Prologue

[cibai]

Any thoughts?

[Jinker]

I predict lots of fast riding.

[markhr]

karpets wind assisted?

http://www.eurocosm.com/Application/Images/Newpics/02PAC46md.jpg

[markhr]

never mind, gusev just rode past him - must be russians in form or just ekimov/pursuit/tt skills

[cibai]

The VS race clock is killing me. Takes all the fun out of the finishes.

[donrhummy]

Kloden just beat the crap out of the field.

[kls1891]

Damn....Cancellara...flying.

[shakeNbake]

Kloden just beat the crap out of the field.

*SPOILER ALERT*




















Oh ****, son! Cancellara just *****slapped kloden! **** yeah.

[FrankBattle]

that chyt was awesome. That motha.... kicked arse!

[Devil]

I hate Kloeden so I'm glad he lost. More than that, Cancellara's ride was absolutely breathtaking. One of the most incredible Tour prologues/TT performances that I have ever seen. He caught the police/camera bikes!

[FrankBattle]

The VS race clock is killing me. Takes all the fun out of the finishes.
At least give it a day before we start the complaining.

Gee .. !

[markhr]

1.http://www.letour.fr/2007/TDF/img/drapeau/SUI.jpgCANCELLARA (http://www.letour.fr/2007/TDF/RIDERS/us/coureurs/33.html)33
CSC
00:08:51
<LI class=impair>2.http://www.letour.fr/2007/TDF/img/drapeau/GER.jpgKLÖDEN (http://www.letour.fr/2007/TDF/RIDERS/us/coureurs/196.html)196
AST
00:09:03
00:00:13
<LI class=impair>3.http://www.letour.fr/2007/TDF/img/drapeau/USA.jpgHINCAPIE (http://www.letour.fr/2007/TDF/RIDERS/us/coureurs/114.html)114
DSC
00:09:14
00:00:23
<LI class=impair>4.http://www.letour.fr/2007/TDF/img/drapeau/GBR.jpgWIGGINS (http://www.letour.fr/2007/TDF/RIDERS/us/coureurs/149.html)149
COF
00:09:14
00:00:23
<LI class=impair>5.http://www.letour.fr/2007/TDF/img/drapeau/RUS.jpgGUSEV (http://www.letour.fr/2007/TDF/RIDERS/us/coureurs/113.html)113
DSC
00:09:16
00:00:25

[bac]

Let me be the first to say .......................................... doper! :D



SPOILER BELOW!













Seriously, you could see that Cancellara was absolutely FLYING right out of the gate. At the start, he stayed out of the saddle for longer than anyone else I saw. To be honest, I didn't think Kloeden could be beat after putting up his ripping 9' 03". I surely didn't think he would be beaten by 13 seconds! Wow.

... Brad

[shakeNbake]

Seriously, he was catching up to the motorcycles.

[dannyq]

I hope they fix the clock.

[Blaireau]

I think this bodes well for Kloden. Plus he gets a bonus.
Vino vs. Kloden, two great riders on the same team in the Tour... shades of Hinault vs. Lemond back in the mid eighties....

[Blaireau]

incorrect.

there are no bonuses in prologues/TTs.


My bad.

[dmotoguy]

where's levi?

[polara426sh]

11

[fujibike]

The mass of spectators was quite impressive. Well done Brits.

[biffstephens]

I though London did a great job...crowds were good but they would be if they did the Prolog in NY as well....it is a big place a lot of people..it is pretty amazing that the Brits have Wimbledon going on, the British GP and the Tour....

Sorry about O'Grady...pretty amazed that he is not hurt more...the clock was pretty annoying.

[ekimeno]

I was there this afternoon - what an atmosphere!

Instead of going to Hyde Park Corner like I'd originally planned, I instead chose Westminster Abbey because I ride on this route every day and thought it would be cool to see these guys riding my road. I was located at the first corner of the route - about half a mile from the starting ramp.

Watched the floats and advertising vehicles for an hour (and scored some cool freebees), riders warming up on the course, then the first 60 riders actually doing the time trial. I then nipped off back home to watch the last 50-odd guys come in on TV.

What a ride by Cancellara!

Here are a few pics I snapped...

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1432/748443195_7444c8be7e_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1326/748443669_334e2f7eac_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1356/748443729_880c4c576c_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1401/748443703_e2ab49e036_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1114/748443769_a2e3903bfa_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1416/748443783_e97efabd13_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1330/748479157_fee757be7d_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1290/748479185_d3a9f18ed6_b.jpg

Ruben Lobato (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1115/748479203_6010980672_b.jpg

Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Française Des Jeux
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1328/748479211_f8e8484d5f_b.jpg

[Nick Carraway]

The VS race clock is killing me. Takes all the fun out of the finishes.

Yeah, what was up w/that? Did they ever offer an explanation? I don't remember this happening last year or in other races I've watched this season.

[Barese Rider]

Great pics

[skinny]

I was there this afternoon - what an atmosphere!I'm looking in the window of that bakery and thinking, "Who says the Brits don't have good food?" Wow!:)

[vojtaherout.com]

Hi,
I was there also. A lot of people, but really good action indeed :)

Just want to ask all people, who knows more (expect cca 99% of world population :))) ) about TdF and it's riders this year - can you somebody help me with recognition of riders from todays Prologue?
I think I will have ca 20-30 photos in my gallery and would like to write at least some names there.
Can say rough time at finish (deducted from EXIF of photos), if it could help.
If somebody will be able to see those 20-30 photos before I will place them to my gallery and help me, please send me an email ;-)
Thanks :)
VOJTa

http://www.vojtaherout.com/photo/FOT_0094min600.jpg

[vojtaherout.com]

PS.: If anybody will be interested, I can place a link with photos here after the recognition will be finished :)

[aham23]

^^^^ yes. we love tdf pics. hurry up already. later. :)

[shakeNbake]

Great pics! Thanks!

[Treefox]

Was fun. Took lots of great pics. But got quite sunburnt. Didn't score any freebees.

You could tell when a British rider was about to come around the turn into view because all the people down farther would start going crazy.

But oh so painful getting in and out of the city today.

I think I'll watch stage 1 on TV.

[vojtaherout.com]

OK, will add one "bonus" ;-)

More photos will appear tomorrow (SUN) or MON at my websites www.vojtaherout.com (http://www.vojtaherout.com)
I will probably put a link here as well ;-)

http://www.vojtaherout.com/photo/FOT_0085min600.jpg

[Treefox]

oooh, and Liquigas' Cannondales and Cofidis' Times are hot.

I liked the new green Discovery colour scheme, but their bikes and helmets were still blue, so didn't match at all.

Some teams had skinsuits with built in gloves. Kinda hot, but sort of reminds me of when I was like four and had pyjamas with built in feet.

[drmarthacastro]

FABULOUS PICS! Thanks to all of you for sharing your pictures with us. I like them....:D

[SpongeDad]

Is it just me or did Vino's legs look HUGE. It was like he had two cows strapped to his thighs.

[G. Bucci]

It sure is a long year between TDFs. Lots of fun. As I said to my son after the final result:

I Swiss winner on a Belgian team on a Canadian bike!!

Awesome.

Stay upright

Winnipeg Canada

[Treefox]

Cavendish, a good Manx lad:
http://users.ox.ac.uk/~mans1210/photos/tdf/cavendish.jpg
(and do you see that guy with the helmet on amongst the spectators? He wore it all day. Sorta freaked me out)

Schleck, displaying the Cervélo branding to good effect as I attempt to be fancy and add some variety to what otherwise is 451 photos of pretty much the exact same thing.
http://users.ox.ac.uk/~mans1210/photos/tdf/schleck.jpg

Isasi
http://users.ox.ac.uk/~mans1210/photos/tdf/isasi.jpg

Gutierrez looking like a madman
http://users.ox.ac.uk/~mans1210/photos/tdf/gutierrez.jpg

[snowape]

Great Pictures!! Thank you very much

[Treefox]

OK, will add one "bonus" ;-)
http://www.vojtaherout.com/photo/FOT_0085min600.jpg

I'd noticed it on one of my photos too, but it seems this rider has his computer on his top tube... Seems really not a very good place for it - maybe more aero, but if you can't see it without looking down and thus sticking your aero helmet tail up, why have it?

[h2o_polo_boi]

Is it just me or did Vino's legs look HUGE. It was like he had two cows strapped to his thighs.

anybody got a pic so all can see?

also just curious which oakleys does cancellara have? i am a big fan of their fire iridium lenses

http://www.velonews.com/images/details/12598.19326.f.jpg

[dmotoguy]

is that a timing chip?

[skinny]

I'm surprised some of these riders went out without shoecovers.

[bassplayinbiker]

http://mi.oakley.com/images/brochure/radar/header.jpg?1174601003

Oakley Radar.

[h2o_polo_boi]

http://mi.oakley.com/images/brochure/radar/header.jpg?1174601003

Oakley Radar.


that's what i was thinking but i can't seem to find the exact color even when you choose the custom-made option

[ekimeno]

Hi,
I was there also. A lot of people, but really good action indeed :)

Just want to ask all people, who knows more (expect cca 99% of world population :))) ) about TdF and it's riders this year - can you somebody help me with recognition of riders from todays Prologue?
I think I will have ca 20-30 photos in my gallery and would like to write at least some names there.
Can say rough time at finish (deducted from EXIF of photos), if it could help.
If somebody will be able to see those 20-30 photos before I will place them to my gallery and help me, please send me an email ;-)
Thanks :)
VOJTa

http://www.vojtaherout.com/photo/FOT_0094min600.jpg

If there is any way of finding out what exactly what time you took those photos I should be able to tell you who the riders were from the starting list. I time stamped all my photos so it makes this job a lot easier. The riders were going so fast, however, that half the time I'd miss the shot!

[ekimeno]

Some B-side pics...

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1039/748479317_d115920996_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1280/753097736_e568ed30cf_b.jpg

Oscar Freire (Spa) Rabobank
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1033/753097792_f5294063e0_b.jpg

José Vicente Garcia Acosta (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1388/753097820_e7eb11af4c_o.jpg

Murilo Fischer (Bra) Liquigas
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1440/753114802_7e07c757b5_b.jpg

Egoi Martinez De Esteban (Spa) Discovery Channel
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1282/753114832_855aea84e2_b.jpg

Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Lampre-Fondital
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1055/753114844_1d268bf06a_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1285/753114856_9df7cddb81_b.jpg

[Nhubie]

I think this bodes well for Kloden. Plus he gets a bonus.
Vino vs. Kloden, two great riders on the same team in the Tour... shades of Hinault vs. Lemond back in the mid eighties....

if he wanted to ride gc he would have stayed with tmobile. Unless Vino screws up really bad I dont think the team will work for kloden and he knows it.

[Velomancer]

Makes me REALLY home sick. I was born on Hyde Park Corner. Haven't been back to London for 10 years.

[Treefox]

Makes me REALLY home sick. I was born on Hyde Park Corner. Haven't been back to London for 10 years.

Quite the place to be born... Actually on Hyde Park Corner itself?? Why'd your Mom choose to set down there?

[Velomancer]

Quite the place to be born... Actually on Hyde Park Corner itself?? Why'd your Mom choose to set down there?
Yup... right on the corner... in a hospital called St Georges... it's now a hotel I think.

[astonv0l]

The mass of spectators was quite impressive. Well done Brits.

Thanks :D I cant take all the credit though cos I am over here:)