2014 Tour de France

Captain Havoc

The route is to be announced tomorrow (I think) but velopeloton has published a leak of the route. The cobbles will make it interesting and it could be potentially lost if there's a crash or a mechanical. The TT on the last day before Paris could also bring it down to the wire. More here

Captain Havoc

I tell porkies, the announcement is today and live on letour.fr from 10h30.

ZiabR

Looks great, cant wait for this!

ROK ON

The missus has friends who live near Carcassone - must plant a suggestion re holidays next year.

AnotherView

Froome is not liking the cobbles......can be dangerous especially if you are not used to them

TT on 2nd last day looks like it will decide all......

Not sure if the Irish lads riding Tour if they are going for the Giro but Hautacam could be good for D Martin

mossym

nice overview on velonation

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/15684/More-mountains-and-fewer-time-trials-for-the-Tour-de-France-in-2014.aspx

velopeloton

The 3 stages in the Pyrénées all look good for Dan. Voeckler will be going for a hattrick in Luchon.
Stage 17 has no flat between the climbs so hopefully there will be some attacks from far out.
Cobbles should not trouble the irish boys too much.

mossym

stage 18

velopeloton

mossym wrote: »

stage 18

No. That's Stelvio Pass in Italy.

mossym

velopeloton wrote: »

No. That's Stelvio Pass in Italy.

apologies, linked to wrong picture, now corrected..:)

velopeloton

Hautacam 3km from the summit, looking down on Argeles.

ROK ON

Of all the climbs that I have done in France the Huaracam is by far the toughest.
Tourmalet is long but the gradient is relative stable, same with Apin, Peyresourde, Paliheres. Portet Aspet is very steep but short.

Hautacam - the gradient changes continually and I couldn't get any sort of tempo going. Also the bells on the cows and goats - drove me absolutely bananas - it was as if they were taunting me.

It is a prettier climb than the Tourmalet IMHO and the descent is lovely.
Irish corner for 2014.

on_the_nickel

ROK ON wrote: »

Of all the climbs that I have done in France the Huaracam is by far the toughest.
Tourmalet is long but the gradient is relative stable, same with Apin, Peyresourde, Paliheres. Portet Aspet is very steep but short.

Hautacam - the gradient changes continually and I couldn't get any sort of tempo going. Also the bells on the cows and goats - drove me absolutely bananas - it was as if they were taunting me.

It is a prettier climb than the Tourmalet IMHO and the descent is lovely.
Irish corner for 2014.

Totally agree. We stayed in Argeles in September and did Luz Ardiden, Aubisque, Tourmalet (both sides) and the Hautacam was the toughest climb of the lot.

Luz Ardiden is a really lovely climb, I really got into it and found a rhythm, steady (high) HR all the way, and then pushed in last 2 km, was really happy with my climb.

The Hautacam is roughly the same distance and average gradient (7% over 15km) so I kind of assumed it would be similar, but it is not. Very rampy as you say, I found it really hard to settle into and when you see a km sign saying 10%, with the first 300m almost flat, you're just waiting for the inevitable out of the saddle torture - with the fecking bells in the background.

velopeloton

What's wrong with the bells? I love the bells.

on_the_nickel

velopeloton wrote: »

What's wrong with the bells? I love the bells.

I didn't mind them at the top, I must admit. Half way up, they were laughing at my slowness.

laraghrider

How long before Sky and Chris Froome put forward a motion that each rider should be able to miss one stage over the course of the tour without it affecting their timings?

at1withmyself

Tourmalet & Hautacam for the L'etape next year

Lusk_Doyle

laraghrider wrote: »

How long before Sky and Chris Froome put forward a motion that each rider should be able to miss one stage over the course of the tour without it affecting their timings?

About forever.

2smiggy

Wiggins looks set to miss the Tour !! Sky seem like they do not want to pick him.

I know they want Froome to win it again, but they/he must be fairly worried about Wiggins to not follow team policy to not want to pick him.

link

check_six

2smiggy wrote: »

Wiggins looks set to miss the Tour !! Sky seem like they do not want to pick him.

I know they want Froome to win it again, but they/he must be fairly worried about Wiggins to not follow team policy to not want to pick him.

link

Bit of dramatic infighting in the Sky team with a prospect of interesting racing? No?

Ok, wake me up at the end of July, cause I ain't gonna miss anything good!

laraghrider

I'm gutted that Wiggo will not be at the tour. I was looking forward to a good Ullrich -v- Riis in fight.

dragratchet

froome holds all the cards with sky this year and has made it clear he wants porte not wiggo... considering the material in his book detailing his conflict with wiggo, he might have had an inkling then that he wouldnt have to line out with him for the tour

ednwireland

laraghrider wrote: »

I'm gutted that Wiggo will not be at the tour. I was looking forward to a good Ullrich -v- Riis in fight.

6 mountain stages and 5 uphill finishes anyone think wiggo had a chance of being up there ?

godtabh

The options for next year are interesting for Wiggins. Orica appear to be it at the moment.

Sky dont want him it would seem

As regards his TdF selection he seems to have a good attitude with regard to his role if he was selected. MOre than could be said for Froome in Wiggins year. If you take what Wiggins says at face value surely he would be on the team as a super domestic. Porte had a few wobbles last year. Wiggins could balance that out

barrabus

Froome doesnt do it for me .

an incident on the cobbles delaying him significantly would bring a smile to my face

spyderski

What are the chances of Wiggo getting an early release from his contract and riding the Tour with OGE this year?? Now that I would like to see.....

paddy no 11

What are Dans chances of making the starting line?

godtabh

spyderski wrote: »

What are the chances of Wiggo getting an early release from his contract and riding the Tour with OGE this year?? Now that I would like to see.....

The two teams seem to get on great but I cant see that happening

retalivity

with the tour starting in Yorkshire it is very surprising that wiggins will not be selected, if even for pure promotional reasons. This looks like a 70% froome/30% Brailsford decision

laraghrider

ednwireland wrote: »

6 mountain stages and 5 uphill finishes anyone think wiggo had a chance of being up there ?

Absolutely not but it could have made for epic tv

check_six

retalivity wrote: »

with the tour starting in Yorkshire it is very surprising that wiggins will not be selected, if even for pure promotional reasons. This looks like a 70% froome/30% Brailsford decision

Isn't the Yorkshire start a kind of tribute to Wiggins win? Maybe I'm mis-remembering. Seems very strange that he's not in the start list in that case.

gordongekko

check_six wrote: »

Isn't the Yorkshire start a kind of tribute to Wiggins win? Maybe I'm mis-remembering. Seems very strange that he's not in the start list in that case.

He might be looking for a bit of a public outcry to force sky into picking him.

mccutchie

gordongekko wrote: »

He might be looking for a bit of a public outcry to force sky into picking him.

Wiggins out of the tour definitely reduces the tours appeal to the masses, just shows how ruthless professional sport can be. Le mond, the badger, bygone era. Anyone else sick to the teeth of team sky

ednwireland

mccutchie wrote: »

Anyone else sick to the teeth of team sky

nope but then i dont read much uk press and certainly they werent that much of a force in the spring classics or the giro but if your reading loads of stuff about le tour then i can see how you might be sick of them

but up here we might forgive them as they seem to be getting the best out of deignan again

i'm looking forward to yorkshire anyway !!

mossym

mccutchie wrote: »

Anyone else sick to the teeth of team sky

yup, absolutely incensed that they're picking what they see as their best team, rather than including a rider with pendulum like moods and asking him to take a back seat, thereby taking a big risk just to suit the wishes of the public. and also for initially saying froome could have input in the picking of the team, and then having the gall to stick to their word when he most likely said he didn't want a rider he has publicly fought with on team for his main event.

tongue in cheek, but whatever other reasons there are to dislike team Sky, this would seem to be hating for hating sake

MB Lacey

mccutchie wrote: »

Wiggins out of the tour definitely reduces the tours appeal to the masses, just shows how ruthless professional sport can be. Le mond, the badger, bygone era. Anyone else sick to the teeth of team sky

I listen to UK radio at work, each of the news bulletins has ended with the news that Wiggins will not being part of the Tdf this year, the piece is ended each time with 'Wiggins says he's gutted'.

godtabh

MB Lacey wrote: »

I listen to UK radio at work, each of the news bulletins has ended with the news that Wiggins will not being part of the Tdf this year, the piece is ended each time with 'Wiggins says he's gutted'.

Of course he is gutted. Its THE big race.

Can see him returning to the track full time now

MPFG

I am going to Yorkshire next month and hoped to see Wiggins ( not Froome tbh) and of course the Irish lads and other top riders ....

I think whatever the dynamics SKY should try and work out a solution that includes Wiggins...He is a star and seems willing to take a support role ...and he could go for TT and cobble stages if team agree

This could be sorted if there is a will...Stumbling block seems to be Froome in my book. All the comments about Wiggins not riding for someone else ...seemed to me Froome had the greatest difficulty riding for someone else

I fear Froome may win races but be loved by few

What is that line from Gladiator " I was not the best because I killed quickly. I was the best because the crowd loved me

MPFG

And that Vino can be sendign these kind of letters to Nibali at this stage beggars belief

Management in cycling can be so rubbish imo

https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gazzetta.it%2FCiclismo%2F06-06-2014%2Flettera-richiamo-nibali-vinokourov-astana-risultati-tour-rendimento-80850410879.shtml&edit-text=

godtabh

MPFG wrote: »

And that Vino can be sendign these kind of letters to Nibali at this stage beggars belief

Management in cycling can be so rubbish imo

https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gazzetta.it%2FCiclismo%2F06-06-2014%2Flettera-richiamo-nibali-vinokourov-astana-risultati-tour-rendimento-80850410879.shtml&edit-text=

My italian is rubbish

Chips Lovell

I suspect Wiggo is going to be very motivated at the Tour de Suisse next week. Either that or he'll pack on the first stage.

MPFG

godtabh wrote: »

My italian is rubbish

Use google translate

basically saying his performance is not good enough ...Kazakhstan government not happy :eek:

Brian?

ednwireland wrote: »

6 mountain stages and 5 uphill finishes anyone think wiggo had a chance of being up there ?

Not a hope. He'd manage top 3 at a push but he'd be burned off by accelerations from the Contador v Froome dual.

Look at the Mt Diablo stage in the tour of California. He looked immense, set a blistering pace but had no answer when the accelerations came.

I think Sky are making a huge mistake leaving him out. What an engine on him. He'd be perfect as a setup man for Froome.

ericzeking

MPFG wrote: »

I am going to Yorkshire next month and hoped to see Wiggins ( not Froome tbh) and of course the Irish lads and other top riders ....

I think whatever the dynamics SKY should try and work out a solution that includes Wiggins...He is a star and seems willing to take a support role ...and he could go for TT and cobble stages if team agree

This could be sorted if there is a will...Stumbling block seems to be Froome in my book. All the comments about Wiggins not riding for someone else ...seemed to me Froome had the greatest difficulty riding for someone else

I fear Froome may win races but be loved by few

What is that line from Gladiator " I was not the best because I killed quickly. I was the best because the crowd loved me

Many don't like Wiggins but I really do, he's different, he's not always PC, he's human and...... he's a mod, which is cool in my book but one of the main reasons I like him is that time he lead out Cav on the Champs Elysees while wearing the yellow jersey, that is as classy a thing as you will see in a bike race, in amongst the sprinters risking a crash, helping his mate with the Tour all but wrapped up....Solid

godtabh

MPFG wrote: »

Use google translate

basically saying his performance is not good enough ...Kazakhstan government not happy :eek:

It was translated in the link. Still felt like I was reading italian!

2smiggy

I just cannot take to Froome, so I am sickened to see Wiggins miss out.

He may not have won it, but I think there was a good performance in hime, and he would have definitely added to the Tour, especially starting in Yorkshire.

A few have commented that Contador is in good form and condition, maybe better than Froome. Other than that there dos not seem to be much else in the race. I don't Nibali has it in him to get close to them. A pity Quintana is not in the race, but this years grueling Giro suited him away more. I think you have to able to TT to win it this year.

Same for the Schlecks , they seem out of form, and not a mountainous enough
Tour for them even if they were going well.

Still cannot wait for it to start !! Really enjoyed the Giro this year also

godtabh

Brian? wrote: »

.

I think Sky are making a huge mistake leaving him out. What an engine on him. He'd be perfect as a setup man for Froome.

I would see it as more of sharing to work between himself and Porte. Sky asked alot of Porte last year. If sky want to keep things fresh they could have Porte and Wiggins taking turns

MPFG

It would also have been a great way for Wiggins to bow out , riding the race that he was the first British rider to win in home area ..(he lives in Yorkshire and he is a local boy really)

I know Wiggins is difficult and moody & can be rude to journalists but he hasn't had it easy... His father abandons him as a baby , his mother goes on to have another family while he seems to stay with grandparents most of the time and then when he does meet up with his father years later that father is only interested in bragging about him,is drunk and verbally abuses him and then goes on the be beaten to death. So Wiggins doesn't mince his word at least he is honest and straight forward
And he does seem to be genuinely sorry for his misdemeanors after the fact ....In 2012 I think he didn't know how to handle the fame and pressure.

I think the right people could handle Wiggins better and I also think he may have learned since 2012

But I guess he and Froome are so miles apart in every way they were never going to get along even if not in competition.

godtabh

MPFG wrote: »

It would also have been a great way for Wiggins to bow out , riding the race that he was the first British rider to win in home area ..(he lives in Yorkshire and he is a local boy really)

I know Wiggins is difficult and moody & can be rude to journalists but he hasn't had it easy... His father abandons him as a baby , his mother goes on to have another family while he seems to stay with grandparents most of the time and then when he does meet up with his father years later that father is only interested in bragging about him,is drunk and verbally abuses him and then goes on the be beaten to death. So Wiggins doesn't mince his word at least he is honest and straight forward
And he does seem to be genuinely sorry for his misdemeanors after the fact ....In 2012 I think he didn't know how to handle the fame and pressure.

I think the right people could handle Wiggins better and I also think he may have learned since 2012

But I guess he and Froome are so miles apart in every way they were never going to get along even if not in competition.

His attitude on the bike is all the counts and that can be questioned at times but it really does like he is enjoying the bike these days. He looked in good form in California.

MPFG

I spoke about his background because sometimes you need to know a person and where they are coming from to manage them and get the best out of them...and it isn't just about the bike ...its about managing people , difficult , easy, the lot, especially top sports people

MB Lacey

MPFG wrote: »

It would also have been a great way for Wiggins to bow out , riding the race that he was the first British rider to win in home area ..(he lives in Yorkshire and he is a local boy really)
.

I don't think he lives in Yorkshire?
He's considered a Londoner really.
Yorkshire tv/ papers seems to have taken Mark Cavendish in as the 'local boy' despite being a Manx his mum lives in Harrogate which is where the stage finishes on Saturday. He has said over and over he wants to win the yellow jersey in Harrogate.

I would have loved to see Wiggins in the tdf, huge shame.
Don't know if you read this less emotional take on not selecting Wiggins in the Guardian