TdF 2013 thread (possible spoilers)

[Sylv]

i'll be cheering for Cav in ACC colours on today's last climb (montee des Esses)

[Phil H]

[quote="Sylv"]i'll be cheering for Cav in ACC colours on today's last climb (montee des Esses)

[Sylv]

[quote="Phil the Pie"]
Missed you on the TV Sylv.

[Phil H]

[quote="Sylv"]Might get another chance on Thursday and Saturday

[Sylv]

[quote="Phil the Pie"]
Missed you on the TV Sylv.

[quote="Sylv"]
That's probably because I wasn't running frantically on the road alongside the riders, wearing a stupid fancy dress, holding an inflatable boar in one hand and a fume gas ganister in the other, whilst attempting to film it all on my mobile phone. What's wrong with those people?

I bet Froome will be careful on the descent. Good luck with the op.

[mlocke]

Circa 4 mins!!

Can this be overturned in 3 days by TST & Alberto?

I'd love to see Frome lose His lead on alpe duez forcing him and sky to go for it in the final few mountain stages. If he gets the stage tomorrow my interest is gone till the last 5k in Paris!!

[Sylv]

Well that was brilliant and pretty mad. We even got to bump into Frank Schleck in his new job!

[img]https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/1069155_10151485008321822_1240547193_n.jpg[/img]

A couple of friends and me camped in a car park in Allemont away from Bourg d'Oisans, rode up to l'alpe d'Huez the previous afternoon, which was brilliant with already loads of crazy fans lining the roads and cheering you on, tons of riders going up, cars attempting to drive, then some light rain for half the climb. I gave it all but went a bit too hard at the bottom (didn't remember it being so steep when doing it on a mtb!) especially as a crew car from France Television got up to me and started filming me from the side, then from the following hairpin after having sped up. Had ACC jersey and tried a Froome impersonation but apparently it hasn't been on tv as far as I know. Got to the top just in time to see the end of the TT and learn of Peraud's second misfortune of the day.

[img]https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/971514_10151486127396822_1239816012_n.jpg[/img]

[img]https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/999350_10151486127336822_51656511_n.jpg[/img]

4-pints diner which is a first for me since I left the uk then a long hike on race day, preferring not to take the bikes given the crowds and forecast weather - in the end it would have been just ok on both fronts. Good viewing spot 2.5km from the finish next to one of those crazy europop beer tents.

[img]https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/1002312_10151486094296822_2042340931_n.jpg[/img]

[img]https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/944502_10151486095861822_401360853_n.jpg[/img]

Good race to watch, phone batteries were dying so it was hard to get live updates, we saw Riblon just about a minute before he was about to catch TGV, we knew he would just looking at both of them though. Voigt looked good in the break too but not so much the second time round!

[img]https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/601732_10151486094101822_1849445524_n.jpg[/img]

Some massive gaps and riders coming all over the place even on the first ascent, and the looks of pain on their face was epic. You could see that some were trying to soak up the atmosphere though, looking far into the crowd not just down on the road.

Froomey asked us for some food but we didn't have any left : )

[img]https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/1003710_10151486093616822_355265446_n.jpg[/img]

Few drops of rain on the way down and massive thunder strikes but nothing too bad as had been forecast.

[img]https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/995094_10151486127361822_127116149_n.jpg[/img]

Now gonna ride in two stages to the Semnoz finish ...

[Elliot M]

[quote="Sylv"]
That's probably because I wasn't running frantically on the road alongside the riders, wearing a stupid fancy dress, holding an inflatable boar in one hand ...

[Phil H]

Nice pics Sylv. Don't get caught by the booby-trapped urinal on Dutch Corner.

Could be an interesting battle between Contador/Quintana/Kreuziger/Purito on the last climb tomorrow.

[Sylv]

I'll be there exactly : )

[Andrew G]

Lucky fella Sylv, very jealous.

[Phil H]

Well, when those three went up the road on the final climb, I did say to Tom: "This could be the podium".

Hope you had a good day Sylv.

[Sylv]

Yep it was brilliant. Set off before 8am with a very hilly ride towards Annecy, to see the "village depart" by the lake shore.

Then a nice climb to the Semnoz towing a young lass who dropped her father and was going well. Found the perfect spot 2km from the finish, on a bend with giant screen in view. Burning sunshine and none of the forecast late-day storms. Had ran out of water and was delighted to get Vittel bottle freebies, nice and frozen.

Lots of people but nowhere like alpe d Huez, which was good for a change - no need to barge for a viewing spot. Caravan went by but was mostly interested in edible stuff as had ran out of food too. Got a few freebies for my nephew tomorrow though.

Froome Rodriguez and Quintana went past still together, then all the rest. A lot looked happy enough to be just 2km from the end of the final climb of the Tour.

Shortly after the last rider came past we were able to ride down, i tagged alongside the Belkin and Vacansoleil teams and we ziggzagged our way through the crowds, which was possibly the highlight of the day. Another 20km yo nearby Thones for the night, and a good 100 miles in the legs.

If weather is ok tomorrow will take the scenic route home.

[Phil H]

Almost forgot: today we had Epic Jensie. I wonder if he'll be back next year...