Why do the organisers continue using those four-'footed' barriers in the finishing straight - especially on a narrow finish, like today's was? Is that ubiquitous design the only barrier known to man that won't blow over in the wind? Too many crashes, year after year due, in no small part, to those 'feet' sticking out. 'Rider beware', and all that, perhaps, but surely this needs a re-think? A bunch sprint requires the width of the road. Either keep the fans out of the way in the finishing straight and do away with those barriers, or find a decent alternative design.
Well done, Cav. I remember watching him in T-Mobile colours, winning a Tour of Britain time trial in Crystal Palace Park.
Why do the organisers continue using those four-'footed' barriers in the finishing straight - especially on a narrow finish, like today's was? Is that ubiquitous design the only barrier known to man that won't blow over in the wind? Too many crashes, year after year due, in no small part, to those 'feet' sticking out. 'Rider beware', and all that, perhaps, but surely this needs a re-think? A bunch sprint requires the width of the road. Either keep the fans out of the way in the finishing straight and do away with those barriers, or find a decent alternative design.
Well done, Cav. I remember watching him in T-Mobile colours, winning a Tour of Britain time trial in Crystal Palace Park.
I can only think it's to do with needed stability because there's bigger crowds pushing against them? Unless you actually anchored them straight down into the ground somehow, I don't see how you can't have those legs. Maybe have two lines of different design barriers one in front of the other, but that would depend on the space available.
I don't know enough about the end of the race, I think it's got more challenging climbs in it than I can remember but if Thomas doesn't burn himself off early, Sky could have Thomas and froome together on the end and that could be bad for quintana.
This is a very hilly tour, with no flat time trials. Quintana is in top form and is a typical Colombian, who is explosive and unpredictable on the climbs. Froome prefers a steady tempo on the climbs, rather than quick accelerations. Froome has four climbers to assist him - Henao, Nieve, Pouls & Landa. Sky have put together a strong team with the aim of controlling the tempo on the climbs.
Froome traditionally builds a lead over the first two weeks and holds on. If Quintana is level or just behind at the second rest day, he will attack. Froome needs a good lead before the Alps to sap Quintana's morale and control the race. The Mont Ventoux stage will provide some indication on who is the strongest.
Text this to my brother in law in Phillie who is a big cycling fan , he said very good but typical lazy French , had that been England there would have been spunk coming out the top as well.
Text this to my brother in law in Phillie who is a big cycling fan , he said very good but typical lazy French , had that been England there would have been spunk coming out the top as well.
But, assuming that it was painted in advance, would that not be premature????
Text this to my brother in law in Phillie who is a big cycling fan , he said very good but typical lazy French , had that been England there would have been spunk coming out the top as well.
I think there is, if you look carefully (not that I have of course)
another great sprint. 2nd in the all time list and they thought he was finished
If he keeps it up then next year Merckx could be waving goodbye to his record.
Said it the other day but seems so ironic...
Cavendish with Renshaw / Eisel / Hagen + Colombia Team mates was Unstoppable, Team Sky didnt care about him and Etixx couldnt get the train right... Now he's back with half of his Colombia team whilst his rival takes over at Etixx (Who still cant get their train right) makes you wonder what would have happened had Team Colombia never gone
Reckon he'll equal it next year as there are only about another four flat stages, reckon we'll see Cav maybe win one or two of those.
Is funny though because as per Boardman on ITV4 last night, Cav and Columbia basically created the train which the other teams copied and used themselves...
Now Cav / Eisel / Renshaw seem to be bunny hopping through the field and are using other teams for their advantage which now appears to be working, in short... Kittel / Griepel its your move because your being massively outclassed here!!
Boardman is being a bit disingenuous there in rewriting history. Sprint trains have been around since the late eighties - Van Poppel with PDM springs to mind, but Cipollini with Saeco were masters at it long before Rolf Aldag and Brian Holm polished HTC's train into the beast that helped Cav bludgeon everyone else into submission
Cav has always been good at freelancing if it needed it. Witness the way he surfed through when he won the worlds - absolute sprinting masterclass. I think the top end speed that wasn't there last year is back - it's noticeable that the two sprints he's won have been with tailwinds too, which help a smaller rider more than they would a big unit like Kittel.
Now THAT was a cracking sprint. Had to hold that for a very long time - so no arguments from Kittel, he just beat him heads-up. Dan McLay though - what a talent. If he'd gone a second later he'd have come round to win. Someone has to get him on a world tour team next year
Yeah I've been worried about British Sprinting at the Tour de France as once Cavendish retires we've no one (i.e. Ben Swift hasnt lived up to his potential at SKY) yet if McLay can learn from today then wow.
Wish they'd do an over head shot of the Sprint as really thought he'd gone too early and that Kittel had got him yet watching back it was the second most comfortable stage win of the whole Tour!!
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Glad to see he has cheered up since I saw him off the back of the peloton on stage 5 of the tour of California in May...
Edit: FFS, cant post my picture lol
Well done, Cav. I remember watching him in T-Mobile colours, winning a Tour of Britain time trial in Crystal Palace Park.
Great finish by Cavendish.
Froome traditionally builds a lead over the first two weeks and holds on. If Quintana is level or just behind at the second rest day, he will attack. Froome needs a good lead before the Alps to sap Quintana's morale and control the race. The Mont Ventoux stage will provide some indication on who is the strongest.
What a tight one that was!!
Said it the other day but seems so ironic...
Cavendish with Renshaw / Eisel / Hagen + Colombia Team mates was Unstoppable, Team Sky didnt care about him and Etixx couldnt get the train right... Now he's back with half of his Colombia team whilst his rival takes over at Etixx (Who still cant get their train right) makes you wonder what would have happened had Team Colombia never gone
Cavendish: 28
Hinault: 28
************
Without time trials
Cavendish: 28
Merckx: 17
Hinault: 7
Is funny though because as per Boardman on ITV4 last night, Cav and Columbia basically created the train which the other teams copied and used themselves...
Now Cav / Eisel / Renshaw seem to be bunny hopping through the field and are using other teams for their advantage which now appears to be working, in short... Kittel / Griepel its your move because your being massively outclassed here!!
Cav has always been good at freelancing if it needed it. Witness the way he surfed through when he won the worlds - absolute sprinting masterclass. I think the top end speed that wasn't there last year is back - it's noticeable that the two sprints he's won have been with tailwinds too, which help a smaller rider more than they would a big unit like Kittel.
McLay for GB got third just behind Kittel as well so well done to him
Wish they'd do an over head shot of the Sprint as really thought he'd gone too early and that Kittel had got him yet watching back it was the second most comfortable stage win of the whole Tour!!
Although where the hell was Griepel?