Le Tour starts today with a time trial in Copenhagen.

Difficult to see beyond Pogacar for the yellow jersey but Roglic and a stong Jumbo Visma team will push him hard. Would be nice to see Thomas challenging again but I think he's a bit behind the Slovenians now.

An early cobbled stage could shake things up as anything can happen.

Quite a few punchy stages too which should see some good racing.

Looking forward to the next three weeks.

TheFamilyCat wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 01, 2022 9:02 am

Le Tour starts today with a time trial in Copenhagen.

Difficult to see beyond Pogacar for the yellow jersey but Roglic and a stong Jumbo Visma team will push him hard. Would be nice to see Thomas challenging again but I think he's a bit behind the Slovenians now.

An early cobbled stage could shake things up as anything can happen.

Quite a few punchy stages too which should see some good racing.

Looking forward to the next three weeks.

Alps d'huez is back, and that is always worth a watch

Love Jumbo so I’ll be routing for Roglic, but Pogacar is a machine when he gets going. Look out for Vingegaar too. Can’t wait.

Lancasterclaret wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 01, 2022 9:07 am

Alps d'huez is back, and that is always worth a watch

Indeed! Worth it for Dutch Corner alone

I don't really follow cycling at all, but I love watching the Tour (despite being a pretty keen cyclist)

The mountain stages are just fantastic

Enjoy mate. The coverage that ITV knock out for it never gets mentioned, but the whole team are superb, aren’t they?

jdrobbo wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 01, 2022 9:15 am

Enjoy mate. The coverage that ITV knock out for it never gets mentioned, but the whole team are superb, aren’t they?

Yes, much prefer the ITV coverage to Eurosport. They took a risk by not using Phil Liggett on commentary but Ned Boulting has stepped up well.

Lancasterclaret wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 01, 2022 9:07 am

Alpes d'huez is back, and that is always worth a watch

I was invited to do a charity ride up Alps d'huez in early 2020. I'm not sure I'd have been able to work it but covid put paid to it before I had chance to see how likely it was.

I don't have a bucket list but if I did, Alpes d'huez would be on it.

I was in Morzine in June 16 when it was lined up to be the penultimate leg. A couple of us planned to get a lift round to Samoëns and cycle the route back into Morzine over the Col de Joux Plane (with multiple rest points).

Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately for our bodies) their had been a landslide near the top so they had fully closed it off to make sure they could get it all sorted for the Tour.

Id have loved to still be about for the Tour but we just used it as a base to head into Lyon for the N.Ireland - Ukraine match and so the place was really quiet ready to explode with people in the following weeks

As for now Id struggle to cycle up Brunshaw Road such is my health and fitness 6 years on!

TheFamilyCat wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 01, 2022 9:31 am

I was invited to do a charity ride up Alps d'huez in early 2020. I'm not sure I'd have been able to work it but covid put paid to it before I had chance to see how likely it was.

I don't have a bucket list but if I did, Alpes d'huez would be on it.

I've done Honister, Newlands and Whinnlater in the Lakes

I think I'd have to be honest and assume that I couldn't do Alp d'Huez!

Can’t wait. One of my highlights of the sporting year.
Pogacar at the recent tour of Slovenia just toyed with them, he looks unbeatable on current form.
Phil Liggett was mentioned above, strangely his wife completed Alpe d’Huez and he never did.

Lancasterclaret wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 01, 2022 10:09 am

I've done Honister, Newlands and Whinnlater in the Lakes

I think I'd have to be honest and assume that I couldn't do Alp d'Huez!

The actual ability to get up it would have been another factor. I'd have had a better chance two years ago though, before I was working at home and living off biscuits.

Did alpe d’huez on a mountain bike when I was 18 stone smoked and stopped off at Dutch corner for 7 beers and 2 kebabs. The hardest physical thing I’ve ever done - it sent me a bit psychedelically mental by the top. Don’t think I’ve ever properly recovered.
Not a lot to go at in the overall winner gamble. Podgy looks well able to withstand the 2 pronged jumbo assault but covid could be the victor this year so I’ve stayed away from the betting on the overall winner market this year.

I did Sa Calobra on Mallorca last week, six miles climbimng, not easy but perfectly doable, even in 32 degrees.
I'm guessing Alp d'Huez is in a different league...

Once did the alp d’huez on a motorcycle, that was hard enough. !!!

Still, these boys will manage ok, they will be full of the “good stuff”.

Be interesting to see how Pog shapes up on Alpe D’huez.

Pantani set his juiced up record in 1997 and no one has got within 3 minutes of that time in the Tour over the last 10 years except Quintana.

Todays stage. Sprinters day with the highest point of the last 100km being 23m. Cross winds on the bridge at the end could cause splits. That would liven up what could be a boring stage.

Bring it on. Looking forward to the bridge finish

So the lance armstrong doc on sky this week about his attempted comeback. Has the sport cleaned up or is it still who has the best drugs and ways to beat the system

Denmark looks nice

Mrs jdrobbo and I have been saying the same

Anybody got one of these? New to me, the mechanic withdrew this from the wheel before taking the punctured wheel out and replacing it. Seemed slower than the old system to me but these are pros and know their job.

Just a few minutes away from the 18km bridge section

Yellow jersey down as soon as they hit the bridge. Wheel sucking his team car to get back on but commisaire has told them to get away.

NO SPOILERS.
Separate incident to the above post.
Commissaire is making himself known. Pulls the cars out as an accident victim is trying to get back on. Shocking decision.

Tricky Trevor wrote: ↑

Sat Jul 02, 2022 2:26 pm

Anybody got one of these? New to me, the mechanic withdrew this from the wheel before taking the punctured wheel out and replacing it. Seemed slower than the old system to me but these are pros and know their job.

98F9DADD-D4CB-46DA-83F0-6817F9486008.jpeg

It's a thru-axle. Most disc brake bikes have them these days. The drill gets the axle out quicker than twiddling an Allen key.

TheFamilyCat wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 04, 2022 7:14 pm

It's a thru-axle. Most disc brake bikes have them these days. The drill gets the axle out quicker than twiddling an Allen key.

Ironically I have disc brakes but have never had the rear wheel off. Think I might stick it up on the frame tomorrow and have a play around. Never know when I might need it in emergency.

Tricky Trevor wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 04, 2022 7:55 pm

Ironically I have disc brakes but have never had the rear wheel off. Think I might stick it up on the frame tomorrow and have a play around. Never know when I might need it in emergency.

Although it takes a few extra seconds to remove and replace a thru-axle, it saves time as the wheel alignment is identical to before it was dropped out. With a QR, aligning the rotor so it doesn't rub on the discs can take a few adjustments to get right.

Not sure what to make of that cobbled stage today. Don't think I'm a fan. Bit of a lottery and things go wrong through no fault of the rider. It's a hard enough race as it is without them having to manufacture drama.

And I wish Adam Yates would drop that ridiculous accent and annoying way of speaking. Just talk proper lad, you're from Bury.

Personally I love cobbled racing as a spectacle and thought today's was a great race. I do see your point though; when Pogacar attacked it looked like he could have taken a big advantage and the GC be as good as over as a result of the misfortune of others. Although, neitherRoglic's crash or Vingegaard's mechanical happened on cobbled sections.

I fully agree re Yates though, the pair of 'em.

Shaping up nicely. Big G looked strong today. Whether he can live with em in the mountains remains to be seen. Ineos seem to have a great team but no stand out GC man. Will be interesting to see how Pidcock gets on as it progresses.

All in all, thought Wout to keep in yellow. Gutted for Roglic and agree about Thomas looking strong. That said, I think Pogacar might find another level or two in the mountains…

Chapeau to Wout Van Aert. On the front for the majority of the chase to keep Vingegaard in with a small chance. After all that he deservedly retained his yellow jersey.
Bad day for Roglic but he did cause his own disaster by hitting a bale, he was unlucky that Jumbo Visma had put such effort into getting Vingegaard back on after his 4 bike change fiasco and they had nothing left when he needed them.

Pogacar is insane!

Fantastic finish today. Gutting for Kamna, looked like he had it on the last km.

Terrible thing to say, but I hope Pogacar hits a bit of misfortune. Not that I don't want to see him win, but I do want to see a close race for yellow and they way he's going, I can't see that happening.

Pog looking in a different class to the rest of the field

The gradients on the top of that climb yesterday were ridiculous! Pogacar looks a class apart. The main hope for the race has to be that his team aren't as strong as Ineos or Jumbo so his lack of relative support in the bigger mountains might cost him? But he seems happy tagging along to the other teams.

Wow what a day

Pogacar cracked there

But what a stage to watch

Wow

Absolutely gripping for over a hundred kilometers. Superb advert for the sport. And 3 classic climbs again tomorrow. Going to be very exciting

Absolutely brutal and brilliant days racing . Best sport in the world on days like this .

Nairo Quintana - give the guy a drink !

Been out for a long walk, and got back just in time to watch the whole of that last climb. Great entertainment.

Can't wait for the Cap tomorrow, I might stay in and put my feet up.

Great stage. Phenomenal ride from Vingegaard and Jumbo.

Surprised to see Pogacar crack like he did. I'm sure he'll recover and won't give up his title easily but Jumbo have a hell of firepower to defend the jersey with.

Great rides from Quintana and Bardet and good to see them challenging. Unfortunately, they will lose so much time in the long time trial that they aren't really in contention.

Lead riders , including Chris Froome , just about to start climbing up the iconic TDF climb Alpe d'huez. Rather them than me. 14k uphill. Steep uphill.

Alp d'huez climb starting now

Tune in, though I doubt it will be as exciting as yesterdays stage was

TOM PIDCOCK. What a star.
CycloX world champion
Olympic MB Gold medallist
Alpe d’ Huez. Winner

Just switched on Eurosport1 for highlights- what is the presenter wearing???

Chapeau Tom Pidcock.

The Alpe, as ever was a true spectacle.

Great to see Froome riding well too. Would be great to see him win a stage.

Another incredible day from Jumbo Visma

Another great stage. Vingegaard has been incredible and Jumbo's tactics were perfect today.

Dare I say great to see Thomas on the podium again (there is still time for him to crash out as he seems to far too frequently).