Tour de France 2015 Stage 1 Utrecht - Utrecht 13.8km ITT *contains unmasked spoilers*

Darkglasses

The time has finally come

Probably the most highly anticipated Tours de France in many years begins with a fairly twisty and technical prologue TT around Utrecht. If you aren't already aware, the startlist for this Tour is absolutely stacked, and this is certainly true for the time trialists. Tony Martin, Fabian Cancellara, Tom Dumoulin, Adriano Malori and Rohan Dennis will be the likely contenders to be the first wearer of the yellow jersey. There are more than enough tricky corners on this course to open things up to some outsiders here too. We may even some of the better sprinters and GC contenders entering the top positions.

Live coverage begins on Eurosport 1 at 13:00 to 16:45

Starting order

The Irish race numbers for the tour :
Nicholas Roche - 36
Dan Martin - 167
Sam Bennett - 193

Oddschecker: Tony Martin 10/11, Dumoulin 5/2, Cancellara 8/1, Malori 15/1, Dennis 20/1

omri

Fabian Cancellara

Is it not too short for a TT stage ?

Brian?

Fabian Cancellara

omri wrote: »

Is it not too short for a TT stage ?

Prologues are always around 12-15km.

Beasty

Gotta be made for Boardman. Anyone know his odds?

JK.BMC

Brian? wrote: »

Prologues are always around 12-15km.

No they are not- prologue stages are usually a lot shorter than that. Dont know the exact rule but in old money they are no longer than 5 miles or thereabouts
This is a proper TT stage @nearly 14km

Brian?

Fabian Cancellara

JK.BMC wrote: »

No they are not- prologue stages are usually a lot shorter than that. Dont know the exact rule but in old money they are no longer than 5 miles or thereabouts
This is a proper TT stage @nearly 14km

I haven't the energy to go googling but I'm nearly sure the prologue in the Tour is usually 12-15km.

Shorter in other races.

Darkglasses

Tom Dumoulin

Brian? wrote: »

I haven't the energy to go googling but I'm nearly sure the prologue in the Tour is usually 12-15km.

Shorter in other races.

I looked up the last ten years, it checks out

Craig06

Michal Kwiatkowski

Dowsett a decent outside bet?

Bugsy2000

Rohan Dennis

My money went onMalori.

DominoDub

Well Lars Boom can now be removed from that list ..shame as I have been a fan !

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/lars-boom-excluded-from-tour-de-france-over-cortisol-levels

http://www.mpcc.fr/index.php/en/news-uk/item/451-07-03-press-release

So it's not doping as the symptoms of low cortisol, or hypoadrenalism, include::eek:

Mental and psychological ailments such as depression
Faintness and dizziness
Weakness and fatigue
Heart palpitations
Emotional hypersensitivity
Inability to cope with stress
Social anxiety
Muscle weakness
Headache, scalp ache, or general body ache
Severe or dull lower back pain
Extremely sensitive skin
Nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting
Abdominal pain and hunger pain despite an empty stomach
Extreme craving for salty foods
Anxiety and jitters
Clumsiness and confusion
Motion sickness
Insomnia and dark circles under the eyes
Low bladder capacity and symptoms of IBS
Irregular or non-existent menstrual period:D

The tax man

They're all the symptoms of a hangover.

dastardly00

Geraint Thomas

Brian? wrote: »

I haven't the energy to go googling but I'm nearly sure the prologue in the Tour is usually 12-15km.

Shorter in other races.

Save your energy by not posting incorrect info Brian

JK.BMC

Brian? wrote: »

I haven't the energy to go googling but I'm nearly sure the prologue in the Tour is usually 12-15km.

Shorter in other races.

I fancy Rohan Dennis to cause a mild surprize

http://m.dummies.com/how-to/content/tour-de-france-time-trials-mountains-stages-prolog.html

mhiggy09

Fabian Cancellara

Watching it on itv4. Great now Alpecin shampoo have got in on the act and have adverts

kenmc

what time the Irish boys on at?

REBELSAFC

Fabian Cancellara

The early time gaps seem very big for such a short TT. I know not everyone is busting a gut but I am surprised to see Sam Bennett already down 1.33 after only 24 riders have posted a time

MPFG

Fabian Cancellara

REBELSAFC wrote: »

The early time gaps seem very big for such a short TT. I know not everyone is busting a gut but I am surprised to see Sam Bennett already down 1.33 after only 24 riders have posted a time

He hasn't been well and hopes to ride into form

Pudsy33

Rohan Dennis

Wouldn't be too concerned about Sam Bennett, he will be taking it handy I'm sure. Van Emden has put up a very competitive time although Dennis is pushing it.

pelevin

Fabian Cancellara

Seems not to have been a lot of mention around that on the GC front looks like there could be fairly significant differences after this stage, including I suppose on the morale front.

MPFG

Fabian Cancellara

As predicted Lotto Jumbo are riding very strong in this iTT

good by Kelderman and a good ride by Uran

spock.

Quintana 61 seconds behind Dennis' time.

MPFG

Fabian Cancellara

spock. wrote: »

Quintana 61 seconds behind Dennis' time.

Still a good ride by Quintana

I thought he looked strong

pelevin

Fabian Cancellara

spock. wrote: »

Quintana 61 seconds behind Dennis' time.

That's over a minute.

sbs2010

Was the start order drawn randomly?

Subpopulus

Fabian Cancellara

Average speed of 55.3km/h for Denis - that's the fastest ever average speed for an individual time trial in the history of the Tour. It would be amazing if Martin or Cancellara could better that.

mistermatthew

Great ride from Quintana. Must be pleased with that. Cant see froome dog and co taking more than 45 seconds, at best, out of him. Wouldn't be surprised if its 30 odd

Pudsy33

Rohan Dennis

sbs2010 wrote: »

Was the start order drawn randomly?

They rank the team's, so MTN first all the way to Astana. So an MTN guy goes first, and Astana guy 15th and then it repeats. It's up to the teams what order they send out their men.

omri

Fabian Cancellara

Whats that red light Jungels has on the bike?

MPFG

Fabian Cancellara

Brilliant by Pinot

Looking very good

Subpopulus

Fabian Cancellara

omri wrote: »

Whats that red light Jungels has on the bike?

They have a sponsor who makes bike lights and all the Trek Factory bikes have them for advertising purposes.

kenmc

nico on the course now

JK.BMC

JK.BMC wrote: »

I fancy Rohan Dennis to cause a mild surprize

http://m.dummies.com/how-to/content/tour-de-france-time-trials-mountains-stages-prolog.html

Looking good so far

Subpopulus

Fabian Cancellara

JK.BMC wrote: »

Looking good so far

I think the smugness will be up to 90 in Casa JK.BMC tonight if Denis holds onto his first place.

donfers

Anything under 16 minutes would be a good time for Nico, if he goes over that mark he'll be disappointed

MPFG

Fabian Cancellara

donfers wrote: »

Anything under 16 minutes would be a good time for Nico, if he goes over that mark he'll be disappointed

We don;t know if he is riding flat out or what team orders are

afatbollix

kenmc wrote: »

nico on the course now

Ive watched most of the cycling this year yet didnt noticed Nico in Sky team.

Talib Fiasco

Luke Durbridge

Very poor from Quintana...very strong from Pinot

mhiggy09

Fabian Cancellara

Tom Dumoulin just set off. I think he has a real chance for the win if he performs.

donfers

Strong strong ride from Nico - I didn't know he was in such good form, bodes well for the rest of the tour

kilns

16'16 from Roche

Talib Fiasco

Luke Durbridge

Dumoulin is bombing it

mhiggy09

Fabian Cancellara

Talib Fiasco wrote: »

Dumoulin is bombing it

He's 1sec down at intermediate check

MPFG

Fabian Cancellara

kilns wrote: »

16'16 from Roche

That wasn't great but reports say wind is stronger now
Not that it matters as needed in mountains fro SKY but for his own improvement not great. He always loses the shape

Talib Fiasco

Luke Durbridge

Unlucky...massive buzz behind him.

Mehaffey1

Tom Dumoulin

Just catching back up with cycling to be honest so just a few questions and uninformed opinion from me.

How is Chris Boardman riding or is this some charity/ publicity stunt?
Has Cancellation been out on course yet?

In terms of Sam Bennett he's done well not to be pushing it coupled with extreme nerves like so many first timers in the Tour and over cook it on a tough corner.

Talib Fiasco

Luke Durbridge

Panzer

ednwireland

Fabian Cancellara

Nerz of Bora-Argon 18 is riding with broken aero bars.

Talib Fiasco

Luke Durbridge

ednwireland wrote: »

Nerz of Bora-Argon 18 is riding with broken aero bars.

What a way to blow up about 10 thousand euro in about 15 minutes :pac:

REBELSAFC

Fabian Cancellara

JK.BMC wrote: »

I fancy Rohan Dennis to cause a mild surprize

http://m.dummies.com/how-to/content/tour-de-france-time-trials-mountains-stages-prolog.html

I was trying to decide between Dennis and T Martin for my Velogames team.I went for Martin.......I think I made the wrong decision

Eamonnator

Fabian Cancellara

afatbollix wrote: »

Ive watched most of the cycling this year yet didnt noticed Nico in Sky team.

what station you watching?

neris

Some time during this tour sean kelly will call rohan dennis by his proper name