"Tour de Bore"

[Bernie's eyesore]

Ok yesterday was a bit strange
1 and a half hours they chasde back everything and then they just quit.
Why didn't Lotto or Greenedge go for the sprint?

Because Greenedge have no faith in Goss and Lotto knew that if they did all the work then Greipel would be left alone for the sprint. The same looks likely to happen on friday.

 

[Mellow Velo]

I think he was referring to the 2010 and 2011 Tours, not this year.

Ah, so I see.
Then he's not wrong.

 

[Winterfold]

Libertine Seguros said: "But fans find the explosive stuff more entertaining, and I'm no different. "

WRONG

you meant some fans

all you guys who are bored by this - don't think you speak for the rest of us.

I have been very entertained by the finishes in this tour, irrespective of GC - the Tour is much more than the GC.

I enjoy watching the TT and I enjoy watching tempo cimbers gradually turn up the heat, because in the real world, that is how you beat people.

This forum increasingly seems to be a contest to see who can be the most bored. As another poster said, it is arrogant - and boring itself.

ACF is alright though.

 

[CobbleStoner]

you guys crack me up complaining about a 'boring' tour. you know which tours were way more boring? the ones before internet and cable tv. you knew a stage was going on that day, but could not find out the winner until maybe the weekend, if you were lucky, and then on the last day, if you diligently sat through the weightlifting, battle of the stars, and demolition derby on Wide World of Sports, you will get a brief view of the french countryside and the overall winner announced. then you would wait 2 months for the Winning: Bicycle Racing Illustrated Tour special edition to come out and you could finally see what happened in the race.
enjoy the coverage
and thanks again ASO for the start to finish coverage on a couple important stages (like tomorrow!)

 

[Richeypen]

all you guys who are bored by this - don't think you speak for the rest of us.

I have been very entertained by the finishes in this tour, irrespective of GC - the Tour is much more than the GC.

I enjoy watching the TT and I enjoy watching tempo cimbers gradually turn up the heat, because in the real world, that is how you beat people.

This forum increasingly seems to be a contest to see who can be the most bored. As another poster said, it is arrogant - and boring itself.

This





.

 

[Anonymous]

Yes, as a casual viewer (I like all TV sports) I find the whole thing fascinating and entertaining. The stretch to Pau was a disappointment but you could not blame Team Sky for that as they had a job to do and did it.

What I found really disappointing was the stretch to Cap d'Agde where the Tour designers purposely (it seems to me) spoilt the chances of the top pure sprinters like Cavendish fighting it out together. Only those who were able to struggle over that last hill were at the finish, credit to them.

It is not clear to me why Cavendish was included in their team for this Tour as if the support riders are not there, he's just got no chance generally and they had Boasson Hagen. Perhaps in Paris they will make the effort and give him a chance (if he does not abandon or get time disqualified over the Pyrenees).

Perhaps he is there just for Paris?

 

[Richeypen]

Yes, as a casual viewer (I like all TV sports) I find the whole thing fascinating and entertaining. The stretch to Pau was a disappointment but you could not blame Team Sky for that as they had a job to do and did it.

What I found really disappointing was the stretch to Cap d'Agde where the Tour designers purposely (it seems to me) spoilt the chances of the top pure sprinters like Cavendish fighting it out together. Only those who were able to struggle over that last hill were at the finish, credit to them.

It is not clear to me why Cavendish was included in their team for this Tour as if the support riders are not there, he's just got no chance generally and they had Boasson Hagen. Perhaps in Paris they will make the effort and give him a chance (if he does not abandon or get time disqualified over the Pyrenees).

Perhaps he is there just for Paris?

What was the point of LLS going? or Voeckler? or Fédrigo? or Millar?

Cavendish justified his place on stage 2

 

[the asian]

By the way Prudhomme doesn't design stages. Peschaux is the chief route designer, not Prudhomme

Oh, poor Prudhomme. We've been blaming the wrong guy all this time.

 

[the asian]

Yes, as a casual viewer (I like all TV sports) I find the whole thing fascinating and entertaining. The stretch to Pau was a disappointment but you could not blame Team Sky for that as they had a job to do and did it.

What I found really disappointing was the stretch to Cap d'Agde where the Tour designers purposely (it seems to me) spoilt the chances of the top pure sprinters like Cavendish fighting it out together. Only those who were able to struggle over that last hill were at the finish, credit to them.

It is not clear to me why Cavendish was included in their team for this Tour as if the support riders are not there, he's just got no chance generally and they had Boasson Hagen. Perhaps in Paris they will make the effort and give him a chance (if he does not abandon or get time disqualified over the Pyrenees).

Perhaps he is there just for Paris?

There are some non British cycling fans out there too. And the stage was won by one of the top sprinters in the world, Andre Greipel. It's not ASO's fault that Cav can't get over a hill. Greipel has already won 3 stages, that's enough for a pure sprinter. Other fans don't want Cav to win 7 stages every edition.

 

[Anonymous]

No, as you will have seen, I gave full credit to the sprinters who did make it at Cap d'Agde. But I still want to see a stage or two where the pure sprinters are all there at the finish. In the previous tour, it was not evident to me that the lead out train was as significant as many stated.

Sagan and others have showed that one can just latch on to the train behind the sprinter and they are doing it all for you. It's all good stuff and the complaining posts here and on other threads make me wonder whether it's not better to remain an unknowledgeable fan, rather than knowing it all.

I'm enjoying the Tour anyway, and Bradley Wiggins' taming rides over the hills, just maximising his best talents, are a treat to watch. I don't think his team mate would have got very far ahead after that late break anyway, (if at all eventually), and Wiggins had it all under control, just as A Contador did with A Schleck last year, remember?

 

[guncha]

By the way Prudhomme doesn't design stages. Peschaux is the chief route designer, not Prudhomme

Then both should be fired. Peschaux because he thinks Colombier and Foix stages should create fireworks. Prudhomme because he doesn't control his employee properly.

 

[Hawkwood]

you guys crack me up complaining about a 'boring' tour. you know which tours were way more boring? the ones before internet and cable tv. you knew a stage was going on that day, but could not find out the winner until maybe the weekend, if you were lucky, and then on the last day, if you diligently sat through the weightlifting, battle of the stars, and demolition derby on Wide World of Sports, you will get a brief view of the french countryside and the overall winner announced. then you would wait 2 months for the Winning: Bicycle Racing Illustrated Tour special edition to come out and you could finally see what happened in the race.
enjoy the coverage
and thanks again ASO for the start to finish coverage on a couple important stages (like tomorrow!)

+1 Remember those times well. Back in the 1970s in the UK `World of Sport' was the only programme that covered cycling. It could condense the entire spring classics season into 5 minutes, the Tour into about three five minute reports! In 1977 I remember seeing a 15 second news item on `News at Ten' reporting that Thevenet had won the Tour, wow I thought this is an improvement!

 

[Jaunty Monty]

No, as you will have seen, I gave full credit to the sprinters who did make it at Cap d'Agde. But I still want to see a stage or two where the pure sprinters are all there at the finish. In the previous tour, it was not evident to me that the lead out train was as significant as many stated.

There were several stages that have or could have ended in a bunch sprint... stage 2 which Cav won, stage 4 which Greipel won (Cav crashed out), stage 5 which Greipel won (Sagan crashed out), stage 6 which Sagan won (after the big pile up) and stage 15 where the sprinter teams couldn't be bothered... plus there is the Champs-Élysées still to come. Isn't that enough?

The likelihood of mass sprints has diminished because Kittel was unwell, Sky are fully focused on yellow, Lotto partially commited to JVDB and Greenedge seemingly having lost faith in Goss winning from the bunch.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Then both should be fired. Peschaux because he thinks Colombier and Foix stages should create fireworks. Prudhomme because he doesn't control his employee properly.

We need a French equivalent of this man:

 

[Nastyy]

Not trying to justify the loop around Foix, but I think the logic behind that one was to make leaders chase each others. ASO most likely thought that because of the TT there would be gaps and riders desperate to attack and with 2 easy days after it, recovery wouldn't be a problem.

What they didn't see coming was UK Postal dominating and thus preventing any attacks.

Could've been a decent stage if there weren't a dominant team chasing down attacks. Peguere would've been a good launching pad for attacks and was steep enough to create good gaps and the descent and the flat part would've been interesting when single riders or small groups had been chasing each others.
So that stage wasn't lame solely because of the route.

 

[Izzy eviel]

Not trying to justify the loop around Foix, but I think the logic behind that one was to make leaders chase each others. ASO most likely thought that because of the TT there would be gaps and riders desperate to attack and with 2 easy days after it, recovery wouldn't be a problem.

What they didn't see coming was UK Postal dominating and thus preventing any attacks.

Could've been a decent stage if there weren't a dominant team chasing down attacks. Peguere would've been a good launching pad for attacks and was steep enough to create good gaps and the descent and the flat part would've been interesting when single riders or small groups had been chasing each others.
So that stage wasn't lame solely because of the route.

I've now got the great mental image of Andy Schleck trying to time trial away from Wiggins & Evans on a descent

To be honest, in this tour the riders are as much to blame as the course design. The sight of Cav leading the peloton up the 2nd cat 1 climb was horrid. It may have been a rubbish stage but Nibbles/Evan/JVDB should have at least try to be trying to put pressure/stress on Sky. Make them work harder, keep them on their toes. Wiggo probably won't crack physically - but mentally he may do.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

But when you feel so powerless what are you gonna do
but say what you want

 

[thehog]

I've now got the great mental image of Andy Schleck trying to time trial away from Wiggins & Evans on a descent

To be honest, in this tour the riders are as much to blame as the course design. The sight of Cav leading the peloton up the 2nd cat 1 climb was horrid. It may have been a rubbish stage but Nibbles/Evan/JVDB should have at least try to be trying to put pressure/stress on Sky. Make them work harder, keep them on their toes. Wiggo probably won't crack physically - but mentally he may do.

Alas that’s part of the problem. There was zero incentive for Cadel. Nibs.VDB to attack. In fact it would more be to their detriment. Imagine if they all attacked one after the other – what would that achieve? They maybe get 30 seconds by the top of the climb? At most. Sky where still there with their full team. They’d chased them down without BW or CF doing any work but Evans/VDB/Nibs all have the attack in their legs. When you weigh it up you’d wait to Wednesday/Thursday this week and take your chances there.

The other problem is World Tour points. Nibs is not going to risk 3rd spot to get 6th. Too much risk as the team that buys him will have to pay a higher salary as his points come with him.

 

[Magnus]

Alas that’s part of the problem. There was zero incentive for Cadel. Nibs.VDB to attack. In fact it would more be to their detriment. Imagine if they all attacked one after the other – what would that achieve? They maybe get 30 seconds by the top of the climb? At most. Sky where still there with their full team.

Wasn't Sky down to Porte, Froome and Wiggins at the summit of Col de Péguère? The peloton was down to 18 riders at that point. If somebody had really tried anything serious it would have been even smaller.
If Nibalii or Evans couldn't gap a full Sky team more than 30 seconds on the ascent to Col de Péguère they seriously don't deserve to win the TdF.

 

[Jaunty Monty]

Wasn't Sky down to Porte, Froome and Wiggins at the summit of Col de Péguère? The peloton was down to 18 riders at that point. If somebody had really tried anything serious it would have been even smaller.
If Nibalii or Evans couldn't gap a full Sky team more than 30 seconds on the ascent to Col de Péguère they seriously don't deserve to win the TdF.

Which would have gained them what? It was 40k to the finish line and it wasn't a technical descent. If Froome and Wiggins had have been distanced or isolated at the summit their teammates would not have been far behind and would have easily chased down any escapees.

 

[Frosty]

So would Contador and Schleck have livened this up? Or would Conty be putting time into Sky on the mountains and time into Schleck in the TTs for an easy overall win, thereby causing everyone to be moaning about that instead? ie Sky assembled a really good team for the mountains but even that wasnt good enough when Bertie is around?

 

[Dutchsmurf]

So would Contador and Schleck have livened this up? Or would Conty be putting time into Sky on the mountains and time into Schleck in the TTs for an easy overall win, thereby causing everyone to be moaning about that instead? ie Sky assembled a really good team for the mountains but even that wasnt good enough when Bertie is around?

You said it yourself. At least there would be two people attacking then.

 

[H2OUUP2]

I'll be watching too. But it is agonizing on NBC Sports coverage because they'll have 5 minutes of race coverage followed by almost 5 minutes of advertisements. Terrible. So terrible I got up and left a couple nights ago.

You have to record it and watch it. That's what I've been doing. Usually I get up and watch live, but not this year. It's just to predictable.

I'm having fun watching, but this tour is definitely the most boring I've watched in the last while.

 

[Magnus]

Which would have gained them what? It was 40k to the finish line and it wasn't a technical descent. If Froome and Wiggins had have been distanced or isolated at the summit their teammates would not have been far behind and would have easily chased down any escapees.

Whether it was technical or not, ability to descent made a difference, judging by how the five in front tackled the descent.

Say Nibali, Evans, TJVG and JVDB had 20" to Froome/Wiggins and 40" to Porte/Rogers. If Liquigas and BMC were serious about things they could let Sagan and Gilbert wait. I don't think this scenario would play out to Sky's advantage. I'm not sure Froome would have waited for Wiggins either which could have spiced things up further.

 

[gingerwallaceafro]

I couldn't understand why Greenedge didn't ride yesterday, anyone know? Sky brought the gap down to 5 mins or so, Lotto did a little bit, Greenedge not interested.. I mean, what are they here for?