2012 Tour of California May 18 stage 7: Ontario - Mt. Baldy 126 km

[gerundium]

great misquote by the CN staff in their article.

"I had a nice victory over here four years ago, and I am really happy to be back at this level after a difficult year. I lost my dad a bit more than a year ago, and felt dead myself. Emotionally it was a really difficult year, and now to be back at the highest level and beat guys like Horner, Zabriskie and Tejay [Van Garderen], it's incredible."

what he said was (imo ofc): 'and became a dad myself'

-_- that's quite the different meaning to that sentence.

 

[Spine Concept]

What an awesome ride by Gesink. Elated for him, he looked so happy after his victory together with his daughter. It's been a long and tough road for him, and he's certainly not there yet, but he's looking well on his way. He suffered for the victory today, and no one can hurt and show it like Gesink - except for maybe Chris Anker Sørensen. Showed great character to get to Atapuma in what seemed like it would take forever to close down the last 15 meters to get on his wheel, and then to still pull out that sprint. Impressive stuff.

As for Kelderman, I was surprised he climbed so well after going on the attack yesterday and working for Gesink. He's definitely one to keep an eye on. Well done.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Well all Americans are super motivated for this race. So then it's even more good news that Gesink beat them all not looking at his best

 

[theyoungest]

Before the race, and even yesterday, Garmin were talking about how they were going to play out their strength in numbers. Exactly what did they do, tactically? Except chase all day, two days in a row?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Before the race, and even yesterday, Garmin were talking about how they were going to play out their strength in numbers. Exactly what did they do, tactically? Except chase all day, two days in a row?

Same goes for BMC really. I don;t get it. They did nearly all the chasing on Horner so Rabobank kept LL Sanchez/Kelderman fresh for the hard kilometers at the end.

Maybe the american rivalry between Shack/BMC/Garmin that cost them their brains?

 

[Ferminal]

Would have been nice for Atapuma to win. But Bobby G, top effort. It would have been a pity if the dodgy tarmac at the top had cost him victory.

Van Garderen about where expected. Zabriskie fought well to limit his losses, maybe an indication that Gesink is still a fair way from his best.

Dombrowski showing he's not far off the pros, Radioshack in August?

 

[slowoldman]

Some on here really need to make their way over here and ride this stage. It is a beast, and the way it was ridden today was incredible. GREAT stage, deserving winner, fantastic racing.

 

[AntonioRossi]

Just got home and wow what a stage. Horner and Apatuma had quite a lead. Great stuff. Super happy for Gesink and nice ride by Zabriskie as well. On top of that it was scary to see firefighters and cops look down the ridge on glendora ridge road for possible bodies

 

[SHAD0W93]

Would have been nice for Atapuma to win. But Bobby G, top effort. It would have been a pity if the dodgy tarmac at the top had cost him victory.

Van Garderen about where expected. Zabriskie fought well to limit his losses, maybe an indication that Gesink is still a fair way from his best.

Dombrowski showing he's not far off the pros, Radioshack in August?

I thought Atapuma was going to win when Gesink took the corner to wide.

 

[woodburn]

Before the race, and even yesterday, Garmin were talking about how they were going to play out their strength in numbers. Exactly what did they do, tactically? Except chase all day, two days in a row?

What happened to Talansky? Finished in grupetto.

 

[mewmewmew13]

I thought Atapuma was going to win when Gesink took the corner to wide.

It looked like it! and Atapuma zipped and cut through.....
looked like a lot of suffering by the riders and tough going.

 

[UpTheRoad]

5500m of climbing in 127km. That is one brutal stage and it was raced hard. Well done ATOC riders!

 

[BillytheKid]

Same goes for BMC really. I don;t get it. They did nearly all the chasing on Horner so Rabobank kept LL Sanchez/Kelderman fresh for the hard kilometers at the end.

Maybe the american rivalry between Shack/BMC/Garmin that cost them their brains?

The strange one for me was Matt Busche dropping out of the break, but finishing less than a minute behind Horner? He would have been perfect after the Jens pull and Horner obviously did too much work for the move to work.

Busche obviously could have given a lot more to the team effort or has he started team shopping already? Maybe he was ordered back with the thought than it would reduce the chase. If so, that was a false assumption.

Rabbo did benefit from the BMC/Garmin fist fight. Well played.

 

[thehog]

The strange one for me was Matt Busche dropping out of the break, but finishing less than a minute behind Horner? He would have been perfect after the Jens pull and Horner obviously did too much work for the move to work.

Busche obviously could have given a lot more to the team effort or has he started team shopping already? Maybe he was ordered back with the thought than it would reduce the chase. If so, that was a false assumption.

Rabbo did benefit from the BMC/Garmin fist fight. Well played.

Bit crap weren't they?

 

[BillytheKid]

Bit crap weren't they?

No, but your post is.

The directors are not important. Horner will be rembered for that ride as will Altapuma and Gesink. Really boring race until today. Horner was sticking it to the paraders.

 

[Parrulo]

great to see gesink finally back to his good days, poor guy had a rough year and a half since his father's death

42 Kristijan Koren (Slo) Liquigas-Cannondale 0:14:49
43 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale

ouch. . . nibali clearly in no shape at all

 

[karlboss]

great to see gesink finally back to his good days, poor guy had a rough year and a half since his father's death

42 Kristijan Koren (Slo) Liquigas-Cannondale 0:14:49
43 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale

ouch. . . nibali clearly in no shape at all

Nibali cruised off the back, he just didn't put in any effort.

 

[BillytheKid]

great to see gesink finally back to his good days, poor guy had a rough year and a half since his father's death

42 Kristijan Koren (Slo) Liquigas-Cannondale 0:14:49
43 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale

ouch. . . nibali clearly in no shape at all

Recovery cycle after a hard early season campaign.

 

[Parrulo]

Nibali cruised off the back, he just didn't put in any effort.

didn't watch the stage so i didn't watch as he got dropped.

Recovery cycle after a hard early season campaign.

i know, i just had some hope as he usually isn't the type of rider to save himself.

also machado 8th? oh well could have been worse but he did another massively disappointing time trial.

 

[ghostofjoy]

http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/05/video/video-gesink-recaps-victorious-mount-baldy-ride_219996

great video of gesink trying to recover and get his wits back after the finish...i'd been rooting for him, happy to see him pull out an incredible win. i caught my breath for a moment when he almost crashed into the barrier, but it looked like atapuma had already conceded, and wasn't ready to sprint again.

best moment on the slopes as a spectator? a trek development rider turning onto the first set of switchbacks, who looked up at the steep roads that wound up the sides of the mountain and said in a half-shout, half-whimper, "holy sh-t."

everyone looked absolutely shattered, even most of the euros who led the grupetto.

 

[karlboss]

Finally a foreigner wins the ToC (that I know of), should mark the end of the ToC as the next great stage race.

Rogers 2010.

 

[greenedge]

Congrats to Gesink, he completely owned.
I feel sorry for Atapuma, he rode great and is a true climber. Horner also. To try get the GC he threw away the chance for a stage win. I admire his spirit though. Dombrowski is very talented too.

Disappointed in Velits/ Nibali.

 

[Tugboat]

The strange one for me was Matt Busche dropping out of the break, but finishing less than a minute behind Horner? He would have been perfect after the Jens pull and Horner obviously did too much work for the move to work.

Busche obviously could have given a lot more to the team effort or has he started team shopping already? Maybe he was ordered back with the thought than it would reduce the chase. If so, that was a false assumption.

Rabbo did benefit from the BMC/Garmin fist fight. Well played.

Busche was never in the break. I think you've got him confused with George Bennett who was and who eventually finished over 25 minutes down.

 

[greenedge]

His name is actually John Darwin.

It came up as Jhon during the race ( though i know it is John ).

 

[greenedge]

Ready yourselves for the slowest slow motion painful sprint ever

It looked like it would be that when Gesink caught Atapuma but they then completely let rip.