The most interesting tour for years

[BroDeal]

The Giro was exceptional this year.

But I don't remember it being all that great last year in comparison to the Tour. I'd say last year the Giro and Tour were probably on even footing in terms of interesting racing, while the Vuelta had the most action.

So last year's Giro, with Menchov and Di Luca battling it out, was the same as last year's snoozefest of a Tour? Yeah, right....

 

[Magnus]

I have this one fellas.

Good on you.

Because it is the main goal for many riders, we would like to see a race that challenges them a bit more. The problem is not with the riders, it is with the stage on which they perform. When the race is decided on boring stages, then the race is boring regardless of the protagonists. Like I said, watch a replay of stage 9 of last year's tour (not the only boring, ill planned stage mind you, but certainly the worst) and tell me what if anything was exciting about it. Then in part 2 of your essay, explain how a stage with the Tourmalet should be done if one wants to watch an exciting stage.

Challenge them a bit more? It seems a lot of you 'fellas' assume that more extreme is more exciting. I only agree with that to some extent. The route needs to be ballanced.
Yes stage 9 was kinda boring.
But stage 8, wich I assume you dislike nearly as much as stage 9, was very exciting if you watched it from the start.
You probably disliked the stage with the Bernhard passes too. I think that was a very interesting stage where you could make perfect use of strong team mates by having them brake away on the not so steep part of Grand St. Bernhard and escape on the last steep part, catch them at the top and use the in the Aosta valley. It was tried too but Astana was to strong to let it happen.
Anybody who watched a stage like stage 17 to pamplona in 96 knows how a route like the stage to Pau can be very exciting.

I will also freely admit that the idea of the Tour being the only race fanboys really care about is also a bit annoying. There is fantastic racing for most of the year, but it seems that a large number of people seem only to show up and post/care about cycling from the end of June till the beginning of August. The rest of the year, those of us who actually watch cycling, and not just one rider get to converse regarding things involving cycling in the other 11 months. Call me a hater, but fact is that this pattern has been repeated for many MANY years.

I agree with this. But still to me every year is somehow 3 weeks TdF and 49 weeks build up and aftermath. I follow pretty much all races (ok, I missed ronde van het groene hart and I didn't follow the tour of slovenia that closely) but to me nothing is bigger than the tour. I guess it's because it's there it all started for me when i was six years old watching it with my brother asking if Rolf Sørensen possibly could win the GC on the champs élysées stage.

 

[Polish]

Isn't the Tour primarily for the People Of France?
I would think so. Kind of Special.

Next come the Sponsors - they have been a main reason for the Tour since 1903.

Next come the riders....it is THE BIG DANCE for the riderrs
Just STARTING a Tour is a MAJOR accomplishment.
FINISHING a Tour puts you into a select studdly group.
Top 50 placing...holy cow, we all know what that means...
Stage Win...you will be in the Holy Book of Historic Records.
Final GC Podium....you are a ROCK STAR.
Winner....Finger Bang Bang


WAY WAY down on the list of importance are the fans who watch on the Interwebs.

 

[flicker]

whhaaaaaaattttttt........ ??????

I don't understand what that sentence means. Versus is the only TV outlet that covers cycling and they cover cycling just about year round. They do it poorly, but they do it.

maybe you meant something else?

I live close to where the tour of california passes. It makes the news paper as it gets close and as it goes away it loses tv and newspaper coverage. It gets little acknowledgement under sports and general news. The tour de France if Lance is in it gets a lot more coverage. Before LeMond and Lance the tour de France had about the same coverage as the tour of California.gets here in california. The tour of california was spoiled for me by its timing and by Floyd Landis.(Thanks again Floyd)

Versus has most of its fans watching bass fishing, indy car racing bull riding and ultimate fighting. I do believe they get a lot of fans watching the TdF. I really enjoyed it when versus covered the vuelta. I do not subscribe to cable. I paid for the internet coverage of the tour by versus.

 

[Christophe]

Before LeMond and Lance the tour de France had about the same coverage as the tour of California.gets here in california.

I recall Greg Lemond's first Tour win -- In Sports Illustrated, he actually made the 'Faces In The Crowd' section, next to a high school baseball pitcher who threw a no-hitter!

 

[Kodiak]

up until three years ago I would write my work schedule around what ever race coverage I could. Now I'll catch the recap of the GT's and take it at that. The doping has turned me off from wasting that many hours in front of a screen. Give me a local Crit or Cyclocross event and I'm happy. rather see someone with a 9-5 getting it done on the weekends then these prima donnas dosing these days.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Shifting back to what Kwibus said about hoping Schleck or Gesink would attack on penultimate climbs in stages 8, 14 and 17, I don't see this happening. Partly because I don't think they are going to take the risk. But partly because I think we'll see teams, mostly RS, but also Liquigas and maybe RB, trying to drive a fast train over all the passes in order to prevent attacks. At least on Stages 8 and 14. As the gaps in GC get higher and the race wears on, we may see more like this. But mostly from riders back on GC, not from leaders. And this is what I think is the big issue here. As noted before in several posts, in the Giro and Vuelta we have 10 top riders willing to go for it, in the Tour we have 30 top rides who become risk averse.

Most often in the Tour we end up with stages like Stage 7 in last year's edition (the only uphill finish in the Pyranees, and "best" stage there) where after a slew of non-contenders broke free, no one from the leading group attacked until Contador did 2km of the finish, and gained a whopping 19 seconds. Zzzzzz.

I don't know if RS will be strong enough to do this, but I expect them to try to drive a Postal-like train over all the climbs to tow Lance as close to the finish as possible, while discouraging attacks, while getting one of the other riders in any early break that jumps. By "other riders" I mean someone like Popo or Horner, not Levi or Kloden. It will be their only strategy. If the field gets shattered on penultimate climbs 50km from the finish, there is no way Lance can accelerate with riders like the Schlecks, Kreuzeger, Gesink, let alone Contador in an elite group or "royal break". He hasn't attacked with any speed on a big climb in well over five years.

 

[Kodiak]

Shifting back to what Kwibus said about hoping Schleck or Gesink would attack on penultimate climbs in stages 8, 14 and 17, I don't see this happening. Partly because I don't think they are going to take the risk. But partly because I think we'll see teams, mostly RS, but also Liquigas and maybe RB, trying to drive a fast train over all the passes in order to prevent attacks. At least on Stages 8 and 14. As the gaps in GC get higher and the race wears on, we may see more like this. But mostly from riders back on GC, not from leaders. And this is what I think is the big issue here. As noted before in several posts, in the Giro and Vuelta we have 10 top riders willing to go for it, in the Tour we have 30 top rides who become risk averse.

Most often in the Tour we end up with stages like Stage 7 in last year's edition (the only uphill finish in the Pyranees, and "best" stage there) where after a slew of non-contenders broke free, no one from the leading group attacked until Contador did 2km of the finish, and gained a whopping 19 seconds. Zzzzzz.

I don't know if RS will be strong enough to do this, but I expect them to try to drive a Postal-like train over all the climbs to tow Lance as close to the finish as possible, while discouraging attacks, while getting one of the other riders in any early break that jumps. By "other riders" I mean someone like Popo or Horner, not Levi or Kloden. It will be their only strategy. If the field gets shattered on penultimate climbs 50km from the finish, there is no way Lance can accelerate with riders like the Schlecks, Kreuzeger, Gesink, let alone Contador in an elite group or "royal break". He hasn't attacked with any speed on a big climb in well over five years.

I'm thinking Jani will be the RS breakaway sacrificial lamb. We saw LA's weakness last year when AC and AS went away on the climb.

 

[ferryman]

I'm thinking Jani will be the RS breakaway sacrificial lamb. We saw LA's weakness last year when AC and AS went away on the climb.

No way Jani is allowed to get in a breakaway after Dauphine Lib ride.

 

[peloton]

I'm thinking Jani will be the RS breakaway sacrificial lamb. We saw LA's weakness last year when AC and AS went away on the climb.

I don't think Brajko can hold his form to the final week, if he was indeed peaking for the Dauphine.

 

[peloton]

No way Jani is allowed to get in a breakaway after Paris-Nice ride.

what did he do in Paris-Nice?

 

[ferryman]

As for interesting, I think the fact that Cav thinks there will be probably 6 but possibly 9 sprint finishes tells a tale.

 

[dongustav1]

I don't see how you can all of a sudden lump in Kreuzinger and Gesink with the Schleks, Contador & Lance... Gesink had one good day in the TdS but he's clearly soft like the "Chicken" when it comes to time trialing. Kreuzinger has potential but maybe in a Pellizotti kind of way right now, he ain't no Andy Schleck when the road points up and he's certainly no Contador. He's a stage-winner but probably not for GC for another couple years, esp since he'll have to work for basso. Lance 2.0 isnt the Lance of 2004 but please Frank Schleck was fairly equal to Lance last year. I look forward to Vino forgetting all strategy and launching off attacks time & again on his own and winning stages... just like he used to "sacrifice" himselfor Ulrich ha ha ha. "oh wait I was supposed to work for pistolero??"

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

The doping has turned me off from wasting that many hours in front of a screen. Give me a local Crit or Cyclocross event and I'm happy. rather see someone with a 9-5 getting it done on the weekends then these prima donnas dosing these days.

I applaud this. But I have to add or caution others about something similar. About 5 years ago I was so sick of doping I started paying much more attention to domestic pro racing, thinking while a few guys may dope, it had to be much cleaner. It was fun while it lasted, seeing riders who I later likely found on CEM, or turned out to be probable customers of eposino, or were "prima donnas" like Kayle Leogrande stomping the field at Superweek...

Going to and watching local crits, circuit races or accessible road races is great fun. Especially watching the younger riders, women, and for me the Cat 2-3 level.

Agree with you on cross racing. There's a lot of fun in that. The spirit of cycling is really alive there. Too bad so few people even know what it is.

 

[Kodiak]

No way Jani is allowed to get in a breakaway after Paris-Nice ride.

I don't think Brajko can hold his form to the final week, if he was indeed peaking for the Dauphine.

For the fact he peaked there at the DL is the reason I say they'll throw him out there to affect any breakaway's that could lower LA's position. Now if LA tanks this year like I think he will anything's possible for Levi and crew to pick up some wins.

 

[ferryman]

what did he do in Paris-Nice?

Nowt Have edited

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

I don't see how you can all of a sudden lump in Kreuzinger and Gesink with the Schleks, Contador & Lance...

If you're referring to my post, I wasn't talking about GC per se. More so about a scenario where because of penultimate attacks on a mountain stage, 10 riders are left in an elite group, 30km from the finish. The rider most likely to ride away form everyone is Contador, no doubt. Maybe Andy Schleck. But the others can accelerate and yo-yo or launch several attacks or counter them. I don't see Lance doing that in such a break. In 2002, yes. In 2010? He'll get dropped, and be forced to pace his way back if he can. And while I see Basso not quickly counter attacks either, I think he's a faster climber than Lance at this point in their career, and can get a little more gas to the engine in crunch situations.

However, no one but no one rockets up climbs on attacks like Contador. No one. And I firmly believe he is going to do that several times in this year's Tour. Not only to crush everyone, but I think he's going to find special times to be sitting next to Armstrong and looking over at him when he does it.

 

[Kodiak]

However, no one but no one rockets up climbs on attacks like Contador. No one. And I firmly believe he is going to do that several times in this year's Tour. Not only to crush everyone, but I think he's going to find special times to be sitting next to Armstrong and looking over at him when he does it.

As much as I don't like AC or LA that kid's a stud and I think he'll consider his tdf complete as long as he gets to break LA a couple times.

 

[flicker]

If you're referring to my post, I wasn't talking about GC per se. More so about a scenario where because of penultimate attacks on a mountain stage, 10 riders are left in an elite group, 30km from the finish. The rider most likely to ride away form everyone is Contador, no doubt. Maybe Andy Schleck. But the others can accelerate and yo-yo or launch several attacks or counter them. I don't see Lance doing that in such a break. In 2002, yes. In 2010? He'll get dropped, and be forced to pace his way back if he can. And while I see Basso not quickly counter attacks either, I think he's a faster climber than Lance at this point in their career, and can get a little more gas to the engine in crunch situations.

However, no one but no one rockets up climbs on attacks like Contador. No one. And I firmly believe he is going to do that several times in this year's Tour. Not only to crush everyone, but I think he's going to find special times to be sitting next to Armstrong and looking over at him when he does it.

No way. Contador has class. He is not an arrogant one like my Lord. Listen to Contadors interviews, he is gentle and carries a big stick. No need to rub it in Lances' wounds. He will drop everyone like a rocket. Which will of course turn the best part of the tour into a borefest.

 

[Andre.J]

Well now it will be really boring. Boonen is out. There goes half my interest. Gilbert is out, another 25% of interest gone. Valverde is out, that's another 10%. Not much left at all.

 

[Berzin]

However, no one but no one rockets up climbs on attacks like Contador. No one. And I firmly believe he is going to do that several times in this year's Tour. Not only to crush everyone, but I think he's going to find special times to be sitting next to Armstrong and looking over at him when he does it.

Looking back on the history of this so-called "feud" between Armstrong and Contador, it was Armstrong who instigated it and kept fueling the fire all throughout and after the Tour.

He used the press to make cryptic, sniggling little comments. He kept on with the petty, childish antics like conscripting team cars to pick up his entourage at the airport when they should have been used to transport Contador to the start line of that last time trial stage, and relentlessly attacked Contador in the press long after the dust had settled with his sarcastic "King of Spain" comment.

Contador made one comment, and he made it after the Tour was over. He said Armstrong was a great champion, but as a person he was zero. Which is the truth. He then left it alone and kept moving forward with his career.

Whereas Armstrong has been nothing but a classless, whiny sore loser.

Contador has behaved like a true gentleman throughout this whole ordeal. He has no need to give Armstrong "The Look" or contrive some sort of mana-a-mano showdown at the OK Corral during the race.

This feud nonsense is what the press feeds to the babbling minions to get them foaming at the mouth over what will turn out to be another bore-fest.

The hype and the mania will be much more exiting for some than the actual race.

 

[Potomac]

The people complaining about the Tour sound like people that complain about a restaurant and keep going back.

Watch something else.

 

[Anonymous]

Good on you.

Challenge them a bit more? It seems a lot of you 'fellas' assume that more extreme is more exciting. I only agree with that to some extent. The route needs to be ballanced.
Yes stage 9 was kinda boring.
But stage 8, wich I assume you dislike nearly as much as stage 9, was very exciting if you watched it from the start.
You probably disliked the stage with the Bernhard passes too. I think that was a very interesting stage where you could make perfect use of strong team mates by having them brake away on the not so steep part of Grand St. Bernhard and escape on the last steep part, catch them at the top and use the in the Aosta valley. It was tried too but Astana was to strong to let it happen.
Anybody who watched a stage like stage 17 to pamplona in 96 knows how a route like the stage to Pau can be very exciting.

I agree with this. But still to me every year is somehow 3 weeks TdF and 49 weeks build up and aftermath. I follow pretty much all races (ok, I missed ronde van het groene hart and I didn't follow the tour of slovenia that closely) but to me nothing is bigger than the tour. I guess it's because it's there it all started for me when i was six years old watching it with my brother asking if Rolf Sørensen possibly could win the GC on the champs élysées stage.

All of those are fair points. My biggest problem is that I am still a little vexed about last year's Tour. There were SOME exciting stages, but for the most part, it was a snoozefest. The same cannot be said for the Giro. I think all most people here are saying is, liven it up a little. Maybe take some cues from the Giro. When the biggest thing in the Tour is twitter and drama, then it is a weak Tour indeed. In my estimation, the last sentence is the nicest thing that can be said about last year's Tour.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

I wasn't trying to imply that Contador had some axe to grind and would waste energy humiliating Armstrong. I just think he'll attack him at some point, and drop him, along with everyone else.

 

[Dedelou]

honestly?

Did you actually WATCH last year's TdF? It was more boring than watching two flies f*ck. "Hey, lets put the Tourmalet in the middle of the freaking stage, thereby neutralizing it and then we can have a sprint finish at the end...doesn't that sound GREAT???!!!"

Yes i was there, like every year since 1984. I saw them start the Tourmalet , I had ridden it the day before with a group from NY. We were thrilled, of course. I was able to rush back straight to tarbes in time to see the finish of the stage. While the bunch race down the other valley. I cried for cycling. That stage was enough to make never want to return to watch it. Then a year has gone by and suddenly in spite of everything , I want to believe this year will be better. Hope is all i got , right? Somehow it has become like a bad dinner in a restaurant you used to love but should have dumped when the food got worse.
Too bad I rarely have free time in may-june