Support/lust after our lads cycling in the Tour of Britain here!

[HalfMumHalfBiscuit]

We watched Team Sky and Brad win the Tour de France, we're watching Froome in the Vuelta (bless him) and we took an Ode to the Olympic Time Trial (which inspired them to win medals ).

And now (to fill the massive hole left by the superb Olympics and Paralympics) from Sunday we can watch Team Sky and Team GB cycling heros here in the UK!

I thought I'd start this thread for lusting supporting our team faves and having a laugh.

TOB starts this Sunday 9th Sept!

TOB website here

Stage 1 Ipswich to Norfolk - Live on ITV4 from 1.45pm with highlights at 8pm .

The rest of the stages are also live everyday on ITV4 with highlights at 7pm.

[HalfMumHalfBiscuit]

I hope everyone who goes to watch the stage today and doesn't get too wet /cold. No flashing!

[evilgiraffe]

I can't see Cav holding on to the rainbow stripes, to be honest. There are other people much more suited to the course than him. Does anyone have a map/profile for the Worlds?

It was bizarre behaviour from Wiggo yesterday - he was completely wasted going back for Cav, as Cav was already over three minutes behind and falling. Surely it would have made more sense to keep him and Knees up the front? Oh well. I missed the highlights show last night so missed what happened at the start - was there a crash? I saw Bernie come in really late but had no idea why...

[LostInWales]

I think Wiggo was just having a jolly yesterday a bit 'Well Cav's my team leader I'm going to show him the same consideration I was shown in the TdF'. I agree with whoever said this was his victory parade. I don't know about retaining the rainbow stripes but I sure as hell hope I can see him in them at about 2.30 pm today. Whoop!

[evilgiraffe]

It was very funny, especially when he was riding the wrong way back along the course and chattering to the TV motorcyclist Victory parade is right though, it does feel like that.

[HalfMumHalfBiscuit]

Go LostInWales - wave for me too please!

Re Wiggo going back for Cav. Agree, he is showing the team leader consideration and no one can accuse him of stealing the glory.

It is a shame though for the team as a whole that this happened as the other lads didn't have the support to get a good time.

Evil - I don't think there was a crash at the start. Everyone got strung out on the hills and then the groups split up and Cav was just on the back up the main hill. I am a little bit annoyed with him, he better pull his socks up today.

[evilgiraffe]

Me too, Half, they didn't really look like they were pushing to minimise the gap, did they? I was surprised to see Bernie come in ten minutes after Cav though, with another group - it didn't seem like the front group were rising easily enough to split the race so much. An influential day, though!

Hopefully today Sky will be back in the mix :)

[HalfMumHalfBiscuit]

Evil - I've just heard Wiggins off sick today with stomach bug!!!!!!!!

[evilgiraffe]

What? Oh no! Hope he recovers quickly :( And that it doesn't spread to the others in the team

[RedMolly]

Going to watch the stage going over Dartmoor tomorrow. So hope it doesn't rain. Will be ds's first live race - he gets quite excited watching it on the telly so fingers crossed he won't howl through th whole experience. Won't be much lusting going on either - my favourite viking isn't racing this year (not very patriotic i know but... (singing) There's Only One Thor Hushovd).

[HalfMumHalfBiscuit]

Evil - sort of don't mind missing it so much if Wiggo isn't there.

RedMolly - You can be partial to any of them, tis cool. Have any of you seen Jon Locke?

[evilgiraffe]

Yeah, Locke is quite exciting. He doesn't give me the hubba hubbas though (shallow, me?)

[footphobic]

Team GB may decide their loyalties are with new Norwegian sky team member and help him instead. Bit at this comment HalfMumHalfBiscuit

I'd only heard of a couple of confirmed new signings for Sky for next season...who is the new Norwegian, have I missed something?

Wrt the Worlds, even with the majority of team GB being Sky riders, their loyalty for the men's race surely lies with GB and British riders only? It's a tough hilly course, they have a 100km first section, then 10 circuits including the infamous Cauberg Hill, so on paper definitely won't suit Cav, and there will be some really strong competition from other nations the course favours.

I think there are other possible contenders from within the GB team itself, so support might go to another rider, it will be very interesting to see what their strategy will be, but after his prep for the tour and Olympics this year, and with a strong full squad of nine, I think GB will compete with the possibility of Cav being in contention. An outside chance but still a possibility.

Sky obviously get to compete with the reintroduction of a TTT for trade teams.

[LostInWales]

Coming to you live from Caerphilly mountain . Not too bothered about lack of Wiggo, this picnic blanket gang are waiting for Cav and Bernie

[SeaShellsMyDogTrulySmells]

If Cav is cycling that slowly again today I reckon you could sneak a squeeze of butt losty

Nordhaug is possibly the Norwegian?

[footphobic]

Brad has withdrawn from the rest of the rest and off home to recuperate! What a shame, he'll be missed on the remaining stages, by the team and all the fans.

Nordhaug isn't new, he's been with Sky for a couple of years and has signed with Rabobank for 2013.

[evilgiraffe]

Oh, no more Wiggo at all? Aww :( Reasons for a long day in Guildford on Sunday are dwindling...

[footphobic]

Sorry...meant rest of the race! We had such a great day in Norwich for stage 1, we were planning to go for the last stage too...we have just had the timetable for ds's rugby team's new season and he has an important match on, so have to factor that in, and now no Bradley .

[HalfMumHalfBiscuit]

footphobic - norweigian factoid from bloke at work, no verification.

Lost - enjoy!

Well, while we are all missing Wiggins fear not, the front page of the Western Mail has him on the front cover and the news of the day is that there is going to be a film made of his life and who is lined up to play him....
.... the lovely Rhys Ifans.

[HalfMumHalfBiscuit]

Lost - You can get Free coffee and cake and maybe a yeti from Skoda UK cycling at the bottom of Caerfilly mountain (200m from top or something).

[evilgiraffe]

So many people on the road! This is brilliant Hurrah for the Welsh!

[evilgiraffe]

I like Tiernan-Locke not wearing glasses (though baffled as to why) - makes it so much easier to see his expression! He looks proper annoyed at this NetApp guy not coming ahead to help...

[HalfMumHalfBiscuit]

Evil - thanks for the updates. I have recorded the whole race so will look out for you. Description please...

[evilgiraffe]

Oh, I was watching on the telly, Half. It's Lost who's there - she seems to have been too busy cheering Our Boys on in real life to be telling us what she looks like though

[frostyfingers]

Right - spectator report. We arrived at Powis Castle in cracking good time and after a bit of a yomp got to the car park just as the team coaches were turning up - 9.30ish. The Sky bus had a barricade around it, but we could still get up close, and the spare bikes and race cars were all available for a prod and a poke. The other teams were all open to the public and it was really good to be able to wander about in amongst all the kit and support start.

The rumour that Bradley was out reached us at about 9.45, so disappointed but ho hum. The remaining five meandered out of the bus at about 10.10, chatted a bit and then got on their bikes and tootled up to the start. I was right by the cordon and could have (but restrained myself) touched Cav - wouldn't want to frighten him - and they disappeared. We then went up to the start, there were hoards of over excited school children and stressed looking teachers who had all been give areas close to the barricades which was nice, and all the riders were milling about in the start area for ages. What impressed me was that they were chatting with each other, the crowd and the marshals and endlessly signing autographs, right up to the last minute. They left a bit late, about 10.45 and we dashed for the car so we could get ahead of them before they left Welshpool.

We then drove the course through Newtown, Llandrindod, Builth, and Brecon, and my god it was tough. How they manage to cycle it god only knows. In every town there were loads of people of all ages, and lots of schools and even along random bits of the course there were cars parked to watch. We got to nearly the end of the Brecon KOM and parked up to wait. In the meantime we whizzed the slightly bemused dogs up the mountain for a bit of fresh air, and nearly got blown off.

The six man breakaway zipped past as if they were on a Sunday afternoon ride, then the peloton 3.30 mins later with Sky at the front. I caught a glimpse of Cav, right up there with them and then they were gone. There was a bit of a gap to a straggler then everyone started disappearing. What they hadn't realised was that there were two UK Youth cyclists struggling up the hill a good 5 minutes behind, and they had to dodge the oncoming traffic that had been let through. Not good organisation ToB!

We then had to zip to Hereford in time for school pick up, and I've only just finished my other jobs just now. I'm a bit windswepst, quite tired, and thrilled to bits. The atmosphere is outstanding, everyone is so friendly and there were loads more people than last year. Loved every minute of it, and DH and I are planning a camper van trip to the Tour de France now, in our dreams for the foreseeable future, but one can dream!

Don't know the result yet, off to watch the highlights and see if I can see myself.

If you've read all this, then you're probably knackered too!

[HalfMumHalfBiscuit]

sorry evil/lost I am being dense today.