TDF; allegiance to rider nationality or bike brand??

The interesting riders, the nutters and the passionate ones, the stylists. The one's who seem to be.... real people just more so, and on a bike. Recently that includes Wiggo but not Cav. Can't get exited about Contador. Euro-smooth is boring.

I do have a soft spot for proper hard men like Stannard and Spartacus, the classics men. Liked Cadel a lot cause he was kinda odd and brave and always fought to the death. Liked Floyd! Never really liked Armstrong, too dominating - give me Pantani any day.

Nationalities - Colonials for obvious reasons, Aussies and Kiwis.

Bikes? Not these days. Used to be the italian and american bikes but I can't find it in my heart to really care about carbon bikes even though I know they are faster.

Ok, swimming against the tide here.

Yes there are loads of riders I like but I also have a massive bias for Pinarello.

While I might mock the French's fixation with panache I am coming to think that it's the way forward. My description of 'panache' obviously includes the 'have a go' aggressive, attacking riding you'd expect, but also being so crushingly competent it looks nonchalant (Tony Martin, Cav 'when it works', Froome when on form).

By this 'panache' judgment I also "enjoy watching" riders that I don't "like" - Contador is simply beautiful on a bike and while I might only give grudging respect to his tainted palmares, he's a hell of a rider.

I'm a big fan of Zdenek Stybar. He's a sort of cult hero among my friends, at least partly because he sounds like he should be leading some sort of cult.

And then there are riders who just put it all out there, all the time. Stannard, G, Voeckler, Cancellara, Gerro, ten Dam.

I like some individual riders more than others on a fairly arbitrary, non-national basis- e.g. Thomas, Degenkolb, Tony Martin. Like a lot of others it seems I like Froome well enough, but at the same time I can't really muster up much real enthusiasm for him.
Generally that doesn't extend to teams, although if pushed I like Orica (for no particular reason I could put my finger on) and it's always nice to see teams that I consider to be perpetual-triers-but-never-quite-up-there (e.g. FDJ, AG2R) get a result. That's about as far as it goes, certainly doesn't extend to which bikes they ride or helmets they wear.

I like Cav so much I bruised my elbow celebrating his stage win yesterday.

I love to watch cycle racing, especially riders who take a chance on a break or late attack, but it's hard to be a fan of any specific team or rider. That has ended in disappointment a few times.

On the continent (esp in the Benelux countries) some of the top riders and teams have huge supporters clubs with organised meat ups and ride-outs.

Doesn't seem to be the done thing in the UK though.

Myself I enjoy the spectacle and don't particularly 'support' one particular rider or team.

And I take it that it is a given we all love MTN Qhubeka and Teklehaimanot?

Tommy Voeckler - the attacks which are in 95% of instances suicidal and futile but in 5% are things of tactical wonder. Plus the so-ugly-it-is-beautiful gurning.

I also like to see Cavendish do well in sprints - when his leadout is missing, he can be brilliant at bike handling and timing (e.g. Copenhagen world champs), and he does a good interview.

As for teams, I do have a soft spot for French teams who have realised that the most important thing in road cycling is not to win, but to look good and be stylish (e.g. FdJ).

The rider I have the most issues with in terms of liking him, is Valverde. He is an amazing, tenacious, attacking rider with a real style and will to win, just the sort of rider I really want to support, but I just cannot believe in him. I'm sorry to say Nibali falls into that category too.

Cancellara, Stannard, Gee, Martin and Voeckler will always have me besides myself when they look like winning a stage or race, I love the hard riding, go for broke type of riders that are prepared to race on heart alone.

What type of bike they are on never really enters in to it for me, they are all just riding whatever they are given, and all of them could do just as well on any of the bikes in the peleton. Just look at Tony Martin winning the stage on his mates bike, just goes to show all this fancy bike fit stuff is no replacement for a man who really wants to win.

It's a sport of contradiction, quite often. I hate Contador, but love the way he climbs . I like Nibali, but Astana. Sky leave me cold, but G. Like others have said, don't get too attached to any particular riders or teams as things can change very quickly!! Just enjoy the racing. There's no need or expectation of "loyalty" in a sport that is continually changing. I will always be baffled when I see anyone out riding in Lampre kit though...

Most professional sports people are quite dull (only interested in training, resting and saying uncontroversial stuff). I don't care about bike brands either.

I don't 'support' any cyclists or teams - certainly not like I support my football team - a lifelong commitment and a cause of joy and pain to me.

I do like some riders though. I was pleased to see Stybar win yesterday as I like racing cyclocross. Generally I like classics type riders, so I am glad to see people like Thomas, Gallopin, van Avermaet (blood treatments aside), Boasson Hagen go well.

It is nice that Greipel is doing well as he, and his team, are often overlooked.

I don't like dull, effective, riders like van Garderen, Uran and Gesink. people who finish near the top of GC but just play safe most of the time.

2 of my riders are out.

Maybe I should've said I love Astana?

I support riders who I like regardless of nationality.

I ride a Ridley so I like to see Lotto-Soudal do well.
I like Tony Martin, I like Simon Gerrans, I like Turbo Durbo!

I'm British so love to see any of the Brits do well but have most affection for G.

I hate anything Astana.

Support whoever you want, I personally find the 'allegiance' to bike brands, arbitrary borders or corporately owned teams bizarre though. Ride with panache, class, buckle some swashes and don't be a douchebag. Those are my criteria.

You really need to be told who to support? There's your first problem.

I enjoy it as a spectacle, and have had fingers burned by following or supporting riders in the past.

Pro cycling is like Game of Thrones; don't get too attached to any of the main characters...

Adam Hansen all the way coz he's a lad and seems like he'd actually be a laugh in real life

My only rule is I can not excited about proven dopers. hello Mr Contador ... I always look out for Roman Bardet of all the top riders.

There are no hard and fast rules about support in Cyclesport. People tend to root for an eclectic mix of riders on a variety of teams, and even that varies from day-to-day, depending on the course, and what classification each rider is targeting.

All in all, I think people just want to watch people do cool stuff on bikes, and the more hotly contested the better. It's uniquely egalitarian in that manner. Or... maybe just inconsistent. Either way, support who you want, although I think supporting the people themselves is probably more interesting that supporting the machines they're riding.

Support is a rather strong word which to my mind means going along and joining many others shouting at your chosen team.
Show an interest is more the phrase I use. (each to their own of course). Anyway, I suppose its a national interest I have but sadly Froome is as uninteresting as they come. Him rather than the other Gc contenders I suppose but would happily see any other Brit win first. After individual Brits I suppose its riders I like the style of really eg those who can do anything.
Team loyalty is pointless, its pure marketing so has no national or regional value. Supporting manufactures of kit had never crossed my mind, that's like supporting a car maker to win a GP or a boat maker to win the Boat race. Why?
As I said each to their own.