2012 Tour de France; Stage 1: Liège → Seraing (198km)

[Gloin22]

Not quite so fortunate was team-mate Chris Froome who suffered a puncture in the last 10km and, despite battling hard and with the assistance of team-mate Richie Porte, crossed the line in 95th, 1:25 down.

Here it is ; /

 

[El Pistolero]

How does anyone reckon stage 3 will play out? Who would you expect to be left with at the finish & who will be the favourites?

It's similar to the French nats of 2011 where Chavanel won.

 

[jens_attacks]

damn this tour might be horribly bad

 

[la.margna]

Wow, Levi, Pinot, Cobo, Horner, Coppel, Velits and obviously Froome all losing time. I wasn't expecting that sort of carnage.

Horner is worrysome. Terrible prologue and today losing time again.

 

[doperhopper]

Speaking of tactics - if Spartacus stopped working and they were caught, guess who would have won the sprint... there was PhilGil, EBH, Canc, Sagan, anyone else?

 

[burning]

damn this tour might be horribly bad

Less likely option: Froome will go crazy in the mountains as he lost time

Most likely option: He will lose time willing in stage 3 and totally support Wiggo

2nd option looks really bad though

 

[the asian]

They got 11th, not bad.

Gilbert was epxected to win such stages when he signed up for BMC, now he's not even close

4th place wasn't too bad. He was far back at the climbs. BMC didn't work for him either. I saw Hincapie pacing Evans to the front but Gilbert was far back at that moment. Maybe Evans wanted to go for a stage win, but after Spartacus's attack, he simply gave up. If BMC worked harder for Gilbert he would have won the stage.

 

[cineteq]

Wow, Levi, Pinot, Cobo, Horner, Coppel, Velits and obviously Froome all losing time. I wasn't expecting that sort of carnage.

What dod you know, stage 1 and 3 team leaders lose time: Leipheimer, Coppel and Horner.

 

[gjb483]

Class or honor can't be bought, can't be injected or transfused. Either you have it or you don't.

So you will never find a post from myself where I call anybody else stupid or state that he has no clue. No way I'll let myself down to that level.

Sagan has lost a lot of respect today. I used to like him a lot but, who he thinks he is? JUST A ****ING POOR WHEELSUCKER!

 

[williamp78]

Less likely option: Froome will go crazy in the mountains as he lost time

Most likely option: He will lose time willing in stage 3 and totally support Wiggo

2nd option looks really bad though

They're not going to let froome go on the attack though if he and wiggo and the sky train are strong enough then he could make up the time. And he shouldn't be underestimated on the longer time trials

 

[Gloin22]

Less likely option: Froome will go crazy in the mountains as he lost time

Most likely option: He will lose time willing in stage 3 and totally support Wiggo

2nd option looks really bad though

They can't do that.

If Wiggins crashes, Froome is 2nd in lead imo, before Rogers.

He will gain a lot in TT too.

Froome might attack, he said in itnerview he will try to relieve some pressure from Wiggo. But more likely be mostly in Wiggins train, and will gain a lot in that train too on others - imho.

 

[Cerberus]

Speaking of tactics - if Spartacus stopped working and they were caught, guess who would have won the sprint... there was PhilGil, EBH, Canc, Sagan, anyone else?

My guess i Gilbert. Canc isn't fast enough, EBH and to a lesser extend Sagan used energy trying to follow Canc. Valverde was there too.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Horner is worrysome. Terrible prologue and today losing time again.

Close to a minute gone, today, proving once again what a tactical genius Jo Bruyneel really is.

Poor old Rojas limped home close to last.
Must be pretty banged up from that crash.

Any news on Tony Martin? Finished well up, but I have read an unconfirmed rumour about a collarbone.....

 

[williamp78]

They can't do that.

If Wiggins crashes, Froome is 2nd in lead imo, before Rogers.

He will gain a lot in TT too.

Froome might attack, he said in itnerview he will try to relieve some pressure from Wiggo. But more likely be mostly in Wiggins train, and will gain a lot in that train too on others - imho.

But if froome attacks and evans (or any other GC contender, even just one GC contender) responds then wiggo will also have to respond. Kind of pointless if your attack causes your team leader to either expend energy or lose time to your co-attacker.

 

[FellOff]

I have my view, you have yours.

And no worries, I am used to be part of the minority who does not cheat or exploit or wheelsuck to just achieve wins or goals.

The winner did not cheat. He won it fair and square using legitimate tactics. What he did is a common and normal part of the sport and happens all the time. Its not a popularity competition, otherwise I'd win, because I'm more charming than anyone, me. Fact. (winners pose, arms akimbo, unpleasant smirk)

 

[Unkown]

Tony Martin broken hand? Not good news for the Olympics.

http://www.spiegel.de/sport/sonst/tony-martin-droht-nach-sturz-tour-aus-a-841981.html

 

[Froome19]

Devastating for him, did he fall on the tarmac?
If so maybe he should have stayed in Cali where the tarmac is better quality..

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Tony Martin broken hand? Not good news for the Olympics.

http://www.spiegel.de/sport/sonst/tony-martin-droht-nach-sturz-tour-aus-a-841981.html

Can't buy a break, if you'll pardon the pun.

Strap it up and struggle on, or pull out and work for London?

 

[Kazistuta]

To speak of something else:

I liked the way Mørkøv all day behaved like a little child, playful with the cameras when getting point and his little happy-go-lucky jump onto the podium when he received the polkadot jersey.

That's one happy tour debutant!

 

[El Pistolero]

Phil said he lost a lot of places because of the crash with the photographer and that he was in the red for the entire finale. But also said he would've won if he had last year's legs, but that he isn't fair away from that anymore.

 

[Froome19]

But if froome attacks and evans (or any other GC contender, even just one GC contender) responds then wiggo will also have to respond. Kind of pointless if your attack causes your team leader to either expend energy or lose time to your co-attacker.

But they wont respond because to do so would give Wiggins the advantage as they will be pulling Wiggins up with them.. that is why having Froome atack is a possibility as it forces the other teams to work and if they dont want to then it allows Froome to go away.
He is too good to be allowed big gaps but the GC teams may have to gamble with him or they would be giving Wiggins a free ride.

 

[saganftw]

what a shame for velits with mechanical,now he will have to work for levi

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

Close to a minute gone, today, proving once again what a tactical genius Jo Bruyneel really is.

Poor old Rojas limped home close to last.
Must be pretty banged up from that crash.

Any news on Tony Martin? Finished well up, but I have read an unconfirmed rumour about a collarbone.....

I thought Johan was not at this Tour due to the USADA investigations. No?

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

But they wont respond because to do so would give Wiggins the advantage as they will be pulling Wiggins up with them.. that is why having Froome atack is a possibility as it forces the other teams to work and if they dont want to then it allows Froome to go away.
He is too good to be allowed big gaps but the GC teams may have to gamble with him or they would be giving Wiggins a free ride.

In practice I don't see why they would incite attacks. Expect a Vuelta repeat, but in theory they have a bit more firepower to set the pace earlier.

 

[Froome19]

what a shame for velits with mechanical,now he will have to work for levi

Levi also lost time..though not much it is like he is the ideal position either.