Weight Weenies

I think the AG2R jersey is one of the best in the peloton. I also think that La Vie Claire is one the best ever. I'm not much of a fan of retro bikes because I rode them myself (back to the 60's), but I think some of jerseys were better then to look at; the all time classic for me is the checkerboard Peugeot ridden by the likes of Simpson and Merckx. What I don't miss though is the woollen jerseys apart from in mid-winter. In Summer they're too hot. I much prefer the modern fabrics.

I have one of those original La Vie Claire jerseys. It's beautiful. But some guy named Greg scrawled his name across the front of it...

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Never bettered IMHO:

I've always loved the team Z kits. I know alot of people disliked them but I think they make the acknowledgement that bike racing is all rather silly.

Back on the topic of pro cycling, what does everyone think of Puritos chances at the tour? There was an article on velonews a few days ago about his chances but I still think he is really really underrated. If he has a shred of the form that he had at the Vuelta last year I think he could be a big threat. The first TT might be abit problematic for him but in the second I dont foresee him losing much time and he has shown that in the mountains he can take on Contador and Froome for sure. I thought he was amazing at the Vuelta last year, even after a long year of wins and close seconds he almost took down the best stage racer of the past five years.

Hautes Pyrenees region flooded

I guess it's because of much rain, but also high temperatures, the snow melted so late and so fast

https://www.facebook.com/pyreneescyclin ... eescycling

road to Tourmalet closed
Col de Pyresourde is closed. Saint Beat (on the Garonne river) is described as catastrophic

Complètement coupées du monde, Barèges, Cauterêts, et Luz-Saint-Sauveur sont ravitaillées en eau et en médicaments par deux hélicoptères de Pamiers et Toulouse.

Bareges (on the Tourmalet) Cauterets and Luz-Saint-Sauver are isolated, helicopters are flying there.


here's Irizar in S.Lary Soulan (he's training in the Pyrenees with Zubeldia) https://mobile.twitter.com/markelirizar ... grid?idx=1

I love the way Purito races, but I don't think this Tour suits him at all. The Vuelta had numerous stages with short and punchy, or very severe finishes. This Tour features nothing like that at all. The mountain-top finishes are much more suited to the other protagonists, IMHO. And the medium mountain stages all finish with downhill run-ins. I don't see anywhere that he can take chunks out of Froome or Bertie that he isn't going to lose 3-fold in the TTs.

I firmly disagree with you. The 2012 Giro climbs weren't that punchy and the format of the key stages featured less of them often than in the 2013 Tour. He did just fine there obviously and was riding really strong in the Dauphine. I would be surprised if he didn't podium.

Against Basso, Scarponi, Hesjedal, De Ghent? Not quite the same.

He lost 5 minutes to Froome on the Valmorel stage and 3 minutes in the TT.

Yah, he had a bad day and the TT did not suit him. He will lose time in the first TT, but he can easily get 10-20s on mountain stages that have pitches at the end by launching attacks no one else can follow. He will be fine on most stages, but stage 8, stage 15, stage 18, and stage 20 should be great for him. Maybe even stage 16.

One of my favourites...distinguishable from the rest at the time, not like today's rabble...

MTKEE7 wrote:May have to change username after saying this but...

Really liked (and in fact bought) the 2007 Discovery Channel Jersey

Imagine how I feel with this Avatar...


Louis

Yup, that Panasonic kit even kept you safe on the crown of the road.



The Castorama kit caused punctures. Bad stuff.

With those mustaches he can't be wrong.

Also rooting for Rodriguez and hoping he can jump on the podium. That would round out his career nicely.

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Purito's Tour problem? No time bonus.

He picked up valuable time in both the Giro and Vuelta with those. Also, as mentioned, he's not a long climb guy. Ryder actually out rode him in the Giro on the long ones, even the long steep ones.