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

[abbaskip]

Chasers are really hammering. If they can keep this up Andy may get caught within several KM from the finish.

And just as I type that, Phil says they just aren't going to catch him. We'll see...

If Phil said they won't, they will.

 

[mr. tibbs]

Gap growing. Game over! GOGOGO ANDY!!

 

[AtletiSK]

how the hell is the numerous peloton losing time on 6 men group on the flat?

 

[GroupDK]

full credit from here to andy´s attack..!!

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

I think when the chasers hit the meat of the climb this is going to be interesting. That's when we'll know if they are really going to catch Andy.

 

[The Hitch]

Should I be panicking? If AC and samu leave it to BMC & Evans then they will lose their tour de france chances. That's why they are chasing.

There chances arent all that with Evans 2 minutes ahead anyway.

 

[goggalor]

EE/Saxo on the back again?

 

[khodder]

Just thinking, we are on what stage 18, and the Yellow Jersey Wearers have been;

Gilbert, Hushovd, Voeckler. Interesting.

 

[RdBiker]

I hope Andy isn't doing too much work at the front and won't crack on the Galibier

 

[MartinGT]

I hope ITV arent paying Boardman for Adverts & Commentry! He will be MINTED with the amount of effing adverts!

 

[Better Call Saul]

I think this actually looks good for evans. The peloton will be chasing in unison till they catch schleck... Best result would be if they catch him on the line or even 30'-1min short

Contador, basso, f schleck et al will have trouble making big gains on the final climb as it stands

 

[meandmygitane]

The gap had come down from 3.32 to 2.49 in about 3 km.

At that rate he would finish 5 minutes down.

Thankfully its gone back up again.

It was against Iglinsky at the start wasnt it?

 

[HL2037]

Andy will be tired come the Galibier

 

[indurain666]

Amazing tactics going on at the moment, but I am glad to see that finally Andy Schleck is racing for yellow and not for podium.

Contador has no other choice but to let BMC do some chasing, if he wants to win this thing, he has to drop Evans somehow.

Evans looks relax, cool, no panic he knows that he is still on drivers seat.

Awesome racing so far, I am really curious to see what is Riis saying to Contador right now

Contador's team is very very weak.

 

[Epicycle]

Roche, Silin and Iglinsky might as well work at this point.

 

[Ney the Viking]

Why is it that everytime we see a SBS rider actually in a good position, its either contador attacking or CAS acting rollour?!? The spaniards has really let me down so far compared to the monster efforts of Monfort, Voigt and the Canc @ Leopard.

 

[The Hitch]

Gap growing. Game over! GOGOGO ANDY!!

Gap is just outside Sherwens law and Sherwens law is designed for flat finishes not the Galibier.

 

[thirteen]

And now I have to head off to a meeting

cancel!
10 char

 

[Grayguard]

Today's effort should shut up a few people, I guess. Not for long, though...

Yes - this is exactly what I've wanted from him, for a long time - if he also stops complaining about descents, I might even join the Fan Club

 

[Ramira]

The longer this takes the harder it will be for the peleton to take back time without any favourites putting in work. I said it before and I'll say it again, the guys working in the back right now are the ones that got dropped earlier, the soon (from around 16km) it will be 5% or so for the rest of the climb, they won't take much time on Andy then.

 

[Buttelski]

I think the AS is looking if he gets to the last with a couple of minutes advantage then they will not catch him

 

[bicing]

You keep saying this, but I don't see how it is any more true for him then anyone else.


He's not in the race lead. He's got no real responsibilty to chase "because he's the leader".

WHile he has a good ITT and is in a good position time wise... he's not the leader. He's got to ride the best race to suit his interests... not everyone elses. Killing himself and breaking because "he should" is stupid. Others chances of winning are being hurt even more then his are by Schleck being up the road. They need to chase as much if not more then he does.

It would be different if he were leading... but he's not, Voeckler is. And Voeckler hasn't been dropped on a mountain yet... he can no longer claim that he's not at the same level as the favorites.

I fail to see how Evans has any responsibility other then to protect his own GC interest in the best way he sees fit.

I agree! Voeckler's been let off the hook way too easily. Posters seem to expect and empathise with Europcar's slow pacing on the climb and their reluctance to chase contendors.

 

[dgodave]

Vive Le Tour. Awesome racing the last few days.
.

 

[ericthesportsman6]

Gap is actually growing, even with the peleton chasing.

 

[RdBiker]

Andy could probably do the last 10K on his own so he needs Monfort for another 14K