2011 Tour de France Stage 1: Passage du Gois - Mont des Alouettes 191.5 km

[Frosty]

No Rojas in the intermediate sprint, Movistar had Ventoso up there instead.

 

[Spare Tyre]

Surprising, no Petacchi or Cavendish up there in the intermediate. Ferrar looked strong though, very strong.

I think I like this new system.

I'm out of the loop. What's the new system?

 

[craig1985]

If it will mean with the new rules with the immediate sprints that teams will spend more energy setting up sprints and it makes the sprint trains less potent or more tired then it can only be a good thing IMO.

 

[Descender]

No Rojas in the intermediate sprint, Movistar had Ventoso up there instead.

They reserved Rojas for the stage win.

 

[Tuarts]

Think its interesting how some teams with 2 sprinters, who didn't contest.

Hushovd, Feillu, Goss, Gilbert. Rojas.

Those who are thinking of the victory?

 

[craig1985]

I'm out of the loop. What's the new system?

Previously, stages classified flat had three intermediate sprint points in them, worth 6, 4, and 2 points to the first three riders across the line. In 2011, flat stages will have just one intermediate sprint, but it will be worth 20 points to the first rider across the line, and the first 15 will score points. The intention is to have green jersey favourites needing to sprint twice during the day to score well. Points awarded at the finish of flat stages will also increase, from 35 points for the winner in 2010 to 45. Medium mountain stages will award 30 points to the winner, high mountain stages and individual time trials 20 points.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Tour_de_France

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

I'm out of the loop. What's the new system?

only 1 intermediate sprint per stage.

however with a lot more points.

Not sure the exact amount for first place.. 15?

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

that farm bike is cool

 

[craig1985]

Break gone back up to 4'30.

 

[Tuarts]

Oh and Navardarkus' national jersey is as much fail as a Leopard jersey.

 

[Ruudz0r]

Think its interesting how some teams with 2 sprinters, who didn't contest.

Hushovd, Feillu, Goss, Gilbert. Rojas.

Those who are thinking of the victory?

Feillu did try, but he had to stop 2 times cause some1 was passing in the gap he wanted to go and then gave up.

 

[jobiwan]

only 1 intermediate sprint per stage.

however with a lot more points.

Not sure the exact amount for first place.. 15?

20 points for 1st place w/ points for 1st 15 men across.

 

[Moondance]

Think its interesting how some teams with 2 sprinters, who didn't contest.

Hushovd, Feillu, Goss, Gilbert. Rojas.

Those who are thinking of the victory?

Interesting. Pretty good analysis.

Anyway break is once more gaining rapidly. Don't think we can hope for. Pre-1700 finish at this rate

 

[Libertine Seguros]

We'll see - he's been pretty disparaging of the green in the past, I think he'd go away very happy with 4 stages and no green this year.

You mean like in 2009, when he had green socks, shoes, sunglasses, handlebar tape and everything made up, then claimed he was only after stage wins and green would be bonus after he couldn't win it anymore?

Cavendish routinely has a bit of a struggle in the first sprint of a GT - losing out to Petacchi in the Giri of 2009 and 11, crashing in the Tour last year, losing out to Hutarovich (!) in the Vuelta last year... but then he comes back strong and quashes everybody for the rest of the time.

 

[cineteq]

Previously, stages classified flat had three intermediate sprint points in them, worth 6, 4, and 2 points to the first three riders across the line. In 2011, flat stages will have just one intermediate sprint, but it will be worth 20 points to the first rider across the line, and the first 15 will score points. The intention is to have green jersey favourites needing to sprint twice during the day to score well. Points awarded at the finish of flat stages will also increase, from 35 points for the winner in 2010 to 45. Medium mountain stages will award 30 points to the winner, high mountain stages and individual time trials 20 points.

What about the negative points? Harmon was talking about few minutes ago? Anybody cares to comment?

 

[Parrulo]

has anything other then this intermidiete sprint happened today?

 

[Frosty]

Think its interesting how some teams with 2 sprinters, who didn't contest.

Hushovd, Feillu, Goss, Gilbert. Rojas.

Those who are thinking of the victory?

P and P seem pretty convinced that Cav is waiting for the end too. Cant see it myself but lets see.

 

[craig1985]

What about the negative points? Harmon was talking about few minutes ago? Anybody cares to comment?

Unfortunately we don't get British Eurosport for TdF coverage in July so I don't know what he has just said

 

[craig1985]

has anything other then this intermidiete sprint happened today?

OPL and Movistar have had a few crashes today and Greipel crashed in the neutral zone.

 

[Sylvester]

Oh, Cav will definitely try to contest the sprint. No way he's going to podium today, though.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

What about the negative points? Harmon was talking about few minutes ago? Anybody cares to comment?

That it weights winning an intermediate sprint as being as valuable as winning a mountain stage is pretty ridiculous.

 

[Finn84]

has anything other then this intermidiete sprint happened today?

Few crashes, especially for Omega Pharma-Lotto riders.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

You mean like in 2009, when he had green socks, shoes, sunglasses, handlebar tape and everything made up, then claimed he was only after stage wins and green would be bonus after he couldn't win it anymore?

Cavendish routinely has a bit of a struggle in the first sprint of a GT - losing out to Petacchi in the Giri of 2009 and 11, crashing in the Tour last year, losing out to Hutarovich (!) in the Vuelta last year... but then he comes back strong and quashes everybody for the rest of the time.

I mean like 2009, where he didn't go for intermediates, and 2010 where he didn't got for intermediates, and stopped trying in the finish sprint if he couldn't win.

He might want the green on some levels, but its pretty clear he's not actual prepared to go out of his way to do it.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

LOL @the Tour of Pologne advertisements during the commercials on Eurosport

 

[Ferminal]

Anyone helping OPL on the front? Get JVdB in there.