Tour de France 2013

Which was really great to see. Anyone who thinks that the guy who came second in his first tour doesnt have heart or passion, or is just the product of a machine, is wrong.

Delighted that Quintana won the stage, he deserved that after animating so many of the mountain stages. In a sense, he reminded me of Pantani and his debut in the Tour, in that he was clearly the best climber but needed to work on the timing of his efforts. Let's hope that's where the similarities end.

Anyone who thinks this was a boring Tour needs a fucking reality check. It was brilliant, one of the best I can remember with some superb racing from the very beginning.

I am trying to think what made it boring in some people's minds. Was it the scenery? Was it Evans disappearing? Was it Quintana attacking? Was it Sagan? Was it a new sprinter putting up a real challenge to Cavendish? Was it Contador not being totally dominant? Was it Froome attacking at the final kilometre? Was it Ritchie Porte coming back from the dead time and again? Was it Thomas riding maimed or Martin? Was it Voight attacking? Was it Europcar attacking in every state? Was it Rolland going for it yesterday and then cracking?

I'm bored of this now but there are many more highlights that you might have found ever so dull.

Looking back on Tour de France in 20 years time, if not sooner, unfortunately Team Sky, including Wiggo and Froome, will go down in history as the ones who killed some formidable qualities such as instinct, guts, bravery and spontaneity let alone passion, heart and soul, just to mention a few forgotten elements of the sport that can't be computer calculated and listed on spreadsheets - basically everything I love and treasure about professional cycling having followed it and been part of the sport one way or another for nearly 40 years. By then undoubtedly pro teams will simply compare Watt diagrams and do a round of honours in Paris and the race will be over and done with.

Don't get me wrong; fabulous performance by Froome and Sky - you can't take that away from them - but today the Tour de France and pro cycling died a little bit, and this is just the beginning. Good day for Froome and Team Sky, not so good for cycling and Tour de France.

Sorry mate but having a clean team regardless of the perceived morality of the sponsor is the only thing that will ensure people are watching this in 5 years time let alone 20

I was a bit disappointed that Voeckler didn't gurn more, if I'm being honest.

"...Anyone who thinks that the guy [Quintana] who came second in his first tour doesnt have heart or passion, or is just the product of a machine, is wrong."

Couldn't agree more. If I were to summarise the tour in one word it would be just that, Quintana.

Unfortunately heart and passion aren't compatible with modern training methods and pro cycling sports directory systems, hence Movistar, or whatever team Quintana signs with in the future, will work intensely with him to try and change that over the next couple of years, much like you're seeing with the likes of Kwiatkowski, Uran, Talansky, and Majka, let alone Sagan just to mention a few.

For shame, for shame.

Things change, if you don't like it >>>>>>>>>>>>

Or start your own pro team?

Things change, that's inevitable... not always for the better though.

One of the reasons for Sky being into pro cycling is that James Murdoch is a MAMIL. You may not like him, his father or their companies but he shares a passion with you. Live with it. Better a passionate team owner than one who simply looks at winning at any cost. Indeed, his passion may be what ensures that Sky are clean.

I wasn't that bothered about the Tour this year. Other stuff seemed more interesting. I could tell it was less boring than last year's edition, but sport in the non-participatory sense is something I can generally take or leave. The sports-talk really doesn't help though. Next year I'm ignoring this thread and turning the sound down on the virtual telly.

What a fucking day!!

I think the appliance of nerdy science to win sporting events is quite cool actually. Better than drugs. And for all the boffinry there'll always be someone who comes along every once in a while with a raw style to shake things up. I liked this year, after seeing Wiggins win last year with little flair, I got great pleasure from seeing froome ride the way he did on those hills.

Looking back in the LFGSS in 20 minutes time, if not sooner, unfortunately Lynchman, will go down in history as the ones who killed some formidable trolling such as instinct, guts, bravery and spontaneity let alone passion, heart and soul, just to mention a few forgotten elements of trolling that can't be computer calculated and listed on spreadsheets - basically everything I love and treasure about professional trolls having followed it and been part of the trollage one way or another for nearly 40 years. By then undoubtedly Lynchman will simply repeat the same old tired and tested trolling.

Don't get me wrong; fabulous performance by Lynchman - you can't take that away from him - but today the forum and fellow trollers died a little bit, and this is just the beginning. Good day for Lynchman, not so good for the LFGSS and the fellow trollers.

On one level I can see where Lynchman and others are coming from. But for every ounce of personality stifled by technology there's also something gained. I doubt I'll ever forget what I saw on Mont Ventoux this year. That's progress, plain and simple, and it was incredible.

instinct, guts, bravery and spontaneity let alone passion, heart and soul,

Respectively;

Froome making his move on the second pass of Alpe d'Huez
Froome keeping his shit together the first time he got isolated
Porte taking it up and putting it out on the line so many time knowing the damage it would do
Froome's early little attack in the first week to lay down his marker and then the Pyrennean assault to take yellow
Kennaugh riding himself to a standstill for his team leader.
The look on Bosen Hagen's face when he knew he was out.
Thomas riding on with a broken pelvis

Not the best examples of each from the whole tour but gobshite to say thet aren't there. Maybe Lynchman has accidentalyy been tuning in to footage

Of some Rapha club runs.

"Looking back..."

Rep!

At some point all the teams will adopt (and improve on) sky's spreadsheets... At that point you will find a lot of riders with similar output and it will go back to being the heart that decides races.

People thought allowing gears, shortening races, allowing team sponsorship, carbon bikes and every other change in the history of the tour would destroy it and take the heart out.

People are stupid and wrong.

I was into the tour for a bit but then it got kinda corporate/mainstream.

But seriously. Great race. Loved Bakelants discovering he had Voight levels of bravery, Colombia having a new hero and Skelator getting to ride his race.

At some point all the teams will adopt (and improve on) sky's spreadsheets...

I'm really hoping for that instead of the previous method of professional doping.

Well this is certainly the dullest reaction to one of the best tours in revent years, and hopefully a clean one for once.

I love the fact a good GT is two or more months of one-days races squeezed into one, and each day brings new heros, so when a mate days 'when it's one sided it's boring' I can cock-punch him then point out there are a hundred little battles being fought out all the time, and when you get bored of that, enjoy the scenery.

I hope I saw a clean race. My gut says ASO and maybe UCI said 'clean centenary tour or else' and people listened.

And to Contador: have we finally seen the true Pistolero?

Tune in next week to find out

Delighted that Quintana won the stage, he deserved that after animating so many of the mountain stages. In a sense, he reminded me of Pantani and his debut in the Tour, in that he was clearly the best climber but needed to work on the timing of his efforts. Let's hope that's where the similarities end.

Anyone who thinks this was a boring Tour needs a fucking reality check. It was brilliant, one of the best I can remember with some superb racing from the very beginning.

This, and can everyone please stop quoting Lynchman-the ignore button has a very important function that is nullified if you do not.

Very happy to see that after 'smashing it up and down' hills all day my favoured (but not ideal) podium is in place, Contador made to look pedestrian, Valverde left in the shade, and a wee Columbian superhero in the spotted jersey. Fucking epic tour from him.

night folks.

Spotted or white though, which takes precedence?

Judging by the fact Nieve was wearing it while Nairo was ahead I think white > polka. Though Polka jersey with white shorts would look good.