2012 Tour of Britain (9th - 16th September)

[Andy99]

Not really sure, but was Rowe not already behind too when Cav was dropped?

Edit: guess not. Came home in the group infront;

http://www.tourofbritain.com/_ns_results/default.asp?stage=5&page=3

 

[Eyeballs Out]

Rowe isn't strong enough to be a GC contender in this race. Leigh Howard regained contact with the Endura group without any team support

 

[will10]

You got your wish. I was at the Oakamoor feed zone and Endura smashed it through there. Not one rider got a feed trust me. At least half the peloton were fighting to stay on in the cross winds.

Geat stage today with some great performances out there. Thought Endura were fantastic and UHC have really given the race a good go.

****ed off with Sky not supporting Luke Rowe mind. Previous years I thought they tried too hard. This year too many don't seem to be bothered.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

who's that j*rk with the sideburns?
(nice photo!)

 

[cineteq]

who's that j*rk with the sideburns?
(nice photo!)

He's that guy whom hollywood wants to make a movie of - that all I know.

 

[will10]

who's that j*rk with the sideburns?
(nice photo!)

It's not one of mine I got it off twitter, but that's definitely Endura drilling it through the feed (and I suspect Bradley saying WTF?)

I've got some photos I'll get up on here later. Had to resist shouting "Via Birillo!" at Basso who was solo at that point

 

[Andy99]

It's not one of mine I got it off twitter, but that's definitely Endura drilling it through the feed (and I suspect Bradley saying WTF?)

I've got some photos I'll get up on here later. Had to resist shouting "Via Birillo!" at Basso who was solo at that point

Yeah, I agree.

Top 10 GC;

1 54 Leigh Howard Orica - GreenEDGE 20h 38' 35''
2 36 Boy Van Poppel UnitedHealthcare at 0' 7''
3 145 Sep Vanmarcke Garmin - Sharp at 0' 17''
4 142 Nathan Haas Garmin - Sharp at 0' 23''
5 5 Christian Knees Sky Procycling at 0' 24''
6 11 Jonathan Tiernan-Locke Endura Racing st
7 64 Damiano Caruso Liquigas - Cannondale st
8 33 Christopher Jones UnitedHealthcare at 0' 34''
9 103 Bartosz Huzarski Team NetApp at 2' 2''
10 73 David Lelay Saur Sojasun st

 

[will10]

Van Poppel really surprised me hanging in today. Garmin lads looked strong, JTL looked extremely good, should be a good final tomorrow.

 

[roundabout]

How difficult is the last climb? Seemed a bit of a wall from a few youtube videos from last year, but not very long?

 

[MartinGT]

How difficult is the last climb? Seemed a bit of a wall from a few youtube videos from last year, but not very long?

Not very IMO, i dont know why they were making it out to be a wall.

Yeh, its a hill and gets your heart going, but its not that hard.

/edit, I should add, I did the ride at a social pace however with friends, not after X amount of racing and 5 days into a race.

 

[Pulpstar]

Great photo - JTL isn't your ***** just yet Bradley

 

[MartinGT]

Great photo - JTL isn't your ***** just yet Bradley

Was disappointed with the arrogance of Wiggins today, arm waving at the start, then getting animated during the race.

Sky messed up today, big style.

 

[Pulpstar]

"So what happened? Although none of the riders concerned offered an explanation afterwards, things clearly started to go wrong on the testing Morridge climb some 28 miles from home. The peloton negotiated the climb on Monday without apparent difficulty but on this occasion Cavendish went out the back very quickly." (Daily Telegraph article)

The difference is on Monday the peloton was seven abreast heading up Morridge and Cav had enough puff to sing "THere's only one Bradley Wiggins" as he rode up the hill, and spotted the huge Wiggo flag I was under.

Helluva difference between a ~30 km/hr hilly stage and a 40+ km/hr hilly stage

 

[JRanton]

Was disappointed with the arrogance of Wiggins today, arm waving at the start, then getting animated during the race.

Sky messed up today, big style.

It was a ****-up but with the squad they brought this year I doubt they were ever going to win GC anyway.

They should just bring EBH next year and be done with it (or JTL if he signs).

 

[rickshaw]

Been watching mostly for the scenery.....

I think this is what Cav used to describe as a meaningless 3rd rate race ( when Greipel won it). I'm enjoying it for lots of reasons.

1 I didn't realize the extent of the "cycling mania" in the UK now. The announcers are all over it. The "Cav Effect", Wiggo This, Wiggo That, Vans painted with "Wiggo" on the side, huge crowds. Reminds me of when my home town was in, and won, the World Series. The Island is onto cycling.

2. Great scenery. I almost expect to see Miss Marple by the side of the road, and the hills in Scotland? Great stuff.

3. Very good production values The TV coverage is actually produced, with segues, interest stories, etc etc. commentary at the race. In contrast to the Vuelta which was just a generic feed being commentated on by some guys in , where? New Jersey?

4. Pretty knowledgeable commentary. Actually talk tactics, if Sky skrews the pooch, they say so. And Hugh Porter going on and on about every single KOM point blows my mind more even than that there don't appear to be any actual mountains. One announcer told another, "well, these are British Hills."

5. Sky? Obviously there because they have to be. Before stage 1 an interviewer asked Wiggo what he thought of the other riders. He said, "Actually I haven't seen a start list so I don't know who's in the race. Just put me on my bike and push me off." And stage 2 in the lst corner Cav just stopped peddling! What, Wondering if they had enough baby formula in the fridge? If the mighty Sky armada is being pushed around by United Health Care. Anyway...

I'm still enjoying it, maybe because it seems real, and except for Sky everyone is treating it like a real bike race, and I like real bike races.

 

[manafana]

vanmarcke and tiernan locke the two big men for me tommorow looking forward to the stage.

 

[Reverend_T_Preedy]

How difficult is the last climb? Seemed a bit of a wall from a few youtube videos from last year, but not very long?

1.4 km at an average of 9.2% with steeper sections of about 14%. The finish is 5km from the top of the climb.

Perfect climb for JTL but I'm not sure how much time he'll be able to put into Sep Vanmarke who is looking really strong.

 

[Froomador]

Yet another shockingly dismal display of tactics by Sky...

However, with the rider talent they have I'm quite grateful they have lousy DS's otherwise we'd all be pretty bored of them winning.

 

[Pulpstar]

Listened to 5 Live this morning, about how Cav could 'claw back' time from his current 2nd place

 

[The Cobra]

Yet another shockingly dismal display of tactics by Sky...

However, with the rider talent they have I'm quite grateful they have lousy DS's otherwise we'd all be pretty bored of them winning.

It seems every year Sky try very hard not to win this race! Baffling tactics once again.

 

[No_Balls]

5. Sky? Obviously there because they have to be. Before stage 1 an interviewer asked Wiggo what he thought of the other riders. He said, "Actually I haven't seen a start list so I don't know who's in the race. Just put me on my bike and push me off." And stage 2 in the lst corner Cav just stopped peddling! What, Wondering if they had enough baby formula in the fridge? If the mighty Sky armada is being pushed around by United Health Care. Anyway...

Unbelivable attitude towards your own home grand prix. Is this payback for the amount of coverage and sympathy you get alongside Britains roads?

It very much look like this race just are there due to Wiggos own PR-campaign and that the only thing Sky has to worry about is Wiggins recorded broadcasting time.

 

[VO2 Max]

How difficult is the last climb? Seemed a bit of a wall from a few youtube videos from last year, but not very long?

It's hard enough for people that want to attack to make it hard, but not so hard you can't ride it tempo if you want. Wide main road climb but with uneven gradients and a couple of turns higher up.

A few km west there are some proper steep cobbled bergs in Llantrisant where you'd have guys walking if they couldn't get a clean run-up to the steep sections, but honestly Caerphilly is the perfect place for a bike race finish: it's scenic and touristy with the big castle, it's easy to get to by public transport, and the 'mountain' has plenty of space for spectators both on the slopes and especially at the top. The climb also starts right from the centre of town. It's a shame the finish isn't closer to the top because it's the sort of run-in where regrouping can happen.

 

[Kvinto]

1.4 km at an average of 9.2% with steeper sections of about 14%. The finish is 5km from the top of the climb.

Perfect climb for JTL but I'm not sure how much time he'll be able to put into Sep Vanmarke who is looking really strong.

Although both of Garmin riders looked good yesterday but on the ascents in particular Nathan Haas was better while 1.4km-9.2% is something Sep Vanmarcke has not shown anything to date.

 

[will10]

Wiggins DNS
Stomach bug

 

[Pulpstar]

Oof that isn't good for Knees or Cav.