What in your mind makes for a great Tour de France?

[Havetts]

Today's stage so far.

+1. This stage is insane and great to watch.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Tanx for the feedback. Is the Col du Grand Colombier difficut. Ay idea about the lengths and gradients?

From Culoz: 18,3km @ 6,9%
From Artemare (route 1): 20,5km @ 6,1%
From Artemare (route 2): 15,9km @ 7,8%
From Anglefort: 15,2km @ 7,9%
From Talissieu: 14,0km @ 8,9%

However, a lot of these use some roads in quite poor condition. Culoz is probably the side they'd use if they had it in the Tour, and is usually the side they use in the Tour de l'Ain.

 

[ericthesportsman6]

This has been a great race. We're almost done and 6 or 7 riders still have a shot to win/podium.

 

[red_flanders]

Today was a great stage. Great break and great GC shakedown! Kudos to AC for making the race and kudos to CE for taking advantage.

It is going to be an absolute slaughter on stage 18.

 

[jobiwan]

Today was a great stage. Great break and great GC shakedown! Kudos to AC for making the race and kudos to CE for taking advantage.

It is going to be an absolute slaughter on stage 18.

I think come Stage 18, the Schlecks will finally add something to the Tour.
On Galibier and Alpe it'll be all or nothing for the Schlecks, so they'll attack and probably tow Alberto along with them. Evans has looked good, but now he'll be even more on the defensive.

I still think that Andy's the leader in the LT camp, Frank is just THAT BAD at the TT. Although the comfortable gap over Contador is not so comfortable anymore.

 

[red_flanders]

I think come Stage 18, the Schlecks will finally add something to the Tour.
On Galibier and Alpe it'll be all or nothing for the Schlecks, so they'll attack and probably tow Alberto along with them. Evans has looked good, but now he'll be even more on the defensive.

I still think that Andy's the leader in the LT camp, Frank is just THAT BAD at the TT. Although the comfortable gap over Contador is not so comfortable anymore.

I think it's AC and Evans left to duke it out. Shocking that AC dropped them on that climb, they just don't have it. It's going to be cold, long and brutal on 18. AS is done IMO.

 

[Carl0880]

What makes a Great Grand Tour...

Usually the best are done by having 2 riders that have different attributes going for the same prize. The following Tours are the examples:

98- Pantani the Climber, Jan the TT. Could Pantani gain enough time on the climbs to override Jan on the TT.

89-Fignon the Climber, LeMond the TT.

03-Lance The Better Climber, not best shape...Jan the better TT seemingly in form of his career...Vino solid at both discipline, not as good as the above 2, but far more aggressive and willing to take chances.

09- The in fighting with Alberto and Lance, and also the Green Jersey Competition...Cav the far better sprinter, Thor the tough man who could get over hills.

That is the simpliest answer to tthe question. Obviously they are not absolute and there are other examples. The other formula that I can best put into a descriptive words is showing that the impossible is possible.

98-Many thought after Lemond, Indurain and Ullrich that a Climber could never win the Tour, and Pantani proved them wrong.

06-NObody thought that after losing so much time in the Mountain, that giving Periero back all that time and the Yellow Jersey by 2 minutes, that he had a bloody chance in hell to win.


This year Tour has those components. You have Cadel The TT vs Schleck, Contador the Climbers.
You have Voeckler giving time and absolutely giving everything to hold on to the yellow jersey. No matter what he may say, He may not be able to win the Tour, but giving todays events with A. Schleck and Basso time losses, his chances at a podium is possible. This goes along the impossible with the fact that French Cycling has had very little hope of a podium since Moreau in the late 90s, as well as Virenque.

 

[Grayguard]

This year Tour has those components. You have Cadel The TT vs Schleck, Contador the Climbers.
You have Voeckler giving time and absolutely giving everything to hold on to the yellow jersey. No matter what he may say, He may not be able to win the Tour, but giving todays events with A. Schleck and Basso time losses, his chances at a podium is possible. This goes along the impossible with the fact that French Cycling has had very little hope of a podium since Moreau in the late 90s, as well as Virenque.

I am sorry, but how many people here actually think Cadel will beat Contador on the ITT? I am definitely not so certain... Contador has beaten Cancellara, which imo is a better ITT rider than CE.

 

[Carl0880]

I am sorry, but how many people here actually think Cadel will beat Contador on the ITT? I am definitely not so certain... Contador has beaten Cancellara, which imo is a better ITT rider than CE.

Contador is the better TT. I meant with reference to Contador handicap from the first 2 days. Contador is not going to make the current difference on Cadel in the TT. Cadel only has to stay with Contador in the Climbs (THis is a massive if of course) and let his TT ability put to used to win the Tour.

Without those first 2 stages, Sam. Sanchez would actually be the rider 2nd behind Voeckler, not the others.

 

[Grayguard]

Contador is the better TT. I meant with reference to Contador handicap from the first 2 days. Contador is not going to make the current difference on Cadel in the TT. Cadel only has to stay with Contador in the Climbs (THis is a massive if of course) and let his TT ability put to used to win the Tour.

Without those first 2 stages, Sam. Sanchez would actually be the rider 2nd behind Voeckler, not the others.

Ok - we agree then
Yeah, I doubt Cadel can stay on Contadors wheel on both 18 & 19, since my feeling is, Contador is only getting stronger from this point on. But some (hopefully) very exciting next stages will tell - I can hardly wait

 

[Andre.J]

an imaginative design where exciting races will take place.