2014 Tour de Suisse: Stage 9: Martigny→Saas-Fee (156.7 Km)

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Tony going fast!
Would be hilarious if Tony wins

 

[GuyIncognito]

Some people said it was a troll option to include Franck in the poll...

And were promptly beaten down

 

[Arredondo]

Der Pantzerwagen smashes this.

1.49 now

 

[jens_attacks]

soon enough, rui costa will put in a brutal attack

 

[Parrulo]

Tony going fast!
Would be hilarious if Tony wins

If Martin wins this Frank, Costa and Mollema should retire

Costa doesn't look too good

 

[indianfanboy]

Domoulin and Martin duo time trialling

 

[wirral]

Can I smell yet another Belkifail? Mollema follows the wheels onto the podium and then back off it?

 

[jens_attacks]

c'mon tony is time to go full ullrich arcalis!

i think he might crack big time but a nice fight

 

[Yamato]

What has happened so far today?

 

[Parrulo]

BEIN sports has a break every 2 minutes

 

[roundabout]

Martin and Dumoulin should pay for their work in the last 3km, but if the tactic ahead is for Wyss to make it to Saas-Grund they can gain quite a bit of time

 

[johnymax]

C'mon Martin! Contador couldn't do it let's see if you can.

 

[senatorrick]

Martin got this

 

[sultanofhyd]

The hell are the two Lampre guys doing? Policing Martin?

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Wonderful jersey defense by Martin here.

 

[ILovecycling]

1:42 now
Martin and Dumoulain riding great,chapeau!

 

[jens_attacks]

so andy schleck dropped like a stone by tony martin. who would have guessed this 5 years ago? lol

 

[sultanofhyd]

You and I could drop Andy Schleck like a stone

 

[dduff442]

Wonderful jersey defense by Martin here.

The task is too great I think, but it'll get interesting once Wyss runs out of steam and Mollema, Costa and Frank start looking at each other.

 

[senatorrick]

Is the front group pricing for second and third

 

[jens_attacks]

tony plz drop those lampres,they're annoying

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

You and I could drop Andy Schleck like a stone

I'm amazed Trek haven't.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Last 4km Tony Martin could easily lose an extra minute

 

[Eclipse]

What has happened so far today?

One break went away over the first climb but was reeled in, a second break out went a little while later and a few attacks strengthened it. It had a few possible GC outsiders but was steadily drawn back to about 1 minute at the Cat 1.

On the cat 1 about 50k out Mollema + Frank + Costa attacked and none of the other contenders could follow them. Tony Martin was left alone to try keep them in check and did a very admirable job, but Belkin and IAM dropped riders back from the break to support Mollema and Franke, and they were then able to quickly take the lead out past a minute (huge effort by Vanmarcke).

They kept the pressure on up the remainder of the climb and descent and got the lead out over 2 minutes (while dropping a few riders from the break), since then giant shimano gave Martin some help to defend Dumoulin's podium position and the advantage has dropped to 1:40.

Frank + Costa + Mollema still racing for the win. Frank is the only guy who has a domestique left with him, and needs 9 seconds on Costa. Mollema requires 30 on both of them.

 

[indianfanboy]

Frank and Costa are not looking that great

Mollema looks really fresh he would be my bet for the overall