SOCCERROO FOX Posted 21 July 2011 Posted 21 July 2011 Only for 5 days, came over a couple of days before New Year and then went onto Sydney for the last test match. Yep thats it, funny thing was we kept being removed from the casino then walking back in and going downstairs for the poker Fantastic place though, felt like you were in a major city but a far more relaxed feel to anything, cracking pub in the town as well opposite Flinders street st....Union jack i think it was called, hen parties in there at 1pm on a sunday afternoon getting of their tits. Good times, Hopefully be back again before too long. Young and Jackson or Transport i'm assuming? Melbourne is good during the summer winter is a bit more bleak. But winter means AFL so not all that bad.
Guest MattP Posted 21 July 2011 Posted 21 July 2011 Young and Jackson or Transport i'm assuming? Melbourne is good during the summer winter is a bit more bleak. But winter means AFL so not all that bad. Thats the one, had to google it to see a picture , has it been renamed? There were quite a few round there. Already was converted to Carlton a couple of years ago by an Aussie mate here, watch as much as can but difficult here with the time diff etc....
SOCCERROO FOX Posted 22 July 2011 Posted 22 July 2011 Thats the one, had to google it to see a picture , has it been renamed? There were quite a few round there. Already was converted to Carlton a couple of years ago by an Aussie mate here, watch as much as can but difficult here with the time diff etc.... Carlton mate shocking, full of Italian and Greeks who know f-all about footy. My sisters bf is one and i give it too him all the time. I'm a St.Kilda supporter going tonight and hoping for another win then heading home and watching the TDF and Rugby. They call Melbourne the sporting capital of the world so much sport and everyone loves sport here. Also you would of been better off heading to the Charles Dickens Tavern and underground english pub show all the english football games and meet a few from here in there once for a Leicester match, they also have a small Leicester crest behind the bar
Guest MattP Posted 22 July 2011 Posted 22 July 2011 Carlton mate shocking, full of Italian and Greeks who know f-all about footy. My sisters bf is one and i give it too him all the time. I'm a St.Kilda supporter going tonight and hoping for another win then heading home and watching the TDF and Rugby. They call Melbourne the sporting capital of the world so much sport and everyone loves sport here. Also you would of been better off heading to the Charles Dickens Tavern and underground english pub show all the english football games and meet a few from here in there once for a Leicester match, they also have a small Leicester crest behind the bar I'll tell my mate that he'll love it, St Kilda thats Warnies team isnt it? I always got told it was the pies fans who were the biggest tossers out there.....could feel the obsession for sport out there, went to the Bushrangers V NSW at the G while I was there. 45,000 in for a T20 match Hoping to get over for 3 weeks over the winter, I'll give you a shout if I can make it.
SOCCERROO FOX Posted 22 July 2011 Posted 22 July 2011 I'll tell my mate that he'll love it, St Kilda thats Warnies team isnt it? I always got told it was the pies fans who were the biggest tossers out there.....could feel the obsession for sport out there, went to the Bushrangers V NSW at the G while I was there. 45,000 in for a T20 match Hoping to get over for 3 weeks over the winter, I'll give you a shout if I can make it. I'll take you to a Melbourne Victory match. Yeah Warnie played u19's for St.Kilda but realised he was no good. Him and Eric Bana are 2 of our biggest Celeb fans. Collingwood are feral but Carlton aren't that far behind. Collingwood have close to 70,000 season ticket holders and between then there IQ would be lucky to reach 100,000.
Jonezy Posted 22 July 2011 Posted 22 July 2011 Alpe d'Huez today! Exciting race ahead and another round of the Schlecks vs. Evans. Frank Schleck was the only favorite who looked fresh at the end yesterday, so I'm positive he will try something. I'm not expecting any comebacks from Contador - he looked completely done for yesterday.
Jonezy Posted 22 July 2011 Posted 22 July 2011 Humble pie for me then... Go Contador! Still don't think he has the tank to go all the way though.....
New England Fox Posted 22 July 2011 Posted 22 July 2011 Cracking stage today with non stop action right from the start. I guess Contador wanted to one up Andy Schleck and attack even earlier than he did yesterday . After cracking so badly yesterday it was one hell of an effort from him today and Alpe d'Huez was just a couple of kilometers too far for him. Another great ride by Evans though, even when he had his mechanical and dropped back to the pack he didn't panic and just worked his way back gradually. On the other hand though I think Voeckler ended up cooking himself by trying to chase down Contador and Shleck by himself. I still don't think he would have kept yellow but I don't think his losses would have been so much if he had followed Evans back to the peloton. Really think Evans has this one in the bag barring any disasters in the time trial. On a side note though, its a miracle that no one gets knocked off the bike by the spectators, I know they encourage the huge crowds on the slopes of Alpe d'Huez but holy crap there really are some F'N idiots out there!
shen Posted 22 July 2011 Posted 22 July 2011 Cracking stage today with non stop action right from the start. I guess Contador wanted to one up Andy Schleck and attack even earlier than he did yesterday . After cracking so badly yesterday it was one hell of an effort from him today and Alpe d'Huez was just a couple of kilometers too far for him. Another great ride by Evans though, even when he had his mechanical and dropped back to the pack he didn't panic and just worked his way back gradually. On the other hand though I think Voeckler ended up cooking himself by trying to chase down Contador and Shleck by himself. I still don't think he would have kept yellow but I don't think his losses would have been so much if he had followed Evans back to the peloton. Really think Evans has this one in the bag barring any disasters in the time trial. On a side note though, its a miracle that no one gets knocked off the bike by the spectators, I know they encourage the huge crowds on the slopes of Alpe d'Huez but holy crap there really are some F'N idiots out there! It's all about who's got something left in the tank. Contador is arguably a better TT rider than Evans and Schleck only lost 31 seconds last year. It's going right to the wire! And re: Voeckler, he gambled today. If he had gotten over the Galibier less than a minute or so after Schleck and Contador, he could've maybe caught them in the descent, and with Evans, Basso, Cunego and Fränk a minute behind him a podium place was in his sights. I have no idea why Europcar chose to sacrifice Voeckler for Roland's stage win though. What a bizarre move that was...
New England Fox Posted 22 July 2011 Posted 22 July 2011 Probably because Roland rode himself into the white jersey and he was much more likely to win that then voeckler was the yellow jersey. Contador is a better time trialer than Evans yes but he's too far back. Evans is a very good time trial rider and Andy is average at best, but he's in the yellow jersey and that jersey does things to the guy wearing it, just ask voeckler Either way its going down to the wire and its gonna be great to watch
shen Posted 22 July 2011 Posted 22 July 2011 Probably because Roland rode himself into the white jersey and he was much more likely to win that then voeckler was the yellow jersey. Contador is a better time trialer than Evans yes but he's too far back. Evans is a very good time trial rider and Andy is average at best, but he's in the yellow jersey and that jersey does things to the guy wearing it, just ask voeckler Either way its going down to the wire and its gonna be great to watch Just read a bit from a Rolland interview where he said he'd wanted to defend the yellow to the end, but Voeckler told him "to go for it and don't worry about me" when they were still going up the Galibier. That's a very gracious act by Voeckler, although I'm still a bit bemused by it. Voeckler was closing in on the leading group at the bottom of Alpe d'Huez, when Rolland chose to launch an attack. He proved he was the best climber on the day and would've proved invaluable to Thomas. Now Voeckler looks out of contention for a podium place, while he could've had a realistic shot had he gotten 30-45 secs closer. I wasn't highlighting Contador's chances this year, but rather the difference between him and Schleck in the TT last year which was only 31 secs. It's going to be exciting though!!
SOCCERROO FOX Posted 22 July 2011 Posted 22 July 2011 It's 825am here i'm already drinking and drunk as hell from last night b'day celebrations do that to a man. Heading home early tonight to watch this tonight could be one of he greatest Aussie sporting moments in history and i don't think anyone would argue that Cadel is a deserved winner of the TDF if he can pull the time back. Can't wait but am very nervous but one thing is for sure and one of the reasons why i love Cadel, is that he will leave nothing out on the road. He may be smalll but he has a massive heart and he will push himself til he can't push no more........and even then he keeps trying! YELL FOR CADEL!!!!! GO YOU SUPERSTAR!
shen Posted 22 July 2011 Posted 22 July 2011 It's 825am here i'm already drinking and drunk as hell from last night b'day celebrations do that to a man. Heading home early tonight to watch this tonight could be one of he greatest Aussie sporting moments in history and i don't think anyone would argue that Cadel is a deserved winner of the TDF if he can pull the time back. Can't wait but am very nervous but one thing is for sure and one of the reasons why i love Cadel, is that he will leave nothing out on the road. He may be smalll but he has a massive heart and he will push himself til he can't push no more........and even then he keeps trying! YELL FOR CADEL!!!!! GO YOU SUPERSTAR! The winner deserves to be there, whether it's Andy, Fränk, Evans, Contador, Voeckler, Sanchez or whoever. They've all made this a stunning Tour!
SOCCERROO FOX Posted 22 July 2011 Posted 22 July 2011 If Cadel wins the tour, i'm pretty sure i will get emotional and break down. It will be the first time for 10 years that i've cried but i reckon i will. Tonite really is massive a minute is a big ask but he has showed the last 2 nights that anything is possible. Also hats off to Rolands i'm not sure how good a TT rider he is but he is a GC contender of the future i reckon great rider
SOCCERROO FOX Posted 22 July 2011 Posted 22 July 2011 IT'S called the race of truth for a reason. Man against clock, with nowhere to hide. No teammates, no wheel to follow, no more bluffing. "It's the most honest discipline in cycling," five-time Tour de France rider Patrick Jonker said. And that's exactly why great Australian hope Cadel Evans excels on the time-trial bike. Find out everything you need to know about tonight's time trial in our guide below. Just as he was in the final 20km of stage 18 to Galibier on Thursday, Evans will be on his own tonight. He can't rely on the peloton or his teammates to pull him to the top of the podium in Paris - but therein lies his advantage. Having learnt years ago that he can't rely on others to win him the Tour de France, Evans has become a survivor. Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar. .End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar. "He's quite small in stature, so he's a bit of a phenomenon for his size," Jonker said. "He has this amazing ability to endure pain and suffer. "He's not the most gifted athlete. His lab numbers are great, but not extraordinary like (Alberto) Contador or (Andy) Schleck. "But it's that ability to hurt himself and push himself, and get in a good aerodynamic position, which the Schlecks aren't able to do in the time trial." Good TT riders have three distinct characteristics, according to Jonker. They are physically bigger than pure climbers, have a low resting heart rate and high VO2max (capacity to take in and use oxygen), and are able to produce a high power output for longer periods. Swiss superstar Fabian Cancellara has won four of the last five TT world championships and is arguably one of the best time triallers world cycling has seen. He tips the scales at 80kg, while Leopard-Trek teammate Andy Schleck weighs just 68kg. Lance Armstrong was a good climber, but also a strong time-trialler when he weighed in the mid-70kg range. But no amount of training can compensate for the most important ingredient of all - genetics. "Good time triallers are born to ride," Jonker said. "It comes down to what you've inherited from your parents and grandparents. "A good time trialler will have a high VO2max, usually over 80ml, which is a measure of how much oxygen the body can consume per minute." Between 60-70 per cent of an athlete's aerobic capacity comes from their genetics. The other important ingredient for riding a good TT is the head. Australian cycling pioneer Phil Anderson said Evans was a stronger time trialler than his rivals tonight, but that the yellow jersey was hard to chase and easy to defend. "If he (Andy Schleck) is wearing yellow, he'll pull out a phenomenal effort," Anderson said. "(Evans) can pull a bit back in the time trial, but whether he's one minute 30 seconds better than the leader is another thing." EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TONIGHT'S TIME TRIAL TIME SAVERS - Modified equipment you will see in tonight's time-trial: Helmet - Teardrop design = often with visor built in - results in smooth airflow, significantly reducing wind resistance. Clothing - Skin-tight suits developed in wind tunnels greatly reduce drag. Also booties to cover shoes. Frame - Made of lightweight aero material and designed to force rider into a more compact position. Cranks - Typically made from solid carbon fibre, they have a higher gearing and solid chain-rings instead of the hollow metal rings found on road bikes. Handlebars - Cyclists use "aero bars", which allow them to lean forward and get into a low wind-cheating tuck position. Hydration - Hands-free systems reduce drag that comes from arms reaching for drink bottles. Wheels - Have deeper, more aerodynamic rims, and usually a rear carbon disc wheel instead of spokes. THE CONTENDERS Cadel Evans (Aus) Best time-trialler of the GC contenders because he has ability to push himself through the pain barrier. Has a good aerodynamic position, but does he have any petrol left in the tank? Andy Schleck (Lux) Has ability to generate huge power on climbs, but not maintain those bursts on the flat of a TT course. Lightweight who battles aerodynamically. Frank Schleck (Lux) Almost identical to his brother, but has slightly more consistent power. Has no pedigree to pull surprise here and needed to be leading by a considerable margin to have a chance. THE STAGE FAVOURITE Fabian Cancellara (Swi) - The Olympic and four-time world time-trial champion has an unsurpassed resume. Only doubt is whether he's spent too much energy working for the Schlecks this week. BEEN HERE BEFORE Cadel Evans has twice faced manageable chases in the final time-trial: 2007: Began 1min 50secs behind Alberto Contador and despite a slashing ride, could only cut the margin to 23 seconds. 2008: Riding injured, he started 1min34sec behind Carlos Sastre and could only cut 29 seconds from the deficit. He eventually took seven seconds off Sastre in the final stage to end 58 seconds in arrears. DID YOU KNOW? - The world's best time-triallers are larger than pure climbers and generally smaller than the sprinters. Four-time world TT champion Fabian Cancellara weighs 80kg, while Andy Schleck is just 68kg. - Riders will try to emulate the crouched position of a downhill skier to minimise wind resistance. - Cancellara is the undisputed current king of TT racing, having won four of the past five world titles and the Olympic title in Beijing. - The leading overall contenders all start within 20 minutes of each other, with the yellow jersey the last to begin.
Jonezy Posted 23 July 2011 Posted 23 July 2011 Lost a bit of focus on the Tour after what happened in Norway.... Great race yesterday. Whoever wins this tour deserves it, what a fantastic week in the Alps it has been. Guts and courage all around. Voeckler must be pissed, he didn't fall back on Galibier instead of using all that energy to try and catch Contador and Andy. Predictions have been near impossible in this Tour, but I'm afraid, that Evans supporting Tour-fans will be disappointed. Recently saw a documentary about Andy Schleck, and he was putting a lot of effort into improving his time trial, and as Shen is saying, he didn't lose that much last year against Contador.
SOCCERROO FOX Posted 23 July 2011 Posted 23 July 2011 OM FOOKING G!!!!!! I'M SO BLOODY EXCITED RIGHT NOW!!!!
New England Fox Posted 23 July 2011 Posted 23 July 2011 Barring a minor miracle Evans is storming into yellow now.
SOCCERROO FOX Posted 23 July 2011 Posted 23 July 2011 Barring a minor miracle Evans is storming into yellow now. Don't say that i'm almost in tears
Jonezy Posted 23 July 2011 Posted 23 July 2011 And I was wrong yet again.... Huge congrats and kudos to Cadel Evans. Worthy worthy Tour winner. Enjoy it Socceroo!
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