2012 Tour de France *spoilers*

[Bundy]

2012 Tour de France

This is the event that I thoroughly enjoy every year…run between June 30 and July 22 this year…it was memorable for more than just Cadel’s win last year as I was also in London at the time when he won…still remember that sunny Saturday afternoon when I trudged into a London pub and preceded to celebrate there for the next two days…haha…good times

This year they are saying and I agree that it is really a race in two between Cadel Evans and Brit Bradley Wiggins. Usual favourite Contador is out while Andy Schleck is also out with injury and his brother Frank just isn’t the same rider without his brother there...I guess one wildcard would be Robert Gesink from Rabobank…he is a pretty decent climber.

After years and years of various people trying and wanting this to happen, we finally have an Aussie team to cheer on called Orica Greenedge and whilst they won’t really be in it for overall honours, they are a good chance for a few stage wins.

Here are the teams (and the riders I’ve highlighted) who will be the ones to watch:

BMC Racing

Rider Nationality Team Age

Cadel Evans
Australia
BMC Racing Team
35
Marcus Burghardt
Germany
BMC Racing Team
29
Steve Cummings
United Kingdom
BMC Racing Team
31
Philippe Gilbert
Belgium
BMC Racing Team
29
George Hincapie
United States
BMC Racing Team
39
Amaël Moinard
France
BMC Racing Team
30
Manuel Quinziato
Italy
BMC Racing Team
32
Michael Schär
Switzerland
BMC Racing Team
25
Tejay van Garderen
United States
BMC Racing Team
23*

Team Sky

Rider Nationality Team Age

Kanstantsin Sivtsov
Belarus
Team Sky
29
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Norway
Team Sky
25*
Bradley Wiggins
United Kingdom
Team Sky
32
Bernhard Eisel
Austria
Team Sky
31
Christian Knees
Germany
Team Sky
31
Chris Froome
United Kingdom
Team Sky
27
Michael Rogers
Australia
Team Sky
32
Mark Cavendish
United Kingdom
Team Sky
27
Richie Porte
Australia
Team Sky
27

Liquigas-Cannondale

Federico Canuti
Italy
Liquigas-Cannondale
26
Ivan Basso
Italy
Liquigas-Cannondale
34
Alessandro Vanotti
Italy
Liquigas-Cannondale
31
Daniel Oss
Italy
Liquigas-Cannondale
26
Peter Sagan
Slovakia
Liquigas-Cannondale
23*
Kristjan Koren
Slovenia
Liquigas-Cannondale
25
Maciej Paterski
Poland
Liquigas-Cannondale
25
Sylwester Szmyd
Poland
Liquigas-Cannondale
35
Vincenzo Nibali
Italy
Liquigas-Cannondale
27

Astana

Janez Brajkoviè
Slovenia
Astana
28
Fredrik Kessiakoff
Sweden
Astana
32
Dmitry Fofonov
Kazakhstan
Astana
35
Alexander Vinokourov
Kazakhstan
Astana
38
Andriy Hryvko
Ukraine
Astana
28
Borut Božiè
Slovenia
Astana
31
Andrey Kashechkin
Kazakhstan
Astana
32
Robert Kišerlovski
Croatia
Astana
25
Valentin Iglinsky
Kazakhstan
Astana
28

Omege Pharma-Quick Step

Kevin De Weert
Belgium
Omega Pharma-Quick Step
30
Jérôme Pineau
France
Omega Pharma-Quick Step
32
Dries Devenyns
Belgium
Omega Pharma-Quick Step
28
Bert Grabsch
Germany
Omega Pharma-Quick Step
37
Peter Velits
Slovakia
Omega Pharma-Quick Step
27
Levi Leipheimer
United States
Omega Pharma-Quick Step
38
Sylvain Chavanel
France
Omega Pharma-Quick Step
33
Stijn Vandenbergh
Belgium
Omega Pharma-Quick Step
28
Tony Martin
Germany
Omega Pharma-Quick Step
27


Movistar Team
Juan José Cobo
Spain
Movistar Team
32
José Joaquín Rojas
Spain
Movistar Team
28
Iván Gutiérrez
Spain
Movistar Team
33
Alejandro Valverde
Spain
Movistar Team
33
David Arroyo
Spain
Movistar Team
32
Rui Costa
Portugal
Movistar Team
25
Rubén Plaza
Spain
Movistar Team
33
Vladimir Karpets
Russia
Movistar Team
31
Vasil Kiryienka
Belarus
Movistar Team
31

RadioShack-Nissan-Trek
Jens Voigt
Germany
RadioShack-Nissan-Trek
40
Fränk Schleck
Luxembourg
RadioShack-Nissan-Trek
32
Fabian Cancellara
Switzerland
RadioShack-Nissan-Trek
31
Haimar Zubeldia
Spain
RadioShack-Nissan-Trek
35
Andreas Klöden
Germany
RadioShack-Nissan-Trek
37
Chris Horner
United States
RadioShack-Nissan-Trek
40
Maxime Monfort
Belgium
RadioShack-Nissan-Trek
29
Tony Gallopin
France
RadioShack-Nissan-Trek
24*
Yaroslav Popovych
Ukraine
RadioShack-Nissan-Trek
32

5 of the most not-to-be-missed stages [/u]

Stage 7 - Tomblaine - La Planche des Belles Filles 199km

The first of the mountain stages...the first chance to see who really has what it takes to be champion !



www.cyclingnews.com/tour-de-france/stage-7

Stage 10: Mâcon - Bellegarde-sur-Valserine 194km

First mountain stage after the first rest day...it will be tough to get those bodies going again !



www.cyclingnews.com/tour-de-france/stage-10

Stage 11 - Albertville – La Toussuire-Les Sybelles

May be a short one but boy is it a killer !



www.cyclingnews.com/tour-de-france/stage-11

And stage 18 and 19...but I can’t put the stage details up there as cyclingnews have none! ;D

Stage 18 is really the penultimate stage and the last big mountain stage where we would definitely get a show down between the 2 or 3 riders that are competing for overall GC and stage 19; even though if you saw the stage details you wouldn’t think much of it as it looked relatively flat, it is the time trial where it could provide the ultimate test for Cadel Evans as his greatest Bradley Wiggins is arguably one of the best at it.

Go Cadel!!

[crikey]

Looking forward to it, My tip is an epic battle between Wiggins and Cadel, Last year Wiggins would have really given it a shake had he not injuried himself.

Go Cadel

[HDT05]

Can't wait!

[crikey]

Looking forward to tonights start to the Tour, Plenty of late nights for the next 3 weeks, Cmon Cadel.

[Bundy]

Yep the individual time trial prologue is on tonight which kicks everything off - course is only 6.4 km long and relatively flat...so the time differences between the riders won't be all that much...but I still expect Wiggins to draw the first blood aginst Cadel.

[crikey]

Jun 30, 2012 19:42:04 GMT 10 Bundy said:

Yep the individual time trial prologue is on tonight which kicks everything off - course is only 6.4 km long and relatively flat...so the time differences between the riders won't be all that much...but I still expect Wiggins to draw the first blood aginst Cadel.

Spot on so far Bundy, Now the race starts.

[Bundy]

Jul 1, 2012 14:41:57 GMT 10 crikey said:

Jun 30, 2012 19:42:04 GMT 10 Bundy said:

Yep the individual time trial prologue is on tonight which kicks everything off - course is only 6.4 km long and relatively flat...so the time differences between the riders won't be all that much...but I still expect Wiggins to draw the first blood aginst Cadel.

Spot on so far Bundy, Now the race starts.

Cadel is going to have to attack Wiggins in the mountains because Wiggins clearly has the edge in ITT. All up there is 100km of ITT which will be just as crucial and telling as the mountain stages...

[crikey]

Yep it will all come down to the mountain stages, Wiggins in the past has been good on the low to medium climbs, But not as good on the steeper climbs, If that stays the same Cadel will need to make the time back there, As im sure he is banking on aswell.

[Bundy]

It was an intriguing minor hill climb finish to end last night's stage where the yellow jersey holder Fabulous Cancellara threatened to take back to back stage wins after his win in the individual time trial prologue the day before but it was the indellible Peter Sagan who with that win has made it 14 stage wins this year. And this one was perhaps his best.

The overall remains the same with Wiggins holding a 10 second lead over Cadel

www.cyclingnews.com/tour-de-france/stage-1/results

---

Tonight's stage is one entirely for the sprinters

www.cyclingnews.com/tour-de-france/stage-2

[crikey]

No real suprises last night, Cav did well considering he didn't get is usual amount of help at the end.

[Bundy]

Jul 3, 2012 17:37:34 GMT 10 crikey said:

No real suprises last night, Cav did well considering he didn't get is usual amount of help at the end.

Have to confess I didn't watch it as I could see it as being an uneventful race

[crikey]

Jul 3, 2012 18:15:47 GMT 10 Bundy said:

Jul 3, 2012 17:37:34 GMT 10 crikey said:

No real suprises last night, Cav did well considering he didn't get is usual amount of help at the end.

Have to confess I didn't watch it as I could see it as being an uneventful race

Only watched the last 30 mins, For the same reason as you said, Its normal for stages like that to be a bit boring. Just keep an eye on it to make sure Cadel makes it through without any dramas.

[Bundy]

Jul 3, 2012 19:16:07 GMT 10 crikey said:

Jul 3, 2012 18:15:47 GMT 10 Bundy said:

Have to confess I didn't watch it as I could see it as being an uneventful race

Only watched the last 30 mins, For the same reason as you said, Its normal for stages like that to be a bit boring. Just keep an eye on it to make sure Cadel makes it through without any dramas.

Yeah if I don't stay up tonight, I'll just record it and watch the last 20 mins...

Aussie Matty Goss is doing well for the green jersey's points if he can get over the mountains he is a chance against Cavendish...

[crikey]

Two crashes in the last two stages within the last 3 kms, Not much happening other than that, But Wiggins losing one of his helpers so early may have an impact later on, Cav looked pretty banged up in his crash last night, But heard he only got a few stiches and should be good to continue.

[Bundy]

Jul 5, 2012 10:41:20 GMT 10 crikey said:

Two crashes in the last two stages within the last 3 kms, Not much happening other than that, But Wiggins losing one of his helpers so early may have an impact later on, Cav looked pretty banged up in his crash last night, But heard he only got a few stiches and should be good to continue.

I think it was more a sook than any real pain from an injury sustained

Just glad Cadel avoided all that drama...shame Matty Goss couldn't come away with the honours without having Cavendish there to compete against at the end but he just faded to the juggernaut that was Lotto's organised and polished sprint lead-out for griepel to go on and win it.

[crikey]

Jul 5, 2012 11:16:44 GMT 10 Bundy said:

Jul 5, 2012 10:41:20 GMT 10 crikey said:

Two crashes in the last two stages within the last 3 kms, Not much happening other than that, But Wiggins losing one of his helpers so early may have an impact later on, Cav looked pretty banged up in his crash last night, But heard he only got a few stiches and should be good to continue.

I think it was more a sook than any real pain from an injury sustained

Just glad Cadel avoided all that drama...shame Matty Goss couldn't come away with the honours without having Cavendish there to compete against at the end but he just faded to the juggernaut that was Lotto's organised and polished sprint lead-out for griepel to go on and win it.

Yep the more Cadel misses the better.

Cav did look very very angry on his ride back in to the finish, But as you say it was probably more a sook, He does have lots of them.

Goss had a golden chance last night with Cav out, But as you said the set up of Lotto was just to great.

[Bundy]

Just watched the end of yesterday's race now and yet again Griepel wins...Matty Goss tried hard and went for it from about 100 metres out...probably too early but Griepel is certainly sprinting well and is a real contender for the green jersey.

Another flat stage tonight before it starts to go up-hill literally tomorrow night...

[HDT05]

I haven't been watching that much, but I'm glad you guys have! Haha

Thanks for the updates btw...I watched a little again last night, but fell asleep!

[Bundy]

Jul 6, 2012 22:16:07 GMT 10 HDT05 said:

I haven't been watching that much, but I'm glad you guys have! Haha

Thanks for the updates btw...I watched a little again last night, but fell asleep!

Not surprised the most boring part of the tour is the sprinting stages as the last 30 mins is the most exciting...the mountain stages should keep you awake

[crikey]

If your not out Saturday night HDT, that might be a better stage to watch.

Inbetween Stoner out qualifying Lorenzo and Webber out Qualifying Alonso