Tour of Britain

[Some Gump]

.. Details finally announced.

Looks like a crit in Liverpool, then a not very bumpy ride through north wales to llandudno. This then goes to a more bumpy trek down the spine of wales, ending with a really spicy looking hill finish.

Stage 4 looks like a lumpyish trek from Worcester to Bristol, then 5 is a nice looking circular route from exeter to exmouth, via Dartmoor. This looks like a really good one for spectators, because if you're clever you can see them twice very easily..

Stage 6 is Bath to Hemel, then 7 snakes from Camberley to Brighton. The last stage is interesting beacuse it's split. The time trial looks utterly pointless (8.8 miles, I mean at least make it a 10), before the final 10 lap circuit in London.

Overall, I'm really looking forward to it. I reckon I'll go to the first 2 stages, but I'm not as chuffed with stage 2 as last year - it doesn't look nearly as lumpy. If I can get a vantage point of any sort for Liverpool, I'll be chuffed though.

So, who's watching it live? I'll be riding from Cheshire to the first 2 stages, I'll keep an eye out for PH jerseys =)

[Fugazi]

Have the routes been updated yet? When I looked a few weeks ago they didn't show much detail, but as I'm just outside Liverpool I'll be there.

[okgo]

8.8 miles is enough for Wiggins to put a minute into everyone and win again.

[whatleytom]

I'm going to watch stage 6 although I've not worked out exactly where yet. Anyone local got any good ideas?

[Talksteer]

okgo said:

8.8 miles is enough for Wiggins to put a minute into everyone and win again.

Depends, unless he's racing Tony Martin he normally needs 20 miles to put a minute into the second place guy. That assumes that the second place guy is the main contender.

Uk Nationals 2014 Elite men; 26 miles hilly

1 Bradley Wiggins Sky ProCycling 00:53:56
2 Geraint Thomas Sky ProCycling 00:55:04 +1:08
3 Alex Dowsett Movistar 00:55:17 + 1:23
4 Luke Rowe Sky ProCycling 00:56:55
5 James McLaughlin Guidon Chalettois 00:57:16

Tour of Callifornia 2014 ITT 12.7 miles

1 Bradley Wiggins (GBR) Team Sky 23' 18"
2 Rohan Dennis (AUS) Garmin-Sharp + 44"
3 Taylor Phinney (USA) BMC Racing Team + 52"
4 Eloy Teruel (ESP) Jamis-Hagens Berman + 1' 08"
5 Jesse Sergent (NZL) Trek Factory Racing + 1' 11"
6 Jack Bobridge (AUS) Belkin Pro Cycling + 1' 15"
7 Tiago Machado (POR) Team NetApp-Endura + 1' 19"
8 Markel Irizar (ESP) Trek Factory Racing + 1' 21"
9 Jens Voigt (GER) Trek Factory Racing + 1' 24"
10 Chad Haga (USA) Giant-Shimano + 1' 25"

My guess is a 30 second advantage over second place and up to a minute on anyone capable of taking any time off him on a short climb.

[anonymous-user]

Although Wiggins is one of the more tactically astute riders in the ToB, he may well be >30 seconds down on GC come the TT, those final kms up Bridge Valley Road and on to the downs in Bristol on stage 4 will see a few attacks...

[Matt_N]

I'll be out and about on the Wednesday for stage 4, coming along some very local roads.

[okgo]

Talksteer said:

Depends, unless he's racing Tony Martin he normally needs 20 miles to put a minute into the second place guy. That assumes that the second place guy is the main contender.

Uk Nationals 2014 Elite men; 26 miles hilly

1 Bradley Wiggins Sky ProCycling 00:53:56
2 Geraint Thomas Sky ProCycling 00:55:04 +1:08
3 Alex Dowsett Movistar 00:55:17 + 1:23
4 Luke Rowe Sky ProCycling 00:56:55
5 James McLaughlin Guidon Chalettois 00:57:16

Tour of Callifornia 2014 ITT 12.7 miles

1 Bradley Wiggins (GBR) Team Sky 23' 18"
2 Rohan Dennis (AUS) Garmin-Sharp + 44"
3 Taylor Phinney (USA) BMC Racing Team + 52"
4 Eloy Teruel (ESP) Jamis-Hagens Berman + 1' 08"
5 Jesse Sergent (NZL) Trek Factory Racing + 1' 11"
6 Jack Bobridge (AUS) Belkin Pro Cycling + 1' 15"
7 Tiago Machado (POR) Team NetApp-Endura + 1' 19"
8 Markel Irizar (ESP) Trek Factory Racing + 1' 21"
9 Jens Voigt (GER) Trek Factory Racing + 1' 24"
10 Chad Haga (USA) Giant-Shimano + 1' 25"

My guess is a 30 second advantage over second place and up to a minute on anyone capable of taking any time off him on a short climb.

It was a throw away comment. 40-60 seconds IMO. Depends who else rides. Usually a fairly average roster doing TOB.

Don't under estimate how much training in TT mode he will be doing for the worlds. If it's a fairly standard drag strip it will favour him more than something technical like the Nationals.

[anonymous-user]

I guess its a case of wait and see who is in for La Vuelta and then make an educated guess from there but based on the Lotto team for La Vuelta as an example, Gallopin, Bak, Roelandts and Gripel could all feature... GB teams go well and NFTO are having a great year, chance of an upset is low but always there.

UCI Pro Teams
• Belkin Pro Cycling (NED)
• BMC Racing Team (USA)
• Garmin Sharp (USA)
• Movistar Team (SPA)
• Omega Pharma Quick-Step (BEL)
• Team Giant Shimano (NED)
• Team Sky (GBR)
• Tinkoff Saxo (RUS)

UCI Pro Continental Teams
• Bardiani CSF (ITA)
• IAM Cycling (SWI)
• MTN Qhubeka (RSA)
• Team NetApp Endura (Ger)
• Team Novo Nordisk (USA)

UCI Continental Teams
• AN Post Chain Reacton (IRL)
• Madison Genesis (GBR)
• NFTO Pro Cycling (GBR)
• Giordana Racing Team (GBR)
• Rapha Condor JLT (GBR)
• Team Raleigh (GBR)

National Teams
• Great Britain (GBR)

[tobinen]

The Friday stage takes them right past my work so will look forward to that.

[richardxjr]

Stage 7, Sat 13th, Beachy Head. 15mins by mtb from my house.

[okgo]

richardxjr said:

Stage 7, Sat 13th, Beachy Head. 15mins by mtb from my house.

Hard riding round there. Did a race there last year. So exposed.

[Vocal Minority]

The Worcester to Bristol stage takes in a lot of my old commute and weekend rides. Will head out to see a bit, will pick a point on the climb in Malvern somewhere.

[yellowjack]

richardxjr said:

Stage 7, Sat 13th, Beachy Head. 15mins by mtb from my house.

I'm at the other end of Stage 7, near the start in Camberley. I'll be looking at the front end of the route for a decent spot to watch it, with a view to riding there again (last year I got 'spotted' twice on the telly in my PH jersey). It won't be as good for me as a spectator this time, as last year I got three bites of the cherry within a few hundred yards. This year I reckon I'll have to be satisfied with one glimpse of the peloton as it makes it's way south.

[Jonnny]

Is it worth going to the beginning of a race like this? Will I be able to get near the bikes/riders or will they be in a pen fenced off away from the public?

The race goes past the end of my road, albeit in the neutralised section but want to know if it's worth me getting into Camberley instead..

[okgo]

They could be giving away free money and it still wouldn't be worth heading into Camberley...

[Logbert]

At least they arnt coming to yorkshire thank chuff

[anonymous-user]

Logbert said:

At least they arnt coming to yorkshire thank chuff

Not until May 2015....

[Logbert]

pablo said:

Not until May 2015....

Doh!

[okgo]

Logbert said:

Doh!

Why?