Thursday, July 25, 2013

Broom Wagon: Tour Wrap Up

FroomeDogg livin' the dream

Chris Froome's dominant performance in this year's Tour just goes to show why Bill is no longer the neo pro, but rather Maillot Jaune Guillaume.  Bill retains his strangle hold on the yellow jersey.  His 400 plus point effort has moved him ever so close to the coveted first place.

Smoke'em if you got'em

Team Wiskota Dynamic was able to hold on to the top spot on the leader board thanks to the green jersey of Sagan and a late podium push by Joaquin "Purito" Rodriguez.  For those of you that don't know his nickname Purito means little cigar. Third Grand Tour Podium in a row for JRod, so spark it up little buddy, you earned it.

Kittel: so Euro, so cool

Coming into the Tour Volpe looked to be in trouble.  No real GC threat to be seen.  He would have to rely on Cav to rack up some stage wins maybe the green jersey.  Well Cav got two stages, but no green.  Respectable but not gonna cut it points wise.  Enter Marcel Kittel.  Four stages and in impressive manner.  This guy's the real deal!

Dude looks tired

Fujarky was unable to win his first Grand Tour but his rider, Alberto Contador managed to keep it exciting until the end.  With Contador's 4th place a couple other high placings and some stage wins by Greips and Danny Boy, Fujarky has closed the gap between himself and Team Volpe.

Tiger Beat Cover Model

Taco's pride and joy, Jacob Fuglsang proved many a doubter wrong finishing this year's Tour with a strong top ten.  The teen heart throb looks to only get better now that he has the support of the entire Kazak nation.  Team Dirty Sanchez's took a hit when team leader Valverde got left behind after a puncture.  However, he did fight back to finish in the top ten and may be the favorite to win the Vuelta.

Second place, king of the mountains, white jersey,  Colombia for life. Deuces.

Project Forza pro continental squad p/b Gregario has officially been rebranded as Team Forza.  After Gregeario's top point getting performance at the Tour, Forza has got the call back up into the big leagues.  At one point Gregario had 5 riders in the top ten.  Of course it was not to finish that way but the meteoric rise of one Nairo Quintana has saved Gregario's season and made him a contender again.  Best free agent pick up of the year.  Followed closely by the Quiet One, Michel Kwiatkowski.  Gregario's team surpassed expectations and with a team built for the Vuelta the top of the WFL leader board better take note.

That Tour was the shit!  Sure Froome had the lead forever, but it never seemed completely safe.  Some great attacks, new stars and an amazing course made this the best tour in recent memory.  Thoughts?  Favorite moments?  Hit up the comments.  Wiskota!




Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Broom Wagon: Tour Edition

Well I missed my opportunity on the rest day, but I guess it’s kind of the half-way point of the tour depending upon how you count, so let’s do an update of how things are going at this year’s tour.

GC Battle

Forza

-          Mollema: Maybe the revelation of this tour, but mostly just Dutch
-          Costa:  High placing right now, gonna be hard to hold it helping Valverde
-          Nitro Katana:  This little shit is hardcore, probably going to take white and crack Froome
-          Peraud:  Top 15 here I come!
-          Nocentini: Is he in this race?

Volpe

-          Andy: Gotta say, not looking that bad. Top 10?  And even more surprising no jokes from the Commish.
-          Basso: Still soaking his infected taint

Wiskota Dynamic

-          JRod: Too hot? Come on buddy.  Still has a chance come the Alps
-          Jerkin’: I’m going to go home and drain my knee.
-          TVG: But my power meter says…
-          Gesink: Lost 8 minutes on a flat stage. “I’m getting stronger each day” -actual tweet
-          Talansky: U.S.A. U.S.A. U.S.A.
-          Cunego:  Lampre blows
-          Niemiec: Lampre blows
-          Brajkovic:  Landed on his face, bring on the Vuelta!
-          Moreno:  Still hanging in there with JRod, got pipped for third, shhhhh

Guilluame

-          Froome: Well, they don’t call him Maillot Jaune Guilluame for nothing.
-          Kreuziger:  Looking stronger than Contador
-          Porte: So, glad this dude cracked, I was starting to get pissed.
-          Anton: Hanging around

Fujarky

-          Contador: Needs more of that “good meat”, still think he attacks big time in the Alps
-          Evans: Still shooting for a top ten. BMC has really pussed out.
-          Hesjedal:  I don’t really understand this guy.  Already like a half an hour back.
-          Danny Martin:  Kicking ass.  Going to get dropped in the Alps.
-          Santambrogio: Come on Steven, get with the transfers
-          Pinot: Dude has a speed phobia? Lost 30 minutes on a descent, then cried. True story.
-          Monfort: Uhh, not horrible I guess.
-          Zubeldia: Broke his hand, still rolling.
-          Nieve: Climb baby, climb! Possible top ten this year.

Taco

-          Valverde:  Podium. With a kick ass team, he may have the best shot of topping Froome.
-          DeGendt: Not sure what he’s going for here. 
-          Fuglsang: Taco’s pride and joy has stepped it up. Currently 11th overall.
-          Rolland: “I’m not aiming for the Polka Dot jersey”. Totally wearing Polka Dots.

Sprinters/Wild Cards

Forza

-          Gilbert: Any day now…
-          Boassen Hagen:  Keep racking up those 4th place finishes.
-          Voekler:  If the camera’s out the tongue’s out. Not sure if he’ll get one this year.
-          Westra:  Apparently, he is going to get in every break.
-          Kwiatkowski:  The Quiet One does it all.  White jersey?

Volpe

-          Cav: Got some ground to make up if he wants Green.  Still getting points.
-          Roche:  Non factor?
-          Kittel:  Wow, dude is fast.  Already 2 wins.  Big German sprinters!

Wiskota Dynamic

-          Sagan:  Hulk smash!  Gotta get that Green ya’ll.
-          Chava:  So many chances so far, a few more to come.
-          Geraint: Broke his fucking taint

Guillaume

-          T. Martin: We should just TT every day.  Survived a tough crash early on.
-          Gerrans:  Beat Sagan in a sprint, took yellow, sounds like a leprechaun
-          Goss:  I mean really, we still have to talk about this guy?
-          Terpstra: Keep closing those gaps for Cav.

Fujarky

-          Greipel:  1 stage win, lost one to Kittel, another German sprinter. There can be only one!

Taco

-          Moser: Keep closing those gaps for Sagan
-          Degenkolb:  Less mustache more sprinting

The Race

-          Corsica: Bomb.  Let the carnage begin
-          Team Time Trial:  Whatever, I guess
-          Mainland: “Are you not Greipertained!?”
-           Team Sky: Our sports science is too tight
-          Team Sky:  Damn, I’m tired
-          Movistar: The Triumvirate will prevail
-          Saturday: Getting drunk Tour style
-          Mount Ventoux: Can’t wait