Giro d'Italia / Tour de France Cycling thread 2013

[N'Rexy]

Eisel is a big loss. He wouldn't have missed that break yesterday. I think I need next week off to watch it!

[Dave Cooper please]

Next week is brutal, I've never known so many huge climbs in such a short space of time.

[seanthevillan]

This tour is much less of a walkover than was predicted. I think Froome is going to get pummeled in the alps.

I've only caught a couple of stages live, and had to follow the others on highlights/reports or whatever, but it seems like its been a great tour so far. Memorable stages, good sprints, riders taking each other on, can't wait for the Alps..

[JD]

Sundays stage looks like it could be an epic. I'm really enjoying this years TDF and it is great to see that no one person or team is dominating it.

[Sister of Top Cat]

Today's stage is going to be great.  I'll be in Paris on Sunday.  Can't wait.  The only trouble is, I'll miss seeing the highlights on Friday and Saturday's stage.

[UK Redsox]

Sundays stage looks like it could be an epic.

Just take a look at the graphic !!

[TopDeck113]

The Giant of Provence, on a baking hot day, at the end of this Tour's longest stage. Brutal.

[UK Redsox]

Superb from Chris Froome. Looks like Kenya is going to get its first TdF winner.

[taylorsworkrate]

Excellent, just excellent from Froome today. He is head and shoulders above the field in the mountains, and the way he took apart druggie Contador was a delight to see. Its also so refreshing to see a Tour leader willing to attack and put more time into his rivals, than to merely defend the advantage.

Barring a miracle Froome's going to be the second British Tour de France winner in a row. Which is staggering considering so many years in the doldrums. Just glad that Froome considers himself to be British, what with his British father, grandfather and passport:

Froome said: "Although I was riding under the Kenyan flag I made it clear that I had always carried a British passport and felt British. It was then we talked about racing under the Union Flag, and we stayed in touch."

[Dave Cooper please]

That was a remarkable ride up The Ventoux, it looks a bit like a volcano and must have felt like one in that heat.

[Meanwood Villa]

Awesome stuff from Froome. He won me over with that ride today. I'm sure it was troubling him immensely he hadn't previously.

[N'Rexy]

Tomorrow is the double ascent of Alpe D'Huez. This will be classic for no other reason than its never been done.  Full on Spanish Armada day tomorrow for me.  Breaks from 1Km.  Saxo, Movistar, and Euskatel in the breaks with Belkin and Astana hitting it on the climbs.  I was at the start yesterday and 80% of the riders were on static trainers an hour befor the start getting warmed up as they knew it was going to kick off from the start.  Tomorrow will be the same.  If Froome holds on tomorrow then he will break them mentally. As it stands after yesterday Movi and Saxo still think that they might engineer something.

Oh and I am creaming the league.  Come on boys!

[JD]

Well done Froome on another great stage win. Contador looked gutted when he saw Froome's time in the time trial. Maybe he's beginning to think he can't win.

The next two days are going to be very interesting though. All of Froome's rivals have to attack and attack as much as possible. it's going to make for some very interesting cycling.

[UK Redsox]

There was some talk yesterday that, due to the descent being wet, the stage might end the first time that that get to the top of Alpe d'Huez

Have they made a definite decision yet ?

[usav]

There was some talk yesterday that, due to the descent being wet, the stage might end the first time that that get to the top of Alpe d'Huez

Have they made a definite decision yet ?

Weather looks good so far......