Tour de France 2012

Glad I placed my bet in February now.

Sell it on now to avoid disappointment in July

I don't know, I like to to think cycling is immune from that national curse unlike football and tennis.

All about having realistic expectations innit.

All about having realistic expectations innit.

Fuck me, Wiggo's not won it yet! It's not in the bag! We do this at every football World cup, demanding nothing but the win then we sob into our pints when we come second or third. Same as on the track - if it's not gold it's a failure, when just 10 years ago we had all on not coming last.

Let's keep it in perspective, people. Wiggo might fall off again.

You are one of those people who cost us the Empire.

Oh.

Needs a montage of Evans, Goss, Hesjedal and all the other riders from ex-colonial nations and then Wiggo as Vader.

I'm just grateful to have a british rider with a realistic chance to cheer on. Girlie voice will win it though.

You are one of those people who cost us the Empire.

Oh.

Brilliant!

^ Godwin.

It seems unlikely, his climbing is brilliant but he's very inexperienced at descending. Only done it the twice and ended up getting nailed by the Italians.

http://www.itv.com/tourdefrance/tour-de-france-2012-itv4-live-schedule/

Highlights at 7pm

Live coverage details for every stage of the Tour de France on ITV4 and ITV.com/tour in 2012. Watch stage highlights on ITV4 at 7pm every evening.

There is at least two and a half hours of live coverage for every day of this year's race. We have extended live coverage of five stages, of up to five hours of live action!

Date

Stage

ITV4 live (BST)

Saturday 30th June Prologue: Liege > Liege 1400-1700

Sunday 1st July Stage 1: Liege > Seraing 1400-1630

Monday 2nd July Stage 2: Vise > Tournai 1400-1630

Tuesday 3rd July Stage 3: Orchies > Boulogne-sur-Mer 1400-1630

Wednesday 4th July Stage 4: Abbeville > Rouen 1400-1700

Thursday 5th July Stage 5: Rouen > Saint-Quentin 1400-1630

Friday 6th July Stage 6: Epernay > Metz 1400-1630

Saturday 7th July Stage 7: Tomblaine > La Planche des Belles Filles 1400-1630

Sunday 8th July Stage 8: Belfort > Porrentruy 1200-1630

Monday 9th July Stage 9: Arc-et-Senans > Besancon 1400-1700

Tuesday 10th July REST DAY

Wednesday 11th July Stage 10: Macon > Bellegarde-sur-Valserine 1400-1630

Thursday 12th July Stage 11: Albertville > La Toussuire-Les Sybelles 1200-1700

Friday 13th July Stage 12: Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne > Annonay Davezieux 1200-1600

Saturday 14th July Stage 13: Saint-Paul-Trois-Chateaux > Le Cap d'Agde 1400-1630

Sunday 15th July Stage 14: Limoux > Foix 1400-1630

Monday 16th July Stage 15: Samatan > Pau 1400-1700

Tuesday 17th July REST DAY

Wednesday 18th July Stage 16: Pau > Bagneres-de-Luchon 1200-1630

Thursday 19th July Stage 17: Bagneres-de-Luchon > Peyragudes 1200-1630

Friday 20th July Stage 18: Blagnac > Brive-la-Gaillarde 1400-1700

Saturday 21st July Stage 19: Bonneval > Chartres 1400-1630

Sunday 22nd July Stage 20: Rambouillet > Paris Champs-Elysees 1400-1700

so excited. would be more so if for the first 16 days I'll be working stupid shifts, but anyway.

Listening to DAF right now and I could be hallucinating because of said excitement but i'm starting to hear a certain luxemburger's name in the lyrics:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9unDIaness"]Ich
Will - D.A.F. - YouTube[/ame]

Uncanny.

provisional start list

Guardian on Sky's squad

BBC Version

So there you have it, the big Sky question answered, Wiggins over Cavendish. Probably the sensible choice.

Predictable, given the Giro team and Cav's desire for Olympic gold, after being denied in Beijing. Besides I reckon Cav's after Mecrkx's stage win record more than green jerseys. Smash and grab in the first week when the team can focus on him more, maybe putting himself through the mountains if he thinks he can take green. He won't abandon while he's wearing it though.

Would have liked to see Uran there though

Agreed but I suspect that Uran is being prepped for a key position in a strong team in the Vuelta.

Cav is probably only on for 3 stages plus Paris if he lasts that long this year. It won't be a bad showing though and will get him into that record within five years if he can keep it up.

I think Sky could have probably named this squad at the start of the season: smells of meticulous planning throughout. Wiggins has got his lieutenants he's been training with all season, and on the showing in the Dauphine they are all on brilliant form. Cav wants gold at the Olympics more than green, so was thrown the bone of the Giro's red jersey (which he dropped) with a team built around him, with Uran and Haneo as a couple of wild card GC contenders. It will be interesting to see the Vuelta squad: will Froome or Porte be in going for the overal win, or Uran?

Froome.

bye, johan...

Looks like we're going to be in the Pyrenees on the 18th July (alas sans velo) - Think the Col d'Aubisque will be the closest hill - any tips on watching, how long before are the roads closed etc?