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

[Froome19]

Nah, absolutely no hope.

over 300 points available in straightforward sprints this year.

And most of those riders are not contesting it/going home early etc..
Also it seems like the sprints will be more open so that will mean that the points will be spread more around the sprinters so a rider who isnt a sprinter could win.

Very unlikley but Cancellara does seem to defy the laws of cycling..

 

[Bernie's eyesore]

Are Lotto the new Rabobank? Two massive leadouts at the intermediate sprint and towards the finish and absolutely nothing to show for it.

 

[dlwssonic]

what happened to the team that was going to have 3-4 riders in the final gc top 10??

Saving energy for the mountains?

 

[Gloin22]

Sky believe it was puncture after 3km from Froome on their FB.

 

[rhubroma]

That is according to you but many would take the poor winner, including the proud second himself.

Indeed. Sagan was told to be aware of Cancellara. He himself said he was sorry for not giving a wheel change (Italian Rai post-stage), but that that was anti-tactical, given the Swiss was motoring so strong.

Well then this 22 year-old is not only a phenomenon, but he has now learned how not to make a mistake.

Devestating. Penomenal.

 

[red_flanders]

I don't understand the venom against Sagan for the win. He waited, followed the winning move and won. Why would he work with Cancellara? Makes no sense. He was going to blast by whomever broke for the line.

 

[phanatic]

one a piece of what?

just the ebh vs. sagan competition

 

[cineteq]

what happened to the team that was going to have 3-4 riders in the final gc top 10??

Saving energy for the mountains?

tic tic tic...recalculating....

 

[Frosty]

what happened to the team that was going to have 3-4 riders in the final gc top 10??

Saving energy for the mountains?

Dont think ive seen anyone give that prediction.

 

[rhubroma]

Sagan did what he had to do to give himself a chance... he was close to blowing up, just the fact that he could survive that brutal and truly impressive attack as the only one in the field aged 22 years is ridiculous... hats off to Cancellara and Sagan who just absolutely understandably left it for the sprint, as any other rider with his abilities would have done... those criticising him have no idea about how difficult this sport and winning a TdF stage is - especially against Spartacus!!

Blowing up? Did you see how quickly he brought himself back to Cancellara's wheel? With Evans waddling behind? That would be B-H.

 

[la.margna]

Cancellara, if he had the Sagan sprinting skills, would have done the same.

Like many you still don't understand Cancellara. He does not just want to win. He wants to win ALLA GRANDE. He wants to win spectacularly and that people will remember him how he won a race not that he won a race. That's why many who don't know him sometimes think he is stupid or tactically not savy.

Cancellara makes cycling attractive and thrilling with his style. Which unfortunately can't be said yet of Sagan. But he will grow up, I'm sure. He still has a lot to learn.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Dont think ive seen anyone give that prediction.

No one said Evans was done after yesterday's weak prologue, but it didn't stop lots of people getting very upset about it.

 

[dlwssonic]

Dont think ive seen anyone give that prediction.

I did see a few people saying something like froome and wiggo in the podium.
Porte in the just outside the top 5.
And rogers top 20.

 

[Bala Verde]

Sky looked less than solid. Wiggins appeared isolated in the final run up to that hill.

 

[AtletiSK]

Blowing up? Did you see how quickly he brought himself back to Cancellara's wheel? With Evans waddling behind?

believe me, he was very, but very exhausted in the finish... had he kept pushing in last km, he could´ve easily lost his legs and sprint against Cancellara, great effort by both men!! and great opening stage

 

[The Sheep]

did Froome flat in the last 3k?

 

[Peccio89]

Sagan just played it smartly, he was able to follow Cancellara attack and deserved the win. He was just savy.

 

[dlwssonic]

Blowing up? Did you see how quickly he brought himself back to Cancellara's wheel? With Evans waddling behind? That would be B-H.

yup evans was simply not explosive enough for those type of blistering attacks. Would have preferred gilbert to be up at the front.

 

[ggusta]

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

I am looking at these posts going....uhmmmm...did they see all those other professionals who couldn't hang on to Cancellara? He's no fool, he hung on to his wheel knowing that's what he should do to secure the win with as little risk as possible.

Now if you want to criticize whatever you want to call that celebration at the line for being immodest, go a freakin head, but it's a stage win at the tdf. No one can ever take that away. And I would bet these same posters are the same ones who for the next 3 weeks will be criticizing riders for constantly being on their radioes for needing to be told what strategy to use.

It's easy from here, isn't it?

[Then again I only watch cycling in July according to certain people who have know idea and don't deserve an ounce of attention from those who anoint themselves the know it all's of the board.]

 

[Froome19]

Like many you still don't understand Cancellara. He does not just want to win. He wants to win ALLA GRANDE. He wants to win spectacularly and that people will remember him how he won a race not that he won a race. That's why many who don't know him sometimes think he is stupid or tactically not savy.

Cancellara makes cycling attractive and thrilling with his style. Which unfortunately can't be said yet of Sagan. But he will grow up, I'm sure. He still has a lot to learn.

Cancellara's abilities are suited to that type of racing and that is the position he usually finds himself in...
Sagan with his ability to get over the climbs and not be required to do work as he is the fastest there is suited to the type of racing he displayed today and that is what he does.

 

[Unkown]

How in the world did Max Monfort get back in the lead group, he was standing on the side of the road with 15ks to go and the peloton was drilling it. Amazing by Sagan and Cancellera, by far the strongest guys, EBH was just holding on for dear life.

 

[williamp78]

did Froome flat in the last 3k?

If he did would he get the same time as the front group?

 

[Bushman]

I wrote what I feel like, not what a majority might consider to be successful or so. Prefer to lose proudly instead of poorly wheelsucking to win. He'd also have won had he given a turn or two to Cancellara. And then he could even be proud. Just poor.

I would be kinda proud being the only one capable of following cance's attack.

 

[Gloin22]

did Froome flat in the last 3k?

We have no idea.

Team Sky I guess are investigating it now.

Was there 3km rule here ?

 

[rhubroma]

Like many you still don't understand Cancellara. He does not just want to win. He wants to win ALLA GRANDE. He wants to win spectacularly and that people will remember him how he won a race not that he won a race. That's why many who don't know him sometimes think he is stupid or tactically not savy.

Cancellara makes cycling attractive and thrilling with his style. Which unfortunately can't be said yet of Sagan. But he will grow up, I'm sure. He still has a lot to learn.

Cancellara is a soloist. Sagan is a turbo. Sagan will never become the soloist that Cancellara is, Cancellara never the turbo that is Sagan.

Different capacities, both phenomens. Though Sagan is only 22! He's more of a Bettini but better, infinitely better.