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I can't wait for this to start.  My original pick was Andy Schleck before he was injured in the Criterium du Dauphine. One of my friends and I had a bet on for the tour, I had Schleck and he had Wiggins. Now my pick is Evans.

This is my top 5

1. Cadel Evans
2. Bradley Wiggins
3. Ryder Hesjedal
4. Frank Schleck
5. Levi Leipheimer/Thomas Voeckler

My absolute favorite rider is Fabian Cancellara . I have a download that has been watched about 20 times called 'Full Gas'. His speed and cornering are immense. He is focusing on the Olympics rather than the Tour, so he may not be at his sharpest for the TT in this years event.

This is an awesome video of Cancellara's skills

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxXqQqAc2pA

Who are your 2012 Tour picks?

You have the exact same list as my mate. I think Chris Froome will be strong as well. The Prologue is a short flat 6.4km so that could throw up some surprises later today.

I just got a book delivered this morning from amazon called "Not Dead Yet" written by Phil Southerland.  He is the founder of Team Type 1. As a diabetic myself, I was surprised to learn a few weeks ago that this team have won the Race Across America three times. I didn't think this would be possible. They are aiming to put a team in the Giro and Tour next year, so I will definitely be supporting them when that happens, :-)

 People like this make you realise what is possible if we push boundaries. I watched an ESPN disabled sport special recently and saw Alex Zanardi on it. Since retiring from car racing, he turned his attention to hand cycling and will be representing Italy in this summers paralympic games. Amazing stuff.

Got a bit of a tasty bet on Wiggins, got good odds on Evans before Contador was banned and backed Van Den Broek and Rui Costa recently.
Tony Martin says he's going for stage wins rather than GC but if he takes a load of time out of people in the same spots as Wiggins and gets in yellow do people think he might change his mind?

Well he is certainly in form in the TT as he recently won the German TT championship. I think Wiggins will be too strong in the hills though. 

Would love to see Wiggins win it. Such a competitor.

Love watching this.

Extremely saddening to see Armstrong get done for doping, after all these years

Sadly I think the TdeF completely lacks credibility as a "clean" contest.

Incredible to watch though

Focus on Wiggins

He has the talent...but can anybody tell me if Wiggins has the right team to win this ? and what will he be like in the Mountains ? He looks vunerable & a very short price to me  so is a possible lay at just under 6 -4 ( so effectively you have backed every other rider at 4-6)

http://www.oddschecker.com/other-sports/cycling/tour-de-france/winner

The question is ......would you want Wiggins at 6- 4 ? or  back every other rider at 4-6 ? Seems a no brainer to me  as so much can go wrong ..one fall / injuries/ doping ban /one break away / team instructions/etc etc

Views  /Discuss   Please  ?

Just found out the tour has been running since 1903 and it has never been won  by any British rider(Stephen Roche won for Ireland in 1987) so history dictates a big 100 year ask

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Tour_de_France_winners

Sounds like he doesn't have to be that good in the mountains as he should have a lead from the TTs. Cadel didn't really attack in the mountains just sat in the wheel of schleck and contador if they attacked.
I think one of his biggest challenges is working out whose attacks he needs to cover as without schleck and contador I think some other riders will have a go at winning it in the mountains.

Wiggins has been working hard for the mountains, I dont think he will be too far off

Has he ever completed the course before? To me, 6-5 is a farce of a price. He is the form rider and he has a purpose-built team, but it's a long way with a lot of uncontrollables.

I wonder if Sky can work for both Wiggins and Cav. Green and Yellow may be tough to achieve for one team.

Team is def built for Yellow. Cav will be in the mix for green but it's clear he wants Olympic gold in the road race. Brailsford is no fool. He knows two jerseys is asking too much.

I have never been a Cav fan. He strikes me as an arrogant prima donna . Even if he says he is going after the Olympics rather than the green in the Tour, I don't think he is the type of person not to fight for the green. I may be wrong, but behind closed doors he will be demanding full support from Sky for his efforts.  I have my mind made up about him, so I might be being unfair to the guy, lol. 

Yeah - Cav knows the focus for this year is Wiggins, and for him it's the Olympics.

Doubt they'll both be at Sky next year - Cav will want a team where the focus is on green.

I think that the dirty days are behind the Tour now, and finally dismantling the Armstrong legend will be the thing which puts a full stop on it. It was always a bit sickening watching him getting all the glory when it was plainly obvious that no clean human could have put in the performances he did.

Look at the times for the Alpe d'Huez ascent - everyone who has a top time has since been done, or very strongly suspected, for doping. Since the crackdown on drugs no one has got remotely close to those times. Armstrong had the second quickest time - only Pantani was ahead of him and he was so doped up he rattled.

Lance hasn't been found guilty yet :-) .  I am a fan  :)

Yeah - Wiggins owes Cav at the Olympics. At the last Olympics Cav pulled out of the Tour to prepare for the Olympics where he was due to ride in one of the two-person team races with Wiggins. The race was at the end of the cycling programme and, by then, Wiggins was knackered and so they failed to get a medal.

So back to my original question  :)

With so many " ifs " and things that could go wrong

Is Wiggins a bet at 6-4  ?    or     Do we get with the field at 4-6  ?

Poll  ?

I wouldn't back wiggens at less that 7/2 one wheel touch over 3 weeks and his chances could be over

Impressive stuff from Sky, completely ripped the peloton apart.

Looking like as the odds suggested a Wiggins vs Evans showdown for the GC.

Incredible from Sky. Allez Wiggins.

Indurain was 2/5 for about 4years straight and won every time.

This occurred to me when I saw this post too.  Not only that Harry Findlay made him the bet of the year at that price too.

Might be the most amazing athlete I've ever seen.

Used to ride up those mountains like he was cycling down to the shops to get the paper, while all the riders trying to keep up with him looked like dying.

Heard that his lungs were about 50% biggr than average or some such freak stat.

Indurain had a physiology superior to fellow athletes. His blood took seven litres of oxygen around his body per minute,[24] compared to 3–4 litres for an ordinary person and 5–6 litres for fellow riders. His cardiac output is 50 litres a minute; a fit amateur cyclist's is about 25 litres. Indurain's lung capacity was 7.8 litres,[2] compared to an average of 6 litres. His resting pulse was as low as 28 BPM,[2] compared to an average 60–72 bpm, which meant his heart would be less strained in the tough mountain stages.[14] His VO2 max was 88 ml/kg/min; in comparison, Lance Armstrong's was 83.8 ml/kg/min and Greg LeMond's was more than 92 ml/kg/min.[25]

From Indurain's wiki page.

Don't think either will do much attacking though do you?

Ride as a team to ride others into the ground like today but I don't see them leaving each other to attack. Possibly to cover Cadel if one can't keep going.
They know they just have to keep Brad close and he'll win it in the time trials.

I'm far from an expert, but was todays stage not a bit of an abnormality in the fact the climbs were short but very steep. Add to that the fact its the first one of the tour so a few riders were prob not quite ready for it.

I love Nibali but the price on him is gone. Is it inconceivable that someone who was dropped today could come back in to it? Some class riders like Schleck and Sammy Sanchez, could they be capable of taking big time out in the mountains?

This is Wiggins v Cadel and has been all year really

Sky totally set up for Wiggins, Froome only getting a chance if Wiggins injured imo, as was proved earlier on in the season

Awesome performance from sky today, think they'll keep the pressure on over the next few stages and get a decent lead

Superb again by Wiggins but also by Froome. Will get harder and harder to make him stay with Brad the better he does.

I don't get team orders in cycling, why are Sky not allowing Froome to go for it too? Why do are they protecting Wiggins so much?  Yesterday Froome could have made up even more time on Wiggins but was pulled back.  I'd have thought Sky's priority was for a Sky team member to win, surely having competition within the team is healthy?  If I were Wiggins and I won knowing that Froome was held back I wouldn't feel as if I achieved it properly.

I don't know much about team cycling, there's more to it than I understand, I need to know more.

I dont know much either about Cycling but was listening to something last night which may or may not be correct but the general gist of it was that Froome is very happy to be a team player and does not actually like the limelight and also got a million £/$ contract to take this role.

They also said if it was a straight H2H this year they just fancied Froome overall but it would be close.

Actually, I can understand that he's being paid well to be a team player, forgot about that.   £1m for cycling though, wow, that's a decent contract.  I do whatever someone told me to do for that sort of money.

What happened yesterday is very standard in cycling where a domestique will do anything to help his team leader especially if they favourite and current yellow jersey holder. Wiggins is such a massive favourite, having his own team mate crack him on a climb is pure suicide. Wiggins is someone who rides mountains at a steady pace and it is of massive assistance to him to have Froome setting a hard pace without big accelerations.

Gotta serve your apprenticeship in Cycling. Frome will be a GC rider in the next few years for sure, same with Tejay van Garderen.

Seems Sky & Wiggins can only lose by unforeseen circumstances.

Love France. Love Le Tour.

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2012/07/tour_de_france_2012_part_one.html?camp=obinsite

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2012/07/tour_de_france_2012_part_two.html

I wasn't into cycling back then but is this how Armstrong won all his tours (apart from, you know...)? Did US Postal just strangle the peloton so no one could get away?

Having said that, after Cadel Evans blew up on that stage none of the other GC contenders has really had a pop at Wiggins - it looks like they all just gave up. It's all got really boring. Hoping for something exciting to happen in the Pyranees tomorrow.

US Postal where the strongest team. Armstrong rarely got isolated, & when he was, he was always strong enough to combat attacks generally.

Agree, the Pyranees is the last chance for any fireworks! (they tried carpet tacks already).

Expecting nibali to attack in the next two stages, he has to to have any chance.
Gonna be very interesting to see who is the breakaways tomorrow. Rollande for example is only 10 mins down so sky cant afford to let him go again.
Really hope sky just attack from the start and take the peleton apart again

Frank Schleck tests positive

Sigh.

What a part. Amazed people still try it in cycling.

Can't say i am surprised, then again I have pretty much taken the attitude that they the majority of the peloton are at it.

My only surprise is that he's only tested positive NOW. Surely if he is at it now he would have been at it for the last few years, when he actually had a chance to win it?

Yeah a banned substance, but this is not 'doping' in the performance enhancing bracket.

Oh OK. So another nasal spray/change of diet/walked past a badger press statement coming up then?

Just reading up on the benefits of this diuretic and maybe it could enhance performance, so I'll hold my hand up and say I am wrong. Still researching though.

Now, my best guess is 90% are clean. 5 years ago 75% were doping. (Not based on any facts).

Much less incentive to do it now. If you win, it is much more likely you will get caught than it was ten years ago. It might be another two years before you're found out but then you lose everything.

The smartest will always find ways around the system but I'd think racing is now cleaner than it's been for years

What price would you be a backer of Wiggins to win an Olympic gold this year?

which events will he be competing in?


Surely he'll be knackered

On today's stae he struggled up the last climb, with Froome pacing him and virtually waiting for him

Phenomenal effort, but I can't see him being 100% in a fortnight?

Wiggins is in the road race and the time trial. The road race is (I believe) going to be just like the World Championships - a team effort to get Cavendish the gold.

The time trial is going to be under an hour of cycling. If Wiggins can win the Tour ITT on Saturday then he could certainly win it in London in 2 weeks.

thanks

Wiggins today

""We were talking about Nibali," said Wiggins. "We knew he was on his limit.

"The moment we crossed the Peyresourde, I allowed myself to drift and that was the first time I thought maybe I've won the Tour today.

"All the way up that last climb my concentration had gone, everything about performance had gone.

"Chris was egging me on to take more time and I was in another world, really."


No idea what price he is for the time trial at London 2012, though....

Time trial - same distance as the one we've had in the Tdf so far which he won beating the 2 major threats Olympic Champ Cancellara and World Champ Martin.

Think he was hoping to ride the team time trial but just checked and he wasn't picked. The lads breaking the WR at the Worlds this year while he wasn't there probably didn't help.

He'll also ride in the road race for Cav.

Not sure about the tiredness - "struggled up the last climb" also equals "came 3rd and took time out of all of his rivals"
A lot is made of how much work Froome has done. Froome has done awesome (he's 2nd so that is obvious) but Wiggins has still had to keep up and nobody else has managed to do so. I don't think any of his rivals have taken time off him in a stage yet have they?
Yesterday Nibali attacked and Froome couldn't keep up so Wiggins pulled him back in himself and brought Froome with him. He's so strong he just hasn't had to get out of his saddle.

Not hard to work out the odds now he's only competing in one event!

11/8 to win the time trial.

Cancellara 2nd fav if he really quit the tour to be with his wife for the birth of his child then that's good news. Probably was lying and went to train to try and fine some time on Brad.

How is the starting order decided in the Olympic time trial?

As Josedinho has stated Wiggins didn't struggle at all yesterday, as shown by him dropping all his rivals on the last climb.
Froome is better at the high % mountain climbs, particularly with his ability to up the pace quickly but wiggins just keeps a consistent pace.
This is something he stated he would aiming for prior to the tour starting.

IMO I think how Cav rides on Sunday will be a very good indicator for the olympics. He doesn't seem to have his express pace and I think he's lost too much weight, without making his climbing any better

Fk me, I couldn't believe the speed difference to the line at the end between Cavendish and the other front runners, is he really that much better than anyone else or was it good timing?  ;carlocitrone;

Great timing and obv super quick ....but was made to look better as he caught two break away riders .

Bradley Wiggins will win imo

Being a bit brave there Dewi, I predict there will be a 1st British winner.

Good thread though nonetheless.

tbh I only read the title & answered Sark is a legend though.

 what a sprint that was, incredible to see loads of good riders givin their all and cav just leave em for dust. love it.

Awesome finish by Cav, completely answers my query on wether he still had that explosive pace, can't wait for Sunday

He said in the interview afterwards that he hasn't had to use much energy this time around, so he had plenty in the tank for a sprint finish. Interestingly, he also told at least two broadcasters that there was a team talk on the bus where the boss said "easy day today, lads", to which Cav begged for a finish. Wiggins was first to pipe up and agree, according to Cav.

I think the word is pwnage.

Awesome performance. Just Cav to win in Paris to cap it all off

Will this be the first clean winner of the tour ever?

Brilliant from Cav

Complete domination from Sky.

lol how exciting was that! Didn't think I could get that excited about cycling  :)

Amazing day for British cyling

what price Wiggo for SPOTY?

The Camel will reckon he's a 100/1 shot.

if it wasn't Olympic year he would be nailed on.

 Current prices Betfair for SPOTY


                         Back             Lay
      
Bradley Wiggins         1.98            2
Jessica Ennis           5.4            5.7
Mo Farah                 10            11.5
Andy Murray           15.5            16.5
Victoria Pendleton     55            80


Although i tend to agree, all it takes is a one British underdog to won a gold and Wiggo's out of the running

Sky will win the team of the year without a doubt.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/tour-de-france/9419067/Tour-de-France-2012-Even-Lesley-Garrett-cant-spoil-Bradley-Wiggins-celebrations-in-Paris.html

Congrats to the photographer. Shot of a career.

Sandy

That's funny. I would of preferred Katherine Jenkins, although pretty sure Brad would have liked to have had Paul Weller rocking the national anthem.

say no more  ;)

How come Sky have just recently come on the scene and abs crushed it ? Huge budget ?

Pretty much. It's a brand thing, too, I suppose. Once you get a couple of big boys on board, the sky brand is attractive. The Olympic coach running the team as well (less relevant to EBH admittedly)

One Schleck injured and the other failing a drugs test, with the favourite going on paternity leave might have helped, too.

5/1 Wiggina for next year, assume Contador comes back as fave and they wont have 2 time trails as long

I agree, but the people that vote the SPOTY may see it differently. I hope not

If Contador is there next year, I would put him as favorite. Drugs or no drugs he is still awesome.  

I would like to see Wiggins win sports personality in December, however if Pendleton wins three golds as some have predicted she may beat him to the award. I like her as well, so all is good