The sport comes first. All else is secondary, and may have to be dealt with, but the riders (and tactics) are of primary importance.
Today's 11th stage favours another sprint finish, even though a breakaway is always possible. Should the stage end in a sprint, watch out for the 'grudge' factor in the battle between rivals Cavendish and Greipel, after Greipel narrowly won yesterday's stage.
Anyone know where to find the exact route of the Tour of Britain? (I've blagged two Press passes, for myself and a pro photographer mate)....
I assume you're only interested in the Norfolk stage? On that basis, there's a vagueish map here or this (which has finally loaded) and shows no more detail.
Norfolk, yes! All I've been able to find (so far) is a schematic map; I've now sussed out the timetable, so I know what villages and thus, probably, the actual roads. The thing is, to work out how to take pics and then get ahead of the race for more pics (if poss.), but at least to be at the finish (in the Press area) when they arrive. The worry is to be cut off by the rolling road closures - but with the exact route, I can work out what roads/lanes to use to get ahead and avoid being shut out
Today the Tour is in the Pyrenees. Three riders to watch; three men who all have a deficit to make up: Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) is at 2'26" behind Thomas Voeckler (Europcar), the Yellow Jersey. Andy Schleck (Leopard-Trek) is at 2'37". Further adrift is Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank) at 4'07". Contador has been suffering from an injured knee, but now claims it is a lot better. Any one of these three men has a good chance of winning this Tour and, with three days in the Pyrenees, expect to see them start to make an impression. Todays stage - Cugnaux to Luz-Ardiden - has a Category 1 climb (1538m), and two 'Haute Categoire' climbs - the first of 2115m - and the second of these being to the finish line on Luz-Ardiden (1715m).
....and watch for Sammy Sanchez (Euskaltel), who's on his home ground. Keep the sound turned up for the Basque bands along the route!!
Cant be a**ed to post on the football threads as its soooo boring out of season........., but am laid up with a broken knee cap and didn't know what I was going to do after the tennis finished. I am now seriously addicted to the Tour! These guys are something else.
Looking wide open this year. Much tougher mountian stages yet to come, so hard to judge from today. People may be playing games but i'm still not convinced by Contador.
Today: 153km Pau to Lourdes. Includes the 1709m Hors Categoire Col d'Aubisque. 1 x Cat 3; 1 x Cat 4. Same guys as yesterday: Cadel Evans, Schleck bros., Contador, Sammy Sanchez.
Seems the Eurosport links have been shut down, so here's one that works (it's Flemish!) http://sports-livez.com/channel/ch-5.php
