Le Tour
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<p>lets just work through that particular conversation shall we?</p>
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<p>"hey Mrs Mariner, we've sorted out our destination for our annual boys sporting piss trip"</p>
<p>"ok, cool. Where too? Footy in Sydney this time?"</p>
<p>"nah, we're going to to get a campervan and follow the TdF for a couple of weeks"</p>
<p>" "</p>
<p>"what? you never want to come on my boys trips"</p>
<p>" "</p>
<p>"fuck"</p> -
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<p>This just got interesting.</p> -
I think it's been a great Tour de France so far. Lots of attacks and no shortage of incident. Just shows how costly that puncture was for Richie Porte. He's looking very strong and would have been challenging for GC for sure. I hope Quintana is saving something for the last week because he's not looking good at the moment and likely to lose more time on the time trial today.<br><br>
As others saying, hard to see anyone challenging Froome at mo, which is a shame as the race has got everything else. Oh and punching spectators who wave a flag in your face should become mandatory. -
<p>Pleased to see common sense has Froome retaining the yellow jersey. They need to do something about the idiots in the crowd. Some fatal beatings from gendarmes would be a start.</p>
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<p>Froom just killed them today in the TT. He's just to strong at the moment and the others don't have an answer. This years tour course was supposed to suit<br>
Quintana but he hasn't had an answer to Froom in the mountains, on a descent, on flat or in the TT. He should sack his chemist :whistle: :fishing: :mocking:</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Wreck Diver" data-cid="596928" data-time="1468610791">
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<p>Froom just killed them today in the TT. He's just to strong at the moment and the others don't have an answer. This years tour course was supposed to suit<br>
Quintana but he hasn't had an answer to Froom in the mountains, on a descent, on flat or in the TT. He should sack his chemist :whistle: :fishing: :mocking:</p>
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<p>Froome - best climber, second best time trialist, sprinting with Sagan a few stages back.</p>
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<p>Not surprised people have questions about him.</p> -
<p>in my opinion Froom is clean. Just a very good rider</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="596940" data-time="1468625180">
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<p>Froome - best climber, second best time trialist, sprinting with Sagan a few stages back.</p>
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<p>Not surprised people have questions about him.</p>
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<p>He's not that far ahead of other people. Quintana will probably get some time back before the tour ends.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Wreck Diver" data-cid="597329" data-time="1468662474">
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<p>in my opinion Froom is clean. Just a very good rider</p>
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<p>He's the best "very good rider" the tour has had in decades....</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Wreck Diver" data-cid="597329" data-time="1468662474"><p>in my opinion Froom is clean. Just a very good rider</p></blockquote>
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The problem was he went from nothing to winning a GT overnight.<br><br>
Dave B was saying they picked him from what they saw in the comm games way back. I looked up what he did there, it was above average club cyclist performance.<br><br>
Would love to know what they saw in him... -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="WillieTheWaiter" data-cid="597345" data-time="1468665203"><p>The problem was he went from nothing to winning a GT overnight.<br>
Dave B was saying they picked him from what they saw in the comm games way back. I looked up what he did there, it was above average club cyclist performance.<br>
Would love to know what they saw in him...</p></blockquote>Then read about Bradley Wiggins career on wiki, he had won a lot before he raced in the tour and raced in the tour before winning it -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="canefan" data-cid="597361" data-time="1468667748">
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<p>It's the nature and the history of the sport that makes me question the validity of any extraordinary occurrence, a bit like any game of cricket involving the Pakistan cricket team</p>
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<p>Yeah - with cycling I've adopted an "if it seems too good to be true, it probably is" line. Possibly unfortunate for Froome but if he doesn't like it he can take it up with the multitude of cheating fluffybunnies who preceded him.</p>
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<p>To me, Froome's performances in climbing and the time trial seem a bit too much like winning the Olympic 10,000 metres and picking up silver in the 800 metres.</p> -
I might be a sucker, but my view is Sky have got more to lose than most if they get caught up in a doping scandal - they are associated with so many sports, their brand gets seriously tarnished if associated with doping. It could affect them bidding for broadcast contracts. Hence their zero tolerance stance.<br><br>
Now I know that doesn't necessarily mean all their riders are clean, but I would imagine their contracts are such that Sky would absolutely take them to the cleaners if caught. Basically if you're going to dope my guess is you are better off doing it with another team. -
<p>I remember in 93 when I first learnt about the Tour de France I was in Pamplona for the San Fermin (running of the bulls) and Miguel Indurain was in yellow. The square out side the town hall was packed with people and the side streets where so crammed in. The crowd was sing Indrain, Indruain, Indurain and bouncing up and down, put we were so packed in it lifted you off your feet and you surged forwards and backwards above the cobble stones. That was one hell of a week and I have been a fan of Le Tour ever sense.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Cookie" data-cid="597719" data-time="1468793968">
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<p>After today's stage I cannot work out whether Quintana is keeping his powder dry for the mountains next week, or if he's a busted flush. I hope it's the former and we see some proper attacks from him because he's shown very little so far.</p>
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<p>Judging by his attack and Froome's counter on Mont Ventoux, I'd say Froome has him well covered.</p>
