Tour de France 2013

I'm glad to see that Dan 'The Flying Elbow' Martin has given himself enough leash to have another crack at a stage win.

Huh? Are you quoting my out of context or have you misunderstood my post? I went back to last year because that's what I remember off the top of my head. My point is, he's finishing in TTs exactly where you'd expect him to.

I know exactly what you are saying. I'm not questioning his performance in the last three years - it makes perfect sense. But I am and have always questioned his jump from what seems like nowhere to grand tour contender.

Simply can't comprehend how Froome can be so dominant... Obviously I haven't got the evidence to suggest that he's on the juice or blood goodies, but on the other hand, discarding the tempo specialists from yesterday's result, the "marginal gain" argument simply doesn't hold.

In any event a 2-3 min gain on the likes of Valverde, Contador, Mollema, Kreuziger, Ten Dam, Rogers, Evans, Roche, Fuglsang and Van Garderen just to mention a few, is hardly marginal. Noticeably the said riders with Mollema finishing 11 and Van Garderen 49 all rode within 1:14min of each other.

Just saying...

A few years ago, Contador surprised us all with a spectacular time trial. That he is less spectacular now and can be beaten by someone who is a noted timetrialist should not surprise us. Perhaps he is eating less beef.

Also Froome thrashed Contador earlier in the season.

Beating Evans is not so surprising. He is not at his best. Van Garderen has been a disappointment.

Teejay ain't the golden boy everyone thought. Karma for riding off on his team leader..

Dutch race drop Cavendish from start list after Cavendish incident with Dutch rider shock.

http://www1.skysports.com/cycling/news/12040/8818484/Tour-de-France-Mark-Cavendish-not-welcome-at-Boxmeer-Criterium-say-organisers

Petty.

Douche move.

More likely they can't afford his appearance money and found a convenient excuse. I'm sure he'll be heartbroken.

That, or they are looking for some press. Any press.

Way to support a rider who has been illegally assaulted by div spectators. Very petty.

To be fair, Cav wasn't the ideal of good sportsmanship in the post-race interview ("but that's why we love him!"). If I'm not mistaken, he spent the majority of it defending himself and attacking others, before finally at the end asking who it was that was knocked down and wishing him good luck.

... because he was livid about being blocked out of the comp by a lead out guy who had looked back and then positioned himself accordingly. Right or wrong he was biting his tongue I'd imagine.

Frankly this thread has sucked hairy balls for about two days. Doping gossip can do one. It was a blessed relief yesterday when disgruntled Frenchies started lobbing bodily fluids about.

Unfortunately, it's the same on every single cycling website in the English speaking world. Non-believers arguing with believers. If more people used the internet regularly in 1999 it would have been the exact same. Superhuman performance in the wake of a massive drugs scandal. It's all part of the cycle.

Imagine how popular the Tour would be if it didn't involve superhuman performances?

It'd have about the same attraction as bike polo.

... because he was livid about being blocked out of the comp by a lead out guy who had looked back and then positioned himself accordingly. Right or wrong he was biting his tongue I'd imagine.

Yeah but he clearly could have avoided him but decided not too.

Yeah but he clearly could have avoided him but decided not too.

Because he was going for the fucking win you moron.

Armchair experts >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Imagine how popular the Tour would be if it didn't involve superhuman performances?

It'd have about the same attraction as bike polo.

I'm not implying 'doped' performances when I say superhuman ones. I just mean awesome ones.

Because he was going for the fucking win you moron<<<<<<<<<<<<<<Armchair experts

Fixed

Imagine how popular the Tour would be if it didn't involve superhuman performances?

It'd have about the same attraction as bike polo.

Why you!!!

(Do you even bike polo? Come down to the London Open in August. I'll buy you a couple of ciders. Which are both legal and performance enhancing in bike polo).

Why you!!!

(Do you even bike polo? Come down to the London Open in August. It's basically massive tramp beers. You can have some of my Super Tennents.

ftfy

That does not make it sound any less awesome.

It was not meant to display any disrespect. It was a correction for accuracy.

I'll correct you for accuracy.

arm chair polo experts >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I'll correct you for accuracy.

Stahp! You tease...

Do you even bike polo?

This coming from you. I made with the LOL.

Do not disabuse H of his world view as some sort of beer swilling, polo playing n'eer do well. Although is one of our time's finest socio-political thinkers, he refuses to accept that. Let him enjoy his delusion.