Le Tour!

[jimbo]

its difficult to get across how huge Le Tour is,


And it's even bigger than that. Superb work by Sky today. Cavendish ? I cannot praise enough. Who would of thought a predominately football orientated broadcast company (and Bond villianesque set up, apparantly, so I've been told allegedly) would provide the financial platform for a British TdF Winner? Funny old world innit? But as a clubman cyclist since 1970, I'm loving every minute!

Cycling has really taken off in the UK over the last 10 years and it's going to go stratospheric if Wiggans hangs in there. I'm really chuffed for folks like you IP who were voices in the wilderness of what was a tiny sport in the UK all them years ago. Have you read Matt Seatons book, The Escape Artist? It's a good read featuring competitive cycling in the UK in the 70s

On cycling books, have you read Jeff Connor's on the 1987 tour? Really good reads.

[jimbo]

Oh, and yesterday Cavendish was absolutely superb. Decent lead out from Sky, but his pace was incredible in that last straight. Went past Roche and (Sanchez?) like they weren't there. That's a win that augurs well for the Olympics as there were a couple of climbs for Cav to get up to get to the sprint at the end.

[Verbal]

Peerless from Wiggins today. Simply an incredible display of time trialling. Destroyed everyone including the young pretender. Will deservedly saunter down the Champs Eleysses in yellow.

[bobo the clown]

OK ... I know nowt about cycling, certainly not how scoring etc., etc works in the Tour.

But he's around 3 minutes in front. OK, that's good, but after what, 10 days, it shows it's a close sport.

But it's being talked of as if he could ride on a tricycle tomorrow & still win it.

But it's 80k tomorrow. If he's off form, unwell, pulls a muscle or falls (gets knocked ??) off he could lose 3min in a heartbeat.

So what am I not getting ??

[Harry Genshaw]

OK ... I know nowt about cycling, certainly not how scoring etc., etc works in the Tour.

But he's around 3 minutes in front. OK, that's good, but after what, 10 days, it shows it's a close sport.

But it's being talked of as if he could ride on a tricycle tomorrow & still win it.

But it's 80k tomorrow. If he's off form, unwell, pulls a muscle or falls (gets knocked ??) off he could lose 3min in a heartbeat.

So what am I not getting ??

The last day is more of a ceremonial thing and just for the sprinters really at the end - I think that's right but folk with better knowledge than me might shed a bit more light on it. He can only lose it now if he gets knocked over.

[Little Green Man]

So what am I not getting ??

The merest inkling of how Le Tour unfolds, I'd say.

80km is such a short distance in elite cycling that it is in effect a parade lap (though that shouldn't take anything away from whichever sprinter wins tomorrow). He could in theory have a puncture or a bike failure but each team follows behind with spare equipment, so that's not going to hinder him, especially as he has a highly professional team that would see him back to the peloton ASAP. The only way he's not going to win is if someone runs him over, or they spike his champagne en route.

[bobo the clown]

I hope that's correct. Really I do ... but it's just seems terribly smug for everyone to treat 3 minutes or so as unassailable, if only by accident or incident.

Anyway, here's hoping he meets neither of those foes.

[Little Green Man]

I hope that's correct. Really I do ... but it's just seems terribly smug for everyone to treat 3 minutes or so as unassailable, if only by accident or incident.

Anyway, here's hoping he meets neither of those foes.

Don't forget that's three and a bit minutes on his team mate and fellow Briton (or Kenyan) Chris Froome, who won't challenge him. He's much further ahead of the third place rider.

One year they actually thought it was a good idea to have the final stage to Paris as a individual time trial. The Frenchman Laurent Fignon was in yellow at the time. He wasn't by the end of the race as Greg Lemond pipped him by a few seconds. I don't think the organisers of Le Tour will do that again.

[Little Green Man]

Here's a pic of the last stage from a few years back.



It's not a serious race until they get to the Champs Elysees. Then you might see Wiggins/Froome et al leading out Cavendish for the win.

[Athers]

Incredible

[bobo the clown]

Not as incroyable as seeing Lesley Garrett singing 'God Save the Queen' on the Champ's Elysees !!

[Worthy4England]

I think it's down to Boris bikes...We were hardly in it before them.

[Bruce Rioja]

I think it's down to Boris bikes...We were hardly in it before them.

It'll probably be down to drugs. Same as usual.

[Worthy4England]

I think it's down to Boris bikes...We were hardly in it before them.

It'll probably be down to drugs. Same as usual.

[Verbal]

Not as incroyable as seeing Lesley Garrett singing 'God Save the Queen' on the Champ's Elysees !!

Don't think Wiggins liked it too much...

[newcarsmell]

Not as incroyable as seeing Lesley Garrett singing 'God Save the Queen' on the Champ's Elysees !!

No ! Did that REALLY happen ?

[seanworth]

Not as incroyable as seeing Lesley Garrett singing 'God Save the Queen' on the Champ's Elysees !!

No ! Did that REALLY happen ?

I had no idea who she was, and just assumed it was the French getting a bit of revenge. Truely awful I must say.

[seanworth]

Overall, an enjoyalble tour this year. Now we shall see if how they perform at the Olympics. I'm sure a few racers held back a bit as there is so little recovery time. It will be very difficult for some of those riders to give their best in London.

[bobo the clown]

Not as incroyable as seeing Lesley Garrett singing 'God Save the Queen' on the Champ's Elysees !!

No ! Did that REALLY happen ?

It most certainly did ...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/9420 ... emony.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Watch & weep !!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/others ... ggins.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Always hopeful]

Wiggins's opening few words when handed a mic on the Champs Elysee after collecting trophy: "and now we're going to draw the tickets for the raffle". (or words to that effect). Absolute classic!! I wonder how that translated???!!!