Andy Schleck out of TDF

[WF1964]

"Yellow jersey contender Andy Schleck has pulled out of this year's Tour de France due to injuries suffered in last week's Criterium du Dauphine race, according to his family."

http://www.sbs.com.au/cyclingcentral...Tour-de-France

One less contender for Cadel...
TDF starts June 30th

[brokendown gunfighter]

pity,you like to see all the top guns racing

[PerthChicka]

"Yellow jersey contender Andy Schleck has pulled out of this year's Tour de France due to injuries suffered in last week's Criterium du Dauphine race, according to his family."

http://www.sbs.com.au/cyclingcentral...Tour-de-France

One less contender for Cadel...
TDF starts June 30th

Love watching the TDF - haven't a clue how the scoring works or what the tactics are, but it's all very easy on the eye

[Sheikh]

TDF basics:

Yellow jersey - person who has completed the stages in the lowest aggregate time
Green jersey - most points scored (points for position crossing the line, like motor racing)
Polka dot jersey - most points scored (points for position across the top of a climb)
White jersey - yellow jersey for U23s
Yellow numbers - team with the lowest aggregate time for their three best placed riders
Red number - rider deemed 'most agressive' on the previous stage

In other cycling news - Lance Armstrong has finally been officially accused of cheating (rather than just unofficially accused by almost everyone).

[PerthChicka]

TDF basics:

Yellow jersey - person who has completed the stages in the lowest aggregate time
Green jersey - most points scored (points for position crossing the line, like motor racing)
Polka dot jersey - most points scored (points for position across the top of a climb)
White jersey - yellow jersey for U23s
Yellow numbers - team with the lowest aggregate time for their three best placed riders
Red number - rider deemed 'most agressive' on the previous stage

In other cycling news - Lance Armstrong has finally been officially accused of cheating (rather than just unofficially accused by almost everyone).

Thanks Sheikh - much appreciated :-) Wonder how they judge "most aggressive".

What part do the time trials play?? I also get confused about how the team system works - the team seems to be there as support to the main man but I don't quite get how.

Really disappointing news re Lance Armstrong :-(( He was/is a hero to many, largely because he achieved so much after battling cancer. Even if he is stripped of his TDF wins, I still think he was amazing for continuing his sporting career after having had cancer.

[Sheikh]

Each day there is usually a break from the pack (peloton) and it's usually the guy who starts the break, or does the most work in it, who gets "most aggressive".

The team is there to take care of their top rider. They fetch water, keep him out of the wind (you save ~30% energy by riding behind someone), lend him their bike if his has a flat tyre, etc. Then, for the sprints they move the guy to the front and ride hard to launch him. If the top rider is a climber, they pace themselves to help him on the climb, too, and chase breakaways. A hard worker (domestique) rarely gets glory, but does get the acknowledgement of the team and the team leader. The winner of the TDF traditionally gives all his prize money to his team-mates as he couldn't have won it without them.

Because teams are so important, the individual time trials are a different test - how the rider can go on their own with no support. Because most time gaps happen in the mountain stages, it also gives some help to strong riders who aren't quite as good at going uphill.

I love cycling (actually more than rugby!) and the tactics for such a simple activity can be just as complex as rugby - it's not always the strongest rider who wins.

I'm mixed about Armstrong, though. He won when most (all?) of the other top riders were doping, which makes him suspicious, but he did survive chemotherapy which might inure him to pain and allow him to push harder. He was also a bit of a freak in that his body reacted slightly differently to lactic acid than most.

[sittingbison]

..I'm mixed about Armstrong, though. He won when most (all?) of the other top riders were doping, which makes him suspicious...

[PerthChicka]

Wow! Thanks again Sheikh! Am going to watch the TDF with much more insight now this year! And I may even understand Phil Liggett's brilliant commentary a bit better!

---------- Post added at 14:53 ---------- Previous post was at 14:50 ----------

Brilliant Bison :-)) Did you draw that yourself??

[sittingbison]

... Bison :-)) Did you draw that yourself??

Some of it %)

[PerthChicka]

Some of it %)

Wow!!! You are incredibly talented! Awesomesauce :-))

[sittingbison]

Wow!!! You are incredibly talented! Awesomesauce :-))

While I do admit to being incredibly talented, an unnamed awesome sauce suggests the cartoon has in fact been pirated and the voice bubbles adulterated. Make of that what you will %)

[PerthChicka]

While I do admit to being incredibly talented, an unnamed awesome sauce suggests the cartoon has in fact been pirated and the voice bubbles adulterated. Make of that what you will %)

Awesomely talented bubbly pirates with wounded knees and sitting bisons - that's what I've made

[sittingbison]

off topic:
I thought you were making a chocolate cake?

[WF1964]

I've got two words for you two (SB and PC) - Parsley Police.

[normie]

Lets not get garnish about it.