2012 Tour de France: Stage 10: Mácon → Bellegarde-sur-Valserine (195 km)

[Arnout]

yes?



............

He crossed the line, still in good form, which is good to see. I expect him to win a stage.

 

[Gloin22]

I couldn't watch the damn stage!!! WTF happened to Nibbs??

Nothing. EBH paced almost all of the Colombier.

Nibali attacked. Porte caught him single-handedly.

Rogers pucntured on the descent.

Rolland and JBV attacked late on and won some seconds.

 

[auscyclefan94]

JVDB: "They (GC contenders) need to attack uphill, not in the descent... I really don't understand why they wait"

 

[booboo]

According to VDB team Sky rode the whole day right on the limit, so that no one could jump away on the Colombier.

Well I am not sure on that.

Hincapie was sitting happily near the front whilst EBH was riding tempo and they watched the break pull away further.

Hardly near the limit I'd say.

 

[Magnus]

You wouldn't that's for sure.

Obviously not if you were there.

 

[dlwssonic]

JVDB: "They (GC contenders) need to attack uphill, not in the descent... I really don't understand why they wait"

Tomorrow is a massive stage, probably all worried about tomorrow as usual in the tour.

 

[Arnout]

But that is the thing.....sky had to work and as good a Wiggins has been this year (and in this tour), he is still partially unknown in the third week of a GT and the results he has had in the third week of a GT (when riding for overall) is ' barely able to stay with the soft pedalling on Ventox in 09 (as AC and AS waited for frank and armstrong) and in the third week of the vuelta last year we all know what happened

True, but the more you attack, the more fatigued he will be. Even though it might not yields seconds now, it might in the third week, as you say. If you softpedal, chances are higher Wiggins will be fresh in the third week. It's called marginal gains

 

[slim charles]

That was well timed attack by Cadel, he really made Sky work that last 30 meters.

Anyway, great stage. Breakaway guys, especially Jens and Voeckler. That's why we love the sport. Also, kudos to Nibali, even though he didn't gain anything, and VdB who might be most in-form guy when it comes to mountains. Shame for that problem on stage 8... He would still probably finish behind Wiggins and Froome cause of the TT, but would be one more thing to worry about for Sky.

Radioshack... Blah.

 

[dlwssonic]

Well I am not sure on that.

Hincapie was sitting happily near the front whilst EBH was riding tempo and they watched the break pull away further.

Hardly near the limit I'd say.

lol yeah... even frickin Gilbert was there for most of the time

 

[Arnout]

Tomorrow is a massive stage, probably all worried about tomorrow as usual in the tour.

Tomorrow never dies.

 

[webvan]

It could be true, but then what is the theory behind sprinting from 100 m to go?

That's Cadel to you...hopefully the fact that he was beaten by Pinot will make him quit these energy wasting antics.

 

[patrick767]

It would have taken a long, epic attack for a GC contender to gain significant time today. None of them really went for it. It's disappointing but hardly surprising.

 

[Mellow Velo]

It could be true, but then what is the theory behind sprinting from 100 m to go?

He wanted to put time into TJVG?

 

[woodburn]

At least Andy took two seconds with his ridiculous late attack on Plateau de Beille.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Well at least we know we can expect Nibali to take a minute on Sky in every descent finish stage.

 

[booboo]

Anyone else see the replay of the look Nibbles gave Evans when he was caught? Did not look happy.

ACF; have to agree with VDB2 there. Go at least 1km or 2km from the top to get a gap if you want to hammer the descent.

 

[DominicDecoco]

Putting waaaay to much into a little sprint he did at the end there. Meant and means nothing.

 

[patrick767]

lol yeah... even frickin Gilbert was there for most of the time

This. Way too many guys were still there for it to me a "near the limit" tempo for the best climbers. The fact is no one really went for it on the Colombier ascent. Some probably should have tried, but they didn't.

 

[Warhawk]

Maybe Cadel misheard "marginal gains" as "negligible gains" or "illusory gains".

 

[El Imbatido]

True, but the more you attack, the more fatigued he will be. Even though it might not yields seconds now, it might in the third week, as you say. If you softpedal, chances are higher Wiggins will be fresh in the third week. It's called marginal gains

I say it is somewhat halfway between both of what we are saying....I am not even sure anyone can break Wiggins but calculating your attacks still seems a better option than needlessly attacking on every bump in the road lwhich is what some of the forum members seem to want Evans, Nibs, menchov etc to do

 

[auscyclefan94]

The fact that Porte is bringing back Nibali says Sky are going to be unstoppable.

 

[dlwssonic]

I really don't get the joke on the marginal gains??
Is it one of sky's philosophies in their training programme??

 

[Mellow Velo]

Sky got away with minimal effort.
Seems only VDB cottoned on.
As a result, they climbed the Colombier no faster than the break.
(mostly slower)
Plus, Rogers got a surprise hour off.

The TDF sure does specialize in conservative riding.

 

[TRDean]

Tomorrow is a massive stage, probably all worried about tomorrow as usual in the tour.

So true...and tomorrow will be more of the same.

 

[fluffkitten]

That was mostly a disappointment, but I suppose it was to be expected.