2011 Tour de France, Stage 12: Cugnaux - Luz-Ardiden, 209 km

[jobiwan]

Watching Sanchez celebrate was so much fun. He really did a great ride today! Well done!

Maybe he'll go for the Polka-dot + Top 5 GC + Another Stage Win. Go Samu!

 

[musorowegudo]

Levi is the NEW team leader for Retirement Shack!! It never rains for these guys!

 

[spalco]

what happened?

A mountain?

 

[BM1979]

I have finally caught up , Thank you for the Entertainment , Now good night time for bed

 

[Captain Serious]

I timed the last 10km of the last climb, and Evans and the other dudes who finished with him averaged 20.36km/h.

Wow weeee!

 

[Rocksteady]

Results show Hesjedal at ~4min and VDV at ~10 min?

Surely they flip-flopped? Hesjay was out really early.

 

[Winterfold]

About time.

Though theyll probably catch Samu unfortunately.

You need drugs.

Cheer up old boy.

That is a huuuuuge win today, and winning a Mountain top finish on a mythical mountain in the Pyrennes in an orange jersey will go a lot further in the school of life (basque version) than a podium noone remembers.

Anyway, the myth of this mountain has not been disproven yet...

 

[luckyboy]

I rather have Evans or Basso win than the Schlecks.
So for god sake I hope Cadel holds it together

Same sentiments here exactly.


Knew Cunego was going to be good. Great win for Sanchez today, which I also predicted

Would've been a perfect day if Gesink wasn't injured and the Schlecks failed.

 

[Captain_Cavman]

2 minutes today with plenty more to come, Uran should do it easily with Gesink obviously very hurt.

I really feel for the 'second tier' Wiggins, VDB, Gesink etc who have crashed out - the first tier are looking very beatable, but... bike racing is a cruel mistress

Evans or Basso really need to take advantage - they may not get another chance.

I agree. The Dauphine formline looks pretty good and one would assume that Evans and Wiggins would still be similar in terms of performance. VDB2 looked to climbing better than either. The other wildcard was Horner. It's tragic that the fates have knocked out so many interesting potential contenders.

 

[rata de sentina]

I sort of predicted this. I feared that it would be worse though. No reason to process the funeral at this stage. But well, if he is feeling the fatigue, then there is a reason to just wish him a high finish.

I think it is too early for fatigue more likely lack of form. The Pyrenees is probably ACs TdS or Dauphine. Having ridden the Giro he can't possibly have a proper Tour preparation.

 

[valentius borealis]

Galimzyanov is officially listed as being eliminated for finishing outside the time limit.

 

[TRDean]

Galimzyanov is officially listed as being eliminated for finishing outside the time limit.

Well...Gizmo is definitely not the next Kenny!

 

[sublimit]

How much did Gesink lose?

It made my day when he went out the back.

 

[Susan Westemeyer]

Missed your reporting today Susan, hope your back tomorrow

I wrote the race report today, which turned out to be the length of a novel......

Back onlive report Sunday and the final Saturday. We trade off on duties so that nobody burns out.

Susan

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

How much did Gesink lose?

It made my day when he went out the back.

Wth? He is injured.

It makes my day when the likes of you get banned

 

[UselessToo]

How much did Gesink lose?

It made my day when he went out the back.

77. GESINK Robert 41 RABOBANK CYCLING TEAM 6h 18' 59" + 17' 44"

 

[Kwibus]

Wth? He is injured.

It makes my day when the likes of you get banned

Why is everyone so sensitive? Oh wait it's July...

I'm looking forward to the Vuelta regarding this forum

 

[The Hitch]

Wth? He is injured.

It makes my day when the likes of you get banned

+1.

Also he should be banned. I have no idea how he got away with only 1 month for what he said.

 

[spalco]

One more disappointment of this stage, although his job isn't necessarily finishing high in the GC, is Richie Porte, no? 17:25 down is quite a packing.

 

[El Pistolero]

For as much as it's worth: Contador said he's feeling better every day and that he's quite happy.

So, I'm not giving up on him just yet! Andy Schleck didn't look strong to me by the way

I wouldn't mind if Frank won, but please not Andy.

 

[The Hitch]

Why is everyone so sensitive? Oh wait it's July...

I'm looking forward to the Vuelta regarding this forum

The guy laughs at Gesinks failure.

I dont know why you target Dekker Tifosi, he has a right to respond to that post.

 

[spalco]

For as much as it's worth: Contador said he's feeling better every day and that he's quite happy.

Do you believe him? He looked like he was fighting for his life to me in the final sprint today. Hard to buy a champion like him would be content with that performance.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Hooray! Relevant racing! Oh how we've missed you!

Seriously - good stage. Why wasn't it on the first weekend? Now it feels like as soon as the race is fully warmed up ready to go, it's almost over.


Edit: obviously I mean second weekend - not even I would suggest a Luz Ardiden finish on stage 1...

 

[nesocip]

I think Monfort and Fuglsang played a major role in how the stage went, because i really doubt they were supposed to get dropped by Jens. Had they been at the level their team expected them to be, we might have seen much bigger gaps (with Contador and Tommy losing substantial time and Evans losing 20-25 sec) and prolly a Stage win for Basso or Samu from the last group with horseface bros.

Better that it went the way it did anyways.

 

[ManInFull]

Do you believe him? He looked like he was fighting for his life to me in the final sprint today. Hard to buy a champion like him would be content with that performance.

Yeah, I don't buy it. He's only 2:11 behind Frank Schleck. However, unless he starts riding better, he will not gain any time back before the TT.