Tour de France *** 2014 *** [LIVE THREAD]

Le Tour ^ | July 2, 2014 | Various

[Baynative]

While the media tries to make soccer into a real sport we are only three days away from the 2014 Tour de France a genuine test of men against men, men against nature, men against elements and men testing their own hearts and will.

[patriotspride]

I like the whole spirit and country and pride thing. With soooo many people along the course and at the finish, the Royals and the PM being there too; it just seemed like destiny. I know he’s really down about it all.

For sure everyone watching got a taste of how tough this sport can be.

---

Agree. Most people can’t stand driving 100 miles in a car let alone do that day in and out, and then throw in some mountains.

Also, don’t realize how much skill it takes to balance, avoid things, maintain position in a build up for a sprint.

The sense of pride is also sorely lacking in many sports. It’s great to see that many people out on the roads, for just a brief glimpse of the peleton going by.

[patriotspride]

He’s done. What a shame.

[real saxophonist]

Kraftwerk - Tour de France"

[Baynative]

Indeed, a shame. Especially with a s print coming up in London on Monday. I hope this doesn’t dampen the spirit of the Brits. They still have Chris Froome, who unlike Cavendish rides for a British team. The down side (in a way) is that was built around Bradley Wiggins and they cut him from the Tour. They also had Cavendish, but he left on his own.

[Baynative]

Bike Ping

Sunday, July 6th - Stage2 201km

Beware of Holme Moss

If you believe race director Thierry Gouvenou but also local experts, the second Yorkshire stage amounts to a small Liege-Bastogne-Liege. As a result, while most riders know the Ardennes hills pretty well, they will have to become familiar with the Yorkshire Moors, the bumps that inspired the Brontë sisters and nature lovers. For British pros and amateurs alike, the classic ascent in the area is the 524-metres-high Holme Moss (Km 143.5), to local cycling what Cote de la Redoute is for Liege fans. The 3rd category climb, home to a fell running race every year, has also featured in most editions of the Tour of Britain as well as the now defunct Leeds Classic. Christian Guiberteau, team director of Tour leader Marcel Kittel, insists the course is as tough as is said: “When people talk about Liege-Basotgne-Liege, it's notexaggerated. It is really tough,” he said. And if crowds are as huge as they were in stage 1, Holme Moss will look like l'Alpe d'Huez.

[PeteB570]

Saw the pre race interview with Cav this morning. Yeah, he’s out.

[Vision]

I just turned the race on but can't find any news articles on Simon Gerrans other than that Cavendish called to say he's sorry.

Is Gerrans still in the race, the victim?

[Vision]

Phil just said today is one of the most exciting days in the history of the TdF.

What is he talking about?

[Cecily]

I think he’s just extra proud of the participation efforts of the English towns and cities and the turnout of the British spectators.

[Baynative]

No news on my feed about Simon Gerrans, but he's still in the GC -@60th.

I missed the whole race today. I'm hoping to finish some errands and watch the replay this evening. I had a quick look at the GC and can't figure out how Sagan went from the White Jersey to Green. I'm guessing intermediate sprints.

[PeteB570]

“...I had a quick look at the GC and can’t figure out how Sagan went from the White Jersey to Green....”

Sagan holds both the Green and White Jerseys. Bardet will just be wearing it for the next stage.

[PeteB570]

And the Lampre rider Richeze is waving the red lantern - by about 3 1/2 minutes.

Anyone think he can hold out to the end?

[Baynative]

"Richeze is waving the red lantern"

He's in a spot of bother because even if stays in the bunch he gains nothing. He needs some luck to find himself in a breakaway that succeeds. That ain't gonna happen on tomorrow's stage. Maybe he can hang on until the hills and find a gap there. ...doubtful

[Baynative]

Bike Ping

Stage 3 - a screamer

The regrettable absence of Mark Cavendish is a blow to hopes of a British home win but local riders will for sure be eager to show themselves in this last stage in the UK. Geraint Thomas and Frenchman Bryan Coquard are the riders at the start of this Tour to have won medals on track in London while Chris Froome, Tony Martin and Alexander Kristoff took Olympics laurels on the road. “London remains my best memory on a bike. I hope to create new ones on this Tour,” said Coquard at the start of the Tour.

[nutmeg]

The regrettable absence of Mark Cavendish is a blow to hopes of a British home win...

And for us TDF fans... Like him or not, Cav is always fun to watch. Really gonna miss him during the many upcoming sprint finishes... :-(

[nutmeg]

Phil just said today is one of the most exciting days in the history of the TdF.

What is he talking about?

I saw/heard that segment twice today (live and during a later repeat). I think he meant "most exciting" regarding the sheer number of spectators who came out to see the riders during Stage 2 in the UK.

[nutmeg]

“X-rays and an ultrasound” had shown he had an “acromioclavicular separation”

Yikes... thanks for that pic, deport. I assume a broken collarbone is easier to fix than a “acromioclavicular separation”?

[Baynative]

In any sport there is always the debate about how current champions would stack up against those from the past.

I'd love to be able to see some finish line duels with Cippolini, Abdujaparov, Jalabert, Boonen, McEwen - that would be fun.

I asked an old coach about the sprinters who ruled before the 90s (when I got interested) and he said there really weren't any that stood out, to him. The riders like Merckx, Anquitil, Hinault and maybe Fignon or LeMond were just bulls who dominated throughout the stage.

BTW- he reminded me that when Cippolini burst on the scene there were lots of calls to test him for drugs, but the sophistication for lab work was not there.

[drewh]

I think Phil meant the turnout of British fans for the three days of the tour.

[Baynative]

Bike Ping

I can see there's not a lot of interest in the Tour so far, but I've got to say that today's finish in London was as good a textbook team finish as I've seen in a while. So - good on Marcel Kittel and his mates on Giant/Shimano. We haven't heard much from John Degenkolb yet, but be prepared. His value is well known on the road.

So... now it's off to France for what appears to be a casual stage with a few bumps and predominately tailing winds.

"Giant Shimano could not dream of a better start to their Tour de France. Like John Degenkolb said after his team-mate Marcel Kittel's stage win in Harrogate: “It's just extraordinary to take the yellow jersey on the first day two years in succession.” While Kittel lost the garment the next day between York and Sheffield, the German sprint star made amends on Monday by snatching his second stage laurels on the Mall in London.

The Dutch team director Christian Guiberteau claimed at the start not expecting a similar haul to last year's five stage wins but he might have been too humble. Especially as Giant Shimano have two trumps up their sleeve in Kittel and Degenkolb.

“Cohabitation between the two has never been a problem. We talked to Marcel before hiring John and things have always been clear. They do not have the same range and do not have the same schedule during the season. Of course, in the Tour they're both here because it's the greatest race in the world. But even here, their missions are different: flat stages are for Marcel and if there are bumps, it's for John,” he said.

The set-up of the Giant Shimano train also slightly differs whether it works for Kittel of for Degenkolb. But the motivation remains the same: 'Sprint really is part of the team culture.'"