Professional Cycling For the Fans - 2008 Tour boring?

i don't think the tour this year is boring,we are halfway and everything is wide open.
however some of the favourites are hidding in the peloton and do nothing but watch each other...
yes i'm talking about Evans,vd Velde and Manchov...good thing bad boys like Ricco are around!
or am i just being impatient?

doing nothing but watching each other?

what race is this, then? Is there another one on TV this month?

yes they are driving defensively
making sure they don't loose
instead of trying to win...

doing nothing but watching each other?

what race is this, then? Is there another one on TV this month?

Close. There is the TDF, then there is the TDF Versus is allegedly covering on TV, somewhere in between the fluff pieces and repetitive commercials.

Close. There is the TDF, then there is the TDF Versus is allegedly covering on TV, somewhere in between the fluff pieces and repetitive commercials.

ah, that explains it. All that "agro" commentary during prime time must be to blame

sorry, just saw our OP was in Europe, so he probably doesn't get the insights of Craig Hummer and Robbie Ventura

that must be why the Tour seems lackluster.

You should get the BBC to take Craig Hummer over to Europe to call the bike races for you.

no, really, please take him

yes they are driving defensively
making sure they don't loose
instead of trying to win...

Maybe that's because some of the people you mentioned aren't the best climbers? Like VanDevelde(sp?), he has said many times, he will try to hang with the other leaders through the mountains, and then put in his best time trial. That's how he can win, and he and the team managers know it. As for Ricco, he can't TT worth *****, so he's obviously going to try and gain time in the mountains.

yes i know all that rankin,
thanks btw for your serious reply....
maybe they aren't the best climbers,but we've only had two moutain stages!
sad though,hanging on till the time trial...
oh well,i suppose it is better than the tour being dominated by one man
now at least,anything can happen...

ah, that explains it. All that "agro" commentary during prime time must be to blame

sorry, just saw our OP was in Europe, so he probably doesn't get the insights of Craig Hummer and Robbie Ventura

that must be why the Tour seems lackluster.

You should get the BBC to take Craig Hummer over to Europe to call the bike races for you.

no, really, please take him


I listened to Eurosport yesterday, I swear Sean Kelly even sounded excited. Then I get home to watch the prime time coverage on Versus...wondered if it was the same race. :crash:

I keep hoping Boobka will choke Hummer and make him his *****, preferably during primetime.

kelly sounding exciting?
please wake me up!

From what I have heard/read this tour is shaping up a lot like Le Mond's first win. Being that the route is similar and it could be decided at the final TT. I am not sure this is correct, just what I read.

I feel like this thing is going to nuts at the end, unlike some previous years when we all knew who was going to win on the first rest day. Given it's uncertainty, I think this Tour has been great! Vande Velde is like the super nice guy, Ricco the a-hole, Evans the uber confident favorite, etc....many differing personalities and riding styles which is making this fun to watch.

i agree hocker,
but evans confident?

yes i know all that rankin,
thanks btw for your serious reply....


I guess my sarcas-o-meter is on the fritz :o

the result of the tour?

I guess my sarcas-o-meter is on the fritz :o

Sticky needle, I've had that happen before too....you have to kick it. :D

no needles! take back the tour!

*sings crappy song, trying to sound like tom waits in a good mood, walking backwards

who needs the tour!
it is all happening here...

Without Astana it's a little bit like watching the special olympics, but entertaining nonetheless. With the "A" Team taking this year off, it's interesting watching the "B" teams compete. Whoever wins this contest cannot be certain that they are the best.

This has been one of my favorites. The race is completely wide open, breakaways are succeeding like I've never seen before, and Ricco has been fun to watch. I'd like to see more attacking in the mountains, but for the most part, that's happened in the latter mountain stages anyway.

One of these climbers is going to have to make a serious go at it in the Alps. Evans will beat all them in the TT.

One of these climbers is going to have to make a serious go at it in the Alps. Evans will beat all them in the TT.

you are spot on ronjon,evans is not going to do anything but wait for the tt,
Manchov is not going to do anything non stop...
so schleck and co have to do someting in the alps
i'm hoping ricco and his team will tear them all apart,