The Tour of France

[Darkon]

another madness today, have never seen a tour with this many horrible crashes.

It's a real shame that so many of the top riders are out before the mountains, it really makes the game more predictable with only 4 riders left with a real chance of winning it. Wonder if Contador and Evans will work together now to neutralize the Schlecks a bit?

[RichC]

the car crash today was shocking, Flecha and Hoogerland were lucky it wasn't worse and it was pretty bloody terrible to say the least.

Quite an interesting position we're in, the Schlecks and Evans have a small cushion against Contador who hasn't looked brilliant so far (I also question whether he should be allowed to ride but another story)

[Darkon]

yeah, the car crash was a shocker, wtf was the driver thinking overtaking there?? It could have cost a rider his life that. The car got thrown out of the tour after that, but I seriously hope they take this to the police.

Contador have so far been very unlucky with crashes on just about every etape so far. I still think he can hold his ground in the mountains, but his team is very weak this year and it seems like the Schlecks can use this well, if no saxo bank rider can help contador in the mountains for long. Evans is usually a bit weaker in the mountains and I reckon the current situation might force them in alliance.

[MrsB]

yeah, the car crash was a shocker, wtf was the driver thinking overtaking there?? It could have cost a rider his life that. The car got thrown out of the tour after that, but I seriously hope they take this to the police.

He wasn't overtaking to be fair, he avoided hitting a tree, but still, it was definitely his fault. Shocking driving.

[Darkon]

as I see it the only reason he has to avoid the tree is because he is overtaking on that small road.

[Neil Young]

Another bonkers day.

Contador doesn't look as strong as the Schlecks or Evans. But you never know, he might just be playing a tactical game. I suppose we might find out on Thursday.

It's a pity Wiggins is out because he was looking really good and how he would fare in the mountains was an intriguing prospect. Van Den Broek, I'm not so sure he would really have challenged for the podium - top 5 maybe but probably not higher. Gesink's injury from the other day looks to have put paid to his chances but maybe he'll recover to challenge for the top 5.

I can't believe it's only the first rest day tomorrow - so much has happened.

[Kenneth]

as I see it the only reason he has to avoid the tree is because he is overtaking on that small road.

just seen it. Shocking stuff. I can't believe how white his arse is

[Neil Young]

Cyclist's tan. It's damned silly looking.

The silliest part of it is your hands. All the other tan lines are fairly normal - T-shirt sleeves, shorts, etc. But you also get a tan line at your wrist thanks to wearing mitts so it looks like your hands belong to someone else's arms.

What a horrible series of cuts. Still, it could be worse - he could be Vinokourov.

Or worse, Soler who is reported to have "serious cognitive impairment" after coming out of the coma he was put into following his crash in the Tour of Switzerland.

And of course there's poor old Weylandt.

So Hoogerland can count himself lucky really.

[MrsB]

http://youvs.oakley.com/

MrsB just crashed out of a head to head race with Mark Cavendish.

[Fredo]

http://youvs.oakley.com/

MrsB just crashed out of a head to head race with Mark Cavendish.

I always thought you were Jim Boardman's wife as he refers to her as MrsB as well.

[Neil Young]

You idiot, Neezh. It's not Jim she's married to.

It's Stan.

[Fredo]

Neil, your ignorance of new media related LFC stuff baffles me.

https://twitter.com/#!/JimBoardman

[Neil Young]

I'm sure that's true but then everything else does too.

[Fredo]

Indeed.

[Fredo]

Ouch!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/gallery/2011/jul/11/tourde-france-2011-crashes?CMP=twt_gu#/?picture=376709821&index=11