The Tour de France is basically over after 2 stages.

Is that still a thing?

Yesterday's stage was entertaining. Carl Sagan destroyed that guy at the end.

And the peloton catching the breakaway guy in the final 400m? Thrilling. You had to feel for the breakaway guy.

It was more entertaining than anything I saw in Eugene this weekend.

Wasn't he at the Wal-Mart parking lot in South Indianapolis a couple weeks ago taking pictures of an RV?

the final sprint! wrote:

Yesterday's stage was entertaining. Carl Sagan destroyed that guy at the end.

Did anyone really think Richie Porte had a shot? He's just not on the same level as the top guys.

Contador had some bad luck. I think he was a long shot anyway. He's not the dominant young buck he once was.

Quintana still has a real chance. He lost time early last year but still was a pretty close second. Maybe this is his year.

Fabio Aru and Vincenzo Nibali aren't quite good enough to match Froome.

Froome is still the clear favorite.

Agreed with thoughts on Contador. The announcers need to get the memo. They are focusing on him WAY too much. They hardly showed the other contenders yesterday. Once in a while they showed Froome with an arrow showing his position, but no close-ups or anything.

With two time trials loaded on the back end, one uphill, Quintana will be a major threat. Best climber in the field and strong team to keep him fresh until the end.

Seriously mate? wrote:

Wasn't he at the Wal-Mart parking lot in South Indianapolis a couple weeks ago taking pictures of an RV?

[quote]the final sprint! wrote:

Yesterday's stage was entertaining. Carl Sagan destroyed that guy at the end.

Maybe you're thinking of his brother, Peter, the astronomer?

Cav is off to an amazing start. I wonder if he'll abandon the mountains like he did for Beijing. Really hope he gets a gold medal this year.

the final sprint! wrote:

And the peloton catching the breakaway guy in the final 400m? Thrilling. You had to feel for the breakaway guy.

It was more entertaining than anything I saw in Eugene this weekend.

Meh.. Race radios make that easy. Your race director watches Eurosport and has splits that racers now know because the race director is telling them how fast to go in their ear.

It's almost impossible to win a long range break with race radios.

Every once in a while there's a miscalculation and a break makes the podium. But, always by seconds.

It's anticlimactic.

There are some exceptions, but not many.

The Tour de France only needs a day or two to set the podium. These are not those days.

the final sprint! wrote:

Yesterday's stage was entertaining. Carl Sagan destroyed that guy at the end.

Wasn't he the billions and billions of stars guy?

I watch it now for the scenery and the sprints. Good to see the Manx Missile competing again. I thought he was past his best. Never thought he would equal The Badger's 28 stage wins.

the final sprint! wrote:

And the peloton catching the breakaway guy in the final 400m? Thrilling. You had to feel for the breakaway guy.

Not thrilling at all ~ just freaking stupid.

A bunch of gay guys, decked out, riding around patting each other on their butts.

Between the drugs and the motors I really don't give a fvck

If anything, the race has become more exciting. It figured to be between Froome and Quintana for 1st and Contatdor and Porte among others battling it our for Third. With those 2 losing time it opens it up for TVG, Bardet, Pinot, Aru (overrated), Rolland, Barguil, Katusha or even Sky getting Thomas or Landa on the podium with Froome.

Also, what happened to the German sprinters? All the hype coming in, and they've been getting destroyed by Cav so far. If they don't start getting results soon, those are gonna be some uncomfortable dinner tables to sit at.

Yeah, what's been up with Kittel?

i chose D2 wrote:

If anything, the race has become more exciting.

99% of the modern editions come down to one or two days where there's a huge ramp test. Everyone knows who/how TTs will go, so watch two days of 26 and you've seen the whole show. You even know which days are the huge ramp tests.

TvG: will fall apart. Always does.

Froome is guaranteed a win baring disaster. ASO manufactured one 7x win streak, they can manufacture another.

Rolland: Entertaining, but no hope.

Thomas should podium. His transition to grand tour podium is as suspicious as Froome. So, whatever.

Quintana should podium.

i chose D2 wrote:

Also, what happened to the German sprinters?

They are there in the finale. That's as good as it gets if they don't win. It's early too. Let's see how hot the Manxman's sprint is in the third week.

Young upstart wins by 2 minutes. American team. Very nice. Lance Armstrong once made up a 15 minute deficit. Nice way to fill an off day at the Trials. Keep moving.

Geraint Thomas, podium? What on earth would make you think that? That Paris-Nice win over a past-prime Contador is not worth a Tour podium.

Same thing when People call Porte a contender-no way, even without that mechanical.