Tour of Britain - 11th to 18th September - Race Thread

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Mar 8, 2010
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salixcycling said:
The girls at the TdF might have had class and elegance, but the dresses were, with perhaps one exception (I would have to ask my wife to know which one), dreadful. It was not just the polka dot dresses - those were just the most obvious errors.

The ToB dresses are better, although they are a little obvious.

We need bigger pictures to analyze this correctly :D

michael_albasini_wins_stage3_600.jpg
 
Sep 21, 2009
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Carlo Algatrensig said:
I will happyily accept that he has got better through out the week. He certainly is becoming less camera shy.

Although talking about the TV coverage has anyone else found it wierd that Hugh Porter can be heard in the background doing the live commentary at the finish while he is doing his voice over for the TV coverage.

I've warmed to 'Deano' also, it was very touching when Ned asked him how he'd enjoyed being on the telly :)

Was at the TfL stage today and thought the route was much better than last year's, very accessible and possible to see the race go by several times each lap. Deserved win by Albasini I think, his efforts on Constitution Hill will be one of my enduring memories of the race.
 
Jul 19, 2010
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Winterfold said:
I wasn't commenting on the haute couture. Like the typical cycling fan looks at podium girls to check out avante garde fashion.

There has been a pleasing honesty to the upfront appeal of the ToB girls :)

Which reminds me; Dim said he posted a few pics in the podium girls thread - must see how well he takes photos.

Winterfold said:
Back to racing - HTC totally owned Sky on this, that's got to hurt.

Sky got to collect a few scraps. :cool:

As regards the race course, judging by this forum (which is the only way to judge), Graham Jones did well for the first days, but didn't have anything in those last two flat stages in East of England to keep up the interest - surely flat stages should be more in the middle than the end?

(This is what works for the TdF :D)
 
Jul 19, 2010
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Lyds97 said:
I've warmed to 'Deano' also, it was very touching when Ned asked him how he'd enjoyed being on the telly :)

And the 'race' between them was well-done, set the stage well, and helped him look more comfortable.

Lyds97 said:
Was at the TfL stage today and thought the route was much better than last year's, very accessible and possible to see the race go by several times each lap. Deserved win by Albasini I think, his efforts on Constitution Hill will be one of my enduring memories of the race.

So a lot of the benefits of a city-centre crit but still suitable for the finale of a stage race - seems very well chosen. Would have been good to have watched both this stage and the Constitution Hill climb.
 
salixcycling said:
Which reminds me; Dim said he posted a few pics in the podium girls thread - must see how well he takes photos.



Sky got to collect a few scraps. :cool:

As regards the race course, judging by this forum (which is the only way to judge), Graham Jones did well for the first days, but didn't have anything in those last two flat stages in East of England to keep up the interest - surely flat stages should be more in the middle than the end?

(This is what works for the TdF :D)

Well, the thing is, East Anglia is the flattest part of Britain. It used to be attached to the Netherlands. Given the areas that had paid for the hosting, it was logistically far more sensible to do it the way they did it than to do the more sensible racing method of having the East Anglian sprint stages first and the bumpier stages later on - making the riders only do one six-hour transfer instead of two.

They did fairly well on the Norfolk stage design I think, but were let down a little by the wind not coming in - that area is very exposed and would have been ideally suited to echelons had the wind been favourable. But it wasn't. That was their best chance for something interesting happening.
 
Jul 19, 2010
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Libertine Seguros said:
Well, the thing is, East Anglia is the flattest part of Britain. It used to be attached to the Netherlands. Given the areas that had paid for the hosting, it was logistically far more sensible to do it the way they did it than to do the more sensible racing method of having the East Anglian sprint stages first and the bumpier stages later on - making the riders only do one six-hour transfer instead of two.

They did fairly well on the Norfolk stage design I think, but were let down a little by the wind not coming in - that area is very exposed and would have been ideally suited to echelons had the wind been favourable. But it wasn't. That was their best chance for something interesting happening.

Agreed on all counts. We'll just have to see if any money turns up to fund it next year.
 
Compared to the comments made before the race started, I believe the race was a success: three mass sprints, two sizeable successful breakaway groups, one where the peloton was split apart by the final 500m of hill, and one semi-classic style race. That's a balance that many week long tours would be delighted to have.

A long way from the series of sprints, settled entirely by bonuses, that many were suggesting here before it started.

Chapeau to course director Graeme Jones.
 
Mar 11, 2009
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It was certainly a more interesting race than I was expecting, I think the weather contributed to that as much as the route. I hope they can make the course as difficult next year, but hopefully put the hardest stages at the end rather than in the first three days.
 
Jul 30, 2009
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From Richie Porte Twitter; 'also ToB was an awesome race, most enjoyable race so far this season!'

Considering the events Richie has ridden this year - that is praise indeed!