Tour de France 2010

Wiggins, wiggins, wiggins.

For me, pussying out of the opening TT was where it went wrong. a 4km TT? he's the fucking olympic champion at that,

I think you'll find that's Cancellara, (Olympic road TT gold) albeit the distance was somewhat longer.

The Madeleine is a long, tough climb so it should see a selection made, but with a 25 km descent then 15 kms up the Maurienne valley to the finish there's plenty of time for dropped riders to chase back on. I'd expect a similar size group to Sunday contesting the finish, unless someone is on a super day (and the rest day was yesterday so someone might be full of beans today) and goes hard early on the Madeleine.

I'm not sure whether people would choose to eat beans in particular on a rest day in the Tour. ;)

It was a euphemism, Oliver. 800 ml of packed cells doesn't quite have the same ring to it.

I think you'll find that's Cancellara, (Olympic road TT gold) albeit the distance was somewhat longer.

They should clearly make the opening TT of the TdF a track pursuit just so our boys are in with a chance and to make up for the lost Olympic pursuit (which is a scandal).

Ironically I would think this stage would be good for Lance - needs someone who can descend well as well as climb.
Maybe Basso or Vino going off the front on one of the descents?

It was a euphemism, Oliver. 800 ml of packed cells doesn't quite have the same ring to it.

What are 'packed cells'? Do you mean packets for blood transfusions? I'm afraid I don't know the lingo.

Leipheimer to try and make a move, perhaps?

Hell might freeze over too.

Has Leipheimer *ever *made a move? All he does is follow.

But Leipheimer has the extra strong RadioShack team 176% behind him now. The balance of power in the team has shifted! The King is dead, long live the King! ;)

What are 'packed cells'? Do you mean packets for blood transfusions? I'm afraid I don't know the lingo.

It's how Jonathan Vaughters described it in that infamous IM chat with Frankie Andreu;

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/indepth/landis/instantmessage.html

Ironically I would think this stage would be good for Lance - needs someone who can descend well as well as climb.
Maybe Basso or Vino going off the front on one of the descents?

Samuel Sanchez - can climb with the best, unlike Armstrong, and is the best descender in the peleton.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_xMfifw6Jw

Leipheimer to try and make a move, perhaps?

who for? Lance? i don't think lance wants bum-love now.

Samuel Sanchez - can climb with the best, unlike Armstrong, and is the best descender in the peleton.

Right I'm with you then. And fired up after 2nd yesterday!

Racing is underway and a break has gone already, containing Pineau, Voigt and Luis Leon Sanchez. He's only 5 mins down on GC so the likes of BMC, Saxo Bank and Astana are going to keep this break on a short leash. It's going to be a long, long day for the sprinters.

Although Lance will be working for Levi I can still see Lance trying to get a stage win, will need a lot of Beans tho!

Racing is underway and a break has gone already, containing Pineau, Voigt and Luis Leon Sanchez. He's only 5 mins down on GC so the likes of BMC, Saxo Bank and Astana are going to keep this break on a short leash. It's going to be a long, long day for the sprinters.

12 riders clear;

Jerome Pineau (QuickStep), Thos Hushovd (Cevelo), Jens Voigt (Saxo Bank), Cyril Gautier (Bbox), Luis Leon Sanchez (Caisse d'Epargne) , Jose Ivan Gutierrez (Caisse d'Epargne), Christophe Moreau (Caisse d'Epargne), Sandy Casar ( FdJ), Rinaldo Nocentini (AG2R), Johannes Fröhlinger (Milram), Anthony Charteau ( Bbox).

Damiano Cunego and a couple of Euskaltel riders are trying to get across.

Voigt is going to sit in, then drop back to pace Andy Schlek up the Col de la Madeleine.

I notice there's no Shack riders in the break. No Sky riders either.

Popovych is with Robbie Hunter between the break and the peleton, trying to get across.

The break's lead is around the 3 minute mark so LL Sanchez's presence means its doomed. If he wasn't there they'd probably have 10 minutes now, but he's too dangerous to the GC riders.

Vino on the attack now. It's going to be a tough day for BMC.

Anyone know what happend with Thor? BBC say he just crashed.

Argh, can't get a stream to connect with Eurosport over my tethered phone!

Oooh, this sounds awesome.

Fuckity. Audio feed anyone? I may just have to go home and sit around watching it and doing nothing else like the bum I am.

Got one, nm.

Thank fuck the tour is back. Work is bleak without the tour on in the background.

From BBC:

Meanwhile, Lance Armstrong has summoned the RadioShack team to chat to boss Johan Bruyneel. Anyone care to speculate what that could be about?

Answers on a postcard please...