Cav is a better climber than many of the sprinters. You'll remove plenty of his competition before you remove him.Blackmac wrote: ↑Sun Jun 30, 2024 12:47 pmDon't think I have ever seen a more brutal first stage. Reminded my of the Yorkshire stages with constant sharp climbs.Guy Smiley wrote: ↑Sun Jun 30, 2024 8:44 amAgain, I'm in the wrong timezone and relying on highlights packages... but that was a fairytale finish. Beyond scripting, just a magical way for day one to unfold and WvA taking the bunch sprint for third is icing on the cake.
You have to wonder if someone wanted to sabotage Cav's record attempt on the first day.
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That was exactly my thoughts. Eurosport made a big thing about how close he would be but in the end he was a good 10 minutes.Dinsdale Piranha wrote: ↑Sun Jun 30, 2024 2:46 pmCav is a better climber than many of the sprinters. You'll remove plenty of his competition before you remove him.Blackmac wrote: ↑Sun Jun 30, 2024 12:47 pmDon't think I have ever seen a more brutal first stage. Reminded my of the Yorkshire stages with constant sharp climbs.Guy Smiley wrote: ↑Sun Jun 30, 2024 8:44 am
Again, I'm in the wrong timezone and relying on highlights packages... but that was a fairytale finish. Beyond scripting, just a magical way for day one to unfold and WvA taking the bunch sprint for third is icing on the cake.
You have to wonder if someone wanted to sabotage Cav's record attempt on the first day.
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Two stages in and there are 4 heavyweights slugging it out in the ring already. I expected Vingegard to take some damage in these first few days as they're a brutal start but he's done really well and made a statement of his own... bodes well for the rest of the race.
Also, nice to see France get the first two stage wins in their own race... has to be said, it makes a pleasant change.
Also, nice to see France get the first two stage wins in their own race... has to be said, it makes a pleasant change.
Vingegard looked like he was taking the piss today which I wasn’t expecting at all.Guy Smiley wrote: ↑Sun Jun 30, 2024 8:45 pm Two stages in and there are 4 heavyweights slugging it out in the ring already. I expected Vingegard to take some damage in these first few days as they're a brutal start but he's done really well and made a statement of his own... bodes well for the rest of the race.
Also, nice to see France get the first two stage wins in their own race... has to be said, it makes a pleasant change.
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- Margin__Walker
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Genuinely happier for the bloke than I can remember being for another sportsman.
What an achievement
Edit - The overhead of that sprint tells you everything you need to know about him. Just perfect decision making to go with the kick.
What an achievement
Edit - The overhead of that sprint tells you everything you need to know about him. Just perfect decision making to go with the kick.
Yep, dropped off his lead out and as he has done for years, picked the right wheels.Margin__Walker wrote: ↑Wed Jul 03, 2024 3:41 pm Genuinely happier for the bloke than I can remember being for another sportsman.
What an achievement
Edit - The overhead of that sprint tells you everything you need to know about him. Just perfect decision making to go with the kick.
Looking at who he beat in the sprint today, you can hardly say it was an easy win either.
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Just seen the highlights (couldn't watch it live, daughter's graduation today) - what an amazing finish! Typical Cav, his ability and awareness to get on the right wheel (at 70kph) remains absolutely phenomenal. And still able to produce the speed, no-one got near him. Also so nice that everyone in the peloton was so pleased for him - Kristoff's smile as they came over the line was lovely see.
Left hand down a bit
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One of the best sprint finish I’ve seen, you were lucky to be there.
Last edited by Marylandolorian on Wed Jul 03, 2024 7:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.
There is no question Merckx was a better all round cyclist. To me it actually highlights just how exceptional Cavendish is to have the record when he can only do one thing. He just does it much, much better than anyone else.
If you've not seen the documentary about Cav then watch it. Few people would come through that, get back up and get to 34, then have more troubles and then come back again at what is in cycling terms a very old man.
Vinokourov deserves a lot of plaudits for believing in Cav. Albeit it was a no lose for the team as they were getting publicity either way.
Last edited by weegie01 on Wed Jul 03, 2024 10:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Do you work for the International Boules Federation
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For me, you can win all the stages you win, but ultimately they only count towards your total if you finish the Tour !weegie01 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 03, 2024 7:23 pmThere is no question Merckx was a better all round cyclist. To me it actually highlights just how exceptional Cavendish is to have the record when he can only do one thing. He just does it much, much better than anyone else.
If you've not seen the documentary about Cav then watch it. Few people would come through that, get back up and get to 34, then have more troubles and then come back again at what is in cycling terms a very old man.
Vinokourov deserves a lot of plaudits for believing in Cav. Albeit it was a no lose for the team as they were getting publicity either way.
I don't count the riders who win a few stages & then piss off to the Worlds, or the Olympics or whatever, because they clearly don't count Le Tour
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What channels are this on? Normally it's on multiple channels so we can have the French countryside rolling past on the telly every evening of the week but we're having to hunt for it this year.
Eurosport and Discovery +Uncle fester wrote: ↑Wed Jul 03, 2024 11:15 pm What channels are this on? Normally it's on multiple channels so we can have the French countryside rolling past on the telly every evening of the week but we're having to hunt for it this year.
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ITV4 have a 1 hour stage highlight at 19:00 every night tooSandstorm wrote: ↑Thu Jul 04, 2024 4:32 amEurosport and Discovery +Uncle fester wrote: ↑Wed Jul 03, 2024 11:15 pm What channels are this on? Normally it's on multiple channels so we can have the French countryside rolling past on the telly every evening of the week but we're having to hunt for it this year.
“Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true.”
They have the full day every day as wellInsane_Homer wrote: ↑Thu Jul 04, 2024 5:51 amITV4 have a 1 hour stage highlight at 19:00 every night tooSandstorm wrote: ↑Thu Jul 04, 2024 4:32 amEurosport and Discovery +Uncle fester wrote: ↑Wed Jul 03, 2024 11:15 pm What channels are this on? Normally it's on multiple channels so we can have the French countryside rolling past on the telly every evening of the week but we're having to hunt for it this year.
All the money you made will never buy back your soul
Merckx is indeed astonishing. It’s just a couple of years ago when Cav tied his record, he was pretty grumpy and ungracious when asked about it.Guy Smiley wrote: ↑Thu Jul 04, 2024 5:21 amI'm not up to speed on whatever this is all about but this frames things a bit.
Merckx is the GOAT. He deserves whatever he does. He won nearly everything, not just tour stages.
And are there two g’s in Bugger Off?
Just watched the last 20 minutes or so.Insane_Homer wrote: ↑Thu Jul 04, 2024 5:51 amITV4 have a 1 hour stage highlight at 19:00 every night tooSandstorm wrote: ↑Thu Jul 04, 2024 4:32 amEurosport and Discovery +Uncle fester wrote: ↑Wed Jul 03, 2024 11:15 pm What channels are this on? Normally it's on multiple channels so we can have the French countryside rolling past on the telly every evening of the week but we're having to hunt for it this year.
Well done Cav, fucking brilliant
Yeah. I think to Merckx the stage wins were just an obvious component of his tour victories and it not really possible to compare the two records as they are so different.Guy Smiley wrote: ↑Thu Jul 04, 2024 5:21 amI'm not up to speed on whatever this is all about but this frames things a bit.
Merckx is the GOAT. He deserves whatever he does. He won nearly everything, not just tour stages.
I don't follow cycling very much, so have no idea of his form. But to see Philipsen giving it full gas and making no impression of Cav was incredible.
On the last Netflix doc Philipsen said Cav did not have the legs anymore, but had the craft. It appears he still has both. I thought Cav might get a heroic failure or two, but watching this I think you're right and he'll be a danger on more stages.
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I was wondering after the interviews whether he would just enjoy riding the rest of the tour (his last, almost certainly) having got the monkey off his back. But he seems to have the legs on everyone, so I wouldn't be surprised if he goes for more stage wins. I guess we'll find out later this afternoon as it's another flat stage today.weegie01 wrote: ↑Thu Jul 04, 2024 8:37 amI don't follow cycling very much, so have no idea of his form. But to see Philipsen giving it full gas and making no impression of Cav was incredible.
On the last Netflix doc Philipsen said Cav did not have the legs anymore, but had the craft. It appears he still has both. I thought Cav might get a heroic failure or two, but watching this I think you're right and he'll be a danger on more stages.
Left hand down a bit
I'm sure he will, but I really want him to complete the tour and have a last sprint down the Champs d'Eylesee.S/Lt_Phillips wrote: ↑Thu Jul 04, 2024 9:13 amI was wondering after the interviews whether he would just enjoy riding the rest of the tour (his last, almost certainly) having got the monkey off his back. But he seems to have the legs on everyone, so I wouldn't be surprised if he goes for more stage wins. I guess we'll find out later this afternoon as it's another flat stage today.weegie01 wrote: ↑Thu Jul 04, 2024 8:37 amI don't follow cycling very much, so have no idea of his form. But to see Philipsen giving it full gas and making no impression of Cav was incredible.
On the last Netflix doc Philipsen said Cav did not have the legs anymore, but had the craft. It appears he still has both. I thought Cav might get a heroic failure or two, but watching this I think you're right and he'll be a danger on more stages.
And are there two g’s in Bugger Off?
Unfortunately not. This years tour finishes in Nice due to the Olympic Games in Paris. But I hope he gives a crack!Biffer wrote: ↑Thu Jul 04, 2024 9:16 amI'm sure he will, but I really want him to complete the tour and have a last sprint down the Champs d'Eylesee.S/Lt_Phillips wrote: ↑Thu Jul 04, 2024 9:13 amI was wondering after the interviews whether he would just enjoy riding the rest of the tour (his last, almost certainly) having got the monkey off his back. But he seems to have the legs on everyone, so I wouldn't be surprised if he goes for more stage wins. I guess we'll find out later this afternoon as it's another flat stage today.weegie01 wrote: ↑Thu Jul 04, 2024 8:37 am
I don't follow cycling very much, so have no idea of his form. But to see Philipsen giving it full gas and making no impression of Cav was incredible.
On the last Netflix doc Philipsen said Cav did not have the legs anymore, but had the craft. It appears he still has both. I thought Cav might get a heroic failure or two, but watching this I think you're right and he'll be a danger on more stages.
BuggerSaintK wrote: ↑Thu Jul 04, 2024 9:21 amUnfortunately not. This years tour finishes in Nice due to the Olympic Games in Paris. But I hope he gives a crack!Biffer wrote: ↑Thu Jul 04, 2024 9:16 amI'm sure he will, but I really want him to complete the tour and have a last sprint down the Champs d'Eylesee.S/Lt_Phillips wrote: ↑Thu Jul 04, 2024 9:13 am
I was wondering after the interviews whether he would just enjoy riding the rest of the tour (his last, almost certainly) having got the monkey off his back. But he seems to have the legs on everyone, so I wouldn't be surprised if he goes for more stage wins. I guess we'll find out later this afternoon as it's another flat stage today.
And are there two g’s in Bugger Off?
I'm very seriously considering a short term move to France and putting the kids in school for a year with a view to a longer term move, slowly, as they get older.
All the money you made will never buy back your soul
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