2014 Tour de France, Stage 5: Ypres – Arenberg Porte du Hainaut: 156km

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May 27, 2012
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LaFlorecita said:
I think he didn't. No mention of it in the race report.

Really happy they didn't take your suggestion and neutralize the entire race...we would have been denied probably the best stage of this Tour...
 
ChewbaccaD said:
I finally got to see the end of the stage, and my take-away is:

1. That is what a real bike race looks like

2. One of my favorite stages ever.

3. My respect for Nibali grew exponentially.

4. My disrespect for the way Froome rides and races hasn't changed at all.


Chewie we agree. Agree 110%.
 
May 27, 2012
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willbick said:
Oh come on. So the guy isnt gonna win any style marks and he 'll never be an all round rider/bike handler, but he always attacks when he can and gives 100%. He's hardly in the andy schleck mould

In all honesty, it's his personality or lack thereof that makes me intensely dislike him.
 
Sep 30, 2012
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willbick said:
The average speed for the stage was shown as 47kmph - surely that cant be right?!

Stage was 152,5 km as opposed to 155,5 km, so I think that drops average to 46,08 km/h. Still very high.
 
May 27, 2012
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LaFlorecita said:
Obviously I am NOT happy they didn't take my suggestion...;)

You have to have thought that this stage was exciting, and good sport to watch.
;)

As was pointed out, only one abandon.
 
Jan 3, 2011
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Fuglsang: "If only I had known it would be this easy" (adding a wink afterwards). He looked even stronger than Nibali to be honest. He could possible have won the stage if he wasnt bound by Nibs in my opinion. But overall amazing Work by Astana.

Fuglsang also praises the teams equipment saying that it was absorbed to well that he could hardly feel the cobbles (exaggerating of course)
 
ChewbaccaD said:
You have to have thought that this stage was exciting, and good sport to watch.
;)

As was pointed out, only one abandon.

To be honest all I was ever looking for was the gap between Nibali and Contador. Watching it grow ever so slowly was very frustrating and made me yell at the TV... so in some way it was exciting... I guess:eek:
 
Jan 3, 2011
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ChewbaccaD said:
I also grew in respect for Porte. He rode like a real man today.

Indeed. It will be interesting to follow him in the GC this year. He could podium.
 
Jan 3, 2011
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LaFlorecita said:
To be honest all I was ever looking for was the gap between Nibali and Contador. Watching it grow ever so slowly was very frustrating and made me yell at the TV... so in some way it was exciting... I guess:eek:

Dont worry I am quite cofident Contador will make up the lost time and then some in the Mountains (judging from DL). That said I am both fan of Nibali and Berto so I just hope one of them win to be honest :D
 
LaFlorecita said:
To be honest all I was ever looking for was the gap between Nibali and Contador. Watching it grow ever so slowly was very frustrating and made me yell at the TV... so in some way it was exciting... I guess:eek:

Which i guess is why I find races so much more satisfying when I am not a partisan of one rider/team.
 
Jan 3, 2011
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Red Lobster said:
Which i guess is why I find races so much more satisfying when I am not a partisan of one rider/team.

To be honest I find a middle road between the two nice. I support different riders but I can also enjoy a great race even if my guy loses some time.

I am a fan of both Nibs and Berto, but if I was to chose one of them to lose time today it was Berto. It will make a much better race that its Berto who has to make up lost time in the Mountains.
 
May 27, 2012
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Dekker_Tifosi said:
Exactly. So many people forget to mention him. I don't understand. He was 10th last year, and at his strongest in the 3rd week. This year, he even won a big 1-week race (Dauphine)... and looks poised to finish top 5. Yet a lot of people see him as a no count?

And for a thin guy who doesn't have cobbles experience, he rode a massive race today.
 
Jan 3, 2011
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Also Fuglsang was a beast. Often ****ed on on this forum (by me too) for being a wuss and having a big mouth without the ability to back it up. But today showed he is a real man. And, if I may add, he looked even stronger than Nibali on the cobbles. I think he could have won the stage had he not been on the same team with Nibali.

He is going to be so important for Nibali in the mountains, and if moon and stars aligh maybe even do a top 8 himself in the process.

Today he deserves a big chapeu
 
Cimber said:
Also Fuglsang was a beast. Often ****ed on on this forum (by me too) for being a wuss and having a big mouth without the ability to back it up. But today showed he is a real man. And, if I may add, he looked even stronger than Nibali on the cobbles. I think he could have won the stage had he not been on the same team with Nibali.

He is going to be so important for Nibali in the mountains, and if moon and stars aligh maybe even do a top 8 himself in the process.

Today he deserves a big chapeu

Yes I agree, add Westra to that list too. Really incredible and brave rides.
 
Jan 3, 2011
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Pricey_sky said:
Yes I agree, add Westra to that list too. Really incredible and brave rides.

Indeed the Whole team was great. But especially Nibs, Fuglsang and Westra of course. I just wanted to highlight Fuglsang as he is often critizised
 
Oct 23, 2011
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Were there any negative reactions to this race by riders actually?

I haven't checked it at all, but I'm just curious how the riders reacted to this stage, whether they thought a cobbled stage is a good idea or not. So far I only heard some positive reactions (but I'm reading Dutch media, so they might be biased :p), but I haven't really checked what riders were saying after the race.