Tour De France 2012

[davek]

Official site: http://www.letour.fr/le-tour/2012/us/

BBC Tour page: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/18590625

Gaurdian TdF coverage: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/tourdefrance




Route map....

With Andy Schleck out of the picture this should be down to Evans, Wiggins and Nibali according to the experts. I'd have as a dark horse Canadian Ryder Hesjedal. He's got a very good team around him at Garmin and their strength and experience could see him add the Tour to the Giro he won in May. You can get 30/1 for this feller, which seems good value for a man who's just won a grand tour. I'd also add Chris Froome to the dark horse list. If he gets out of the shadow of Wiggins at SKY again, as he did in last year's Vuelta, he has all the armoury to win this race too.

Prologue starts today at 1.15pm - Liege to Liege. Short (4 mile) time trial.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Can only see Evans or Wiggins winning this. Evidence suggests backing up the Giro and the Tour is very tough so I can't see Hesjedal threatening. Nibali and Frank Schleck aren't good enough at time trialling to threaten. As you say, of the rest I'd say the best contender given all the time trialling on offer is Froome as he can do both well, as can the likes of Rogers and Porte. The Sky squad are so strong they'll have a contender even if something happened to Wiggins in the first week.

I don't think it's a classic route as it has too much time trialling for my liking, but from a British perspective it could be legendary.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Froome is on the course and already a way down on early leader Chavanel. Surprising. Maybe not long enough for him. Wiggins to go in a few minutes.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Schleck lost 30 seconds on Chavanel *shakes head*

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Ooh, Tony Martin has had a puncture. That's the end of him winning this. Could be between Wiggins and Cancellara for yellow now.

 

[chicoazul]

I'm amazed that this is still classed at a sport as it's winner are solely decided by who can take the most drugs and hide it best.

I take it that you chaps have seen the story of your greatest ever cyclist this week? Shameful.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Wiggins down the ramp. Go on lad.

 

[chicoazul]

Just watching it now, they're all smacked off their f*cking tits.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Wiggins in 10th at the half way point. Hmm.

 

[chicoazul]

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Amazing 2nd half from Wiggins. He's in the lead!!

 

[chicoazul]

Seriously, when was the last cyclist to ride competitively without some sort of performing enhancing drug?

 

[scratchnsurf]

Shortest 2 weeks in history that.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Cuddles and Spartacus on the course. Can't see Evans beating Wiggins but Cancellara certainly looks good on a bike.

 

[chicoazul]

Found him.