2011 Critérium du Dauphiné, Stage 7: Pontcharra - La Toussuire, 117.5 km

[Escarabajo]

I find it incredibly suspicious how one can suck so hard so close to the Tour and then be one of the best. But hey, who knows if they're giving it their everything.

They are not the only ones. It has become common. That's why we should not put too much money based on these results.

 

[boomcie]

13th place, but he hasn't entered World Tour event anymore since Luik. Points will start coming in again at the Tour and Clasica San Sebastian.

I could see him come top 10 easily in the teams classification if he keeps going like this

Fun fact: he's better than Quickstep and Vacansoleil combined

It's such a shame that the worlds don't have a 2012 route this year. He could have really smothered the whole season.

Who will stop him at the Ster Elektrotoer (ZLM toer)? (Hint: no one).

Belgian Championships will be difficult, but not impossible.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

It's such a shame that the worlds don't have a 2012 route this year. He could have really smothered the whole season.

Who will stop him at the Ster Elektrotoer (ZLM toer)? (Hint: no one).

Belgian Championships will be difficult, but not impossible.

Finish suits Tomke way too good, QST will not mess this up

 

[boomcie]

Finish suits Tomke way too good, QST will not mess this up

Tommeke will have to shape up though. Looking pretty shaky to me. Belgian champs have never been his specialty, not even in his best years.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

Tommeke will have to shape up though. Looking pretty shaky to me. Belgian champs have never been his specialty, not even in his best years.

He was very unlucky in 2008 when Roelandts won... bad leadout-he bumped into the rear wheel of his leadoutman I think- Sven Vanthourenhout was second then In Knokke... on a parcours like this he's always very close imo..(or at least he should be)

 

[El Pistolero]

Tommeke will have to shape up though. Looking pretty shaky to me. Belgian champs have never been his specialty, not even in his best years.

I always found Boonen to look too skinny this season, but he's bulked up a bit again this Suisse

I hope he's going better now(not at Suisse, but Tour)

 

[El Pistolero]

He was very unlucky in 2008 when Roelandts won... bad leadout-he bumped into the rear wheel of his leadoutman I think- Sven Vanthourenhout was second then In Knokke... on a parcours like this he's always very close imo..(or at least he should be)

Yeah, and on a parcours that was suited to Gilbert he wins

 

[Michielveedeebee]

Yeah, and on a parcours that was suited to Gilbert he wins

it was suited to him as well it were Vlaanderen hills

 

[MajorTom]

Didn't you hear? Horner is the 2nd best climber in the world.

And it's not as though JB has a chance either, he looks awful even relative to other guys that have yet to peak (Evans, Gesink)

Jani had big problems with stomach through the race. He almost pulled out of the Dauphine before ITT. He was without energy before the last climb yesterday, because he was only able to eat 3 energy gels and drink 2 bidons of water through the stage. Anyway, he is on the right track for Le Tour.


Dapuhine was great to watch. I expected more from Evans and Basso, otherwise nothing too surprising.

 

[Garry Allen]

I find it incredibly suspicious how one can suck so hard so close to the Tour and then be one of the best. But hey, who knows if they're giving it their everything.

2004 - Armstrong finished 4th in the Dauphin. Ullrich won the Tour de Suisse. I along with a lot of other hopers thought this might be Ullrich's year. And any further discussion will need to be moved to the clinic

 

[auscyclefan94]

There just seems to be such a big gap between Evans and his team mates when they start climbing. In my mind, Horner was the only one worth anything. VDB was not the rider he is now but he was pretty good, Popovych was useless and Lloyd was okay up to a point but he is another rider who has improved since Evans changed teams. There is some talk he may be going to BMC ?

Dunno why Evan's teams have such a hard time locating climbing talent. Throw a rock in Spain and you'll hit one ! Maybe it's money or they are too late off the mark, signing riders ? I think Gerrans would have been better than any of his current so called mountain men but he may be off to Green Edge especially if he misses a Tour ride which could happen as Sky team is riding well. I think he should be there but he will be gutted if he misses out.

It is a shame because the climbers at BMC who were riding the tour de suisse were attacking and climbing excellently and they had come off the giro. Frank is 24 and just finished his first GT and in suisse he is climbing with and attacking the big names. On the other hand

30th Morabito 6:36
39th Santaromita 10:23
71st moinard 15:05

These are suppose to be his fricken main climbers at the tour!!!!! Even when that 2nd group came across Morabito should of at least been with them. Cadel had to go back and get food for himself and then Gesink puts the hammer down on the descent.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Dapuhine was great to watch. I expected more from Evans and Basso, otherwise nothing too surprising.

You know you are having a good season when you come second in the Dauphine and people say they expected more from you!

 

[DenisMenchov]

You know you are having a good season when you come second in the Dauphine and people say they expected more from you!

Well, it all went down to TT, and there were only 2 real TTers (Wiggo and Martin) and he was beaten by both.

 

[movingtarget]

It is a shame because the climbers at BMC who were riding the tour de suisse were attacking and climbing excellently and they had come off the giro. Frank is 24 and just finished his first GT and in suisse he is climbing with and attacking the big names. On the other hand

30th Morabito 6:36
39th Santaromita 10:23
71st moinard 15:05

These are suppose to be his fricken main climbers at the tour!!!!! Even when that 2nd group came across Morabito should of at least been with them. Cadel had to go back and get food for himself and then Gesink puts the hammer down on the descent.

Evans and his team seem satisfied with his ride, post race. They still think he is on track. As for his team, I think I have given up on that side of things and just concentrate on Cadel's ride. Maybe we are expecting too much ? Their TDF team should be reasonable with lots of experience. Hope they can perform when they need to.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Evans and his team seem satisfied with his ride, post race. They still think he is on track. As for his team, I think I have given up on that side of things and just concentrate on Cadel's ride. Maybe we are expecting too much ? Their TDF team should be reasonable with lots of experience. Hope they can perform when they need to.

That is true but I still feel that they under performed and it is a worrying sign though there is 19 days till the tour and hopefully they can provide some sort of support.

 

[greenedge]

I think Evans was 2nd strongest behind Rodriguez on that stage, he did not look in diffuculty. I thought he performed well, did not go into the red and is peaking for the TDF well. Amazing by Pinot, i started to like him after the Tour of Turkey. Kern was setting up Voeckler FTW then after JROD attacked ( mindboggling attack )Tommy V just gave up after Kern sacrificed his position.

When Moncoutie blew he blew so quickly/ hardcore that no one noticed and he finished behind Martin.

Nice riding by Uran and of Course Garate. Garate was riding his heart out and did a good effort the day before. L L Sanchez did well on the descent for Gesink. The 3 best teams here were Sky, Rabo and Astana. Cadel needs better riders around him ( soon ). Jerome Coppel i hope can go well in the TDF. What happened to Riblon???? JVDB i expect to go great at the TDF i loved how he rode within himself ( he just needs to drop people/ stronger people when attacking )

The Mooskatel Mooskadi bus rolled in 6:36 seconds down with Samu ( I expected Samu to be better on the Glandon )

 

[dlwssonic]

I think Evans was 2nd strongest behind Rodriguez on that stage, he did not look in diffuculty. I thought he performed well, did not go into the red and is peaking for the TDF well. Amazing by Pinot, i started to like him after the Tour of Turkey. Kern was setting up Voeckler FTW then after JROD attacked ( mindboggling attack )Tommy V just gave up after Kern sacrificed his position.

When Moncoutie blew he blew so quickly/ hardcore that no one noticed and he finished behind Martin.

Nice riding by Uran and of Course Garate. Garate was riding his heart out and did a good effort the day before. L L Sanchez did well on the descent for Gesink. The 3 best teams here were Sky, Rabo and Astana. Cadel needs better riders around him ( soon ). Jerome Coppel i hope can go well in the TDF. What happened to Riblon???? JVDB i expect to go great at the TDF i loved how he rode within himself ( he just needs to drop people/ stronger people when attacking )

The Mooskatel Mooskadi bus rolled in 6:36 seconds down with Samu ( I expected Samu to be better on the Glandon )

I agree evans could have gotten second if he wanted to as he was looking very strong but he didnt find any point in chasing jrod as he was surely going to win. so he decided to let the others do it.

 

[Reverend_T_Preedy]

+1000
He should find great success in his career by riding the most suitable races to his talent-the TDF fantasy is just that-a fantasy.

There's nothing wrong at all for him to aim to win the biggest stage race in the world as long as you don't just soft pedal races like this to build up form. He did that last season and it cheesed me off completely. However, this year he seems to have changed his approach and, if he has the form, he is going for it in the races he's in. Long may thta continue.

Can I also point out that everyone is saying he got a lead in the TT and just held on to it. That is mostly true but don't forget he actually extended his lead over 2nd place on the penultimate stage.