Le Tour 2013

[tevake]

OMG, today was the first stage I've been able to watch, just got home from travels.
Stage 18, twice up the LALP D Huez what a barn burner! Great breakaway, very good commentating, TJ showing up front apparently for the firs time this event.Heart breaking to see him caught. first big win for Frenchman on the big stage for some time. great scenery. epic chase. Dicing in the peleton.
WHEW it had it all.
Glad I got to watch it!

Cheers Richard

[Baz]

Yo Richard.....good to have you back and thanks once again for your travel log - especially the photos. Good timing to appropriately coincide with Le Tour!

Just finished watching Stage 21 with the unique twilight finish, which was way cool. This, the 100th anniversary edition was very enjoyable for me. Full of twists and turns and enough new faces to provide curious optimism for next year's event.

Great Britain wins two in a row....with 2 different riders. Now that is very cool. Congrats to G.B., Chris Froome, and Team Sky.

On the other hand this year's event was not as nice to Britain's Manx Missile, but at least he did win a couple stages and I know he will be back next year to go at it again.

In my opinion the big story is of 23 year old first time competitor Nairo Quintana of Columbia who earned second place as well as white and polka dot jersey distinctions. It was also enjoyable to see his Moviestar teammate Alejandro Valverde of Spain who suffered some very bad luck on Stage 13 rebound and show us that a true winner never gives up , ending up in 8th overall.

Newcomer Andy Telansky (of Florida!) ends up in 10th overall so we should see more of him next year as well.

The closing ceremonies were very cool - I loved see "Big Mig" up there on the stage with Greg LeMond, Bernard Hinault, and Eddie Merckx. A very nice touch.

Hope to hear more comments from those who also enjoyed the event this year.

[nostatic]

I ended up watching almost every stage, sometimes more than once (insomnia is good for something). Quintana will be tough next year though I have to say that Ritchie Porte gets the domestique of the tour award in my book. Also props to Jens Voight. Good to see an old guy out there attacking.

The heartbreaking moment was Peraud's crash in the time trial. As someone who has gone down at speed I always cringe at the crashes but that one was brutal given he'd already broken the collarbone on a previous stage.

[jyl]

Oof for Cav. Where was his lead out, they disappeared in the last several hundred meters, Griepel's as well. Cav had to come from 4th, around Griepel who was becoming a roadblock and losing Kittel's wheel. Cav was moving faster than Kittel, clawed his way from 4th spot to a half bike length, but that was probably all he could do as at the end, he wasn't gaining any more.

As much as I wanted to see Cav win more, Kittel and Griepel are making the sprints way more competitive and that's not a bad thing. OPQS needs to get their lead out sorted, it was clearly the worst of the three top sprint teams, and the level of competition is such that Cav can't win with a much weaker lead out.

With Petacchi and maybe Renshaw next year, I hope Cav has better luck!

[Baz]

Originally Posted by nostatic

I ended up watching almost every stage, sometimes more than once (insomnia is good for something). Quintana will be tough next year though I have to say that Ritchie Porte gets the domestique of the tour award in my book. Also props to Jens Voight. Good to see an old guy out there attacking.

The heartbreaking moment was Peraud's crash in the time trial. As someone who has gone down at speed I always cringe at the crashes but that one was brutal given he'd already broken the collarbone on a previous stage.

Glad you mentioned Jens, Todd.

Quite a competitor.....and legend.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by jyl

Oof for Cav. Where was his lead out, they disappeared in the last several hundred meters, Griepel's as well. Cav had to come from 4th, around Griepel who was becoming a roadblock and losing Kittel's wheel. Cav was moving faster than Kittel, clawed his way from 4th spot to a half bike length, but that was probably all he could do as at the end, he wasn't gaining any more.

As much as I wanted to see Cav win more, Kittel and Griepel are making the sprints way more competitive and that's not a bad thing. OPQS needs to get their lead out sorted, it was clearly the worst of the three top sprint teams, and the level of competition is such that Cav can't win with a much weaker lead out.

With Petacchi and maybe Renshaw next year, I hope Cav has better luck!

I'm sure he will be back with revenge on his mind next year but also agree the competition is stronger now than last year. Seems the early stages this year did not favor the sprinters as much and maybe that had something to do with his performances too.

Heck of a finish to a great event.

Inspiring.

[Flieger]

I liked Sagan's wheelie and tail slide at the TOP of the mountain.

Glad to see Quintana in polka-dots. I didn't like Froome's direspect for the rules about feeding and watering before the finish. Could have even made it a race for first again if he had cracked worse than he did.

Costa, Voigt, Van Gaarderen = my heros. Off in the breakaway and sometimes winning in the end.

[jyl]

Another thing I thought of - I bet next year he doesn't do the Giro, or at least doesn't finish it. Combining Giro and Tour doesn't work for GC riders and I imagine it is not ideal for sprinters either.

Quote de jyl

Oof for Cav. Where was his lead out, they disappeared in the last several hundred meters, Griepel's as well. Cav had to come from 4th, around Griepel who was becoming a roadblock and losing Kittel's wheel. Cav was moving faster than Kittel, clawed his way from 4th spot to a half bike length, but that was probably all he could do as at the end, he wasn't gaining any more.



As much as I wanted to see Cav win more, Kittel and Griepel are making the sprints way more competitive and that's not a bad thing. OPQS needs to get their lead out sorted, it was clearly the worst of the three top sprint teams, and the level of competition is such that Cav can't win with a much weaker lead out.



With Petacchi and maybe Renshaw next year, I hope Cav has better luck!

I'm sure he will be back with revenge on his mind next year but also agree the competition is stronger now than last year. Seems the early stages this year did not favor the sprinters as much and maybe that had something to do with his performances too.



Heck of a finish to a great event.



Inspiring.

[look 171]

It sure does for sprinters, John. Do what Chipoweinee has done many times in the past, quit before the mountain stages begin.

[look 171]

Talk about real man, that Richie Porte is the real hero. See the way Voigt climbs, he had so much power. Hats off to the "old guy". Speaking of old guys, remember Raul Alcala of Mexico who rode the Tour back in the early 90s? He returned to racing and became the time trial champion of Mexico in 2010 at the age of 46. Lot of old monsters out there. I was only able to watch the last 4 stages of the tour this year.

[911-32]

Originally Posted by Flieger

I didn't like Froome's direspect for the rules about feeding and watering before the finish. Could have even made it a race for first again if he had cracked worse than he did.

The lead team car broke down before the last climb so Froome never got his last feed and water. As The Times reported it yesterday, the chilli bin/cooler leaked and water went all through the electrics/electronics under the boot floor and the car was dead in the water for a while. When they got it running, it was impossible to catch up through the team cars and spectators. It took the Jaguar technician most of the night to get the car running properly again apparently.

[crb07]

Originally Posted by 911-32

The lead team car broke down before the last climb so Froome never got his last feed and water. As The Times reported it yesterday, the chilli bin/cooler leaked and water went all through the electrics/electronics under the boot floor and the car was dead in the water for a while. When they got it running, it was impossible to catch up through the team cars and spectators. It took the Jaguar technician most of the night to get the car running properly again apparently.

Too bad. Many a rider has pushed themselves too hard, missed feed stations, not had a rider left with them to go back for food, and lost time. He should have had a few extra gels in his jersey. He was cracking and it could have changed the outcome. In the end they will make the penalties more severe if it bothers the organizers that much, but it looks like he received the same penalty as other riders in the past. If I were Quintana I would have had a problem with this.

[Scott Douglas]

I watched just about every stage. Really enjoyed the coverage and thought they did an outstanding job considering the logistics involved with it.
I also feel like I've been to France now with all the beautiful shots of the countryside they gave us from the helicopter. Since I don't fly I'll never get there myself so it made paying the FIOS bill a little more tolerable this month.
I really liked the analysis of the team tactics by the analysts. Always helps to have someone in the booth who's been there done that.
Looking forward to next year and their coverage of the Colorado race.

[intakexhaust]

Originally Posted by Flieger

I liked Sagan's wheelie and tail slide at the TOP of the mountain.
I didn't like Froome's direspect for the rules about feeding and watering before the finish. Could have even made it a race for first again if he had cracked worse than he did.

Given what we now know his reasons, the feed and fluid should never be an issue. So what if a rider wants a bite just a few meters from a finish line or gourmet while on a killer climb? LOL!

Regardless, great coverage, excellent camera work of that spectacular scenery.

All of those athletes are animals. Always motivating and makes me want to ride more.

[Flieger]

Originally Posted by 911-32

The lead team car broke down before the last climb so Froome never got his last feed and water. As The Times reported it yesterday, the chilli bin/cooler leaked and water went all through the electrics/electronics under the boot floor and the car was dead in the water for a while. When they got it running, it was impossible to catch up through the team cars and spectators. It took the Jaguar technician most of the night to get the car running properly again apparently.

That's what they get for using a Jaguar team car!

Originally Posted by crb07

Too bad. Many a rider has pushed themselves too hard, missed feed stations, not had a rider left with them to go back for food, and lost time. He should have had a few extra gels in his jersey. He was cracking and it could have changed the outcome. In the end they will make the penalties more severe if it bothers the organizers that much, but it looks like he received the same penalty as other riders in the past. If I were Quintana I would have had a problem with this.

Agreed.

Originally Posted by intakexhaust

All of those athletes are animals. Always motivating and makes me want to ride more.

Agreed again. It inspires me to push on our local climbs. Then I realize they are just cat 3 and 2 and I think of doing 4 cat 1's and an HC finish in one day, then doing it all again the next day!