I’m in the middle of France and completely missed watching the Tour today. I’m ashamed of myself. I didn’t even catch the highlights outside of what I’m posting. I feel more defeated than Cavendish would today.
It’s not all bad though. I left the comfort of the Chalet in Champéry, Switzerland (thank you Mark, Louise and Pat!) and have now arrived to Chamonix, France at the base of Mount Blanc. Needless to say it’s an absolutely stunning area. After overdosing on Swiss cheese and chocolate throughout the past week I’m itching for a good long road ride. By the looks of it there’s no shortage of hills to be conquered around Chamonix.
If anyone is wondering, the batch of stages that I’ll see in person will be 8, 9 & 10. After that we’ll head over to a village in the Pyrenees to watch stages 13, 15 & 16 and race L’Etape du Tour (thank you to BMC for getting me an entry). Speaking of L’Etape du Tour, here’s a little tip for you: The ASO insists that you get a signed medical certificate that states you’re healthy enough to smash out 3 mountain passes over 181kms. There’s no way around it. Even pro riders who do this race need to get a medical certificate. I spent nearly a day trying to find a doctor who would sign this for me. In the end I went to an Emergency room to get this done and it cost me $360 CHF (nearly $400 AUD). A long story, but I’m happy to report that I’m fit, healthy and now broke.
My apologies but I’m gonna have to keep this one short today. I’m balancing on a chair holding my laptop up high near the window to receive an inadequate wifi connection from across the street. Time to get a 3G USB modem. As usual, some Sirotti photos and the daily TdF trivia questions are below. Bon Soir!
TdF Quiz
Yesterday’s accessory prize pack worth $250 (gloves, armwarmers, etc) was brought to you by Bike Force Docklands. Congratulations to Michael_in_Sydney for winning. Please get in touch with me and provide your shipping details and sizing preferences (I’ll provide more details over email). (cyclingtips at gmail dot com)
Yesterday’s answers:
1. In the first Tour De France in 1903, what happened to the first four riders across the line?
A.They were all disqualified for catching the train.
B. They were all attacked at various times during the race by rival fans.
C. All of the above
c = a & b are both correct. To quote Wikipedia, “Such was the passion that the first Tour created in spectators and riders that Desgrange said the second would be the last. Cheating was rife and riders were beaten up by rival fans as they neared the top of the col de la République, sometimes called the col du Grand Bois, outside St-Étienne”.
2. In 1914, Australians Don Kirkham and Iddo ‘Snowy’Munro first rode the Tour de France. (The only reason I know the answer to this questions is because couple years ago I won the “Snowy Munro” Memorial Race)
3. True – in the early years of the TDF the ‘Lanterne rouge’ (named after the slowest overall rider at the time in Le Tour) was actually required to carry a red lantern on the back of his saddle.
Today’s Quiz
Thanks to our trivia master, Sam
Today’s prize for answering the trivia questions correctly or giving me some insight into what happened in today’s stage is one free entry to Ride The Worlds Melbourne. On September 5, you’ll get to celebrate the 2010 UCI World Road Championships (this is a recreational family ride, not a race).
1. Phil Anderson first wore the TDF yellow jersey in 1981. How many days did he wear it in 1982?
A. One.
B. Five.
C. Nine.
2. What is the ‘voiture balai’?
A. The train of sponsors cars etc. coming through before the peleton.
B. The broom wagon (sag wagon).
C. The team cars with Directeur Sportif’s (also known as ‘Les Vache qui rit’).
3. Lance Armstrong came back from cancer and the removal of a testicle to win the Tour De France 7 times in a row. Alberto Contador came back from a brain haemorrhage in 2004 to win in 2007 and 2009. After winning in 1986, what happened to Greg Lemond in 1987 that he came back from to win two more TDF’s?
A. He was hospitalised with a boil and nasty rash on his bottom.
B. He had a serious car crash and broke his leg in four places.
C. He was shot by his brother in law and had 31 shotgun pellets removed.
{ 52 comments }
1, One in 1982, and I think 9 in 1983
2, Broom wagon
3, C – Moose Hunt'n!
Oops typo on my answer for Ando, 1 day in 1981 and 9 for 1982, since 1983 wasn't an option it would be hard for me to select that….
BTW, a couple photos sent to me of Gerro before his stage 3 crash. Outch!
http://www.cyclingtipsblog.com/wp-content/uploa...
http://www.cyclingtipsblog.com/wp-content/uploa...
AAC
… Oh Cavendish is racing.
GREAT news Heinrich!! ….
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/haussler-renoun...
A
A
C
And Haussler is dropping his German citizenship to race for Australia!
It's tempting to not pay too much attention to the flat “sprinter's” stages, but…
What a beautifully timed sprint by Petacchi! He really hit Cav at speed and held the power right to the line. A great display of sprinting strength and instinct. By comparison Cavendish looked slow, although I think he pretty much gave up once he saw how fast Petacchi went past him. Poor Renshaw got stuck on the front for a long time. Great to watch though.
C, B, C
A A and C.
Anyone else happy to see Cavendish out of the stage wins at this stage?
Ouch! Those images of Gerro's gravel rash bring back some painful memories!!
Great news about Heinrich. Hopefully the rest of his season remains trouble free and he can finish it off with a big iwn in the worlds…
turkey huntin'….ironic?
5 broom shotgun
(Sounds like some wedding ceremony from the deep south …)
1 = A 9 days ( plus a win on stage 2)
2 = B – I have been a one way passenger of the broom wagon at least twice!
3 = C – hunting is also Thor's favorite pass-time…. can you imagine that guy with a gun, scary stuff
Wade – any change of a few wallpaper size Sirotti pics?
Cav still had enough time to block out Thor though… reckon he swung 4-5 mt to the left (not in violently/dangerous way – gradually)
I guess we should remember a few years back on Milram where they had the train right and Petacchi was the fastest in the world.
Answers
C, B, C.
but I believe that Greg Lemond was shot in the buttocks with a shotgun in an ill advised attempt to remove saddle sores.
Oh and CT, just a correction, Wikipedia actually says that it was the second tour that they were beaten up….
And what about Robbie?! Just amazing; bugger all team help, but he's there in every stage. Like I said “what about Robbie?” (I'm a Robbie fan)
1. A
2. A
3. C
Have fun in Chamonix Wade. There used to be an Aussie there, Andrew, running a bar with a bit of an Aussie theme. I can't help with any canuck suggestions!
L'etape will be a great experience!
Answers:
CBC
(Canadia Bicycle Competetors????)
Yep CT – the bashings and the train ride were on the second tour in 1904 – not the first – whatever Wikipedia says.
Answers C,B,C.
C, B, C
Pretty cool news about Haussler! Whats the story with Australia already announcing their 'long list' though? Is that anything official or can be changed at any time? I'm hoping that the course will be tough enough to be similar to a classics ride – enough of a hill in there to knock out the pure sprinters, give someone like Haussler or Gerro a real chance.
1, C
2. B
3. C
Wee, Henry Hausller!
1/ A
2/ A
3/ C
Will Cav win a stage this tour ?
Personally I just want the points jersey competition to hot right up and see the guys and their teams chasing the points on offer mid stage.
Where are you planning to watch stage 8 from?
I'm in Geneva on Sunday and have booked a car (couldn't get a bike at this late stage…). The initial plan was to watch on the final climb, but I've been told that it's hard to get a view on that climb and so at this stage I'm going to the Col de la Ramaz…
1. C
2. B
3. C
I got nuthin'
Yep, the main Tour de France article is a bit confusing about which year it happened (the “'Last' Tour” section is a subsection of the “First Tour de France” section). However, if you read the individual pages for the 1903 and 1904 TdF, it is clear that the 1904 TdF is the crazy one where many injuries were caused by physical attacks on the riders, nails and glass were often on the road, bikes were sabotaged, riders were poisoned, and the first four finishers were eventually disqualified. The first finisher, Henri Cornet, was disqualified for taking a train (probably — the records were actually lost).
The current cheats in cycling, with their EPO and blood doping, are quite lame compared with the cheats back then — from Wikipedia: “Lucien Petit-Breton said he complained to an official that he had seen a rival hanging on to a motorcycle, only to have the cheating rider pull out a revolver.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurice_Garin
My Understanding is those lists can be revised any time up until the formal close of entries.
Germany had put their long list out as well (with out Haussler) and they said there was still a chance that he would be included
I agree, I do not see a mass sprint at the end, I see a (semi) classics finish with a select group of 20… and I see Haussler there (and
Boonan and Thor) With guys like Gilbert trying to break in the last lap, a bit like Gent-Wevelgem but with more sting in the back end.
I am not sure if the Cav's will make it (or should I say I hope the Cav will make it…)
A,A,C
Looks like Cav's given up on green. He didn't go for any of “leftover” points once he saw the Petacchi fly past him.
Answers-
1. A
2. B
3. C
Just luvin Cav's thoroughly cheesed off facial expressions at the moment. Perhaps this year will teach him some humility and respect for his fellow riders. Nah. Thats too much to ask for.
1. Phil Anderson first wore the TDF yellow jersey in 1981. How many days did he wear it in 1982?
9 Days
2. What is the ‘voiture balai’?
B. The broom wagon (sag wagon).
3. After winning in 1986, what happened to Greg Lemond in 1987 that he came back from to win two more TDF’s?
C. He was shot by his brother in law and had 31 shotgun pellets removed.
Is it true the Paddle Pop Lion lives in Cambrai now?
Cavendish having a hissy fit
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ro2nDhJ6Wp8
1.C
2.B
3.C
Rupert Guinness is reporting that Cavendish put on a rather childish display chucking his bike and helmet when he got back to the team bus:
http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cycling/petacchi-wi...
Just goes to show you how well a guy like Robbie McEwen races. From what I know, his attitude has mellowed over the years but that aside he was able to and is still able to win sprints, or be up there, without the need for a long lead out train of the likes that Cavendish got last year. What Cavendish appears to fail to grasp is that the Green Jersey is a points award, so you don't have to be first across the line all the time. You certainly have to contest the sprint (or intermediate sprints) and not give up like he did today where he soft pedaled at the end to roll over for 12th.
The Ozzie commentators are talking up McEwen's chances of another Green. I understand the parochial sentiments but they have a point. Because McEwen has still applied himself, and arguably done his job, he's still in touch for the Maillot Verte but in the case of Cavendish, I turn to Erik Zabel's comment http://tdf.sbs.com.au/tdf2010/news/article/2291... :
[Quote]
Zabel admitted that in all his years of competing for the green jersey, a prize he won six times, he rarely had to fight his way back from a 25 point deficit.
“I was behind, 20 points, 25 maximum. But it's an unspoken rule in the Tour that you can miss one stage, be 30, 35 points behind and it's still no problem because the (other) sprinters can have some bad luck,” Zabel told AFP Wednesday.
“But now, 62 points, it's a lot.”
[End Quote]
I think “it's a lot” is Erik's way of saying “he's got Buckley's of making that up”. If Cavendish is smart he'll learn a couple of things from the last couple of days. One is how to take tight corners at speed. The other is to learn how to do more with less.
I stumbled across that Aussie bar (if it's the same one) over 10 years back.
You know one of the things that I remember?
They had burgers on the menu with beetroot. You try and find beetroot on a burger over in the UK / Europe. Good luck.
Q1.C.9
Q2.B.The broom wagon (sag wagon).
Q3.C. He was shot by his brother in law and had 31 shotgun pellets removed
1 – Nine days in 1982.
2 – The Broom Wagon
3 – He was shot by his brother in law in a hunting accident.
Q1. C – 9
Q2. B – Broom Wagon
Q3. C – 31 Iron Supplements intravenously.
All this stuff about Cav is great. His talent is undeniable but so is his immaturity. Watching him get taken down a peg or three is great, and can only mean (hopefully) that he comes back smarter and more wiley in the years to come.
Looks like, for now, he packed new teeth and left the legs at home though.
CBC
sprints are much more exciting this year with a weaker HTC train
Thor must be grinning like a czechien cat!
Cavendish thought he'd nail it at the line last year and wasn't interested in the intermediate points, hence Thor strategised and took the advantage, you'd think Cav would learn from that … then again.
I love Cav, I think he's good for the sport, he's got 10 mongrels to every 1 of most sprinters. Throwing a hissing fit isn't right, he needs to harness this energy and use it for good, if he does he'll be as mad as hell and triple kick his a$$ over the line. The crashes, the lead outs, cobbles, have all compounded his deficit, 65 points is a big ask.
Hope Robbie gets a few more wheels to the line.
Wow, I'm looking all PRO atm. Since my butt and legs look exactly like that ;)
C
A
C
I read the initial question wrong… hence the update.
Pretty sure that Aussie was still there during their last winter…
C
B
C
I love CT
Answers are CBC-> very envious that you are there and I am here. roll on the summer. Whilst you are around, can you give Mike Tomalaris a “clip” in the ear. He is a knob, and cannot host a television show to boot.Just let Matt Keenan do it. Mini-rant over.
BTW, keep up the good work
C, B and C
Cav's helmet is moving faster coming out of the team bus than when he is going for the finish line!
1. C. Nine days
2. B. The broom wagon – gotta love the broom wagon in The Triplettes de Belleville http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVTEKfxHS1E
3. C – ouch
C, B, C
Q1 Nine
Q2 Broom Wagon
Q3 He was shot by his brother in a shooting accident
On Question 1 Yesterday
The answer was not C but B. In 1904 the first four were all disqualified after taking a train this meant that
Henri Cornet became the winner of the tour at the age of 19 the youngest ever. This all happened in 1904
meaning that C was incorrect and in fact the answer was actually B
C, B, C
I liked this finish. The aged gentlemen came to the forefront and fought it out for the win. Shame Robbie couldn't get over the top but if the finish had of been 50-100metres longer Robbie Hunter would of won. Just my thoughts.
Does this mean we're having a bike bloggers at the Etape challenge? Drop me a line if you fancy meeting up out in Pau. I reckon I'll be pretty slow to reach the Tourmalet. I'm going hard at the start to try and not get stuck in a bottleneck at the Marie Blanque.
Two things:
Matt Keenan is the MAN! He does an awesome job, thorough knowledge, great tone to his commentary.
Mike T – has not kept up with the growing interest in cycling in Australia, and neither has SBS if they still give him this gig. I agree with your comments Tom, and am jealous of his trip every year.
Last year when we were in France (http://www.shredquest.com/category/travel/franc...)
(Bugger – sorry bout that, can't edit)
Glad to hear it's all worked out for you. If, however, you enter early via say BikeStyle or Cyclomundo, they make you aware of all the requirements (this isn't having a go at you, I'm just pointing it out for others' benefit).
On not seeing much of Le Tour, when you're right amongst it…last year, when we were in France (http://www.shredquest.com/category/travel/franc...), we missed a lot of the Tour. We were on the road a lot (a lottttt) in the campervan. It was super frustrating.
Just another tdftip people need to know about.
This year, we're decamped at Aramits and have TV etc. I also have a USB DVB receiver, so we're sweet.
We'll be doing stages 15-19 I think.
As for L'Etape: going on trips at short notice can be fun, but there's always the risk something rubbish happens, like having to fork over a tremendous amount of money. I know it doesn't really help you Wade, but for all the others out there thinking about a trip like – L'Etape in particular – do your research!
Another tip I'd make is for those watching a mountain stage, try and pick a climb early in the piece, that lets you get back to camp asap to watch.
For instance:
Stage 15 – we drive to Bagneres-de-Luchon and climb the final climb (only because the start is too far away – 200km just to BdL!)
Stage 16 – drive to Bielle and smash up Aubisque, down to Soulor, watch from there, then smash back over the Aubisque, back to Aramits to watch. An alternative is to go watch from the Peyresourde and get home quick (Peyresourde 155km away).
Stage 17 – up the Marie Blanque then home quick smart.
In all cases a backup plan involving some pre-uphill riding recce work in a small town to find a bar with a TV will stand you in good stead.
This might sound like a lot of overthinking, but it'll make the whole thing a lot more awesome.
Hope this is of use to others,
tim
Roger that, we found our way into that place whilst decamped in Cham for a night.
Was rad times.
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