2011 Tour De France Stage 17 (20/7/2011): Gap > Pinerolo, 179km

[jobiwan]

I doubt he can, but it would be nice to see Hesjedal go again!!

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

I too see a breakaway stage. But someone bold may go, knowing that two very tough days lie ahead anyway.

I also agree with whomever was saying Evans is just going to take it easy for now, and limit any losses. He has to really be liking his position right now, and the way he's riding is excellent. He looks strong, and is riding smart.

I also haven't written Voeckler off just yet.

 

[cineteq]

Sun! Thank goodness! Andy only loses 30 seconds now!

Looking forward to hearing their (Schlecks) excuses tomorrow LOL

 

[cineteq]

In dry weather I don't see evans dropping contador in downhil, let alone samu, who will help contador

Actually, Sammy didn't look good today...I'm starting to doubt he can be top 5 in the end...

 

[El Pistolero]

Actually, Sammy didn't look good today...I'm starting to doubt he can be top 5 in the end...

Yes, he didn't look good, but that still means he looks better than all those who were dropped

 

[Poursuivant]

I think Contador will go on the attack again, he has a large deficit, and even if he is a better time trialler than all his rivals, he will want to close any gap, and use any chance he has, in my opinion. 33/1 for the stage looks superb.

 

[BYOP88]

I think Contador will go on the attack again, he has a large deficit, and even if he is a better time trialler than all his rivals, he will want to close any gap, and use any chance he has, in my opinion. 33/1 for the stage looks superb.

I don't think he'll win the stage, that will be by a rider from the breakaway, but I do think Contador will attack on the final climb tomorrow, it's another Cat 2, so the Schlecks are screwed!!!

 

[El Pistolero]

I don't think he'll win the stage, that will be by a rider from the breakaway, but I do think Contador will attack on the final climb tomorrow, it's another Cat 2, so the Schlecks are screwed!!!

I think BMC will try and chase down the break after today. And Saxo doesn't look half bad either.

 

[BYOP88]

I think BMC will try and chase down the break after today. And Saxo doesn't look half bad either.

Well the Saxo climbers have had an easy ride this Tour, I guess on Thursday if AC has the legs they'll be putting the hammer down early, well hopefully.

 

[Poursuivant]

I fancy Thomas to get in a break tomorrow, celebrating his new deal.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

I think BMC will try and chase down the break after today. And Saxo doesn't look half bad either.

how is bmc suppose to chase a break down in the mountains?

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Is there any point to your predictions.

Do you honestly not feel embarrassed making predictions regarding Evans descending skills, or any prediction at all to be perfectly honest considering how wrong you always are?



No one will try to drop Evans on the Galibier here. The Galibier only serves to drop Tony Martin, maybe thin the pack a bit and to get them a bit more tired for L Alpe.

My predictions are almost always true. contador came back as I predicted. samu and basso are doing fantastic tour, uran is in the best 10 climbers of this tour and the schlecks were exposed. gesink failed. voeckler will do top ten, do I need to go on?

one thing is evans but he has 3 more days to fail and he will.

 

[El Pistolero]

how is bmc suppose to chase a break down in the mountains?

Long descend an valley between the climbs.

 

[cineteq]

deleted + 10 characters

 

[UpTheRoad]

I think its a bit early to jump on the AC is gonna destroy everyone train, he also gapped AS at the MdB and got dropped in the Alps, he gapped AS at Mende last year but couldnt so it in the high mountains. The Schlecks are better when its a long day with a lot of climbing before the final mountain.

We are getting to the point where AC might already have enough time on the Schleck's due to the ITT, but needs to take time on Evans in the mountains.

He doesn't need to drop the Schleck's (perhaps we are not quite there yet, maybe after tomorrow), but he can ride with them to distance Evans.

Tommy V might still pull off a surprise, though.

 

[gilbertador]

Voeckler doesnt appear to be going anywhere and tomorrows final climb will be perfect for evans should be the end of the shlecks, good riddance

 

[cineteq]

"According to the maps, the Pramartino descent is twisty and steep, with a gradient over 10% for three kilometers and a peak at 14%. It was a strategic point of 2009 Giro d'Italia as Danilo Di Luca secured his leader jersey and won the stage in Pinerolo.

AG2R-La Mondiale's directeur sportif Julien Jurdie told Cyclingnews "that descent is more technical than dangerous". Jurdie drove his riders on that stage in June during a training camp, and underlined "the urban scenery doesn't help for good vision, in contrast with the descent to Gap which was across fields.

"We knew today Andy Schleck was not the wheel to go on," added French DS. "It will be surely the same tomorrow and Contador will try to take an advantage from the situation. The climb before is also steeper and more narrow than that one today, so Contador can take time before the top and increase his gap in the downhill."

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/aso-denies-descents-in-tour-de-france-are-too-dangerous

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Long descend an valley between the climbs.

but by then they have taken many minutes on the climbs

 

[El Pistolero]

but by then they have taken many minutes on the climbs

Perhaps Contador will go crazy on Sestriere already

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Perhaps Contador will go crazy on Sestriere already

I hope so much and a hard pace on climbs before from his team, today navarro seemed to be much better

 

[The Hitch]

Actually, Sammy didn't look good today...I'm starting to doubt he can be top 5 in the end...

Sammy and his Pro Conti team were way way down in the pack when Contador shook things up (shame Conti didnt tell Samu he was going to attack though), so Sanchez had to attack from way back in the pack to reach them in the first place.

You can see when the group of Schleck Contador Evans is formed Sammy isnt with them for a while until 30 seconds later he flies like a butterfly away from the pack to join the front group.

He was looking pretty tired Ill admit, especially on the descent, but he was looking pretty tired on Luz before he dropped Vanendert like a hot potato, and on Plateau before he launched his attack.

 

[El Pistolero]

Kinda strange to say, but despite getting time on all important stages over the others he hasn't impressed me in the slightest.

 

[Arnout]

Last year Sanchez looked so bad in the beginning of the Tourmalet our commentator Herbert Dijkstra was already cheering up as his boyfriend Denis Menchov would move to place three for sure. In the end, it turned out that Sanchez was better uphill than Menchov that day (and all others), I was rolling on the floor laughing when Dijkstra discovered that too.

 

[Parrulo]

Sammy and his Pro Conti team were way way down in the pack when Contador shook things up (shame Conti didnt tell Samu he was going to attack though), so Sanchez had to attack from way back in the pack to reach them in the first place.

You can see when the group of Schleck Contador Evans is formed Sammy isnt with them for a while until 30 seconds later he flies like a butterfly away from the pack to join the front group.

He was looking pretty tired Ill admit, especially on the descent, but he was looking pretty tired on Luz before he dropped Vanendert like a hot potato, and on Plateau before he launched his attack.

i think i read somewhere that contador did tell samu that he was going to attack today . . .

 

[cineteq]

You can see when the group of Schleck Contador Evans is formed Sammy isnt with them for a while until 30 seconds later he flies like a butterfly away from the pack to join the front group.

What I saw was Sammy feeling obligated to help Contador make time on others, more than him trying to chase a podium place. He knew Contador would attack. Yesterday's comments hint he's happy with his win in Luz, and perhaps the polka dot jersey is a more attainable goal...