2011 Tour de France Stage 18 - Pinerolo - Galibier Serre-Chevalier 200.5km

[Anonymous]

I dont understand why did Evans let him go like that? As soon as Andy took off, I thought "game over" for everyone else.

I think he was waiting for Contador to counter because he knew he would have to cover that attack too, and I think he thought Contador was stronger. Just look at how he reacted when Contador went to the back of the group. He was at a loss for what to do. I think everyone was surprised at how bad Contador was.

 

[spanky wanderlust]

Errr. are you for real? "Only Cadel can save the tour?" Jesus Christ the aussies are really a strange tribe.

not aussie. and not strange. andy has worked very hard to make me not like him. today's gutsy ride notwithstanding.

and i think cadel is the only one who can beat him from here.

heck, i'd even rather see frank win.

 

[spalco]

Only 56 riders in at + 28' 38, if the cutoff is 33 minutes as someone mentioned, a lot of riders will be outside of it unless a huge autobus arrives any moment.

 

[The Hitch]

74 for Vanendert
72 for Samu
70 for Andy

What about Frank and Cadel?

I think the chances are Frank or Andy will win this now. Because all they need to do is beat Sanchez and Vanendert on the final climb. Vanendert/Sammy could go on the Galibier but thats only half points.

 

[jsem94]

56. HERNANDEZ BLAZQUEZ Jesus 2 SAXO BANK SUNGARD 6h 36' 34" + 28' 38"

Last guy in so far.

What's the time limit today?

 

[Grayguard]

I have to say Leopard-Trek did exactly what I complained they didn't do earlier: Take risks with a full out attack.

My compliments for having the guts - and completing it!

I had hoped Contador was getting better and better - but I guess he has his limits. Still he deserves respect for animating the race the previous two stages.

Today, Andy deserves the respect and kudos, for having the balls for an attack like that! Thats what we like to see as cycling fans.

 

[Pharazon]

53 in and only 6 minutes on the clock, it is going to get stretched out today I think.

unless its a huge bus they're going to have to

 

[LukeSchmid]

I'm not sure one way or the other.

Andy only tries in ITT's in a GT, so it's tough to judge him in the discipline. The last time when both rode an ITT with some sort of effort was the 2009 annecy ITT in the tour. Cadel only gained 30 seconds there.

But he also had poor form in that tour so who knows.

I am not sure Evans went all out in that TT, he took the first section very slowly. He was 1.26 down on Contador, and 42 seconds down of Andy at the first check point. He then gained 12 seconds over Contador and 1.12 on Andy for the rest of course. I guess he saved some energy by going so slow in the first section, 18kms, but it does seem to have been a strange strategy if that is what it was.

 

[wirral]

The ticker last had Cav in 158th place on the road but only 44 riders with finishing times.

 

[Wergeland]

The grupetto won't make the time cut. It's up to the referees now.

 

[ansimi]

anybody know the percentage for the cutoff today?

 

[roundabout]

FWIW that was a pretty selective final climb. A lot more difficult than the profile suggested. Shows what happened when stages are raced hard.

 

[spalco]

Just watching the SRM, looks like even Jeremy Roy has a decent amount of distance to go!

Jeremy Roy just took a little helicopter ride if his srm can be trusted.

 

[davestoller]

Where's Cav?

I'm sure he's "hanging" in there.


Great ride by Andy.
Pathetic negative racin by others.
Evans gets brass balls award for towing everyone to the line.
Voeckler riding above himself.

Great to see Sanchez and Contador dropped. WHy? Just is.
Basso did good.
Great tactics by team/"brand" Schleck

interview: this is what our team stands for , this is how we roll etc etc
In your face Bjarne? just a lil bit I think

Evans could still win.
But advantage now to Schlecks who will implode this race tomorrow from the gun.
No one gets away tomorrow.
Could be the gang of six attacking each other the whole way
Also no chance for a break

 

[Wergeland]

FWIW that was a pretty selective final climb. A lot more difficult than the profile suggested. Shows what happened when stages are raced hard.

It's the headwind.

 

[Anonymous]

Stage:

1 Andy Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek 6:07:56
2 Fränk Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek 0:02:07
3 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team 0:02:15
4 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 0:02:18
5 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Team Europcar 0:02:21
6 Pierre Rolland (Fra) Team Europcar 0:02:27
7 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre - ISD 0:02:33
8 Rein Taaramae (Est) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne 0:03:22
9 Thomas Danielson (USA) Team Garmin-Cervelo 0:03:25
10 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Team Garmin-Cervelo 0:03:31
11 Maxim Iglinskiy (Kaz) Pro Team Astana 0:03:35
12 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team Garmin-Cervelo 0:03:38
13 Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) Team RadioShack 0:03:44
14 Jelle Vanendert (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:03:50
15 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Saxo Bank Sungard

GC:

1 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Team Europcar 79:34:06
2 Andy Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek 0:00:15
3 Fränk Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek 0:01:08
4 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team 0:01:12
5 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre - ISD 0:03:46
6 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale
7 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Saxo Bank Sungard 0:04:44
8 Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 0:05:20
9 Thomas Danielson (USA) Team Garmin-Cervelo 0:07:08
10 Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:09:27
11 Rein Taaramae (Est) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne 0:09:36
12 Pierre Rolland (Fra) Team Europcar 0:10:09
13 Kevin De Weert (Bel) Quickstep Cycling Team 0:11:21
14 Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) Team RadioShack 0:12:01
15 Rigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Sky Procycling 0:12:46

Domestique of the tour by a wide margin

 

[VeloGirl]

gruppetto still not over the line as time cut passes

 

[DamonAlbarn]

not aussie. and not strange. andy has worked very hard to make me not like him. today's gutsy ride notwithstanding.

and i think cadel is the only one who can beat him from here.

heck, i'd even rather see frank win.

Ok, I misunderstood you there, my bad. I agree that Evans is probably the strongest rider right now, but there's still a very tricky stage tomorrow.
Applology accepted?

 

[Mellow Velo]

French tv: whole grupetto hors delay............outside the time limit and still waiting.
Rojas home 2 minutes inside.

 

[roundabout]

anybody know the percentage for the cutoff today?

A bit over 33 minutes

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

I can't imagine the officials will nix them. But that is a serious gap.

 

[Cervelo77]

It's the headwind.

Levi just came in at +31:17. #winning

 

[UselessToo]

59. ROJAS Jose Joaquin 88 MOVISTAR TEAM 6h 39' 13" + 31' 17"

 

[maltiv]

Theres no way they will send half the peloton home.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Glad we saw real racing going on, having a small spark of hope Gesink might do something tomorrow on the Alpe!

Really?
As things stand right now he is the 21/22th climber in the Tour in this form.
That can't be good enough to win on the Alpe d'Huez.