Tour of Britain 2012

[Crosstrailer]

It's the Tour of Britain for crying out loud. Wiggins and Cavendish wouldn't normally be expected to turn up at all. This is just their show off ride really but I'd imagine they want to be ready for the Worlds.

As for Cav being a liability, he's won 2 out of 5 stages, that's not too bad a return.

Sky have set him up to win two, he has been woeful in the last two involving climbs. Has this damaged any chance any other Sky rider had in the GC is the question I am asking really, rather than just looking at the stage wins ?

 

[tigger]

Blimey, this year he's won Romandie, the Dauphiné, the Tour de France and the Olympic Time Trial... what else do you want Wiggins to do?

Race every race as he raced those... to win! More realistically in the ToB's case, show some respect and at least race!

 

[rich p]

this climb is JTL's big chance for GC

 

[Hacienda71]

I kind of like seeing the domestic guys like Russ Downing and Kristian House taking it to the international superstars in the sprints and KOMs.
I was suprised to see Wiggins actually cycle back down the course to get Cav rather than just waiting for him to arrive (it wasn't shown on the highlights) I hadn't seen that happen before.

 

[LosingFocus]

I think JTL has won a few new fans today.

 

[beastie]

win the Tour of Britain

Chipper....

Though it's bad form to muck about like Wiggins yesterday.

 

[Jon Baines]

I cannot wait to see JTL at the Worlds

 

[Flying_Monkey]

JTL's race to lose now. Luke Rowe was up there today too - he's the one who's going to be most disappointed following Sky's tactical decisions the other day. He could have been competing with JTL for the overall.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

N00b questions, but what the hell is the GC?

 

[Buddfox]

N00b questions, but what the hell is the GC?

General Classification

 

[Nearly there]

Didn't I hear rob hayles say the other day JTL has already signed for Sky and has been training with them already when talking about the sky train on the run into Blackpool which JTL was in the middle of.

 

[Jon Baines]

Not been announced who hes signed for yet but its almost certainly Sky, he did train with them in Spain earlier in the season

 

[thom]

Didn't I hear rob hayles say the other day JTL has already signed for Sky and has been training with them already when talking about the sky train on the run into Blackpool which JTL was in the middle of.

I didn't hear that particular comment but I think it makes sense both in the context of that finish and in so far as Sky seem pretty content for him to go on and win this one. Months ago Brailsford was reported to be interested in JTL, both for the WC and supposedly for Sky itself. If he were to get top 10 in WC next week I think you'd have to say he will have done pretty amazing this season.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

General Classification

So when they talk about teams going for the GC what does it mean?

 

[lyn1]

I kind of like seeing the domestic guys like Russ Downing and Kristian House taking it to the international superstars in the sprints and KOMs.
I was suprised to see Wiggins actually cycle back down the course to get Cav rather than just waiting for him to arrive (it wasn't shown on the highlights) I hadn't seen that happen before.

But with respect they are not doing that!
No criticism of those involved but the sprints (Pete Williams) and Mountains (Kristian House) jerseys have been uncontested. None of the big teams have shown any interest. I can't remember when either of those jerseys last saw anyone compete..probably day 2.

Maybe it's because of the 6 rider limit and the fact some big teams were down to 4 or 5 very early. As they have GC pretentions they cannot contest the secondary jerseys. In contrast teams with no GC contenders (all the Brit conti teams bar Endura and An Post) might as well pick something up as they are not at a level to shape the race, so are allowed to go in breaks that will inevitably be caught, but can at least shovel up points. So what is happening is that those jerseys can be gained by performing at a level below Premier Calendar quality, because at least there, they had Endura to beat. It was harder to get a sprint or mountains jersey in the Tour Doon Hame Premier than here.