Tour de France 2013

Slowgrind · **Posted:** Sat Jul 06, 2013 9:00 pm

I'm like Canaan. I have the "bug" but not the fever yet. I need the fever!

And perhaps more cowbell.

Kimba · **Posted:** Sun Jul 07, 2013 10:23 am

I was skeptical like Canaan about this years TdF but now am really excited and am watching each stage on DVR. Interesting to see how Contador looked well, human climbing up AX 3 while relatively new guys like Quintana and Froome were killing it. Could it be that with presumably less doping the races are more unpredictable and exciting - looks like it to me! Team Sky looks pretty freaking powerful this year. The prior stage with Cannondale pushing it for Sagan for over 100k was cool to watch, and Sagan had the kick that day. Quintana looked like he was holding back on the second climb yesterday at AX 3, wonder if Movistar will let him loose later in the tour. He looks like an Inca, Liggett said he lives at 9K and trains at that altitude and more, major advantage in the mountain stages. They have a wattage stat I have never seen before. On the climb it said the peloton was doing 350 watts for 40 plus minutes??? When I go to the gym and use the bike with the wattmeter I can only get to about 215 watts before I blow up after about 3 minutes!

OldDogDan · **Posted:** Sun Jul 07, 2013 12:25 pm

Kimba wrote:

Could it be that with presumably less doping the races are more unpredictable and exciting - looks like it to me!

I think so. I hope so.

Belizean · **Posted:** Sun Jul 07, 2013 1:40 pm

Froome got isolated today but rode Valverde's wheel like he, Froome, was a part of Movistar. I think today was more of a psychological lose for Froome, being alone for the first time, but he refused to crack after multiple late attacks by the Columbian of Movistar. Viva le tour :thumbsup:

ajdonner · **Posted:** Sun Jul 07, 2013 3:04 pm

Froome may as well have been part of Movistar. For all the firepower they had at the front nothing much came of it, excepting Porte's fall from contention. Perhaps they were content with that; seems like it was a missed opportunity to make a bigger impact though, with a rest day and a several flat days ahead.

ajdonner · **Posted:** Tue Jul 09, 2013 9:03 pm

From the overhead coverage linked below it looks like Veelers had done his lead out, was soft pedaling, merging right with his day's work done and Cavendish was simply setting up his move to the left when they collided. Fortunately, the whole pack wasn't taken out!

http://www.steephill.tv/players/720/nbc ... 73&yr=2013

Kimba · **Posted:** Wed Jul 10, 2013 8:59 am

I read in the paper today that Cavendish lashed out at reporters asking if he had done it intentionally. He probably should have gathered himself and answered and expressed concern for the rider he hit instead of freaking out like a guilty child. On the slo mo finish cam you could see him looking back and getting pissed, weird reaction. Not my favorite rider.

Dirtrider · **Posted:** Wed Jul 10, 2013 9:39 am

Sure looked like he threw a shoulder into him from the slo mo since he was leaning to his left side

mtbgobraap · **Posted:** Wed Jul 10, 2013 10:20 am

Personally I think the tour would be much more entertaining as a full contact sport, or at least make it like moto where someone pulls a dick move you can "politely" ride him high in the next turn....

Dirtrider · **Posted:** Wed Jul 10, 2013 10:40 am

mtbgobraap wrote:

Personally I think the tour would be much more entertaining as a full contact sport, or at least make it like moto where someone pulls a dick move you can "politely" ride him high in the next turn....

Add in block passing and brake checks too :lol:

Maybe those team kits will need armor soon

mrgiant · **Posted:** Wed Jul 10, 2013 11:29 am

i liked it better when there was more doping. this year's tour is pretty much over.

mongooseboy · **Posted:** Wed Jul 10, 2013 1:43 pm

I wonder if they tested it? What is wrong with people these days?

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/team-belie ... --spt.html

Belizean · **Posted:** Sat Jul 13, 2013 12:03 am

What an incredible day of racing in the tour today, fantastic stage, was suppose to be easy with a sprint finish, but the crosswinds were equivalent to small mountains. Those guys were rolling at 40mph for extended periods throughout the day, crazy.

Canaan · **Posted:** Sat Jul 13, 2013 5:41 am

Belizean wrote:

What an incredible day of racing in the tour today, fantastic stage, was suppose to be easy with a sprint finish, but the crosswinds were equivalent to small mountains. Those guys were rolling at 40mph for extended periods throughout the day, crazy.

. . . and with the exception of a single rest day, it was done after two weeks of successive days in the saddle, any one of which would destroy nearly every rider on this board.

Kimba · **Posted:** Sat Jul 13, 2013 7:43 am

Here come the big mountains, Movistar and Saxo are going to try to drill Froome now that he has lost his big engines. The sprinters have been fantastic this year. Awesome tour so far!

Tour de France 2013

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