Professional Cycling For the Fans - Snore de France?

Anyone else been kind of bored by the last few stages of the TDF?

I dunno, the overall standings haven't changed, and Cavendish is still getting most/all of the sprint finishes.

I know it'll pick up in the Alps, but these guys act like they're riding some really long and hard race or something! Sheesh, HTFU already. =p

Anyone start a "funny things in TDF" thread yet?

http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdisplay.php?f=217

Bore de France
This year's stage selection stinks

Why do you hate bike racing?

The only thing I am bored of is the constant commercial breaks every 5 minutes! Thanks to my DVR, I skip those, and get to watching the riding. I don't think it's more boring than usual though. I like watching the bikes, and the position the riders have on the bikes. And the sweet HD pictures of the race and of the countryside.

this is how it ALWAYS is between the mountains, with the exception of cav being more dominant this time. i usually just tune in for the last half hour

No good dope anymore so what do you expect...

vjp

I know this tour is back loaded with difficulty but man it really seems the first 13 stages have been/are less than challenging in comparison to earlier years.

That said the first 8 stages were pretty dramatic in their own ways.

Don't like abortions? Don't get one.

Don't like the Tour this year? You can always watch the Cubs on the ubiquitous Chicago channel. That should get your pulse right up there.

Don't like abortions? Don't get one. Uh, does the fetus get a "choice?" I won't belabor the point, consider it philosphy and not suitable for a bike forum... :notamused:

Don't like the Tour this year? You can always watch the Cubs on the ubiquitous Chicago channel. That should get your pulse right up there.:roflmao2: The Cubs were good when you could skip school, drive to Wrigley, hang out in the bleachers with the unemployed and work ditchers who brought you a $2 beer if you paid for his. :D ....back when "Fergie" meant the wily Mr. Jenkins.

i enjoy cubs games regularly(not so much this year), of course knowing the VP of Operations for the Cubs doesnt hurt for getting tickets and onto the field for signatures. :)

I know this tour is back loaded with difficulty but man it really seems the first 13 stages have been/are less than challenging in comparison to earlier years.

That said the first 8 stages were pretty dramatic in their own ways.

Ok haven't seen todays stage and would not comment on it if I had.

But going into today the Green Jersey is held by only 6 points and it is not held by Cavendish. That is fairly exciting, but if the announcers act like it doesn't even count then of course some may see this tour as boring.

I do think things have not worked out well so far as far as Polka Dot goes. Actually a bit of a surprise now that I think about it. Two stages with runouts after the last climb means an excellent chance for someone interested in just the KOM, but no one tried for a multipeak break.

Comparing to past recent Tour de France's, the absence of a classic mountain stage with a mountain top finish in the Pyranees is a negative. (I know friday had a mountaintop finish, but I don't consider that a classic or epic pyranees stage) Hopefully, the promoters,and the fans , will be paid back for this, by there still being drama coming to Ventoux.

Everything else though, I would say this has been a more exciting first week than typical.

You had a time trial to start that actually had some effect on GC. To me more interesting than a prologue.
you had an early break on a flat stage that actually survived
you had the peleton split apart on a flat stage by a crosswind, with many GC hopefuls caught out, and a textbook example of the effect of echelons in a cross wind
you've had two textbook examples of 2 up sprints, which people who race would do well to study
you've seen the fastest man alive display that
you've had the reentry of the TTT, and a dramatic TTT at that
you've had Contador attack up an HC climb so fast he had to slow his uphill attack to make a turn



Those things pop to mind and made it a pretty good first week for me.

Good stuff since day one. The only thing I'm tired of is the constant Lance/Contador discussion.

actually I really enjoyed the radio free day, there was more to it than obvious i suppose

Three hours or more of pretty pictures of bicycling thru a beautiful locale, narrated by blokes with British accents so they must know what they're talking about. Not bored. There's a race there? Saynthat reminds me I gotta get some more wine and cheese to enhance my morning viewing pleasure. It's all a big circus innit?

It could have been an interesting race if the peloton weren't so terrified (rightfully) of Astana. And if Astana weren't so confident they could rope-a-dope until the race came to the Alps.

Just for some entertainment value, I'd like to see a breakaway of Boonen, Cancellara, and Ballan on one of these flatter stages. Maybe take Sandy Casar with them. Then see if they can hold off the catch.

Come to think of it, we're all losing sight of the value of sports as entertainment. To hear Bob Roll talk of Astana strategy you'd think it was a war on terrorism.

you've had Contador attack up an HC climb so fast he had to slow his uphill attack to make a turn

Yeah, but that won't happen again unless Contador asks, "May I?" and Lance says, "Yes, you may."

^^^Oh geezustits. I am sick of the LA/Alberto nonsense.

Anyone else been kind of bored by the last few stages of the TDF?

Not me. I think it has been a good tour so far.

Bored? Yes and no.

The only real problem is expectations

A part of us wants attacks and adventure every minute of every day. That's what video games are for, because in real life things are not so eventful.

Cavendish winning 4 stages is getting tedious for me also, but if that's how the race plays out, it's how it plays out.


The bottom line is I don't have to watch it if I don't want to. Complaining about it is waste of energy.
:cheers:

You want 3 weeks of action? It's not going to happen. The last week should be great and then I think all the whiners will quit complaining.

In today's era of immediate gratification, the TDF can't fulfill those fantasies.

Unfortunately the tour organizers have dropped the ball. Each year this race gets easier and easier. They keep dropping the total distance. The Tour started out as 2428 KMs and increased steadily to an all time high of 5745kms in 1926 sicne then the tour averaged about 4500kms from 1930-1970. From 1971-87 to the tour average dipped below 4000 kms to about 3800kms to about 3500kms from 88 to present.

2002 was the worst at 3282 kms.

There years course is horrible. There was no point to the Pyranees as what's the point when a mountain stage finishes on a flat after a long decent. They neutered the Tourmalet.

The race needs to go back to being a 4k km+ race preferably 4.5k kms.

This years tour is basically going to be decided on one stage ratehr than on multiple stages.

Absolutely a travesty ...

What, the TTT didn't have any effect?

Unfortunately the tour organizers have dropped the ball. Each year this race gets easier and easier. They keep dropping the total distance. The Tour started out as 2428 KMs and increased steadily to an all time high of 5745kms in 1926 sicne then the tour averaged about 4500kms from 1930-1970. From 1971-87 to the tour average dipped below 4000 kms to about 3800kms to about 3500kms from 88 to present.

2002 was the worst at 3282 kms.

There years course is horrible. There was no point to the Pyranees as what's the point when a mountain stage finishes on a flat after a long decent. They neutered the Tourmalet.

The race needs to go back to being a 4k km+ race preferably 4.5k kms.

This years tour is basically going to be decided on one stage ratehr than on multiple stages.

Absolutely a travesty ...

The race was too tough and that is one of the reasons that the organizers shortened it. They wanted it tough and clean and that was not happening..

Also making it longer doesn't mean that it is going to encourage more racing, in fact it might make it even more predictable. Why are one day classics so popular? The reasoning that longer races make it more exciting escapes me.

The first TT even though it was short was exciting. The next few days promise some shake up. The long TT will be exciting and Ventoux might be epic, so for you to say that it will be determined on one stage is really a stretch.

Other than two of the mountain stages so far being dull, I think this tour has been pretty good so far. The green jersey battle is close despite Cav's dominance in the sprints and I'm still hoping that Fararr will pull off a win. I do hope the Alps will be better and I'm sure the TT and Ventoux will be exciting.

Unfortunately the tour organizers have dropped the ball. Each year this race gets easier and easier. They keep dropping the total distance. The Tour started out as 2428 KMs and increased steadily to an all time high of 5745kms in 1926 sicne then the tour averaged about 4500kms from 1930-1970. From 1971-87 to the tour average dipped below 4000 kms to about 3800kms to about 3500kms from 88 to present.

2002 was the worst at 3282 kms.

There years course is horrible. There was no point to the Pyranees as what's the point when a mountain stage finishes on a flat after a long decent. They neutered the Tourmalet.

The race needs to go back to being a 4k km+ race preferably 4.5k kms.

This years tour is basically going to be decided on one stage ratehr than on multiple stages.

Absolutely a travesty ...
more or less agree

i watched intently the first 8 stages of this year, if only for the drama. last few stages were deleted from DVR before even viewing

Man this last stage was especially boring!!! Not worth watching at all. I just watch the last 15 minutes and I'm good. Everyone is going to have fresh legs come the Alps, and I think this is a disadvantage for Astana.

Coincidentally, Joe Parkin commented on this very topic yesterday:
http://www.6yearsinaraincape.com/2009/07/15/no-this-is-not-boring/

That said, I only watch the sprint finishes and the mountain stages.

I thought it was a good stage. Interesting break, and KOM battle, Sprint battle. Two man attack, then lone finish. Green jersey sprint, and looking to see how much time AG2R was willing to concede to the break. What else do you want?

Richard

The Cubs were good when you could skip school, drive to Wrigley, hang out in the bleachers with the unemployed and work ditchers who brought you a $2 beer if you paid for his. :D ....back when "Fergie" meant the wily Mr. Jenkins.

I remember Fergie Jenkins when he pitched for the Texas Rangers.

The Tour is OK, however the commercials are annoying. Seeing the same Eharmony commercial 10x an hour, the ridiculous Cadillac ad. Give me a break. They show 2 minutes of racing then break to either a commercial or some interlude. I love Phil Ligget and Sherwin but the other dude with Bob Roll sucks. I mean when they sit at the table and do that lame ass guessing, (Who's gonna win the stage?) crap heres a jersey. Piss Off.

No I don't own Tivo. My brain is just dumb from the last week of mental beating by the VS channel.

I'm with you on the shortening of the race however, when was the last time we saw people cracking? It doesn't seem like anyone really was cracked in the Pyrenees save for Cancellara. Heck Bradley wiggins is 5th overall in the GC.

The Tour is OK, however the commercials are annoying. Seeing the same Eharmony commercial 10x an hour, the ridiculous Cadillac ad. Give me a break. They show 2 minutes of racing then break to either a commercial or some interlude. I love Phil Ligget and Sherwin but the other dude with Bob Roll sucks. I mean when they sit at the table and do that lame ass guessing, (Who's gonna win the stage?) crap heres a jersey. Piss Off.

No I don't own Tivo. My brain is just dumb from the last week of mental beating by the VS channel.

So why do you watch VS if you don't like all those commercials that they show?

I'm with you on the shortening of the race however, when was the last time we saw people cracking? It doesn't seem like anyone really was cracked in the Pyrenees save for Cancellara. Heck Bradley wiggins is 5th overall in the GC.

The first two years of the TDF was run through the night! They eliminated that idea after people cheated by cover of darkness!
Long TDF's are a stupid idea. The longest in 1926 at 5,745 km. was over the top.

The first two years of the TDF was run through the night! They eliminated that idea after people cheated by cover of darkness!
Long TDF's are a stupid idea. The longest in 1926 at 5,745 km. was over the top.

Pretty amazing though when you consider they rode that on a fixed.

I'd have to agree with the OP, i had been finding it a bit lacklustre. The Pyrenees were a disappointment to me and hope the Alps gets some breaks. Todays is fantastic though. Hope no one gets too badly hurt with the rain.

Oh and watch the tour on www.tg4.tv if you can. The commentary is great if you speak irish but the ad breaks are like every 20 minutes:) Loads of cycling in there.

This is my first time paying any attention to a bike race, out of idle curiosity and interest in the scenery. IMO they need to shake up the rules so that the overall contenders are actually trying to win some of the stages head-to-head. They should get docked points for being stuck in the pack during the last few km. I'd dump the time trials, too. IMO, HTH, YMMV. Needs more head-to-head action. Maybe they should limit the last 3 stages to the top 10 leaders and have 'em fight it out.

They should get docked points for being stuck in the pack during the last few km

You want Armstrong and Contador to mix it up with the sprinters? No way is that going to work or happen.

There's plenty of head to head action coming up.

The TDF formula has worked well for nearly 100 years. No need to change it.

For your first time watching you seem to have all of the answers. Sit back relax and enjoy. The tour is fine as is.

Richard


This is my first time paying any attention to a bike race, out of idle curiosity and interest in the scenery. IMO they need to shake up the rules so that the overall contenders are actually trying to win some of the stages head-to-head. They should get docked points for being stuck in the pack during the last few km. I'd dump the time trials, too. IMO, HTH, YMMV. Needs more head-to-head action. Maybe they should limit the last 3 stages to the top 10 leaders and have 'em fight it out.

I love that the green jersey keeps changing hands

Pretty amazing though when you consider they rode that on a a small fleet of fixed gear bikes, changing bikes to one with more suitable gearing from time to time.

fify. :D

The no coasting thing would get very weary though.

fify. :D

The no coasting thing would get very weary though.

The problem is that you can only have so many decisive stages for the overall lead. This lead up to the last 2 mountain top climbs and the ITT is great. Look at how tight things are. You will all forget the first 2.5 weeks if we can have 3 stages hotly contested.

If AC takes time on LA Sunday, how much time if any can LA take back in the ITT? I don't think that LA can lose any more than 40 seconds total to AC before the time trial.

For your first time watching you seem to have all of the answers. Sit back relax and enjoy. The tour is fine as is.

Well I can respect that you like it fine the way it is. My favorite sports have been wrecked to make them more TV-friendly and "exciting" for the armchair public who don't have any appreciation for the tradition and the finer points, so I understand the objection.

I'm just commenting that I don't seem many people getting interested in watching this without obvious head-to-head challenges. The guys who've been "winning" the stages aren't even contenders, and some don't even finish the race. Joe Six-Gear makes a mad dash for the "win"...but then you remember he doesn't have a hope of winning the whole enchilada. Oooo-kay... Meanwhile, the "contenders" are lazily cruising along in the mob chatting about their iPods or tonight's dinner menu or something.

I think I saw somebody wearing a Catlike Kompact last night. I was lucky enough to score one on sale while they were "upgrading" to the Whisper. The Kompact is nice.

I also think they should mandate that all frame tubes except seatstays and chainstays be metal and have circular cross-sections. These funny blade-shaped bikes with weird cutouts just don't do it for me. Skinny tubes forever!

I'd also be more interested in watching girlies on bikes than a bunch of dudes. I don't care if they're slower.

Well, back to the scenery...

I love that the green jersey keeps changing hands

I don't. I am a Hushovd fan, but I think the best sprinter should be wearing the green jersey, not the best rider who can keep up in the mountains and who can also sprint.

In the past, Hushovd has been one of the best sprinters, but this year, that is CLEARLY Cavendish.

The GC race has been very boring so far this year, but the green jersey race has kept it exciting. Hopefully the GC race will get better in the Alps.

You will either be a fan of watching or not. There is a lot of tradition in bike racing that should be left as is.

You will figure it out one day if you keep watching.

Richard


Well I can respect that you like it fine the way it is. My favorite sports have been wrecked to make them more TV-friendly and "exciting" for the armchair public who don't have any appreciation for the tradition and the finer points, so I understand the objection.

I'm just commenting that I don't seem many people getting interested in watching this without obvious head-to-head challenges. The guys who've been "winning" the stages aren't even contenders, and some don't even finish the race. Joe Six-Gear makes a mad dash for the "win"...but then you remember he doesn't have a hope of winning the whole enchilada. Oooo-kay... Meanwhile, the "contenders" are lazily cruising along in the mob chatting about their iPods or tonight's dinner menu or something.

I think I saw somebody wearing a Catlike Kompact last night. I was lucky enough to score one on sale while they were "upgrading" to the Whisper. The Kompact is nice.

I also think they should mandate that all frame tubes except seatstays and chainstays be metal and have circular cross-sections. These funny blade-shaped bikes with weird cutouts just don't do it for me. Skinny tubes forever!

I'd also be more interested in watching girlies on bikes than a bunch of dudes. I don't care if they're slower.

Well, back to the scenery...

this year's tour is less than half as exciting (so far) as this years giro.