Tour de France 2011

[Scott Brady]

A much more interesting race this year with the big personalities gone. Some spectacular crashes and even some moments of class amongst the peloton. Reminds me more of the tours before the 90s.

I suspect I am not the only one keeping up with the tour, so here is a thread to gather thoughts, videos and images.

http://www.letour.fr/us/

 

[SOAZ]

A great race this year. Yesterday was hard to watch. Such brutal crashes.

The day before seeing Chris Horner finish the race after his big crash and not know where he was or if he had crashed was scary. He kept asking when did I crash? Was it bad? Did I finish with the team? Good thing he called the Tour quites, I hope he recovers well.

 

[Christophe Noel]

I wish we could have a do-over of the first week. This tour is just off to a terrible start. I can't believe the crash-out list. Radio Shack got destroyed in the first week. The post rest day DNS list is sad: Vino, Zabriski, Willems, Jani, Horner, Boonen, Wiggins, and Van den broek are out. Kloden didn't look too super getting into the team car. If Hoogerland can start on Tuesday I'll be beyond amazed. Poor dude.

Chavenal is 44' down, which is a bummer. Anyone who remembers Tommy Voekler's last ride in yellow in 2004 will remember how tough that little roulieur can be. He won't give up that 1'49" without a good scrap. I bet when he does lose it, he'll nearly die trying to keep it. If I were in his shoes, I'd give that jersey away tomorrow like a hot potato in the hopes of getting it back in the Alps.

Since Contador has yet to show up to this race, I'd say it's Cadel's race to lose provided Andy's form is as bad as it appeared to be up to last week. I think a lot of the heat has been sucked out of this year's race. It'll be decided quickly in the Pyrenees when Contador, Evans and the Schlecks meet up to beat up on Tommy V.

So far, this race makes me cringe and look forward to the Vuelta.

 

[bat]

It would have been nice to see what old man Horner had left in his legs

 

[BlackWidow]

WOW lots of crashes this year....What was the driver of the camera car thinking. YOu got to hand it too Hoogerland for getting up after that crash and wearing polka dots. Yesterdays sprint was awesome too. Lets hope the crashes are over with, they have had enough this tour.

 

[Flagster]

A much more interesting race this year with the big personalities gone.

The only big personality I am glad is gone is Armstrong...good riddance...
Too bad I still have to watch a Michelob Ultra Ad every 3 minutes.
This years race...like always is very exciting...Hooray for Hoogland...!!! Too bad for Vino...
Hopefully Contador gets tagteamed by the Schlecks and Evans...
I still miss the Lemond and Indurain days...Fignon...Hinault...Chiapucchi...Alcala...
Those were exciting races...

 

[Wander]

I've also noticed the AC is either well off form or maybe his brush with a doping bust has kept him off the sauce. I also wonder the same about Vino as he's never been the same after his "comeback". I have to admit I don't miss the chessy "pistolero" salute from AC.

The crashes just seem to get worse and more frequent each year, especially during the first week or so. I haven't been keeping up with this years race like I have in the past but it is good to see that it appears more open than in years past. I think in the end this will be Andy's year if he can stay healthy and up right.

 

[trump]

I think in the end this will be Andy's year if he can stay healthy and up right.

That's who I've been pulling for, but his form doesn't look as good as it did last year. Hopefully he's just been putting on a show.

 

[Wander]

I'm hoping he's riding into his form over the first week or so and when the mountains really begin he'll make his move. Is the weather off in France (haven't been following closely) as several riders seem off-like Cav, he doesn't have his overdrive this year.

 

[3konas]

I felt Voeckler represented the Yellow jersey with class on Saturday! Do you think Basso and Voeckler keeping the pace high was the reason the Schleck's attempts to breakaway didn't work? Man, they were frustrated!

I don't think I've ever seen Hinault so happy as he was on Saturday greeting Voeckler on stage getting the Yellow jersey!

 

[pistenbully]

Hello tomorrow the race is going to pass at home in the Alps:wings:

 

[Christophe Noel]

I felt Voeckler represented the Yellow jersey with class on Saturday! Do you think Basso and Voeckler keeping the pace high was the reason the Schleck's attempts to breakaway didn't work? Man, they were frustrated!

I don't think I've ever seen Hinault so happy as he was on Saturday greeting Voeckler on stage getting the Yellow jersey!

I think Leopard just blew it tactically. They started driving the tempo far too soon. The reality is, you can't expect O'grady and Fabian to drive a climbing tempo over two cols. They should have waited and forced the tempo even higher. This brother thang isn't so ideal either in my mind. You can't spend an entire team's energy getting TWO dudes on the podium. Frank should have been the last rider driving the tempo. That would have put everyone on the ropes. Then Andy could have thrown in a few surges and surely it would have blown apart. But, with both Schlecks attacking, then stopping, attacking then stopping, the whole thing got neutralized too much.

And Voekler did great. That dude has the right spirit, I'll give him that much. Sad to hear him confess he has no chance of winning overall.

 

[Wander]

I read his quote in the paper today, what a great spirit to admit he has little hope of holding the jersey to the end but promising to do his best to keep it. What fresh honesty! With that great attitude it makes everyone wish he could be able to hold it all the way. France may not get the yellow jersey in Paris but they do finally have a real champion in the race.

On a side note...you think LEOpard is falling about due to the silly way they are making everyone pronounce the team name??!! :coffeedrink:

 

[Christophe Noel]

On a side note...you think LEOpard is falling about due to silly way they are making everyone pronounce the team name??!! :coffeedrink:

I think it's reasonable to name your team after a tank if you have Fabian, Jens and O'Grady on your squad. The Schlecks themselves? Not so tanky.

 

[Wander]

Is that what the origin is??? I didn't know if it was the big cat or what.