2011 Criterium du Dauphine - Prologue: Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, 5.4km

[El Pistolero]

except that Andy Schleck is routinely mediocre at the Tour de Suisse and that for once, it won't matter at all if you're not in form until near the end of week 2, since as long as your TTT isn't dreadful (which it won't be, he rides for Liquigas), you'll be hard pushed to lose more than 90 seconds before Luz Ardiden.

Like I said, difference between feeling good and getting good results. He didn't want to go too deep at Suisse. He always races like this. If he really tried, he could do a lot better than the results he's getting before July.

And he wasn't that bad at Suisse

Top 15 sounds about right if your real goal is the Tour at a stage race like Suisse an Dauphine.

 

[Gloin22]

Wiggins suffered mechanical problems during the prologue.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cycling/13662222.stm

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

what mechanical problems??

 

[hrotha]

Bradley Wiggins third in Tour de France warm-up

Oh Brits...

 

[maltiv]

Agreed, Thomas and Boasson Hagen sucked as well..

Wet vs dry conditions. Use your brains. Please.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

what mechanical problems??

this

and, what frustration hitting the handlebars?? i watched the video, no hitting the handlebars, no frustration

Even the Sky official website doesn't report any mechanical problems. Even Wiggins himself on the Sky website doesn't report any problems.

Seems the British press invents excuses theirselves now whenver Brad doesn't win.

 

[Mellow Velo]

If his form is bad in all of the Dauphine than he can make a cross over his Tour de France already, it's that simple. You can't be too good at the Dauphine, but if you don't feel good at the Dauphine it's too late to improve for the Tour without any clinical material.

Wot? Like your boy, last year you mean?....................Oh wait.

Brad Wiggins mechanical problems?.........Bit of damp on that downhill roundabout, judging by the way he tiptoed around the last one.

 

[roundabout]

Meh, it is a warm-up race now and he finished third so technically they are not wrong.

 

[Andy99]

Oh Brits...

nah, thats just the BBC. They are only aware of the olympics and tdf.

That we are forced to pay for the tripe is ridiculous.

 

[Bavarianrider]

You don't have to be in top shape here, but if you can't make Top 15 here, there's no way you will be able to battle for Top 5 in July

 

[Andy99]

For t' Dutchies:

(Teamsky.com)

 

[Lanark]

Agreed, you don't have to finish top-15 or so, but you should at least be able to. Menchov wasn't brilliant last year, but he did finish 5th in the time trial, 50 seconds ahead of Contador, enough to show that you aren't far from good shape. Andy finished 14th in the Tour de Suisse, not really trying to ride a GC.

Basso doing bad in a prologue is no surprise, especially considering his fall on the Etna, but if he really is in bad shape this Dauphiné, I don't think you can fix that at the Tour.

 

[Bavarianrider]

For t' Dutchies:

(Teamsky.com)

He looks like Hushovd's brother

 

[Anonymous]

Seems like Wiggins peaked too early. Wit the form from the Bayernrundfahrt he should have done better today

Yeah, he's definately the TTer we're all looking at as an under-performer today.

Agreed, Thomas and Boasson Hagen sucked as well..

Wiggins had a mechanical!

 

[Spine Concept]

Bavarian, I can't make out what's written on the t-shirt of your avatar. Wasn't a different, legible, avatar chosen for you? I'm not certain about the details of the bet you made so correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

Wiggins had a mechanical!

did he change bikes? what kind of mechanical ?

 

[Bavarianrider]

Bavarian, I can't make out what's written on the t-shirt of your avatar. Wasn't a different, legible, avatar chosen for you? I'm not certain about the details of the bet you made so correct me if I'm wrong.

I said i will have a T shirt that says I love Boom. Don't blame me that Avatars are so small here

 

[stefrees]

Rabo have been great at sub 20k tt's all year, why aren't they being tipped as favourites for the ttt in the tour? I like boom, seems to always give it everything.

 

[Andy99]

did he change bikes? what kind of mechanical ?

Actual Reuters report:

'Sun, 05 Jun 15:48:00 2011

* Boom confirms strength on short time trials

* Wiggins suffers mechanical problem (Adds details, quotes and official timings)'

Nobody knows..!

 

[Gloin22]

Eurosport in their article also reported he suffered mechanical on course though.

 

[hrotha]

I said i will have a T shirt that says I love Boom. Don't blame me that Avatars are so small here

That's a lame cop-out and you know it! Zoom in!

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

so.. Vino will win the tour with what? 5- 10 min? his TT showed some improvement, cant loose now

 

[Bavarianrider]

That's a lame cop-out and you know it! Zoom in!

Somehow that doesn't work

 

[The Hitch]

Damn Samu wasnt too bad. I hope hes not peaking too early.

Rabo have been great at sub 20k tt's all year, why aren't they being tipped as favourites for the ttt in the tour? I like boom, seems to always give it everything.

Unfortunately i too believe Gesink will get 1-2 minutes head start on Evans Contador, Sanchez, Vino, maybe even Basso.

nah, thats just the BBC. They are only aware of the olympics and tdf.

That we are forced to pay for the tripe is ridiculous.

+1

 

[Winterfold]

The commentary on those random eurosport highlights is very funny (thanks for link/hosting dim)

"that dull thud was our editor - we've just had him shot "

Wiggo looked less ridiculously thin than last year - but could be wearing all white

Boom certainly wanted that looked 110% balls out at the end