Tour De France

[all_funkt_up]

Must say I do like the Tour De France. Not that into my cycling, but I think it's tremendous entertainment and you have to admire the guys for they out themselves through. Just finishing is an achievement in itself.

Throughout history, cyclists have been hard as hell and put themselves through incredible pain to wear the Maillot Jaune. I have been a fan for just over 10 years now and my faves include Marco Pantani, Indurain and Ullrich. Always suprises me how Britain produces so many good track riders but just cant produce road riders. I see that Bradley Wiggins is due to ride again for this tour, but you would expect a few more of the track stars to chance their luck at road racing wouldnt you?

Well I would....

I like the commentary from Phil Ligget and that other bloke, whose name eludes me now. Usually get live coverage on Eurosport with the highlights on channel 4 of an evening.

Anyone know what the crack is for this year?

Starts July 7th in London by the way.

[Hippy Dave]

Originally Posted by all_funkt_up

Just finishing is an achievement in itself.

Probably quite easy with lots of drugs.

[traeth]

Originally Posted by all_funkt_up

Anyone know what the crack is for this year?

Starts July 7th in London by the way.

like you afu i enjoy watching the tour , channel4 commentary comes across as knowlegable.

english version of le tour site
Tour de France - 2007

a mate of mine took part in the 'Etape about three or four years ago.

L'Etape is a race over one of the mountain stages of the tour by amateurs a few days before the pros get there.

I've had a small bet in the last few years but never had a return.

just been reading a preview in today's observer which made consider a bet on Vinokourov.

William Fotheringham ,Sunday July 1, 2007 ,The Observer


Thanks to the efforts of Sacha Baron Cohen, the world is at least aware that Kazakhstan exists. However, also thanks to the comedian, it cannot be mentioned without conjuring up dodgy moustaches, even dodgier swimming trunks and Borat's experiences in America.
From Saturday, however, when the Tour de France starts in London, a different side of the newly oil-rich central Asian republic will be on display to the world when the country's most popular sportsman, Alexander Vinokourov, starts the world's biggest bike race as the favourite.

full article here:
Cycling: Vino's Kazak Attack | Sport | The Observer

[all_funkt_up]

Traeth - I was reading that about Vinny too. It's difficult to judge who has got a good chance of winning obviously. A good individual will go no where without a strong team. Might have a look at the line-ups and post some bets in a bit.

A side issue, but I never realised just how big Kazakhstan was until yesterday. The place is bloody massive.

[all_funkt_up]

Well it seems arl Vinny isnt the only one who thinks he has a chance of winning Le Tour this year, here's the latest odds from Stan James:



Vinokourov, Alexander 2/1
Kloden, Andreas 7/2
Valverde, Alejandro 6/1
Evans, Cadel 12/1
Sastre, Carlos 12/1
Leipheimer, Levi 14/1
Menchov, Denis 16/1
Schleck, Franck 16/1
Kashechkin, Andrey 25/1
Moreau, Christophe 25/1
Contador, Alberto 33/1
Rogers, Michael 33/1
Pereiro, Oscar Sio 40/1
Popovych, Yaroslav 40/1
Fothen, Marcus 40/1
Karpets, Vladimir 50/1
Rasmussen, Michael 80/1
Mayo, Iban 80/1
Hincapie, George 80/1
Dessel, Cyril 80/1
Sanchez, Samuel 100/1
Gadret, John 100/1
Gusev, Vladimir 125/1

[all_funkt_up]

Seems like a weakened field this year, what with the doping allegations and all. No Ullrich, no Landis and no Basso either. Cant see any other significant others missing from last year.

[traeth]

I can't see Robbie McEwan , and Cadel Evans seems to be the team leader for Lotto , I always have a tendency for these aussie pair , but cannot see McEwan in the betting

[all_funkt_up]

Robbie McEwan will always be there or thereabouts because he will be at the front of the Peloton to get the points from the sprints. But does he have the endurance to win the thing?

He is 2.76 with Betfair to win the green jersey, but isnt listed with them either for victory overall. Strange.

[rene]

-don´t watch it
-don´t bet on it
-don´t talk about it

Everything is full with doping! Fckuing sport with fkucing sportsmen!

*PFUI*

[all_funkt_up]

I agree its a great event too Rene.

One of my favourite spectacles on the sporting calendar as well.

[igor5]

The 2007 Tour de France route
Running from Saturday July 7th to Sunday July 29th 2007, the 94th Tour de France will be made up of a prologue and 20 stages and will cover a total distance of 3,550 kilometres.

These 20 stages have the following profiles:

* 11 flat stages
* 6 mountain stages
* 1 medium mountain stage
* 2 individual time-trial stages

Distinctive aspects of the race

* 3 mountain finishes
* 2 rest days
* 117 kilometres of individual time-trials (including the prologue)
* 21 Category 1, Category 2 and highest level passes will be climbed
* 12 new stop-over towns:
o London
o Canterbury
o Waregem
o Villers-Cotterêts
o Joigny
o Chablis
o Semur-en-Auxois
o Tignes
o Tallard
o Mazamet
o Cognac
o Marcoussis

[igor5]

[igor5]

I follow Tour De France for the last 4-5 years when there isn`t a football on TV what else can i do

Robbie McEwan could get the green jersey last year he won three stages but he is hopeless when they are going to get to the mountain,for the green jersey Erick Zabel is going to be big favorite at least for me....

If i have to go with overall winner then my money would be on Valvedere 6/1 ,last year he had bad luck and he was out of the race after third stage.He is one of the best climbers and this race is going to be decide there

Sastre 12/1 could be good choice to, he is another Spanish rider who was fourth last year and he is going to be main man for CSC team.....

[Rissso]

Those doping scandals make me sad. I watch Tour de France since middle 90´s and now I don´t know how many riders were unfair. Riis, Ulrich, Landis... Wouldn´t they won without doping?
I hope this year will be the clean Tour, with lot of great sprint, breakaways, fighting for the jersey.

[Yen_Sid]

I love watching the Tour De France too, obviously all the recent drug scandals have brought it down a lot though. What these guys do amazes me. And we get all the footballers complaining about being tired if they need to play 2 games in a week yet these guy are doing all those miles day after day, over the mountains the lot.

I think old Lance Armstrong is a legend, an inspiration, as was the big Spaniard a few years back, Indurain (sp?)

I'll be watching, sorry Rene..