The Tour de France Thread (Julian Dean, you beauty)

[MisterD]

I know there's a few cyclists and cycling fans on here...so I thought I'd make this a general tour thread rather than just a rap for Julian Dean.

I've just watched the replay of tonight's stage and the lead-out Julian gave Thor Hushovd for the stage win was pure class....power, timing, team work and that little Aussie bugger McEwan nowhere to be seen!

Great to see the NZ national champion's jersey up at the business end.

[forkoil]

Not having Sky is a bit of a problem, but I duck over to the neighbours when I can. Looking forward to the mountains, there doesnt seem to be any stand out favourites this year?

[MisterD]

Not having Sky is a bit of a problem, but I duck over to the neighbours when I can. Looking forward to the mountains, there doesnt seem to be any stand out favourites this year?

It'll start to shake out in the next couple of days, Valverde looks good for me at $7 and how can Hincapie not be worth a lazy fiver at $60?

[quackquack]

Hard to pick a winner I'm a vinokorof fan. We won't know anything till the mountains always seperates the men from the boys. Interesting the heart rates of these guys some of them are pumping some serious beats per minute

[jrandom]

I find myself unable to care very much, this year. The whole doping scandals thing has really killed it for me. With the best riders sitting the race out, it's not quite the same.

Stupid anti-drug rules.

I might motivate my lazy arse to stay up and watch some of the mountain stages in due course, though.

I seriously wouldn't put money on any particular rider. Wouldn't be surprised if Mayo puts in a decent showing this year. You just never know.

Cyclingnews has a short article up about JD if anyone's interested.

[Scorpygirl]

Great stuff Julian!!! Keep at it!!! I know his Nana and she will be very proud of him.

[KoroJ]

Alexander Vinokourov is one tough little SOB.

Fall down, shake it off, get back on the bike, gather the team in and an go till you burn them out. Don't bother about dressings till you've finished 'cos the pace is too fast.

Go Little Borat...go!!

[marty]

i watched the JD lead out live, and it almost bought me to tears - it was such a fantastic piece of riding.

sherwin couldn't say enough good stuff about JD, then when hushovd said that JD was the 'best leadout man in the world', i felt that all JD's demons from his huge crash last year were suddenly swept away. he will never have trouble getting a ride at the highest level again

http://www.juliandean.co.nz/

[MisterD]

With acceleration like that, surely it's only a matter of time until he's snapped up to be the main sprinter for one of the top teams.