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

[SKSemtex]

I made a Cance my avatar after his win in this year RVV as a show of my respect to him. I wanted to keep it one year.

He lost my respect today. I just don´t buy he was not able to bridge that gab. He did nothing today. Invisible all day long.

 

[therhodeo]

I made a Cance my avatar after his win in this year RVV as a show of my respect to him. I wanted to keep it one year.

He lost my respect today. I just don´t buy he was not able to bridge that gab. He did nothing today. Invisible all day long.

Probably off his peak waiting for goals later in the season. Terpstra was nowhere to be found either.

 

[ggusta]

I think he didn't. No mention of it in the race report.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/mechanical-hinders-contador-at-tour-de-france

 

[SafeBet]

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 ), but I haven't really checked what riders were saying after the race.

I'm betting Paolini complained

 

[trevim]

Sounds spot on to me. What's the issue?

Riis talked about a gearing issue but in that interview De Jonhg didn't mention it as a factor. Hence, Riis was full of cr***. Now we have Alberto also talked about the gear issue. I say it bul*** though

 

[manafana]

Probably off his peak waiting for goals later in the season. Terpstra was nowhere to be found either.

terpstra feeling the affects of his crash the day before and his form is not at its best either

 

[jens_attacks]

fucc my life. this was too much.

nibaliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii


but alberto did well. barring no incidents, he has the tour in the bag i think but still

nibaliiiiiiiiiiiiiii. astanaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

 

[LaFlorecita]

fucc my life. this was too much.

nibaliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii


but alberto did well. barring no incidents, he has the tour in the bag i think but still

nibaliiiiiiiiiiiiiii. astanaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Grande Jens

 

[difdauf]

God, i was trying to read this topic while watching the record of the stage. I failed it. 200 pages !

It seems some people here liked the stage !

 

[go crazy]

3rd @ 19"

37th @ 2'54"

The faces say it all

 

[armchairclimber]

That phot of Nibs is brilliant. However, he does look an awful lot like Lance.

 

[red_flanders]

Riis talked about a gearing issue but in that interview De Jonhg didn't mention it as a factor. Hence, Riis was full of cr***. Now we have Alberto also talked about the gear issue. I say it bul*** though

We'll see. The mountains will answer either way. Fact is he lost time and if he's as fit as Riis says he is, we're in for a hell of a race.

 

[Beech Mtn]

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 ), but I haven't really checked what riders were saying after the race.

Fabian seems to have changed his tune

The race was a mess. When I heard on the radio what was happening just with our riders, I could imagine what must be happening with the others - in my opinion this does not have a place in a Grand Tour," he said according to the Trek Factory Racing team website.

"It was completely different than in April because the field is so different. Also the wet roads made it very dangerous - the whole course was now dangerous."

"The problem was that there was always a gap because someone was tired, or slipped a bit, and you could not pass him on the cobbles. When the three Astanas and Boom went, this is what happened. Also, on wet cobbles, it is very different, you cannot use a high cadence like when it's dry, which is how I like to do it."

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

That phot of Nibs is brilliant. However, he does look an awful lot like Lance.

fine by me, atleast in the month of July

 

[ChewbaccaD]

You can see some determination there

That's a man who knows he opened up a can of whoop a$$ on his rivals. The video of him riding on the last couple of cobbled sections, hammering away, with his bike bouncing under him, was the picture of bad a$$. So much respect for the way he rode today.

 

[b.broadhurst]

Does nobody else see Lil Richie winning this tour?

He is in a great position, he has put time into all GC contenders bar Nibali. 1:54 behind is not much with his superior TT and if he's in last years climbing form then he will be second best behind Contador. He is also very fresh after not racing much this year and look what that did for Horner last year.

 

[trevim]

So on a wet Roubaix Cancellara would get dropped by Nibali. That's interesting, Vincenzo should take a look to the weather forecast in Apeil and get a cobblestone for his trophy set.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Does nobody else see Lil Richie winning this tour?

He is in a great position, he has put time into all GC contenders bar Nibali. 1:54 behind is not much with his superior TT and if he's in last years climbing form then he will be second best behind Contador. He is also very fresh after not racing much this year and look what that did for Horner last year.

how good is really Portes tt? can't remember seeing him win any? know he is a top 10 kind of guy, but exactly Wiggo is he?

 

[therhodeo]

Does nobody else see Lil Richie winning this tour?
.

No. Next question.

 

[b.broadhurst]

how good is really Portes tt? can't remember seeing him win any? know he is a top 10 kind of guy, but exactly Wiggo is he?

This TT will suit him as its lumpy.

Always seems to Top 5. He will be the best GC TT'er.

 

[armchairclimber]

10 char etc

 

[b.broadhurst]

No. Next question.

I think you could be proven wrong.

He is on a big mission to prove he can lead a team. Look at his performance today, serious determination. He would have finished closer for the unlucky crash.

 

[trevim]

how good is really Portes tt? can't remember seeing him win any? know he is a top 10 kind of guy, but exactly Wiggo is he?

I think he won a TT in Romandie with Saxo...

 

[Frosty]

Porte won the TT in Paris-Nice 2013

 

[LaFlorecita]

He won a TT at Castilla y Leon in 2011. And didn't he also win the Criterium International TT last year?