After an epic opening ceremony.
The real business started yesterday. Unfortunately for Team GB things didn't get off to a great start. Mark Cavendish was nullified by the tactics of the other teams and our outside shots at early swimming medals didn't come off.
Outside of team gb Ryan Lochte got his first medal and a 16 year old Chinese swimmer destroyed the world record in the women's 400m medley, the best is yet to come.
Sunday 29 July 2012
Saturday 28 July 2012
TDF Review
My review of the Tour de France
A race dominated by Team Sky, they took first and second in the tour, and took 6 stages, an awesome performance.
With very few mountain top finishes it wasn't the most dramatic Tour de France and the last time trial had very little impact on the overall standings, such was Bradley Wiggins and Team Sky's dominance.
But it was a historic tour with Britain finally getting a Tour winner, lets hope there are many to follow.
Here is a recap of the Tour results and my take on each teams performance.
General Classification
1- Bradley Wiggins
2- Chris Froome
3- Vincenzo Nibali
4- Jurgen Van den Broeck
5- Teejay Van Garderen (BMC) White Jersey winner
6- Haimar Zubeldia (Radioshack)
7- Cadel Evans (BMC)
8- Pierre Rolland (Europcar)
9- Janez Brajkovic (Astana)
10- Thibault Pinot (FDJ)
Green Jersey - Peter Sagan (Liquigas)
Polka dot jersey - Thomas Voeckler (Europcar)
Team Classification - Radioshack -Leopard-Trek
And a recap of the stage winners:
Prologue: Fabian Cancellara (Radioshack-Nissan-Trek)
Stage 1: Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Cannondale)
Stage 2: Mark Cavendish (Team Sky)
Stage 3: Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Cannondale)
Stage 4: Andre Greipel (Lotto-Belisol)
Stage 5: Andre Greipel (Lotto-Belisol)
Stage 6: Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Cannondale)
Stage 7: Chris Froome (Team Sky)
Stage 8: Thibault Pinot (FDJ)
Stage 9: Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky)
Stage 10: Thomas Voeckler (Europcar)
Stage 11: Pierre Rolland (Europcar)
Stage 12: David Millar (Garmin)
Stage 13: Andre Greipel (Lotto)
Stage 14: Luis Leon Sanchez (Rabobank)
Stage 15: Pierrick Fedrigo (FDJ)
Stage 16: Thomas Voeckler (Europcar)
Stage 17: Alejandro Valverde (Movistar)
Stage 18: Mark Cavendish (Team Sky)
Stage 19: Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky)
Stage 20: Mark Cavendish (Team Sky)
Stage 9: Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky)
Stage 10: Thomas Voeckler (Europcar)
Stage 11: Pierre Rolland (Europcar)
Stage 12: David Millar (Garmin)
Stage 13: Andre Greipel (Lotto)
Stage 14: Luis Leon Sanchez (Rabobank)
Stage 15: Pierrick Fedrigo (FDJ)
Stage 16: Thomas Voeckler (Europcar)
Stage 17: Alejandro Valverde (Movistar)
Stage 18: Mark Cavendish (Team Sky)
Stage 19: Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky)
Stage 20: Mark Cavendish (Team Sky)
And here is how I felt the teams performed:
AG2R - Prediction – Top 15 and placing on a stage
They lived up to my prediction. Nicolas Roche fought valiantly to get into the Top 10 but just missed out, finishing 12th, and almost took a stage but was bewildered by Cav's acceleration. Peraud just missed out ot David Millar on stage 12.
They lived up to my prediction. Nicolas Roche fought valiantly to get into the Top 10 but just missed out, finishing 12th, and almost took a stage but was bewildered by Cav's acceleration. Peraud just missed out ot David Millar on stage 12.
Argos - Prediction – Stage win and multiple stage placings
Unfoturnately Marcel Kittel their star sprinter was rather off colour (literally) in the first week and Tom Veelers put on a good showing placing in the top 3 on a couple of stages, however without Kittel they were always struggling and produced precious little.
Unfoturnately Marcel Kittel their star sprinter was rather off colour (literally) in the first week and Tom Veelers put on a good showing placing in the top 3 on a couple of stages, however without Kittel they were always struggling and produced precious little.
Astana - Prediction – Top 10
Janez Brajkovic struggled in the first week, but recovered to take 9th a solid but unspectacular tour for him. Kessiakoff was close to winning the mountains jersey but was out classed and out climbed by little gurning Tommy V.
Janez Brajkovic struggled in the first week, but recovered to take 9th a solid but unspectacular tour for him. Kessiakoff was close to winning the mountains jersey but was out classed and out climbed by little gurning Tommy V.
BMC - Prediction – 2nd overall, stage for Gilbert and top 15 Van Garderen (but 2nd in White)
BMC will look back on the Tour with disappointment, as they would have wished to retained the Yellow jersey, however Evans wasn't able to match Wiggins and the Sky train never looked like being derailed by BMC. Van Garderen was the real promise a very creditable 5th and the white jersey (which I would have predicted if I'd realised Rolland was too old!) and he holds much promise for the future.
BMC will look back on the Tour with disappointment, as they would have wished to retained the Yellow jersey, however Evans wasn't able to match Wiggins and the Sky train never looked like being derailed by BMC. Van Garderen was the real promise a very creditable 5th and the white jersey (which I would have predicted if I'd realised Rolland was too old!) and he holds much promise for the future.
Cofidis - Prediction – Top 15 (but 3rd in White) and Moncoutie 3rd in Mountains jersey
Taaramae looked very good in the first week, keeping pace with the 5 leaders on the first climb, but his form rapidly deteriorated, as did Cofidis' tour, they never really looked like doing much.
Taaramae looked very good in the first week, keeping pace with the 5 leaders on the first climb, but his form rapidly deteriorated, as did Cofidis' tour, they never really looked like doing much.
Europcar - Prediction – Top 10 and white jersey
Ok so the prediction was wrong before we even started, but Rolland finished a very good 8th on a non climbers tour. It was hard to see how Europcar could top last year, but they may well have done 3 stage wins and the mountains jersey! Tommy V looked out of sorts early on but his familiar gurning returned as did the results.
Euskaltel - Prediction – Top 5
Euskaltel were hit hard by crashes notably the one taking down Sami Sanchez. They worked hard to get into breaks, Izaguirre being a key protagonist but they are too reliant on Sanchez.
FDJ - Prediction – Top 20, and most aggressive award
Thibault Pinot delivered on his promise at the first time of asking in the Tour, a stage win, notable for Marc Madiot his DS haranging him and a top 10 placing, very impressive on debut. Fedrigo underlined his class, taking another stage win, capping a very good tour for FDJ.
Garmin - Prediction – Team Prize and 2 Top 10s
The first week couldn't have gone much worse, with scandal behind the scenes with Dutch papers saying JV and several Garmin riders had confessed to doping and then Danielsson and Hesjedal both out of the tour injured, with Vandevelde and Dan Martin losing large chunks of time on GC. However Millar salvaged their tour with a clever stage win on stage 12, with Christian Vandevelde just missing out on stage 15.
Greenedge - Prediction – Stage win
Matt Goss had some good showings just missing out to Greipel, Sagan and Cavendish. He put up a good fight for the first couple of weeks in the green jersey, but after being penalised for 'irregular sprinting' he gave up the fight finishing 3rd in that competition.
Katusha - Prediction – Top 5
After a week Katusha looked to be in good shape with Denis Menchov inside the top 5, but he dropped away, finishing 15th, and with him Katusha chances of doing anything in the tour, they offered very little over the three weeks.
Lampre - Prediction – Top 15 and very little else
Scarponi looked hungover from the Giro and Petacchi looked very much like a sprinter from the last decade, they offered very little, as expected.
Liquigas - Prediction – Top 5 and stage wins
Liquigas were arguably one of the best teams of the Tour, offering as much resistance to Team Sky as anyone. Ivan Basso was a useful domestique for Vincenzo Nibali, who was the most attacking of the leaders in the mountains, both up and down, and he took a very good 3rd place. Peter Sagan was the revelation of the Tour, 3 stage wins and the green jersey on his tour debut, underlined the class of the 22 year old, and he could potentially win a lot more stages and green jerseys in the future.
Lotto - Prediction – Top 5 and stage win
A good tour for Lotto, Van den Broeck was active in the mountains and finished in a very good 4th place in a tour that was not massively suited to his abilities, but Andre Greipel was the main man with 3 stage wins.
Movistar - Prediction – Top 15
Rui Costa looked like getting a good result but faded to 18th. Valverde's stage win rescued a faltering tour for Movistar.
Omega - Prediction – Top 5 and stage win
A poor tour for Omega, Leipheimer didn't have the form for a good GC finish and Velits struggled to match his Vuelta performance from 2010.
Rabobank - Prediction – Top 5 and Top 15
Crashes in the first week again put pay to Rabobank's chances with Gesink and Mollema both losing out due to crashes. Luis Leon Sanchez showed his class, winning stage 14 and finishing high up in the time trial.
Radioshack - Prediction – Top 10
Radioshack dominated the team prize, which underlined their depth, but the lack of a true contender meant they never truly challenged for the overall. Haimar Zubeldia showed the stealthy skill that has been the mark of his career, working his way to 6th overall out of the spotlight of the cameras. Chris Horner, Andreas Kloden and Maxime Monfort all made the top 16, but Frank Schleck's positive put a sour note on the Tour.
Saur-Sojasun - Prediction – Top 15
Saur Sojasun were present in breaks but were never really challenging for stages or the overall. Brice Feillu was the best chance of a stage win but he lost out to the persistent and classy Tommy V.
Team Saxo Bank - Prediction – Not much going to happen for Saxo Bank
Team Sky - Prediction – Yellow, green and stage wins
They didn't achieve the green, but they achieved everything else. Team Sky dominated, winning the overall alone would have made it a great tour, but getting 2nd overall and winning 6 stages, exceeded even the most optimistic of expectations.
Vacansoleil - Prediction – Top 15
A tour sans, sums it up perfectly, a tour without. Vacansoleil had very little to shout about. Van Hummel challenged for intermediates but was found wanting at the stage finishes. The white jersey hopeful Wout Poels had a horror crash and only returned home from hospital a couple of days ago.
Ok so the prediction was wrong before we even started, but Rolland finished a very good 8th on a non climbers tour. It was hard to see how Europcar could top last year, but they may well have done 3 stage wins and the mountains jersey! Tommy V looked out of sorts early on but his familiar gurning returned as did the results.
Euskaltel - Prediction – Top 5
Euskaltel were hit hard by crashes notably the one taking down Sami Sanchez. They worked hard to get into breaks, Izaguirre being a key protagonist but they are too reliant on Sanchez.
FDJ - Prediction – Top 20, and most aggressive award
Thibault Pinot delivered on his promise at the first time of asking in the Tour, a stage win, notable for Marc Madiot his DS haranging him and a top 10 placing, very impressive on debut. Fedrigo underlined his class, taking another stage win, capping a very good tour for FDJ.
Garmin - Prediction – Team Prize and 2 Top 10s
The first week couldn't have gone much worse, with scandal behind the scenes with Dutch papers saying JV and several Garmin riders had confessed to doping and then Danielsson and Hesjedal both out of the tour injured, with Vandevelde and Dan Martin losing large chunks of time on GC. However Millar salvaged their tour with a clever stage win on stage 12, with Christian Vandevelde just missing out on stage 15.
Greenedge - Prediction – Stage win
Matt Goss had some good showings just missing out to Greipel, Sagan and Cavendish. He put up a good fight for the first couple of weeks in the green jersey, but after being penalised for 'irregular sprinting' he gave up the fight finishing 3rd in that competition.
Katusha - Prediction – Top 5
After a week Katusha looked to be in good shape with Denis Menchov inside the top 5, but he dropped away, finishing 15th, and with him Katusha chances of doing anything in the tour, they offered very little over the three weeks.
Lampre - Prediction – Top 15 and very little else
Scarponi looked hungover from the Giro and Petacchi looked very much like a sprinter from the last decade, they offered very little, as expected.
Liquigas - Prediction – Top 5 and stage wins
Liquigas were arguably one of the best teams of the Tour, offering as much resistance to Team Sky as anyone. Ivan Basso was a useful domestique for Vincenzo Nibali, who was the most attacking of the leaders in the mountains, both up and down, and he took a very good 3rd place. Peter Sagan was the revelation of the Tour, 3 stage wins and the green jersey on his tour debut, underlined the class of the 22 year old, and he could potentially win a lot more stages and green jerseys in the future.
Lotto - Prediction – Top 5 and stage win
A good tour for Lotto, Van den Broeck was active in the mountains and finished in a very good 4th place in a tour that was not massively suited to his abilities, but Andre Greipel was the main man with 3 stage wins.
Movistar - Prediction – Top 15
Rui Costa looked like getting a good result but faded to 18th. Valverde's stage win rescued a faltering tour for Movistar.
Omega - Prediction – Top 5 and stage win
A poor tour for Omega, Leipheimer didn't have the form for a good GC finish and Velits struggled to match his Vuelta performance from 2010.
Rabobank - Prediction – Top 5 and Top 15
Crashes in the first week again put pay to Rabobank's chances with Gesink and Mollema both losing out due to crashes. Luis Leon Sanchez showed his class, winning stage 14 and finishing high up in the time trial.
Radioshack - Prediction – Top 10
Radioshack dominated the team prize, which underlined their depth, but the lack of a true contender meant they never truly challenged for the overall. Haimar Zubeldia showed the stealthy skill that has been the mark of his career, working his way to 6th overall out of the spotlight of the cameras. Chris Horner, Andreas Kloden and Maxime Monfort all made the top 16, but Frank Schleck's positive put a sour note on the Tour.
Saur-Sojasun - Prediction – Top 15
Saur Sojasun were present in breaks but were never really challenging for stages or the overall. Brice Feillu was the best chance of a stage win but he lost out to the persistent and classy Tommy V.
Team Saxo Bank - Prediction – Not much going to happen for Saxo Bank
My prediction was pretty accurate. Michael Morkov had a good showing early on getting in to 3 breaks, and wearing the polka dots jersey, but that was as good as it got. Chris Sorensen winning the combativity prize after catching his fingers in his front wheel, summed up their tour, plucky and persistent but lacking real winners.
Team Sky - Prediction – Yellow, green and stage wins
They didn't achieve the green, but they achieved everything else. Team Sky dominated, winning the overall alone would have made it a great tour, but getting 2nd overall and winning 6 stages, exceeded even the most optimistic of expectations.
Vacansoleil - Prediction – Top 15
A tour sans, sums it up perfectly, a tour without. Vacansoleil had very little to shout about. Van Hummel challenged for intermediates but was found wanting at the stage finishes. The white jersey hopeful Wout Poels had a horror crash and only returned home from hospital a couple of days ago.
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