2012 Tour de France: Stage 7: Tomblaine → La Planche des Belles Filles (199km)

[happytramp]

What the heck is Garmin doing at the front of a mountain stage?

Possibly some sort of PR exercise? All smiles for the camera, move along nothing to see here etc.....

 

[maxmartin]

What the heck is Garmin doing at the front of a mountain stage?

Dan for the stage win, they think this will be the best way to get morale back

 

[Poursuivant]

That he didn't give the impression of being better. In fact, Nibali didn't see anyone stronger than himself... according to sporza commentators

Interesting. He has Szmyd and Basso working for him which is enviable to be fair but I am not convinced by his time trialling.

 

[The Chicken]

Purito FTW!!!!


Oh, wait.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

This Garmin strategy is blowing my mind

What else are they supposed to do? Martin is their best remaining chance at a stage victory, so they want to make sure that the climb at the end is for a stage win rather than for GC seconds (which they couldn't care less about at this point).

I like it.

 

[Fight.The.Power]

Any news/views on Jurgen VDB chances today ?

 

[Parrulo]

British Eurosport ia bashing and mocking Nibali now

what are they saying? mad because nibali dares to think he is better than their beloved brit?

 

[Frosty]

Biel Kadri is the AG2R rider who we keep seeing at the back (number 76).

 

[TheEnoculator]

Phil said Garmin is the front because they want to get Martin to the front.

Someone should remind JV that his team's Tour is over.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Any news/views on Jurgen VDB chances today ?

He will only attack if he sees others suffer. Otherwise, i think he will just counterattack and maybe work together to gap others. I don't see him take off on his own. Compared to his main competitors, he's doing pretty ok (vs Mollema, Gesink, Valverde, Schleck...). I'm talking about timeloss obviously.

Interesting. He has Szmyd and Basso working for him which is enviable to be fair but I am not convinced by his time trialling.

They did add, that he also acknowledged that he would need to attack.

 

[Christomir]

Any news/views on Jurgen VDB chances today ?

I think he is a better bet than Nibali for the stage win.

 

[trevim]

He will only attack if he sees others suffer. Otherwise, i think he will just counterattack and maybe work together to gap others. I don't see him take off on his own.

Sadly he's no longer Jurgen van den Breakaway

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Phil said Garmin is the front because they want to get Martin to the front.

Someone should remind JV that his team's Tour is over.

PR for the team is the reason they are riding at the front. So the fact that as you say their tour chances are over is the reason they are at the front

 

[The Chicken]

They are talking up Dan Martin BIG TIME :/

 

[phanatic]

what a vulgarity that chapel is

 

[the asian]

The lead is down to 2'35" now - I would think there is no chance the break will survive - there seems to be too many teams / riders wanting to stretch their legs and test their form (and make back some time lost to this point of the race)

Unlikely. This been only one of three mountain top finishes, plenty of teams would be looking for a stage win and the GC contenders, possibility of gaining some time. It's a pity, coz the KOM points would have been handy for CAS.

 

[Fight.The.Power]

He will only attack if he sees others suffer. Otherwise, i think he will just counterattack and maybe work together to gap others. I don't see him take off on his own. Compared to his main competitors, he's doing pretty ok (vs Mollema, Gesink, Valverde, Schleck...).

Thanks for the info . . .

 

[the asian]

They are talking up Dan Martin BIG TIME :/

He's only one of two Irish riders at the tour, so no surprise.

 

[happytramp]

PR for the team is the reason they are riding at the front. So the fact that as you say their tour chances are over is the reason they are at the front

In the aftermath of yesterday's disaster they'll probably be happy enough as Long as Martin is involved in the fight for the stage win. Just to remind people they're still relavant.

 

[Trunnions]

Van Summeren should be disualified for receiving pushes.

No Bernie, you missed the point, he was being shoved by fellow competitors, not his Team, or spectators.

In any case, try stopping spectators giving their heroes a shove on the hills, happens constantly. You'd have to DQ the lot!

 

[mr. tibbs]

Taaramae's gonna take them all by surprise today.

 

[Fight.The.Power]

If J Rodriguez was here it would make choosing a winner much easier !

 

[happytramp]

They are talking up Dan Martin BIG TIME :/

Harmon is mad about him. Anyone know if Harmon is part Irish?

 

[Trunnions]

Ay up, the rain's stopped... Q3 under way. Tara!

 

[TheEnoculator]

As much as I want to see Lulu win today, his breakaway will most likely be caught.