Wiggins can inspire a generation...

Poor Cav, poor Hincapie, it was a terrible day for team Colombia.

I am impressed by both but wiggins moreso, to go from olympic pursuit gold to being a real contender in the mountains of the greatest bike race in the world is amazing. I knew he was in good form having seen the giro but this is a massive leap up from there.

Cav is very good, the best sprinter in the world absed on pure speed but that must translate easier from the track than mountain stages would.

Bradley is an inspiration to us all. Not only a brilliant cyclist but a really nice guy as well. A good example for everyone to take note of.....

That was my point, if he was following team orders to ride for Hincapie then do that, but he tried to do the best of both worlds by trying to hinder Hushovds sprint into the bargain.

They were blocking trying to get George Hincapie the yellow jersey. Otherwise he would have sprinted as normal, and there wouldn't have been a problem. So I don't think it was Cav's fault - Columbia got their tactics wrong.

I didn't like Cav's tactics of trying to block Hushovd in, to prevent him gaining points on stage 14.

If he is faster than Hushovd then all well and good; if your team tactics state that you have to ride for a team member, then there you go, that is pro-cycling. It was gamesmanship on Cav's part...

I'm happy for him to be brash and arrogant when he has earned it, but I didn't like his spoiling tactics much.

Don't back the 'wrong horse' - back both of them!

Now, if Contador goes on the attack, will Armstrong chase?
Or the other way round?

Brad's big enough, strong enough and mentally tough enough to stand up to the Astana 'good cop, bad cop' routine.
There's every chance he's got Bruyneel's boys worried; the 'unknown quantity' and all that. If Garmin do their job, which I've no doubt they will, then
Wiggins has every reason to go on the offensive.
I hope he does.

There's every chance of Brad being at least on the second step in Paris.

I can't wait for Sunday!

Wiggins or Cavendish - who would you rather be stuck in a lift with?

That's the question posed on Eurosport's Blazin Saddles blog:

Hmm…?

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/20072009/58/tour-de-france-blazin-saddles-...

How can you stay calm? With his time trialling and climbing he could finish second in this TdF. But there are some dangerous mountain stages in the way, where anything can happen. I'm nervous as hell!

Agree with you about Wiggins Jimmy, but what has made you unsure about Cav? What you see is what you get with him, has his behaviour been any better or worse than normal on this Tour? He just doesn't do humble.

Nicely put Jimmy...I too have defended Cav all the way, and I too feel that I didn't give Wiggo the credence he clearly deserved going into the Tour.

Cav's antics have left me a little cold, but Brad not only riding out of his skin, but being really humble and not his old moaning self, but instead really excited and positive has been a joy to watch.

I hope he can carry on riding like he has to date, the tough days ahead will be a test, but no matter what happens, he has exceled already...seeing him come in ahead of Sastre, Evans and Armstrong on the toughest days climbing so far had me shouting so loud that I scared the dog and thus got shouted at by the wife.