2011 - Criterium du Dauphine - Stage 3: Grenoble 42.5 km ITT

[Anonymous]

apparently, Tony was the one who rode in better weather conditions than Wiggo.

When it comes down to it, Tony took risks on the descent, Brad didnt.

Difference between someone looking at the GC and someone willing to take risks for the stage.

 

[Dedelou]

Wiggins wins the Dauphine

there remains quite a lot of racing to be done. Considering we have seen people getting dropped on the flat sections. The race is not over till the last day on this course

 

[Liquigas]

Pretty good TT from Taaramae and Rui Costa. Now I want to see what the portuguese can do in the mountain stages.

 

[Dedelou]

He could win quite easily if he's motivated to win and Evans, Brajkovic, Vino etc decide to save it for the Tour. Vino might try but I'm not sure he has the form

how many more "ifs " can we add to your hopes? if the wind is only there pushing for him? if the course changes after the leader have passed .. any more "ifs"?

 

[Dedelou]

will any more ITT matter if Contador is riding it?

 

[Dedelou]

[/What a shame this is the only TT in the Tou]


will any more ITT miles make any difference if Contador rides the TDF?

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Having much better weather conditions and only finishing 10 seconds ahead isn't exactly a good sign for someone who won 2.30 minutes on the same rider last year in the Tour also considerings Gesink lesser form in this Dauphine...

Right. Much better weather conditions. All the heavy rain that Gesink had, all dried up in exactly one hour. In fact, we were all dreaming when we saw the rain coming down on the camera as Vino and VDB were doing their ascend.
Gesink also went really deep in the previous stages and of course, he isn't in top form yet, while VDB is peaking too early. Yawn.

 

[Flamin]

doesn't matter the weather... what changed is the wind. Look at Kadri' performance: 1st check point 65th, last 15th

wind = part of the weather?

So you're saying the wind direction changed exactly when Kadri was in the middle of the course? Wouldn't make much sense, because VDB2's performance for example (54th to 17th) showed a similar pattern.

 

[skippy]

ITT course today was a cow . Wind was all over the place and from start to finish i didn't enjoy it at all .
Weather was cooler than i have been exposed to in recent months and whilst i did not have the controlled conditions that the racers used i feel they would have had a harder time than any were anticipating .
Spoke with a few who were glad to be finished but performed below their anticipation today . Doubt any racers were holding back but heard a few relate stories of scary moments .

 

[TeoSheva]

wind = part of the weather?

So you're saying the wind direction changed exactly when Kadri was in the middle of the course? Wouldn't make much sense, because VDB2's performance for example (54th to 17th) showed a similar pattern.

I'm sayng that all the guys started later did better (in the second half) than the guys started later... so, the wind in the second half part of the percours changed...

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

Wiggins wins the Dauphine

there remains quite a lot of racing to be done. Considering we have seen people getting dropped on the flat sections. The race is not over till the last day on this course

I tend to agree with Ferminal if Wigo can live up to expectations when the mountains come into play on the last 2 stages. But true, there's plenty of race left to sort things out. I hope Cadel can show some more stuff in the mountains than he did in today's ITT.

 

[luckyboy]

If Wiggins can hold on for the win, I don't expect to see a lot from him in July.

 

[Flamin]

I'm sayng that all the guys started later did better (in the second half) than the guys started later... so, the wind in the second half part of the percours changed...

Which means the wind in the first part was in their (the guys who started later) disadvantage... which means the wind didn't play a big role.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

If Wiggins can hold on for the win, I don't expect to see a lot from him in July.

Dauphine win and 3rd at PN would be a great season anyway.

Having read bits of this thread today, I can't help but feel that whilst Brad isn't a 4th in the TDF level guy, he's being written off a bit too much, especially considering the level of competition at the race this year, which is frankly pathetic.

To win he needs to hold off Vino, Evans, Jani & VDB (if Jurgen tries - which I do not expect). I don't expect any of them to top 5 the tour this year (with the exception of perhaps VDB, but by no means certain), so the level of competition here is pretty weak, despite all the creepy pseudo fanboyism for old man Vino.

A large part of Brad's perceived crap climbing has been mental - since he stuffed the tour up last year, he's given up very easily, if indeed he even tries to begin with. He now seems to be moving past that, and certainly has something to hold on to here, so I expect him to be relatively solid, especially with a strong team around him. He might not win, but he equally, he might, and it would not be the shock several people seem to suggest.

All in all, I'd say anything longer than 3-1 for him to win from here would be an excellent value bet.

 

[ferryman]

Haven't seen any of today's stage but have enjoyed the thread. Anyone who saw it care to give a guesstimate how much time Andy Schleck would have conceded today (assuming he was there obviously and mixing it with the rest of the Dauphine GC guys)?

 

[Michielveedeebee]

Haven't seen any of today's stage but have enjoyed the thread. Anyone who saw it care to give a guesstimate how much time Andy Schleck would have conceded today (assuming he was there obviously and mixing it with the rest of the Dauphine GC guys)?

3 mins to Tony

 

[Mambo95]

Haven't seen any of today's stage but have enjoyed the thread. Anyone who saw it care to give a guesstimate how much time Andy Schleck would have conceded today (assuming he was there obviously and mixing it with the rest of the Dauphine GC guys)?

2 minutes? Maybe 1.30 on a really good day?

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/criterium-du-dauphine-upt/stage-3/results

Incidentally, I know CN has a lot of German staff, but the words untouchable, and dominate were utterly misplaced in this artical - compared to expectations it wasn't that great from Tony, and he was very much beatable if Wiggins had balls on the descent.

 

[will10]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/criterium-du-dauphine-upt/stage-3/results

Incidentally, I know CN has a lot of German staff, but the words untouchable, and dominate were utterly misplaced in this artical - compared to expectations it wasn't that great from Tony, and he was very much beatable if Wiggins had balls on the descent.

What was the point in Wiggins taking risks on the descent today? The Tour is still the priority.

 

[profff]

t. pinot , 32° at 3 min from martin
really not bad crono fora young climber, last year he lost 7 minutes in the dauphinee
madiot should kill his equipier for yesterday

really good crono from malori 12th, taramae and riblon
not bad rigo uran.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

What was the point in Wiggins taking risks on the descent today? The Tour is still the priority.

I didn't say he should. I said Martin was not untouchable, and he didn't dominate.

 

[Descender]

What was the point in Wiggins taking risks on the descent today? The Tour is still the priority.

What is Bradley Wiggins expecting to do at the Tour? Top 10? Fifth with a bit of luck, fourth if he does the race of his life? Can he afford himself to tank a race like the Dauphiné in order not to compromise that? Nowadays every second-rate rider thinks they're Armstrong or Contador and they can tank every race...

 

[Mambo95]

What is Bradley Wiggins expecting to do at the Tour? Top 10? Fifth with a bit of luck, fourth if he does the race of his life? Can he afford himself to tank a race like the Dauphiné in order not to compromise that? Nowadays every second-rate rider thinks they're Armstrong or Contador and they can tank every race...

How is coming 2nd in the TT and leading GC by over a minute 'tanking' the race?

 

[boomcie]

Since no one else is doing it I'd like to point out that my boy Ben Hermans did a great job and nicely places 9th in the GC after today.

Not very eager to see how he's going to kill himself again for Janez...

EDIT: it was his birthday today as well.

 

[luckyboy]

What is Bradley Wiggins expecting to do at the Tour? Top 10? Fifth with a bit of luck, fourth if he does the race of his life?

Against Contador, Andy, Frank, Gesink, Sanchez, Basso, Van den Broeck, Evans, Rodriguez, Horner, Kloden, Brajkovic, Rodriguez, Vandevelde, Hesjedal, Vinokourov I would be astonished if Wiggins ended up top 5.

We'll see how he goes in these mountains coming up, but I can't see him winning this without leaving something behind for the Tour.