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

[Havetts]

I think he is ****ed off cause it wasnt his fault that he fell, maybe he was afraid of dejavu feelings to the 5th stage of the 2009 TdF. Im thinking too that hes afraid of letting his team down now that the whole tour for the team is focused on him.

 

[therhodeo]

No, today I think he was trying to cover, and he couldn't. I misspoke...again.

Even thats an assumption. I don't think he was. Others don't either.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

DS Van Houwelingen said that yesterday in the team bus he was immediately on the floor doing stretch exercises to prevent his body from getting stiff and sore. The mentality is not the problem, what I conclude from this is that he's really suffering. He's not exactly a whiner.

I don't disagree, and I don't doubt he is suffering.

But there he seems pretty frustrated, it is important to stay positive I guess.

 

[BYOP88]

And he may very well gain that form. He is a GT specific rider, and knows what he is doing. His plan may be to ride himself into that form, and he may very well have the ability to do so. My belief is however, that he won't.

On a sporting level, I hope that is the case. I don't like processions to Paris. I want to see a race that is contested. That and I don't think Contador should have been allowed to ride, so that certainly flavors my opinion.

I'm not sure he'll be able to reach 100% form, but even if he gets to around 90-95% of his top form it could be enough to win it, but if that's possible I have no idea, I guess we'll find out in 2 and a bit weeks.

As for the allowed to race part, well that is funked up,I guess under the letter of the law he should be banned but really the appeal thing should have been sorted out months ago, I guess it didn't help that the UCI took a couple of months to annouce it and then waited until the last day(or thereabouts) to go to CAS. It will look rather silly if he does get banned and last year's Tour this year's Giro and a few other races get given to other riders(whom in my view are as equally dodgy). Sorry for the long and boring post

 

[killswitch]

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

He has the talent to get at least on the podium, but with that mindset...

 

[patrick767]

Leipheimer loses 1 minute and 5 seconds.

He crashed with only around 4-5km left. Really tough break. He'll have a hard time making that up in the mountains. Shack down to two riders (Kloden/Horner) for possible GC leader?

 

[Anonymous]

Even thats an assumption. I don't think he was. Others don't either.

Others do...opinions and a$$holes and all...

 

[just some guy]

I don't disagree, and I don't doubt he is suffering.

But there he seems pretty frustrated, it is important to stay positive I guess.

Tomorrow will be worse injury wise but if it´s dry and HTC control the race well it should be a better day for the Young Gesink

 

[Publicus]

Contador wasn't attacking or covering any attack. He was moving up to the front. He was fairly far back in the peloton after that right hand turn and you can see him moving up on the left hand side of the road behind a Cofidis rider BEFORE Vanendert accelerates. He didn't cover Tommy V's move, looking around to see if any of the GC guys would move. They didn't and he (and they) settled in. He can't afford to lose any more time to the GC guys.

There are definite and reasonable questions about his form, but this chain of events isn't one of them in my opinion.

 

[funnytanlines]

they should just decide on klodi already.

He crashed with only around 4-5km left. Really tough break. He'll have a hard time making that up in the mountains. Shack down to two riders (Kloden/Horner) for possible GC leader?

 

[killswitch]

The riders who finished the Giro are dropping like flies.

 

[Anonymous]

Even thats an assumption. I don't think he was. Others don't either.

And this is the internets (welcome), people have opinions about the actions of others and some may disagree (its kinda the whole Gestalt of the place)...thanks for pointing out that we are both making assumptions...

 

[T-Nielsen]

DNF Kiryienka

Anyone know what happenend?

Edit: Somebone noticed this before me.

What a load of pony. I was looking forward to se what he could do.

 

[theyoungest]

He has the talent to get at least on the podium, but with that mindset...

Lol. His mindset isn't the problem.

Yeh that's why I felt that I should post it.
Damn you youngest!

The tone remains the same.

 

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure he'll be able to reach 100% form, but even if he gets to around 90-95% of his top form it could be enough to win it, but if that's possible I have no idea, I guess we'll find out in 2 and a bit weeks.

As for the allowed to race part, well that is funked up,I guess under the letter of the law he should be banned but really the appeal thing should have been sorted out months ago, I guess it didn't help that the UCI took a couple of months to annouce it and then waited until the last day(or thereabouts) to go to CAS. It will look rather silly if he does get banned and last year's Tour this year's Giro and a few other races get given to other riders(whom in my view are as equally dodgy). Sorry for the long and boring post

Not at all, thanks for articulating without attacking.

 

[patrick767]

they should just decide on klodi already.

I think they have to see who has the best form in the mountains. It would be nice to see Kloden finally have another chance to ride for his own GC placing again though so we can really see what he can do. As you no doubt know, he's always had such great potential for the grand tours but has spent so much of his career riding for others.

 

[Anonymous]

Contador wasn't attacking or covering any attack. He was moving up to the front. He was fairly far back in the peloton after that right hand turn and you can see him moving up on the left hand side of the road behind a Cofidis rider BEFORE Vanendert accelerates. He didn't cover Tommy V's move, looking around to see if any of the GC guys would move. They didn't and he (and they) settled in. He can't afford to lose any more time to the GC guys.

There are definite and reasonable questions about his form, but this chain of events isn't one of them in my opinion.

And I saw him putting pressure on the pedals and not making much headway in relation to the effort he expended. This chain of events shows that in my opinion.

 

[therhodeo]

And this is the internets (welcome), people have opinions about the actions of others and some may disagree (its kinda the whole Gestalt of the place)...thanks for pointing out that we are both making assumptions...

I'm just trying to find a nicer way to say I think you're wrong.

 

[Kwibus]

The tone remains the same.

When I read the complete piece it gave me a different feeling than what you showed us.
Doesn't matter. There is nothing we can change about Gesink anyways.

http://nos.nl/video/254334-gesink-weer-een-dagje-verder.html

Entire interview in dutch.

 

[Anonymous]

I'm just trying to find a nicer way to say I think you're wrong.

And I think you're wrong, so again, welcome to the internets, that's what we do here.

 

[No_Balls]

And I saw him putting pressure on the pedals and not making much headway in relation to the effort he expended. This chain of events shows that in my opinion.

Do you realize we had this discussion the first week during Giro aswell?

 

[Anonymous]

Do you realize we had this discussion the first week during Giro aswell?

And part of my point is that I BELIEVE that because of the Giro, he will not achieve the same result as he did there. Keep up with the discussion if you are going to interject. To me, he also looked sharper there, but again (let me make this clear) THAT IS JUST MY OPINION.

 

[theyoungest]

When I read the complete piece it gave me a different feeling than what you showed us.
Doesn't matter. There is nothing we can change about Gesink anyways.

http://nos.nl/video/254334-gesink-weer-een-dagje-verder.html

Entire interview in dutch.

It's good to keep hoping But this is not the physical state that gets you into the top-10 of the Tour.

 

[Havetts]

Atleast Robert can still laugh and he is still himself, so Im still hopeful !

 

[Task_Force]

When I read the complete piece it gave me a different feeling than what you showed us.
Doesn't matter. There is nothing we can change about Gesink anyways.

http://nos.nl/video/254334-gesink-weer-een-dagje-verder.html

Entire interview in dutch.

seeing the interview makes me feel a little better.. He should feel a little better tomorrow (i hope)