The Daily Race: Tour de France Prologue
by Jen See on Jul 2, 2010 8:51 PM EDT
in Tour de France
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Prologue: Rotterdam — Rotterdam
What is it? Short, flat, fast, and painful.
Got Climbs? Not so much.
Yellow Jersey Battle: No one wants to start the Tour with a bad day, but the overall won't be won or lost today.
Ideal Rider: Fabian Cancellara. Big legs, big watts, big fun.
@Gavia: This stage marks the first traditional prologue for the Tour since 2007. Who won in 2007? Why Fabian Cancellara, of course.
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The Tour de France begins with a fast, mostly flat prologue through the streets of Rotterdam. What? Rotterdam? Rotterdam isn’t in France. No, it’s not. Rotterdam is definitely in the Netherlands. Truth in advertising just isn’t what it used to be. The first Tour to start outside France began in the Netherlands in 1954.
The Rotterdam prologue runs over 8.9 kilometers. There are two small bumps in the profile. Those aren't hills, they're bridges. The prologue reaches its highest point at 20 meters above sea level. This race is for the specialists then, for the riders who can power the flats and who don’t much bother with going uphill. The course traces out a kite shape and crosses the Neiuwe Maase by way of the scenic Erasmusbrug. After running along the canal, the riders ride over the Willemsbrug to Noordereiland before again crossing the canal to reach the finish. The bridges provide the only elevation gain on the course.
One possible obstacle? Wind. It can be windy in Rotterdam, and the riders will find little shelter as they cross the canals. All the more reason to expect a specialist to win this prologue. Fabian Cancellara and Bradley Wiggins are among the obvious favorites here.
Live Race Chat
Join the livethread and discuss todays stage live here. Follow the links below.
Thread 1 Thread 2 Thread 3 Finale
Post-Race Happy Hour
Cancellara Wins Again!
No great shock today. Fabian "Spartacus" Cancellara stomps on everyone else to take the Yellow Jersey. Tony Martin's early start gamble paid off and he looked like a winner for a long time but unlike the German soccer team he had to surrender in the end. Lance Armstrong channeled some rage and was first of all the big GC contenders. Read more...
Other Features
Know Your Tour: Do We Need a Prologue?
Xavier Florencio Withdrawn — Cervélo team site
Podium Cafe Main
See all Podium Cafe Tour de France stories
Go to official Tour de France site
Photo, Spencer Platt, Getty Images Sport.
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Yay!
It’s starting, it’s starting!
Apparently, Brent Bookwalter is the first from BMC to head out. It would be super cool if he did a big ride like he did at the Giro.
velonews have him on their latest poll
i, of course, voted for him. as did some 30 other people. 1400 did not though.
"Ants don’t worry, they operate like a fantastic team, they accept obstacles and deal with them in a positive manner, they don’t complain and remain positive. An ant doesn’t work on emotion, is proactive and always chooses the ant role."
Thought maybe
it was a subtle answer to his question “do we need a prologue.”
not sure if this has been posted elsewhere
but cycling news has the start times:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/big-names-among-early-starters-for-tour-de-france-prologue
"I was watching the Tour de France in 2005, just being a fan again. I thought, ‘you're a fucking idiot. You're a bike fan who gets to ride the Tour de France.'"
- david millar
Tony is starting during the Germany game?
HAVE YOU NO PRIDE MAN?!!!!!
Los Geht's Deutschland!!!!
Down with Argentina!!!!
Quitter's People United member # 42
he knows they're going to lose... ;)
"I was watching the Tour de France in 2005, just being a fan again. I thought, ‘you're a fucking idiot. You're a bike fan who gets to ride the Tour de France.'"
- david millar
Not that it matters
But they do as I read the list.
by BTD on Jul 2, 2010 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions
Only Garmin and Sky
not fielding a team leader type at the end, with neither substitute likely to feature.
Why do ASO call it a prologue?
Damn anarchists, the UCI rules says that a prologue “must not exceed 8 km”. I won’t sleep until ASO change.
Badger, badger, badger, badger, badger, badger...
Perhaps
But a rider who crashes out of thr prologue is still permitted to start the first stage. A prologue that’s not really a prologue is a bit too vague here.
Badger, badger, badger, badger, badger, badger...
by TheFigurehead on Jul 2, 2010 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions
i thought that too...
"I was watching the Tour de France in 2005, just being a fan again. I thought, ‘you're a fucking idiot. You're a bike fan who gets to ride the Tour de France.'"
- david millar
Funny thing
The distance from my house to the prologue route is actually smaller than the length of the first stage itself.
But I’ll be biking it with my two sons in the front and back seat so it will be a harder day in the saddle for me. Plus, I have to drive back too!
Money is the best doping. - Gerrie Kneteman
sounds awesome, have a great time!
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on Jul 2, 2010 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions
but the overall won’t be won or lost today
Señor Delgado por favor, llamada para el Señor Delgado ;)
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
Ha!
Badger, badger, badger, badger, badger, badger...
by TheFigurehead on Jul 2, 2010 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions
Huh?
Not sure I follow. But um, yes, this is how the stage previews are for the Tour.
And um, since they took me a shit ton of time, I’m really not open to changing them ;)
Ok.. The "what is a stage preview without picking favorites" preview
Dudes and Dudettes, Billdozer, and anti-mascottes, cycling haters and Australian, dear people and Phil..
We did it again.. We beat freaking Brazil.. Last time we did that was in 1974! And what is even more strange.. The Tour also started one day after that victory! 26 juni 1974.. Of course there was only one who could win the prologue.. Eddy Merckx.. They started in Brest.. lost his jersey at Karstens but of course won it back and won the thing before… Poulidor.. (The whole Tour)
Now.. 36 years later.. we have 2 bridges to tackle.. a Boulevard to ride.. 600000 peoples to overcome and one man to beat… Or 2.. Or 3.. Or 4.. Because there are looots of favorites.. Or at least in my mind..
If we go back to the Giro we’ve seen what the audience can do with Rabobank.. All Rabobank because I was called smart when I said after the prologue.. “No madame. Not all the orange riders are Dutch.. You also cheered for some Russian, Colombian and Australian…” Ooh.. So They don’t care.. Everything in orange.. Rabo orange is shouted to victory.. Tjalingii in his first Tour is going to get a kick out of it. Top 10 I say.. Menchov has race in the legs after the Giro.. Top 5 I would say.. And that was it for Rabo… Ooh wait.. They are going to ride over “De Boompjes” Let’s see who is going to honor his name… (Or maybe he plant himself there… Which would be very cool)
Hushovd! The Norwegian God.. The Thunder belt of Scandinavia.. The fear from.. from who not? After his impressive time trial in Suisse I’ll give you my hot favorite here..
The little thunder can also be good.. the Who the fack is Merckx.. Altho I don’t think he dear to swear.. Ubertalented he is.. Good enough for stage win? Enlighten me….. (Did you get him???!?! YEs but you didn;t think it was funny… Thunder off!)
Serious competition btw of Wiggins! Did really good in Giro.. The one who rides second of the two is going to win this battle.. Both top 5.. Which is very crowded.. The top 5.. B/c little Thomas… is also not too far away
Cancellara.. The living motor without a motor.. Impressive in Suisse.. But he has an off day tomorrow.. You can’t win everything can you?
T. Martin is and remains a German… But second he will be.. Too bad he has to help Cavendish the rest for the Tour..
Other noticable.. Kreuziger and Millar…
My picks to fail: Levi, Kloden and Evans.. First 2 not too impressive in Suisse. Other hasn’t race since the Giro.. Which is the same preparation.. as the man who was passed by Cance last year…
Viva Hollandia….
by Frinking on Jul 2, 2010 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
Bravo, Frinkster!
But I have to ask… which Australian?… and what about the rest of us? Or do the other Aussies fall under the category of ‘dear people’ (because we know that you love us dearly)….
PS - I am very happy for your win
… my boss is gonna regret the day that he wallpapered my workspace with photos of the Brazil NT…
Yes a repeat of 1974 please!!!!!
Los Geht's Deutschland!!!!
Down with Argentina!!!!
Quitter's People United member # 42
Ok.. You got me scared...
But I haven’t used the words “Repeat of 1974”
Thank God I’m not that stupid..
no thanks, we finally have a German team that I like to watch
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on Jul 2, 2010 5:42 PM EDT up reply actions
West Germans
what do you expect? Result the same please, this time unified and diverse and much more pleasant to watch.
Los Geht's Deutschland!!!!
Down with Argentina!!!!
Quitter's People United member # 42
by Phil H. on Jul 2, 2010 5:51 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
hehe
ich hab’ vergessen, dass du aus Ost-Deutschland war
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on Jul 2, 2010 11:04 PM EDT up reply actions
"The Thunder belt of Scandinavia." Love it - Classic Frinkster!
Though I still want Cance to win! ;-)
Because he took a medicine against his...
eeeh ass problems which wasn’t allowed. Not sure if they going to replace him.. But quiet hint.. Theo Bos lives in Holland
His ass will be more sore if CTT aren't allowed a replacement,
they’ll kick him back to France.
Why are riders so frigging thick? I get random tested at my work place, we have a list of banned incredients and prescriptions, when at the Doctor’s we tell him that we have these restrictions. That way no opiates, codeine etc are prescribed, no failed tests. Athletes, so often, end up in this predicament.
Read the instructions, you cocks.
"Why are riders so frigging thick?"
There’s a blindingly obvious answer to that question. & it is, unfortunately, that quite often they aren’t. :-(
"I was just trying to keep warm" - Ian Stannard on finishing third in KBK
197 riders left, and Tour is still about 12 hours away!
How many will we see in Paris? My prediction 135! Yours?
"The structure of our sport needs to change towards a model of other successful professional sports like soccer, tennis, Formula 1," Johan Bruyneel.
Don't forget to play Phil's awesome game!
OK shameless plug but what can I say, I have no shame…
Los Geht's Deutschland!!!!
Down with Argentina!!!!
Quitter's People United member # 42
Yes and I am actually an arabian prince
just give me all your personal information and I will have some sleek things delivered to you…FOR FREE!!!!
Los Geht's Deutschland!!!!
Down with Argentina!!!!
Quitter's People United member # 42
tvvsgsiouweiiifgfgdfdsadsdf
Nike sneakers: Five dollars or 28 pounds
Andre Agassi vintage mouth piece: .0000008 cents
Lance Armstrong twitter profile pic: 23,000,000 dollars
Great prices on crazy Dutch football fans smoked marijuana
Replica Maradona wig for just 8 bratwursts: Food goes directly to charity of his choice
tvssshgoopoossssgvgvvvaaaooooo!!!!!!!!
Los Geht's Deutschland!!!!
Down with Argentina!!!!
Quitter's People United member # 42
Sorry
I’m too old to use that emoticon. I will cease forthwith from such behviour for the foreseeable future.
Lance...angry...angry...Lance
Los Geht's Deutschland!!!!
Down with Argentina!!!!
Quitter's People United member # 42
Don't worry
a carrier pigeon will soon arrive. Please give it your credit card and all will be fine, don’t be alarmed when it fly’s off.
Los Geht's Deutschland!!!!
Down with Argentina!!!!
Quitter's People United member # 42
Vamos Vamos Argentina!
Hey, Phil!
No meter what will happen tomorrow we have our anesthesia – Le Tour!
Life is not fear! Need proof? Did you see any Vacansoleil Jersey in this year’s TDF?
.
Well holmovka
the WC is by far the biggest sporting event in the world for me and having a chance to root for my country in our national sport is always an honor. It would absolutely crush me to see the team lose even if I fear it will happen tomorrow or sometime this tourny, it still is always crushing. Thanks for the support though :)
Los Geht's Deutschland!!!!
Down with Argentina!!!!
Quitter's People United member # 42
\I love football, but for me it is still just a game. Cycling on the other hand, is my madness and all consuming passion!
Life is not fear! Need proof? Did you see any Vacansoleil Jersey in this year’s TDF?
.
Usually I fully agree
but I see the WC as different, it is not about the game or the players, it is about the country and people coming together and feeling nationalistic pride for a peaceful reason(not counting hooligans). It was almost like being in a different dimension when I was in Germany in 06. Seeing the country so proud of itself for the first time in my lifetime really was special and I here the same thing is happening again this year, same with other footy loving nations. When we lost I was truly lost for a while, one of the weirdest feeling I had ever experienced. But of course many don’t see it as that important, just my take.
Los Geht's Deutschland!!!!
Down with Argentina!!!!
Quitter's People United member # 42
gdr...
music to Phil’s ears! ;)
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on Jul 2, 2010 11:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh I forgot
DA HAMMAR AND DA SICKLE
Los Geht's Deutschland!!!!
Down with Argentina!!!!
Quitter's People United member # 42
Thanks for the links
I’m going to read the third live thread tonight so I find out who wins! Unfortunately I’m going to miss the live fun tomorrow, but not even I can pass on my parents 57th anniversary celebration for the prologue.
*The Swiss Mr.*
Fabian Cancellara will overcome Orange WC celebratory broken green glass strewn streets of Rotterdam by repeating this phrase as He powers along,“Don’t mow my lawn,don’t mow my lawn.”
Anybody who predicts Cance for a win must be a good guy....welcome.
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
Welcome Franc! We are all Cancelara’s fans here!
Life is not fair! Need proof? Did you see any Vacansoleil Jersey in this year’s TDF?
.
* Long Time Rider,First Time Poster*
I’m a Manxman who has had the passion since T. Simpson had his shunt w/drugs. Raced and trained w/Ochow,Heidens,Connie Carpenter etc. Owned a cycle shop for 40 yrs. Faves all time- Frans Verbeeck and Sean K. If you’ve got bugs in your teeth after an outing, you’re a rider for me. Looking forward to this Tour and the comments on this site.
Wow! You'll have great stories to tell us all.
(When you forget to hit the reply button, it’s called seahorsing…. to reply directly to a comment, the reply button is your friend. Obviously I took a long time to learn this).
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
* Comcast tools and a poor worksman*
My internet service ,courtesy of Comcast , bugs off every 10 mins or so ,and this compu machine is circa 2000. That and the one handed hunt and peck typing, adds up to slow. No excuses I’ll get better.
by frans verbiage on Jul 2, 2010 9:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Thanks for the Tip Seahorse
An aside, If any one reading here is interested in TDF fantasy games . the Internet TDF2010 Game site is worth a looksey.This game is free,legit,simple and fun. From the Netherlands ,it’s been running for 17 yrs. I have no self interest in the site ,but the challenge of putting your expertise up against these"Lowlanders" is a challenge. Check it out.Site mgr. Erik S has put a lot of work in making this work over timeand deserves participation.
by frans verbiage on Jul 2, 2010 10:26 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm in the Rabo fantasy game, where all Australians cost more than Cance :)
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
The Dutch game is free
That’s just an international monetery exchange abberation. Check that Dutch game out Sea. The only thing at stake there is pride. I was married[at different times] to both an Aussie and a Swiss. Both costs exceeded my Pay Pal abilities.On balance,i’d probably choose the Outback over the bogus hot frommage. Beware McEwen in this go round. He’ll want to go out w/a bang.
by frans verbiage on Jul 2, 2010 10:47 PM EDT up reply actions
Hey! Welcome.
Finally someone from my era.
I’ve been a fan and rider since Tommy Simpson time as well. There’s a lot of newbies (ten-twenty year fans, you know what I mean) at the cafe, so give them a break ;).
Fan of Sean Kelly, ‘nuff said.
Please excuse the grief we IFPs give your young Manxman, he’s a good lad and fast.
Fan can :Thanks ,met Sean and rode w/him in 99
I have signed jerseys and K signed International Cycle sports from him from the 70’s. That’s all beside the point. Hope this doen’t offend the feline enthusiasts out there, but there’s a reason that the Manx Cats have no tails. They shouldn’t be resting in the road when we cycle by.
by frans verbiage on Jul 3, 2010 2:47 AM EDT up reply actions
Mine is free too... they give you a fantasy pool of 65,000 Euros...
The best thing is that you can transfer cyclists in and out, although last year I couldn’t bear to part with a Swiss and an Aussie: Cancellara and O’Grady… I confess to keeping Kloden through thick and thin as well. Needless to say I didn’t win..
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
Your my new favorite =] Favorite all time is Verbeeck
Tommeke!, Tommeke!, Tommeke!, Tommeke!
by Vlaanderen90 on Jul 3, 2010 12:24 AM EDT up reply actions
Wow
Things here sure are organized
Nice job, i am really looking forward to following the Tour here
moo
Glad you found it
So Willj,How do you see this Boucle working out?
by frans verbiage on Jul 2, 2010 10:35 PM EDT up reply actions
For another fantasy game, go to Phil's Epicicity fanpost to predict stage winners every day... fun
and you’ll get to know lots of regulars here at the cafe.
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
I have trained my pupils well I see...
Los Geht's Deutschland!!!!
Down with Argentina!!!!
Quitter's People United member # 42
Phil
How will I find your stage by stage links/
by frans verbiage on Jul 3, 2010 2:58 AM EDT up reply actions
I noticed you found it :)
Phil has us all well trained…
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
YES!
profiles
"It's a lovely thing, feeling that momentum. If you're lucky, it's also about grace." Tim Winton
Sorry, but I've not read the thread.
Wiggins will wind, wear yellow, declare victory and fade like a pair a cheap… jeans.
First spectators are taking the prime spots along the route
I’ll be leaving in a little less than 3 hours. I want to go see the commercial caravan and will probably see the first 20-30 riders before I head home.
Money is the best doping. - Gerrie Kneteman
if you're in the UK
ITV4 coverage (for those of us w/o sky) starts at 5pm. which is nice, because argentina should dispose of germany over 90 minutes, then we can flip the channel.
"I was watching the Tour de France in 2005, just being a fan again. I thought, ‘you're a fucking idiot. You're a bike fan who gets to ride the Tour de France.'"
- david millar
that was posted pre-game...
and yes, i am a fool.
"I was watching the Tour de France in 2005, just being a fan again. I thought, ‘you're a fucking idiot. You're a bike fan who gets to ride the Tour de France.'"
- david millar
Albertina=excited, and also a little hung over.
A small bike ride might fix this, or not. See you later! :-))
"A mountain is not an obstacle, it is an opportunity" - Robert Millar
I love the course
I think this course is fantastic. I have put some information about it on my blog website here: CyclingPeloton.com
Happy prologue for you…!! enjoy the race.
Cheers, Charlie Sprocket
by Charlie Sprocket on Jul 3, 2010 8:55 AM EDT reply actions
are we there yet? are we there yet?
My self-imposed 11-month avoidance of cycling came to an end on Thursday night, and now I’m jumping out of my skin to get started.
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