2012 Tour de France: Stage 16: Pau → Bagnères-de-Luchon, 197 km

[Magnus]

I have to agree, for the most part. This Tour has reminded me of some of Mig's Tour wins.

One has to wonder, looking at today and tomorrow's stages, what if AC and AS were here?

Either they would be roughly equally good like in 2010 and people would think the race is boring because all they did was holding hands. Or Contador would be superior like in 2009 and people would complain that the tour is boring because Contador had settled the GC after stage 7 or Schleck would be superior and people would be complaining that he didn't attack until stage 17 and that even when he did attack from 50 km it wasn't really because he was going for the GC and only attacked to try to regain some kind of dignity.

I agree on the Big Mig comparison but unless the next 4 TdF are like this one I don't mind.

 

[Fight.The.Power]

Sure, the boards are a free forum to discuss cycling. But, there's an assumption that this forum and others serve to add to the community we have; new information is shared, ideas are developed and redeveloped, whatever.

Even if we boil down two camps into blind optimists and blind pessimists (Binaries are never accurate, and I know enough to know that most are not 'blind', but well informed and judicious optimists or pessimists) its still very easy to choose who can add more to the community.

I've been critical of posts and attitudes that are destructive. It is as simple as 'don't read the posts' in some cases, but not in others. I haven't opened the tour de bore thread because I don't see any value for my own participation as a fan. Those comments have merit, for sure. The discussion needs to be be had, yes. I'm just not interested, and it is easy to avoid. But, a stage thread intended to discuss a stage is a different story.

I'm interested in the perspectives, insights, and analysis that come out of these threads. They change the way I watch the stage. But sarcastic comments, and negative comments detract from that (not to say that critical comments don't belong). For me, its about what has additive value to this community.

Thats the idealist answer. These are the internets. But, its obviously frustrating when a negative meme (lack of a better word) takes away from any experience.



I assumed that the rest of my post was that logical justification. I see potential in the stage, and it was clearly stated why. Also, there's a difference between being critical and being destructive. Some posters demonstrate that line better than others

Well said. I think that there are certain individuals who constantly make negative comments rather than discussing the various stages as the threads are intended to do. Maybe those individuals should be redirected to the Tour De Bore thread as doping comments are redirected to the clinic.

Anyway - a great post

 

[Fight.The.Power]

Just heard Frank Schleck has tested positive! Why would he do that if he had no chance of winning anyway !

What a dumb azz!

 

[Eshnar]

Now that a big gun like Schleck's not in the race anymore, the whole scenario changes a lot...
no, wait, it doesn't change anything!

 

[Dr.Sahl]

Now that a big gun like Schleck's not in the race anymore, the whole scenario changes a lot...
no, wait, it doesn't change anything!

Yes clearly he was the best of all ^^ haha

 

[cineteq]

He experienced the heat at Vuelta already and he trains at Tenerife Very hot climate there so he should be okay, same with Froome.

I'm not so sure Wiggins loves heat. Btw, Tenerife is not a hot place per se (sea level)...at least at the time they tain is not hot at all, plus it's altitude training around the Teide volcano area.

 

[Gloin22]

I'm not so sure Wiggins loves heat. Btw, Tenerife is not a hot place per se (sea level)...at least at the time they tain is not hot at all, plus it's altitude training around the Teide volcano area.

Hmm, yeah. I don't think the loves it - but I think he prefers it to rain imo. The descents would be hell in rain - for him especially. Although I think his ability to descent is underrated, i.e the the broken collarbone had nothing to do with descents but many people think it was....

Thx for the info on Tenerife and Teide though Sure sounds like a hot place at least all year

 

[Susan Westemeyer]

No discussion of Schleck and doping here, please, take it to the Clinic.

Susan

 

[SuperH-]

i wanna see wiggins get a jour sang so bad.

 

[offbyone]

I hope a contender has the guts to put a committed attack in from far far away. I want to see wiggins defend on a climb without his team.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

i wanna see wiggins get a jour sang so bad.

sans
..........

 

[icefire]

Results from 1983:

1. Robert Millar en 6h23'27(Moy : 31.451 km/h)
2. Delgado à 6"
3. P.Simon à 1'13"
4. P.Jimenez à 1'30"
5. E.Corredor à 3'40"
6. Bernaudeau à 4'06"
7. Fignon à 4'23"
8. Michaud à 5'45"
9. M.Madiot
10. Alban
11. Van Impe
12. Boyer à 7'30"
13. Arroyo à 7'42"
14. Bazzo à 8'55"
15. Zoetemelk

In the absence of Hinault, everyone considered Van Impe and Zoetemelk the wheels to follow. But the race was broken in the first climb.

http://www.memoire-du-cyclisme.net/eta_tdf_1978_2005/tdf1983_10.php

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHleMcY4pcQ

 

[Mellow Velo]

I'm not so sure Wiggins loves heat. Btw, Tenerife is not a hot place per se (sea level)...at least at the time they tain is not hot at all, plus it's altitude training around the Teide volcano area.

Today, the weather in Tenerife will be...........


Outside of January and February, Tenerife is hot.
Been there when it hit just under 50C.

Joking aside, Girona would be a better pointer to Wiggin's acclimatization.

 

[manafana]

alot of tomorrow has to do with how fast they go up the tourmalet, if some sets a pace up it i see 20-25 by top of that at most.

Otherwise sky should control for most race.

 

[Richeypen]

alot of tomorrow has to do with how fast they go up the tourmalet, if some sets a pace up it i see 20-25 by top of that at most.

Otherwise sky should control for most race.

Up to now when its down to 20-25 riders Porte and Rogers have still been there

 

[will10]

Up to now when its down to 20-25 riders Porte and Rogers have still been there

Four men in a group of nine on Thursday....

I really hope Rogers and Porte are MIA tomorrow, will make for a better race. But I doubt it.

 

[Bala Verde]

i wanna see wiggins get a jour sang so bad.

sans
..........

Lol.

I won't consider this clinic related material...

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Or did he mean Comic Sans?

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Anyone posted this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-ha1SYe-ug&list=UUxEs-Ja_YWR-DRFtWmuBreQ&index=2&feature=plcp

 

[cineteq]

Today, the weather in Tenerife will be...........


Outside of January and February, Tenerife is hot.
Been there when it hit just under 50C.

I used to live there, so no, it's not 50C, that is false. Tenerife is a sub-tropical island. You've probably stayed in the South where all the Brits go. The time of the year they train is pleasant to cool/cold. The picture of the current fire is not funny btw.

 

[jacko_69]

Well should we be surprised considering your avatar? If your avatar is any indication, each stage ticking by gets Wiggins closer to overall victory. You're likely giddy with anticipation.

Often times the level of enjoyment/entertainment that someone derives from an event is strongly dependent upon how the team(s)/rider(s)/player(s) that they're rooting for is doing or even if they are participating at all. In terms of the gc battle, this Tour for me has been much less than satisfying. Nibali and JVdB have tried to make it interesting and Evans put in his little digs but ultimately this was pretty much decided after the first ITT. Unless Froome decides to stop pulling for Wiggins, put him in the wind and then attack him, I don't see anything occurring in the remaining stages that will alter the gc as it is now. Wiggins and Sky are in too commanding of a position. Nevertheless I will be watching the remaining mountain stages just to see how some of the other riders do especially Pinot and Van Garderan.

+1 Sums it up perfectly for me. I just want to see Wiggins have to 'Dig into his suitcase of courage' at least once in this race.

 

[Don't be late Pedro]

Well should we be surprised considering your avatar? If your avatar is any indication, each stage ticking by gets Wiggins closer to overall victory. You're likely giddy with anticipation.

I can see why you say that but not so fussed about Sky per se. Big fan of Geraint Thomas as I see him as a British rider that can potentially be a top all rounder. Would really like to see a Brit being competitive in the classics.

Often times the level of enjoyment/entertainment that someone derives from an event is strongly dependent upon how the team(s)/rider(s)/player(s) that they're rooting for is doing or even if they are participating at all. In terms of the gc battle, this Tour for me has been much less than satisfying. Nibali and JVdB have tried to make it interesting and Evans put in his little digs but ultimately this was pretty much decided after the first ITT. Unless Froome decides to stop pulling for Wiggins, put him in the wind and then attack him, I don't see anything occurring in the remaining stages that will alter the gc as it is now. Wiggins and Sky are in too commanding of a position. Nevertheless I will be watching the remaining mountain stages just to see how some of the other riders do especially Pinot and Van Garderan.

There is certainly an element of rooting for your home nation (Brits in my case) but one of the things I like about cycling is that it you tend to support riders who ride a certain way rather than where they are from. If they tick both boxes then all the better.

The other thing that seems prevalent in this forum is that if you don't win as a rider then you are somewhat of a loser. Even if a rider does not win but competes to the best of his ability and rides with some panache then I will be a fan. And if that guy gets his day in the sun then it is all the sweeter.

They needed more MTFs to balance the course against the TTers but, even so, the best climbers are not on show and there have been so many abandonments of the better riders which has limited the field. As you say, if Wiggins can get isolated then it really is game on for Nibali and the others.

I do think a Sky rider will probably win given the current positions but I am not as certain it will be Wiggins.

 

[Tigerion]

I hope somebody else chooses to demolish their team on the front going up Aubisque. Maybe if Basso and Szmyd have some form left and can do it.
If they can at least take Knees out on that climb we might have a decent chance of some fireworks.
Then a bad day recovering from the rest day for either Rogers or Porte and they are well on the way to isolating Wiggans and Froome

 

[Climbing]

I hope somebody else chooses to demolish their team on the front going up Aubisque. Maybe if Basso and Szmyd have some form left and can do it.
If they can at least take Knees out on that climb we might have a decent chance of some fireworks.
Then a bad day recovering from the rest day for either Rogers or Porte and they are well on the way to isolating Wiggans and Froome

Basso? Szmyd? That would be some kind of a miracle. Liquigas is just Nibali-Sagan and lots of shadows. The point of bringing riders from Giro to the Tour it's a mistery to me, unless they did that un purpose considering Nibali is leaving (but I don't think so).
Probably only an alliance VdB Evans Nibali could work, but would they risk everything?

 

[greenedge]

I hope for Evans and Nibali to fight it out FTW at the end. JVDB will also accompany them.

I just hope that Froome takes the win, over Wiggins so hopefully Bradley crack and Froome is allowed to follow.