Off Topic Le Grand Depart

Wiggins will never ride le tour again.

The 34-year-old, who won a silver medal in the team pursuit, claimed that road racing is "cut-throat" with "no kind of loyalties".

"I've kind of done the road now. I've bled it dry," he told BBC Sport. "The track feels more like a family and a closer-knit group of people."

 

Well just proves that he could never get on with Froome, so his future at SKY was likely to be bleak anyhow, so not really a surprise.

 

Lawd Almighty! Nibali 2nd in the Time Trial!

 

Tres fantastique.

 

Result
1 Tony Martin (Ger) Omega Pharma-Quick Step 1:06:21
2 Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Team Giant-Shimano 0:01:39
3 Jan Barta (Cze) Team Netapp-Endura 0:01:47
4 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana Pro Team 0:01:58
5 Leopold Konig (Cze) Team Netapp-Endura 0:02:02
6 Tejay Van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team 0:02:08
7 Jean-Christophe Péraud (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:02:27
8 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) IAM Cycling 0:02:36
9 Markel Irizar Arranburu (Spa) Trek Factory Racing 0:02:39
10 Daniel Oss (Ita) BMC Racing Team 0:02:58


General classification after stage 20
Result
1 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana Pro Team 86:37:52
2 Jean-Christophe Péraud (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:07:52
3 Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ.fr 0:08:24
4 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar Team 0:09:55
5 Tejay Van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team 0:11:44
6 Romain Bardet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:11:46
7 Leopold Konig (Cze) Team Netapp-Endura 0:14:41
8 Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) Trek Factory Racing 0:18:12
9 Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling 0:18:20
10 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling 0:21:24

 

I was wrong! The race made it look as if he was 2nd, but apparently only 4th.

 

One for Charlie1 here?

Today - the final day - features La Course, a women's race and it's expected to feature (and, no doubt, be won by) Marianne Vos, who is "arguably the best all-round cyclist on the planet at the moment".

 

Statistically, the top woman in any sport are at least 10% slower than their male equivalents. Generally, women's cycling races are shorter.

 

That may well be true, Dutch. But how many male riders are the best on the track and the road (and, indeed, off-road)?

[From Wiki]:
After winning a junior European and world championship in road racing, she continued in senior cycling by becoming world champion in cyclo-cross and road racing at the age of 19. Vos added track racing world championships when she won the points race in 2008 and the scratch race in 2011. In the 2008 Summer Olympics, she won the gold medal in the points race; in the 2012 Summer Olympics, gold in the women's road race. She is a 3 times World Road Race Champion – in 2006, 2012 and 2013 – and 7 times World Cyclocross Champion – in 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

 

Some drift between different disciplines, but several would challenge Vos's times in her events.

 

She is indeed arguably the best all round, as Stan says how many of either sex can great on the road (and off) and the track. They usually switch between one or t'other. But as Shirl says some would challenge her times, I presume he means some women would challenge? Certainly Mears would challenge on the track as would Trott and a few of the other British girls. Was it Vos who has some kind of doping hoo-haa pre London 2012? I seem to recall some not being happy she was taking part in the road race. Womens cycling has come along way in a short space of time but is still playing catch up with the men especially on the road. The road racing especially must be harder for women to get into as it requires many weeks/months away from their children (if they have them).

 

.....and she won La Course.

 

She did indeed Stan.

A good read...

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/jul/26/women-la-course-tour-de-france-cycling

BTW I've been using rice milk and I really like it. Thanks Doc.

 

Rice Dream? They do it with extra calcium, too.....

 

Yes rice dream. Might have to look at using the one with extra calcium as they are changing my meds soon to ones that have an effect on my bone density. Also just seen that rice dream do a vanilla flavoured one. I am so getting that. It's like a whole new world Stan.

 

As you've been discussing the time trial,you might be interested to know it's the National Junior 25 mile tt on Saturday. Hot tip- get on a certain Cheshire -based Hull City AFC supporting rider,son of Cheshirecat. Yes i know,my first post-i've been waiting for something interesting to post! Also the highest ever bbar average at the moment(for thos who know the sport)

 

Good luck to him, I love cycling myself, so hope he does well.

 

Good luck to the lad. Least you've got to post again to let us know if he wins.

 

Thanks John and Chazz. He's only been at it less than 2 years, so it's been a rapid rise,no family history of cycling. At the risk of sounding a bit boastful,he's reckoned to have done one of,if not the fastest 50 by a junior.#prouddad

 

Hope your lad carries on doing well CC. How old is he?