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

[hatcher]

Maybe it's the high high mountains that Evans can't do.

 

[turtlesoup]

4 men. I wouldn't put it past Voeckler to hold on tomorrow as well and his TT is completely unpredictable imo. And Frank could attack tomorrow and take a little more time, he's probably the most frest out of the favourites.

Ya Franks kick to the line certainly showed it, I wouldnt be surprised if hes the one to place the attack at the bottom of the alp d huez

 

[SarahDane]

Schleck 1, Evans and Basso to podium, if Schleck 2 drops tomorrow.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Cadel is officially in the driver's seat. And he deserves it. He chased like a madman today. Bravo, Cadel, bravo!

 

[jobiwan]

YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

What a ride by Andy!!!! Poosthuma, Voigt, O'Grady, Frank, and The Great Belgian Maxime Monfort get bonuses!

Evans, what more can you say? Superb!

Voeckler, fantastic!

It's a shame about Contador and Sanchez.

Garmin did very well today!

Evans, Andy, and Voeckler are going to be two tired men tomorrow! Frank will work to get rid of Evans, but it'll be a tough task!

I think a break will win tomorrow, but hey, IT DID TODAY!!!

 

[rhubroma]

Schleck merited the stage victory today, and perhaps the Tour.

However, I'm still not sure if it were bad tactics from behind, or were they all too tired. I'm inclined to think 50/50.

Contador's fall was strange, but perhaps not so much after the Pyrenees.

Evans did what he could, but should have gone with Andy.

Voeckler continues to seem like he has alien connections.

 

[Alberto Attack]

Woooow, Amazing ride by andy, will be seen as a legedary ride, Been such a topsy turvy tour. Now its a real shame for TV he lost time on the descent yesterday. Frank looked really good aswell, i think if he wanted he could of flew away from evans.

 

[eztarget]

Well unless someone in the top five cracks tomorrow it's all going to come down to the ITT Saturday. It hasn't been this close since 2003. But back in 2003 you knew LA wasn't going to lose time to Ulrich in the ITT. Who knows what happens this Saturday.

Should be a GREAT finish this weekend.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

So could Cadel. But logic says that all Cadel has to do is follow Andy's wheel.

Remember, Frank is actually in great position. He is very likely to attack tomorrow and try to force Evans to chase him. Can he do it?

 

[Bala Verde]

I would say the race is actually down to three people.

Frank should be very well rested and tomorrow is a perfect day for him to attack. He could actually ride himself into yellow tomorrow.

he won on the Alpe already, didn't he?

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

1 minute might be to much for Evans. Remember how he was going to easily take back the tour on Sastre, and then he took all of 29 seconds. I think Andy believes he might have enough to win this tour. And he might well be right.

I'm pretty certain 1 minute will be too much, despite the resurgent idea of Cadel's TT greatness.

I know now isn't a great time to use Bertie as a benchmark, but he only put 30 seconds in to Andy on a longer, flatter course last year when the race was on the line.

When Cadel rode this course last month he lost 1 minute to Bradley.

I just don't believe he will put a full minute in to Schleck when hes riding for a tour win. Especially not when the course has 2 very sharp climbs.

 

[hrotha]

Ivan basso is a loser. He rides and sucks wheels!

Ivan Basso had nothing to gain. Sorry but it's perfectly understandable, this had to be strictly Andy vs Evans considering Contador wasn't feeling good.

 

[LukeSchmid]

I only saw the last 16 kilometres of the after getting home from work.

Great ride from Andy to win the stage, to gain heaps of time and to now be the favourite
Evans did really well to bring back a lot of time in the last 10 kilometres, looked very strong
Voeckler holding yellow for one more day, great effort. He has become something nobody, including him, thought he was.

I don't think the tour is over.
How much time can Evans get back in the TT? He has riden before which Andy hasn't in race conditions, is that any real advantage.
Will Andy really suffer tommorrow after his brilliant effort today?

 

[RdBiker]

Ya Franks kick to the line certainly showed it, I wouldnt be surprised if hes the one to place the attack at the bottom of the alp d huez

And now it's Voeckler and Europcar who have to chase.

 

[Ramira]

Evans may have salvaged victory from defeat. A huge climb alone and if he can end tomorrow no more than 2 min down, a huge chance.

Just for the record, in 2008 Evans took 1 minute 57 on Andy who had nothing to ride for. In 2009 he took 31 seconds on Andy. Considering Andy got at least a minute or so better from 2008 till now and the result in 2009, I say 1 minute is probably the max Evans can take on Andy, probably less if Andy is in yellow (just go and watch Sastre win the tour in 2008)

 

[max_powers]

I told you. The whole time everyone was crying i said, Evans is winning the Tour here, and thats what happened.

yes you and your numerous wonderful posts and your lengthy signature are magnificent.

I've just qualified my first ignore here

 

[Cervelo77]

Remember kids, the stage tomorrow is only 110 kms, and of that about 60 kms downhill. For pros, even with the climbs, that is NOT a long stage. It'll be good. Charging from the start.

 

[thirteen]

YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

lol! congrats, jobiwan

 

[RdBiker]

Remember kids, the stage tomorrow is only 110 kms, and of that about 60 kms downhill. For pros, even with the climbs, that is NOT a long stage. It'll be good. Charging from the start.

Will Leopard-Trek kill everyone on the Galibier?

 

[marioni]

I think Contador's tour was over before the race started.

That, and the crashes did him in. I think we can safely assume that he wont be doing Giro next year.

 

[rainman]

Its downright funny, people who probably couldn't hold the wheel on the local chaingang slagging off the likes of Voekler- you kill me guys.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Remember kids, the stage tomorrow is only 110 kms, and of that about 60 kms downhill. For pros, even with the climbs, that is NOT a long stage. It'll be good. Charging from the start.

the shortness can react different on the riders, I think the schlecks do suit this climb the most.

we shall see.

 

[kanari]

LOL @ all the people losing respect for Voeckler... The guy is punching well above his weight, the guy should really be in a grupetto somewhere...

 

[Grand Tourist]

Where's Cav?

 

[Cloxxki]

Maybe Contador will pull a "Floyd" tomorrow.
If Frank can get Cadel crazy tomorrow, andy may be able to get his legs back for the TT.
Tommy, has an impossible task. He has to hope for colelctive failure by the other favorites, and win by a margin tomorrow, getting a margin into the TT.
Or go for his speciality, an early attack. He sure seems to have better climbing legs than ever. Going early may beat being dropped early.