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My first year watching The Tour was 95 I think (Indurain’s last triumph/ the untimely death of Fabio Casartelli) and I stumbled into by accident really. I’d broken my ankle two days before the start of the summer holidays and as all my mates were taking advantage of the sunshine by having a kick about or running round the rockpools, I was left stuck in the house with nothing to do. A bit of TV channel hopping later and I found myself on Eurosport listening to David Duffield chat about the haunted chateau he stayed in the night before and the numerous varieties of cheese he’d encountered at breakfast – and there also seemed to be a race happening in the background.
I did fall out of love with it somewhat during the Armstrong/US postal years, but the emergence of Contador in 07 with his panache in the mountains was what drew me right back in. Up until a couple of years ago I was very much purely a ‘July only’ follower of the sport, but that’s changed now, in particular this year where, with the exception of the Tour Of The Basque Country, I’ve watched virtually every stage of all the main races from Down Under and Oman through to the Dauphine.
I know given his form this year Froome must start at favourite, but there were signs of life from Contador in the Dauphine that make me think he might have something to say about that. I can’t shake this gut feeling that there is going to be some point late in the race where Froome cracks and the Spanish armada + chums will take advantage and grab some significant time off him.
Milch, I agree about Cav, there should be enough flat stages for him to edge out Sagan for green. I'm a big fan of Pinot too, but I think Quintana, if given freedom by his team, should take white and could just possibly be in the mix for yellow too. Kwiatowski could be in contention for white also, though I'm not sure how he'll handle repeated high mountains. Other than that, I'm hoping that Thomas, Dan Martin and Kennaugh all do themselves justice.
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Knowing M.E, Knowing You.. Ah Ha!
David Silva loves Bakewell Tarts the best
He'll eat a box and leave none for the rest
De Gea's doughnuts never look the part
next to Silva's Bakewell Tart!
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