quote:

Originally posted by cain:
I can only get this race on weekends and once or twice during the week, somehow can't find the channel that carries it.

I was hoping Thor takes it this year.

Horrible year; 18 cyclists out with serious injuries, some career ending. Team Radio Shack has been reduced to 6 with three members gone. My friend Horner almost died in his fall. They have two guys remaining who can make the podium; Levi and Kloden but they have no team. Further, while Kloden is only 12 seconds back from the leaders that matter and he is in form, he has a hemotoma on his lower back and that is the worse place for a bike rider. He can generate no power.

Watch tomorrow. It begins at 6 Eastern time. This is the first day in the Pyrenees and the high mountains. They have the monster of the Tourmalet after climbing 6 mountains. This is where Lance rode an unforgettable stage in 2003. Don't miss the race. By afternoon we will know who will win in Paris 12 days hence.

Thor is a sprinter an his only option is stage wins or the green jersey. Unfortunately he is way behind in that race with Philip Gilbert. Gilbert is riding like a bat out of hell and threatening even the master sprinters like Cavendish and Griepel

It is Andy Schleck's and his brother Frank's race. They will come in one and two with Alberto Contador following. Contador is the best climber but he is one minute behind. The dark horse here is the Aussie Cadel Evans. He seem to have his mind set on proving to the world that he is a contender. He seem to be riding with grace and strength and is climbing like a mountain goat. He also has his team completely in tack and George Hincapie his uber domestique is also riding well.

You can watch the race on line here
http://cyclingfans.com/ Look down the lower right hand corner for video links. Unfortunately it might be in Flemish. It is on Versus here in the US.

Thanks D2. I've heard the race being called ‘Tour de Fracture’

I also have Andy Schleck as a favourite along with Thor and yes,Phillipe Gilbert shines in this tour.
But I do have a feeling that Contador won't be doing much in this race.

I miss the days of LeMOnd, Indurain etc. Those were the days when I really followed it. Now it's just out of old habit that I follow. Too much doping and other scandals have befall this sport. I loved LeMond but could never get with lance from the beginning and now that even former team mates are saying he doped up it just tells the story of what the greatest cycling event is reduced to.

Still have Contador because the mountains await and he is a strong climber. That minut is nothing to make up in the mountains. And his knee is feeling better. Only a crash can keep him off the podium.

quote:

Originally posted by cain:
Thanks D2. I've heard the race being called ‘Tour de Fracture’

I also have Andy Schleck as a favourite along with Thor and yes,Phillipe Gilbert shines in this tour.
But I do have a feeling that Contador won't be doing much in this race.

My old mate Mark Cavendish has been doing well with a couple of stage wins.
He has had a very low profile in the UK compared to some other British sportsmen, which has surprised many. When I used to tell people about him they used to wonder who I am talking about.

For Cain ( sounds funny)
Live feed of the stage 12 of the tour. I guess it will be live for every stage to come. It is in english

http://sports-livez.com/channel/ch-8.php

Thanks D2, I'm actually getting it here today on TSN2.

I saw that tumble. I think the hit was deliberate.

quote:

Originally posted by cain:
Thanks D2, I'm actually getting it here today on TSN2.

Poor Kloden fell again at the base of the last climb, Contador faltered and the Shlecks climbed. Basso was present, Cadel stayed cool and poor Levi limped home loosing another minute. But nothing was decided. Andy Shleck was either not on form or playing 'possum.

I'm beginning to think that those roads are paved with magnet, I don't recall this many riders down in any race.
I think Andy still has it in him so I'll say he's just playing.

quote:

Originally posted by cain:
I'm beginning to think that those roads are paved with magnet, I don't recall this many riders down in any race.

Lack of performance boosting drugs. When they hit the limit they fall off the cliff.

Boring day today (Sun) A flat course and everyone's watching each other, in this tour,no one/team wants to take the lead. What a bunch of wimps.

If Lance was with the tour, he wouldn't have played the waiting game, the banna would have buss dem guys off long time if they played that game with him.

My man Cavendish hangs on to the green one .

Yes, he certainly got both sprints. Looks good on those riders who're content on sitting back and watching each other.
He could win the tour.

I hope de does. He is a greta guy and very much down to earth and modest.

Cadel wins, Schlecks second and third. Cadel put in a masterful time trial today that took back over a minute lead from Andy Schleck. Cavendish likely to win the Green. No one can take it off his shoulders tomorrow.

Thor did ride a great tour with 2 stage wins. He however could not out compete Cavendish who won four times and most likely will win tomorrow stage barring a mishap.

That was some great riding today. Yesterday's ride was also one of the better ones.
Cadel has earned that jersey, while Contadour...fegged.

quote:

Originally posted by cain:
That was some great riding today. Yesterday's ride was also one of the better ones.
Cadel has earned that jersey, while Contadour...fegged.

Contador showed he is a champion. If he had not fallen so many times earlier he would have won the tour. He lost by the time he lost during his falls. Yesterday he did a monstor ride almost 40 miles climbing all the time on between 5 and 10 percent gradient. If only he had a few team mates to guide him over the first two mountains !

Cadel deserve this win. He singlehandly led the peloton on stage 18, when Andy Schleck broke away.

quote:

Originally posted by Rupee:
Cadel deserve this win. He singlehandly led the peloton on stage 18, when Andy Schleck broke away.

All of the GC showed courage

Aussie rule!

quote:

Originally posted by Mad Max:
Aussie rule!

He had a an American protecting him most of the time.

Cavendish again wins the finishing sprint on the Champs-Élysées. He takes the green with this. This brings him to five wins on this tour as he predicted at the beginning of the year. At 25, he has the second most wins for a sprinter in its 100 year history. He is truly fearless in an an activity that takes sheer courage and nerves of steel and hardly any margin for error.

I have been partying all afternoon after Hamilton won the F1 race in Germany and Cavendish won the green jersey. A great day for Brits on wheels .