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[What's Burning?]

Figured I'd start a thread.

Anyone watching? Today's first stage was a really weird, almost disappointing. Chaos at the finish with all of the crashes at the end. Almost a throwback to see Alessandro Petacchi win the stage.

[scotty]

I'm going to watch the highlights later - it's been a few years since i properly followed a tour.

Was today the stage with the cobbles that all the riders said was dangerous?

[What's Burning?]

Today was just pancake flat, was supposed to be a big sprint finish but there were 3 crashes inside 3k so it was all a big mess. The cobbles is stage 3 towards the end of the stage, getting out of Belgium and finally into France.

[McLaren]

I'm amazed just how many people get caught drug taking in this normally.Hopefully the sport will be cleaned up more.Until then I think everyone should have to take a drugs check before the event.That would save the farce of disqualying people.

[What's Burning?]

I'm amazed just how many people get caught drug taking in this normally.Hopefully the sport will be cleaned up more.Until then I think everyone should have to take a drugs check before the event.That would save the farce of disqualying people.

Let that sport which is without sin cast the first stone.

[racechick]

Whats with cavendish? Why did he stop right near the line? I dont think I like him much. But I like Bradley Wiggins.

[What's Burning?]

Whats with cavendish? Why did he stop right near the line? I dont think I like him much. But I like Bradley Wiggins.

I think he just saw he didn't have a real chance today. He's an all or nothing guy and seems to sprint only for the win. Today's sprint was like a deja vu of yester year, with Robbie Mcewen and Alessandro Petacchi jamming it for the sprint.

[scotty]

Yesterday was a great stage, i even managed to catch it live. Shame Frank Schleck is out of the tour. Gonna watch the highlights of today now.

I cannot friggin wait until we get to the mountains this year.

[What's Burning?]

Yesterday was a great stage, i even managed to catch it live. Shame Frank Schleck is out of the tour. Gonna watch the highlights of today now.

I cannot friggin wait until we get to the mountains this year.

Contador looks strong, but this is the best example I can think of in recent years of how much do your domestiques matter in order to win the Tour. if there was a TTT this year he'd lose time.

[scotty]

I quite fancy a bet on Cadel Evans to win outright at 10/1. Thoughts?

Still waiting for the first mountain stage on Saturday, today's was relatively uneventful apart from the sprint setups towards the end.

[bud]

I quite fancy a bet on Cadel Evans to win outright at 10/1. Thoughts?.

he is mega in the hills so he is in a strong position being 30 seconds behind in 3rd overall atm.

[What's Burning?]

I quite fancy a bet on Cadel Evans to win outright at 10/1. Thoughts?

Still waiting for the first mountain stage on Saturday, today's was relatively uneventful apart from the sprint setups towards the end.

For the 10/1 odds, maybe worth a bet, but there are too many variables in cycling, one crossed wheel and he's out and I don't think they've got the team built to shelter and pace Cadel in the mountains, so he'd have to just mark Contador latch behind a non team mate wheel and try an attack here or there. I think now that the Schleck team has been cut in half, Contador won't see the relentless double team attacks he saw last year. Cadel is a sentimental favorite of mine, Armstrong is just not going to cover Contador's acceleration. Contador looks very strong. It's been a good tour so far.

The only way to beat Contador may be to get a couple of the GC conteders to work in tandem against him.

[What's Burning?]

Anyone catch today's stage? Contador did a pretty "ungentlemanly" thing there to be sure. Cycling (if you exclude the druging) is perceived as one of the more gentlemanly sports around. This year's TDF we've had headbutting, fist fights and now an attack when the Maillot Jaune has a mechanical problem.

[EwanM]

Sorry I'll admit that I haven't really bothered reading the boards for a while.

However, it is good that someone has started a thread on the tour.

I would agree that Contador was a little unsporting when Schlek had his problem, but I would also argue that he had to push on incase Sanchez etc had been able to find something else and drag it into a 4 way.

I'm glad he apologised and that Andy accepted it, it is time to move on. People forget how the riders all stopped when Schlek fell early in the tour. I was very critical of that and felt they should have went on.

Either way, the race is still wide open.

Anyone see today's stage today? What a classic sporting moment. The touring fog and rain hitting the mountains as Schlek and Contador turned the stage into a personal battle.

It was amazing to see them pull away for that last 8km.

It was definately "The Duel In The Mist"

[What's Burning?]

The tour was decided today, if Andy was a better time trialer, then there would be a chance Saturday, at this point unless Contador falls or has a major mechanical problem, he's got the top step on the podium.

Yes it was a good race and I'm glad Andy got his stage win.

EDIT: one other thought, I agree with you it's settle and you move forward, but on many occasion I've seen the leader or leaders of the tour take control of the peloton and make them do what he want.

You saw an example of that with Favian Cancellara on the stage where he kept the sprinter from sprinting in revolt of the tortuous cobbles stage. He did it today for Sammy Sanchez when he crashed!