Can you believe it's already Stage SIX tomorrow?? Five stages are in the books already....we are a quarter of the way thru! I think it's been a pretty fun race so far...and yes, there's been some carnage, but not as much as I seem to remember in recent years (though wait for Stage 9...I think that could be UGLY!)
I had picked Sagan to win today (along w/ Paul)....but boy, it was CLOSE! I figured he'd be able to stay up near the front unless they were going all out, which I didn't really see happening this early in the race (but you never know). Looking at my team for the day (fantasy) I didn't have Valverde active...he was on the bench! WTH?? I'd swear that sometimes I set up my team and then go back later and it's different...I totally expected him to be in the mix today (especially if it was faster and Sagan was dropped), and I missed out on like 75 points! Man, I really have to be careful and look over my picks better.
So, what else...I haven't heard yet but I assume Lawson will live to ride another day...he was back in the Grupetto, and he certainly won't be slower than Cav today (I think)...Cav is typically the driver of the AutoBus and rules w/ an iron fist back there (like Robbie McEwen used to do). I'd think Lawson would sit back there and enjoy the spin (if he IS able to enjoy being on the bike at this time)...hopefully he's way more healed when they hit the cobbles...can you imagine having a cracked scapula and riding COBBLES?? I'm afraid for him on that day...getting better a bit day by day but he won't be THAT much better in 4 more days. THAT will be his test of fire....if he can finish in the time cut there he's a real iron man for sure!
One thing new this year (and I think Susie didn't you meniton this in years past?)...the Picture in Picture...not during the race but at least during the commercials. No audio tho...but still I've noticed sometimes I'll let my video roll (if I"m doing something and not totally paying attention) thru the commercials and can still see if something important happens. Nice. NOW if they'd just get the PIP going during the race...keeping a feed up on what's important while they go to whatever they are talking about.
Hmm...what else...no real surprise that Van Avarmaet is holding the yellow...I thought he'd be able to do it (doesn't need to win, just stay near the front and finish w/ the group mostly). He picked up 2 seconds in that time bonus sprint near the finish, that was sweet!
As to the Soccer (footbal) match, I'm rooting for Croatia...(my neighbors are from there, and they are really great people)...however I've spent some time in the UK and would be quite fine if they win too...so I can't lose that match! (if this were Rugby world teams I'd be rooting for Wales, but England always has an AMAZING team!)
OK...tomorrow is Thursday. Coming up FAST on the weekend. This week is zooming by (as "Tour Time" always does). Between work, trying to slip in rides, and home life, something has to give...and it's usually SLEEP! So far so good tho....I'm getting to bed almost early tonight...sweet! But just like riding in le Tour, WATCHING it is also a game of attrition...and by the last week I'll be hurting for sure. That's when either I start FF'ing thru stages, OR start skipping stuff like bike rides. It seems I always have a "comeback" after the Tour is over....when I've lost quite a bit of hard-earned winter/spring fitness and fight hard to get it back. Seems like I"m already there...but this year it's mostly travel related....I've been away four times already this year for work! Almost 2 months of total travel in just 6 months...that hurts. But hey...it's life.
Gotta scoot...tomorrow is another big day!
Cheers!
Wednesday, July 11, 2018
Sunday, July 8, 2018
It's TOUR TIME!
Yes, it's THAT time of year again...HOORAY! (that coincidentally it's deep into summer and HEAT, not so much hooray).
Stage 1 and 2 are in the history books. Gosh...so much to talk about. First...did everybody make your NBC Sports fantasy team? I did...and then after watching Stage 1 I made 2 changes: first I picked Fernando Gavria as one of my sprinters (I knew I should have picked him at the start but didn't for some odd reason). Second, I HAD selected Cav, and I dropped him for Gavria. Why you ask?
Well...during the stage they showed an interview and he STILL blames Sagan for his crash last year! Hell Bells man...even the UCI (arguably one of the most screwed up organizations I know of ) admits they made a mistake DQ'ing him last year, that it was just part of racing and not intentional. Take some responsibility for your own actions and grow up Cav! Then on Todays stage (2) they showed a clip from a number of years ago when it was Cav and another sprinter who was trying to edge past Cav on the wall, and when he was squeezed out Cav said that no sprinter should ever try to pass along the wall, that it's irresponsible and his own fault whatever happens. Isn't that interesting. But when HE does it, it's not his fault, it's the other guys. Yep...lost my respect for Cav yesterday...last year during the heat of the moment I can forgive that...but after all this time, no. I WAS hoping he'd get some more wins this year and challenge for the all time record...but now, not so much. He's a whiner, pure and simple. Nothing is ever his fault. Not a fan of that attitude at all. I mean, hey, even Froome (who was driven off the edge of the road yesterday close to the end of the stage, costing him over a minute on some of his key rivals in Stage ONE of all places) didn't throw ANY blame out whatsoever, even tho he did nothing wrong that I could see. Watching that video taken from one of the motorbikes behind him, he came w/in inches of hitting one of those immovable white poles as he shot off the road on that corner! Goodness gracious....THAT would have been the end of his Tour for sure and who knows how hurt he'd be! It was just a miracle he missed it, as it happened so fast.
And so... moving on...Gavria and Sagan 1/2 yesterday in a wide open bunch sprint. Wow! I think Sagan will light up this years Tour in so many ways! And that Gavria is built much like Sagan...not necessarily a pure sprinter but able to climb too...those 2 guys will really be something to watch as they battle for the overall Green jersey this year! And hey...let's talk about Lawson Craddock! Not a sport for sissies, that's for sure! That he finished yesterday AND today, way to go! I'm a fan for sure!
Today (stage 2) was more carnage and excitement as expected. Crashes, yep. Even w/ less riders, the narrow roads and fighting for position take their toll once again. A few crashes resulting in riders dropping out....Luis Leon Sanchez comes to mind, which was a huge blow for his team. Then the crash close to the finish, splitting off some of the main sprinters (including Gavria) from the final run. How Sagan made it by that is beyond me...Gavria was right on his wheel last I had seen...and then he's on the ground and Sagan is free and clear somehow! And poor Kittel wearing the green w/ a flat lost his chance even before the crash...that's just bad luck there. Also early in the stage they showed Sagan NOT wearing the green...and they explained the World Champ has a choice, and he chose to wear his Rainbow Stripes (thus #3 Kittel wore it)...GOOD DECISION! Pretty amazing that the last time a stage finished in that city it was the world champ who won it (in 1938 I think they said?)....what are the odds of the CURRENT World Champ winning again?? AMAZING!! (and boy was it close at the end too!)
So tomorrow is the TTT...always a great event for SOME of the GC guys, and a complete disaster for others. Speaking of disaster for GC guys...how about Quintana in Stage 1? Ran over a curb or something he said, wrecked both wheels...lost what, 1:25 overall? I think that spells the end of HIS GC chance...if he had any chance to make up time in the TT's I say he has a shot still, but he will lose MORE in the TT's...and w/ Landa on his squad AND Valverde, I think his chance once again evaporated in a moment. I"m rooting (and had picked in my original fantasy team) Landa to podium. He was AMAZING last year on Sky, leading the way for Froome in the mountains, AND he can TT w/ the best of them! I think he's a real threat to podium.
Loved seeing Sylvian on the front the whole way today, even after the other 2 guys chickened out and pulled back into the peleton WAY too early...(that's NOT how you make a name for yourself young guys!) Riding a record 18th Tour, and in front almost the entire way, almost all of it solo. That will be remembered, and is a nice way to end it IF this is indeed his final tour.
What else...sheesh, at the moment I can't think of anything, even tho there's a TON to talk about!
I'll add more or put it in the comments when I think of it.
Happy Tour everybody!
Game ON!
Stage 1 and 2 are in the history books. Gosh...so much to talk about. First...did everybody make your NBC Sports fantasy team? I did...and then after watching Stage 1 I made 2 changes: first I picked Fernando Gavria as one of my sprinters (I knew I should have picked him at the start but didn't for some odd reason). Second, I HAD selected Cav, and I dropped him for Gavria. Why you ask?
Well...during the stage they showed an interview and he STILL blames Sagan for his crash last year! Hell Bells man...even the UCI (arguably one of the most screwed up organizations I know of ) admits they made a mistake DQ'ing him last year, that it was just part of racing and not intentional. Take some responsibility for your own actions and grow up Cav! Then on Todays stage (2) they showed a clip from a number of years ago when it was Cav and another sprinter who was trying to edge past Cav on the wall, and when he was squeezed out Cav said that no sprinter should ever try to pass along the wall, that it's irresponsible and his own fault whatever happens. Isn't that interesting. But when HE does it, it's not his fault, it's the other guys. Yep...lost my respect for Cav yesterday...last year during the heat of the moment I can forgive that...but after all this time, no. I WAS hoping he'd get some more wins this year and challenge for the all time record...but now, not so much. He's a whiner, pure and simple. Nothing is ever his fault. Not a fan of that attitude at all. I mean, hey, even Froome (who was driven off the edge of the road yesterday close to the end of the stage, costing him over a minute on some of his key rivals in Stage ONE of all places) didn't throw ANY blame out whatsoever, even tho he did nothing wrong that I could see. Watching that video taken from one of the motorbikes behind him, he came w/in inches of hitting one of those immovable white poles as he shot off the road on that corner! Goodness gracious....THAT would have been the end of his Tour for sure and who knows how hurt he'd be! It was just a miracle he missed it, as it happened so fast.
And so... moving on...Gavria and Sagan 1/2 yesterday in a wide open bunch sprint. Wow! I think Sagan will light up this years Tour in so many ways! And that Gavria is built much like Sagan...not necessarily a pure sprinter but able to climb too...those 2 guys will really be something to watch as they battle for the overall Green jersey this year! And hey...let's talk about Lawson Craddock! Not a sport for sissies, that's for sure! That he finished yesterday AND today, way to go! I'm a fan for sure!
Today (stage 2) was more carnage and excitement as expected. Crashes, yep. Even w/ less riders, the narrow roads and fighting for position take their toll once again. A few crashes resulting in riders dropping out....Luis Leon Sanchez comes to mind, which was a huge blow for his team. Then the crash close to the finish, splitting off some of the main sprinters (including Gavria) from the final run. How Sagan made it by that is beyond me...Gavria was right on his wheel last I had seen...and then he's on the ground and Sagan is free and clear somehow! And poor Kittel wearing the green w/ a flat lost his chance even before the crash...that's just bad luck there. Also early in the stage they showed Sagan NOT wearing the green...and they explained the World Champ has a choice, and he chose to wear his Rainbow Stripes (thus #3 Kittel wore it)...GOOD DECISION! Pretty amazing that the last time a stage finished in that city it was the world champ who won it (in 1938 I think they said?)....what are the odds of the CURRENT World Champ winning again?? AMAZING!! (and boy was it close at the end too!)
So tomorrow is the TTT...always a great event for SOME of the GC guys, and a complete disaster for others. Speaking of disaster for GC guys...how about Quintana in Stage 1? Ran over a curb or something he said, wrecked both wheels...lost what, 1:25 overall? I think that spells the end of HIS GC chance...if he had any chance to make up time in the TT's I say he has a shot still, but he will lose MORE in the TT's...and w/ Landa on his squad AND Valverde, I think his chance once again evaporated in a moment. I"m rooting (and had picked in my original fantasy team) Landa to podium. He was AMAZING last year on Sky, leading the way for Froome in the mountains, AND he can TT w/ the best of them! I think he's a real threat to podium.
Loved seeing Sylvian on the front the whole way today, even after the other 2 guys chickened out and pulled back into the peleton WAY too early...(that's NOT how you make a name for yourself young guys!) Riding a record 18th Tour, and in front almost the entire way, almost all of it solo. That will be remembered, and is a nice way to end it IF this is indeed his final tour.
What else...sheesh, at the moment I can't think of anything, even tho there's a TON to talk about!
I'll add more or put it in the comments when I think of it.
Happy Tour everybody!
Game ON!
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