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Tour de France 2012: Pre-Race thread
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| doddy13 |
Posted on 01-06-2012 16:10
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I got the programme today (It's out nice folks in the UK!).
One word for the route... boring.
There is a distinct lack of the real tough climbs. Oh well, it's July. I'll watch it whatever I'm sure.
There's no point slapping a schleck - Sean Kelly on "Who needs a slap"
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| Alakagom |
Posted on 01-06-2012 16:25
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Key Stages
It's nicely balanced though. There are stages for every type of cyclist. Just lacks one MTF to be perfect imo.
High Mountain for GC: 11, 16, 17
Medium Mountain for GC: 7, 8
Transition stages with mountains and finish atop small climb: 10, 12
Transition stage with mountains but without finish atop small climb: 14, (18)
Flat/Hills with atop small climb: 1, 3
Sprinters stages 2, 4, 5, 6, 13, 15, (18), 20
ITT - P, 9, 19
Will it be exciting ? We'll soon find out 
Edited by Alakagom on 01-06-2012 16:26
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| kumazan |
Posted on 01-06-2012 16:26
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I like the route. It's the better GT route this year for sure. It still lacks another mountain stage and the mountain stages to be longer, though.
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| Montolivo |
Posted on 01-06-2012 16:31
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I agree with Alakagom and kumazan. Should have been another long and hard mountain stage.
Will be very interesting this year with many people competing for the win and podium. |
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| doddy13 |
Posted on 01-06-2012 16:34
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Those are condensed stage profiles. When you see the full profiles (as seen in the programme) opinions may change. Mine did.
I might work on uploading them all later.
There's no point slapping a schleck - Sean Kelly on "Who needs a slap"
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| ruben |
Posted on 01-06-2012 16:34
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Too few mountains that can actually make a difference. It's not just about mountains, but mountains that are placed well and are sufficiently hard enough to gain time on.
There are too few of these well-placed, difficult mountains. Meaning anyone who can't finish top 15 in the ITTs is doomed. |
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 01-06-2012 18:55
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Hopefully there'll be some attacking. Please. Don't wait 'til the last stage.
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 01-06-2012 18:56
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I would love to see a race with everyone attacking each other all of the time and not just waiting for a mountainous stage in which to do so |
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| kumazan |
Posted on 01-06-2012 19:01
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wackojackohighcliffe wrote:
Hopefully there'll be some attacking. Please. Don't wait 'til the last stage.
They can't wait to the last stage with this route. Actually, in some stages they can't even wait to the last climb. If they want to win that is, but mediocrity is a plague these days.
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 22-11-2024 17:40
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| Wiley |
Posted on 01-06-2012 19:05
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Keep an eye on the stage to Metz, not many cobbles, but anything can happen on stones.
A route where sky can do yellow and green for sure, but i doubt theyll get yellow
Its the Tour so its not the route that makes a good race, its the riders
Ferrari-BA > Psuedo Man Game
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| fickman |
Posted on 01-06-2012 20:49
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This Year Tour is for the best in TT. There is no way one of the GC Contenders would lose minutes in those "Mountain Stages". The winner will be decided in the TT. BORING!!! |
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| Pellizotti2 |
Posted on 01-06-2012 20:53
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I definitely agree that another hard mountain stage wouldn't hurt, but I still like the route. The time trials will force the climbers like Schleck to attack on every given chance, and earlier than usual.
I think the mountains will be very exciting.
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| dienblad |
Posted on 01-06-2012 21:00
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Pellizotti2 wrote:
I definitely agree that another hard mountain stage wouldn't hurt, but I still like the route. The time trials will force the climbers like Schleck to attack on every given chance, and earlier than usual.
I think the mountains will be very exciting.
Yes, they should attack earlier and more often, but will they???
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| fickman |
Posted on 01-06-2012 21:03
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In the form Wiggins is this Year I cant see losing more than 1 Minute in the mountains to Schleck. I see Schleck losing at least 4-5 Minutes in the TT´s. |
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| Teddy The Creator |
Posted on 02-06-2012 05:23
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My favourites:
1. Evans
2. Wiggins
3. Nibali
4. Van Den Broeck
5. Froome
6. Sanchez
7, Menchov
8. The rest (Andy has no chance in my eyes)
Just noticed on an Australian betting site, Peter Sagan has the same odds as Tony Martin and better than Hesjedal. 
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| Pellizotti2 |
Posted on 02-06-2012 06:59
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I don't think Evans is as good as last year. Very much doubt he'll defend the title. Just like Basso, he has now passed his peak.
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| Teddy The Creator |
Posted on 02-06-2012 07:10
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Pellizotti2 wrote:
I don't think Evans is as good as last year. Very much doubt he'll defend the title. Just like Basso, he has now passed his peak.
Don't ruin my dreams Pelli!
But seriously, injuries have derailed him this year so far, but with the route I still can't take him off the top of the list. And with Phil and Thor helping out too?
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| Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 02-06-2012 07:18
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Teddy The Creator wrote:
Pellizotti2 wrote:
I don't think Evans is as good as last year. Very much doubt he'll defend the title. Just like Basso, he has now passed his peak.
Don't ruin my dreams Pelli!
But seriously, injuries have derailed him this year so far, but with the route I still can't take him off the top of the list. And with Phil and Thor helping out too?
Thor and Phil will will rather hunt stagewins probably and cant help in mountains either.I also dont believe in Evans and hope for Wiggo fail,Nibali, Gesink and Sanchez are my horses. And think Schleck will slip into pódium,in the end he is at least trying usually,not like some others.
Edited by Avin Wargunnson on 02-06-2012 07:19
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| Pellizotti2 |
Posted on 02-06-2012 07:27
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Teddy The Creator wrote:
Pellizotti2 wrote:
I don't think Evans is as good as last year. Very much doubt he'll defend the title. Just like Basso, he has now passed his peak.
Don't ruin my dreams Pelli!
But seriously, injuries have derailed him this year so far, but with the route I still can't take him off the top of the list. And with Phil and Thor helping out too?
Still think he'll podium though. Better now?
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| Teddy The Creator |
Posted on 02-06-2012 07:29
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Pellizotti2 wrote:
Teddy The Creator wrote:
Pellizotti2 wrote:
I don't think Evans is as good as last year. Very much doubt he'll defend the title. Just like Basso, he has now passed his peak.
Don't ruin my dreams Pelli!
But seriously, injuries have derailed him this year so far, but with the route I still can't take him off the top of the list. And with Phil and Thor helping out too?
Still think he'll podium though. Better now?
Order is restored. As long as he isn't second.
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