Tour De France - Live Updates

Money Shot

I'm sure everyone is looking forward to the big race - maybe not as much as in the past, but it's the most open race in a long time. I think it could be Vinokourov's year, but there are a number of others who could come through and win it this year.

Europsport have a good site to keep up to date on all happenings as it happens - if your unfortuntate enough to be stuck in work..

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/cycling/tour-de-france/

There are lots of other sites providing online info as each stage progresses - feel free to share them if you find any others you think are particularly good.

Anyone any views on how they think this years Tour will pan out ?

Robin1982

Despite all the hype about Wiggins I reckon Cancellara will win the prologue.

For obvious reasons I wouldn't be delighted with a Vino or Valv vicory, but I'd like to see Karpets, Cunego and Schleck do well. I think Lepi has a great chance of a top-5 finish.

cgf

If your Irish is up to it, TG4 stream it live.....

http://www.tg4.tv/

Chips Lovell

cgf wrote:

If your Irish is up to it, TG4 stream it live.....

Yeah, watched a lot of it on the web last year on TG4. Didn't get a lot of work done that month! I have Eurosport this year, so will tape it and watch it in the evenings.

As for the prologue, both Wiggins and Miller will be very keyed up for it, what with it being in London and all. Wouldn't rule out Wiggins just yet. He rode a great prologue at the Dauphine. Mind you Cancellara does seem to be finding his form at last this year.

Robin1982 wrote:

For obvious reasons I wouldn't be delighted with a Vino or Valv vicory, but I'd like to see Karpets, Cunego and Schleck do well. I think Lepi has a great chance of a top-5 finish.

If you think Vino and Valverde are the only suspect riders out there....

I'd tip Vino this year and if he blows up Astana can ride for Kloeden, who'd have a great chance. Valverde always seems a little bit fragile for grand tours. He didn't finish his last two TDFs. Rode alright in the Vuelta, but really faded towards the end. Sastre could show well, but his TT is unconvincing. Cadel Evans has also been looking pretty strong as has Menchov. Karpets looks great, won the Tour de Suisse without seeming too try to hard, but he's only in with a shout if Valverde blows up and Caisse d'Epargne start riding for him instead. Leipheimer has never really convinced me that he's got that killer instinct. Way too timid a rider and often just follows wheels. As for Schleck, I'm beginning to suspect he's really a one day rider and stage winner. He was CSC's GC man in the Tour de Suisse and he really fell apart. The younger brother though doesn't look like he has that problem and hopefully we'll get to see him in the Tour next year. Cunego isn't riding this year.

Robin1982

Utterly awesome performance by Cancellara - just shy of 8km in less than 9 mins (avg speed of 53.7 kph!!!). Wins by 13' from Kloden (which was a great performance in itself) and 23' from the rest.

Yowzers.

robinph

cgf wrote:

If your Irish is up to it, TG4 stream it live.....

http://www.tg4.tv/

Well I have no Irish and barely enough French to read the captions that get put up, but seeing as there are no other options after it being on ITV1 today it will have to do I guess.

Robin1982

You can listen to Eurosport's commentary online (here , or with text commentary, here)

With TG4 on in the background (Eurosport are using different pics mind) - plus a live GPS map, you should be set!

Pride Fighter

McEwan won todays stage in a sprint finish ahead of Hushovd and Boonen. Those three are surely favs for the green jersey.

cerebus

McEwen's win today was phenomonal. May be hard to appreciate if you have never raced, but chasing back on and then coming all the way through the field like that in the last few kms is incredibly hard, even at the duffer level I race at. I can't imagine how difficult it must be when you're up against protour riders!

Not a huge fan of McEwen, but fair play to him today.

Boonen looked slow - took him ages to get up to speed when he started to sprint, he seems to be missing some of the kick in his legs these days...

Robin1982

YouTube have teamed up with Le Tour to provide a Tour de France channel.

Not a huge amount of interest on it yet but McEwen's post Stage 1 interview its pretty clear he's in intense pain with his wrist/hand injury and he doesn't look delighted with his knee either.

Whether that compromises his chances for another victory tomorrow it may be too early to say, but I wouldn't be betting on him to do it.

Still a terrific win today, and credit to Millar for his enterprising, and ultimately highly rewarding (in terms of GC and KoM publicity), breakaway.

Chips Lovell

Yeah, McEwen was awesome. Not only did he get back and win, but the way he won was just phenomenal. No one could touch him. His acceleration is something else.

cerebus wrote:

Boonen looked slow - took him ages to get up to speed when he started to sprint, he seems to be missing some of the kick in his legs these days...

He hasn't looked great all season, by his standards that is. All he's won really is a few stages in the Tour of Qatar and a few of the lesser Belgian semi-classics, which included Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne when his leadout man Steegmans practically had to brake to let Boonen by to win. And all of that was before he missed a few weeks after breaking his toe.

da_deadman

I am not a fan of McEwen at all, BUT that was a fantastic sprint to win stage 1. He really flew past all the others at such high speed it was amazing.

I was surprised by the tactics of the other teams though - I didn't understand how he was able to get back to the peloton after his crash. I mean, why didn't Quick Step, Milram, Lampre, Credit Agricole, etc. really put the foot down and ensure that McEwen couldn't get back on. Particularly Quick Step and Credit Agricole (who are built around their star sprinters) should have been able to team up and keep Robbie out of the running...

crashoveroid

da_deadman wrote:

I am not a fan of McEwen at all, BUT that was a fantastic sprint to win stage 1. He really flew past all the others at such high speed it was amazing.

I was surprised by the tactics of the other teams though - I didn't understand how he was able to get back to the peloton after his crash. I mean, why didn't Quick Step, Milram, Lampre, Credit Agricole, etc. really put the foot down and ensure that McEwen couldn't get back on. Particularly Quick Step and Credit Agricole (who are built around their star sprinters) should have been able to team up and keep Robbie out of the running...

They did were you not watching

Chips Lovell

Not so many people like McEwen here it seems?

I don't know, it seemed to me that Quickstep in particular seemed to put their foot on the gas once they realised McEwen was down. You've got to remember that while Quickstep were tearing away at the front, most of McEwen's team hung back for him and killed themselves getting him back up.

Mucco

el tonto wrote:

most of McEwen's team hung back for him and killed themselves getting him back up.

Yes, it was a very good team effort to get him in contention, and, considering this, his acceleration for the line was amazing.
I was at the finish and couldn't believe it was him that won - our commentary wasn't working so we all thought he was still out the back.

I can't get the TG4 streaming to work - any tips?

E@gle.

OMG did anyone see that crash today, must have been at least 30 riders involved in it

da_deadman

No I didn't see the crash but I heard that Cancellara hit the gound hard. Were there any other big names caught up in it?

And what happened with Steegmans and Boonen? :eek: I couldn't believe it when I heard who won - I can't imagine that Tornado Tom is too happy with that result.

Robin1982

Reports were saying that Tom was making out that he gave the victory to his teammate as they were so far ahead - although EuroSport quotes him saying the opposite. Either way, Steegmans beat him hands down. McEwen didn't make much impression today in the sprint - said he was hurting as well. Can't see Zabel winning a stage again

Hushovd, Bennati and Cavandish (how unlucky is this guy) were also involved in the crash. Here's the video

EDIT: looks like Bennati could be out. In hospital tonight for hip scan.

I also like to watch the Betfair markets as the race unfolds. The markets aren't very liquid and the flat stages mean there isn't much action until the sprint but there are some real novices around to make things interesting

Before today's stage had even started a flood of money came for McEwen to win the stage forcing the price down from 2.9 to 2.0. Unfortunately, it turned out that Eurosport were showing a replay of Stage 1 at the time, and clearly someone thought (I can only surmise) that McEwen was following up today. Expensive lesson.

But better was to come. During the crash Eurosport reported the green jersey had been brought down. Sure enough people starting laying McEwen at 33/1, 50 even 66/1 to win the stage, risking €1000s, even though at this stage he was with the 20 or so riders to have been unaffected - could have been very nasty.

And just to top it all off, Eurosport called Boonen the winner (I think the official timing system went haywire and declared Boonen the unofficial winner) - sure enough a few bet a couple of grand between them at odds down to 1.01 (i.e. 1/100 or 99% certain or for every 100 euro bet they would win 1) that Boonen won - believing it to be a "no-risk sure thing". Unfortunately, they got burned!

Money Shot

Anybody see this - very strange

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=466755&in_page_id=1770&ct=5

Chips Lovell

So how much to you make Robin;)

mcgratheoin

Robin1982 wrote:

You can listen to Eurosport's commentary online (here , or with text commentary, here)

With TG4 on in the background (Eurosport are using different pics mind) - plus a live GPS map, you should be set!

The webcast on TG4 is about 20 seconds behind live so if you have Eurosport audio on it may be a little disconcerting - it can be handy to give you a bit of warning though - put eurosport on headphones and you only need tune in to the pictures when something happens - they'll start screaming about a break or a crash and you have 20 seconds then to flick to the tv coverage.

I prefer to brush up on the cupla focal though!

Civilian_Target

In the last few days I've seen a lot of guys while communting who I'd swear think they are in the tour deFrance. They take off as hard as they can from the lights and then run out of steam about 30 seconds later! Some of them are seriously dangerous though, I saw one guy bombing down through a pedestrian path in Hyde Park at about 30mph and another guy almost took out a lady at a pedestrian crossing on the Uxbridge road!

Robin1982

What a terrific stage today! 4 man breakaway caught within the last 750m, and out of nowhere the yellow jersey attacks, catches the sprinters all napping and just holds on for the victory.

Magnificent.

AndyP

One of the finest stage wins I have ever had the pleasure to watch, what a ride from Cancellara, the maillot jaune is just not meant to do that!

Ghost Rider

When Wimbledon is on, you often see kids playing tennis out in the streets. Similar thing, probably.

Civilian_Target wrote:

In the last few days I've seen a lot of guys while communting who I'd swear think they are in the tour deFrance. They take off as hard as they can from the lights and then run out of steam about 30 seconds later! Some of them are seriously dangerous though, I saw one guy bombing down through a pedestrian path in Hyde Park at about 30mph and another guy almost took out a lady at a pedestrian crossing on the Uxbridge road!

ednwireland

live video streaming link on http://www.channelsurfing.net
cancellara what a guy best stage win i've seen, remember joop zootemelk in 78 watching the highlights on world of sport sport specials made me buy a raleigh as well (cant forgive himfor that)

da_deadman

Fair play to Cancellara for his stage win yesterday. When on form, that guy is one hard to beat cyclist. I hope he gets to keep wearing yellow for another few days - although stage 5 tomorrow will be a tough, hilly stage.

Anyway, today's stage just finished, with Thor Hushovd taking the honours ahead of Hunter, Freire, Zabel and Napolitano with Boonen back in 8th.

el tel

Zabel is amazing - Six green jerseys and always up there in contention. He's 37 now and still cutting the mustard.

Chips Lovell

Yeah, he's having a great Tour so far. Not as fast as he used to be, but placing consistently and now challenging for green.

Planet X

Vino dropped 1.20 today after a crash (into a motorbike?).
don't think it'll affect him though, timewise.....but you never know.

Orizio

More worrying for Vino was the Astana team, they just fell apart around him and his own inability to take back time. Doesn't bode well for Kloden and Vino in the future methinks.

Haven't a clue who is going to win this year(just like last year), no Landis, no Basso etc. Although Cancellara is quickly becoming my new favourite cyclist along with Sastre after that stage victory.I suppose Vino is the standout rider, but I hate to see a cheater like that win the tour yet again.

Chips Lovell

Orizio wrote:

More worrying for Vino was the Astana team, they just fell apart around him and his own inability to take back time. Doesn't bode well for Kloden and Vino in the future methinks.

I don't know, Vino was incredibly unlucky with the timing of his crash. The peloton was going full bore at the time and his team burned all their matches trying to get him back. Seven guys vs eighty going at full tilt is also going to be a big ask. Astana looked very strong at the Giro and the Dauphine, so I wouldn't write the team off yet.

I think their big problem will be the injuries. Vino looked pretty cut up and if he doesn't recover in time for the mountains on Saturday, he could lose more time and that would mean Kloeden would be the main man...

...except Kloeden fractured his arse bone (OK, his coccyx) in his own crash. He said he'll continue, but that doesn't sound great.

Planet X

My choice for overall are;
1. Vino
2. Levi
3. George H.

E@gle.

i wonder how long Cancellara will hold out in the yellow jersey i think he has a lead of 33 seconds at the moment

da_deadman

Honourable Mention of the Day for Geoffroy Lequatre of team Cofidis. At the feed zone today, Geoffroy had a problem when a musette (not sure if it was his or someone else's) caused him to crash - and spill all the contents of the food bag. According to the live web updates I was following he appeared to be in some pain at the time.

Well, there was no more mention about him but I was just looking at the full results from today and there was poor Geoffroy, the last finisher of the day at 44 minutes after Pozzato crossed the line. BBC has a little piece about him on their site ( here ).

So, let me just say fair play to Geoffroy, for showing some real guts and grittiness to finish off the stage. I hope he is able to continue all the way to Paris.

Hermy

Orizio wrote:

I suppose Vino is the standout rider, but I hate to see a cheater like that win the tour yet again.

Could you elaborate on the cheating reference Orizio? I'm a bit of a fan of Vino and wasn't aware of a cheating cloud hanging over him.

toombah

Don't think he has been done for any doping, but he is seeing Dr Ferrari. Although when quizzed about it Vino maintains that he is employing the doctor as a trainer. Take from it what you will.

Vino had a tough finish to the day yesterday. Will be interesting to see how he gets on today and Saturday.

Chips Lovell

Hermy wrote:

Could you elaborate on the cheating reference Orizio? I'm a bit of a fan of Vino and wasn't aware of a cheating cloud hanging over him.

Obviously there's no doping conviction, but there's some things worth considering. He was riding for Liberty Seguros at the time of Operation Puerto and the team's boss Manolo Saiz was caught with drugs, blood bags and sixty grand in cash by the Spanish police. When Dr. Fuentes was arrested he had a card with several names listed on it. One of them was Vino's. He's also worked with controversial Italian trainer Michele Ferrari. That's what's on the record. Scour the internet enough and you'll hear a lot of gossip.

Toto Wolfcastle

OMG I'm so sick of TG4's coverage of the Tour. I only have 4 channels, so no other options. It's not even the Irish that's the problem, I have a degree in Irish. Just don't know how much longer I can handle those two eegits banging on about renewable sources of energy, or saying 'Oooh look he moved a bit to the left, what's that about?'. In fairness, one of them seems to know what he's talking about. (Haven't managed to figure out who he is though!!) But that other guy thinks he knows because he has a nephew or something who cycles.

OK, rant over.....

Loving the Tour though!!

Chips Lovell

Eurosport isn't much better. Sean Kelly, god bless him, does know what he's talking about, but isn't very articulate. If I hear him say "a hundred percent" one more time, I'll scream.

Pride Fighter

Poor Wiggins today. Gave it a lash and fell short. I cant wait for the alps. Those mountains are life takers and heartbreakers.

Chips Lovell

And it's Bastille Day tomorrow, so there will be loads of epic attacks from the French.

mloc123

el tonto wrote:

Eurosport isn't much better. Sean Kelly, god bless him, does know what he's talking about, but isn't very articulate. If I hear him say "a hundred percent" one more time, I'll scream.

Sean does have a habbit of rambling on and coming out with the most obscure points.... he is not too unlike Ray Houghton. Still I enjoy the Eurosport highlights, not sure who the main guy is?

Chips Lovell

mloc123 wrote:

...not sure who the main guy is?

David Harmon

Hermy

Can I get banned for insulting myself. What I’m getting at is that only the other day I read about Vino’s links with Dr. Ferrari -http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2007/jul07/jul06news3
- and yet I question Orizio. What a stupid ***************** I am!!! Maybe I’m just reading so many reports of cheating and what not that I’m becoming immune to the stuff. And now I hear that Zabel is to be stripped of his 1996 Green jersey. And Kessler has been given the boot by Astana - http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2007/jul07/jul14news2 - how much more of this can we take and indeed how much more can the sport of cycling take before the whole thing collapses?

Chips Lovell

Dude, there's a lot more to come. Around 100 riders were said to have been treated by Fuentes and that's only one doctor. So far, we've only got three who've confessed or were suspended (Basso, Ullrich and Jaksche). I don't think there's more doping going on, just that the authorities are cracking down hard on it. There's a long way to go yet.

Hermy

Yeah I hear what you’re saying. Although it is terrible that every other day another rider hit’s the headlines for the wrong reasons, yet I know that for Pat McQuaid and the U.C.I. to really get to grips with this thing we shall have to put up with more bad news for the foreseeable future.

Pride Fighter

Rasmussen won an epic 8th stage and is in the yellow jersey. Where did Gerdemen come from. He is deadly!!

iregk

Pride Fighter wrote:

Where did Gerdemen come from.

Germany! sorry couldn't resist.

Today should be interesting for the young lad. He looked shot the past couple of days, all be it from giving it a right good go. Maybe the rest day came at the right time for him?

On a different note did anyone else find it strange the way Astana were gearing everything about Vino. Now I know he is the leader but at the moment the man is in bits after his crash and to call back Kloden of all people to help him was a touch strange. Surely get one of the others further down the pecking order to drop back?

Chips Lovell

iregk wrote:

Surely get one of the others further down the pecking order to drop back?

There were no others. The only Astana rider up the road was Kashechkin, who's as much a GC contender as Kloeden.

iregk

el tonto wrote:

There were no others. The only Astana rider up the road was Kashechkin, who's as much a GC contender as Kloeden.

ah good point.