Tour de France : Stage 1 Rotterdam Bruxelles 223.5 km

[BroDeal]

Dont trust those frenchies to provide accurate weather! Believe the brits!

Yup. Team Sky's private weather satellite does a cracking good job at this sort of thing. I wonder if they have a porn channel on that sucker. Although I am not sure anyone would want to watch British porn...

 

[Pezrider]

Auscyclefan,
I too think Pettachi. Looking strong! Or Flecha in a break.

 

[rgmerk]

Wind forecast for tomorrow

Sunny weather, 15-18 km/h westerlies in the afternoon.

 

[blaxland]

Farrar to win this stage,seems like he has decent form......Cavendish will be second with Freire in third..Breakaway to get caught at 20 kms to go...

 

[luckyboy]

Something I meant to comment on during the team presentation - how much does FDJ's new jersey suck compared to the old one?! It's terrible! When I first saw one of the riders, I thought they were leading the PT or something.

I want to hurt whoever took away the old jersey.

 

[craig1985]

Yup. Team Sky's private weather satellite does a cracking good job at this sort of thing. I wonder if they have a porn channel on that sucker. Although I am not sure anyone would want to watch British porn...

Is that a Family Guy reference? If so, I've seen the episode.

 

[BroDeal]

Is that a Family Guy reference? If so, I've seen the episode.

"Almost...almost...almost...there we are."

"Well done."

 

[online-rider]

Something I meant to comment on during the team presentation - how much does FDJ's new jersey suck compared to the old one?! It's terrible! When I first saw one of the riders, I thought they were leading the PT or something.

I want to hurt whoever took away the old jersey.

Mweeeuuhh... - Any change is a good change imo. I think its time rabobank souped up their kit, its hardly changed since 1990.

 

[S2Sturges]

What's the weather looking like? Can't find anything on the official page.

Edit: oops found it, no echelons tomorrow. zzzzzzzzz

http://www.zoover.co.uk/netherlands/zeeland/kamperland/weather

Whatever Force 2 from the West might be..... probably not enough to cause much havoc.....

 

[S2Sturges]

Is that a Family Guy reference? If so, I've seen the episode.

British Porn = fat chicks, bad teeth, prison tattoos and back hair

 

[auscyclefan94]

Ale Jets prologue indicates he has good form. Hopefully Hondo can lead out well for him. Will the race split up with the crosswinds? Looking at the map the winds may be too early in the stage because it near the ocean. Will there be much wind near the end of the race?

btw, a new design for the footon jersey?

 

[Sasquatch]

The joke gets funnier every time!

I know! It's good. Maybe the guys still stuck there can reach Paris before Evans.

 

[auscyclefan94]

What are these "dikes" Sherwen speaks of in Holland which will be on the route tommorow?

 

[Barrus]

McEwen for the win, at least it would be nice. Same finish line as some of his Paris-Brussels wins

 

[auscyclefan94]

McEwen for the win, at least it would be nice. Same finish line as some of his Paris-Brussels wins

True, it is an uphill kick so he should go well. The final k is uphill.

 

[Sasquatch]

What are these "dikes" Sherwen speaks of in Holland which will be on the route tommorow?

The BMC Giro team that are still in Holland?

 

[Oldman]

Mweeeuuhh... - Any change is a good change imo. I think its time rabobank souped up their kit, its hardly changed since 1990.

It's pretty clear that only one of these guys can go into a bar and come out delivering on a serious pick up line. Saaaaaad.

 

[rghysens]

I know! It's good. Maybe the guys still stuck there can reach Paris before Evans.

Maybe, just maybe.... if they take the train and go directly to paris


And cavendish for the win

 

[Francois the Postman]

I was chuffed to hear that ITV is broadcasting every stage live this year, and not the weekends. With the noticeable increase of recreational riders and bike lanes in the UK, maybe the sport is making inroads after all. That wave of summery positivity lasted 10 mins into watching the prologue, when I remembered what a cocktail of Phil, Paul and Lance tastes like. (I never claimed I was fast). Task one for today: renewing my Eurosport membership. If I don't, my TV has little chance to make Paris without meeting a sharp implement (but still a marginally higher one to make Paris before Lance does than that fabled BMC Giro team).

I still find prologues odd. A flash in the pan I don't really care for, and commentators who talk up potential race stories and riders that will never transpire. Not to mention the endless "features" they have prepared and get flung in, preferably when someone worth watching, but with oh-so-the-wrong nationality is on the road. I'm glad it is taking a vacation in 2011.

So for me the Tour starts today, and if the weather on the Dutch coast is anything like it's out here on the Scottish, it will be a great start too. Pity we didn't have this weather yesterday during the evening crit in Edinburgh centre. I would love to have seen those that haven't really got that skill get up the cobbled climb in the wet (just to get in the mood for stage 3).

Hoping the stage (and wind) will deliver a bit of the chaos that made the Giro opening so entertaining to watch. Quietly optimistic to have the 2nd reminder in one year that first week of a GT doesn't have to be a snooze fest with mass sprint. Which to me is snooze fest quadrupled. Your taste might vary.

 

[Tornadin]

hey, can any of you tell me who are the guys for a bunch sprint for the smaller teams where it is not that obvious?

Would be amazing if someone could.

Also would like to know if you think Geslin is a good guess for a decent result (top 15) in a bunch sprint today?

 

[Mellow Velo]

Why is Zeeland 150kms from Brussels?
Early excitement may be tempered by a re-grouping.
The start should be live on tv and the net.

 

[online-rider]

It's pretty clear that only one of these guys can go into a bar and come out delivering on a serious pick up line. Saaaaaad.

Are you saying the Rabobank boys are lacking charm, or suggesting that they would actually hit the town in their full riding kit ?

 

[DamonAlbarn]

3 riders in front with 40 seconds

Lars Boom is one of them.

 

[ak-zaaf]

First escape stays away. So much for first hour excitement =/

 

[Sasquatch]

Surprised Boom is one of them. I thought he would have conserved his energy and waited till tomorrow where the break has a better chance of succeeding. He could try again tomorrow I guess.