2015 Tour of California May 10-17 2015 (2.HC)

[Amsterhammer]

Re:

Not much worse than a sprint won by Cavendish. Ugh.

This. I'm just sick of Cav, I can't help it.

 

[BeachBum]

Re: Re:

Tomorrow's stage heads in the wrong direction. Nevada City would have been a great town to finish at, with great landscape. Also to balance out the many peloton sprint finales here.

Yes, the reverse profile would be a great course, with strong attackers really having a chance. As it is, Cav will edge out the glorious array of sprinters here (to match the GC talent) Is it me or was the field better 3-4 years ago?

Agreed on finishing in Nevada City with a circuit or 2, that would have been tremendous. OTOH, we all know that interesting race design is last in priority for the ToC officials.

As far as the talent pool, that goes up and down. 2012 had Kittel and Matthews (and Boonen), but that was the year that Sagan won the 1st four stages. Gilbert was here as world champion, but he didn't do very much--not that it is really his type of race.

Personally, I am looking forward to seeing potential French phenom Julian Alaphilippec. Obviously he is more of a Classics rider, but here in the States we have to take what we are given.

 

[TheClimb11211]

Hi everyone, not to take this thread in a diff direction but hoping you might be able to provide a little help.... I'm flying cross-country to see my 1st TOC this weekend (psyched!) and will be watching the final two stages. As a writer/videographer I'm looking to link up with one or a group of fans at Mt. Baldy who dress up in costume and run with the pack. Does anyone know any fans who are planning on doing this or where the best place would be on Mt. Baldy to take in the action. Appreciate any info you may be able to provide. Big thanks.

 

[Christian]

Re: Re:

Dutch represent in the top10. Very nice of J.P Drucker to get third.

Eh eh yeah.

You know that he used to be a cyclocrosser.

I still see him joining Fidea, as a U23, in 2004 (though he was barely 17!). Actually, I think Fidea hadn't yet bought out the team at that moment. The former sponsor Spaarselect had gone bankrupt. At that time, VT4 (now VIER) made a docusoap called "Wellens & Wee" and you could see Jempy's first meeting with the team.

One or 2 years later there was a funny scene in the doco where Jempy would tell all the idioms that he's learned in Dutch. And the first thing that he had learned was "Godverdomme!" (Goddammit)

I had the feeling when I saw this docusoap that he really tried to integrate in the team but it was hard because those Campiners (the likes of Wellens, Vervecken, etc.) already formed a group, they were long time friends.

I also recall an interview of his for "Le quotidien" (Francophone Luxembourgish newspaper) in which he talked about his then teammate Kevin Pauwels whom he once shared a hotel room with. He would tell how Kevin was a good guy but very shy. The evening they spent in that hotel room, he never heard the sound of his voice but KP is a good guy, only "chose to live back", said Jempy.

I still miss Jempy as a crosser but he probably didn't have the level. When he turned elite, he was contractless, still racing for Fidea. I remember a very bad crash of his in Baal, I think it was in 2009. He was national champion several times but then he had a contract with Veranda-Willems in January 2011, I think and that is how he started focusing on the road, where he probably has a brighter future than in cross. However I would love to see him at least in a handful of crosses in winter, the way Styby does.

Thanks Echoes, interesting information. I never followed cyclocross very much, but Drucker seemed a level above everyone else in Luxembourg for a few years in a row. Then he switched to the road, I think mainly because he didn't see a future in cyclocross. He stayed with Team Differdange for a few years without getting anywhere, and the popular consensus seemed to be that he didn't have what it takes to be a roadie, and that he should have stayed with cyclocross. When Leopard Trek was formed, he hoped that they would sign him, but alas they did not. He was about to hang up the wheels, when a last minute deal with Veranda Willems (now Wanty-Groupe Gobert) came to be. Finally he was able to step up to ProConti, and slowly but surely established himself as the second leader behind van Dijk. He has progressed immensely, and is crazy about the cobblestone races, the flandrian races, etc. His consistency is remarkable, with a dozen or so top-10 places last season. The contact with BMC came through Kim Kirchen, IINM, who got Drucker in touch with Valerio Piva. They signed him already after Roubaix last season, but it wasn't announced until much later. There was some conflicting information on whether he had signed a one or two year contract, but in any case I think BMC do not regret signing him, and I hope he can stay on past this year. It's an interesting trajectory, often you have these youngsters who more or less come out of nowhere and go straight to PT, then a lot of them disappear after two years, if they haven't been able to live up to PT standards. Jempy is the opposite, spending years on crappy Continental team, barely making it to ProConti, and then finally ending up on one of the biggest ProTeams... really shows dedication and tenacity I think.

 

[Pricey_sky]

51km to go, peloton are 3,40 back. Tinkoff and Etixx on the front.

Carter, Amaran, Irizar and Oss in the break.

 

[Der Effe]

Re: Re:

Dutch represent in the top10. Very nice of J.P Drucker to get third.

Eh eh yeah.

You know that he used to be a cyclocrosser.

I still see him joining Fidea, as a U23, in 2004 (though he was barely 17!). Actually, I think Fidea hadn't yet bought out the team at that moment. The former sponsor Spaarselect had gone bankrupt. At that time, VT4 (now VIER) made a docusoap called "Wellens & Wee" and you could see Jempy's first meeting with the team.

One or 2 years later there was a funny scene in the doco where Jempy would tell all the idioms that he's learned in Dutch. And the first thing that he had learned was "Godverdomme!" (Goddammit)

I had the feeling when I saw this docusoap that he really tried to integrate in the team but it was hard because those Campiners (the likes of Wellens, Vervecken, etc.) already formed a group, they were long time friends.

I also recall an interview of his for "Le quotidien" (Francophone Luxembourgish newspaper) in which he talked about his then teammate Kevin Pauwels whom he once shared a hotel room with. He would tell how Kevin was a good guy but very shy. The evening they spent in that hotel room, he never heard the sound of his voice but KP is a good guy, only "chose to live back", said Jempy.

I still miss Jempy as a crosser but he probably didn't have the level. When he turned elite, he was contractless, still racing for Fidea. I remember a very bad crash of his in Baal, I think it was in 2009. He was national champion several times but then he had a contract with Veranda-Willems in January 2011, I think and that is how he started focusing on the road, where he probably has a brighter future than in cross. However I would love to see him at least in a handful of crosses in winter, the way Styby does.

Not that I know Kevin Pauwels but even in interviews - even though he doesn't say a lot - he comes across as the nicest guy on the planet. I don't think I ever heard him saying something nasty or unsympathetic.

 

[Pricey_sky]

24k to go and the gap is still 2'40. going to be quite close.

EDIT: no it wont, break have turned in to a headwind and the gap is plummeting.

 

[trevim]

The amount of kilometers Van Keirsbulck spends at the front of races is just amazing
I hope he takes a big big win someday!

 

[BigMac]

Re: Re:

Dutch represent in the top10. Very nice of J.P Drucker to get third.

Eh eh yeah.

You know that he used to be a cyclocrosser.

I still see him joining Fidea, as a U23, in 2004 (though he was barely 17!). Actually, I think Fidea hadn't yet bought out the team at that moment. The former sponsor Spaarselect had gone bankrupt. At that time, VT4 (now VIER) made a docusoap called "Wellens & Wee" and you could see Jempy's first meeting with the team.

One or 2 years later there was a funny scene in the doco where Jempy would tell all the idioms that he's learned in Dutch. And the first thing that he had learned was "Godverdomme!" (Goddammit)

I had the feeling when I saw this docusoap that he really tried to integrate in the team but it was hard because those Campiners (the likes of Wellens, Vervecken, etc.) already formed a group, they were long time friends.

I also recall an interview of his for "Le quotidien" (Francophone Luxembourgish newspaper) in which he talked about his then teammate Kevin Pauwels whom he once shared a hotel room with. He would tell how Kevin was a good guy but very shy. The evening they spent in that hotel room, he never heard the sound of his voice but KP is a good guy, only "chose to live back", said Jempy.

I still miss Jempy as a crosser but he probably didn't have the level. When he turned elite, he was contractless, still racing for Fidea. I remember a very bad crash of his in Baal, I think it was in 2009. He was national champion several times but then he had a contract with Veranda-Willems in January 2011, I think and that is how he started focusing on the road, where he probably has a brighter future than in cross. However I would love to see him at least in a handful of crosses in winter, the way Styby does.

Didn't know, thanks for sharing. You and Christian. Anyway, not that he never showed talent, on the contrary, but he seems to be getting even more consistent by the season. I'm tipping him for Baloise.

 

[BigMac]

No idea why the Hincapies sent Carpenter up the road today, burning himself the day before a stage which is much more his style.

They have less than 1 minute on the peloton.

 

[BigMac]

Woosh Barguil hits the deck.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Optum massing at the front,

Big crash!

 

[BigMac]

Drapac drilling hard. Etixx says thank you.

20 seconds behind.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Looks like Barguil is the big name caught up in the crash.

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Re:

Looks like Barguil is the big name caught up in the crash.

Kennaugh was very far down in the peloton aswell

 

[BigMac]

Yep, he doesn't look good. Wouldn't be surprised by a DNS tomorrow.

 

[BigMac]

Not cool by Drapac, huge effort to reel in the break and now simply disappear from the front. Unless Wippert or a late attacker from the team wins, I don't understand.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Re: Re:

Looks like Barguil is the big name caught up in the crash.

Kennaugh was very far down in the peloton aswell

More than likely he works for Henao here though.

 

[BigMac]

Soooo close. Sagan, could it be?

 

[Eagle]

Great bike throw by Sagan

 

[BigMac]

Cavendish it is.

Great bike throw by Sagan

This.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Looks like Cav just got up having been boxed in. Great sprint!

1. Cav
2. Sagan
3. Wippert

 

[Cance > TheRest]

So close... Dammit

 

[Amsterhammer]

Snore.

Is anyone keeping count of all of Sagan's second places?

 

[sir fly]

Can't recall a better sprint from Sagan in a long time.