2011 Tour de Suisse, Stage 8: Tübach - Schaffhausen, 167.3 km

[Kazistuta]

It is a fact that they started pulling a long time before Mollema flatted. Andy Schleck attacked for the KOM points, the group split, and Garmin started riding with Leopard Trek. It may not make sense tactically, but it's a fact. And it's not like Leopard's tactics have been particularly sound before in this Tour de Suisse.

Did you watch the stage? AS clearly just pulled the entire front peloton over the KOM and was uncontested in the "sprint" for points. A smarter move would actually have been sending Schleck Junior or even better Voigt! on the attack, while the rest of team Leo should have sat up and waited for Mollema + others. I'm sure an attack like that would have stuck till the end considering the circumstances beforehand (The peloton breaking up, TGBM having a flat tire). Only Garmin had plenty of riders in the front group and an incentive to pull.

 

[greenedge]

Why would Ventoso go in an escape????. Nice work by Sagan.

 

[luckyboy]

Yeah I wondered that too. Was a good win.

 

[Dedelou]

They've been riding for about 20 k now, though. And they didn't have that many riders, compared to the group behind.

Come on.. Leopard is the best ranked team in this TDS and by far the most star studded . They should be able to get all the jerseys and the three top places on the podium. Less than that and they can be called underachievers.

 

[Dedelou]

What a fuzz over nothing... If it where for the victory, sure, but for third place... Seriously, who remembers something that trivial in a year?

All things considered, Mollema was pretty boring at this TdS, so it's only fair that he makes some room for Love Boat. But Bauke was to selfish to do this and the guys at Leopard decided to help their friend Kruijswijk out a little. From what I've heard Kruijsraket stabbed Mollema's tire with a nail clipper and acted as if he was filing his nails.

In the end TGBM will certainly get his revenge at the TdF by not congratulating Andy with his second place. The Schlecks will be so p*ssed about that.

Phill leggett will. If they give him his medication

 

[hrotha]

It is a fact that they started pulling a long time before Mollema flatted. Andy Schleck attacked for the KOM points, the group split, and Garmin started riding with Leopard Trek. It may not make sense tactically, but it's a fact. And it's not like Leopard's tactics have been particularly sound before in this Tour de Suisse.

Movistar had been pulling during the climb, and the group splitted before Andy moved. Also, I'm not sure how you know exactly when Mollema flatted. By the time they showed him, Mollema and Weening were already riding hard, to the point that it looked like they were trying to use the 4th category climb to bridge to the front group from the second one (that's how the Spanish commentators saw it, for example).

 

[etymology]

Furthermore, Mollema was still thinking about a possible win though I highly doubt it would have happened for him, however, it does help to understand his resentment...
..As far as the Mollema's tdf revenge goes, do not underestimate Bauke's capabilities. When he goes into ''Great" mode there's no stopping him.

notes to paul and phil:
1. mollema riding with residual anger from tour of switzerland.
2. andy schleck riding with sram's experimental dropless chain system
3. bobke, schmobke. do whatever is necessary to sign up hitch for tdf pre-stage day description!!

 

[dlwssonic]

I think leopard pulled because they probably thought TGBM was dropped but didnt know he had a puncture.

 

[Spine Concept]

I think leopard pulled because they probably thought TGBM was dropped but didnt know he had a puncture.

Albeit this is a possibility it is also a convenient mistake which can easily be used - as an excuse - every time a similar situation presents itself.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I think leopard pulled because they probably thought TGBM was dropped but didnt know he had a puncture.

1. The Leopard DS would of seen Mollema dropping back from the puncture.
2. No way could a rider like Mollema be dropped on such a terrain.

 

[hrotha]

And Ten Dam told them.

 

[goggalor]

Did you watch the stage? AS clearly just pulled the entire front peloton over the KOM and was uncontested in the "sprint" for points. A smarter move would actually have been sending Schleck Junior or even better Voigt! on the attack, while the rest of team Leo should have sat up and waited for Mollema + others. I'm sure an attack like that would have stuck till the end considering the circumstances beforehand (The peloton breaking up, TGBM having a flat tire). Only Garmin had plenty of riders in the front group and an incentive to pull.

So what? I'm not interested in how clever they were, just what happened. What didn't happen was that Leopard started pulling once Mollema flatted. They didn't stop pulling either, actually they probably pulled harder, but that's racing. It's not unsportsmanlike either, like the Rabo DS, claimed, but it is hypocritical.

Movistar had been pulling during the climb, and the group splitted before Andy moved. Also, I'm not sure how you know exactly when Mollema flatted. By the time they showed him, Mollema and Weening were already riding hard, to the point that it looked like they were trying to use the 4th category climb to bridge to the front group from the second one (that's how the Spanish commentators saw it, for example).

All I know is when the camera first showed Mollema behind the group. Which was long after the 4th cat. climb, and long after Leopard started riding on the front. Of course, Mollema could've been behind for ten minutes before the TV moto bothered filming him, but at that point he looked pretty fresh, and had a team mate with him. The moto then filmed him for about five minutes of riding where he tried to bridge, but he was too far behind and gave up.