Tour de France 2013

Wiggins out:

Sky confirmed the news in a release sent out to the media, which pointed to a lingering chest infection and an ongoing knee injury as the cause.

“With illness, injury and treatment Brad has gone past the point where he can be ready for the Tour,” team Principal Dave Brailsford said. “It’s a big loss but, given these circumstances, we won’t consider him for selection.”

How very convenient.

people, it's less than a week away!!

http://youtu.be/mgkkU-TRwvY

HE'S READY

sagan, cav and greipel all won national titles on the weekend too.

no Prologue this year so Cav v Sagan v Greipel is on from the first day
three time trials including one team tt, all around 30km long so shortish
Bastille Day is the longest stage and ends with a climb up Ventoux
the monster stage though is on the 18th with a double ascent up d'Huez, ouch
Froome looked imperious at the Dauphine, kinda hard to see who can beat him atm

Cav won from a break so a sagan green jersey whitewash may not be the foregone conclusion everyone thinks.

HE'S READY

http://road.cc/sites/default/files/imagecache/node-gallery-display/images/News/Mark%20Cavendish%20becomes%20British%20champion%20(picture%20Vaughn%20Ridely,%20SWPIX.com).jpg

HE'S READY

after the puppy photo i spend all year looking forward to this, you have no idea

Although it's more of an outside bet, Kittel leading out Degenkolb would be worth a punt on the first day.

After many solid years' worth of doping scandals, is the Tour now reduced to a midget among sporting events?

never!!

Dopey McHairplugs, HE'S READY

http://www.alejandrovalverde.es/imagenes/eventos/e2vn0l5x.rs3Eventos%206.jpg

Actually Valverde looks like the weak link in an otherwise impressive MoviSky lineup, might still podium.

HIS GIRLFRIEND IS READY, he's pretty chill about the whole think

http://cdn.mos.bikeradar.com/images/news/2013/04/28/1367163364022-1p1a7ncgq8h9q-280-75.jpg

http://bicycling.com/blogs/theselection/2013/06/07/an-immodest-proposal-for-doping-closure/

Armstrong:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Hey <a href="https://twitter.com/TrueBS";>@TrueBS</a> - I'm in. <a href="http://t.co/mYW8OktC7X";>http://t.co/mYW8OktC7X<;/a></p>— Lance Armstrong (@lancearmstrong) <a href="https://twitter.com/lancearmstrong/statuses/343137862910353409";>June 7, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

THEY'RE READY (although possibly not Robert Gesink who fell off yet again during national champs)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9P62y-FzC0

This is pretty neat: The Social Peloton

HE'S READY

http://cdn.media.cyclingnews.com//2013/06/27/2/bettiniphoto_0147929_1_full_220.jpg

although OPQS don't look like they were ready for the GB National chamions jersey, it looks very old school.

HE'S READY and finally there are some competitive frenchmen

http://cdn.media.cyclingnews.com/2013/06/27/2/bettiniphoto_0147905_1_full_670.jpg

HE'S NOT READY

http://cdn.media.cyclingnews.com/2013/06/27/2/bettiniphoto_0147952_1_full_670.jpg

Ha ha.

I had to use up some annual leave by the end of the month so have taken off the week beginning 8th July. I'll do something worthwhile on the rest day, but the rest of the week...

They're barely touching the Pyrenees this year, feels a bit odd, but I do rather like the look of the stages.

He's... scarily skinny

http://d3j5vwomefv46c.cloudfront.net/photos/large/785267177.png

Here he is with David Kinjah, the Kenian to which his mother brougt him to focus his cycling efforts.
http://s7.img.humo.be/q90/w560/h/img_888/888497.jpg

not much margin for error when you're that skinny. no wonder wiggo seems to be saying "never again".

the real yardstick for schleck's form was at liege, the one other race he properly gives a fuck about - he finished a minute back with the likes of valverde (one of the favourites). it was remarkable because it wasn't. add to that the work he's done in the breaks at the tours of cali and suisse... he can be a protagonist in the mountains at least.

HE'S TIRED AND UNCOMFORTABLE AND WILL NEED A LIE DOWN AFTER THE PYRENEES

http://resources2.news.com.au/images/2013/05/20/1226646/387802-cadel-evans.jpg

needs puppeh

Much happier with Puppeh

http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2008/07/31/470cadeldogstuffedlion,0.jpg

fully behind replacing podium girls with puppies and/or stuffed animals

départ!

http://www.dr.dk/NR/rdonlyres/3C931648-DD62-42B4-85E0-023CBC82A1E0/5260686/6435494a7bb24a24b3dd94b8de2bdc67_fc90641778ab44eb9.jpg

Corsica? 'Course, he can.

Much happier with Puppeh

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fe79ZuDKfk

There's a bus stuck on the finish line. Phil Liggett is commentating on efforts to get a bus unstuck from underneath a banner.

OK, now we've seen what the 3km banner (the proposed new finish looks like. The line is in front of a bend in the road. Like, right in front of it. This is going to be terrifying.

THE BUS IS MOVING!

Crash! Cav and Sagan caught up!

wow big crash! bus now unwedged. Exciting!

mental

what a farce. nice win for Kitten

was that really millar contesting the sprint for garmin?

Insane stage!

http://i.imgur.com/VklsgU7.jpg

That was a bit of a disaster

That was hilarious. Also, must go on holiday to Corsica ASAP.

that was probably the best stage of the entire Tour.

they should do the bus thing every stage.

It brought excellent Mild Peril factor.

http://d3j5vwomefv46c.cloudfront.net/photos/large/785859154.gif

Best gif ever.

Good finish today! I was on the edge of my seat willing him on in those final moments.

Good stage in general. If this turns into the Froome and Evans show I won't be disappointed.

That was a great finish - I was doing that sofa peddling thing for the last 2k (or is it just me who does that?)

I'd love to see Millar get a day in yellow. If he can hang on through today I reckon he's got a pretty good chance in the TTT.

I think he has to do it today, can't see Garmin beating Sky and Movisky in the TTT.

Yeh, fab finish yesterday. The wall of riders bearing down on Jan Bakelants as he approached the line was terrifying. Great Tour moment.

xpost

such an awesome finish...I have a sickening love of the TdF

Anyone know how to pronounce Kennaugh? I'm hearing Kenna, Kenya, Kennogg...

Koen de Kort's stage 18 tour diary is a must read:
http://www.afr.com/p/lifestyle/sport/cycling/koen_de_kort_tour_diary_stage_RoN2hF5hrtq6370wBEUspO

Great Post, Koen de Kort writes and interviews really well, seems like a thoroughly decent guy.

Short stage tomorrow but 47 seconds separate 2nd-5th:

General Classification after Stage 19
GBR 1 FROOME, Christopher (SKY PROCYCLING) 77:10:00
ESP 2 CONTADOR VELASCO, Alberto (SAXO-TINKOFF) + 5:11
COL 3 QUINTANA ROJAS, Nairo Alexander (MOVISTAR TEAM) + 5:32
CZE 4 KREUZIGER, Roman (SAXO-TINKOFF) + 5:44
ESP 5 RODRIGUEZ OLIVER, Joaquin (KATUSHA) + 5:58

11 points separate the polka dot jersey:

KOM Classification after stage 19:
1. GBRFROOME Christopher 1 SKY PROCYCLING 104 pts
2. FRAROLLAND Pierre 51 TEAM EUROPCAR 103 pts
3. ESPNIEVE ITURRALDE Mikel 116 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 98 pts
4. COLQUINTANA ROJAS Nairo Alexander 128 MOVISTAR TEAM 97 pts
5. FRARIBLON Christophe 89 AG2R LA MONDIALE 93 pts

Johnny Hoogerland
‏@zeeuwseleeuw
This morning i asked @MarkCavendish how was the dutch corner yesterday. His answer: "not too bad they only called me asshole twice" #letour

Been watching Eurosport. The guy that isn't Sean Kelly sounds like what I'd imagine LJ to sound like if he were a commentator

You mean Carlton "first time watching a bike race" Kirby.

http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/18udoxyf4371hgif/ku-xlarge.gif

Not Sean Kelly

http://si0.twimg.com/profile_images/2602426712/t6mqfguvphq32d0osrlg.jpeg

To be fair Carlton Kirby is pretty tame compare to the new depths being plumbed by Pipi and Popo. Even Sherwen's castle information is coming a cropper, he described one chateau as a ruin for 200 years even as the helicopter panned to shown the massive knife and fork restaurant sign on the tower and sound looking roof. I long gave up on them being able to give any insightful race commentary. At least the sound man has now learnt that they won't shut up when they go to the moto commentary and fades them out.

C'MON NAIRO

amazing.

3,000 METRES, DICK'EADS

incredible stage.

Proper death mask on Talansky there, goodness me.

And to think he was born with the curse of death, yet he's now KOM.

I can't help myself, I like seeing Bertie beaten.

Interesting seeing his 'true' potential although maybe not his 'true' potential from a few years ago.

Where the hell did Navarro come from, It's hard to even believe Cofidis have been in this race?

"There's the local cheese-making machines" says Phil over a shot of some bulls.

Hello? Anybody?

Tomb of the Unknown Shoulder.

Richie Froome.

He really did say 'shoulder', didn't he?

The Shape of Jens Voigt

Twice (xp)

Paris looks amazing in the setting sun

I love David Millar. There, I've said it.

Did have to laugh when Phil said that Dave had had his bad moments too... and then described some stage or other that went wrong for him. Awesome ride today though!

shoulder twice and <3 millar. and yes, it looks absolutely wonderful. have loved this tour: Froome has been amazing but so has Quintana, Valverde, Contador (for being continually competitive), Kreuziger, Rui Costa etc. Kittel, Cavendish and Greipel, all fantastic.

lol at Paul staring at the moon. just a lonely guy thinking baout things.

You could hear him quickly scanning his race guide for interesting notes on lunar features.

I'm just giggling because all those cars have got their lights on
OK Paul

Poor guy has been stuck down his diamond mine for too long.

wtf is Boardman wearing.

"He's definitely the new sprinter on the cock, er, on the block"

They were in tuxes at the beginning - apparently presenters have been told to treat this stage like the Oscars red carpet. I'm guessing all the presenters have since said fuck that.

ah, right. yes a little warm for that sort of malarkey.

xpost lol.

Kennaugh <3

really nice interview that

Boardman was either waiting tables earlier or he's got a snooker tournament to rush off to when the coverage ends.

They've been carrying those tuxes around for three weeks, they said through gritted teeth in the opening sequence.

someone's bright idea. full of love for everyone here tho.

it's great to have a 100th anniversary that does feel like it's moving in the right direction with the l'equipe report and sky's attempts to be open.

obviously it's still a v vulnerable sport but this is a fantastic win. I think as well, after the slightly programmatic sky performance last year, tgat felt it might be representative of the drug-free years to come, this year's had so many romantic, competitive and unpredictable moments.

I do hope in years to come we'll look back on this as the beginning of the beginning of a new era.

B-b-but the Arc de Triomphe just danced

It's been great, daft commentary and all. Roll on the Vuelta.

Sweet (high fiving mini Puritos)

Is this one a fucking mod?

no, you're ok. he's a cycling exoskeleton machine alien from Africa.

'Alien pushing a shopping trolley' is still my favourite description. Can't remember who came up with it though.

"robot" I think it was but yes. as my brother said, "you think it's one of those things people say that sound funny but don't apply, except in this case it does and it's impossible not to think of it when you see him cycling."

Nah it was definitely alien I heard, though Twitter is like Chinese whispers so who knows which came first.