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

[LaFlorecita]

In previous Tours many people have said that Contador's weakest point is endurance. Has that been forgotten or has he overcome this as he has gotten older?

 

[No_Balls]

In previous Tours many people have said that Contador's weakest point is endurance. Has that been forgotten or has he overcome this as he has gotten older?

????

What where they talking about? Endurance is probably his strongest tool in the armour.

 

[sublimit]

Get on betfair son, he's odds against.

I might bet on Andy to lose for some easy money, That site wont load for me for the last couple days for some reason. My PC might be running too slow but I'm not sure..

 

[sulgpallur]

Quick question.. How did Contador gain a second on A Schleck and Evans today? Was it a time bonus for aggression? They all seemed to finish together - in fact Evans finished ahead of Contador - but the CN report said he gained 1 second?

he didnt gain anything

 

[LukeSchmid]

Rui Costa finished 6 minutes behind the grupetto, not looking good to survive the next two days.

 

[joeyrobbo]

he didnt gain anything

Mistake in the report then?

http://www.cyclingnews.com/tour-de-france/stage-17/results

 

[Publicus]

Just because the forum wants Cadel to roll over doesn't mean it's going to happen champ

Are you having some fantasy argument with yourself????

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Basso finished with Voeckler, so he drops below Cunego. Can't see him on the podium anymore.

Yes, it seems to me that there are now "only" six real contenders for the podium. Basso and Cunego aren't far off and could overtake some of those ahead of them if they pop in the mountains, but when you take into account the time trial it's seems very unlikely that they will overtake enough of the people ahead of them to reach third.

 

[sulgpallur]

Mistake in the report then?

http://www.cyclingnews.com/tour-de-france/stage-17/results

u can see they all finished +4:26

 

[Parrulo]

Rui Costa finished 6 minutes behind the grupetto, not looking good to survive the next two days.

he has a serious tendinitis in one of his knees and apparently is only getting worse. he should drop out and prepare himself for the autumn classics before he blows the rest of his season with a serious injury.

 

[sportzchick]

@ pubicas the quote thingy didn't work...

 

[Publicus]

Curious, what was the highest finish for the winner of the Giro at the Tour that same year, but didn't result in the win? In essence, who was the closest to pulling off the double?

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Just because the forum wants Cadel to roll over doesn't mean it's going to happen champ

The large and loud contingent of Contador fanboys want that to happen, along with a few others. A lot of other people here don't want it to happen.

Personally, I don't want it to happen, but I strongly suspect that it will.

 

[joeyrobbo]

u can see they all finished +4:26

Yeah, may be ambiguous but it states

In spite of their smooth collaboration, the Spanish pair ultimately gained just one second on Andy Schleck (Leopard Trek) and Cadel Evans (BMC), but they did manage to distance Thomas Voeckler (Europcar).??

Either way, not sure it'll make much difference.. either Evans will hold on, or Contador will destroy him in the mountains.. can't see 1 second making much difference..

 

[Maxiton]

Just because the forum wants Cadel to roll over doesn't mean it's going to happen champ

Nobody wants Cadel to roll over (except maybe Chiara) - well, few of us anyway. I think most people here will celebrate with him if he wins. But in order for that to happen he actually has to win. And in order to really win he has to attack. Win or lose though he will get more respect if he takes the war to his opponents when the time is right.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Are you having some fantasy argument with yourself????

don't bother, she lives in her own world.

 

[LukeSchmid]

he has a serious tendinitis in one of his knees and apparently is only getting worse. he should drop out and prepare himself for the autumn classics before he blows the rest of his season with a serious injury.

I know he has a knee problem. It does seem silly for him to be continuing with an injury he is making worse.

 

[sportzchick]

The large and loud contingent of Contador fanboys want that to happen, along with a few others. A lot of other people here don't want it to happen.

Personally, I don't want it to happen, but I strongly suspect that it will.

True.... They are as bad as the Rossi fanboys on the motorsport forums...

 

[thirteen]

Andy looking very serious and human during the interview with France 2.

the top 3 he's watching: Alberto, Cadel, and Sammy (first time i've heard him consider Samu).

is he finally getting serious?

Fränk seemed much more happy.

very interesting!

(they've also showed some campers on Galibier. there is a lot of snow! still saying it will continue, though.)

 

[panache]

GC:

1 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Team Europcar 73:23:49
2 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team 0:01:18
3 Fränk Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek 0:01:22
4 Andy Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek 0:02:36
5 Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 0:02:59
6 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Saxo Bank Sungard 0:03:15
7 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre - ISD 0:03:34
8 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 0:03:49
9 Thomas Danielson (USA) Team Garmin-Cervelo 0:06:04
10 Rigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Sky Procycling 0:07:36

Basso finished with Voeckler, so he drops below Cunego. Can't see him on the podium anymore.

I can't see AC dropping AS by much if at all. I can see AC putting a minute or two into Cadel. Frank is the one I'm not sure about. No doubt AC can put some time into FS, but 1 - 1:30 can only be a 50/50 chance if Andy rides for Frank. The next three days should be spectacular.

 

[jobiwan]

Funny tweet from nyvelocity:

The Schlecks catch Berto and Sanchez, out descend Voeckler, cat voted president of dog town.

Good day!

 

[Parrulo]

I know he has a knee problem. It does seem silly for him to be continuing with an injury he is making worse.

it is beyond silly. its very stupid, but some of this guys have this idea that you have to finish the tour even if you ruin the rest of your season . . .

 

[just some guy]

Just because the forum wants Cadel to roll over doesn't mean it's going to happen champ

No one is saying that he will roll over - he will fight and fight, but Contador is coming hard and an area that he is the worlds best in ( last week of a 3 week GT going up hill)

Evans is clearly getting tired and will have to defend against

Sammy and Contador

Andy and Fränk all of whom go faster up hill stage 18 ie tomorrow is where Evans will win or lose the tour on the face that crossed the line I´m thinking lose at this stage

I would like Evans to win be he needed more time before tomorrow to do it.

 

[sportzchick]

Nobody wants Cadel to roll over (except maybe Chiara) - well, few of us anyway. I think most people here will celebrate with him if he wins. But in order for that to happen he actually has to win. And in order to really win he has to attack. Win or lose though he will get more respect if he takes the war to his opponents when the time is right.

He is in the box seat....if there is a chance to win do so but he needs to stay with Alberto nothing more nothing less

He's downfall has been trying outdo the likes of Contador/sastre rather than stay with them, he's not here to win a stage he is here to win the tour

 

[Oldman]

Andy looking very serious and human during the interview with France 2.

the top 3 he's watching: Alberto, Cadel, and Sammy (first time i've heard him consider Samu).

is he finally getting serious?

Fränk seemed much more happy.

very interesting!

(they've also showed some campers on Galibier. there is a lot of snow! still saying it will continue, though.)

And today Cadel was able to use that motivation and get a relatively free ride back up to Samontador at the finish. He's not making many mistakes and they may benefit him in the next several days.