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

[Rooboy]

Wrong decision in my opinion. Of couse 89 is a massive amount but it would:
1) Put out a letter of intent for future races
2) The tour is almost over, so why not flog the lazy ****s?

It would also likely result in a team rebellion and the boycotting of all future ASO events and the establishment of a new rival tour where the teams get a percentage of the TV revenue. Do we really want that?

 

[hrotha]

De Andrés is pretty pathetic these days...

Hence why I dismissed him as "some guy"

 

[rata de sentina]

The people bleating about the rules should read them before banging on about them and making fools of themselves. The rules are designed to accommodate the usual and the unusual. No one could deny that this was an exceptionally hard stage and surprisingly enough whoever made the rules actually thought about that kind of circumstance unlike many ill-informed posters.

 

[Escarabajo]

I don’t understand why some people were ****ed off at Basso and TV because they didn’t pull. There is a reason why they were not pulling. They were hanging on for dear life. I like Cadel, but fans need to be more objective. Sometimes I wonder if some of the forumites don’t ride their bikes. Otherwise they would not be saying that. Especially about TV who is performing above his level. I am sure that Basso would have cooperated if he had the strength, because he has done it in the past, but he didn’t.

 

[Dead Star]

Pretty epic Spanish commentators moment:

Some guy: When was the last time we saw anything like this?
Delgado: Floyd Landis.
Some guy: ... Errr, better not to remember that.
Delgado: Well, don't ask then!

lol funny

 

[Mambo95]

Wrong decision in my opinion. Of couse 89 is a massive amount but it would:
1) Put out a letter of intent for future races
2) The tour is almost over, so why not flog the lazy ****s?

The 20% rule has been around for years and it's been used several times before. It's the reason they all ride in one big group.

 

[Hawkwood]

The people bleating about the rules should read them before banging on about them and making fools of themselves. The rules are designed to accommodate the usual and the unusual. No one could deny that this was an exceptionally hard stage and surprisingly enough whoever made the rules actually thought about that kind of circumstance unlike many ill-informed posters.

+1 and it's not like the good old days when sprinters could get several wins in the first week, and then be on a beach by the beginning of the second. Any non-climber in Paris on Sunday has gone through some serous pain to be there.

 

[Ragerod]

The only subjective thing about the finish time is how they classify the stage (or if a rider is considered to have been "unlucky" - accident etc.)

Look at pages 35 and 36 of the rules:
http://www.letour.fr/2011/TDF/COURSE/docs/reglement.pdf

The time limits are still estimates based on previous experiences and clearly this stage was harder than Coefficient 3 but not short enough to be given Coefficient 4 status. They don't want to eliminate anyone, nor would I, but time limits have to exist yet there has to be leeway for unfortunate situations or in this case, a stage that was a lot more difficult than they expected.

You have to be a cruel individual to send home half the peloton after 2,500km of racing for missing the time limit of stage more difficult than expected by just two minutes. It's not like they were taking it really easy, some of them would've been digging deeper than Voekler.

 

[Cervelo77]

Why would they go all out? It's not like they were gonna be thrown out of the race if they didnt make the cut, right?
It seems this rule serves no purpose as it's selectively applied.

Maybe they were smiling because they thought they had been eliminated and they would not have to ride the Telegraphe, Galibier, Alpe d'Huez combo tomorrow?

 

[Descender]

Hence why I dismissed him as "some guy"

Does he still do that thing where he says something, then shuts up for some seconds and then repeats what he's just said? Like going "now watch out, rider X is having trouble!" ... "rider X is having trouble...".

 

[Escarabajo]

Contador totally done...
now easy to say it, but probably sholud have gone for Giro-Vuelta double instead... brave effort, anyway

There is a CAS hearing in the middle you know.

 

[Winterfold]

Wow

Well done A Schleck

Can Tommy V hang on tomorrow?

Gonna be some very tired riders - Frank must be favourite for the stage and it will be decided in the ITT

Tommy V in yellow will beat the Schlecks in ITT I think - will they have enough time?

 

[Rooboy]

The time limits are still estimates based on previous experiences and clearly this stage was harder than Coefficient 3 but not short enough to be given Coefficient 4 status. They don't want to eliminate anyone, nor would I, but time limits have to exist yet there has to be leeway for unfortunate situations or in this case, a stage that was a lot more difficult than they expected.

You have to be a cruel individual to send home half the peloton after 2,500km of racing for missing the time limit of stage more difficult than expected by just two minutes. It's not like they were taking it really easy, some of them would've been digging deeper than Voekler.

Maybe they need a HC coefficient cut off time?

 

[rata de sentina]

I don’t understand why some people were ****ed off at Basso and TV because they didn’t pull. There is a reason why they were not pulling. They were hanging on for dear life. I like Cadel, but fans need to be more objective. Sometimes I wonder if some of the forumites don’t ride their bikes. Otherwise they would not be saying that. Especially about TV who is performing above his level. I am sure that Basso would have cooperated if he had the strength, because he has done it in the past, but he didn’t.

Yeah, when Basso or Rolland did go to the front they were too slow for Evans liking and he went back to the front. I'm very impressed with Evans climbing this year, I was waiting for him to crack because of the changes in gradients but he really judged his effort perfectly and even had a bit left at the very end.

The demise of AC is actually very bad tactically for Evans. He has been able to rely on others who are within striking distance to do some chasing but now they are falling away.

 

[red_flanders]

Props to Andy for attacking and making the race today!

Shame that no one could animate the chase and they had to ride tempo, but the wind was a beast and everyone was cooked.

I'm disappointed Contador didn't win, but there will be good racing tomorrow I think!

 

[jobiwan]

And by the way, the atmosphere on the Galibier was fantastic! Props to Prudhomme, today's stage has got to be close to if not his finest work!

 

[No_Balls]

Still in a little chock here. Could someone rational describe how Andy became over-night:

*a time-trialist
*a descender
*His all-over-the-day-working dude Montfore increasing the gap versus a Peloton.
*BMC was in disarray, as much as i loved Cadels ride, they begun hard driving, a bit too late, obviously since they thought they would catch them, or at least cut the gap. But that would soon change since one dude was stronger then a whole Peloton combined.
*What did the rest of the bunch do? They´ve just sat there, enjoying the french landscape.

Also very disgusting to see Prudhomme and Merckx cheering, shouting and smiling, covering his back.

I am in a bit of a chock really.

 

[Escarabajo]

That was exciting. I did not expect any of this.

+1.

I did not expect any of this either. Regardless of who you are rooting for, the stage was spectacular.

 

[ManInFull]

And by the way, the atmosphere on the Galibier was fantastic! Props to Prudhomme, today's stage has got to be close to if not his finest work!

Nice Avatar!

 

[Dead Star]

Still in a little chock here. Could someone rational describe how Andy became over-night:

*a time-trialist
*a descender
*His all-over-the-day-working dude Montfore increasing the gap versus a Peloton.
*BMC was in disarray, as much as i loved Cadels ride, they begun hard driving, a bit too late, obviously since they thought they would catch them, or at least cut the gap. But that would soon change since one dude was stronger then a whole Peloton combined.
*What did the rest of the bunch do? They´ve just sat there, enjoying the french landscape.

Also very disgusting to see Prudhomme and Merckx cheering, shouting and smiling, covering his back.

I am in a bit of a chock really.

I think like others have said, it was Montfort/Leopard-bound Devynens riding hard against Euskaltel/Sorensen and two knackered BMC riders. That's hardly a raging peloton charging in for a sprint finish at the end!

 

[thehog]

Still in a little chock here. Could someone rational describe how Andy became over-night:

*a time-trialist
*a descender
*His all-over-the-day-working dude Montfore increasing the gap versus a Peloton.
*BMC was in disarray, as much as i loved Cadels ride, they begun hard driving, a bit too late, obviously since they thought they would catch them, or at least cut the gap. But that would soon change since one dude was stronger then a whole Peloton combined.
*What did the rest of the bunch do? They´ve just sat there, enjoying the french landscape.

Also very disgusting to see Prudhomme and Merckx cheering, shouting and smiling, covering his back.

I am in a bit of a chock really.

Yes it was a masterstroke from Andy. Foxing on the smaller climbs on previous days losing small amounts of time knowing he was going to gain 4 minutes today. Apparently he had been reconning todays stage and undertaking a 60km solo attack into a raging headwind. He even practised looking tired for the last 2km’s. Good effort!

 

[Delicato]

Still in a little chock here. Could someone rational describe how Andy became over-night:

*a time-trialist
*a descender
*His all-over-the-day-working dude Montfore increasing the gap versus a Peloton.
*BMC was in disarray, as much as i loved Cadels ride, they begun hard driving, a bit too late, obviously since they thought they would catch them, or at least cut the gap. But that would soon change since one dude was stronger then a whole Peloton combined.
*What did the rest of the bunch do? They´ve just sat there, enjoying the french landscape.

Also very disgusting to see Prudhomme and Merckx cheering, shouting and smiling, covering his back.

I am in a bit of a chock really.

Monfort was at the back of the breakaway group the whole day, obviously he had something in the tank and he was brilliant.

Andy was always a good descender, but not in a rainy conditions,and the group weren't organized in its chase, for me it's no wonder. Anyway, AS lost time on Cadel on the ascent, which seems logical, otherwise that would be a clinic material.

Re Prudhomme-agreed,very disgusting. I wonder what Phil said today about the performance of the "people's champion".

I was also rooting for AC today but we just have to accept defeat. It is just impossible to do a Giro-Tour these days,it seems.

 

[Escarabajo]

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?

+1.

Agree.

 

[Jeanne]

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?

I hope he can!

 

[VoidSix]

I think Frank has been pretty strong this year. Unlikely anyone can stay with him all out on a climb. Even Andy.