Professional Cycling For the Fans - 2012 Tour de France - Stage 18 - Blagnac → Brive-la-Gaillarde- Friday July 20

http://www.grassyknolltv.com/2012/tour-de-france/resources/profiles/profile-18.jpg

jérémy roy or....as an opportunity to let other teams do the pacemaking...sky let slip a dog of war-ebh.

just heard phil say that the peloton was going 45 miles per hour. not a good year for the old fella. might need to be put out to pasture.

just heard phil say that the peloton was going 45 miles per hour. not a good year for the old fella. might need to be put out to pasture.

They were going 45 Kph at the time, give the old guy a break, he is still very entertaining.

the guy can't go twenty minutes without making a mistake. seems to have gotten worse each year.

He might be doing it intentionally. They've got to do something to make this year's edition exciting. When you hear 45mph don't you want to take a look?

Now if we could just hear "Wiggens is on the side of the road yacking up his breakfast! The rest of the Sky team is stopped with him! Nibali and Evans are getting away! Froome now takes off in hot pursuit!"

That would be worth watching.

Cavendish. Still a phenomenon. Nobody else in the picture.

Cavendish. Still a phenomenon. Nobody else in the picture.

Stunning burst of pace, great finish.

Wow! That's your Olympic champion right there! That gave me goosebumps

Outstanding leadout started by wiggo. I tell you, I've been pulling for the "underdogs" all tour hoping someone dethrones the Sky Train, but I absolutely loved that finish by them.

he tied the record. is anyone surprised he won?

he tied the record. is anyone surprised he won?

I'm never surprised he wins. Going from more than 300 meters from home is something, though - he must have thought it was the Champs Élysées. Left them absolutely for dead.

Wow, what a finish!

For a moment, Sanches fancied himself a sprinter and thought he had the stage win locked-up, but he simply gave up when he saw how fast Cav passed him by. Cav took the heart right out of him! Geez, Cav started that sprint from 600 mtrs. out!

Outstanding ride for Cav and the whole field today...

Cav was amazing. He flew past the leaders. Wiggo may have just redefined what it means to be the race champion and how he pays back his sprinter for sacrificing his goals for the team. Amazing race today.

Cav was amazing. He flew past the leaders. Wiggo may have just redefined what it means to be the race champion and how he pays back his sprinter for sacrificing his goals for the team. Amazing race today.

Cavendish went past Sanchez so fast the Sanchez just stopped pedaling, his hand gesture said "I do all this work and this guy comes out of nowhere and goes past me like I was standing still".

Cavendish went past Sanchez so fast the Sanchez just stopped pedaling, his hand gesture said "I do all this work and this guy comes out of nowhere and goes past me like I was standing still".

The funny part - for everyone but Sanchez and Roche - is that they assumed they were being swarmed and sat up. In fact Cavendish was so far ahead of the pack that had they just kept pedalling they'd have taken second and third.

Cav was amazing. He flew past the leaders. Wiggo may have just redefined what it means to be the race champion and how he pays back his sprinter for sacrificing his goals for the team. Amazing race today.

Oh man...please. Wiggins rides a few hundred meters at the end of a flat stage after he's sewn up the jersey for the race, and that's "paying him back" blah blah blah, and "what a display" blah blah blah??? Give me a break.

The stage was surprisingly animated, and I was hoping for one more ex(?)-doper Vino to win the stage.

They were going 45 Kph at the time, give the old guy a break, he is still very entertaining.

He is entertaining, I grant you that. But he IS begining to slip. It happens to even the best of us.

Did anyone see Greipel go after the family whose dog got loose?

There was a little girl standing in front of the dog and she looked terrified by his actions.

Way to make fans for the sport. :notamused:

Did anyone see Greipel go after the family whose dog got loose?

There was a little girl standing in front of the dog and she looked terrified by his actions.

Way to make fans for the sport. :notamused:

I saw the one with Gilbert going after the family. The kid looked terrified. They were idiots for not keeping the dog on the leash but that picture is a PR nightmare for BMC and Gilbert.

262542

Did anyone see Greipel go after the family whose dog got loose?

There was a little girl standing in front of the dog and she looked terrified by his actions.

Way to make fans for the sport. :notamused:

It was Gilbert, not Greipel. If you are gonna lambaste a guy, perhaps get his name right?


I saw the one with Gilbert going after the family. The kid looked terrified. They were idiots for not keeping the dog on the leash but that picture is a PR nightmare for BMC and Gilbert.

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It's pretty dumb for him to say "I wanted to hit them", but I have no problem with his anger. You come to the freakin race with this massive dog, and can't control it when a living mass of humanity rushes by at 30 MPH, causing riders to wreck? You deserve all you get coming to you. If you actually ride a bike, what do you do when some idiot driver cuts you off, or worse, causes you to crash? "Oh, sorry sir, I'm sorry if I inconvenienced you by me getting hit by your car." That being said, that photo as a stand-alone item is not good pub. And, as usual, this photo will more than likely be seen out of context.

Did anyone see Greipel go after the family whose dog got loose?

There was a little girl standing in front of the dog and she looked terrified by his actions.

Way to make fans for the sport. :notamused:No one needs those fans. Seemed like a pretty normal and expected reaction from Gilbert. I can't imagine any athlete in any sport acting differently.

If you actually ride a bike

I dont ride a bike. Im a plant for the Animals Liberation Front.

I don't know why it has to be said so many times....KEEP YOUR F---KING DOGS AWAY FROM A BIKE RACE!!!!!! There are enough dangers in the sport without dogs running loose, it drives me nuts!!!

Otherwise: Cav was amazing today, and bravo to Wiggins for an excellent pull during the final stretch. Sky has put together an fantastic team.

he tied the record. is anyone surprised he won?

Sort of. I was thinking Sky would probably just play it safe, defending Wiggo again, not giving Cav a chance to win the stage.

Was glad they proved me wrong.

Cav was amazing. He flew past the leaders. Wiggo may have just redefined what it means to be the race champion and how he pays back his sprinter for sacrificing his goals for the team. Amazing race today.

I was not too thrilled with the way he handled the mountains, his prowess in TT got my respect but in the mountains, not much, but what he did today for CAV, got my respects.

I was not too thrilled with the way he handled the mountains, his prowess in TT got my respect but in the mountains, not much, but what he did today for CAV, got my respects.

+1.

I saw the one with Gilbert going after the family. The kid looked terrified. They were idiots for not keeping the dog on the leash but that picture is a PR nightmare for BMC and Gilbert.

262542

That is who I meant. Thanks for posting the picture. The family was careless, but that poor little girl. :(

A kid's first instinct is to protect his or her family dog. Look at the way she is standing between her dog and Gilbert.

It was Gilbert, not Greipel. If you are gonna lambaste a guy, perhaps get his name right?


It's pretty dumb for him to say "I wanted to hit them", but I have no problem with his anger. You come to the freakin race with this massive dog, and can't control it when a living mass of humanity rushes by at 30 MPH, causing riders to wreck? You deserve all you get coming to you. If you actually ride a bike, what do you do when some idiot driver cuts you off, or worse, causes you to crash? "Oh, sorry sir, I'm sorry if I inconvenienced you by me getting hit by your car." That being said, that photo as a stand-alone item is not good pub. And, as usual, this photo will more than likely be seen out of context.

First of all dude...take a massive chill pill on the name thing.

Second of all, I have no problem with Gilbert being angry.

But there is a little girl between him and the dog. Maybe the family was careless, but the moment Gilbert saw there was a little girl in between he should have turned around, mount his bike and get back to the race. That is what I would have done, adrenaline or no adrenaline.

In fact, a few years ago I was on a similar situation (not in a race and not in the TdF). A neighbor's dog got on my way and knocked me off my bike. Apparently the family had been walking the dog and it got away from them. I was ready to blow up when I saw a little girl come after her dog. She apologized...after she said "I am sorry Mister" I was no longer angry.

Gilbert not only came after the family and their dog, but he had to be physically stopped by a race official (or a team member). What was he goping to do? Hit the Dad? Hit the Mom? Hit the little girl? Kick the dog?

What a ******!

I tell you what, if that was my one of my daughters and some arse wipe bike racer came at us like that, fault or no fault, I would have decked on the spot. Then I would have apologized for the dog getting on the way.

One thing I have no tolerance for is people acting like Gilbert did when there are kids around.

I dont ride a bike. Im a plant for the Animals Liberation Front.

C'est drole, tres drole! :thumb:

Killer sprint... and another one for the uninformed observers that attribute Cavendish's successes to his leadout train.............

I don't know why it has to be said so many times....KEEP YOUR F---KING DOGS AWAY FROM A BIKE RACE!!!!!! There are enough dangers in the sport without dogs running loose, it drives me nuts!!!

Otherwise: Cav was amazing today, and bravo to Wiggins for an excellent pull during the final stretch. Sky has put together an fantastic team.

While we are at it, why don't we keep fans away from mountain passes, where they are now free to throw tacks on the road, or punch riders, or get on the way with their stupidly huge flags?

Why don't we also keep fans with bags away from the racers, so there is no danger of the bag hooking up a rider's handlebar's and bring down the Tour's leader?

I have no problem with the concept of people keeping their dogs leashed and under cotnrol. The dog could have ran into the road, when a car was passing by, and gotten killed. That is pretty irresponsible pet ownership.

My problem is with a rider running after a family and, even after seeing that there was a little kid involved, continue coming at them--to the point where he had to be physically restrained by a team member (or race official).

Say what you want about Armstrong, but I seriously doubt that he would do what Gilbert did today. I did not see go after the person with the bag; he just got back on his bike and continued riding.

That is what an athlete AND a gentleman would do.

That is what an athlete AND a gentleman would do.

Don't be such a pompous arse.

Oh man...please. Wiggins rides a few hundred meters at the end of a flat stage after he's sewn up the jersey for the race, and that's "paying him back" blah blah blah, and "what a display" blah blah blah??? Give me a break.

The stage was surprisingly animated, and I was hoping for one more ex(?)-doper Vino to win the stage.

I think you've pretty much made your point - again- that you don't like Wiggins. That's your prerogative. If you don't think his turn on the front of the bunch changed the outcome of the race, I don't know what to tell you...............

The ex-doper quota was filled yesterday. Today Andre Darrigade has company- and Cavendish's achievement should not be undervalued.

Don't be such a pompous arse.+1 There is a lot at stake for these riders, it's not the dogs fault, nor the little girls, but between the two adults there one of them should have had the common sense or good judgement to restrain that HUGE dog. That crash and the injuries to the cyclist was totally avoidable.
http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/07/news/stray-dog-leaves-injured-philippe-gilbert-worried-about-olympic-hopes_230908

IMO Cav has a higher top end speed than both Cippo and Peta at their peak. Amazing show of speed today.

Don't be such a pompous arse.

Amen. To have your career potentially ended because some idiots brought a dog and then couldn't control it is enough to cause this reaction among anyone.

These guys have worked harder than any of us to get to where they are. To have their livelihood then threatened by a dog? They deserve to be this pissed off.

Amen. To have your career potentially ended because some idiots brought a dog and then couldn't control it is enough to cause this reaction among anyone.

These guys have worked harder than any of us to get to where they are only to see their livelihood threatened by a dog deserve to be this pissed off.

He hasn't worked at his career any harder than I, or others, have worked at our own careers.

Still that does n't excuse him to go on a rampage that terrified a little girl.

Get back on your bike and HTFU.

Don't be such a pompous arse.

The kettle calling the pot black.:roflmao2:

The stage was surprisingly animated, and I was hoping for one more ex(?)-doper Vino to win the stage.

Vino was probably really upset that Hansen stuck with him and foiled his attempt to launch a solo attack way too early only to be caught by the peloton with 3K to go. It's been his trademark move for the past couple of years, and it just doesn't look the same when some other rider is hanging on his wheel. His last chance to go down in a blaze of glory and Hansen spoiled it.

He hasn't worked at his career any harder than I, or others, have worked at our own careers.



Well, I can't claim to know how hard you work. But unless you're making your living as a clown, it's pretty clear he's been more successful.

He hasn't worked at his career any harder than I, or others, have worked at our own careers.

Still that does n't excuse him to go on a rampage that terrified a little girl.

Get back on your bike and HTFU.

I guess this could be said about anything in racing. Dangerous finish with road furniture 100 meters from the finish and you go down? HTFU and get back on your bike. Mavic neutral support runs you off the road? HTFU and get back on your bike! Someone throws tacks on the road and you crash on the downhill? HTFU and get back on your bike!


HtGI

He hasn't worked at his career any harder than I, or others, have worked at our own careers.

Still that does n't excuse him to go on a rampage that terrified a little girl.

Get back on your bike and HTFU.

I guess this could be said about anything in racing. Dangerous finish with road furniture 100 meters from the finish and you go down? HTFU and get back on your bike. Mavic neutral support runs you off the road? HTFU and get back on your bike! Someone throws tacks on the road and you crash on the downhill? HTFU and get back on your bike!

Riders too often put up with dangerous situations without complaint. Bout time someone got angry about it.

I love Wiggins.

Cav loves Wiggins. Afterall, they are former Madison partners.

I love dogs. And children. Particularly little girls. I like kids, actually, more than any cyclist I've met yet (excluding myself).

I have had dogs enter races. It sucks. Crashes have ensued. Yelling follows.

I, nor any in those races were full time professional cyclists. Nor were we on international television.

Crashing sucks. Behaving like an a raving lunatic around children sucks more. Sponsors, I imagine frown upon it.

The whole dog incident reminds me of another BMC rider... Vicelord

Crashes happen. Doesn't excuse them though when they are caused by someone so stupid as that family is. And I couldn't give a crap less if some kid got freaked out. It'll get over it and perhaps learn something about responsibility.

No one needs those fans. Seemed like a pretty normal and expected reaction from Gilbert. I can't imagine any athlete in any sport acting differently.

Your normal is at odds with mine.

That was just my impression from what I saw on t.v. Cav appeared to have been tearing up in the post-race interview and the hug he gave Wiggins was more than the standard thanks mate. According to Wiggins and Boasson Hagen it was planned before the race so it wasn't a spur of the moment decision. It looked like it meant a lot to both of them. I think Wiggins gave Boasson Hagen the pull he needed to Cav close enough to finish it. In the 12-ish years I've been watching the tour I can't remember when a race leader led-out the teams sprinter in the closing days when the conventional wisdom would be to just hang with the pack and play it safe.

I do agree that Wiggins could have handled the mountains differently but with that strong of a team he probably felt like he didn't have to.

And yeah, Sanchez didn't seem happy. Maybe he thought Cav had a jetpack or something. Cheers

i wonder what speeds did Cavendish reach in those final moments when he passed everyone?

Ludicrous speed.