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

[Escarabajo]

Hey, if you have an uphill finish why make the 3 km neutralization rule??

 

[Arnout]

Fair would be Contador serving out a suspension right now. Since he's managed to weasel his way out of that, I think he deserves every little bit of bad luck he gets in this race.

Clinic bye bye. And take Frank Schleck with you please.

 

[dlwssonic]

It's stage 1 you twerp. Contador will take that back in Grenoble if he really has to.

you have to include the time he will lose in les essarts.

 

[Ramira]

Nope, he says he isnt. Only 'schaafwonden'. ( some dutchy translate it, I cant think of it..)

He's had some abrasions. It will mean some uncomfortable nights and might cost him a little bit tomorrow but by the time the mountains start he'll be 100% fine.

 

[luckyboy]

told you guys the french get their way conti will lose time deservedly IMO. really man could have cut his loses by about 20-30 sec if he actually raced. sorry for harping on this matter but come on.

It'd be a different story if Cadel was caught in a crash caused by someone standing on the side of the road.

 

[Ramira]

Hey, if you have an uphill finish why make the 3 km neutralization rule??

It's not officially an uphill finish. As I mentioned before it's a 45 point finish which makes it officially flat and therefore the 3km rule counts.

 

[jobiwan]

Hey, if you have an uphill finish why make the 3 km neutralization rule??

I guess cause it's still a flat stage.

Stage 4 has a Cat 3 finish.
Today was a Cat 4.

Although we can all agree, it was still very tough!

 

[spalco]

First time ever that a tosser in yellow managed to take over a minute out of Contador on a finish.

A mountain top finish no less.

 

[The Hitch]

Also remember the guys that were involved in the first crash were held up by the second crash. The gap stabilized at 30-40 seconds before the last 2km and in that second crash we saw cars stopping, riders falling all over the road and suddenly group 2 and 3 melted together at the finish line at more than a minute.

It would be very unfair if the first crash group lost more time because of the second crash whereas that same 2nd crash group won't have any damage.

I really hope EE have the good sence to appeal to the commissars on this.

Offer a nuclear option as well.

The Tour is over for Samu at 1.20 + x>1 min ttt so they might as well threaten to withdraw or something.

 

[Kwibus]

I'm leaving this discussion.

There isn't a fair solution to this. It sucks, but the curses, accusations and wishes for crashes are starting to show up in this thread.

I feel bad for AC and Samu. They don't deserve this, but life ain't fair.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Good news, do you know if Gesink was injured at all? Hope not.

no nothing, he was smiling and laughing at the interview.

 

[Chuffy]

The tantrums, teddy throwing and general whinging on here are hilarious!

Have a cup of tea and go for a nice walk chaps, you'll feel better for it.

 

[dlwssonic]

It'd be a different story if Cadel was caught in a crash caused by someone standing on the side of the road.

yes yes yes you guys keep on mentioning what if cadel was caught what if. well I would be scolding cadel for his bad positioning. But too bad he did well.

 

[Bavarianrider]

They neutralized it!!!!!!!! Everyone after Gilbert gets +6 seconds.
I think this sucks big time!

 

[auscyclefan94]

I am still in shock. They can't alter the results, as you can't bend the rules but I think that it is interesting that Cancellara attacked and didn't try to slow things down.

 

[jobiwan]

It'd be a different story if Cadel was caught in a crash caused by someone standing on the side of the road.

That wasn't ACF I saw causing the crash, was it?

 

[GroupDK]

A joke how the left side of the peloton at the first crash could tumble around for so long time and not keep on moving.

And I feelt for Bjarne Riis back in the Saxo bank sungard car.
Im not sure, but it definately sounded like the Saxo bank car was blasting loud ouf of the cars speakers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9ocLN4Dc3I

 

[hfer07]

based on what took place today- I must say the tour just got more exiting "and Balanced"......... so I predict Contador "must" pull some trick on Stage 4th and sack Evans & specially the Schleck Bros to get back in competition-which only means more excitement

 

[Escarabajo]

told you guys the french get their way conti will lose time deservedly IMO. really man could have cut his loses by about 20-30 sec if he actually raced. sorry for harping on this matter but come on.

You are right, but you don't know if he was trying to conserve energy which is a lot more important for a 3 week tour.

 

[Ramira]

It'd be a different story if Cadel was caught in a crash caused by someone standing on the side of the road.

While I can guarantee that everyone would feel differently if their favourite rider was or wasn't in the crash you have to admit Contador didn't exactly ride his heart out to minimize the gap, that for me means he deserves to at least lose some time.

 

[sublimit]

You cant blame the spectator for blowing this race, Its not like he jumped out or anything or running around like an idiot.

Just go with the GC as its stands if you hit something then too bad.
Edit neutralised?

 

[dlwssonic]

They neutralized it!!!!!!!! Everyone after Gilbert gets +6 seconds.
I think this sucks big time!

which planet are you on?

 

[jobiwan]

They neutralized it!!!!!!!! Everyone after Gilbert gets +6 seconds.
I think this sucks big time!

Where did you see that? The official Tour results don't say that.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

I really hope EE have the good sence to appeal to the commissars on this.

Offer a nuclear option as well.

The Tour is over for Samu at 1.20 + x>1 min ttt so they might as well threaten to withdraw or something.

dont be so dramatic.

The next week will be chaotic. Chances are every rider might lose time at some point.

Samu's main goal is to podium anyway, this makes it harder, but there could be some benefits also.

 

[Ramira]

I am still in shock. They can't alter the results, as you can't bend the rules but I think that it is interesting that Cancellara attacked and didn't try to slow things down.

Frank Schleck was with him. If the end game is to win the tour I think having Frank a minute plus ahead is in Andy's advantage, even if that means Evans also takes a minute.