Tour of Britain 2011- 11th-18th September

[goggalor]

I found some goods highlight footage by the way, if anyone else is interested: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlNZWN7tw9Y&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL (link is to yesterdays stage)

 

[Bianchitommo]

Haha that's me in the Fagor shirt, when Eisel approached and got off I thought he had a mech problem so I stepped back to give him room, only for him to sit and clap, brilliant ! Will post pics

 

[Mellow Velo]

ITV highlights seen. So much wasted space on that stage.
Story Arms a cat 1? No way.
All they had to do was two finishing laps and viola!
But, no, this is the ToB, where most of the parcours are barse ackwards.

Boom finally earning his keep.............and rep.

Would Boy van Poppel's younger bro be Baby van Poppel?

 

[theyoungest]

Boom finally earning his keep.............and rep.

In the Tour of Britain? Nah, I'd rate the Tour of Belgium higher, and he won that as well. It's in the bigger races that he doesn't really make a mark.

 

[Anonymous]

The three stage winners so far:

Cavendish
Boom
Hushovd

Not a bad trio.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

In the Tour of Britain? Nah, I'd rate the Tour of Belgium higher, and he won that as well. It's in the bigger races that he doesn't really make a mark.

He has his prologue wins in PN and Dauphine and Vuelta stage win ofcourse.
And he was one of the 5 strongest men in Paris Roubaix but unfortunately that didn't show in the final result.

 

[Winterfold]

Can Boom hold off Geraint from here?

I would not call it either way.

Thor looks good to keep the rainbow jersey...

 

[Sum_of_Marc]

Can Boom hold off Geraint from here?

I would not call it either way.

Thor looks good to keep the rainbow jersey...

Id favour Boom right now, though Id love G to do it. Still more stages left to come before the TT though.

And my many many photos from Stage 4 are now online. http://www.flickr.com/photos/sumofmarc/sets/72157627668371812/

 

[ferryman]

Can Boom hold off Geraint from here?

I would not call it either way.

Thor looks good to keep the rainbow jersey...

I think Boom probably will. Geraint didn't look great to me today from the highlights I saw. Maybe trying too hard too early.

Thor was class but an easy win in the end. Yesterday and today were all about positioning in the final 500 metres or so.

Not a Cav fan but was impressed by his full on effort from what I saw. Clearly taking this as a serious prep for the World's.

 

[daveinzambia]

Poor Sky, think they are destined to not win the tour of Britain, probably because they want to win it so much. Maybe it makes it tactically easier for the others.

Somehow they have managed to manipulate it so the only guy you would put your money on to beat Thomas in a short time trial is the one guy they have given a head start too.

Boom looks too strong, cannot see thomas taking time on him

 

[theyoungest]

Poor Sky, think they are destined to not win the tour of Britain, probably because they want to win it so much. Maybe it makes it tactically easier for the others.

Welcome to racing in your home country. Which doesn't happen to Sky that much, maybe that is why they suck at it.

 

[Mellow Velo]

In the Tour of Britain? Nah, I'd rate the Tour of Belgium higher, and he won that as well. It's in the bigger races that he doesn't really make a mark.

I was talking just about this year and the probable GC race outcome.

 

[Papparrazzi]

Not on TV until 22.30 GMT tonight.
Is it Live anywhere?

 

[Papparrazzi]

Todays Stage Exeter - Exmouth, over Dartmoor National Park
Em ...... why are they avoiding the 25% climbs of Poundsgate and Dartmeet ?

 

[Anonymous]

Todays Stage Exeter - Exmouth, over Dartmoor National Park
Em ...... why are they avoiding the 25% climbs of Poundsgate and Dartmeet ?

same reason they avoid porlock hill every time it goes to north devon. (and countless climbs in north yorks, peaks etc)

Im guessing that they think those climbs are too hard and would be too decisive for the overall.

 

[Euskaltel!]

And why oh why do they avoid Snowdonia for the Welsh stage... A MTF on Llanberis Pass would do it for me =) Plus the amount of fun you could have in making stages in the mountains, great stuff.

Boom did seem to be stuck to Thomas.

 

[3wheeler]

Couple of UK Riders Killing the KOM Competition So far... Great Place to be talent Spotted I guess..

 

[ParfaitAmour]

Not on TV until 22.30 GMT tonight.
Is it Live anywhere?

Exactly, this is pathetic.

Beside when I'm watching the highlights it already feels like 'blink & you'll miss it'.

 

[Tuarts]

I think that's the problem, make the parcours too challenging and you wont see as many riders from the domestic teams trying to animate the race.

Guess its up to the organisers to try and create a balance.

 

[Anonymous]

To honest, theres no other world tour races going on, make it world tour (if Beijing and TdU are WT then no reason why ToB), then make it the world championships preperation with the organisers setting the course as the best possible prep for the worlds.

Of course the downside would be less domestic and conti squads which goes against what the organisers are trying to do.

Then show it live.

Be interesting to see who win the worlds, and if they rode the ToB or the Canadian WT Races. The ToB organisers will be praying for a ToB victory.

 

[MatchstickMan]

Such a shame we don't get to actually see the race live. Are there any highlights online at least? All I've seen is 10 second footage from the finishes. Why is it that every race in Britain has such crappy coverage? I thought maybe Cav/Sky/Wiggins would've done something about that by now.

itv highlights (repeated) are available online here:
http://www.itv.com/itvplayer/video/?Filter=272888

 

[sublimit]

I think that's the problem, make the parcours to challenging and you wont see as many riders from the domestic teams trying to animate the race.

Guess its up to the organisers to try and create a balance.

I think you may have a point, some of the lesser riders would get wasted very quickly, but the constant avoiding of Porlock hill is strange-I've been up in a car and its looks tough and would blow the race to bits.

 

[theyoungest]

Tiernan-Locke (RCS), Gerdemann (LEO), De Gendt (VCD) Huzarski (APP), Voss (EDR), Van Hecke (TSV), Tankink (RAB ), Lindeman (VCD), Rasch (GRM), Rogers (SKY), Bialoblocki (MPT), Gaudin (EUC), Sutherland (UHC)

are 6 minutes (!) ahead of the peloton.

 

[roundabout]

Looking at the teams present this might be it.

 

[TeoSheva]

Tiernan-Locke (RCS), Gerdemann (LEO), De Gendt (VCD) Huzarski (APP), Voss (EDR), Van Hecke (TSV), Tankink (RAB ), Lindeman (VCD), Rasch (GRM), Rogers (SKY), Bialoblocki (MPT), Gaudin (EUC), Sutherland (UHC)

are 6 minutes (!) ahead of the peloton.

who will chase them? HTC?