Tour de France

Is this Tour a bit of a let down. I feel that there are no real characters emerging to capture the public's imagination.  Yes Sky ( Froome ) will win the tour but how boring have they been.

No Fire - No decent sustained battles to win stages - Not like the days of Armstrong and Jan Ullrich, each stage a battle for individual supremacy. Then there was Miguel Indurain. Eddy Merckx,and many other great riders who captured the publics respect and admiration. . 

K 

I have to agree.

It's a great course and one that provides many opportunities to produce some fireworks......but all we see in the GC are damp squibs.

Not helped, I have to say, by ITV4's commentary. Ned Boulting just spouts whatever comes into his head (no change from his first Tour and the 'Yellow jumper' comment. I feel quite sorry for David Millar having to constantly correct him.

I have to agree also.

I don't think Sky have been particularly boring, more so the competition, or rather lack of. It's either they have all given up on the GC because they consider Sky so strong.  Or Sky have perfected the numbers to such an extent, they just ride tempo and no one "can" respond and sustain an attack.

Movistar have been the biggest dissapointment for me, with Astana and BMC not far behind. I hope I am wrong, but I don't think Quintana has either the legs or the will to fight for a mere podium place which will play in favour of Yates.

Very disappointing, let's hope I am wrong and we see some fireworks in the remaining stages (but just can't see it)

It is of course Olympic year. Perhaps they are all trying to get away with the minimum required. So it is ending up a bit of a training exercise. I suppose I can see their point. If they end up compromising themselves, it is another 4 year wait, if they are young enough. Whilst there is a TDF every year.

It is of course Olympic year. Perhaps they are all trying to get away with the minimum required. So it is ending up a bit of a training exercise. I suppose I can see their point. If they end up compromising themselves, it is another 4 year wait, if they are young enough. Whilst there is a TDF every year.

I had exactly the same thought Steve.

I remember thinking the same in 2012 when Wiggins had a similarly unchallenged (except for Froome) ride to Paris.

And without the dominance of one strong team, the individual has a better oportunity to shine. Like a one day classic, only more so, with a bigger prize.

Might not be the "tradition" of cycling, but must be a goal for many in the Pelaton. Having said that, can they beat Sagan for gold?

Might not be the "tradition" of cycling, but must be a goal for many in the Pelaton. Having said that, can they beat Sagan for gold?

Only if he falls off

It appears that Cav has succumbed to pressure from British Cycling to abandon the Tour.

This says two things to me:

Firstly that Cav has done something very disrespectful and that this reflects badly on him and puts a dark shadow over his stage wins.

Secondly, that British Cycling have not shaken off their 100+ year tradition of shunning road racing. Despite the millions given to them by Murdoch, forcing them to set up a pro team in order to get the funding they craved for their main aims of track cycling, they still cannot commit fully to road cycling. They are pathetic.......and I'm afraid that Cav has been tarnished.

It appears that Cav has succumbed to pressure from British Cycling to abandon the Tour.

This says two things to me:

Firstly that Cav has done something very disrespectful and that this reflects badly on him and puts a dark shadow over his stage wins.

Secondly, that British Cycling have not shaken off their 100+ year tradition of shunning road racing. Despite the millions given to them by Murdoch, forcing them to set up a pro team in order to get the funding they craved for their main aims of track cycling, they still cannot commit fully to road cycling. They are pathetic.......and I'm afraid that Cav has been tarnished.

Write your comments here...I predicted that Cav would abandon the TDF earlier on this thread.

How disrespectful to his fans and the organisation of the TDF.

I would suspend him from ever competing in Le Tour for at least five years.

K

It is just an unfortunate by product of having the Olympics ( a once in 4 year event) so close to the Olympics. Whilst I would have enjoyed seeing him battle it out in Paris he has to do what he thinks best for his chances. The TDF is at the end of the day a commercial enterprise and MC has given them good value for money with his four stage wins. If they were to stop him competing next year, they would be depriving the folk who turn up to watch, of seeing a world class cyclist perform and perhaps exceed Merckx total of 34 stage wins.

Blank page on here as well