2011 TDF: Stage 19 - Modane - Alpe-dÂ’Huez

[Maxiton]

Well you see this is my issue with athletes, they sign contracts and they don't mean anything. If any of us signed a contract for a lease on an apartment or something, 6 months down the line we can't say, oh I'm moving out and the contract doesn't count anymore.

Honestly, though, I think what happened at Saxo was pretty much unprecedented - losing half the team and your big stars. There's a story there that none of us has heard and may never hear. Whatever else it was, it was a full-scale mutiny. And it wasn't like the team hadn't been successful or Riis was a bad owner-director. So under those circumstances, whatever the details, I think we can say that not wanting to honor the contract was extraordinary and not necessarily a bad faith thing.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

can`t be happier.

They did win a stage..

a lot of teams didn't win a stage. It's not the end of the world

 

[auscyclefan94]

He is pulling a "Lance Armstrong" in 2003.

lol, well at least it explains what happened.

 

[roundabout]

For Andy weather is also a factor. Luckily for him it looks like it will be dry.

 

[movingtarget]

Last TT is not about the course. It is about recuperation.

After the last two days I don't see one having much advantage over the other in that department.

 

[SarahDane]

Andy wins.

 

[SarahDane]

Jobiwan predicted it before the Tour. I'm gonna bet on it.

 

[SarahDane]

Where are the best odds?

 

[Sophistic]

AS cant wins this, LTrek has been getting used to 2nd places!

 

[movingtarget]

Andy will feel guilty about chasing his big brother. Cadel wins.

 

[GroupDK]

anyway a great stage, and a shame that Riis didnt could make the triple (in 3 trys) with sastre and frank and contador.

But great stage and big thx to contador for creating the stage at + 16km, this was his stage.

I my book not the right winner, rolland didnt make this stage and only got it from wheelsucking sanchez up at alpe huez..

Its all about making the race for me as a spectators, andy did it yesterday and contador did it today.

My only objective is that i want an exciting race to watch. ! dont cherise any partcally rider like many dos in here, with absolutely no looking at what this rider supply to the race, and thats a joke and must come from narrowminded persons...

Great race today no doubt..

 

[movingtarget]

AS cant wins this, LTrek has been getting used to 2nd places!

I would laugh if Tony Martin beats Cancellara in the TT.

 

[patrick767]

I'd like to present today's Giant Brass Balls award to Alberto Contador for attacking from 90km out. I don't know how he sits on a bike seat with those things.

 

[DenisMenchov]

They did win a stage..

a lot of teams didn't win a stage. It's not the end of the world

Yes but I still don`t understand why they let Denis go?

 

[VoidSix]

Knowing the time checks will be a big advantage for Andy. I still think if Cuddles couldn't pull back Sastre in '08 he can't pull back the much better Schleck, but Cadel has been extremely impressive this year so who knows

 

[DenisMenchov]

anyway a great stage, and a shame that Riis didnt could make the triple (in 3 trys) with sastre and frank and contador.

But great stage and big thx to contador for creating the stage at + 16km, this was his stage.

I my book not the right winner, rolland didnt make this stage and only got it from wheelsucking sanchez up at alpe huez..

Its all about making the race for me as a spectators, andy did it yesterday and contador did it today.

My only objective is that i want an exciting race to watch. ! dont cherise any partcally rider like many dos in here, with absolutely no looking at what this rider supply to the race, and thats a joke and must come from narrowminded persons...

Great race today no doubt..

You did see that Rolland attack Contador TWICE???

And just wheelsucking??? Can`t blame him for not being stupid

 

[movingtarget]

Knowing the time checks will be a big advantage for Andy. I still think if Cuddles couldn't pull back Sastre in '08 he can't pull back the much better Schleck, but Cadel has been extremely impressive this year so who knows

I am more confident about Evans 2011: time checks or not.

 

[Kwibus]

Plz people the Dutch people on Alpe d'Huez are not cycling fans. They are Dutch, but drunk chauvinistic idiots.

Plz do not call them cycling fans that is an insult to real dutch cycling fans.

Any idiot that dresses up like a fool or' boos' riders or runs along a rider are an insult to real cycling fans.

 

[Teddy Boom]

Knowing the time checks will be a big advantage for Andy. I still think if Cuddles couldn't pull back Sastre in '08 he can't pull back the much better Schleck, but Cadel has been extremely impressive this year so who knows

The Sastre hate really makes me sad...

The real question is, considering all the LeMond Fignon comparisons, will Andy be riding with a fairing?

 

[hrotha]

They did win a stage..

a lot of teams didn't win a stage. It's not the end of the world

RadioShack won a stage last year. Rabo's Tour is still a failure.

 

[Kwibus]

You could of course also just accept that a rider is not realistically responsible for the behaviour of complete strangers.

Absolutely, but if you come here a lot like I do some posters really influence the way you like a rider. It's wrong and it doesn't have anything to do with the rider, but with the poster.

 

[Dutchsmurf]

RadioShack won a stage last year. Rabo's Tour is still a failure.

I think that stagewin saves it from being a failure. I would just call it a bad Tour instead. If you call Rabo's Tour a failure already, you have no words left for teams that did even worse.

 

[hrotha]

I think that stagewin saves it from being a failure. I would just call it a bad Tour instead. If you call Rabo's Tour a failure already, you have no words left for teams that did even worse.

Not all teams came here aiming for a podium spot.

 

[H2OUUP2]

I don't think you can accuse Rolland of Wheel sucking. He lead Voeckler through the Alps and when Voeckler was done he then bridged the gap between the main group and Sanchez on the alp d'huez. Then wheel sucked for a bit(who wouldn't) then caught Contador and hit him twice!! A true wheel suck would have sat on Contadors/Sanchezs wheel for 2 more Km after the catch, and then popped out and attacked with 500m to go. Rolland hit him hard twice and went for it alone.

Great ride, to bad for AC. Would have loved to see him pull that off. The legs just needed 2 more km's.

 

[aahmadhu]

one one the best tdf in years definitely. pity the gc field was trimmed down by crashes more than the actual battle. it would be a battle of titanic magnitude if vino, van den broeck, wiggins, kloden n horner were still in the race, along with fit gesink.

never before i see the battle for yellow, white n the polka dots been this interesting, on the same day, the ultimate n final day of the mountain stage. n not forgetting, the battle of green back in the gruppeto. all on the same ultimate day. Winner? the race itself...