Spa Tour de France today

Edited by Nick Wa, 05 July 2010 - 07:09.

The sadist in me had been imagining the peleton sweating up the climb from Eau Rouge past the old pits and straight on at La Source. Quite a steep drag to finish off a 100 odd miles in the saddle.

Don't worry, I think the two Third Category climbs (the Stockeu and Aisomont) near Stavelot will be tougher than anything on the Spa circuit.

Let's hope they don't all fall in a huge heap again like yesterday - that always makes me wince just to see it - bare flesh on tarmac (shudder)

Sad to say ,the whole peleton seemed to hit the deck at least once today! and tomorrow they have to race around 130 miles including cobbled roads used in the Paris-Roubaix,still cant be as hard as kicking a football about for 90 minutes a week can it?

Sad to say ,the whole peleton seemed to hit the deck at least once today! and tomorrow they have to race around 130 miles including cobbled roads used in the Paris-Roubaix,still cant be as hard as kicking a football about for 90 minutes a week can it?

or throwing darts, an' drinkin' pints.... a real man's sport, not poncin' about in lycra

When I noticed one of the stages was going to finish in Spa, the fan in me was of course wondering whether they would cycle over a part of the track or not. Would have been a nice sight, surely.

I thought that yesterday's reaction by the leading riders was a bit strange. It was hardly the organisers' fault that it rained a little and that the roads got slippery. What was the point of not contesting the finish? A real treat for the spectators to see no-one sprinting. And what will they do today if the cobbles get wet?

But a good result yesterday - Chavanel is an attacking rider who is often prepared to go for the long breakaway and it was good to see him get the stage and the yellow jersey as a reward for his courage!

When I noticed one of the stages was going to finish in Spa, the fan in me was of course wondering whether they would cycle over a part of the track or not. Would have been a nice sight, surely.

Cyclists will always look a bit naff on a race track anyway

But we were talking about a proper race track not a modern circuit. Any way the loop they took had some fab. roads for use as special stages (perhaps they are or have been).

There can't be any motor racing fans in the Peloton or among the race organisers. It hardly comes as a surprise that it rains at Spa, does it?

I would have been pretty cheesed off if I'd been in the crowd at the finish - you wait all day for the big finish and then nothing happens. A bit like Saturday qualifying for the Belgian GP in 1992 (if I've got the year right) - it bucketed with rain the whole hour and all the qualifying times were set on Friday.

I was trying to work this out yesterday and came across this: http://www.steephill...tour-de-france/

The official site is crap.

Hmmm. I was at Spa for the Grand Prix in June 1985. As we arrived on the Saturday night after practice we never saw an F1 car at all.

At least someone got to Spa in 85 - some of us only got to Zeebrugge that year ...

Geoff

What a fantastic stage today! Real hand to hand combat! and a great ride from British champion Geraint Thomas to take second place.Who is going to win though? my money is on Cadel Evans!

"Le Tour des Circuits"......A fine idea!
I expect most days we can find some thing of significance if not on the actual route then nearby. Like today there is (or was (opened early 70s)) a small circuit near the start in the Cambrai / Arras area...

I'd like to think you're right, but I suspect Contador is going to make it three...

In the hope that this might turn into a cycling competition on race tracks thread didn't the 1992 Olympics road race use the Circuit of Catalunya as part of the course?

Edited by Nick Wa, 07 July 2010 - 10:13.

Lets keep this thread strictly to the Le Tour de France or "Le Tour des Circuits 2010".

Edited by Kpy, 07 July 2010 - 10:25.

The next stage finishes at Reims. And some of the later stages start and finish in Pau. Maybe we should rename the 2010 edition as Tour des Circuits.

BTW...Go Cadel! Nice work today on the cobbles. It's good to see that mountain bike experience comes to the fore when needed.

Edited by Nick Wa, 07 July 2010 - 10:32.

The "Manx missile" comes up with the goods..

Great lead out by Renshaw.

Zolder has been used for the Cycling World Championship in early 2000s? - I believe Chippolini won.

Zolder has been used for the Cycling World Championship in early 2000s? - I believe Chippolini won.

Manx Missile 2 for 2, another great lead out from Renshaw.

Goodwood was also used for the World Road Championships,i think in 1982,i was working in AbuDhabi at the time trying to get the results on a Telex machine{remember those?} IIRC Mallory Park also hosted the finish of the championships in the 70,s can anyone confirm this? Anyway,great 2 wins from Cav.World Champion this year?

Yes a nice result today. At least the probable result keeps you in suspense for longer than Bernie's circus does, unless the Tasmanian has another rush of blood to the head (or do I mean right foot).

Edited by Nick Wa, 20 July 2010 - 19:18.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway, May 30 2010?;)