2012 Tour de France: Stage 9: Arc-et-Senans → Besançon (ITT) (41.5 km)

[Fetisoff]

Well, this could actually make the next stage that much more exciting. I don't think a swimming coach can help you improve descending abilities, can he?

 

[dlwssonic]

Evans TT was decent, did look bad at the first time check.
But I guess that was the plan to start slower.
I hope he just gives it all and attack.
he has nothing to lose, one last hurrah.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Wiggins now an identical price for winner and Top 3.

So for gamblers, the only he doesn't win is falling off.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

If this result mean's crazy attacking in every mountain stage, in hindsight, the parcour of this TDF will actually be pretty good.

 

[Bala Verde]

I think folks are getting overly pessimistic.
All the pre Tour talk was about kicking Wiggins in the mountains.
All it takes is one bad day.
Lelangue is taking about all out attacking from now on.
Surely that's a plus?

I hope so.

Where do you expect to see fireworks?

 

[RHRH19861986]

Great performances by Sky, they show impressively that you CAN plan the success... They are extremely professional, the team structure seems nearly perfect. Though I was and am hoping for Menchov, I like Sky´s performance.

Boonen and Wiggins incredible in 2012... Just like Gilbert in 2011.

 

[Winterfold]

I dont have a problem with people thinking Sky or anyone are on the juice but I am getting a bit sick of it in race threads when there is a whole subforum for it and the house rules are clear.

Mods - get a grip and sort it out please.

Nibali looked very quick but I think a slow Spartacus is distorting that result. Not that I am complaining right now.

 

[Trunnions]

Wiggo now talking French on TV, de "bonnes pattes", "un arrivée technical", "mon école sur la piste", "nickel, regarde", "je vais pas changer, on a vu dans la conférence de presse hier", "pas désolé pour hier"

What else?

Last night he rebuked his false accusers in a Press conference with lots of "French" too.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Well, this could actually make the next stage that much more exciting. I don't think a swimming coach can help you improve descending abilities, can he?

the descents are too far from the finish - a small group will probably get caught in 30km. They Cad&Nib need to work together.

 

[austy37]

Trash talking with that squeeky voice is not really going to have the desired effect.

Booooooo..... But pretty accurate. Lol

 

[Mellow Velo]

Froome was barely worth calling anything more than a waterboy before 2011.

A bit like Gilbert in 2012, then.


A big plus for BMC is that TJVG just became a threat that has to be marked.

 

[RedZone]

I think folks are getting overly pessimistic.
All the pre Tour talk was about kicking Wiggins in the mountains.
All it takes is one bad day.
Lelangue is taking about all out attacking from now on.
Surely that's a plus?

This...

1 bad day on a multiple col stage can mean huge time. 2 weeks still to go, if anything this should animate the race more. Seems everyone would rather just cry foul than watch the race.

Also, close white Jersey race, Green and polka will be interesting, Race for the yellow helmets is truly alive too

 

[UlleGigo]

Wiggins now an identical price for winner and Top 3.

So for gamblers, the only he doesn't win is falling off.

Always first with the odds. Screams gambling addiction. Perhaps that why your head remains so steadfastly in the sand.

 

[dlwssonic]

A bit like Gilbert in 2012, then.

At least gilbert has a reason for sucking.

 

[Trunnions]

I dont have a problem with people thinking Sky or anyone are on the juice but I am getting a bit sick of it in race threads when there is a whole subforum for it and the house rules are clear.

Mods - get a grip and sort it out please

Agreed all the Mods have been far too soft today, that gives these children a free rein.

Get the whip at the first sign of transgression and crack it.

Then you'll earn respect.

 

[Fetisoff]

the descents are too far from the finish - a small group will probably get caught in 30km. They Cad&Nib need to work together.

I'm talking more Col du Richemond descent here

 

[Gloin22]

At least gilbert has a reason for sucking.

Yeah, like what ?

Soore tooth

 

[stazzy]

At least gilbert has a reason for sucking.

are you mad?

you should be, sky today show how superior they are to any other team

cya mate cya

 

[Morbius]

Some context - Cancellara has only won one long TdF ITT in his whole career. He's never been unbeatable during a tour

 

[Susan Westemeyer]

Further references to doping in this thread will be deleted and the poster will be given a 24 hour ban.

Come on folks, you all know the rules.

Susan

 

[austy37]

Eat that you Aussies!

And who says this forum isn't classy anymore?

 

[patrick767]

Wiggins brilliant ride is not much of a surprise if you've paid any attention at all to him this year. He's repeatedly beat Zabriskie in ITTs. Today was probably his best ITT all year and why shouldn't it be? It's what he's trained to do.

I'm a bit surprised by Froome beating Cancellara though. Yes, Froome had a great ride in last year's Vuelta, but I thought that might be a one off. He just had a great day that time. Has he shown other signs of being on such a high level?

Tejay did great. Good for him. Evans obviously seemed off, but he finished 6th so he did well. It could just be that Wiggins and Froome were so far ahead of everyone else today.

Nibbles overachieved for him. Kudos. Menchov can still ride. He and Nibali kept their podium hopes alive today. It's a three week tour. There's a long way to go and Menchov has a reputation for being very strong in week three.

The Shack needs to get their butts lined up for Zubeldia. He's having a good Tour and it's time they had a leader and sacrificed for him. They have so many good riders and they're squandering it.

Before everyone lines up to hand the GC victory to Wiggins, remember it's a three week Tour. Right now he's gone about as far as he did in his dominate stage race wins this year. How's he going to be in week three?

 

[dlwssonic]

Lol TJVG is 8th on GC despite being absolutely horrible in stage 7.

 

[marioni]

All the pre Tour talk was about kicking Wiggins in the mountains.
All it takes is one bad day.
Lelangue is taking about all out attacking from now on.
Surely that's a plus?

Pre-Tour, all I thought about is that there's 100km of time trials (which I love) and not enough mountains. If they wanted to do 100km ITT, they should have balanced it out with more mountain stages. Today, while I loved the todays stage, I fear that organizers have killed the race for us. Will Wiggo crack under Evans and Nibali's attack? Last mountain stage didnt suggest that something like that will happen, Froome and Wiggins were strong. At least we may see some attacks now, instead of the usual cowardly "wait for last 200m, then attack all out" tactic.

This years Tour route is as if Sky themselves have picked the stages.

p.s. It's a blessing in disguise for Andy, that he got injured, and he's not here.

 

[jens_attacks]

cycling meeting his new hero today,wiggo.

just like i expected froomy comes back and he can't wait for the mountains now

one of the most beautiful and brutal time trials i've seen since a long time

cadel was far away from his 2011 itt level though