Tour de France 2014

Posted by: joerand on 01 July 2014

Starts Saturday in Leeds. I'm looking forward to it, but due to my travels for work, will only be able to see TV coverage from the start through Stage 9. Internet tidbits from there on.

 

Froome and Contador are early favorites. Valverde? Tejay? Others? Has Andy Schleck become the dark horse?

 

Well, it will be interesting, as always, to see how it plays out.

Posted on: 02 July 2014 by Joff
George for KoM!!!

Joff
Posted on: 02 July 2014 by winkyincanada

Should be a good battle. I don't really rate anyone except CF and AC as GC chances, but you never know. TJVG is incredibly overrated and will be lucky to finish top 20. Valverde would be my other podium pick.

Posted on: 02 July 2014 by winkyincanada

But the real question is, on which stage will Abandony Schleck quit? I'd say stage 11 if he doesn't crash before then. Each day of rain will bring his abandon day closer by one day.

Posted on: 02 July 2014 by Tabby cat

Really looking foward to it too.Chris Froome hopefully will have a good battle with Contador and the Colombian who one the Giro (sorry can't remember his name)

Its a shame David Miller has'nt been picked as it was going to be his 13th and last tour.

It really makes me laugh when footballers moan that if they have played a match say thursday night and then have to play saturday afternoon,that they have'nt recoverd.Even their match stats are laughable.Team avearaged 9 km of running!  Bloody hell Rugby players if in a tournament play everyday no whinging.

Pro cyclists just grind it out day afterday.Rain or shine or snow !

 

Posted on: 03 July 2014 by Stover

Watch people on drugs bicycling? No thanks 

Posted on: 03 July 2014 by Foxman50

They will be passing down the road to me on Monday so an opportunity i cant miss.

Posted on: 03 July 2014 by Jasonf
Originally Posted by Foxman50:

       

They will be passing down the road to me on Monday so an opportunity i cant miss.


       


What, to buy some drugs?

Jason.
Posted on: 03 July 2014 by winkyincanada
Originally Posted by Tabby cat:

Really looking foward to it too.Chris Froome hopefully will have a good battle with Contador and the Colombian who one the Giro (sorry can't remember his name)

 

The guy you're thinking of is Nairo Quintana, but he's not riding the Tour.

Posted on: 03 July 2014 by Tabby cat

Thanks Winky

 

Who do you fancy to win ?

Posted on: 03 July 2014 by winkyincanada
Originally Posted by Tabby cat:

Thanks Winky

 

Who do you fancy to win ?

I'd like to see Alberto Contador win. I think he has a chance.

Posted on: 03 July 2014 by winkyincanada
Originally Posted by Stover:

Watch people on drugs bicycling? No thanks 

That's the way I feel about watching a bunch of overpaid people run around a paddock kicking a round ball and falling over at random. Others, however, seem to regard watching this activity as a worthwhile exercise.

Posted on: 03 July 2014 by George J
Originally Posted by winkyincanada:
Originally Posted by Stover:

Watch people on drugs bicycling? No thanks 

That's the way I feel about watching a bunch of overpaid people run around a paddock kicking a round ball and falling over at random. Others, however, seem to regard watching this activity as [a] worthwhile exercise.

If you pretend the bracketed  "a" is out this becomes really funny.

 

Sorry about that. I just laughed at the post because I did read it wrong! 

 

I thought I'd like to share the thought.

 

ATB from George

Posted on: 03 July 2014 by fatcat

If all goes to plan I'll be at the first stage in Yorkshire and the third in London. I'd like to see Joaquim Rodriguez win the General Clasament, but I don't thing his team is strong enough, plus they took a hell of a battering in the Giro.

 

I think it will be between Froome, Contador and Nibali, but I'll be putting an each way bet on Bauke Mollema and Rodriguez.

Posted on: 03 July 2014 by Bruce Woodhouse

Well it passes the front door of my Surgery on Sat and then scoots off up the Dales I regularly ride. Lots of buzz here, most towns and villages have really entered the spirit of things.

 

As for the winner;  Contador I think. I have a feeling the strength of the whole team will be the decider and Sky look a bit shaky with illness, injury and some iffy form. Other teams will work in concert against them. Valverde the other podium maybe.

 

Cav in yellow this weekend though, fingers crossed.

 

Bruce

Posted on: 03 July 2014 by fatcat
Originally Posted by Bruce Woodhouse:
Sky look a bit shaky with illness, injury and some iffy form.

I think you're right.

 

You could also add "trouble at t'mill" to the list.

Posted on: 03 July 2014 by Stover
Originally Posted by winkyincanada:
Originally Posted by Stover:

Watch people on drugs bicycling? No thanks 

That's the way I feel about watching a bunch of overpaid people run around a paddock kicking a round ball and falling over at random. Others, however, seem to regard watching this activity as a worthwhile exercise.

I agree with you. I really don't like what football have become either. May look a bit negative here, but if one should show some integrity, then I prefer stay away from both. I must admit, beeing a football player in early days, I struggle to overlook matces going on these days.

 

Last night I watched a documentary about Lance Armstrong and his denial of drug use. It was really ugly in my view and made me think, what's left of it? Actually nothing, except money....IMO.

 

S

Posted on: 03 July 2014 by joerand
Originally Posted by Bruce Woodhouse:

 

Cav in yellow this weekend though, fingers crossed.

 

Cav certainly has the edge with Renshaw back on his leadout train. The sprint finishes between Cav and Greipel (and on occasion Tyler Farrar) have been exciting the past few years. Will Cav have much competition this tour?

Posted on: 03 July 2014 by Reginald Halliday

Kittel will toast Cav for the green.

Posted on: 03 July 2014 by joerand
Originally Posted by George J:
 

I thought I'd like to share the thought.

 

ATB from George

Welcome back, George . Nice to see you posting here.

Posted on: 03 July 2014 by joerand
Originally Posted by Reginald Halliday:
Kittel will toast Cav for the green.

Cav + toast usually equals this

 

  <<----- kinda looks a bit like Cav, doesn't it?

 

I wonder if he's still wearing that Livestrong bracelet?

Posted on: 04 July 2014 by GraemeH

Watch out on t'hills for three men in a rusty bathtub hilariously out of control...

 

G

Posted on: 04 July 2014 by mista h

i did enjoy watching the team introductions on ITV4 last nite from the Leeds Arena. Good to see close ups of all the players.

Mista H

Posted on: 04 July 2014 by Clive B

I wish I was in Yorkshire this weekend!!

Posted on: 05 July 2014 by joerand

I guess I wouldn't mind being on the uphill side of the Col du Tourmalet on July 24. No Alpe d'Huez this year.

Posted on: 05 July 2014 by Bruce Woodhouse
Originally Posted by Clive B:

I wish I was in Yorkshire this weekend!!


Every weekend!

 

The atmosphere is great, almost no cars on the roads and hundreds on bikes.