Bob Dopolina 

I went looking for this thread and couldn't find one. Is this really the case? Please tell me I am blind and stupid and do me the kindness of linking me to the appropriate thread.

furiousferret

There's a Pro Cycling Group that usually has TdF posts.

YMCA

217

mattm

historically the 33 has had our own special TdF thread.

looks like this is it!

so cav..

YMCA

Then why can't we have threads of other major Tours/Classics. I prefer not to hop around BF all day. This is a bike racing forum. Let it be about everything bike racing. Besides the few times I stopped by the 217, it was like talking to basement dwellers

mattm

seems like froome didnt want the yellow jersey today, too early to defend it.

exciting finish! bunch of big names battling it out.

grolby

Froome didn't miss out on the yellow jersey cause he didn't want it. No way he was going to win today. Awesome stage, though. I like what I'm seeing so far.

YMCA

Froome had little chance of winning today. Punchers to the fore! The top 6 in todays stage define that style

mattm

didn't know nibali was that punchy but yeah.

still he's happy where he's at I'm guessing.

not it that i really want him to win!

mattm

also, I enjoyed seeing all the fan-rider interactions today! that one garmin guy slapped like three cameras/phones in a row!

mollusk

It is both a plus and a minus that for stages 1 and 2 they started coverage at 6 am. The plus is that I get to see how it shaked out to get to that particular breakaway group. That tells a lot about how each team is approaching this race and the race in general.

The minus is that now I don't tell my dog to go back to sleep when he sticks his nose on me early in the morning, but I get up with him and then watch the early stuff. The biggest minus is that on days like today I had to watch until it was over as it was very compelling racing and by then it was ungodly hot and humid here in northern Florida. Riding earlier in the day only makes it ungodly humid this time of year. Hot or humid is fine for riding. Both sucks.

hack

I always want to be impressed by Sagan, but then he just makes mistakes. Not sure if he's not racing smart and tries to ride everyone off his wheel or what, but he seems to make some mental errors. Against the best sprinters, he can't win. Against, the GC climbers where he was supposed to win, he doesn't come through. He does well to rack up points for the green jersey and did well here in California, but it seems he is still lacking that extra little kick.

Ygduf

he should get a jersey with a fist on it!

MDcatV

agree 100%

ShutUpLegs

I kind of agree. He put in a good effort to try and break away, but to no avail and then he did a good job of marking those that tried afterwards. It actually looked like no one was prepared for Nibali to make that move. As soon as he went everyone looked at each other. Knowing that Sagan would beat them all in a sprint, no one was willing to do the work to bring back Nibali (I don't blame them). Unfortunately I think he gets caught in this situations a lot because he is able to hang with the riders over those smaller climbs, but has a sprint on par with top sprinters.

ips0803

Part of Sagan's problem appeared to be that he descended fast enough to open up a gap earlier than what he really wanted to have in his head. Good move by Nibali though, fun to watch.

I enjoyed watching Voekler's attempt at bodying the cofidis rider get shut down.

furiousferret

Christian Vande Velde (sp?) seems like a natural at commentary, atypical of the usual rookie commentator fresh out of the sport.

MDcatV

he does?

ips0803

Via inrng re: Sagan

"Peter Sagan seemed to lose the stage being almost too visible in the finale but he late said that once Nibali jumped he didn’t want to chase his friend. They were team mates at Liquigas before."

mattm

i think he's doing pretty well, and has good insight having recently "graduated" from the peloton.

as long as it's not Carlton Kirby in happy.

mattm

dunno why but i really hate the steve perino(?) guy on the motorbike in the race. just seems like useless commentary and it's always awkward.

YMCA

Nibali not a true puncher I suppose, but was good to see his counter.
Caught out the 5 guys who really had a chance in that group.

hack

It seems the audio and/or video never work when they try to cut to him. Maybe the rest of the broadcast team don't care for him either so they send him out on a motorbike for the day.

save10

i usually watch on a eurosport feed....sean yates is pretty good at commentary. stage 2 was sick!

mattm

it was a great move, fun to watch!


kittels leadout today was impressive, not to mention his sprint. ain't nobody coming around that!!