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

[Ryo Hazuki]

Samu is a great descender because of his MTB background.

Also he is an awesome tter.

He beat Dennis Mencov in the main Vuelta tt a few years ago.

samu hasn't done a great descent in at least 2 or 3 years. but he is indeed a great timetrialer. I can't believe how jackass dumb people are to samu and his ability's

 

[b.broadhurst]

samu hasn't done a great descent in at least 2 or 3 years.

Cast your mind back to last years tour.

 

[just some guy]

Evans is a handy descender too. This race is missing Valverde. He's a great descender.

I was thinking that the other day how different the race would be with Valverde in it.

PS I think will use the descents in his favour as much as he can.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Cast your mind back to last years tour.

pls help me because I don't remember

 

[b.broadhurst]

Samu is a great descender because of his MTB background.

Also he is an awesome tter.

He beat Dennis Mencov in the main Vuelta tt a few years ago.
http://www.cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/race.asp?raceid=6328

Came second in the main Vuelta tt 2 years ago, beating Cuddles, losing to Millar, and I think he won one other Vuelta tt.

Yeah i got him totally mixed up with joaquin rodriquez, sanchez is just as gd as contador after a 3 week tour.

 

[Dedelou]

So apart from the big dogs... who else may be up there tomorrow... who are the surprises likely to be?

Look for people like Maxime Bouet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale attempting to leave early and rack up points for the polka dot jersey. Also I would look for Marco Marcato (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team and Johnny, his teammate if johnny can deal with the pain from his injuries. Tejay to make a move. I see a lot of others trying . Especially if the leaders are watching themselves

 

[inri2000]

Podium or no podium, Samu is always ignored big time (not even shown on te Contenders gc on some channels) and without the initial disadvantage he would have been right up there with people saying "watch out for this Samu Sanchez guy". Even if he got a podium it would be towards the end, and in the meantime all the "watch out for ..." is going to Tony Martin, Peter Velits etc. A bit of a sad sight to see.

Your problem is poor commentators, I can only compare with anglo coverage like versus or espn, but I would hate to be without the insight of Rolf Sorensen, and especially the depth of Jorgen Leth as on Danish tv.

 

[cineteq]

evans isn't that good as a downhiller. also he showed that during duaphinee this year

Knock yourself out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yISN7pgfCtY
Evans is daredevil when he needs too.

 

[b.broadhurst]

pls help me because I don't remember

Stage 9 off the col de la madeleine

 

[The Hitch]

I was thinking that the other day how different the race would be with Valverde in it.

PS I think will use the descents in his favour as much as he can.

Bring back time bonuses and Valverde might just win it.

Providing hes allowed to race of course.

 

[Cimber]

Bertie on Twitter: "After many troubles finally the mountain is coming!My knee is going better.Thanks to everybody for your support."

 

[Jeanne]

So apart from the big dogs... who else may be up there tomorrow... who are the surprises likely to be?

Since tomorrow is July 14 - I expect ALL frenchies to try very hard, and, who knows..?

 

[b.broadhurst]

Bertie on Twitter: "After many troubles finally the mountain is coming!My knee is going better.Thanks to everybody for your support."

Bertie has been sandbagging the whole time, he is going to go hard tomorrow and test everyone.

 

[b.broadhurst]

Since tomorrow is July 14 - I expect ALL frenchies to try very hard, and, who knows..?

Moncoutie, Kadri, Di Gregorio, Chavanel, Casar, Charteau and Coppel will all try and get in the breakaway tomorrow.

 

[Dedelou]

Alberto Contador: "The knee has not bothered me at any time"

And then there is the truth. Nice effort reporting your own translation of something else he said in spanish. Your reference , conveniently misreported " address a long statement on what AC said explaining that the knee did not bother him at any time in "Today's STAGE" in spite of the , speed, the effort to be at the front, the humid weather and rainy moments. He went on saying that although he was pleased with that, it was by no mean the "Tourmalet " and he would wait till the last climb (Ardidenz) to see how it was holding.

 

[b.broadhurst]

Any rain tomorrow and things will be even more exciting.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Knock yourself out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yISN7pgfCtY
Evans is daredevil when he needs too.

lol, there's nothing impressive about that, in fact you can see gilbert doing betters corners but the motor holding him up

 

[Duartista]

Moncoutie, Kadri, Di Gregorio, Chavanel, Casar, Charteau and Coppel will all try and get in the breakaway tomorrow.

Coppel won't be in the breakaway, he is trying to ride for GC. He's been injured though, and his form doesn't seem great. Hopefully he's recovered a bit, I'd like to see him in the top 10-15 on the stage.

Another who I hope has recovered from his bruises is Uran, who is still hoping for a top 10 in Paris but doesn't sound too confident: http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/529362/sky-s-uran-takes-on-tour-de-france-climbs-for-mum-and-sister.html

 

[Dedelou]

Ok, where have SaxoBank been? Haven't seen any of them in the first 11 stages, strange... Katusha? Astana?

I heard they are riding the Tour de france. My friends who follow the tour at road side has phoned me a few times. i trust him. He says there is 9 riders from that team in every stages. (you can trust him too, he is a sharp observer). However, they are wearing a rather dull Jersey with SAXO written on it. Depending on which country you are getting the Tour de France reception, you may not be allowed to see them by the TV producers because some of them have committed to report 100 % to only show you other teams such as HTC , Garmin, BMC and the current favorite of the press "team Leoturd"

 

[b.broadhurst]

Coppel won't be in the breakaway, he is trying to ride for GC. He's been injured though, and his form doesn't seem great. Hopefully he's recovered a bit, I'd like to see him in the top 10-15 on the stage.

Coppel is 4mins down already on the other GC hopefuls so looks unrealistic unless he is going for white but I can't see him climbing with Gesink.

So breakaways and stage wins are his best shot this year.

 

[El Pistolero]

The talk was of the Euskaltel team helping Contador not Samu.

Samu loves Contador so they might work together but I dont see EE drilling it for Contador just because Sanchez is Asturian.

I remember a photo of Samu and Contador right after the Tour. Contador was putting 3 fingers up and Samu added 2 fingers of his own

But the Basques don't hate Contador by the way, they love him in fact.

 

[kjetilraknerud]

Thor to go on a crazy solo attack and win back the yellow jersey.

 

[b.broadhurst]

Voeckler will definitely attack tomorrow at some point, he just can't help himself!!

 

[Escarabajo]

...

Another who I hope has recovered from his bruises is Uran, who is still hoping for a top 10 in Paris but doesn't sound too confident: http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/529362/sky-s-uran-takes-on-tour-de-france-climbs-for-mum-and-sister.html

Thanks for posting that link.

I hope he performs well tomorrow. I fear of his performance on the third week but not now. I don't think he has any excuse now.

 

[Escarabajo]

Coppel is 4mins down already on the other GC hopefuls so looks unrealistic unless he is going for white but I can't see him climbing with Gesink.

So breakaways and stage wins are his best shot this year.

4 min is nothing in the Tour if you are going for top 10 or 15. It is bad if you are shooting for the podium and if your name is not Contador but that's it. Now if he does not have the talent then our talk is meaningless.