Tour De France

I was gutted initially with both Froome and Contador out of it very early and thought it would ruin the race.
But man without those two teams controlling each day this has been one of the most exciting TdF in many a year - IMO.

That said I feel Nibali would still had probably won; tactically he has shown more awareness than either of them in knowing what is happening around him and when he could rest a bit further back or when to jump across/respond to a rider about to break away, and also his performance in the mountains was stellar while time trial would had probably lost about only 1min to both of the them.
Worth noting he created a notable time gap between him and Contador even before he had his accident.

Also worth noting Nibali is one of five other riders to win all three major tours (not same year of course); Spain-Italy-France.
Now fingers crossed he was not taking drug enhancements and we would know soonish if so; but I feel he probably rides clean since the sport has become cleaner he has risen to the front (and also focused his training regime-fitness window specifically for the TdF).

Anyway loved this years TdF
Anyone else watched it?
If not search for the cobble stage for reference it is this one: http://www.letour.fr/le-tour/2014/us/stage-5.html
And then the mountain stages, insane how tough these guys are; especially when they carry on with injuries after crashing (one finished the tour this year with broken fingers and a broken nose after crashing and that must had been hell on rough roads and also mountain stages).

Cheers
Orb

to be honest I missed this years race. with Wiggins, Froome, Contador out figured once worth paying up for NBCS after vacation a week ago.

when with the Schlecks be back 100%? Andy Schleck vs Contador was EPIC a few years back.

You were watching the time trial with the aero lids.

I, too, missed this year's race. With no great scandals or controversies, I never saw it in the news.

Peter Breuninger said:

You were watching the time trial with the aero lids.

Click to expand...

Yeah sounds like it to me.
As I mentioned shame you missed the cobble stage 5; rain and mud really punished the riders in terms of concentration and the bone jarring from the 7 sections of cobbled paths.
That said plenty of great stages this year to watch as neither Sky or Tinkoff-Saxo ruthlessly controlled this years race.
Nice to see the juniors (funny saying that for 23-24 years old cyclists but that is what they are for such a grand tour) coming up and look to be a force in next couple of years.

Amazed Chris Froome only gave up after 3rd fall while trying to ride with fractures on both wrists!
Mind you like Contador continued to try and cycle for about 15 minutes to see if he could ride the pain off... and turns out he has a broken tibia.
Seriously tough guys the international pro cyclists.

Cheers
Orb