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

[spalco]

Hello guys, i'm quite new at the sport of cycling. Last years TDF was first that i followed closely so i wnat to ask a question. Why is there so much hate on Schleck brothers? Or am I imagining it ?

Hard to say. I think it's mostly a combination of having a very big mouth and not winning much. Last year Andy was (imo) very popular, but it's changed quickly for some reason.

 

[53x11 in DC]

So... did Voeckler ride the Tour climb of his life there and for one day hang with the best in the world, or was the pace of the Schlecks, Evans, Contador, et al. unexpectedly slow with those short, repeated attacks instead of a sustained push? Were they all so close to the limit that they couldn't pull off a sustained attack?

I pray that the tour is coming back to the French. And without opening the door to the Clinic, y'all know what I mean.

 

[Anonymous]

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[Ad Rock]

Great stage!!! MV,, cmon brother, you must agree with that!!

Well played by leopard, though they burned a few matches. Tomorrow will allow for a recovery (too long to the finish), and back at it in a couple days. Can't wait for the galibier.

Speaking of which, if you're planning on being in the alps, the hotel des glaciers at the top of the lauteret is offering private parking spaces for 20 euros a day. Get on it!! 8k walk from there to the highest ever Tdf finish.

Got mine last week.

I was riding there 3 weeks ago, and you're right, its a perfect spot!

 

[patrick767]

I don't think they will be as scared to attack earlier on Saturday. I think they will try to bury him.

Maybe, maybe not. Hrotha has a point. They had a chance today with Contador struggling and gained minimal time. One bad mountain day for Contador is no guarantee he'll have another one.

 

[Lanark]

I don't see how on today's performace Andy Shleck can be considered the favorite for yellow in Paris.

He held on by the skin of his teeth to Evans and Basso at the finish.

He can't time trial so, Evans is the favorite now in my book.

If you see the incredible progression Andy has made from the TTT and the Mur de Bretagne stage, it's hard not to see him as the absolute number 1 favorite at this moment. He will only get better, while the same is doubtful about his competitors.

 

[trevim]

So about Contador: is this the Giro catching up with him or just the knee problems?

 

[The Hitch]

By the way, reports of Contadors demise are premature.

This aint over.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Gesink comes in at 17 minutes....

 

[Escarabajo]

Gesink just came in. Wow!

 

[Anonymous]

Maybe, maybe not. Hrotha has a point. They had a chance today with Contador struggling and gained minimal time. One bad mountain day for Contador is no guarantee he'll have another one.

Maybe so, but I have to wonder if they were questioning too much his form today, and now that they have proof (most likely), they will show no mercy. We will see. I hope someone goes earlier Saturday.

 

[jobiwan]

Way to go Sammy!! And Voeckler!! And Tommy D!

Frank looking amazing. I think Andy could have gone if he wanted to, but he let Frank go. Andy's looking fine to me.

It seems Contador is off form, to be expected. I hope he doesn't pull out though, he fought hard today. Limited damage well.

Szmyd and Basso are looking quite formidable.

But that Evans guy. I told you I was right putting him as a contender in my preview , although I did have doubts myself. Way to prove me wrong.

Andy and Frank better go crazy up Plateau de Beille, or in the Alps. If they focus on Evans, they can still gap him I think. Andy probably needs at least 2 minutes on Evans, Frank probably 2:30 or 3.

 

[Sylvester]

I dont really care what makes Samu happy. Im a fan of the cyclist not his life partner. My hope was for GC contention.

He went full out from the start 100%, probably tired himself out for the remaining Pyraneen stages and got a grand total of 5 seconds on Frank and 27 seconds on Baso ANdy and Cuddles.

It looks like he wont even beat Cuddles this year, so a stage win - a relatively minor thing in the world of cycling in my opinion, isnt going to cheer me up.

Are you crazy? So, one of your favorite cyclists just won on Luz-Ardiden, some kind of holy place for the Basque supporters since Laiseka won there, one of the biggest wins of his career, one of the biggest wins of the team ever, and you still manage to be unhappy with his performance? Moreover, he will wear the polka dot jersey tomorrow, he jumped from 20th to 8th on GC, and now Contador doesn't look great, this Tour is far from over. As you might have noticed, Samu finished ahead of all other contenders today. Get a grip.

 

[Maxiton]

By the way, reports of Contadors demise are premature.

This aint over.

True. Not yet. But he is looking vulnerable.

 

[Benotti69]

1st stage in the pyrennees and people are writing riders off

anything can happen between now and Paris, anything. i am not writing a Riis rider off just yet. Contador could get a second wind for the Alps.

GC riders only need one bad day to lose the TdF. Imagine today was Contador's bad day. If so he did ok.

Lots more racing to go.

 

[Jamsque]

By the way, reports of Contadors demise are premature.

This aint over.

It's never over till the Champs, but I think you'll agree that Contador is looking the weakest he has ever been since bonking in Paris-Nice.

 

[roundabout]

Today is one of those rare occasions where Jeannesson lived up to his 2008 Tour de l'Avenir. Hopefully he can keep it up.

As for the rest of the stage, I am not really sure what to think. Let's put it this way, there's a lot to think about for a lot of people.

 

[BYOP88]

I guess the Hog hasn't learnt from the 06 TdF, the last time he came in with 4 leaders and left with nothing.

 

[Kazistuta]

Who was it when the Schlecks were attacking whilst with CSC? That was Cuddles wasnt it?

Think it was 1999 cant remeber what climb, but they were both continually attacking, one by one, short sharp attacks.

LOL, back when Schlecklet was 14 years old?

I think you mean 2008, when Schlecks + Sastre took turns in attacking Evans, 'thus in the end preventing Cuddles from winning the tour.

 

[MartinGT]

Gesink comes in at 17 minutes....

Pants man

 

[musorowegudo]

So about Contador: is this the Giro catching up with him or just the knee problems?

hmmmm . . ... he didn't impress me, at least Samu won the stage!

 

[sublimit]

At least the win meant something to Sanchez even if his so called fans dont give a ****.

Enjoyed that stage, Frank looked quite good but Andy has a compulsive disorder when it comes to Contador. - Not good.

 

[Escarabajo]

Guys that I'll be cheering for primarily:

- Uran
- Tom D.
- Cunego.
- Tommy V.

I hope that Contador recovers but is not looking good for him.

 

[cineteq]

So about Contador: is this the Giro catching up with him or just the knee problems?

All of above

 

[just some guy]

they did well.
but really I thought AS rode like a loser. They are claiming he wasn't good but when any gaps appeared he closed with ease. He wouldn't stop looking at ac.

He better lift his game at De Bellie.
Frank looked very good today, as he attacked multiple times.

Basso tried but didn't have it.
And evans did well to follow and even drove the pace a bit.

But it wasn't very decisive. Voeckler and a few others were not far behind.

Thanks be a good watch tonight

Have fun guys