Overall I thought it was a very good Tour. There werent many crashes in week 1 althought if there was a crash the casualities were big stars such as Cancellara, Dumoulin and Tony.
My 5 personal heroes of this years Tour:
* Tony Martin
His heroic battle for yellow jersey absolutely made the race at the beginning. He was fighting for it so hard coming close by seconds on 3 consecutive stages and finally taking the unlikely stage win on the cobbles and the yellow jersey on Matteo Trentin's bike. What an amazing story and heroic ride although a silly crash in Le Havre caused by himself ended his Tour early it was still very successful for him.
* Peter Sagan
I never was a big fan of Peter but I never really disliked him. I just liked to wind up Avin . However during this Tour hes won me over. It doesnt matter hes a 2agan. The way he rode the race, getting into breakaways, leaving nothing on the table on that descent to Gap was fantastic. Chapeau.
* Greg van Avermaet
The forever 3rd Greg, (Gr3g) . He rode a great race. He won a stage in a beautiful fashion in Rodez launching an insane 600 metre sprint. I was so happy for him that he finally got a big victory in his palmares. He really deserves it and to top it off he became a father of his daughter Fleur. Proficiat
* Vincenzo Nibali
You might say he failed because he was the defending champ. He came here to win but he rode with so much panache in the 3rd week and on the cobbles. Without him this Tour wouldnt be as exciting as it was. His La Toussuire win was a masterstroke. Brilliant ride, perhaps a ride of the Tour next to Quintana's Alpe d'Huez late charge. I love riders like him doesnt matter whether they win or lose.
* Utrecht Start
What a brilliant start to the race that was. You could feel the atmosphere during the prologue even on TV and then the roads packed on amazing Stage 2. Well done.
Nice summary Kirchen! You can be sure i was aware about the motivations for your expressed dislike for Sagan.
I took a step back this year and was not in 100% fanboy mode and just let Peter show the non-believers what kind of a rider and person he is. I hope many now understand what made me the fan at the first place.
I missed 4 or 5 stages this year, but from what i have seen this was great Tour, one of the most interesting ones in last decade for me. With lots of small stories and fights going on, i was glued to the TV when i could afford that.
I enjoyed flat stages, i enjoyed rolling stages and what is not so usual in SKY dominated races, even the mountain stages. Cool massive breaks in the last week were nice, aswell epic rides by likes of Nibali, Pinot or Sagan (that suicide downhill !).
Winner is deserved as far as racing goes. Froome is not the best climber in the race, but he has strongest team and scientific approach behind him (be it doping, or technology).
Alsready looking forward to the next year, Sagan for the 5th green?
Really enjoyed the race this year, I think it was the best since 2011. The first week was entertaining with each day being almost a one-day classic. The last week was great as well, with the huge breakaways and Nibali, Quintana and Valverde's attacking racing putting Froome on the back foot and on the Alpe d'Huez stage for a moment it looked like the race was in the balance.
The GC fight was good this year, but I'm afraid it won't be like this in coming years as TT kilometres return to normal levels. 14km TT kilometres probably gave Quintana his best chance to beat Froome is years next year he might not get so close if the route is less mountainous.
So basically a good Tour but I was a bit disappointed cuz I really wanted to see the big 4 in an even battle for yellow. In the end it was a two-horse race. Hopefully next year it'll be better as Contador said he won't attempt a double again and will follow his 2014 schedule. And when Contador is in top shape every race becomes at least a bit better.
I had posted this in the stage 20 topic, but is more suitable here. So again:
OKay, after reading some very good posts, and some BS-fanboy posts, here is my unbiased conclusion:
1. Froome: Was very strong the first week, stayed out of trouble excellent. Was especially amazing at the cobbles, and the 1st MTF. Looked "umhuman", or was it in great shape? Think the last, as he declined a bit in the 3rd week, suffering a cold / bronchitis (hey, I'm a doctor, and I know a lot of people call a cold a bronchitis......). Still, he deserves the win as he has been the best in the 3 weeks.
2. Quintana: Decent in the 1st and 2nd week, only showing his real strength in the Alps. Added with having payed to less attention in the stage to Neeltje Jans, he was weaker the Froome. Could have have won, but didn't.
3. Valverde: attacked more than I've ever seen from him. Deserved 3rd place.
4. Nibali: Great comeback in week 3, with a deserved win at La Toussuirre. Showed that to win the tour, yu must be good in all 3 weeks.
5. Contador: Just didn;t have the legs. Apparently, the Giro has costed him too much energy. But I think he made the right choice, as he is a GT-winner this year. Else probably 3rd in this Tour.
6. Gesink: after all he has gone through, I must give all the credits to him. Strong in the Pyrenees, declining a bit in the Alps, but absolutely great Tour from him! And with Valverde and Contador declining, hope he can get a podium in the next 1-2-3 years.
7. Pinot, Rolland, Bardet: Nice for them that they were in the attack almost every mountain stage, but to me, that was a sign of a bigger chance of being doped than Froome. Like Rolland: 2nd in the stage over the Lacets, and the next day almost a stage win again..... Oh well, probably because I dont like French riders.
8. Team Sky: I must say that I like their tactic to let some of the domestique save energy the one day, so they could be the main domestique the next. Just as Poels was saving a lot of energy the first 2 weeks, and being extremely strong in the last week. Great tactic!
9. Doping: Oh well, again Froome was accused of doping. Why? Because he was extremely strong in the first mountain stage. The rest of the Tour, he wasn't that strong, but good enough to win. The way the (mostly French) press and the public reacted was really disgusting to me. Booing (stop being a cow, you morons), spitting, even throwing urine..... How low can you go, even with an IQ of less than an appletree. And when Quintana does the same at the Alpe, that is normal? He did the same as Froome in the Pyrenees, so why no accusations towards him??
Time will tell, but to me, Froome is clean.
10. Fanboys: You are probably very proud at yourself, with your swearing and accusing. Savely behind your laptop,tablet, etc, being anonymous. You are the people (together with these lunatics along the roads) that turn the great sport of cycling into a kind of football (I like team A, so I hate team B....). Thinking it is funny when a rider crashes, hating it when a rider rides great 1 stage, etcetera.
I hope you all grow up 1 day and teach your kids that this is a wrong way of acting....
Overall, I'v really enjoyed this Tour. I like the layout of the stages, with some interesting and decisive stages in week 1 (wind, cobbles, hills) and the short mountain stages in the last week. Already looking forward to the Vuelta!!
I would love to see a GT route designed by you, Stromeon. Always critical of the routes apart from this year's Giro
8/10 from me. The right winner and my heroes doing well, green jersey completely deserved, while the polkas still needs to be refined. The much anticipated big 4 was fine, although Contador really wasnt Contador and Nibali got sick or slacked too much during the first 6 months of the year.. but lets remember, they still finished inside top-5 which was all great to see. Movistar's tactics were perplexing at times in terms of how they used their domestiques, but the only time Quintana really could have gained time on Froome was earlier on La Toussuire.
And the french were great as well. Barguil, Gallopin and Vuillermoz picked the slack up in the start when Peraud, Pinot, Bardet and Rolland lost time and then once we reached the Alps, it was just fantastic to see the 3 latter go for it on basically every stage. Gallopin isnt a GC-conteder but could probably bag a top-10 or so on a lesser demanding route, but chapeau for him trying! Barguil showed he was much more of a climber, while Rolland just was Rolland, Pinot overcame his pysche, while Bardet confirmed he is godlike downhill and overall just a fantastic young rider!
Edited by Riis123 on 27-07-2015 14:02
FroomeDog99 wrote:
Really enjoyed the race this year, I think it was the best since 2011. The first week was entertaining with each day being almost a one-day classic. The last week was great as well, with the huge breakaways and Nibali, Quintana and Valverde's attacking racing putting Froome on the back foot and on the Alpe d'Huez stage for a moment it looked like the race was in the balance.
The GC fight was good this year, but I'm afraid it won't be like this in coming years as TT kilometres return to normal levels. 14km TT kilometres probably gave Quintana his best chance to beat Froome is years next year he might not get so close if the route is less mountainous.
I disagree with the highlighted part. You're referring to 2011 where Evans took the yellow jersey in the TT on the 20th stage. As long as they put time trials later in the race, we can still have a nice battle for the GC. Quintana will have to attack to gain time in advance of the TT.
FroomeDog99 wrote:
Really enjoyed the race this year, I think it was the best since 2011. The first week was entertaining with each day being almost a one-day classic. The last week was great as well, with the huge breakaways and Nibali, Quintana and Valverde's attacking racing putting Froome on the back foot and on the Alpe d'Huez stage for a moment it looked like the race was in the balance.
The GC fight was good this year, but I'm afraid it won't be like this in coming years as TT kilometres return to normal levels. 14km TT kilometres probably gave Quintana his best chance to beat Froome is years next year he might not get so close if the route is less mountainous.
I disagree with the highlighted part. You're referring to 2011 where Evans took the yellow jersey in the TT on the 20th stage. As long as they put time trials later in the race, we can still have a nice battle for the GC. Quintana will have to attack to gain time in advance of the TT.
You're completely wrong. Longest TT should be before the mountains. Preferably at the end of week 1. That way the climbers who lost time in the TT have no other option but to attack, attack and attack again
FroomeDog99 wrote:
Really enjoyed the race this year, I think it was the best since 2011. The first week was entertaining with each day being almost a one-day classic. The last week was great as well, with the huge breakaways and Nibali, Quintana and Valverde's attacking racing putting Froome on the back foot and on the Alpe d'Huez stage for a moment it looked like the race was in the balance.
The GC fight was good this year, but I'm afraid it won't be like this in coming years as TT kilometres return to normal levels. 14km TT kilometres probably gave Quintana his best chance to beat Froome is years next year he might not get so close if the route is less mountainous.
I disagree with the highlighted part. You're referring to 2011 where Evans took the yellow jersey in the TT on the 20th stage. As long as they put time trials later in the race, we can still have a nice battle for the GC. Quintana will have to attack to gain time in advance of the TT.
You're completely wrong. Longest TT should be before the mountains. Preferably at the end of week 1. That way the climbers who lost time in the TT have no other option but to attack, attack and attack again
Yup and imo, preferably prologue, 40-50 km second week and something along the lines of 30 last week, hitting 80 kms or so. The ITTs in 2013 was well placed, right length etc, one of them being flat and very hilly
FroomeDog99 wrote:
Really enjoyed the race this year, I think it was the best since 2011. The first week was entertaining with each day being almost a one-day classic. The last week was great as well, with the huge breakaways and Nibali, Quintana and Valverde's attacking racing putting Froome on the back foot and on the Alpe d'Huez stage for a moment it looked like the race was in the balance.
The GC fight was good this year, but I'm afraid it won't be like this in coming years as TT kilometres return to normal levels. 14km TT kilometres probably gave Quintana his best chance to beat Froome in years next year he might not get so close if the route is less mountainous.
I disagree with the highlighted part. You're referring to 2011 where Evans took the yellow jersey in the TT on the 20th stage. As long as they put time trials later in the race, we can still have a nice battle for the GC. Quintana will have to attack to gain time in advance of the TT.
Not referring to anything except that Froome is way stronger in TT's than Quintana so his margin of victory could be much bigger with more TT kilometres.
Riis123 wrote:
I would love to see a GT route designed by you, Stromeon. Always critical of the routes apart from this year's Giro
I should do this at some point, shouldn't I? I keep thinking about opening a race design thread like they have on the CN forum, where people post their own stage designs, without going through the laborious process of making them in the PCM Stage Editor, which I would do if I had more time and skill, but I'm not sure there would be enough interest.
It is true I am rather critical of the routes, but I think more so of the Tours than the Giros, this year's Giro route was indeed very good and my favourite route is probably the Giro 2005 (no coincidence that it was also one of the best Giros in recent history). Picking a favourite Tour route would be a bit more difficult, I'd probably say 2007 because of the balance between lots of TT and proper hard mountain stages - 110km of ITT yet it was Rasmussen and Contador who were ahead of Leipheimer and Evans. And don't get me started on the Vueltas - apart from the awesome Andorra stage that Purito helped design that I am eagerly anticipating later this year they really have been a load of crap recently
Riis123 wrote:
I would love to see a GT route designed by you, Stromeon. Always critical of the routes apart from this year's Giro
I should do this at some point, shouldn't I? I keep thinking about opening a race design thread like they have on the CN forum, where people post their own stage designs, without going through the laborious process of making them in the PCM Stage Editor, which I would do if I had more time and skill, but I'm not sure there would be enough interest.
It is true I am rather critical of the routes, but I think more so of the Tours than the Giros, this year's Giro route was indeed very good and my favourite route is probably the Giro 2005 (no coincidence that it was also one of the best Giros in recent history). Picking a favourite Tour route would be a bit more difficult, I'd probably say 2007 because of the balance between lots of TT and proper hard mountain stages - 110km of ITT yet it was Rasmussen and Contador who were ahead of Leipheimer and Evans. And don't get me started on the Vueltas - apart from the awesome Andorra stage that Purito helped design that I am eagerly anticipating later this year they really have been a load of crap recently
FroomeDog99 wrote:
The GC fight was good this year, but I'm afraid it won't be like this in coming years as TT kilometres return to normal levels. 14km TT kilometres probably gave Quintana his best chance to beat Froome is years next year he might not get so close if the route is less mountainous.
Yeah this year's route was certainly in his favor, but plenty of climbers have won the Tour before Quintana, and there will follow plenty of pure climbers after him.
With the current super-slim climbers of Bardet, Pinot & Rolland and the love they get from the Frenchies, we may end up with more TTs kilometers again, but I don't believe it will be necessarly less mountaineous. They'll probably cut back on cobbles and classic-esque stages in first week again, although they always provide lots of entertainment and wow-factor to le Tour.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
First of all as I stated when the Tour started: I didn't like the cobbled stages. I know it's a part of the package, but I feel like cobbles belong in the classics - which I enjoy, but not in the Tour de France. Having a cobblestage every is not something I would like, but once in every 5 year or so would be fine with me.
I didn't enjoy most of the mountain stages since Froome destroyed everyone on the first real mountain stage and GC was settled by then. I probably want too much, but I would just have loved seen Moviestar try something earlier, at least put pressure on Froome and Sky. The last mountain stage on Alpe D'Huez - that's what I love about cycling, the courage, the performance, the fight - just wonderful. Reminds me of Sastre in 2008 - good old Sastre, Quintana didn't get the win, but so is life sometimes.
All the shit that happened to Froome - I feel bad for this man. I don't like Sky, the way they drive, the way they behave (Kennaugh, Brailsford etc.), but Froome is a good person. Even if he is drugged from tip to toe, he doesn't deserve people throwing urine or doing any hateful towards him. He is always polite, treats everyone well (Armstrong wasn't this kind of person as we all know), so congratz to Froome for taking the victory. Hopefully we will have another winner next year.
Bertie wasn't on his best as expected, hopefully he can bounce back next year. And lovely to see Bardet bouncing back from the bad first week/2nd week of the race. Great to see he still has it in him, promising for the coming years.
Next race on the calendar: Post Danmark Rundt. Lars Bak said he is aiming for the win, Matti showing good legs in Wallonie, Fuglsang attending (as far as I know), will be bloody good racing on Kiddesvej as always.
Au Revoir Le Tour
Present:
Tinkoff-Saxo - AG2R - Colombian riders
Past:
Francisco Mancebo - Illes balears - Carlos Sastre - Kelme - Robbie McEwen
. However during this Tour hes won me over. It doesnt matter hes a 2agan. The way he rode the race, getting into breakaways, leaving nothing on the table on that descent to Gap was fantastic. Chapeau.
