The Tour 2012
 

Can Cadel repeat?

Tour de France 2012 - The Tour 2012

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Running from Saturday June 30th to Sunday July 22th 2012, the 99th Tour de France will be made up of 1 prologue and 20 stages and will cover a total distance of 3,497 kilometres.

These stages have the following profiles:

9 flat stages
4 medium mountain stages - one with a summit finish
5 mountain stages - two with a summit finish
2 individual time-trial stages
1 prologue
2 rest days

Distinctive aspects of the race

The 2012 Tour de France will have 25 mountain level two, level one or highest level mountain passes or summit fi nishes.
They will be divided up geographically in the following way:

1 in the Vosges
3 in the Jura
4 in the Swiss Jura
6 in the Alps
11 in the Pyrenees


9 new stage towns

Abbeville, Annonay Davézieux, Bellegarde-sur-Valserine, La Planche des Belles Filles, Peyragudes, Porrentruy, Samatan, Tomblaine, Visé

I do not want to see Cadel win again. He has obviously been told to change his ways from the tantrum throwing cry baby he is when the camera is in his face. He just comes across as a miserable pr**k. I would like to see someone young destroy the favorites in the mountains and go on to win.

My only criticism of Cadel is/was his wheel-sucking tendencies. Of course it is strategic to do so but enough is enough. A true cycling champion is evident by the attacks...not the wheel-sucking!

He did finally attack in one of the last stages in the mountains last year and so vindicated his reputation somewhat....

Bradley Wiggins is a favourite this year so we will see.....

One of my favorite tours was 2004 when the peleton let young Thomas Voeckler go in a breakaway. He made it good, captured the yellow and stayed in for ten days. He rode so far over his head - it was wonderous to watch his determination, his tenancity. This is what great tour riders are made of.

I believe he was 4th last year. I'll cheer for Levi Leipheimr, George Hincappie, and any race that has Stuart O'Grady,but there is no one I would rather see win than Thomas Voeckler.

Allez!

angela

Will be interested to see Peter Sagen meet up with Mark Cavendish.

Anyone else getting the feeling that Phil doesn't like Peter Sagan?

YES.

I like Cadel. Been following him since early on with his days racing for Cannondale in mountain biking. He is very talented to be be able to cross over like he has.

12 miles from the finish, some dick steps over the barrier to take pics. Crashes the middle of the peloton. Makes you wanna scream......

Sagan made no friends with his wheel sucking on Fabian the last 3Km.

I suppose it's just to difficult to police the barriers. 'tis a darn shame though.

I'm just hoping for no barbed wire accidents this year

Yes, if he did it more often, he will win more just like the Worlds. He's ok in my book, but not my type of bike rider, that for sure. I really like to see another Hinault, He attacks at the Champs even he already won the Tour. Riding in the front all the time.

He isn't going win again. They are going to be on him like fly on crap.

You know that happens all the time at the tour or any of the pro races. Years back, a policeman was suppose to man the barriers decided to take a picture of the sprinters. He caused a major crash. Jalabert broke his face and the Belgium champ (great sprinter) ended his career. Too bad.

Not after what he did. He could have come through and took a pull so the Yellow can put more time onto the others knowing he can't hold yellow to the finish. Segan can't hold yellow anyway, so why not help. He had no reason to do that no team game going on there. I have to joint Phil on dislike. I have to admit, I did suck wheel for more then half a lap in a crit once to win.

Fabian Canchelaralla never figures in any speculation about who'll finish on the podium. Is he considered purely a spring classics rider, guaranteed to fade in the Alps? Or did his broken collarbone in the Ronde cause everyone to write him off? Or is his team considered too weak to allow him to contend for GC?

A true Rouleur, my kind of bike rider. They are real men who go out to chase breaks themselves or ride the race off the front, typical Belgian style of riding.

Thought Sylvain was going to make the line this morning but took off too soon. Anyone know when we're hitting the hills?

Didn't get a chance to watch today's stage - will do so right now - what's left. To answer your question - I posted some links and videos in the first 3 posts of this thread that will have all the info you want, including the mountains.

I've been watching the tour for many many years...since before Lemond won his first one. Had a college roommate who schooled me on who Eddie Merx was. He and I ended up doing a bunch of cycling tours - some day trips and one overnighter in Anastasia State Park, St. Augustine. He had a Raleigh Pro - which at the time was a very credible machine. I now ride a Trek 6100, which will soon be 20 years old but still holding up.

I love this event as much (ior more) than any other sporting event in existence. As much for the pageantry and tradition as the sheer endurance aspects. It wouldn't be the same without Phil, Paul, and Bob Roll. The Lance era was very memorable...

Thanks for your enjoyable comments and posts Look 171. SmileWavy