Tour 2012: Route Rumours / Our wishes

[Thomsena]

I ****ing love the Itt's. Andy needs to move his popo of the chair and do some training - and we all know that wont happen.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

The thing is, I fail to see the relevance of our being Iberian.

Presumably it's meant to imply a bias because such a route favours Contador. It doesn't make much sense though because any route favours Contador and such a route certainly doesn't favour the rest of the top Spanish GT riders.

Where you might see actual national bias (and I'm not accusing anyone here) is with certain Australian or British riders, because this route really would favour their local contenders.

 

[Captain_Cavman]

Contador's attack was an anomaly. Normally he wouldn't be so out of the picture he'd decide to do something epic or die trying, so using something like that to praise the course is rather odd. Andy attacked exactly once, because that was how many times he thought he needed to attack. A course like this would definitely force him to attack more.

Didn't Andy say it was intended as a feint to provide a platform to launch his brother?

Anyway I like this course better then last year's. Hopefully one or two of the mountain stages are a bit more epic than they first appear but the return of TTing and descending are welcome.

 

[slim charles]

While I'm happy that TTers will have a chance to win GT, this just seems like a boring route. I'm assuming they want a winner not to be decided before last week at all costs, even if it means first two weeks are not that interesting. Blah.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

No one forced him to sign for an underfunded team, he had plenty of options.

N.b. I've just checked the 2010 result - Wiggins put 2 minutes in to him, starting only 30 mins earlier so not getting the wind benefit Tony & Fab got.

Not Bertie's finest year, clearly, but not Brad's either.

2011 is definitely wiggins' best year to date

 

[Libertine Seguros]

The ITT mileage is the only good thing about the route. But if you put this much ITT mileage you have to balance it out, which either entails increasing the mountain quotient, or decreasing the TT mileage.

If you're not going to go with the route of adding more mountain stages, then the woeful mountains in this parcours could only be balanced out if you reduced the TTs to sub-25k each.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

2011 is definitely wiggins' best year to date

Yes, and 2010 definately wasn't, as I said.

 

[ferryman]

I think it's a great situation. There's the Giro for the southeners who like their small, light pure climbers.

There's the Tour for the Northenern Euors Americans and Aussies who like the roleur types more. So everyone gets his share and a GT he or she likes.

And then there's Contador

 

[roundabout]

Presumably it's meant to imply a bias because such a route favours Contador. It doesn't make much sense though because any route favours Contador and such a route certainly doesn't favour the rest of the top Spanish GT riders.

Where you might see actual national bias (and I'm not accusing anyone here) is with certain Australian or British riders, because this route really would favour their local contenders.

Not really about Contador, but the idea that routes have to be made to force climbers to attack early instead of waiting for the MTF is somehow much more prevalent there.

Here climbers will have to be Pantani reincarnated and 1 successful long range attack won't be enough. Even in 1998 on a similarly woeful route Pantani won because Ullrich bonked.

 

[Bavarianrider]

And then there's Contador

No cause Contador will sit at home

 

[Descender]

Not really about Contador, but the idea that routes have to be made to force climbers to attack early instead of waiting for the MTF is somehow much more prevalent there.

Here climbers will have to be Pantani reincarnated and 1 successful long range attack won't be enough. Even in 1998 on a similarly woeful route Pantani won because Ullrich bonked.

And why did Ullrich bonk? Anyone?

You're right about the overall idea and I personally stand by it. Cycling ought to be epic, not a flash-in-the-pan kind of sport. Let's leave that to other sports.

 

[Descender]

I see 13 HC, 1 and 2 climbs in the Pyrenees when there should be 11. Even if Ares is ignored it's still 12.

The Luchon stage might be with Aspin-Peyresourde at the end... which would be worse than my proposed stage but still a good one.

 

[WKA311]

Just ridiculous, almost 2 weeks of cavendish winning and winning but maybe we see some real racing at the mountain stages with only 4 of it.
Podium: 1. A.Contador 2. C.Evans 3. B.Wiggins
Maybe in a different order but this are the 3 favourites for me

 

[The Hitch]

I guess some of us will have to remind people of Menchov many many times between now and July.

 

[Escarabajo]

I think it's a great situation. There's the Giro for the southeners who like their small, light pure climbers.

There's the Tour for the Northenern Euors Americans and Aussies who like the roleur types more. So everyone gets his share and a GT he or she likes.

What in the world are you talking about?????

 

[Arnout]

I guess some of us will have to remind people of Menchov many many times between now and July.

Just like they did before this Giro, before this Vuelta indeed

 

[hrotha]

Not really about Contador, but the idea that routes have to be made to force climbers to attack early instead of waiting for the MTF is somehow much more prevalent there.

Wait, that's it? Whew, I was worried you were implying something bad.

 

[DenisMenchov]

I guess some of us will have to remind people of Menchov many many times between now and July.

That is why i am here.

But I really think if this is the real route, it is tailor made for him.

 

[ferryman]

Just ridiculous, almost 2 weeks of cavendish winning and winning but maybe we see some real racing at the mountain stages with only 4 of it.
Podium: 1. A.Contador 2. C.Evans 3. B.Wiggins
Maybe in a different order but this are the 3 favourites for me

Don't get hung up by the 'en ligne' descriptor. Just means road stage or similar I think. The devil will be in the detail. I'm sure there will be some nice surprises in there and Cavendish will only pick up his usual 5 or 6

 

[Havetts]

Just like they did before this Giro, before this Vuelta indeed

If it werent for Cobo being on Menchov's team and the usual I-lose-time-in-the-first-week-unnecessariasm that Menchov usually has, I'm pretty sure we could write the Vuelta on his name.

 

[Zoncolan]

one good thing about this route is how f'n in your face this is to andy schleck. any reaction from him yet? and that pig bruyneel?

I just love it that you still have that avatar!!!

 

[Descender]

Come to think of it, the Luchon stage doesn't have to include Tourmalet, does it? Do we have to climb the Tourmalet EVERY year?

Maybe they climb Soulor-Aspin-Azet-Peyresourde. It fits the kms.

 

[roundabout]

And why did Ullrich bonk? Anyone?

You're right about the overall idea and I personally stand by it. Cycling ought to be epic, not a flash-in-the-pan kind of sport. Let's leave that to other sports.

Because it was cold and he didn't like the rain???

 

[Descender]

Because it was cold and he didn't like the rain???

Perhaps. But I'm inclined to think Pantani's monster attack on the Galibier on his way to Les Deux Alpes had something to do with it.

 

[Zaschrona]

Am I only one here who quite like this route? It doesn't look that bad, 3 mountain finishes, 3 other mountain stages, 2-3 hilly stages, maybe cobbles, two long ITTs. Well balanced route. And yes, I am Frandy's fan. Maybe they will have way lower chances to win next year than this year, but it really doesn't matter IMO. The route is given by ASO and the best rider always wins. That's all.