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

[Ryo Hazuki]

I don't understand why Sanchez did not go better on the descent. I thought he was THE BEST. I want that poll of best descender found because i even voted for him.

as I said there, samu's downhils is incredibly overrated, he hasn't been very good in 3 years or so

 

[hrotha]

it's sun everywhere

How sunny? If the light reflects off the road too much ASO might have to neutralize this one.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

maybe andy will complain about burning asphalt now?

 

[theyoungest]

I don't understand why Sanchez did not go better on the descent. I thought he was THE BEST. I want that poll of best descender found because i even voted for him.

The "Sanchez the great descender" story developed in the same way as the "this or that rider can't descend" myths: once you have this image, it doesn't matter what you've done before or since. Currently Gilbert and Nibali are way better descenders, for instance.

In the final Paris-Nice stage Sanchez was even outdescended by an Euski teammate, who had to constantly look behind him to see if Sanchez was still there.

 

[dlwssonic]

actually melting asphalt is quite dangerous. just saying.

 

[hrotha]

maybe andy will complain about burning asphalt now?

Or maybe he'll say the temperature is too mild. He needs it to be half a degree C hotter to make a difference.

 

[dlwssonic]

Samu is considered a great descender by many just because of this one performance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_xMfifw6Jw

yes i do believe his descending skills are overated. he has been very conservative with his descending recently. The only exception is the stage to luz ardiden.

 

[MartinGT]

.....Gilbert and Nibali are way better descenders, for instance.

Poetry in motion watching that lad descend.

I always enjoyed Vino descending too, sitting on his top tube or Panta, hanging off the back

 

[Parrulo]

I think we're at the point of the race where subtlety goes out the window where Contador is concerned. It'll be, "I'm going to attack, I am attacking, I have attacked and you've just been dropped."

lol thats exactly what he does

I liked how on ITV4 Boardman was saying the sprinters are the best descenders, followed by the likes of Gilbert, then the GC riders.

I wonder what the descending time was from Thor to someone like Evans.

il falco and il squalo would like to have a word with said boardman

 

[roundabout]

Samu is considered a great descender by many just because of this one performance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_xMfifw6Jw

yes i do believe his descending skills are overated. he has been very conservative with his descending recently. The only exception is the stage to luz ardiden.

That's a bit unfair. I remember him descending well in one of the Giros di Lombardia. The one where Wegmann and Bettini were battling it out and it seemed that there was no hope for the rest to catch them.

But upon checking that was 2006 as well.

Edit: Thanks for the map, Ferminal.

 

[just some guy]

Rolling in the neutral zone

Le tour ticker has black clouds over the stage - whats the weather like now ?

Edit which is now white clouds and sun ??????????????????

 

[MartinGT]

il falco and il squalo would like to have a word with said boardman

I tend to ignore Boardman, he annoys me for some reason.

BUT He did say it as a general rule, its obviously broken every now and then

 

[Frihed89]

So the consensus seems to be:

If Evans doesn't lose time on the last two Mt stages, he already has enough time on the Schlecks to win.

Contador may attack the Schlecks on the last climb and Evans will keep up with him.

But I haven't read a word about Voekler. What will happen to him?

Nor Sanchez.

 

[just some guy]

So the consensus seems to be:

If Evans doesn't lose time on the last two Mt stages, he already has enough time on the Schlecks to win.

Contador may attack the Schlecks on the last climb and Evans will keep up with him.

But I haven't read a word about Voekler. What will happen to him?

Nor Sanchez.

Watch and wait and see best advice-

 

[hatcher]

We thinking a break to get enough time before Sestrières? Or will there be too much action among the contenders?

 

[search]

Basso will have to attack on the Sestrieres if he wants to minimize the losses on the descent. Do you think he will be up to it?? Even a podium finish will be tough for him if he descends like in stage 16.

he won't attack in the Sestriere I think, but he had some problems with his saddle yesterday and he has some knowledge of doing the Sestriere -> Pramartino -> Pinerolo combination in a race trim as they did it in the 2009 giro (with some minor changes in the last kilometers) so he should do better proportional to yesterday

 

[movingtarget]

Poetry in motion watching that lad descend.

I always enjoyed Vino descending too, sitting on his top tube or Panta, hanging off the back

Thor the god of Thunder also makes it look easy.

 

[MartinGT]

So the consensus seems to be:
But I haven't read a word about Voekler. What will happen to him?

The only Stumbling block for TV is the TT. If he can keep his climbing up that is. Which, I hope he can really.

 

[MartinGT]

Thor the god of Thunder also makes it look easy.

He does for sure.

How someone like AS can say we dont want to see fast descents is beyond me!

 

[just some guy]

Mayhem again 30 riders trying for the break

 

[movingtarget]

he won't attack in the Sestriere I think, but he had some problems with his saddle yesterday and he has some knowledge of doing the Sestriere -> Pramartino -> Pinerolo combination in a race trim as they did it in the 2009 giro (with some minor changes in the last kilometers) so he should do better proportional to yesterday

I expect Basso to go all out tomorrow up the Galibier with his super domestique Szmyd if he is up to it. Seems to be a better stage for Basso's climbing style than the Alpe stage. After yesterday the GC riders will be marking each other closely. Not to say that Contador won't escape again knowing how well some of the others descend.

 

[just some guy]

Mayhem again 30 riders trying for the break

They were caught and 6 more having a go

 

[PedalCastro]

Roche WILL be in the break today.. He has to be! As others have said, I think the Brothers are gonna lose time today, Evans to attack, Contador to follow, Samu looked weaker than them yesterday

 

[just some guy]

They were caught and 6 more having a go

which has grown to 10 and the peloton splitting a little

 

[hatcher]

Strong group.