2011 Tour de France Stage 6: Dinan - Lisieux, 226.5 km

[BYOP88]

Poor Bottle , if only he had Cancellara on his team!!

 

[Anonymous]

I really think you are reaching here. He never tried to launch. After coming through the roundabout, he pulls himself back up to the front and looks to see where the other GC guys are and settles in.

I think you need to watch again, he did try to launch IMO, and it appears that I am not alone. Not to mention that he was on the front for a bit NOT closing the gap and looking around for someone who could because I don't think he was capable.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Boonen made it in at 2.23

Chapeau Bonnen!

 

[Frosty]

Group of about 20 at 12.26 back including Intxausti, Greipel, Porte, Chavanel among others.

 

[BYOP88]

I do understand that this is a 3 week race, and that these are not mountain stages, but Contador does not appear to me to have the snap in his legs one would expect. Yes, he could develop that over the next couple of weeks, but I think that, because of his Giro win, that is less likely than many of you. I honestly don't think he is the strongest rider here, nor will he prove to be over the next couple of weeks. That is just an opinion of course.

Just wondering, by that logic does that mean that Andy Schleck, doesn't have the snap in his legs?

 

[hrotha]

EBH or Hushovd will win.

Hell yeah, I made the same call roughly at the same point. We rock.

Nice win for EBH.

Also, after Levi's little accident I'm even more convinced that Klöden will be top 5. Possibly he'll podium.

 

[Dutchsmurf]

I do understand that this is a 3 week race, and that these are not mountain stages, but Contador does not appear to me to have the snap in his legs one would expect. Yes, he could develop that over the next couple of weeks, but I think that, because of his Giro win, that is less likely than many of you. I honestly don't think he is the strongest rider here, nor will he prove to be over the next couple of weeks. That is just an opinion of course.

You might very well be right. I didn't see anything today that indicated a lack of strength tho. In my opinion he looked sharp. Attacking today was useless anyway. To me it looked more like staying safe and being in front in case an other contender would give it a try.

 

[mr. tibbs]

I do understand that this is a 3 week race, and that these are not mountain stages, but Contador does not appear to me to have the snap in his legs one would expect. Yes, he could develop that over the next couple of weeks, but I think that, because of his Giro win, that is less likely than many of you. I honestly don't think he is the strongest rider here, nor will he prove to be over the next couple of weeks. That is just an opinion of course.

I certainly have my suspicions, too--but I also suspect Andy is a bit below par. Considering the defending champ's handicap and Andy's apparent flaccidity, this may actually be Evans's year.

EDIT: Or Kloden, once Horner drops in the mountains and he's forced to take leadership of RS.

 

[Anonymous]

It looked like Contador took the wrong side on the roundabout and fell behind because of it. I think he decided it wasn't worth the effort to close the gap to someone who wasn't a threat on the GC.

But he was pushing before the round-a-bout, and he didn't look to have the snap in his legs to do so even then. I honestly believe the Giro took too much out of his legs, but obviously, time will tell.

 

[Publicus]

I think you need to watch again, he did try to launch IMO, and it appears that I am not alone. Not to mention that he was on the front for a bit NOT closing the gap and looking around for someone who could because I don't think he was capable.

Watched it live, and rewound it twice based on your comments. And I stand by my assessment. He didn't launch any attack. Once he came out of the roundabout, he checked to see where the other GC guys were and settled in.

 

[theyoungest]

Gesink: "if I don't improve there's no point in me being here".

Luckily there's still Mollema.

 

[Delicato]

Just wondering, by that logic does that mean that Andy Schleck, doesn't have the snap in his legs?

Andy is hiding behind mighty Cancellara. So we can't draw any conclusions on his form. That said, IMO he isn't sharp either. We should wait for Super-Besse.

 

[Jamsque]

New green jersey standings:

Gilbert 144
Rojas 143
Hushovd 112
Evans 98
Cavendish 94
Farrar 76
Feillu 73
EBH 51
Hinault 48
Greipel 48

Rojas has nearly 50 points on Cavendish now.

 

[Tuarts]

How can Mike Tomolaris cover the Tour for so many years, and still have no idea...

Its been terrible today:

Its Boasson Hagen's first tour
Westra is Hoogerland in disguise
Vacansoliel have a wild card

Edit: and now we're watching stage 4 replay - half an hour to fill?

 

[Maxiton]

I certainly have my suspicions, too--but I also suspect Andy is a bit below par. Considering the defending champ's handicap and Andy's apparent flaccidity, this may actually be Evans's year.

EDIT: Or Kloden, once Horner drops in the mountains and he's forced to take leadership of RS.

That's what I'm thinking. But I'm still far from convinced that Contador won't find what it takes to win.

 

[abbaskip]

New green jersey standings:

Gilbert 144
Rojas 143
Hushovd 112
Evans 98
Cavendish 94
Farrar 76
Feillu 73
EBH 51
Hinault 48
Greipel 48

Rojas has nearly 50 points on Cavendish now.

A couple of mountain stages and Cadel could be in Green!

 

[lilyprotector]

Or Kloden, once Horner drops in the mountains and he's forced to take leadership of RS.

i've been hearing that it's horner or levi but never kloden, which has me confused. is there some reason they think klodi can't compete as well as the others bec i don't get it. so will levi be riding support here on out?

 

[Anonymous]

Just wondering, by that logic does that mean that Andy Schleck, doesn't have the snap in his legs?

I have not mentioned Schlecklet, but no, I don't believe he came to the Tour as strong as he did last year.

Obviously, in a 3 week race, things change, and until we get to 12, this is all speculation (this being the interwebs, and a forum and all). However, I believe that the GC is open to people not as seriously considered prior to the Tour. Look at the polls, betting, and chat here to see who were the overwhelming favorites. I fell into the group that thought Contador would take this, but I am reassessing right now because I don't see a dominate rider at this point. Nor does Schlecklet appear to have his best legs.

 

[Havetts]

That's what I'm thinking. But I'm still far from convinced that Contador won't find what it takes to win.

Yea that thing what happens on the rest day which I have to discuss in a certain subforum .

 

[Ferminal]

Its been terrible today:

Its Boasson Hagen's first tour
Westra is Hoogerland in disguise
Vacansoliel have a wild card

Age is catching up with Petacchi.

(Obviously forgot to watch the actual racing in the Giro in between slagging off at it on his website).

 

[Jamsque]

Rojas is doing really well on these tricky technical/hilly finishes. Tomorrow we'll get to see how he fares on a super-fast super-flat run-in with all the big sprint trains firing.

 

[red_flanders]

I dont really get why people think Super-Besse is going to tell much. Gaps will be tiny, a couple seconds between strung out groups.

We'll know little until stage 12.

 

[Kwibus]

Phil and Paul kept on calling it as VDB even when it was on the screen that it was vanendert. They didnt correct themselves until they were pretty much caught.

It's so frustating to watch a race with such a stupid commentators.
When I got home from work I decided to watch the stage on dutch tele. It lasted for about 1 minute. There were 3 HTC guys at the front with Goss in 3rd position.
Commentator: Aaahhhh there we have the HTC train, but I don't see Cavendish. Oh wait he's in 3rd position.
Other commentator: I don't think that's Cavendish. It's Renshaw.

*facepalm*

Back to belgian commentary.

 

[Anonymous]

Watched it live, and rewound it twice based on your comments. And I stand by my assessment. He didn't launch any attack. Once he came out of the roundabout, he checked to see where the other GC guys were and settled in.

And I have watched it again too and stand by my assessment that he tried to launch before the roundabout and didn't have it before or after. I guess we will just have to disagree.

Plus, he didn't try to launch an attack, he tried to cover, and couldn't.

 

[Richeypen]

Hell yeah, I made the same call roughly at the same point. We rock.

Nice win for EBH.

I seee your prediction, and raise you my

EBH or Goss