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Original poster

Tour de France 2013

455 replies

Panonabike · 29/06/2013 13:43

Are we having a spin on Le Tour this year? They are half way across Corsica already, and Cav and Froome are settled in. Cav's looking for a stage win.

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Original poster
Panonabike · 16/07/2013 21:33

quiet day on Le Tour?

Thought Froomey was a bit unfair on Conta and his crash. As CB says he didn't have to go with him and tbh I'm not seeing how Contador forced Froome off the road. He seemed to have it under control then sort of slid off the road.

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LostInWales · 16/07/2013 21:55

Sorry, accidentally went to the beach for 5 hours this afternoon and missed all the tour stuff. It's just a hard life round here. I thought Froome looked almost, maybe, as if he might smile in the post race interview. Was the most emotion I have ever seen on the man. Contador looks like a man both pissed off and a bit scared. Loved the comment up thread that he is slower now he is vegetarian Wink.

Lance does not come out at all well in the Hamilton book, although I keep having to put down the Wegelius book at the moment because I keep wanting to say 'for gods sake man stop whinging all the time' interesting as it is to get an insight into the life of a domestique.

I have driven up the Alpe d'Huez and once was enough for me! It was the day before a stage though and possibly a bit more manic than you would expect on a normal day. I got serenaded by a drunk dutchman on karaoke at about 2pm, I think the dutch are drunk for about three days solid for that stage.

Original poster
Panonabike · 16/07/2013 21:56

Jensie refutes identity crisis

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HowGoodIsThat · 16/07/2013 22:35

I LOVE Jens.

EndoplasmicReticulum · 16/07/2013 22:44

Jens needs to write a book.

NicholasTeakozy · 16/07/2013 22:53

Portes was amazing again today. Getting Froome and Contador back to Quintana was a stunning bit of riding. Froome was a bit arsey about Contador trying to break away on the descent. Of course he's going to try it, it's The Tour!

I think tomorrow Froome will win the time trial, then Thursday it's open season. Everyone and his cat will attack. If Froome and Team Sky can mitigate that and overhaul them he deserves the win. Given his prowess so far in the mountains I think he'll do it.

DramaAlpaca · 17/07/2013 00:04

I would read Jens' book. I'm sure he's got lots of interesting stories to tell.

Porte was amazing on the Ventoux & also today, what a star that man is.

I am wondering about trying to wangle a day off work on Thursday so I can watch the Alpe d'Huez stage... It's certain to be a nail-biter, and I can't wait!

Gigondas · 17/07/2013 11:16

I am sure he has tho he lost the plot on twitter on the rest day taking photos of nissans as was nostalgic for days they were a sponsor. Grin

Original poster
Panonabike · 17/07/2013 20:16

Interview with Jensie today, who still has a family to feed...

Seriously thinking of recording the race tomorrow and not just relying on highlights. Too thrilling to miss, n'est-ce pas?

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NicholasTeakozy · 17/07/2013 20:55

I think you're right Pan, tomorrow is too exciting to dismiss as a one hour highlight package. I have stuff to do but can (hopefully) get back by 3 to watch the denouement.

ariadneoliver · 17/07/2013 21:28

Definitely record it. I've been lucky to be working at home for quite a few days of the tour, but when I'm not I record it and stay away from the results for the rest of the day. It nearly went horribly wrong when I had an evening do to go to and I got behind. Thank goodness for the rest days.

mummytime · 17/07/2013 21:38

DH rode up the Alpe d'Huez today. He'll be somewhere in the crowd tomorrow.

LostInWales · 17/07/2013 21:41

Wow, fair play to DH, that is NOT an easy ride (or drive, as I keep pointing out, the drive has scared me for life Wink)

The children can pick themselves up from school can't they? I don't want to miss a thing.

DramaAlpaca · 17/07/2013 21:43

I'm going to record it & try to get home from work early. Tomorrow is not to be missed!

LostInWales · 17/07/2013 21:45

Poor, poor Cav, he can't much be looking forward to tomorrow. Although as the coverage pointed out today, it's no harder really than climbing Huez after any other peake. It's just mentally it feels like it Grin

Froome looked so happy today. I love my children, to a boy they were shouting 'look, Froomie is smiling' at the TV. Then looking at BMC the 6 year old said, 'is that bum face? Is he crying yet?' and I realised I was doing a pretty awesome job at this parenting lark Wink.

Original poster
Panonabike · 17/07/2013 22:05

Last year the ITV boys repeated "and they are just tapping out a rhythm at the front" and haven't said that once this year. I came to rely on it whilst climbing a long boring slope home, after already riding for an hour.

I've had to go back to my Catholic roots as an alternative. So the said long boring slope now takes 40 Hail Marys, to go from bottom to top. And I feel blessed and cleansed in the bargain.Grin

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Original poster
Panonabike · 17/07/2013 22:14

I think Jens Voigt has more testosterone than he knows what to do with.

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EndoplasmicReticulum · 17/07/2013 22:36

I'm going to watch some live tomorrow, but yes those pesky children need collecting from school.

Cavendish tweeted that he had to poo in a field yesterday.

HowGoodIsThat · 18/07/2013 08:04

Jens Voigt for Mayor of the Universe in General! Grin

I love all the tactical discussion about the bike changes - marginal gains, people! Did you see that Sky were the only team to take on musettes at the foot of Ventoux? The race gave dispensation for that to happen and only Sky did it.

Today is going to be immense. I am wondering if I can get away with playing on one screen while I work on the other...

NicholasTeakozy · 18/07/2013 08:09

Bumface is Cadel Evans isn't he? He was slower than Cav in yesterdays time trial. I almost felt sorry for him. Almost.

prettybird · 18/07/2013 08:21

Cadel is not having a good race is he? I think this is one of those years he just has to write off, get to the Champs Élysées and next year is a another year.

DramaAlpaca · 18/07/2013 13:59

It looks like Cadel may be getting towards the end of his career. He said earlier in the Tour it's the worst he's performed when fit. I do feel quite sorry for him actually, he comes across as a really nice guy.

I've managed to arrange to have the day off today, so am watching the race live. The early stages were absolutely frantic & very exciting.

I'm going to stay away from this thread now until everyone's had a chance to catch up.

LostInWales · 18/07/2013 14:06

Old bum face Cadel is getting old, I think he's nearly as old as me Shock. He is just such a whiner, he was getting better for a while but he's not having a very good year. Didn't realise he was slower than Cav in the TT though. Haaaaaaaaaa. He'll get the last laugh today when he laps Cav on Huez though Wink

I swear Chavanel has bribed the commentators to mention his name loads, glad it's not a drinking game or I'd never see the end of the stages.

ANother vote for Voigt for life president of the world Grin.

BringMeTea · 18/07/2013 15:16

Allez Froomey! Stay calm..... Exciting stage today. Lucky to be able to watch it. Not in France like....

ariadneoliver · 18/07/2013 15:33

Poor Christophe Riblon, that's just the sort of thing that would happen to me. (Won't spoil it for the highlights watchers and he wasn't hurt)