Le Tour 2012

[Dante Lavelli]

His team certainly rode superbly for him, but they didn't blow away the opposition in both time trials and they couldn't actually ride up those mountains for him, Wiggins had to do that himself.

Saturday’s individual time trial was immense.  You had about 50 riders within seconds of each other and then Wiggins rides and is quicker by over a minute.

[philthebar]

The crux of it really is that had Team Sky won and their lead rider been Belgian, French or whatever would we have the hype - probably not.

So when you analyse it, the hype is because of his nationalality, not because of the achievement.

And that is not to take anything away from the achievement.

[SteveN]

The crux of it really is that had Team Sky won and their lead rider been Belgian, French or whatever would we have the hype - probably not.

So when you analyse it, the hype is because of his nationalality, not because of the achievement.

And that is not to take anything away from the achievement.

I think you would find that the hype would be equal to or possibly greater in the country of the team leader.  Road racing is incredibly more popular in a lot of European countries than here.  Back in 2009/2010 Cavendish's achievments were far better recognised abroad than here and Wiggins is already acknowledged abroad as a formidable cyclist.

[lovejoy]

Sky's lead rider is from Belgium isn't he?

[Dave Cooper please]

Sky's lead rider is from Belgium isn't he?

From Ghent no less.

[TopDeck113]

As a matter of interest, does anyone know if the Aussies have laid a claim to him yet?

[Sister of Top Cat]

Well it was a very long day but worth every minute.  We were on the Champs Elysee at 9.30am and there were already a fair few people there.  We stayed at the Arc de Triomphe end so didn't see the sprint finish but got an excellent view of the riders both going up the Champs Elysee and then back down again.  The atmosphere was incredible. 

[SteveN]

Well it was a very long day but worth every minute.  We were on the Champs Elysee at 9.30am and there were already a fair few people there.  We stayed at the Arc de Triomphe end so didn't see the sprint finish but got an excellent view of the riders both going up the Champs Elysee and then back down again.  The atmosphere was incredible. 

That last photo shows one of the greatest moments in British sport.  The winner of the Tour de France leading out the World Champion to win an iconic sprint on the Champs Elysee (the sprinters' cup final) for the 4th consecutive time.

Yellow & Rainbow jerseys - brilliant!

[Sister of Top Cat]

That last photo shows one of the greatest moments in British sport.  The winner of the Tour de France leading out the World Champion to win an iconic sprint on the Champs Elysee (the sprinters' cup final) for the 4th consecutive time.

Yellow & Rainbow jerseys - brilliant!

Actually that was on the third circuit - we didn't see the sprint from where we were standing. 

[Sister of Top Cat]

I tried to post this video yesterday but it didn't work.  Let's see if this does

[SteveN]

That last photo shows one of the greatest moments in British sport.  The winner of the Tour de France leading out the World Champion to win an iconic sprint on the Champs Elysee (the sprinters' cup final) for the 4th consecutive time.

Yellow & Rainbow jerseys - brilliant!

Actually that was on the third circuit - we didn't see the sprint from where we were standing. 

I know, I should have said "image" rather than refer to your photo, which by the way is a great picture.  Watching it again the other day, when Wiggins did lead them out he was going at such a pace that other teams' fast men acting as lead out were struggling to keep up with him.

I envy you being there, I imagine the atmosphere was tremendous.

One day N, one day. In my dreams I would follow it up with a Mylene Farmer concert.

[N'Rexy]

So look out on saturday. If Stannard and Cav make it in one piece over the 9 laps of Box Hill (where I'll be watching) then Stannard will pull any break back once it flattens out.h He is a beast.  Brad will lead out and Cav will win. I am not totally confident that they'll make it around Box Hill though. The Italians and Spanish will push it like hell around there to try and drop them.

[SteveN]

So look out on saturday. If Stannard and Cav make it in one piece over the 9 laps of Box Hill (where I'll be watching) then Stannard will pull any break back once it flattens out.h He is a beast.  Brad will lead out and Cav will win. I am not totally confident that they'll make it around Box Hill though. The Italians and Spanish will push it like hell around there to try and drop them.

50/50 for me, I would love it to go as you hope but as usual everyone will be trying their best to drop Cav.  Belgium with Boonen and Gilbert look good and Sagan on his own could be a danger.

[paul_e]

If Cav is in the mix with half a mile to go he'll win.  If le tour showed anything about the sprinters, sagan is a better all-rounder (and rightly won the green on that back of it) but cav is much quicker in a flat out race, I can't think of a stage where cav was involved in a sprint he didn't win.

[N'Rexy]

In case you are interested. Cav is off to Omega Pharma (bad name for a cycling team). Specialzed are paying a load of money for him to ride thier bikes so I gather and it'll be Boonen for the Classics (which if you like the Tour then please watch them) and then Cav as sprint king for the Tour.