Definitely a tough one today. Several riders expressed that the pave should not be in the tour...will be interesting to see how the Tour proceeds in the following years and whether they remove them. Those Belgian concrete roads with the gap in the middle is just crazy. Certainly doesn't make it easy on the riders.
Too bad Froome went out, but how many crashes can one person take anyway. Don't think he recovered fully from the Dauphine crash and just led into all these.
Yea that somersault into the bushes was pretty crazy. Good thing it was into some brush and people at the side of the road or it probably would have been worse.
le Tour de France 2014 - Spoiler Alerts! (if you're not up to date don't open)
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Malakai
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WadeFillingame
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Re: le Tour de France 2014 - Spoiler Alerts! (if you're not up to date don't open)
I got the complaints about the pave, but I didn't see it was the problem. The crashes were on the tarmac. The rain was the problem, next someone will propose that they don't race in the rain? I get the argument that they were all pushing for position for the entrance, but they battle for position before the climbs, they battle before the sprints, they push to catch break away riders, and I'm not buying that bigger softer tires were less grippy than rock hard road tires.
The rims were all wet all the time, I'll bet you that a lot of those crashes were - touch brakes, nothing happens - grab a little more brake, rim dries - wheel locks, hello road rash.
The rims were all wet all the time, I'll bet you that a lot of those crashes were - touch brakes, nothing happens - grab a little more brake, rim dries - wheel locks, hello road rash.
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Cohim
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Re: le Tour de France 2014 - Spoiler Alerts! (if you're not up to date don't open)
Well if you listen to the commentators, they make it seem as though the roubaix was designed to be risen in the rain, so only the most highly skilled riders will survive it. It is a grueling competition, and anyone who even finishes the thing (drugs, or not) is awesome in my book.
I come from the land of "Show your tit's, and that ain't no lie!!!
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WadeFillingame
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Re: le Tour de France 2014 - Spoiler Alerts! (if you're not up to date don't open)
[quote author=Cohim link=topic=27933.msg120749#msg120749 date=1404999907]
Well if you listen to the commentators, they make it seem as though the roubaix was designed to be risen in the rain, so only the most highly skilled riders will survive it. It is a grueling competition, and anyone who even finishes the thing (drugs, or not) is awesome in my book.
[/quote]
Nick, Phil and Paul say all kinds of things during a race, and it's rarely accurate, but they are fixtures in English speaking broadcasts of professional cycling. Phil has been doing it since the 80s.
Paris-Rouibaix was first run in 1896, back then what wasn't cobbles (pave) was dirt, that race is still run every yr and is one of the "spring classics" along with several other one day races in Europe. France has declared most of the remaining cobblestone sections, many of which date to Napoleon, as historical to keep them from being paved over. The Paris-Roubaix organizers have actually been going out and purchasing pavers (30# granite blocks) so that they can maintain the course. I heard this yr that they have an inventory of 30,000 pavers.
What is interesting is that these days most big GC riders (general classification, the guys who lead the teams and compete to win the TdF) have become very specialized in doing the grand tours, or the TdF it self, and don't do the classics. Bradly Wiggins who won the TdF two yrs ago rode Paris-Roubaix this yr, he was the first TdF winner to do so since Greg Lemond back in the 80s. So for a lot of us this was the first, and only time we've gotten to see the big names ride on the cobbles.
When you ride the cobbles you either get dust or mud. For about the last 10 yrs of Roubaix it's been dust, and the fans have been wanting to see mud.
Well if you listen to the commentators, they make it seem as though the roubaix was designed to be risen in the rain, so only the most highly skilled riders will survive it. It is a grueling competition, and anyone who even finishes the thing (drugs, or not) is awesome in my book.
[/quote]
Nick, Phil and Paul say all kinds of things during a race, and it's rarely accurate, but they are fixtures in English speaking broadcasts of professional cycling. Phil has been doing it since the 80s.
Paris-Rouibaix was first run in 1896, back then what wasn't cobbles (pave) was dirt, that race is still run every yr and is one of the "spring classics" along with several other one day races in Europe. France has declared most of the remaining cobblestone sections, many of which date to Napoleon, as historical to keep them from being paved over. The Paris-Roubaix organizers have actually been going out and purchasing pavers (30# granite blocks) so that they can maintain the course. I heard this yr that they have an inventory of 30,000 pavers.
What is interesting is that these days most big GC riders (general classification, the guys who lead the teams and compete to win the TdF) have become very specialized in doing the grand tours, or the TdF it self, and don't do the classics. Bradly Wiggins who won the TdF two yrs ago rode Paris-Roubaix this yr, he was the first TdF winner to do so since Greg Lemond back in the 80s. So for a lot of us this was the first, and only time we've gotten to see the big names ride on the cobbles.
When you ride the cobbles you either get dust or mud. For about the last 10 yrs of Roubaix it's been dust, and the fans have been wanting to see mud.
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Cohim
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Re: le Tour de France 2014 - Spoiler Alerts! (if you're not up to date don't open)
Mud is right!
I would not last one second on those slippery rocks, and those guys are flying at 20+ mph. I ride nearly everyday and those guys have skill. NOLA streets are glass compared to that wet stone. Lol!!!
I ride a Cervelo aero road bike with 404 fire rest wheels and SRAM components. Nothing real fancy. I want to get a pennerello dogma 2.
I would not last one second on those slippery rocks, and those guys are flying at 20+ mph. I ride nearly everyday and those guys have skill. NOLA streets are glass compared to that wet stone. Lol!!!
I ride a Cervelo aero road bike with 404 fire rest wheels and SRAM components. Nothing real fancy. I want to get a pennerello dogma 2.
I come from the land of "Show your tit's, and that ain't no lie!!!
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Malakai
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Re: le Tour de France 2014 - Spoiler Alerts! (if you're not up to date don't open)
Always nice to see the breakaway win the stage...ride of his life I'm sure.
Contador looking pretty good especially with the support he had right up to the end.
Contador looking pretty good especially with the support he had right up to the end.
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WadeFillingame
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Re: le Tour de France 2014 - Spoiler Alerts! (if you're not up to date don't open)
Well, that sure changed things.
TJ looked good today, Porte looked good, Nibali looked like this is going to be his party for the next two weeks. I wonder if Alexander Vinokourov is happy or pissed that he couldn't do it.
TJ looked good today, Porte looked good, Nibali looked like this is going to be his party for the next two weeks. I wonder if Alexander Vinokourov is happy or pissed that he couldn't do it.
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Malakai
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Re: le Tour de France 2014 - Spoiler Alerts! (if you're not up to date don't open)
Looks like at this time at least that it is Nibali's to lose but if the first 10 days were any indication he could go out just as easy as the rest of them due to any number of unfortunate mishaps.
Got today's recording to watch tonight after work.
Got today's recording to watch tonight after work.
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Ryan
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Re: le Tour de France 2014 - Spoiler Alerts! (if you're not up to date don't open)
I don't want to hijack this thread, but the drug aspect struck me as interesting. I can tell you with great certainty that you will never eliminate drugs in sports and I do not think anyone should even try. It's a complete waste of time, energy, and money. Every detectable drug only needs a tweak here or there to it's molecular structure to make it undetectable. There are also masking agents. In any sport, it's an absolute obsession and people will do whatever it takes to win. That's just the true psychological crux of it.
I don't think there are too many people in this world that will spend years if not decades training to get to the extreme pinnacle of their field, and then back out if they are opposed to having to use a drug for a competitive advantage. I just don't see an elite cyclist or football player quitting over some kind of odd moral issue and forfeiting millions and lucrative endorsements, etc., Then going back to school to get an accounting degree or something to that effect. This is an absolute obsession when you reach semi pro to elite levels. The bar is raised so high and so often, that nobody can bring themselves to drop out. There may be rare exceptions.
As well, steroids are the absolute base of the pyramid. It might as well be considered as chewing gum in the grand scheme of things. There is so much stuff out there that people are using that the average sports fan or average Joe has never even heard of generally speaking, that it can never be stopped. Generally speaking, only the stupid, lazy, complacent, or overconfident people get busted. They're always doctors and chemists that will stay one step ahead. If not 10 steps ahead. There is a EPO, HGH, IGF-1, numerous other growth factors and peptides, DNP, insulin, interleukin 6 & 15, genetic manipulation, lutalyse and other prostaglandins, diuretics, designer drugs, plasma expanders, etc. and this is just scratching the surface.
What Lance Armstrong accomplished is nothing short of miraculous, drugs or no drugs. Determining factor will always be hard work, dedication, persistence, attention to diet and nutrition, strict and consistent training, and just the plane obsession of the lifestyle required and following it to the letter. No matter one's genetics or natural gifts, it's the mental attitude that is required of the elite which separates the champions from the rest of the pack. A good case in point is bodybuilding. Now that is a science project. It's complete chemical warfare. These folks can get bat shit crazy and it's a competition in which if you are not in the top 10-20 in the world you're probably breaking even or maybe even losing money due to the amount of money one must spend on drugs and food. People that can clock in at 300 pounds at 5 foot eight and maintain 4-5% body fat and folks achieving greater accomplishments and other sports, are not the result of eating more chicken breasts, new hammer strength machines, PX60, new bowflex, or some newfangled Russian or Eastern Block obscure lost training method suddenly rediscovered.
All the more puzzling, is the hypocrisy involved with doping and sports. The world, and especially America, is a society completely devoted to performance enhancment. There is recreational use of Viagra, Propecia, and hair transplants, breast implants, variety of other pharmaceutical cosmetic treatments, as well as the myriad cosmetic procedures. America is actually one of only two countries that can advertise on television and magazines the various new drugs that hit the market. The "ask your doctor if this could be right for you…" marketing tactic is only approved and allowed in the US and New Zealand I believe.
At the end of the day, when all is said and done, the champions that you see now will be the same champions whether they are on drugs or off of drugs. They have a certain quality, determination, and passion that lets them propel themselves to the top. Just my two cents. "Clean" or not, it's miraculous with the human body can do, more correctly stated, what the human mind can do, and that should be respected and appreciated regardless. Cheers, Ryan.
I don't think there are too many people in this world that will spend years if not decades training to get to the extreme pinnacle of their field, and then back out if they are opposed to having to use a drug for a competitive advantage. I just don't see an elite cyclist or football player quitting over some kind of odd moral issue and forfeiting millions and lucrative endorsements, etc., Then going back to school to get an accounting degree or something to that effect. This is an absolute obsession when you reach semi pro to elite levels. The bar is raised so high and so often, that nobody can bring themselves to drop out. There may be rare exceptions.
As well, steroids are the absolute base of the pyramid. It might as well be considered as chewing gum in the grand scheme of things. There is so much stuff out there that people are using that the average sports fan or average Joe has never even heard of generally speaking, that it can never be stopped. Generally speaking, only the stupid, lazy, complacent, or overconfident people get busted. They're always doctors and chemists that will stay one step ahead. If not 10 steps ahead. There is a EPO, HGH, IGF-1, numerous other growth factors and peptides, DNP, insulin, interleukin 6 & 15, genetic manipulation, lutalyse and other prostaglandins, diuretics, designer drugs, plasma expanders, etc. and this is just scratching the surface.
What Lance Armstrong accomplished is nothing short of miraculous, drugs or no drugs. Determining factor will always be hard work, dedication, persistence, attention to diet and nutrition, strict and consistent training, and just the plane obsession of the lifestyle required and following it to the letter. No matter one's genetics or natural gifts, it's the mental attitude that is required of the elite which separates the champions from the rest of the pack. A good case in point is bodybuilding. Now that is a science project. It's complete chemical warfare. These folks can get bat shit crazy and it's a competition in which if you are not in the top 10-20 in the world you're probably breaking even or maybe even losing money due to the amount of money one must spend on drugs and food. People that can clock in at 300 pounds at 5 foot eight and maintain 4-5% body fat and folks achieving greater accomplishments and other sports, are not the result of eating more chicken breasts, new hammer strength machines, PX60, new bowflex, or some newfangled Russian or Eastern Block obscure lost training method suddenly rediscovered.
All the more puzzling, is the hypocrisy involved with doping and sports. The world, and especially America, is a society completely devoted to performance enhancment. There is recreational use of Viagra, Propecia, and hair transplants, breast implants, variety of other pharmaceutical cosmetic treatments, as well as the myriad cosmetic procedures. America is actually one of only two countries that can advertise on television and magazines the various new drugs that hit the market. The "ask your doctor if this could be right for you…" marketing tactic is only approved and allowed in the US and New Zealand I believe.
At the end of the day, when all is said and done, the champions that you see now will be the same champions whether they are on drugs or off of drugs. They have a certain quality, determination, and passion that lets them propel themselves to the top. Just my two cents. "Clean" or not, it's miraculous with the human body can do, more correctly stated, what the human mind can do, and that should be respected and appreciated regardless. Cheers, Ryan.
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WadeFillingame
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Re: le Tour de France 2014 - Spoiler Alerts! (if you're not up to date don't open)
Yea, it looks like it's Nibali's to race to lose. I saw another possible climber contender lose a lot of ground today... forget who now.
Talansky now has a ruler that he can use to measure his racing days. Stage 8 of the Dauphine on the [i]OMG, this is awesome! [/i]end and Stage 11 of the 2014 TdF on the [i]Holy Fk this sucks, I want to die[/i]! end. Gutsy ride from him today. He has got to be hurting, that crash two days ago hurt him, the part that the announcers missed was that he lost 10 minutes after that crash, he got right up, and wasn't that far from the finish. That means he limped in on stage 10, they didn't get that. (when they asked someone on the Garmin team when they made the decision to leave him behind if he dropped back today he said, "when we saw his road rash".
Sagan has to learn to cover those attacks on his own. This is the second time he's let someone get away in the last kilometer and then looked at the other two or three guys with him to run it down... never gonna happen. They all know he's faster in the sprint. He's got to jump on those before they get a bike length, and what would [u]really[/u] help is if he had a mate with him.
For anyone who doesn't understand that these skinny ass riders are bad ass... Froome was going into a cobble s stage [u]with two broken wrists![/u] WTF! Contador rode how many kilometers before he abandoned [u]with a broken tibia[/u], and he quit because he couldn't put load on it, not because it hurt like all hell. Crap, can't put load on it, the damned thing is broken. Look at the tapes, he's out of the saddle climbing with a broken leg! I don't even like AC but that's badass.
Talansky now has a ruler that he can use to measure his racing days. Stage 8 of the Dauphine on the [i]OMG, this is awesome! [/i]end and Stage 11 of the 2014 TdF on the [i]Holy Fk this sucks, I want to die[/i]! end. Gutsy ride from him today. He has got to be hurting, that crash two days ago hurt him, the part that the announcers missed was that he lost 10 minutes after that crash, he got right up, and wasn't that far from the finish. That means he limped in on stage 10, they didn't get that. (when they asked someone on the Garmin team when they made the decision to leave him behind if he dropped back today he said, "when we saw his road rash".
Sagan has to learn to cover those attacks on his own. This is the second time he's let someone get away in the last kilometer and then looked at the other two or three guys with him to run it down... never gonna happen. They all know he's faster in the sprint. He's got to jump on those before they get a bike length, and what would [u]really[/u] help is if he had a mate with him.
For anyone who doesn't understand that these skinny ass riders are bad ass... Froome was going into a cobble s stage [u]with two broken wrists![/u] WTF! Contador rode how many kilometers before he abandoned [u]with a broken tibia[/u], and he quit because he couldn't put load on it, not because it hurt like all hell. Crap, can't put load on it, the damned thing is broken. Look at the tapes, he's out of the saddle climbing with a broken leg! I don't even like AC but that's badass.