Tour de France

Coatbridgebhoy · Jul 10, 2012

With a 1min 53sec lead....Is it Brad Wiggins race to lose now ? The Alps start tomo then next week it's the Pyrenees...Kinda thinking with all the time trials and not as mountainous as previous years this will be Wiggins BEST chance to win the race with Alberto Contador & Andy Schleck absent...I hope wiggins can hold on as it will be the best boost cycling in this country needs.

monthehoops1888 · Jul 11, 2012

Aye it definitely is Bradley Wiggins best chance to win the Tour De France i think he will win it although there is still a long way to go....

Metlson · Jul 11, 2012

Mon Cadel Evans

The Golden God · Jul 12, 2012

How the * do they manage to cycle 100s of kilometres everyday. Up massive hills, at high altitudes, in that heat?? Are they just really good athletes or do they all take drugs?

Coatbridgebhoy · Jul 12, 2012

They are just dedicated athlete's in what is the HARDEST sport in the world...Yes there will always be folk who cheat in any sport.jobs. whatever...at least they are testing and they are not afraid to come out and catch the cheats....can you honestly say that about football.. You see the Drug testing guys stay with the rider once he crosses the finish line....NEVER seen the ANY football player get collared....Really * me off when folk who know * all about pro cycling come up with the ignorant drugs line.....i suppose we will all believe that every athlete at the Olympics is not on the juice ????

cheshirecelt · Jul 12, 2012

Just taken up rd cycling it's amazin to watch these guys super fit they must be

Metlson · Jul 16, 2012

Good sportsmanship by Wiggins yesterday

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cycling/hopefully-karma-comes-around-tour-de-france-sabotage-leave-riders-flat-20120716-224q8.html

Carpet tacks sabotage Tour

At least 30 riders, including Australian Cadel Evans were forced to change tyres after tacks were deliberately scattered on the road during stage 14 of the Tour de France.

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An act of sabotage marred the first Pyrenean stage of the Tour de France on Sunday when tacks thrown on to the road on a 200m stretch before the summit of the last climb saw Australian defending champion Cadel Evans and up to 30 riders puncture.
But from the chaos that placed at risk the safety of riders as they continued puncturing on the descent at speeds up to 80km/h came a brilliant display of sportsmanship with British race leader Bradley Wiggins (Sky) calling riders to wait for Evans and others who had flatted from the same group.

I'm used to people - the 'me me' generation, it's sometimes referred to - that's the way it goes. Hopefully ... karma comes around.

It was a call heeded by all but one rider in the same group, Frenchman Pierre Rolland (Europcar), who attacked Wiggins' group that had begun to slow up in an act that the Briton later labelled as "uncouth". Although, Rolland later claimed his attack was made without him knowing of the incident.
Tour technical director Jean Francois Pescheux shows off some of the tacks.

Rolland, accused of attacking twice on the descent, was finally caught before the finish by Wiggins' group that grew once Evans and a number of other riders caught them with 10 kilometres to go and finished 18 minutes 15 seconds behind Spanish stage winner Luis Leon Sanchez (Rabbank).
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Evans' Tour winning hopes would have been shot for good were it not for Wiggins calling for the glow-slow by him and the other main Tour contenders not impacted by drama in the 191km 14th stage from Limoux to Foix. Asked at the finish of the stage what happened, Evans said: "Nails, protesters or some kind-hearted people on the road. The world is full of people like that, unfortunately - not full, but ... You're in a bike race and people can see something they can gain. Whether it's a protest or something they can gain from you as someone who's reasonably well-known.
"I'm used to people - the 'me me' generation, it's sometimes referred to - that's the way it goes. Hopefully ... karma comes around."
Click for more photos Tour de France Stage Fourteen

Team mechanics help Cadel Evans of Australia after he got distanced because of a flat tyre on the Mur de Peguere. Photo: AP

View all 14 photos

Earlier, Sanchez had won after leading home a strung out 11-strong breakaway group. In second place was Slovak Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Cannondale) at 47 secs, followed by Frenchman Sandy Casar (Francaise des Jeux) and Belgian Philippe Gilbert (BMC) at the same time.
Wiggins still leads the Tour overall, heading into Monday's 15th stage - 158.5 kilometres from Samatan to Pau . The Briton still has an advantage of 2 minutes 5 seconds on British teammate Chris Froome (Sky), 2min 23sec on Italian Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Canndonale) and 3min 19 secs on Evans.
Wiggins said the incident highlighted how exposed cyclists are in a road race like the Tour to such threatening and damaging acts. But then he added: "What can you do? I just said to (Tour's technical director) Jean Francois Pescheux who showed me [a tack], and I said. 'What can we do?
Sabotage ... Cadel Evans receives help after a flat tyre. Photo: Reuters

"It is something we can't control. There is nothing stopping more of that stuff happening. Whether it was aimed against someone in particular who knows. It's sad but those are the type of things we have to put up with in cycling. I think people take that for granted, just how close they can get to us. "If that happened in a football stadium or wherever, they would be arrested through CCTV. We are out there quite vulnerable at times, very close to the public in climbs and things ... We are just the riders at the end of the day. We are there to be shot at ... It's quite sad, but hopefully that's not going to continue. Nothing we can do about it really. We have to get on with it, don't we?"
However, when asked what he thought of Rolland's reaction to attack on the decent as he did, Wiggins was critical. "I just thought it was a little bit uncouth really at that time. The stage was gone, there was 17 minutes, we had been up the climb which was very tough, then Roland went away. The race was over and then it became apparent that a lot of people had punctured. I don't know whether he knew or not. Only he would know obviously. "We caught him once and then he attacked again. I don't know. It's difficult. But I knew straight away that something had happened and I am sure everyone else did. It didn't seem the honourable thing to do really, to benefit from other peoples' misfortune at part of a race which was over."
The drama unfolded just as Evans reached the crowd swamped summit in the yellow jersey group of Wiggins. As he reached the top he stopped by the right side of the road near the barriers and took out his rear wheel, and was seen standing there for ages imploring for his team car to arrive.
The scene brought back memories of the 2009 Vuelta a Espana when the neutral service vehicle took ages to assist him after he flatted at the bottom of the second last climb of the 13th stage when he was third overall and on the cusp of taking the overall lead. That delay probably cost him that lead.
"For that reason, I don't race in Spain very often and sorry to the good Spanish people and my Spanish friends and so on," Evans said.
"There are a few people in their country who take things too far, it's cost me a Vuelta, it's cost me other races."
However, on Sunday and in the Pyrenees, Evans was attended to on the first puncture far quicker - albeit, not by his car that was caught in the congestion behind. First to his side was his new British recruit Steve Cummings. Although, when he stopped, he realised he had also punctured was unable to swap his rear wheel. Then French teammate Amael Moinard came and swapped wheels allowing Evans to begin his pursuit on the descent on which Wiggins orchestrated truce was taking shape. But in scenes that appeared farcical before it was confirmed tacks had been the cause and reports of other riders puncturing, Evans stopped twice more for punctures - on the decent for a rear wheel change that led to BMC team president Jim Ochowicz twice slipping into a gutter on the right as he exited the team car to help Evans, and on the flat for a front wheel change.
Finally, with 10 kilometres to go Evans rejoined Wiggins' group with teammates Moinard, Michael Schar and George Hincapie having loyally towed him back.
Evans may not have gained the time he initially would have liked, but at least - this time - he didn't lose any.
Meanwhile, the Tour organisers have said that through the Gendarmerie they will take legal action against the culprits should they be found.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cycling...riders-flat-20120716-224q8.html#ixzz20k0Ze8xd

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monthehoops1888 · Jul 17, 2012

I thought it was excellent what the riders done in that event great sportsmanship from Wiggins and Team Sky.Its still all to play for though the next 2 races will decide who wins it although Wiggins is almost a certainty just now.Im hoping he goes on to win it......

Silenzio · Jul 17, 2012

What would you expect from a guy born in Ghent.

Markos1972 · Jul 17, 2012

Disgusting behaviour from whoever dropped the tacks...but great sportsmanship from the riders.
Been really drawn in to the TDF this year,I usually just dip in and out of it while its on,but totally fascinated-guess its because the Brits are performing magnificently this year.

monthehoops1888 · Jul 19, 2012

Bradley Wiggins is a certainty now he wont get beat his Sky Team have done really well in assisting him to win this competition.I felt Chris Froome could have been a real contender to win this if he wasnt Bradleys team mate im sure he is a future Tour De France winner....

Markos1972 · Jul 19, 2012

Frank Schleck wants B sample tested
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...ng-positive-for-banned-substance-7956205.html

cheshirecelt · Jul 19, 2012

Wiggins was great yesterday if he gets out of the mountains ok today it as good as his title

Markos1972 · Jul 19, 2012

Quote from Wiggins-
"It's nice to be recognised for achieving something in life because so much of British culture is built up on people being famous for not achieving anything"

SloBhoy · Jul 19, 2012

Someone in the crowd on the final climb wearing the Hoops. :icon_mrgreen:

monthehoops1888 · Jul 21, 2012

Wiggins has it in the bag hes done great this year and held on to that yellow jacket for which seems like ages.Was a great win for Cavendish on the stage and he was 9/1 to win it with Ladbrokes yesterday morning compared to Betfreds lousy 13/2 i had a wee fiver on him so got £50 back

Don Corleone · Jul 21, 2012

With "the Scot" being unable to do it in tennis, cycling is now the most important sport.

FairtexChamp · Jul 22, 2012

bradley wiggins was clocking up speeds of 40mph on some parts absolutely amazing speed on a peddle bike

md1981 · Jul 22, 2012

Great display by Wiggins. Well done Cav for winning on the Champs Elysee again!

mygirlmaria · Jul 22, 2012

Markos1972 said: ↑

Quote from Wiggins-
"It's nice to be recognised for achieving something in life because so much of British culture is built up on people being famous for not achieving anything"
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Nail on the head there Bradley!

md1981 said: ↑

Great display by Wiggins. Well done Cav for winning on the Champs Elysee again!
Click to expand...

Superb for them both.

Tour de France

The Golden God I am untethered and my rage knows no bounds Gold Member