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

[Woody22]

Thats all AC's knee can handle....

I think his knee is all better. The rest day seemed to do wonders for him just like it did last year.
Welcome aboard yell4cadel. Not enough Evans supporters on the forum already so you are most welcome.

 

[b.broadhurst]

His best win is that stage win at the Tour Down Under.

Can you find me a video?

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Two questions.....

If Contador wins overall, is this the best win of his career?

If he wins, will Riis try and make him do the Vuelta? (Barring suspension ofc)

no way.
the vuelta is even closer then usual. If he goes to the vuelta their is only one explanation and it doesn't belong in this forum.

 

[sultanofhyd]

Europcar have got to be one of the worst teams at being on the front of the peloton!! Yesterday and today they have been poor!!

They are riding tempo, there's absolutely no use to bring the break back, Voeckler is not a sprinter and they are not HTC.

 

[Ramira]

And Kloden was the fourth best climber (before AC's meaningless attack)?

Well let's take the 2009 TDF without any time trials:

Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana
Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 0:01:05
Fränk Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 0:01:32
Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana 0:03:55
Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas 0:04:13
Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream 0:04:38
Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana 0:05:45

Now admittedly it wasn't much of a tour but it's the best measure of what Frank can do in a Tour we have. So I wouldn't be surprised if he is at the very least in the top 5 at the top of Luz Ardiden.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I think his knee is all better. The rest day seemed to do wonders for him just like it did last year.
Welcome aboard yell4cadel. Not enough Evans supporters on the forum already so you are most welcome.

I certainly make up for it. The ACF Mafia will be outin numbers after the stage if things go well. If not I will be crying like a baby

 

[b.broadhurst]

He doesn't need to.

Contador prefers making friends and giving them the stage wins. Clever tactic considering he could benefit a lot in this Tour.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

He doesn't need to.

not saying he does, that was just a added thought.
He needs to drop Andy I would say. Let us see how fresh he is.

 

[Publicus]

Two questions.....

If Contador wins overall, is this the best win of his career?

If he wins, will Riis try and make him do the Vuelta? (Barring suspension ofc)

IMO it would be bigger than winning all 3 grand tours in a calendar year since he will have pulled off the Giro-Tour double. But at this point, it is VERY premature to even entertain that notion. He is far more likely not to win this race, than win it at this point.

 

[sultanofhyd]

no way.
the vuelta is even closer then usual. If he goes to the vuelta their is only one explanation and it doesn't belong in this forum.

I guess if there is any chemical in the world that can make Contador win the triple it would have to be taken in amounts that even my grandmother can detect.

 

[Machu Picchu]

Just read Gallopin saying that Kloden is still pretty banged up and that Levi and Zubeldia are looking better for today, anyone know any more on this?_?

 

[thrawn]

The lead of the break will drop by about 2 mins once HTC get their train going for the intermediate sprint.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

I think his knee is all better. The rest day seemed to do wonders for him just like it did last year.
Welcome aboard yell4cadel. Not enough Evans supporters on the forum already so you are most welcome.

lol, not enough.
July has been a cadel fanboy nightmare, even without ACF's input.

 

[El Pistolero]

Can you find me a video?

I remember watching it, Luis Leon Sanchez and him finished together and Lulu gave him the victory. Really nice scene. Don't know about a vid though.

 

[sultanofhyd]

Just read Gallopin saying that Kloden is still pretty banged up and that Levi and Zubeldia are looking better for today, anyone know any more on this?_?

Translation : RadioShack is in deep sh!t.

 

[yell4cadel]

I think his knee is all better. The rest day seemed to do wonders for him just like it did last year.
Welcome aboard yell4cadel. Not enough Evans supporters on the forum already so you are most welcome.

Where did you get that masterful and accurate medical information from...

or yeah,, It was probably Dr 'Phil' Liggett..

 

[b.broadhurst]

15km to intermediate sprint, got to be HTC time soon!!

 

[sultanofhyd]

The lead of the break will drop by about 2 mins once HTC get their train going for the intermediate sprint.

They'll gain about a minute as the bunch passes through the feed zone.

 

[b.broadhurst]

Already through the feed zone, gained 30secs, lead up to 8.30 mins!!

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

This thread is going to be close to 1000 posts prior to the first climb.
not bad.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Bruyneel expects Klöden to drop because he still has lower back pain. He says Leipheimer is perhaps their best bet right now.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

the longer the better, this will still zap the energy.

what energy? they are basically standing still

 

[Woody22]

I certainly make up for it. The ACF Mafia will be outin numbers after the stage if things go well. If not I will be crying like a baby

It's a very nervous night for all of us Evans fans but we must all have faith. Stay strong ACF94, Cadel will do well tonight. He has a little aura about him this year. If you look carefully you can see a faint glow around him as he rides.

 

[auscyclefan94]

15km to intermediate sprint, got to be HTC time soon!!

15km for the break or peloton?

 

[auscyclefan94]

It's a very nervous night for all of us Evans fans but we must all have faith. Stay strong ACF94, Cadel will do well tonight. He has a little aura about him this year. If you look carefully you can see a faint glow around him as he rides.

Yes, stay confident! We need to keep faith!