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

[zapata]

Think cancellara is strictly domestique today.

 

[Jamsque]

So what do we think, will Greipel lead out Gilbert to the foot of the climb and sling him up it?

 

[Bye Bye Bicycle]

Those masses at the roadside... you just can't get something like this on a Giro flat stage. Not to mention the Vuelta...

Vive le Tour!

 

[The Hitch]

I really hope we get to see cancellara do a cancellara.

Neutralize the stage?

 

[Maxiton]

Think cancellara is strictly domestique today.

Probably right.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

I actually wouldnt be surprised if Samu loses time today.

Everything that ive read and seen from him suggests hes going to peak for the 3rd week, and its not like hes unknown to lose time on early stages, especially considering how weak his team is.

all the gc guys wanna peak in the 3rd week.

If he can't stick with the pace, or any of the other big men I'd be pretty surprised.
It all depends on positioning on these finishes anyway. He is experienced enough to know where he has to be.

 

[dlwssonic]

Neutralize the stage?

why not? didnt you know that there is a 1% chance of crashing on the mont des alouettes

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Gesink being kept IN the wind by Garate (eg. Garate is too small to provide any shelter lol)

 

[cocteau_ireland]

This is gonna be a great run-in

 

[Maxiton]

Neutralize the stage?

Lols. Yer killin me.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

july spartacus =/= spring spartacus

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Gesink being kept IN the wind by Garate (eg. Garate is too small to provide any shelter lol)

at least he is up the front i guess

 

[valentius borealis]

I actually wouldnt be surprised if Samu loses time today.

Everything that ive read and seen from him suggests hes going to peak for the 3rd week, and its not like hes unknown to lose time on early stages, especially considering how weak his team is.

A lot of the contenders lost time in Stage 1 in 2008 when only about 10 riders ended up with the same time as Valverde.

 

[The Hitch]

Those masses at the roadside... you just can't get something like this on a Giro flat stage. Not to mention the Vuelta...

Vive le Tour!

Giro 2010.

2 9 May Amsterdam to Utrecht (Netherlands) 209 km (130 mi) Flat stage Tyler Farrar (United States)
3 10 May Amsterdam to Middelburg (Netherlands) 224 km (139 mi) Flat stage Wouter Weylandt (Belgium)

 

[dlwssonic]

andy schleck has become gadret!

 

[Tuarts]

Getting exciting now. Peloton strung out, won't be too many attacks until the finale you'd think.

14km to go!

 

[boomcie]

So what do we think, will Greipel lead out Gilbert to the foot of the climb and sling him up it?

I think not. In a pre-race interview he said it was Gilbert's stage but sounded reluctant about putting himself in the domestique role.

 

[sultanofhyd]

Europcar setting the pace for Sir Tommy V

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

So what do we think, will Greipel lead out Gilbert to the foot of the climb and sling him up it?

I have a feeling OPL's done a lot of work pulling everything back, including the gorilla, that xxxxxx (Gilbert!!! sheesh) won't win this one. And all the other teams are clearly wanting this one.

 

[Maxiton]

Glad to see (finally) a black cyclist in the race. Phil just called him "colored." Man, he really is old school.

 

[cocteau_ireland]

Gadret remaining at the back all day just to reinforce notion that he's tired from the giro n not capable of teamwork

 

[thrawn]

Team Gadret in trouble at the back.

 

[Publicus]

They are racing like there are 2 KM left to go.

 

[spalco]

Who's HTC doing all that work for today?

 

[sultanofhyd]

Why is Gadret called Team Gadret? I wanted to ask during the Giro but the forum wouldn't let me register...