Nationals this week, Cavendish confirmed as riding as well as 9 Sky riders: Geraint Thomas, Peter Kennaugh, Ian Stannard, Russell Downing, Alex Dowsett, Chris Froome, Jeremy Hunt, Ben Swift and Bradley Wiggins.

Not seen the route map but it's Northumberland so presumably some bumps to get over.

They've already backed away from that this year. There was an interview with Brailsford a while back saying they needed to adopt a different approach and that seems to be paying off, as you rightly say 2011 has been far better than 2010.

As luck would have it, with Wiggins not riding the TdF in 2012, they can build a Tour team around Cavendish for 2012 and go for the green jersey.

If that's the verdict and he knows it's correct he should come clean, no holds barred, reveal absolutely everything and take the hit. However, will he? No chance, he's in too deep I fear and he'll continue to protest his innocence.

I fancy a wee flutter on Chris Froome. Don't think Brad will be busting a gut for this.

Full start list: www.northernrockcyclone.co.uk/Ri ... RideID=211

Full start list: www.northernrockcyclone.co.uk/Ri ... RideID=211

Sky TdF team announced tomorrow. Radioshack have left Robbie McEwen out to focus on a tilt at the GC: www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011 ... ction=more

Sky TdF team announced tomorrow. Radioshack have left Robbie McEwen out to focus on a tilt at the GC: www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011 ... ction=more

Interesting team by Sky. Never expected Henderson to be left out. Seems they are looking to help Wiggo whilst helping EBH and Swift to share the sprinting between themselves. Also Gerrans could be handy on the slightly hilly finishes to take on Gilbert. Not that I expect anyone to beast Gilbert in those.

I now have to work out whether its worth adding him to my team for the first week of racing.

Swift over Henderson makes sense, Swift has the better results this year and is at Sky long term.
Glad Sky will ride in their green kit as well, it will help me not to confuse them with Garmin!

Well I'll eat my hat. Not seen any reporting on the race but he's obviously in good shape. Just hope he isn't peaking too soon.

Not heard any other news on EBH this weekend but on Saturday they were reporting that he had shingles. If this is the case then who will be replacing him in the Tdf line up?

Stannard or Hayman apparently but likewise, I've seen nothing since the original report. Sky seem to be keeping their cards close to their chest. Current TdF starters: www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/lat ... iding.html Highlights of the Nationals are on ITV4 on Saturday, between TdF stage 1 live coverage and highlights.

Stannard or Hayman apparently but likewise, I've seen nothing since the original report. Sky seem to be keeping their cards close to their chest. Current TdF starters: www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/lat ... iding.html Highlights of the Nationals are on ITV4 on Saturday, between TdF stage 1 live coverage and highlights.

I'm starting to get quite excited now. No cycling on telly for a while so really looking forward to it.

I want Cav to finally win that green jersey
I want Wiggo to podium or at least top 5
I want contador to get boo'd every turn of the pedal.
I want Phillipe Gilbert to show that he's not just a classics monster
I want Wiggo to beat Spartacus in the ITT
And most importantly I hope all the peloton make it through safely and no one badly injuried as in the past few races.

I'm on holiday all next week but........don't think our holiday cottage has a tv. Booooo! Also, pretty sure my wife and son would not be too impressed with me glued to the tv for a week.

I'm excited too but......the presence of Contador offends me hugely. I'll not be happy unless he's gobbed at constantly during every stage and he pulls out of the race in a flood of tears. He ruined the Giro for me and now he's about to ruin the Tour.

Cav - Green jersey? I hope so, I really do. If he can pull that off along with a Worlds jersey at the end of the year then maybe just maybe I have a chance of winning nearly a grand from my occasional £2 bets on betfair for BBC SPOTY. Although I think Rory McIlroy may have put paid to that for this year.

Wiggo - Top 10 would be good, top 5 would be 'hat' and podium would be immense. He could have got on the podium 2 years ago had he not been on the wrong side of a split in the peleton early doors. That's the key for Team Sky - they need to keep Wiggo at the front on tricky days and avoid needless losses of time. Perhaps Clenbutador has tired legs from the Giro. If so....and if Schleck is in no form then Wiggo has a better shot at the podium.

Schleck (Jnr) - Can he grow a pair and de-throne Alpuerto Clenbutador? He's either keeping his powder exceedingly dry this year or he's in no form at all.

Echo all that Fungus. As well as the TdF coverage and highlights of the nationals on Saturday, ITV4 are showing the HTC documentary Chasing Legends on 14 July.



I think that's done and dusted already.

Quality - I've been meaning to buy that for a while.

As for SPOTY - I don't see Rory with a page 3 'stunna' girlfriend - there's hope for Cav yet (think I'll go stick another £2 on him.....just in case).

Quote ="Haggis Fax"Not heard any other news on EBH this weekend...'" Fit to race: www.teamsky.com/article/0,27290, ... 63,00.html

Quote ="Haggis Fax"Not heard any other news on EBH this weekend...'" Fit to race: www.teamsky.com/article/0,27290, ... 63,00.html

Hadn't thought of that. A week of Peta on page 3 with Cav's voting number underneath should clinch it.

watched the first stage today, think the organisers got the stage they wanted and good to see contador lose some time, if the better riders are behind it can make the mountain stages even more interesting

Thought it was a great first stage. Plenty happened to shake things up. Not just the crashes, but also the teams contesting the intermediate sprint.

I was against the idea of abandoning the prologue but with hindsight the organisers got it spot on. The fact some of the big guns lost time in the first stage was a great start to the tour, nice to see Gilbert get a win and the TTT returning was great to see. I thought Cancellara was as immense as ever yesterday.

The super sprint seems to be having the desired effect as well. Was strange to see HTC leading out for, in essence, minor placings.

Well, 1st bizarre decision of the tour by the commisaires yesterday. Neither Cav nor Hushovd complained, neither of them impeded anyone else yet both are dq'd.

Great finish from the Manx Missile.

Get in Cav.

Neither complained as they knew it would get them nowhere other than a fine as Happened to Saxo bank arguing about beefsteaks loss of time on day 1.

At least they are sticking to their guns and dishing out similar treatment to yesterdays intermediate sprint following Cav being cut up.

Awesome win by Cav on a stage he wasn't really expected to win due to the incline. He came from nowhere after it looked like he'd dropped right off.

Amazing day as well yesterday. A true war of attrition for the peloton due to how nervous they all were. Not to mention what happened to Sorensen after the moto rider ( now no longer a moto rider) took his bike away from him

Let's hope he can get Stage win number two tomorrow.

Won the same Stage route before so should have every chance.