2016 Tour de France

Bit more interested this year; could be competitive.

No motors? No drugs? Might actually be worth watching ...

LINK to SBS TV coverage and daily schedule

Will English riders be allowed to compete?

Dunno, but Kenyans can. Quintana and Froome have been looking good

lardbucket wrote:
No motors?

The good thing is that apart from media bluster, there has been little evidence of this, and there has been testing for at least five years.

Stage 1 profile:

Tradition states Tour De Pharmaceutical?

taipan wrote:Tradition states Tour De Pharmaceutical?

Aye. I did'nt start this one but ithink it may be too late.

Sure Fromage can sort it.

Big Dog wrote:Stage 1 profile:

I hope they're starting at low tide.

Orica greenEDGE have changed sponsorship just before the TdF. They are now called Orica Bike Exchange. (i think we can all live with that ) however Orica will also pull out at the end of next year, leaving plenty of time to secure another name sponsor. I'm not suprised Orica have ended their sponsorship given their falling share price recently.

Cavendish, well done. Finally the yellow jersey.

Stage two profile:

Porte's history of bad luck at the TdF continues. A puncture has left him with a lot of catching up to do.
Not unexpectedly, Sagen takes the stage & the yellow jersey.

Stage three should also see the sprinters dominate:

Geez I felt sorry for that Belgian rider who led for all but the last 400m.

And number 28 for Cavendish by a couple of centimetres. Ties Hinault in the all time tdf stage count.

First four stages have been a sprinters benefit with Kittel being the latest recipient but the climbers now have something to tackle:

Finally an interesting stage to watch.

Big Dog wrote:First four stages have been a sprinters benefit with Kittel being the latest recipient but the climbers now have something to tackle:

Shame that Porte is hurt - this could have been a stage for him.

Had'nt heard Porte is hurt. Whats the matter with him?

Big Dog wrote:Had'nt heard Porte is hurt. Whats the matter with him?

Thought he only had a puncture.

taipan wrote:

Big Dog wrote:Had'nt heard Porte is hurt. Whats the matter with him?

Thought he only had a puncture.

Thats what i thought. He's just been named in the Aust Olympic cycle team so i don't think there could be much wrong.

Sorry - I thought he had injured his shoulder.

it's more likely that Gerrans does something. Alaphillippe or Valverde, of course, start favourites.

And I see that the breakaway has already won.

Wow, what a win.

Great individual ride by VAN AVERMAET although i'm not sure BMC will welcome the distraction of the yellow jersey at this early stage. Something for everyone with the next stage with a sprint finish.