Irish Corner alpe d'huez

MrCreosote

Dan Martin gives a shout out to this in his diary in the Irish Times.

You might get the nod from him next week!

luapenak

Car packed and headed for the ferry, see everybody there in a few days, cannot wait!

rab!dmonkey

el tel wrote: »

Road closure info for the stage

http://oisans.com/artImages/file/flyer-tdf-2013.pdf

What's the story with the road closures? Will it be possible to spectate on the Col de Sarenne? It says closed to all traffic, including bikes - anyone know if pedestrians are allowed?

Brendan Hennessy

Hi all,

I heard about this initiative a few weeks ago and it's really great. It brought back memories from the time my parents brought us to France in April 1989 so I checked out my old pics.

There were 4 kids in this car as well as mum and dad. My dad still made room for my Raleigh Road Ace though. We were staying at the summit of Alpe D'Huez. I was well wrapped up for the descent, how I loved that Systeme U gear! But I remember worrying about my rims melting in the way they spoke of the tubular compound melting. Such was the descent, or my fear, my arms ached from having the brakes on the whole way down. As far as I can remember I went for a short spin and then rode a 42 x 28 on the way back up. Anyway Dad met me on my ascent and stepped out at nearly every corner with whatever simple camera we had. So first I found this photo:




And then, lo and behold: Corner 10! I had changed to my even more beloved Kas - Burmah/Castol gear, purchased from the team at one of the Nissan Classics (if anyone has it can I have it back now!).



Looking back at the photos I see that in every car in the background the occupants were looking out - how I delighted in thinking they thought I was Seán Kelly! I also recall nearly running Dad over in order for him to get 'close up' shots.

So to all those who make it there I hope you have a great time. If your parents have brought you then an even more special thanks to the mums and dads. I was only 14 and I can tell you this was such a greater achievement than my inter-cert! Thanks Dad,

Best wishes, Brendan

ednwireland

'Irish Corner' should be a bit of craic and I'm really looking forward to riding past them on Thursday.

from nicos diary
http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/every-single-day-left-is-going-to-be-suited-to-aggressive-riding-29422313.html

Planet X

Wonder what they're having for breakfast this morning eh?
:pac::pac::pac:

Planet X

http://www.irishcorner10.com/

don't know if it's been up already.

happytramp

Just got a mention there on Eurosport. Do us proud lads, we'll be watching.

Esroh

Daddy Roche just paid them a visit:)

mrroboito

@Brendan Hennessy Stickybottle.com is offering a €100 prize for best Alpe pics.

el tel

Irish corner looking a bit wanky from the aerial shots

gordongekko

Where was the panda

Planet X

It looked v. good second time up from the motorbikes.

Gipo3

There was many Irish throughout the mountain. Maybe they didn't know about the corner or were on the sauce too much last night and got up late.

happytramp

el tel wrote: »

Irish corner looking a bit wanky from the aerial shots

As in not that many there? Give it time, i'd say it could become a 'thing'

Shedite27

Think it got bypassed the first time by TV cameras. Got a good "ground level" leading bike camera the second time round.

Definitely got potential. It was announced too late this year IMO

Amz

Very tempted to go next year. Not enough notice this year.

I can probably justify it as "training"

Brendan Hennessy

Thanks mrroboito,

In fairness I think anyone who made the epic journey deserves the cash! Great tour coverage on Sticky Bottle though so thanks for the link...and the thought.

mrroboito wrote: »

@Brendan Hennessy Stickybottle.com is offering a €100 prize for best Alpe pics.

Thanks to all for the 'thanks' to my pics - my Dad is rightly chuffed.

Brendan

dastardly00

Tweet from Nico ‏@nicholasroche

@IrishCorner10 and irish fans! Only one thing to say: you are the best!!!!

Tweet from Dan @DanMartin86

Thanks for all the support. 1 of my worst days ever and couldn't stop smiling. Legendary @IrishCorner10 Best TDF memory.

bazermc

Any body see the "Mayo for Sam" written on the road in big green letters about 2km from the finish.

Was great to see - even though I am a Dub

donegaldude

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rlk-tUfu3Jo

Orica Green Edge, Wild one video. Plenty of Irish corner in it and finished with the olé olé

ThisRegard

Whoever was the marketing genius from that team who thought of handing out the blow up guitars deserves a massive pay rise.

Slow And One Sided

Great idea, pity it didn't get as much publicity as it should have. I'm sure there would have been a fair auld turn out

velopeloton

Amz wrote: »

Very tempted to go next year. Not enough notice this year.

I can probably justify it as "training"

Le Tour will not be using Alpe d'Huez in 2014. There will be one mountain top finish in the Alps, most likely at Risoul.

There will be one to La Planches-des-Belles-Filles in Vosges.

There should be two in Pyrénées, lots of talk here about a stage from Pau to Pla d'Adet (Marie Blanque, Aubisque, Soulor, Tourmalet, Aspin and Pla d'Adet) and from Tarbes to Hautacam (Tourmalet, Borderes, Soulor, Spandelles and Hautacam). Also Pierre-Saint-Martin, which I think is unlikely.

It's only rumours so may not be correct. The route will be announced on 23rd October.

Idleater

velopeloton wrote: »

talk here about a stage from Pau to Pla d'Adet (Marie Blanque, Aubisque, Soulor, Tourmalet, Aspin and Pla d'Adet) and from Tarbes to Hautacam (Tourmalet, Borderes, Soulor, Spandelles and Hautacam).

Class route

HardyEustace

The orica green edge videos seem to have been removed :-( Both the Alp D one and the team one. Wonder why...

Esroh

http://stickybottle.com/latest-news/did-irish-fans-on-alpe-dhuez-abuse-team-sky-irish-journalist-david-walsh-says-they-did/

Sacksian

Esroh wrote: »

http://stickybottle.com/latest-news/did-irish-fans-on-alpe-dhuez-abuse-team-sky-irish-journalist-david-walsh-says-they-did/

From the above article...

When the vehicles slowed down enough on some points enabling some fans by the roadside to rock the cars from side to side, that’s what happened

I was watching the team cars go through Dutch corner from the grassy knoll(!) and they seemed to go much crazier (positively) for anything related to Belkin - I thought Sky would get a much harder time. The Dutch guys were rocking the Belkin car pretty vigorously too and I think a couple of them got on the roof of the car as well.

Nicest moment of the race was seeing Adam Hansen going past sipping a beer he'd picked up at Dutch corner.

Would have liked to have been closer to Irish corner but we'd driven up the night before and all the best camping/parking was in the stretch after Dutch corner.

LeoD

While you are always (unfortunately) going to get a few clowns/dickheads among the 100's of 1000's on the side of the road, I'm starting to find the David Walsh - Sky mutual admiration society slightly more nauseating. Adding pineapple juice to water - genius.

Kav0777

LeoD wrote: »

While you are always (unfortunately) going to get a few clowns/dickheads among the 100's of 1000's on the side of the road, I'm starting to find the David Walsh - Sky mutual admiration society slightly more nauseating. Adding pineapple juice to water - genius.

I believe they had air con in their buses too. #marginal gains

luapenak

Esroh wrote: »

http://stickybottle.com/latest-news/did-irish-fans-on-alpe-dhuez-abuse-team-sky-irish-journalist-david-walsh-says-they-did/

Just reading this now and a bit annoyed by it. "There is no reference in the story suggesting the nationality of those fans with the giant syringe or those who mimicked injecting." Why not??
Anyone who had been there could have told him that they were French and removed any ambiguity which implies that it was Irish fans, since he refers to Irish Corner. Similarly he refers to the Dope Froome poster which we all saw and nobody I talked to was happy about. This was the same French "fans"(gob****es) involved with the syringes.
These were the same French fans who kicked the **** out of an English supporter (pro Froome) at the corner, in front of the police and then proceeded to tear down the small pro-Froome poster hanging on the corner. I did not see the start of the confrontation so it is possible the French were provoked, either way the actions of the above mentioned French and the French police was disgraceful.

luapenak

I see since I have written the above, stickybottle has put up this:

http://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news/lakeside-wheelers-riders-reject-david-walshs-claims-they-apologised-to-dave-brailsford-after-alpe-dhuez/

Glad that's cleared up-ish.

The only thing some Irish fans did was give a thumbs down apparently. Nothing wrong with that, we all have those we want to win & loose, a thumbs down is hardly abusive.

on_the_nickel

The plot thickens. http://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news/lakeside-wheelers-riders-reject-david-walshs-claims-they-apologised-to-dave-brailsford-after-alpe-dhuez/

So today would seem to be the day I finally lose pretty much all respect I had for the two wonderful Irish journalists who not so very long ago exposed Armstrong as a fraud through their determination, integrity and hard work.

elduggo

luapenak wrote: »

I did not see the start of the confrontation so it is possible the French were provoked

I did. They were gob****es. That was all the provocation they needed. The stories should come out via stickybottle over the next few days. It seems all accounts collected from Irish people there tally. Hopefully it will be cleared up soon and Walsh will come out of whatever rathole hes in and issue the apology thats due.

daveirl

This post has been deleted.

on_the_nickel

daveirl wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

This: http://balls.ie/cycling/paul-kimmage-twitter-row/

The tweet to Richard Moore did him no favours.

I'm not sure about Moore, I like most of his stuff, but he does seem very close to Sky, too close to be impartial, but there is no need to be such an ar$ehole about it. And he should answer Moore's questions if he's going around abusing him.

Also, just re-read my post above, me write English good!

happytramp

Jaysus, he might be one of those that was better off having never learned how to use twitter

riparooo

on_the_nickel wrote: »

This: http://balls.ie/cycling/paul-kimmage-twitter-row/

The tweet to Richard Moore did him no favours.

I'm not sure about Moore, I liked most of his stuff, but he does seem very close to Sky, too close to be impartial, but there is no need to be such an ar$ehole about it. And he should answer Moore's questions if he's going around abusing him.

Also, just re-read my post above, me write English good!

It seems like Kimmage would pick a fight with his own shadow if he could. His replies are so OTT aggressive.

Casati

elduggo wrote: »

I did. They were gob****es. That was all the provocation they needed. The stories should come out via stickybottle over the next few days. It seems all accounts collected from Irish people there tally. Hopefully it will be cleared up soon and Walsh will come out of whatever rathole hes in and issue the apology thats due.

Agreed- unfortunately I was right beside these French lads and had to dodge the cross-fire - they had planned to jump out of their van in full scrubs when Fromme came through on the last lap. As others have said the French police were useless, allowing the lads to throw punches at one English lad and a lady who suffered a cut lip, and almost knock a cyclist passing to the ground. Very lazy to make a headline out of Walsh's comments I think

High Nellie

elduggo wrote: »

I did. They were gob****es. That was all the provocation they needed. The stories should come out via stickybottle over the next few days. It seems all accounts collected from Irish people there tally. Hopefully it will be cleared up soon and Walsh will come out of whatever rathole hes in and issue the apology thats due.

Some of the reported behavior I wouldn't agree with. But isn't it about time that fans made some form of protest against having dopers on the Tour - but they shouldn't interfere with them on the road. Fans and bike buyers are largely very tolerant of dopers in spite of all the hot air. The proof of this is the fact that sponsors keep re-hiring them and paying them a lot of money. Trek and Schleck for example. Obviously Trek knows it won't interfere with sales, in spite of their former association with Armstrong,

daveirl

This post has been deleted.

redzerredzer

Casati wrote: »

Agreed- unfortunately I was right beside these French lads and had to dodge the cross-fire - they had planned to jump out of their van in full scrubs when Fromme came through on the last lap. As others have said the French police were useless, allowing the lads to throw punches at one English lad and a lady who suffered a cut lip, and almost knock a cyclist passing to the ground. Very lazy to make a headline out of Walsh's comments I think

How did the fight start and how serious was it?
Is it true that other fans locked these French lads dressed as doctors into a van?

luapenak

High Nellie wrote: »

Some of the reported behavior I wouldn't agree with. But isn't it about time that fans made some form of protest against having dopers on the Tour - but they shouldn't interfere with them on the road. Fans and bike buyers are largely very tolerant of dopers in spite of all the hot air. The proof of this is the fact that sponsors keep re-hiring them and paying them a lot of money. Trek and Schleck for example. Obviously Trek knows it won't interfere with sales, in spite of their former association with Armstrong,

What are you on about, this wasn't a protest against actual or suspected dopers in the peleton? This was solely a protest against Froome/Sky.

Agree with Trek/Schleck comment but is irrelevant to the goings on at Irish corner.

elduggo

redzerredzer wrote: »

How did the fight start and how serious was it?
Is it true that other fans locked these French lads dressed as doctors into a van?

yep. You've answered your own question there.

elduggo

daveirl wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Moore's initial tweet was pretty **** too. Theres a pair of them in it.

redzerredzer

elduggo wrote: »

yep. You've answered your own question there.

I thought it was two different incidents.

If some English guys (and a stupid girl by some accounts) took umbrage to the doctor protest so took the law into their own hands they should have been arrested.

elduggo

redzerredzer wrote: »

I thought it was two different incidents.

If some English guys (and a stupid girl by some accounts) took umbrage to the doctor protest so took the law into their own hands they should have been arrested.

you should probably desist from making comments like that if you don't know what happened.

High Nellie

luapenak wrote: »

What are you on about, this wasn't a protest against actual or suspected dopers in the peleton? This was solely a protest against Froome/Sky.

Agree with Trek/Schleck comment but is irrelevant to the goings on at Irish corner.

Squirting from syringes - nothing to do with doping?? But, as I said, they shouldn't interfere with riders on the road. I think the sponsors should be more the subject of protest

redzerredzer

elduggo wrote: »

you should probably desist from making comments like that if you don't know what happened.

Now that annoys me.

I asked what happened. If you knew what happened you could have just told me. Instead you gave a stupid reply. That stupid reply suggested that I had the answer. And now, you are suggesting that I dont know what happened and criticise me for commenting.

If indeed I dont know what happened, would you kindly tell me?

luapenak

High Nellie wrote: »

Squirting from syringes - nothing to do with doping?? But, as I said, they shouldn't interfere with riders on the road. I think the sponsors should be more the subject of protest

I did not say nothing to do with doping. I was simply referring the facts that this was not a simple protest on doping in cycling but a specified attack on Froome/Sky about which I am yet to see any convincing evidence to support. Although comments about protesting doping in general may or may not be warranted, my previous response simply reflects the fact that your comments are irrelevant to the actual goings on at Irish Corner.

Sorry if I'm being a prick on this, as you may gather, I am rightly pissed off by the contents of the initial article posted on stickybottle. I can't see any reason for anything other that positive comments about the Irish fans at the corner. Glad I don't have access to the Sunday Times article from France.