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Originally Posted by nikalas

Are you this bumptious and patronising in real life? ;)

Okay, maybe I was a little harsh on Carlos but, based on previous exchanges with him, he's more than capable of looking out for himself and doesn't need you springing to his defence.

His post managed to push two of my buttons. First, a rose tinted spectacles view of the past.. ZHR makes a very good point about the Anquetil years. Second, the unique and perverse British inability to cope with winning.. I just don't get it.

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I've been horrible to Carlos and said he talks bollocks as well, but nobody has had a go at me....don't my astute observations count :angry:?

I agree with you nikalas, but I know *eck all about cycling.

Oh Mole.
You naughty naught person. Wait till the forum police come.
Fancy commenting on a subject you know now't about.

I'm off to watch the tour, so I can pass judgement on this thread tomorrow....

Those of you pining for the good old days of drug-fuelled panache and élan will no doubt be having wet dreams at the thought of Bertie "The Beef" Contador returning after his ban and riding in the Vuelta.

[QUOTE=Stagger;493888]Oh Mole.
You naughty naught person. Wait till the forum police come.
Fancy commenting on a subject you know now't about.
QUOTE]

Bless you for noticing me.
I too shall be turning on the Devil box shortly, and be even more of an expert by tomorrow :rolleyes:.

Well admittedly this tour has not been the greatest TV spectacle so far but no-one can deny that Sky have been impressive.
Wiggins surely deserves the Yellow jersey and it is down to the likes of Evans and Nibali to try and wrest it from him. Evans doesn't seem to have the legs and Nibali will have to try something before friday.

Also, those bemoaning the lack of attacking riding in the modern era seem to have pretty short memories. Only last year saw we saw Tommy Veocklers heroics to stay in yellow for 10 days, Andy Schlek's 60km breakaway to Col de Galibier and Pierre Rolland's fantastic win on Alpe d'Huez.

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Originally Posted by nikalas

Well, let's dismiss Pantani to start with for obvious reasons. Fignon, never massively exciting and, if he'd cut off his pony tail and embraced technology, could have had another title to his name. Hinault, an in between era, and, with the talent and ability he had compared to the competition could have got away with murder. Lemond, proves the last point that, once a rider who prepared properly and had talent came along, the old school were blown away. Pre-them eg. Coppi etc, great riders but only the best got to train full-time and have the support of domestiques and sponsors.. the effects of talents was magnified and the amazing feats (your elan) made possible. Now, with a fully professional full-time and scientifically trained pro field, margins of ability are far less and such amazing feats impossible.. that said, Wiggins' TT performance was staggering... we just can't cope with having a winnner.

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fignon not exciting? heres a little youtube of his, 1984 la plagne. i think it may be to exciting for a wiggo fan. if you like tt so much you should get yourself up on any A road on a sunday morning and bore yourself mental.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKBacb2VgKY

breezie has it spot on an that possibly is the first time we have agreed.

oh molie, it's not about the comonwealth, i am an internationalist and i want to see the best rider win. i couldn't careless for nationalism.

The best rider will win.
Its will be the one with the lowest time that completes all the stage's.

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Originally Posted by nikalas

Are you this bumptious and patronising in real life? ;)

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No, he's lovely. Especially in the dark.

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Originally Posted by swift

No, he's lovely. Especially in the dark.

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Always thought he'd make a good Dracula, imagine walking into a spooky mountain top castle and he breezes down the stairs with a "I am Count Dracula, I bid you velcome"

I'm not too sure why but this year its felt a bit 'Tour de France Lite' to me. I'm overjoyed (and excited) by the prospect of Wiggins or Froome winning it. Its definately lacked BIG stages and BIG personalities/competitors. But sometimes its what happens, the big shots slip away and new guys come along, rivialries develope overtime. I kind of think thats what it lacks wether its Shleck-Contador, LeMond-Fignon or, potentially Wiggins-Nibaldi. Looking forward to the Pyrennes, lets hope it does 'kick-off' a bit more there!!