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

[Gloin22]

GreenEdge after such pulls didn't get much from this stage.

 

[Caruut]

Just throwing it out there - might Cancellara see if he can win green? With a few points under his belt already, he might be able to take a some attacking from a km or so from the intermediates, doing his best to mix it with the sprinters in the flats and of course trying to pick some up in the TTs as well.

 

[PhiberAwptik]

Shut up with all the Sagan crying, It's not like he would have rode Fabian off his wheel. He played to the strength's he has, not the ones he wishes to have. Easy to armchair quarterback this, but Fabian had one choice. Drop him. He didn't/couldn't do that, and towed a superior sprinter to the line. You guys act like bike racing is a new concept.

 

[cineteq]

Yep, a minute'10

I guess Wiggo wants to make sure he finishes, at least, ahead of him in this GT

 

[Panda Claws]

Vanendert failed
Valverde sprinted better than expected, but glad to see that he is not as ridiculously fast as so many people on this forum kept telling.

 

[jsem94]

He'd be a boss if he had actually done any work. This way he is simply the fastest guy being dragged to the finish.
Considering how much he has won already this year, a little more style than this can be expected. At least not such a childish celebration at the end.
I'm somewhat disappointed as I actually do like the rider a lot. But celebrating like this after he didn't do any work is lacking style entirely.

Cancellara was the strongest, no question. There was nothing he could do though, like in MSR.

 

[Frosty]

Porte 3.41

Looks like he is just there for the teamwork, no ambitions for GC

 

[Froome19]

He'd be a boss if he had actually done any work. This way he is simply the fastest guy being dragged to the finish.
Considering how much he has won already this year, a little more style than this can be expected. At least not such a childish celebration at the end.
I'm somewhat disappointed as I actually do like the rider a lot. But celebrating like this after he didn't do any work is lacking style entirely.

It is just immaturity nothing more, nothing less..

 

[la.margna]

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!

He knows he is THE FASTEST and does not give one turn to Cancellara. What a shame, poor wheelsucker. I wouldn't be proud if I were riding this way.

Respect to Cancellara. He makes cycling attractive and thrilling. No wonder he's called Spartacus. Better a proud second than a poor winner.

 

[phanatic]

Great from all three - Cancellara the strongest, Sagan the smartest.

I don't know. I'd reverse it. Sagan went three times, tried and failed to catch Chavanel, jumped on Cance's wheel, and then went for the sprint. No one pulls for Cance, but he did everything right despite that. Sagan too strong.

Also: Sagan and EBH now tied at one a piece.

 

[Pippo_San]

Fabian's sparkling awesomeness everywhere, just like Sagan.

Sorry Mr. Martin, it will be hard to take away the Olympic ITT title from Cancellara this year.

 

[Winnen]

What's up with the strange bird thing that Sagan did?

 

[Geraint Too Fast]

Dan Martin's going to win stage 3...

 

[Trunnions]

Top 3 GC unchanged.

 

[markene2]

jens_attack said that sagan would not even win a stage this tour.
lol

 

[More Strides than Rides]

Respect to Cancellara. He makes cycling attractive and thrilling. No wonder he's called Spartacus. Better a proud second than a poor winner.

In the business of competitive racing, thats just not true.

 

[Trofinios]

Don't know if EBH couldn't follow Canc when he attacked or if he missed the attack and responded too late. Anyhow, he just had to work too hard to catch Canc and Sagan and nothing left in the end. Still a strong performance by Eddy. Canc and Sagan in a league of their own.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

51. NED WESTRA Lieuwe 121 VACANSOLEIL-DCM 04h 58' 36'' + 00' 17''
53. POR COSTA Rui Alberto 163 MOVISTAR TEAM 04h 58' 36'' + 00' 17''
54. USA LEIPHEIMER Levi 191 OMEGA PHARMA-QUICK STEP 04h 58' 36'' + 00' 17''
58. FRA PINOT Thibaut 146 FDJ-BIGMAT 04h 58' 42'' + 00' 23''
61. NED KRUIJSWIJK Steven 152 RABOBANK CYCLING TEAM 04h 58' 42'' + 00' 23''
62. ESPCOBO ACEBO Juan Jose 162 MOVISTAR TEAM 04h 58' 42'' + 00' 23''
71. FRA COPPEL Jérôme 91 SAUR-SOJASUN 04h 58' 42'' + 00' 23''
83. USA HORNER Christopher 14 RADIOSHACK-NISSAN 04h 59' 14'' + 00' 55''
95. GBR FROOME Christopher 105 SKY PROCYCLING 04h 59' 44'' + 01' 25''
100. SVK VELITS Peter 199 OMEGA PHARMA-QUICK STEP 05h 00' 11'' + 01' 52''
162. AUS PORTE Richie 107 SKY PROCYCLING 05h 02' 00'' + 03' 41''
172. KAZ VINOKOUROV Alexandre 189 ASTANA PRO TEAM 05h 02' 00'' + 03' 41''

 

[AtletiSK]

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!

He knows he is THE FASTEST and does not give one turn to Cancellara. What a shame, poor wheelsucker. I wouldn't be proud if I were riding this way.

Respect to Cancellara. He makes cycling attractive and thrilling. No wonder he's called Spartacus. Better a proud second than a poor winner.

I am sorry but you have no idea about cycling... just no idea...

 

[cineteq]

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

A poor wheelsucker who was able to follow Cancellara's strong attack.

 

[goggalor]

Took Sagan 2 tries to win a Tour stage. Wonder how many he'll have by the end of these three weeks. Cav look out.

Phil was good today, but badly placed. Only Lotto, Liquigas and Greenedge managed to be get their riders in position at the bottom of the last climb. Hincapie also did fantastic work for Evans.

 

[ChewbaccaD]

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!

He knows he is THE FASTEST and does not give one turn to Cancellara. What a shame, poor wheelsucker. I wouldn't be proud if I were riding this way.

Respect to Cancellara. He makes cycling attractive and thrilling. No wonder he's called Spartacus. Better a proud second than a poor winner.

Stupid response. Nobody else in the peloton would have pulled through either. If Canc wanted the win, maybe he should have attacked hard enough to drop Sagan...because he dropped everyone else but him...and he was wearing yellow. But I guess you think it is normal tactics to help the yellow jersey when they AREN'T on your team?

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Just throwing it out there - might Cancellara see if he can win green? With a few points under his belt already, he might be able to take a some attacking from a km or so from the intermediates, doing his best to mix it with the sprinters in the flats and of course trying to pick some up in the TTs as well.

Nah, absolutely no hope.

over 300 points available in straightforward sprints this year.

 

[180mmCrank]

Before people start throwing stones at others they should understand how bloody hard it is ito win a bike race.

It would be nice if all winners did it with grace and style and made it look easy ... but the fact is it is an amazing achievement to win a stage of the TdF

HAts off from me to SAgan

 

[stazzy]

Also: Sagan and EBH now tied at one a piece.

Sagan will take more ones than EBH. EBH has Cavendish and Wiggins on his team, and needs to work for them. Sagan has pretty much a free role every stage to do what he pleases.