Chapeau Nibali !

I like Nibali......though I was never quite sure why he'd join Astana, but still.......

A couple of years ago it looked like we might be in for a period of Wiggo v Nibali as the two main guys and Nibali always struck me as the more dashing and adventurous of the two...........

I hope Yorkshire impressed, we were all out in force. I was out in my garden at the top of Jenkin. Thank you for coming to Yorkshire, TdF, come back soon.

Looking at the names on the Strava segment for Buttertubs, not sure anyone in that lead group is uploading.

I don't think anyone was suggesting this would be quite the overall GC stage it turned out. Great move by Nibali despite only getting two seconds in the end.

Kwiatkowski third; the OPQS Plan B?

Modolo is out too. First two retirements of the race, both part of my fantasy 9 man roster. Expect Mollema to jack it in tomorrow and the rest over next week.

Could the UK have a one day classic race? That would be a decent standalone race.

oh dear........that's a bit unfortunate !

Didn't they used to have one a few years back as part of the World Cup series?

around kent........Rochester ?

yes........just looked it up

it was the Rochester Classic,.........but it seems it only lasted one year (1997) !

There's the London Surrey later this year, basically the Olympic course.

http://www.prudentialridelondon.co.u...ey_Classic.htm

agreed totally epic sporting event... the huge crowds made the hair stand on end (the bit I have left)

Not seen anything of the Schleck brothers so far. I do miss seeing Andy up front.

sadly they are not the force they were a few years ago

What a great couple of days up north!

Now for the Southern section.

Hopefully one day Cheshire will get a go!

Good to see Nibali win today, probably won't beat Contador/ Froome, but won't be far behind,

Well there you go, drugs work after all.

Don't know if he's personna non grata on this thread , but there's a docu on Lance Armstrong on BBC 4 at 9pm tonight

The programme was pretty scary just looking at the sheer psychopathic nature of Lance. Even up to his confession he had plenty of fans and supporters defending his name. It is criminal how he used the goodwill and hopes of so many people to further his aims.

great documentary

It was a great documentary, and just re-emphasised just what sort of a bully and a coward he actually is.

That tweet he sent out which they showed right at the end, of him sitting there with his fake shirts on the wall, still riles me up to this very day!
He is just so arrogant, and just not deserving of any "hero worship" at all.

His only defence mechanism is to sue people who disagree with his ways and methods, just said it all really.
The fact that he isn't rotting in a jail cell is a travisty really.

Armstrong still has a massive fanbase. Look at his Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/lancearmstrong?fref=ts

One of his greatest apologists was Phil Liggett the ITV Commentator on the Tour. So much so that when USADA stripped LA of his titles Liggett claimed on South African Radio to have proof that unnamed politicians motivated by jealousy had fabricated the evidence against Armstrong by bribing witnesses. It wasn't until LA confessed that Liggett expressed shock and disappointment that LA had lied to him.

Anyway enough of that cheat. What a weekend. I'm down on the Mall at lunchtime - I've been incredibly lucky and invited to a "do" at the ICA.

Great to see Gary Verity confirm this morning that a Tour of Yorkshire backed by UCI and BC will take place in May next year.

tbh I'm so bored with the whole Armstrong and drugs 'thing' that I've stopped watching anything to do with it..........but if you're still interested there's another documentary film about Armstrong on C4 tonight at 9.00pm........

Radio Times have awarded it 'Film of the Day' so it's probably quite good but it does go on for two and a half hours........

Just reading the blurb it appears that the film-maker had access to the Armstrong camp with the intention of making a film about his comeback 3 or 4 years ago.....but events overtook them

I thought it was very good, definitely worth watching. Alex Gibney is a great documentary maker.

There was a Leeds/Wincanton Classic

There is the 2014 Tour Of Britain in September http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Tour_of_Britain

Bit strange seeing cycling on ITV on a weekday, The main channel isn't showing rubbish today.

But very welcome indeed! I could get used to this.