2012 Tour de France: Stage 16: Pau → Bagnères-de-Luchon, 197 km

[cocteau_ireland]

Does this work? If so, love this photo

 

[cocteau_ireland]

http://desmond.yfrog.com/Himg618/scaled.php?tn=0&server=618&filename=yi8pcn.jpg&xsize=640&ysize=640

 

[webvan]

pukingfest ?

 

[cocteau_ireland]

Think only one was puking. Ain't that what a cousin for? Like to see a rider die occasionally, not just on the all seeing finishing line.

 

[H2OUUP2]

As for Wiggo, well he showed who was boss when he caught Nibali after Froome signaled he couldn't.

I think I just puked a bit......

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Great interview with Kruijswijk on the NOS. You can sense his disappointment about the stage and his Tour in general. He doesn't say, but you can almost hear him thinking "If I had my normal level I could have done a top 10 here". But he doesn't say it. He only says he isn't at his 100% and he can try all he want but won't come close to a stage win.

 

[LeafCrAzY]

36 pages here.

Did Cadel puke like the Manxman and the Zab? Seems to me he was too busy trying to hold the wheel of Amael friggin' Moinard...dude's really lost it, but I'm sure Lelangue and Rijs will dig out their little suitcase of courage that helped Flandis so well in 2006, if anything I hope these guys get busted once and for all and get banned for life, they certainly deserve it...

As for Wiggo, well he showed who was boss when he caught Nibali after Froome signaled he couldn't. I'm thinking Wiggo might want to finish alone tomorrow at the top to shut the naysayers up, a nice little acceleration from 1k to get evereyone off his wheel and that will be it.

He didnt show him whose boss..... Froome did 99% of the work, Wiggins had to hold Nibali for 1k....

 

[movingtarget]

This is the most boring Tour ever

Not sure about that. Some of Armstrong's wins come close.

 

[cineteq]

This is the most boring Tour ever

If Nibali is saying so, then it must be true.
But go to the right thread though, see max's link below.

you are welcome to vent here
http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showthread.php?t=17740

 

[rickibobbi]

boring!!!!!

jesus, what a way to neutralize a great stage, don't have a mountain finish, it doesn't help that the best riders are out of the tour and its essentially a bunch of second raters vying for the win. Thus, we have most of the GC leaders just marking each other. Although Nibali tried a bit. Last year was a bit sucky too, given that Contador made a calculated gamble to go full gas at the Giro because he didn't know if he would be allowed into the TDF, he wasn't at top form (or his doping wasn't as dialed in) as well as he would have liked for the TDF. I did like Evans winning though for some strange reason, one of the best of the second tier riders. Anyway, boring tour, if something doesn't happen tomorrow, it will be a walkover for Wiggins.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

True. I will still hope for action though.

Could see VDB doing some attacking. He will want to solidify that 4th spot going into the ITT. Maybe he didn't go today because he knew he could just ride himself into 4th spot, and save a big one for tomorrow.

Nah, he didn't have the legs. Apparently he had said it to Vanendert prior to the final climb. He knew the moment Nibali went, that he shouldn't respond and just ride his own pace. Looked like he did all (or most of) the work in the grupetto and still lost less than a minute. He hopes this was his offday. And he usually has his offdays after a rest day, so normally he should be better tomorrow (today). He said it was so hot, it was difficult to breathe and it felt like someone was pointing a hairdryer in his face.

If he can distance Zubeldia and Van Garderen some more tomorrow (maybe 30 seconds would be enough) it looks good for a 4th spot.

 

[movingtarget]

Nah, he didn't have the legs. Apparently he had said it to Vanendert prior to the final climb. He knew the moment Nibali went, that he shouldn't respond and just ride his own pace. Looked like he did all (or most of) the work in the grupetto and still lost less than a minute. He hopes this was his offday. And he usually has his offdays after a rest day, so normally he should be better tomorrow (today). He said it was so hot, it was difficult to breath and it felt like someone was pointing a hairdryer in his face.

If he can distance Zubeldia and Van Garderen some more tomorrow (maybe 30 seconds would be enough) it looks good for a 4th spot.

I think VDB has done well. I think he would be happy with a top five finish. I wonder if Van Garderen can improve his position in the TT ? Probably still some changes to come in positions 5-10 on GC.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I just read that Cadel blamed a stomach bug for today's performance.

You think he is lying?

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

I think VDB has done well. I think he would be happy with a top five finish. I wonder if Van Garderen can improve his position in the TT ? Probably still some changes to come in positions 5-10 on GC.

Given the circumstances, he's done ok. I would have liked to see his ITT been better even, and wonder what it would have been like without his mechanical. He would have been closer in the GC (no way he would lose his 4th place) and might have been able to ride more economically than he has. But if he can't distance Zubeldia, Van Garderen, and hell, even Evans, he still could lose his 4th spot.

You think he is lying?

Was it the same thing as last week?

 

[greenedge]

Not sure about that. Some of Armstrong's wins come close.

At least Armstrong was clearly the dominant rider in those years ( 7 TDF's will never be won by Bradley ), Wiggins is only owning because of the absence of Contador/ Andy and a route completely suited to him.

2002 i agree does seem really boring though.

 

[webvan]

Oops, Cobo blows up...dang, clouds coming, hope we don't lose the signal.