2011 Tour de France Stage 16 (18/7/2011): Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux - Gap, 162.5km

[hrotha]

Hahahahahahahahahahaha. Oh Andy. I told you. "Eliminate Contador while you can, he's dangerous". I told you, but you didn't listen. And now he's within striking distance for the ITT.

Hilarious.

 

[El Pistolero]

I admit, I was wrong, this stage was totally epic

 

[Publicus]

Now he has lined up with Samu for the decent. I really thinks he is considering the idea of driving with Schlecks in the Alps if you now what i am saying.

Yep. And it looks like Frank is Leopard Trek's best chance for GC--Andy clearly doesn't have it.

Contador, with a healthy assist from Cuddles, really made this stage.

 

[trevim]

Wondering how the race would have turned out if Contador was suspended
We really need this guy to have someone racing with panache in a grand tour. And I would like to see him getting the Giro-Tour.

Cavendish almost with Andy Schleck!

Great ride by Hushovd really. One more. I didn't expect him to beat Boasson Hagen in the sprint. Best year for the world champion since? (Evans was really good to, but before that?)

Andy boy in the striking distance for the TT. This is Evans to lose. If he doesn't have a major jour sans he will get it. I'll be happy if he wins this year, he raced like a true champion.

Right now, Evans the favourite and Contador probably the best outside bet. Any of these two deserved it. And Basso I guess.

As for the others.... They have their shot of shooting down Alberto in Luz Ardiden and maybe Plateau Beille. They didn't. Maybe they'll regret it.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Cunego still hanging on in there!

 

[spalco]

In my opinion Evans should have waited for Samu and Contador and work together to get a bigger gap on Voeckler and the Schleck. Now he wasted lots of energy for 3 seconds. The three of them working together on the last flat kilometers could have created a bigger gap than they did now. But still, great riding by Evans. And thanks Contador for bringing some life to the Tour.

Always smarter in hindsight, but yeah. I don't think it cost him that much energy though.

 

[Dutchsmurf]

They wouldn't have worked with him... he put in maybe a little more effort than would have otherwise, but doing it this way forced Contador to use energy too.

Why would they work on the climb, but not on the downhill? The three of them were working together. I'm just saying that Evans still needs to get rid of Voeckler too. A TTT with Contador and Samu is more effective than an ITT with Evans alone.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

The Tour isn't over for Andy by any means, but the gap over Contador is not so comfortable anymore. Tomorrow will be a nervous stage for sure.

Alberto still needs time over Cadel, and he could work with the Schlecks to get it.

Or he could just go on his own, too.

I'd agree, but he doesn't look good to be honest.

OH LAWD.. I gotta mute the sbs team

 

[thirteen]

oh how i missed contador.

this is how a true champion rides

yes. it's lovely to have him back!

let the racing begin

 

[No_Balls]

The Tour isn't over for Andy by any means, but the gap over Contador is not so comfortable anymore. Tomorrow will be a nervous stage for sure.

Alberto still needs time over Cadel, and he could work with the Schlecks to get it.

Or he could just go on his own, too.

As i said yesterday. Today (working with Samu) he get time over AS (perhaps tomorrow too) and in the alps he probably will work with AS to bridge Evans.

Riis has his masterplan lined out.

 

[jobiwan]

Hesjedal deserves a lot of the credit for Thor's win today!

Garmin having themselves a fantastic Tour.

 

[Epicycle]

Did Cav go over the climb or just stay in Gap until he saw riders coming back into town?

 

[Iker_Baqueiro]

To all of you Andy's lovers .... bang !! bang !! b!tches !!!
1 minute loss, courtesy of Alberto Contador !!!
Ha ha ha ha !!!!!

 

[Bala Verde]

Cavendish finished 4 minutes ahead of Gesink.

Did he get pulled by a Ferrari or?

Gesink is in bad shape. He won't do anything in the Alps I think.

 

[Ferminal]

The fail by Andy also means that Garmin are leading the Tour de France by 7'01".

 

[kjetilraknerud]

Nice day to be norwegian...

Not so nice to spend the last hour of this stage on the bus on my way home from work. I think I have to call in sick on thursday and friday

 

[jobiwan]

As i said yesterday. Today (working with Samu) he get time over AS (perhaps tomorrow too) and in the alps he probably will work with AS to bridge Evans.

Riis has his masterplan lined out.

Bjarne Riis = Evil Genius

 

[trevim]

Cavendish finished 4 minutes ahead of Gesink.

Did he get pulled by a Ferrari or?

Well noticed. Maybe he can climb without help afterall

 

[VeloCity]

Contador lost a few seconds on a huge mountain when he was recovering from injury. Andy lost a minute on a pretty much nothing stage for GC.

At the time, posters were saying AC wasn't on form, he didn't have it, he hadn't recovered from the Giro, he'd crack on the Plateau the next day, that his Tour was essentially over. Now Andy has a bad day and people are jumping to the same conclusions about him.

 

[ManInFull]

Hesjedal deserves a lot of the credit for Thor's win today!

Garmin having themselves a fantastic Tour.

No comment on your Schlecks? What a great ATTACK, a real attack, by AC!

 

[Bala Verde]

Bjarne Riis = Evil Genius

brilliant tactician. It helps that he knew everything bout the Schlecks, perhaps that they dislike cold?

 

[Anonymous]

Who predicted that?

Great stage. Good to see the Wonder Twins crack. Hope Cuddles takes this, and if keeps riding like that and limits his losses at worst, I think this should be his.

 

[Escarabajo]

Weren't people saying the same about Contador after Luz? Clearly this wasn't Andy's day, but just goes to show how quickly things can turn. I wouldn't count Andy out just yet.

Not me. Sorry.

To me it is different because Contador was hanging on trying to recuperate. The Schlecks had their chance and they missed it.

 

[jobiwan]

No comment on your Schlecks? What a great ATTACK, a real attack, by AC!

I already did that. Way to not read the rest of the thread.

 

[Sem Travões]

Cool the Norway cycling nationals are on TV