to literally stop pedaling? Or, as Cav says, did the failure lay with his lead out man?

I'm sure if he would have remembered or thought of it or been told by the team manager about it, he'd have kept pedaling. It's a lot to ask when you busy trying to beat Griepel, Cancellara, Sagan, and everyone else in the race to take a stage win.

ETA: If Tony Martin wants the jersey he'll just have to take it from Cancellara. It's only 3 seconds, right?

blue sleep · July 05, 2015, 05:01:08 PM

So, I'm a complete dork. DH and I are probably going to be in London for 3 weeks next June. I just looked up where le tour is headed in 2016...and booked a room in Cherbourg for June 30 to July 4. No payment due now and I can cancel up until next June. Very likely we won't be able to do this...but I figure that by the time we figure out if we can swing it, everything will be booked. And, besides, it'll be fun to think about if nothing else!

ctjim · July 06, 2015, 09:10:31 AM

Martin was in a tough spot.
There's no way he beats Cancellara in a sprint.
Also, his job yesterday was to help Cav with the stage, so he couldn't go on a solo attack from, say, 5k out or something.

Sounds to me like drama for the sake of drama.

Quote from: tenacious1 on July 05, 2015, 04:53:38 PM

ETA: If Tony Martin wants the jersey he'll just have to take it from Cancellara. It's only 3 seconds, right?

oh, and this.
The Badger wouldn't whine about it, he'd just to out the next day and kick some butt !

ctjim · July 06, 2015, 09:15:31 AM

Today's finish should be a hoot.
Mur de Huy = Belgian for "straight freaking up"
Flèche Wallone 2014 Mur de Huy Valverde vainqueur

tenacious1 · July 06, 2015, 09:31:05 AM

Did they design the first few days of this years race to avoid the mass carnage like they had last year? Stage 1 TT is safe. Stage 2 was on flat wide roads -- at least the parts I saw. Stage 3 has a steep climb at the end to spread out the finishers. I haven't looked ahead to check out the other stages.

Stage 3 Anvers (Antwerp) to Huy.

tenacious1 · July 06, 2015, 09:43:54 AM

Custom paint job for Spartacus for Stage 3.

ctjim · July 06, 2015, 10:00:17 AM

watching live.........

oooof. that hurts.

tenacious1 · July 06, 2015, 10:10:53 AM

*** SPOILER ALERT ***

What the heck are the rules on stopping a stage? I'm not sure I've ever seen this before.

tenacious1 · July 06, 2015, 10:11:52 AM

*** SPOILER ALERT ***

I think I heard the Simon Garrens is out.

Did you see Cancellara's bike go flying? Apparently Cancellara has a concussion but hasn't withdrawn yet.

wherestheportojohn · July 06, 2015, 10:17:26 AM

That was brutal. Shite. Holy crappoli. It makes me shaky, even watching the replay.

Ass over teakettle...Fabian needs me, stat!

ctjim · July 06, 2015, 10:19:42 AM

His endo WAS pretty spectacular.
Probably better that he land in the nice soft ditch like he did than land on the pavement, though.

blue sleep · July 06, 2015, 10:26:53 AM

God that was awful. I can't watch the replay, makes me nauseous.

tenacious1 · July 06, 2015, 10:38:43 AM

Quote from: ctjim on July 06, 2015, 10:19:42 AM
His endo WAS pretty spectacular.
Probably better that he land in the nice soft ditch like he did than land on the pavement, though.

Or that light pole. There were a whole collection of riders and bikes wrapped around it by the time everything stopped.

ctjim · July 06, 2015, 10:39:31 AM

Apparently, ten Dam's shoulder was dislocated, team popped it back in, and he's riding again.

tenacious1 · July 06, 2015, 10:42:56 AM

OOOOOOOUUUUCCCCCHHHHHH!

tenacious1 · July 06, 2015, 10:49:07 AM

Jerseys -- As usual I'm struggling with the jerseys, except for AG2R with has the usual white with brown and light blue squares. I found a cheat sheet here: http://www.letour.com/le-tour/2015/us/

Find the gold bar in the middle and click on "TEAMS". Lampre, MovieStar, BMC, and Sky have not changed much since last year so that helps.

Tinkoff is bizarre. Yellow camo???

ETA: It's not as bad as I thought. Astana, Trek, and Orica Greenedge have not changed too much. We've discussed Garmin's before so that's not too hard. Thank goodness they kept the argyle on it so I can pick them out.

ctjim · July 06, 2015, 10:53:22 AM

Quote from: tenacious1 on July 06, 2015, 10:49:07 AM

Tinkoff is bizarre.