2012 Tour de France: Stage 5: Rouen → Saint-Quentin (196.5km)

[Kwibus]

Lol Dutch commentators tried to identify the Garmin rider that crashed when he crossed the line, came to the conclusion it was Cantwell.

They really need someone up there that actually recognises riders for them...

oh and Cantwell is Saxo..oh lol. I'm glad I watched the belgian commentators again.

 

[Fetisoff]

And I'd like to take a moment to give a big LOL to everyone saying "Sagan would have won this stage easily".

 

[Lanark]

They really need someone up there that actually recognises riders for them...

They have Boogerd who is great at that, but for some reason they don't use him this week.

 

[Ragerod]

According to Brailsford Sky was on the front to help out Wiggins, not Cav, and he seemed pretty happy with the result.

 

[The Sheep]

They have Boogerd who is great at that, but for some reason they don't use him this week.

Only use him in the weekends

 

[dabaideschbi]

And I'd like to take a moment to give a big LOL to everyone saying "Sagan would have won this stage easily".

its obvious that he could have won the stage without any problem!

 

[trevim]

How come professional bike riders seem to crash day in day out? I know it's hectic on the Tour and that it's part of the sport but crashes everyday seems a bit too much I would say

 

[Caruut]

And I'd like to take a moment to give a big LOL to everyone saying "Sagan would have won this stage easily".

If Greipel beats Goss, then how anyone can say that is beyond me.

 

[Sylvester]

Urtasun sooooooooo close

 

[Bala Verde]

Eusketel, really?

Break shouldve stayed together but they didn't believe in it themselves.

Anyway, also without the GreanEdghe rider they would've been caught, Urtasun was wasted.

They should have stayed together, but an additional reason is perhaps that some couldn't or wouldn't count on their sprint.

Ghyselink fractured the group, perhaps because he thought Urtasun was going to beat him on the line?

On a different note, I think a lot of riders - sprinters included - underestimated the incline towards the line. Reminded me of nasty false flat, where you think you can power over it, to realize half way trough, you are empty.

The finale was quite technical as well, so I wonder what the top speed was for sprinters in the end.

 

[Boardslide]

Cavendish wasn't out of the saddle there at the end.

Sky said this morning that he damaged his wrist in the crash yesterday obviously unable to put too much pressure on it.

 

[Bala Verde]

Sky said this morning that he damaged his wrist in the crash yesterday obviously unable to put too much pressure on it.

At the zzzzzupersprint he looked very comfortable though. He came out of the saddle there I think. He beat all the other sprinters easily.

I was zzzzz a bit though, so maybe I didn't see it correctly.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

How come professional bike riders seem to crash day in day out? I know it's hectic on the Tour and that it's part of the sport but crashes everyday seems a bit too much I would say

How come profesional football players don't hit the goal every time they tries to shoot? At the finish they fight with thier lifes to get in the best position possible, of course there will be some falls

 

[Ragerod]

Sky said this morning that he damaged his wrist in the crash yesterday obviously unable to put too much pressure on it.

He was out of the saddle for the 200m beforehand and only sat down once Greipel kicked away from him. Cav was just empty at the end.

 

[Frosty]

He came out of the saddle a bit at about 200/300 metres out, just not right at the end.

 

[Maxiton]

They should have stayed together, but an additional reason is perhaps that some couldn't or wouldn't count on their sprint.

Ghyselink fractured the group, perhaps because he thought Urtasun was going to beat him on the line?

On a different note, I think a lot of riders - sprinters included - underestimated the incline towards the line. Reminded me of nasty false flat, where you think you can power over it, to realize half way trough, you are empty.

The finale was quite technical as well, so I wonder what the top speed was for sprinters in the end.

Yeah, that's a good read. Maybe so.

 

[HiCadence]

How many straight up flat sprints has Peter Sagan won yet against the pure sprinters?

 

[Galic Ho]

We are getting close.

Hang in there guys.

Best part about today's viewing in Australia was the aftermath. The Mike Tomolaris commentary. Yesterday they brought in Rupert Guiness. Was ok, by his low performance standards, but he hadn't even seen the finish. Judging by Tomolaris words regarding the crash, neither had he.

Fast forward to today. Anthony Tan hits the microphone. Gosh, what can I say? Tosser, crackpot, moron, and a self confessed lover of himself. He's been horrible before, today, worst performance ever. Such a conceited arrogant ******bag. Entertaining because his dialogue was so cringe worthy. Said Greipel wasn't attractive, heck Tomo had to take the opposite stance and cover for the goofball. That's saying something, when a guy as bad as Tomo has to take the lead and cover for you. Then there was the USADA talk...apparently Tan Man is upset that his career has been affected by talking about whether LA doped. He's never even suggested LA doped for those who haven't heard of him. Truly cringe worthy. Topped the whole splurge of rubbish he delivered off by thanking the producer who brought him back to make SBS special 'A Team' of Tomo and Tan.

It got interesting. Maybe not in the USA after July 4 celebrations, but here Down Under was interesting. If only for the end. I can't wait for Tan Man's next article...I am going to tear him a new one. Or two.

So all up great stuff. Slagging off guys telling the truth, mocking Greipel who I thought was great, said something about Sagan that was negative as well. Think he was also saying muck about Cav as well. Journalism standards at the Tour need to clean themselves up IMO.

 

[saganftw]

How many straight up flat sprints has Peter Sagan won yet against the pure sprinters?

how many hilly finishes has pure sprinters won against him?

 

[SaxonUK]

how many hilly finishes has pure sprinters won against him?

Irrelevant really for todays stage as he crashed out, not sure why everyone is debating Sagan being able to win this when there's no way of knowing now.

 

[dabaideschbi]

How many straight up flat sprints has Peter Sagan won yet against the pure sprinters?

If you saw the stage it wasnt a flat sprint.....in my opinion i still think that sagan can win mass sprints when he gets more experience...he is the most awesome talent in this sport right now...he has no limits!

 

[asdfgh101]

On this stage Cav would have benefitted from a train. Catch the breakaway and then control the pace on the false flat.

Goss may have been the strongest rider today, unfortunately OGE got caught too far back and then panicked, moving up too quickly. This resulted in Goss being close to the limit for the entire last km and having to make his sprint with 200m to go.

Other points:

It seemed that Freire was set for a good finish but had nothing left.

Sagan would have been in the mix (see Dumoulin).

Will Greipel contest the intermediate sprints now?

 

[HiCadence]

how many hilly finishes has pure sprinters won against him?

No need to get touchy i haven't been watching the Tour and was curious how he was doing so far.

If you saw the stage it wasnt a flat sprint.....in my opinion i still think that sagan can win mass sprints when he gets more experience...he is the most awesome talent in this sport right now...he has no limits!

No where in my post did i indicate that todays stage was a flat sprint, I'm assuming there has been a few now we are at stage 6.

Sagan fan's having a good old rage at me.....

 

[cineteq]

Will Greipel contest the intermediate sprints now?

I hope so. He's the only one who could challenge Sagan, although I don't think he'll be able to beat the panda kid in the end.

 

[Boardslide]

If you saw the stage it wasnt a flat sprint.....in my opinion i still think that sagan can win mass sprints when he gets more experience...he is the most awesome talent in this sport right now...he has no limits!

+1

Matt Goss ‏@mattgoss1986

2nd today, knew I had to try and get the jump but I only had 210m in my legs not 250 on that nasty uphill finish. Congrats