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

[The Hitch]

SAMUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was 90% sure he will get beaten by Jelle by half a wheel to keep the trend.

Hitch cheer the **** up, just imagine if you supported the other orange team.

As ive said, this is Samus last chance ever, so i have every right to upset.

It would be great if Samu was 25 years old and i had someone to cheer year after year after year.

 

[Lanark]

Yes, thats what a whole years preperation went towards. A TDF stage win.

The guys won the olympic road race, TDF stage win doesnt exactly illuminate his palmares.

It does, it's probably the second biggest victory in his carreer, and certainly at this place in the pyrennees, it's extremely important for him and his team. Did you see how ecstatic he was?

 

[trevim]

Andy Schleck to win the overall. I hope he justifies it the next few stages.
Samuel Sanchez doing grat he really deserved that one, riding alone the entire climb.
Contador well....Even when he's bad he loses 13s. He may not win but he's really though.
Danielson and Cunego really good. If they don't have any off days they may land somewhere in the top10.
Basso looking good for podium maybe but I don't see him dropping Andy, at least.
Radioshack to go on the attack for stages (go Paulinho!).
Cadel Evans without an off day he may contend it in the overall.
Vanendert was 13min down, maybe a top-20 if he can keep up this mountain form.

 

[Jamsque]

Stage:

Sanchez
Vanendert 7
Frank 10
Basso 30
Evans 30
Andy 30
Cunego 35
Contador 45

GC:

Voeckler
Frank 1'49"
Evans 2'06"
Andy 2'17"
Basso 3'16"
Cunego 3'22"
Contador 4'00"
Sanchez 4'11"

 

[Anonymous]

Evans is now the man to beat. Frank Shleck prooved to be the most in form on the first mountain stage.

Andy Schleck isn't, now, as strong as his brother. Contador will have a very difficult time from this moment forward.

Watch out for Ivan Basso, a diesel, if he's warming his engine up, then the Alpes will see him put on the airplane wings.

Yea, if Cuddles limits his losses, Frank is going to need that camelfront for the final TT.

 

[Ramira]

They were speaking to each other, speculating if one of them should try...
It was obvious that they were afraid Bertie was bluffin'. I don't really expect the same results on the next stages, but maybe that's just me.

+1. I think that Contador cracking means that Basso, Evans and the Schleck Brothers won't really be afraid of him anymore, might open up the race for coming mountain finishes.

 

[hrotha]

Just like last year, Contador's weakness is revealed almost by accident and Andy is too busy playing silly mind games and wastes the chance to take real time on him. Last year he didn't have another chance.

 

[Publicus]

I don't think andy was bad, when he had to he rode up to the others with ease. But he is pathetic with his concern about ac.

He needs to start worrying about Cuddles. AC is not a real threat this year.

 

[Moondance]

Impressive bu Samu. Well done to him. We need him badly after losing another slew of guys (Gesink and Klodi most prominently) for the GC.

 

[Parrulo]

did any1 noticed how when he crossed the line contador just pulled to the side and grabbed himself to the barriers?

he is totally spent. the fact that he hang on for so long just proves how good he is

 

[Maxiton]

yeah that year contardor did get his *** kick on a couple og stages and had loose the tour 2007 to rasmussen (not any serius stages left) until Rasmussen was pull out later that evening

Brilliant shot of Rasmussen. I've softened on him recently and realize he got screwed in a major way.

EDIT: I hasten to add that I still don't like him.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

It does, it's probably the second biggest victory in his carreer, and certainly at this place in the pyrennees, it's extremely important for him and his team. Did you see how ecstatic he was?

I'm very happy for samu. champion rider. I don't think podium is out of the question, he is in good form. Low key tomorrow and then hopefully he can be good on Saturday. That is a massive stage.

 

[Dutchsmurf]

Contador is 2.11 mins behind Frank Schleck now!! Tour over!!

That isn't a reason at all to call it tour over with the time trail still to come. Him not having the power to keep up with Evans and Basso is far more worrying than a 2 minute gap on Frank.

 

[brollebol]

If Basso wants to win the tour this is his year. He has a decent shot at winning this ATM

 

[hfer07]

bottle getting interviewed about getting dropped.......

 

[53x11 in DC]

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.

 

[Anonymous]

Andy Schleck to win the overall. I hope he justifies it the next few stages.
Samuel Sanchez doing grat he really deserved that one, riding alone the entire climb.
Contador well....Even when he's bad he loses 13s. He may not win but he's really though.
Danielson and Cunego really good. If they don't have any off days they may land somewhere in the top10.
Basso looking good for podium maybe but I don't see him dropping Andy, at least.
Radioshack to go on the attack for stages (go Paulinho!).
Cadel Evans without an off day he may contend it in the overall.
Vanendert was 13min down, maybe a top-20 if he can keep up this mountain form.

I don't know, I think Frank is the stronger rider, and may be the one for Lay-O-Tard.

 

[DenisMenchov]

Andy is too afraid of Contador... Well done Samu, well done Vanendert, and Frank was just great. We might have an epic battle in this Tour.

 

[The Hitch]

Sanchez looked pretty damn happy about it. Your whining is getting really annoying

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.

 

[Ramira]

Just like last year, Contador's weakness is revealed almost by accident and Andy is too busy playing silly mind games and wastes the chance to take real time on him. Last year he didn't have another chance.

This:

He needs to start worrying about Cuddles. AC is not a real threat this year.

Andy doesn't need to make up any more time on Contador now, he needs to not lose any on Contador and start taking time on Evans.

 

[HL2037]

Ok, The Tour victory bid is officialy over for Contador.

Not yet. Anything can happen yet. Andy might drop his chain or his brain. Frank can not TT.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Tony Martin at 9 minutes, he still has good sight of the top 50
Gesink is still in battle for a top 100

 

[just some guy]

lol yeah.
honestly hitch you attitude towards samu and his tdf is really lame.
You've lost a bit of credibility this tour.

Samu just won and gained time and you are depressed.

Timmy I on my phone watch the reply tonight the 2 diesel Evans and Basso how they look?

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

He needs to start worrying about Cuddles. AC is not a real threat this year.

indeed.
ok cadel did ok today, but really it wasn't that decisive. Voeckler wasn't far behind. I do think he will get owned on de Bellie.

 

[Sleimas]

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 ?