We were at the top of Jawbone Hill (Cote do Oughtibridge) by 9am - fantastic day

 

I doubt it will last long,same with most sport that is in our country for a few days/weeks.But can't blame the cycle shops for casting the bait advertising.Wonder how many new bikes bought will end gathering dust in the garden shed.

 

I doubt Cav would have taken Kittel there!

He's got ridiculous size legs lol

 

Agreed; my road bike was used for two triathlons but now gathers dust. I don't want to sell it just in case I do another!

There have been several road bike fatalities down here recently; fast, narrow roads are just not good for cars and bikes at the same time. Road racing is quite a thrill though!

 

It's not just narrow roads that's the problem, it's also uneducated/inconsiderate drivers. I was road racing years ago and one of the competitors was killed by a driver who wasn't paying attention - on a dual carriageway so not exactly a small or narrow road. There were plenty of signs around warning drivers of a race in progress but some people are just in too much of a rush.

 

That's awful.

I know an incredibly successful surgeon and super fit triathlete who is now a vegetable after hitting a Transit van in a race. Horrible.

I've been completely road raged twice when cycling and I REALLY go out of my way to be courteous.

 

I presume that was a bike built by Harry Quinn, liverpool
?

On John bishop's Australia

 

Unfortunately a 7kg bike and its rider cannot compete for the road space occupied by a 1,600kg car and its driver. The Tour is a magnificent spectacle but even its riders occasionally get knocked flying by press and team cars.

I used to time trial on the A34 until a few fatalities brought an end to it and I gave up Triathlon for the same reason. Unless you live in the middle of nowhere then riding on the road is no longer safe.

 

Only ever once been bumped on shoulder by overtaking transit type, over brow of hill

Thankfully.

I dont think ill be doing open road triathlons at all

 

Agreed; I'm running and swimming more but cycling far less than I was. Apart from the upside of not being dead, I'm also spending FAR less on constantly sorting worn out bike kit - it got ridiculous for a while!

I do enjoy a good MTB ride but mostly at our two local trail centres.

 

In the end I took the whole day off - brilliant day........ managed to acquire a few freebies from the Caravan run before the race arrived........ was like a party atmosphere, even had British motorbike cops stopping and allowing people to take selfies with them..... the French ones wouldn't (no surprise there then)...... so glad I did this.............. even saw myself on the telly in the highlights on Eurosport.... won't be deleting that one off the V+ Box !

 

Looking forward to watching tomorrow,

Sounds brutal

 

Frome down once all ready!

 

Oh dear that's it,

Maybe they should have take wiggens as well

 

His second fall today, third fall in this tour. Too many injuries before he got to the cobbles! ; (

Real shame

Contador will be favourite to take tour now.

 

Contador was always favourite.

 

Or Nibali

 

From recent clashes, Contador has had the measure of Nibali in the mountains

 

Or Valverde

Like to see Rui Costa take stage, like last year

 

Froome out

 

Nibali could end 2 mins clear here.



Even without any sprinters help

 

2.40

 

Well the cobbles has smashed Contador drive. Nibali has a significant lead. Hopefully Astana can maintain the lead. Contador will definitely fight back on the mountains and time trials

 

Should make more interesting race I reckon

Last thing wanted was another sky demoination

 

Sorry for Frome, but I suppose that's why astana , saxo , movistar were piling on the speed half hour before the cobble

Anybody could have come off though

 

What was the thinking behind the cobbles stage? Anyone who has ridden a bike over these things know they are very uncomfortable and dangerous too.

Bradley Wiggins must be laughing like a drain

 

They've all practiced on them though, and it's been a part of the tour intermittently for the last hundred years

I think sky / frome pushed too hard . Trying to limit any losses at all cost them the tour

 

The classics races generally have cobbled sections. They add another element to racing, with physical and mechanical attrition. There aren't many big hills northern france.

Why would Wiggins be laughing, he will feel sorry for Froome as Froome felt bad when Wiggins crashed out of the Giro. Rather petty of you to suggest that other pro riders take delight in someone else misfortune.

 

Nothing petty about it - Wiggins was rejected for Froome, and if he isn't getting some satisfaction from this then he isn't human

 

Sky choosing Froome or Wiggins was never a consideration. Sky decided that Wiggins patchy results warranted him being dropped in favour of another domestique, not Froome. Wiggins is still a sky rider, why would he want his team to do badly?