2013 Tour de France, Stage 3: Ajaccio - Calvi 146 Km

[Christian]

More than 100 riders stopped to take care of a natural need and they are riding at less than 20km/h!

 

[Christian]

The break will not go through, two riders are only at 1 second

 

[movingtarget]

Rolland looks like a clown.

And rides like one. If he isn't targeting the KOM jersey he is riding like a fool.

 

[Ferminal]

Kash is gone, preparing for the Vuelta I guess.

 

[saneguy]

Looking forward to this stage. Expect fireworks again in the last 20 km.

First abandon - Andrey Kaschechkin of Astana....he was actually in the front group of finishers yest...

 

[Christian]

Stomach ailments according to Astana DS interviewed on France 3!

 

[Publicus]

Surprised Geraint Thomas is continuing in his condition. He's already at the back of the peloton

 

[del1962]

We'll have confirmation on Thomas pretty soon given the early start today to allow for the transfer tonight.

Can't see any news on him, though Kash has abandoned

 

[Frosty]

Geraint Thomas last man in the peloton going over the top but he is still there.

 

[Frosty]

Surprised Geraint Thomas is continuing in his condition. He's already at the back of the peloton

Maybe hoping to get through today and then be able to give the team a bit of a hand tomorrow? Difficult to see him helping much in his current condition but maybe a few pulls could make the difference in a close finish to the TTT.

 

[Christian]

50 years ago to the day, the Belgian Pino Cerami became the oldest stage winner at the Tour de France at 42 years of age

 

[Publicus]

Maybe hoping to get through today and then be able to give the team a bit of a hand tomorrow? Difficult to see him helping much in his current condition but maybe a few pulls could make the difference in a close finish to the TTT.

They had to help him get his leg over his bike, not sure how much help he can be in his present condition. Then again I've never had a fractured pelvis before, so perhaps it will improve with time.

 

[Warhawk]

Maybe hoping to get through today and then be able to give the team a bit of a hand tomorrow? Difficult to see him helping much in his current condition but maybe a few pulls could make the difference in a close finish to the TTT.

Seems likely... and based on how he looks right now I certainly wouldn't blame him if he rode tomorrow and then packed up his tent and went home.

Realistically though if he makes it through today he'll probably stick it out for at least a few days more with some flatter stages coming up, but I do agree that his priority is on contributing tomorrow.

 

[petiagos]

Race no hard:

Tony Gallopin and Gavazzi for second or third if he can pass trough the last mountain
Sagan the obvious winner

Race hard:

Rui Costa to lauch an attack in the last climb...

 

[puffin]

Intermediate sprint results from the pack:

6. KITTEL M. ARG 10 pts
7. GREIPEL A. LTB 9 pts
8. CAVENDISH M. OPQ 8 pts
9. KRISTOFF A. KAT 7 pts
10. SAGAN P. CAN 6 pts

Presumably this was a proper sprint between Kittel, Greipel and Cav as they wont feature at the end today. Cav has been behind Griepel in all 3 intermediate sprints they have contested now. I am not sure he is even the favourite in the bunch sprints for this tour.

 

[Amused]

If it's true Cav has been on antibiotics for the last 5 days, expect him to imorove. Sounds risky counting him out at this point anyway.

 

[Pulpstar]

They had to help him get his leg over his bike, not sure how much help he can be in his present condition. Then again I've never had a fractured pelvis before, so perhaps it will improve with time.

Aargh that does not sound good. Sky the health of your riders is more important than a few seconds in the TTT !!!!!!
Feel kind of sorry for Geraint right now, hopefully he'll abandon shortly. Riding with a fractured pelvis sounds awful.

 

[Bumeington]

Intermediate sprint results from the pack:

6. KITTEL M. ARG 10 pts
7. GREIPEL A. LTB 9 pts
8. CAVENDISH M. OPQ 8 pts
9. KRISTOFF A. KAT 7 pts
10. SAGAN P. CAN 6 pts

Presumably this was a proper sprint between Kittel, Greipel and Cav as they wont feature at the end today. Cav has been behind Griepel in all 3 intermediate sprints they have contested now. I am not sure he is even the favourite in the bunch sprints for this tour.

Kittel went for it, Greipel too, Cav sat on Greipel's wheel and didn't look like he attempted to come round (whether to save energy or just knew he couldn't make it I'm not sure)

 

[lemoogle]

Is there a picture of Rolland today? I hear he looks very.... erm ... interesting.

 

[puffin]

True. When was the last time he beat Greipel and Kittel in a 'fair' sprint finish though? (I mean where they all started from similar positions)

He will win stages but I dont think he will get back to 2008-11 domination of the sprints.

 

[Cimber]

Intermediate sprint results from the pack:

6. KITTEL M. ARG 10 pts
7. GREIPEL A. LTB 9 pts
8. CAVENDISH M. OPQ 8 pts
9. KRISTOFF A. KAT 7 pts
10. SAGAN P. CAN 6 pts

Presumably this was a proper sprint between Kittel, Greipel and Cav as they wont feature at the end today. Cav has been behind Griepel in all 3 intermediate sprints they have contested now. I am not sure he is even the favourite in the bunch sprints for this tour.

He has been on antibiotics the last 5 days so he isnt 100% at the moment

 

[The Principal Sheep]

Is there a picture of Rolland today? I hear he looks very.... erm ... interesting.

One here from CyclingNews_HD

 

[JRanton]

Kirby

 

[Cimber]

anyone got a link to a live feed (one that isnt geo blocked)?

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

It's actually taken a surprisingly long time for someone to copy and paste the obligatory Cav is past it post this year.

Obviously in reality, when you dominate for over 5 years, and have a track record of only going full gas when it counts, you actually have to be beaten when it counts for real evidence of decline.