Tour de France 2014

Disorganised or plain knackered, it was good no train was able to control it at the end, like seeing Kristoff win and not Kittel's hair.

Amusing anecdote from the Guardian

damn. That would have made fine fodder for Ocelot Gruber tomorrow.

And Laura Meseguer. Tres bonne.

Never say that to a woman who understands french

Disorganised or plain knackered, it was good no train was able to control it at the end, like seeing Kristoff win and not Kittel's hair.

Kittel's hair is pretty fantastic though

Agree though it was a nuts finish, gutted for Bauer, he was spent at the finish, but I'm happy to see Kristoff win, Greipel trying to put him in the barriers is dangerous and you can put it down to "sprint moves" but there must've been cm's between the wheels and the barriers... then Kristoff fought his way out and then blasted past him

Risoul The diverse walks of life on Tour never cease to amaze. Near the top of the 34km Col du Lautaret, first climb of the day, a van has stopped and two men are plying paintbrushes energetically on the road. Nothing unusual there, fans paint stuff constantly on the Tour’s tarmac. But this is an official Tour support van, and the van men are not painting a name or a slogan, but glossing over a giant pink phallus, so it will not show from the television helicopter.

from the 2014 giro:

The word 'phallus' is underused these days

Is there any video of Martin Elmiger probably having a sense of perspective about the finish of a fucking bicycling race and not joining in the Garmin Sharp "Tour de Emo"

Yates going home. Head held high I hope

After yesterday's post race interview I really thought he'd make it to the end. I also almost puked when he said he weighs 56 kilos (or something ridiculous like that).

$wag earned in prizes so far.

World apart from football wow. These guys must really love the sport!

World apart from football wow. These guys must really love the sport!

It IS a world apart , yes, but bear in mind those figures are just for stage finishes and sprints etc. The GC also carries a large-ish prize fund - but they aren't racing for prize money, they are getting paid to be there by the teams. A rider that does well in the TdF ( stage win) can expect a hefty increase in salary for the rest of the season, and probably the rest of his career.

World apart from football wow. These guys must really love the sport!

It IS a world apart , yes, but bear in mind those figures are just for stage finishes and sprints etc. The GC also carries a large-ish prize fund - but they aren't racing for prize money, they are getting paid to be there by the teams. A rider that does well in the TdF ( stage win) can expect a hefty increase in salary for the rest of the season, and probably the rest of his career.

Last years numbers showed an average salary for a pro team domestique as just over €100,000. The big names can earn up to €5m. That doesn't include personal sponsorships etc. (Ernst and Young Audit of UCI team finances.)

http://inrng.com/2011/07/how-much-does-a-rider-earn/
http://inrng.com/2011/12/cycling-pay-comparison/

After yesterday's post race interview I really thought he'd make it to the end. .

Never let a neo-pro finish a tour, let alone really beyond the first week. Unless you want to destroy him for years.

Yates going home. Head held high I hope

Really upset about this, but he did very well for such a young age and his first tour!

I'm glad Ulrika Greenedge were sensible and have pulled him from the race. He's obviously got talent and it would be a shame to burn him out too quickly. I thought he did really well, getting in breaks twice in your first Tour is an achievement to be proud of.

Tommy V stops to give some fans who booed him an earful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RYBln_Jnas

Never let a neo-pro finish a tour, let alone really beyond the first week. Unless you want to destroy him for years.

I get this (in theory). But the way he was talking made me think that he was going to be going to the end. Talking about chances to win stages in the coming week, etc..

Anyway, time to make a transfer on the KoM team.

Tommy V stops to give some fans who booed him an earful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RYBln_Jnas

Pussies. He's 3 stone soaking wet, knackered and wearing cycling shoes. I'd have called him out.

It has been a rough tour for OGE. Impey and Matthews out before a pedal was turned and Gerrans getting brought down on stage 1 probably didn't help.

There are a few teams who will be desperate to salvage something from the tour in the last week.

Adam Yates might be riding the Vuelta as his first GT

Pussies. He's 3 stone soaking wet, knackered and wearing cycling shoes. I'd have called him out.

You forgot the key thing, he's French.

^
Racist.