2015 Tour de France: Stage 1, Utrecht-Utrecht

[Domulec]

Re:

Temperatures up to 41 degrees have been predicted for this Saturday. Which country is the Tour starting again?

Anyway,was planning on going, but sure as hell not gonna go there now, standing in a huge crowd for hours while it's gonna be 50+ degrees in the sun

I'm still wondering if I should go. It is pretty close to where I live and it seems like an opportunity that won't return anytime soon, but with the heat and the crowds it's gonna be pretty unpleasant to be there.

 

[rhubroma]

Re:

Malori FTW! Contador and Nibali to beat Froome

Yep.

 

[Walkman]

Re:

Who's really good when it's really hot? Valverde!

There is that german guy...

 

[Publicus]

I take it the start order hasn't been announced yet....

 

[woodenswan]

I like the thinking behind all the Malori picks, both here and for yellow
"He was beaten 3 times in a row by Cancellara, and twice by Dumoulin.. by comfortable margins too on most occasions.. naturally then, he will beat both of them, AAAND Martin.. yeah, ima go with Malori!"
Of course this is also known as the "U know what? Ima pick somebody else! That will serve these people right!" stance!

I just hope you put yer money where yer mouth is, people!

 

[RENS99]

Malori @21 is worth the pick, despite how it turns out.

 

[Kwibus]

Re: Re:

Such a shame this is the only ITT.. They shoud have made this a 15 km TTT, and then the stage 9 as a ITT.

that would be the worst decision ever

That would be the normal route form a Tour... or even another ITT at the end, but I prefer just the first.

This year with such a difficult first week I can understand, but it is very little ITT.

With more ITT must be more hard mountains stages...At least an stage like this:

Long, at hight altitude, with hard climbs, at the end of the race...

this year there are no similar stages.

Surely stages like this just encourage the unmentionable?

Mainstream media infected your mind. Wether it's long or short.. if people want to use... they use.

 

[Poursuivant]

I think it would be a good change for them to start a Tour with a really long TT, like 40-50km

 

[Kwibus]

Re: Re:

Temperatures up to 41 degrees have been predicted for this Saturday. Which country is the Tour starting again?

Anyway,was planning on going, but sure as hell not gonna go there now, standing in a huge crowd for hours while it's gonna be 50+ degrees in the sun

I'm still wondering if I should go. It is pretty close to where I live and it seems like an opportunity that won't return anytime soon, but with the heat and the crowds it's gonna be pretty unpleasant to be there.

Same here. The heat will be unbearable. High humidity and close to 40 degrees.
Then again I missed the start in Rotterdam and I really don't want to miss it again.

 

[Son of Amsterhammer]

Re: Re:

Such a shame this is the only ITT.. They shoud have made this a 15 km TTT, and then the stage 9 as a ITT.

that would be the worst decision ever

That would be the normal route form a Tour... or even another ITT at the end, but I prefer just the first.

This year with such a difficult first week I can understand, but it is very little ITT.

With more ITT must be more hard mountains stages...At least an stage like this:

Long, at hight altitude, with hard climbs, at the end of the race...

this year there are no similar stages.

Surely stages like this just encourage the unmentionable?

Mainstream media infected your mind. Wether it's long or short.. if people want to use... they use.

I'm not sure I'd call Tyler's book mainstream....but maybe it is to you. Fair enough.

 

[Jspear]

Re: Re:

Temperatures up to 41 degrees have been predicted for this Saturday. Which country is the Tour starting again?

Anyway,was planning on going, but sure as hell not gonna go there now, standing in a huge crowd for hours while it's gonna be 50+ degrees in the sun

I'm still wondering if I should go. It is pretty close to where I live and it seems like an opportunity that won't return anytime soon, but with the heat and the crowds it's gonna be pretty unpleasant to be there.

Same here. The heat will be unbearable. High humidity and close to 40 degrees.
Then again I missed the start in Rotterdam and I really don't want to miss it again.

Go! It's the TdF! Man, I wish I was contemplating on whether or not I wanted to go.

 

[Kwibus]

Re: Re:

Yes, 100m runners are hurting from head to toe after 2.5 weeks of racing and are put in a tough situation just to get through the 10 seconds....

You completely miss the point which makes it quite funny tbh.
Just 10 seconds indeed and still they use doping which is exactly the point. No matter how far or extreme or how short or undemanding, if there is doping that will improve the results it will be used.

If Hamilton says he used EPO because he was tired and hurting then that's ***. He used it to perform better just like all the other riders.

In every single sport on this earth there are people using things they are not allowed too, or trying to abuse rules to their benefit.

Don't for a second think that if the stages were shorter and less demanding their would be less dope.

Last thing on this topic from my side since it doesn't belong in this thread.

 

[Tonton]

Top 3: Tony, Dumoulin, Mallori
GC contenders: Dawg +15 seconds, Bertie and Nibbles +20, TJVG, Pinot and Piti +25, Bardet +30, Nairo +35
Unknown: JCP

 

[42x16ss]

Re:

Temperatures up to 41 degrees have been predicted for this Saturday. Which country is the Tour starting again?

Anyway,was planning on going, but sure as hell not gonna go there now, standing in a huge crowd for hours while it's gonna be 50+ degrees in the sun

If it's very hot and a bit windy then Durbridge will be one to look out for. He still won't win this but he should do well, the conditions will be similar to summer back home for him.

 

[Punkan]

My top 10 predicition:

1. Martin
2. Canc
3. Dumoulin
4. Rohan
5. Malori
6. Dowsett
7. Kelderman
8. Cummings
9. EBH
10. Sagan

 

[Punkan]

Top 3: Tony, Dumoulin, Mallori
GC contenders: Dawg +15 seconds, Bertie and Nibbles +20, TJVG, Pinot and Piti +25, Bardet +30, Nairo +35
Unknown: JCP

TJVG in the same category as Pinot and Piti? That would be extremely disappointing. He is a way better timetrialist than them, more in the category of Dawg and Contador i think.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Re:

My top 10 predicition:

1. Martin
2. Canc
3. Dumoulin
4. Rohan
5. Malori
6. Dowsett
7. Kelderman
8. Cummings
9. EBH
10. Sagan

except there's a lot of humidity and also possible chance for rain or thunderstorms I read.

 

[Dutchsmurf]

Re: Re:

Temperatures up to 41 degrees have been predicted for this Saturday. Which country is the Tour starting again?

Anyway,was planning on going, but sure as hell not gonna go there now, standing in a huge crowd for hours while it's gonna be 50+ degrees in the sun

I'm still wondering if I should go. It is pretty close to where I live and it seems like an opportunity that won't return anytime soon, but with the heat and the crowds it's gonna be pretty unpleasant to be there.

Go early and find a spot in the shadow. That is what I will be doing at least.

 

[Fight.The.Power]

Good to see Netserk still keeping the forum straight on facts and figures !

Can someone remind me of the likely order they start tomorrow please.

Thankyou.

 

[Kwibus]

Re: Re:

My top 10 predicition:

1. Martin
2. Canc
3. Dumoulin
4. Rohan
5. Malori
6. Dowsett
7. Kelderman
8. Cummings
9. EBH
10. Sagan

except there's a lot of humidity and also possible chance for rain or thunderstorms I read.

Predictions right now say that it will most likely stay dry on saturday in Utrecht.
Sunday

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Re: Re:

My top 10 predicition:

1. Martin
2. Canc
3. Dumoulin
4. Rohan
5. Malori
6. Dowsett
7. Kelderman
8. Cummings
9. EBH
10. Sagan

except there's a lot of humidity and also possible chance for rain or thunderstorms I read.

Predictions right now say that it will most likely stay dry on saturday in Utrecht.
Sunday

ah ok. but yesterday they also messed up most predictions when thunderstorms appeared in the east

 

[Alexandre B.]

Pinot is hiding.

 

[Netserk]

Quintana didn't want to be caught by Contador?

 

[Alexandre B.]

Quintana will start at 15:00:00, and Pinot at 15:47:00.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

i think

1 T Martin
2 Dumoulin
3 Cancellara
4 Malori
5 Froome
6 Dennis
7 Dowsett
8 Kelderman
9 Van Garderen
10 Boom