Tour synopsis

[pugdog]

I want to thank Nibali and Liquigas for trying and trying again, providing the only blips of excitement in this otherwise tightly controlled Tour. I want to commiserate with Cadel Evans for finding himself in the merciless world of modern sky-cling. I want to applaud Sagan’s panoply of victoy salutes on various stages, keep ‘em coming and keep up the enthusiasm. I want to applaud Jens Voigt for being him. Priceless. I want to applaud CAS for his inordinate courage. I want to wish a happy retirement to Vino and Mr. George.

I want to hope that next year’s TdF, starting in Corsica with a TT in Nice will, on it’s hundredth edition, provide the interest and excitement that was entirely lacking this year.

Vive le Tour, but this one won’t live in my memory. Roll on 2013

 

[bikebottles]

Team TT

I would like to see a team time trial next year in the TDF.

Does anyone know why these seem rare?

 

[Old&slow]

The most disappointing part of this years Tour by far was the lack of sprints Two total sprints in the first 20 stages where all the main sprinters were present. Crashes and the lack of a dominant sprinter team really hurt this Tour quite a bit. I can't recall a worse sprint Tour than this one. Hopefully Cav will get to Omega or to a pure sprint team next year which can dominate the Tour. I hate to see breakaways succeed simply because no one cares about the riders on the break and the sprint teams are to lazy to pull back the break. Stages 12 and 15 were a disgrace and completely unexciting.

 

[Carols]

Well it wasn't the best Tour in history but had some things to take away with a smile for me

1- Nibiali's never give up attitude despite the 450W Black Death Sky Train and his podium.
2- Sagan, the Beast....his limits are as yet undiscovered I feel; he is only 22! 3 stages and a Commanding Green win.
3- Pinot's stage win and 10th place, boy with a Future!
4- Tejays White Jersey and 5th place; Americas nxt big stage race hope.
5- Rolland confirming what we've seen so far.
6- Vlaverde's long distance break and MTF win.
7- Fabian's fabulous first week.
8- Lulu coming back from injury to win a stage and 3rd in final ITT. Great form for the Olympics
9- Millar landing himself a stage win!
10- CAS struggling with damaged fingers and getting Most Agressive
11- Voecklers 2 stages and KOM jersey.
12- The always entertaining journey around France. There were many places on the route this year that I haven't visited. So new travel destinations
13- Greipel Winning 3 stages!

The GC may have been rendered pretty dull by Sky's total dominance but there was still plenty to enjoy!!

That said not an edition that will hang in my memory for a long time...oh yeah the one Wiggans won without ever attacking once....

 

[SetonHallPirate]

I can't help but think that, if Luis Leon Sanchez ever learned some tactical discipline, he could be a GC threat rather than just a breakaway specialist...

 

[gingerwallaceafro]

I want to thank Nibali and Liquigas for trying and trying again, providing the only blips of excitement in this otherwise tightly controlled Tour. I want to commiserate with Cadel Evans for finding himself in the merciless world of modern sky-cling. I want to applaud Sagan’s panoply of victoy salutes on various stages, keep ‘em coming and keep up the enthusiasm. I want to applaud Jens Voigt for being him. Priceless. I want to applaud CAS for his inordinate courage. I want to wish a happy retirement to Vino and Mr. George.

I want to hope that next year’s TdF, starting in Corsica with a TT in Nice will, on it’s hundredth edition, provide the interest and excitement that was entirely lacking this year.

Vive le Tour, but this one won’t live in my memory. Roll on 2013

Lol! It's the sour grape bunch again..

Tour Synopsis: Cancellara does a good Prologue, SKY take the ****.

Many forum people have to eat their words. One third of wins come from Brits, the Maillot Jaune shows the ultimate in panache by destroying all-comers on the Champs D'Elysees whilst setting up the world champion for an unprecedented victory and a 4th consecutive win in Paris, again never before achieved. The podium sees 2 Brits imperious, Wiggins and Froome untroubled over the three weeks. Small but not inconsequential kudos should go to Nibali for managing to be within 5 minutes of the leader and also to Peter Sagan, Tommy Voeckler & Thibauld Pinot who helped to add a touch colour to a
British/SKY dominated 3 week masterclass.

 

[gingerwallaceafro]

I can't help but think that, if Luis Leon Sanchez ever learned some tactical discipline, he could be a GC threat rather than just a breakaway specialist...

I think what we see with Luis Leon is someone who doesn't have the strength to excel in any specific discipline but is very tactically astute.

 

[Kwibus]

Lol! It's the sour grape bunch again..

Tour Synopsis: Cancellara does a good Prologue, SKY take the ****.

Many forum people have to eat their words. One third of wins come from Brits, the Maillot Jaune shows the ultimate in panache by destroying all-comers on the Champs D'Elysees whilst setting up the world champion for an unprecedented victory and a 4th consecutive win in Paris, again never before achieved. The podium sees 2 Brits imperious, Wiggins and Froome untroubled over the three weeks. Small but not inconsequential kudos should go to Nibali for managing to be within 5 minutes of the leader and also to Peter Sagan, Tommy Voeckler & Thibauld Pinot who helped to add a touch colour to a
British/SKY dominated 3 week masterclass.

It has nothing to do with eating our words or being sour grapes. It just wasn't an exciting TdF regarding the fight for GC. The winner took time in the TT's and followed wheels up the mountain. A bit like Indurain and honestly that wasn't very exciting either.
I definately won't blame Wiggins for doing it this way since he won the TdF he obviously didn't do it wrong. Congrats for him, but it won't change the fact that it was a boring Tour.

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-I heard someone saying there weren't enough sprinter stages...
We had 6 pure sprinter stages this year which is fine with me. Honestly other type of riders usually don't get that many opportunities to win a stage.

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I know why people don't like the stages where they put 2 climbs in the middle of the stage with the last one having the summit with 50k to go to the finish, but this is simply the only way for attackers to stay away these days. Make it a flat stage and attackers have 0% chance.
I'm glad we get to have these stages.

--------------------------------

There were enough mountain stages, but they weren't very well done. The downhill from peyresourdes was a 2 lane with 2 bends in it. What's the point? Next time put the finish at the top. The lack of a HC summit finish and a very long mountain stage.

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TTs are cool and I'm fine with it. Allthough I wouldn't mind if they replaced the 40k TT with a MTT or a more hilly TT. Atleast a bit shorter, but definately keep the 50-60Km TT.

 

[gingerwallaceafro]

I'm sorry the original post of the OP is just way too ridiculously blinkered.

 

[mb2612]

I'm sorry the original post of the OP is just way too ridiculously blinkered.

He doesn't mention Sky at all, which is odd in a tour synopsis where they dominated. But I would agree that, by being so perfect, everything Wiggins did took away from the excitement of the tour.

 

[Dutchsmurf]

I can't help but think that, if Luis Leon Sanchez ever learned some tactical discipline, he could be a GC threat rather than just a breakaway specialist...

The only thing Sanchez excels at is tactical awareness. And knowing his own limits. There aren't many guys around who are more capable of picking the right break and pulling it off at the end. With a little more luck (and a little weaker Sky) he could have won 3 stages I think? But in the mountains he just isn't good enough to be a GC threat. After years of trying he realizes that too.

 

[SetonHallPirate]

The only thing Sanchez excels at is tactical awareness. And knowing his own limits. There aren't many guys around who are more capable of picking the right break and pulling it off at the end. With a little more luck (and a little weaker Sky) he could have won 3 stages I think? But in the mountains he just isn't good enough to be a GC threat. After years of trying he realizes that too.

Yeah, once again, my foot has found its way home!