Tour de France 2007

**nedder** · 04/07/2007, 8:55 PM

Any predictions for this years tour ?

Yellow : Vinokourouv/Valverde/Leipheimer/Kloden??
Green : Robbie McEwan
Polkadot: Rasmussen

**Dodge** · 04/07/2007, 9:19 PM

Can't see further than those tbh. Michael Rogers maybe a shout as an outsider as the time trials should suit him

**Docboy** · 05/07/2007, 5:04 PM

That no one is clean??

**Rovers fan** · 15/07/2007, 12:39 AM

can i just ask what is the green jersey for? its been years since i watched the tour de france

**DmanDmythDledge** · 15/07/2007, 12:43 AM

Originally Posted by Rovers fan

can i just ask what is the green jersey for? its been years since i watched the tour de france

Points leader.

**Dodge** · 15/07/2007, 12:47 AM

Originally Posted by Rovers fan

can i just ask what is the green jersey for? its been years since i watched the tour de france

POints are awarded for intermediate sprints during each stage. Usually something like 1st gets 4, 2nd gets 2 and 3rd gets 1.

Points are also awarded for finishing positions at the end of each stage. First gets 30 and the person in 20th position gets 1 (figure out the scale yourself).

Leaders of the points category wears the Green jersey. Its now a completely sprinter jersey but it wasn't always that way

**Rovers fan** · 15/07/2007, 12:54 AM

has the yellow jersey winner ever won the green jersey as well?

**Dodge** · 15/07/2007, 10:13 AM

Originally Posted by Rovers fan

has the yellow jersey winner ever won the green jersey as well?

Twice. In 1969 Eddie Mercx won Yellow Jersey, Green Jersey and Polka Dot jersey (for being "King of the Mountains" (the best climber) ). Bernard Hinault was the last to do it in 1979. In 1998 Sean Kelly won yellow and Green jerseys in the Vuelta D'Espana

There used to be a combination jersey which was based on points earned in all categories and general classification. (Mercx won this in 1969 also).

And there was alaso a red jersey for a time that was based on points earned in the intermediate sprints only. Kelly won this three times (including the last ever in 1989)

**inexile** · 15/07/2007, 12:05 PM

i also remember sean kelly wearing a multi coloured jersey in one tour, as he was the holder of the red, green and polka dot jerseys at the time.

**Dodge** · 15/07/2007, 1:08 PM

Originally Posted by inexile

i also remember sean kelly wearing a multi coloured jersey in one tour, as he was the holder of the red, green and polka dot jerseys at the time.

No Kelly never hekd the polka dot jersey. He was wearing the "combination jersey" I posted about above

**Real ale Madrid** · 18/07/2007, 11:31 AM

Now that the alps are over and the tour is taking shape - who do people think will win now? Vinokourov is finished now. Of the top 5 or 6 i must say that Valverde looks the strongest. But with Kloden's time trialing he could still have a shot, but he is 5 minutes behind Rasmussen which even now is a lot. Rasmussen must be the favourite but Valverde will be his biggest threat imo.

I had a little flutter on Oscar Pererio Sio before the tour €5 e/w at 50/1. Thought it was a good bet seen as he was 2nd last year. He is currently 14th about 6 and a half mins behind Rasmussen and 4 odd mins behind Mayo in third. Will need to have an exceptional week in the mountains next week to get into the top 3.

**Dodge** · 18/07/2007, 11:35 AM

Valverde is favourite with betfair punters, closely followed by Kloden. Rasmussen has been an awful time trialler in the past and lost over 5 minutes to Vino last year, so not inconceivable he could lose same to Kloden. Yellow Jersey usually helps a rider fight though

I think Cadel Evans has a shout too

**Macy** · 18/07/2007, 12:05 PM

There's two long ITT this year, both still to come. The lead of Rabobank could be back to being open after the one this week, never mind the lead of the tour. Kloden still very much in it imo, given the rest of the leaders wouldn't be renowned time trialists. Still wide open, and I'd expect the whole podium to be wide open until the second time trial.

**sligoman** · 18/07/2007, 12:12 PM

**bellavistaman** · 18/07/2007, 1:24 PM

ridiculous!

**Bluebeard** · 18/07/2007, 1:46 PM

The tyre buckled like it was made of cardboard.

You have to love the lack of concern offered eitehr by the dog or its owner

**passinginterest** · 18/07/2007, 1:54 PM

Originally Posted by Bluebeard

The tyre buckled like it was made of cardboard.

You have to love the lack of concern offered eitehr by the dog or its owner

At least the dog looked embarassed

**sligoman** · 19/07/2007, 11:25 AM

Originally Posted by Bluebeard

The tyre buckled like it was made of cardboard.

That's what I thought funny. Was sure the wheels would be a bit more sturdier than that, but then I suppose that would slow them down if they weighed too much.

**Dodge** · 19/07/2007, 11:31 AM

Bikes are made of the ligthtest materials possible. Aero-dynamicism being the key.

Works great until a dog gets in your way

**the 12 th man** · 24/07/2007, 9:57 PM

Tour rocked by Vinokourov's failure of a drug test .Looks like he had an illegal blood transfusion .Astana team has withdrawn from the race.

Tour de France/ Professional Cycling in big trouble and its reputation in tatters unless the drugs thing is faced square on.In other words "proper" controls at all Professional events.