2016 Critérium du Dauphiné, 2.UWT, June 5-12

[Tonton]

So far in the face to face, mental warfare, Bertie won round 1, Dawg won round 2. Call it a draw. The next two days are important. VERY important. Bertie can't afford to show up at the Tour with an inferior team and an inferiority complex.

If Contador was mentally that weak he'd have developed an inferiority complex years ago. Two more blows this weekend won't help his confidence but I doubt it'll influence him as much as you imply

LaFlo, I was trying to find, then doctor a picture of two people jumping out the window, like you about Alberto and me about Thibaut. I really like you. Let's not overreact, see what the next two days bring, and keep in mind that being at 100% now means a poor third week at the TdF. Hope is not lost.

 

[Carols]

So far in the face to face, mental warfare, Bertie won round 1, Dawg won round 2. Call it a draw. The next two days are important. VERY important. Bertie can't afford to show up at the Tour with an inferior team and an inferiority complex.

Well he'll definitely have an inferior team that is a given. What he needs is better legs!

He needs strong legs and courage and anything is possible. Right now the legs are the issue

Never in a million years should anyone question the man's courage. That is a given!

 

[Tonton]

So far in the face to face, mental warfare, Bertie won round 1, Dawg won round 2. Call it a draw. The next two days are important. VERY important. Bertie can't afford to show up at the Tour with an inferior team and an inferiority complex.

Well he'll definitely have an inferior team that is a given. What he needs is better legs!

He needs strong legs and courage and anything is possible. Right now the legs are the issue

Never in a million years should anyone question the man's courage. That is a given!

No question.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Thing is, as blurry have stated multiple times, courage means nothing. In the Tour its the legs that matter - Sky and Movistar will neutralise all the courage Alberto may have.

 

[Tonton]

Re:

Thing is, as blurry have stated multiple times, courage means nothing. In the Tour its the legs that matter - Sky and Movistar will neutralise all the courage Alberto may have.

Agree. If all he can do is follow someone's favorite pace and attack with 1-2-3 km left, Bertie is toast. Obviously, when Froome turns it on, bad news...and if Berto attacks, Movistar may help Sky. That's why Contador needs to assert himself as the best out there, and get Movistar to be more defensive. Sky won't be: Dawg is the guy to beat. They will do the work.

 

[peloton]

@Tonton Movistar may help Sky? In what Universe is this?

Congrats to Froome, lol @ how Porte rode

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Martin and also Yates looked very good today. In both cases they are punchier than most climbers so it was probably assisted by the nature of the climb, but still impressive. If Martin hadn't had one of his best TTs in the uphill prologue and put himself in GC contention he might have won today. He seemed to be the third strongest.

As it is Contador made a bit of an error in following him. If Contador isn't confident that he can take back any time Martin could gain in 3km today over the next two harder stages then he is in serious trouble. Digging deep to follow Martin just set things up for Froome. Froome of course just slightly and smoothly upped his pace and reeled them back in within going into the red. Not that it mattered all that much - Froome was stronger - but he might have limited his losses more.

Porte was very strong. If only he could do it day after day. Working with Froome was a mistake though.

 

[Tonton]

Re:

@Tonton Movistar may help Sky? In what Universe is this?

Congrats to Froome, lol @ how Porte rode

Early on? They will defend position. Then Lance attacks. After that, when it comes to fight for second? Yes. The same old Ullrich second, Beloki third model. Not the best example, but you see what I mean.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

@Tonton Movistar may help Sky? In what Universe is this?

Congrats to Froome, lol @ how Porte rode

Say, if Quintana and Froome have proved to be the strongest and Contador is 2-3 minutes down and launches himself early on (not the final climb) and Froome/Quintana are about even, they might want to keep him at check and don't invite him in for free. That way its Quintana vs Froome, not Quintana vs Froome vs Contador. Does that make sense?

 

[MatParker117]

Re: Re:

@Tonton Movistar may help Sky? In what Universe is this?

Congrats to Froome, lol @ how Porte rode

Say, if Quintana and Froome have proved to be the strongest and Contador is 2-3 minutes down and launches himself early on (not the final climb) and Froome/Quintana are about even, they might want to keep him at check and don't invite him in for free. That way its Quintana vs Froome, not Quintana vs Froome vs Contador. Does that make sense?

Long range attacks play to Sky's strengths particularly if Kiryienka ends up replacing Kwaitkowski.

 

[dirkprovin]

Re:

No surprise to see Porte with Froome - Porte on his day can climb as well as Porte - First time this season A.Yates has been given the opportunity to climb up a mountain - Has also learnt to be patient and ride t his own tempo.

Promising signs but what he still hasn't learned is the skill of good positioning. Both he and his brother are still far too prone to sitting at the back and thus are unable to react to what's going on at the sharp end.

 

[StryderHells]

Re: Re:

Certainly looks like Yates is the strongest he has ever been.

Yep i reckon he and Simon will stay at orica at then end of the season. Why wouldn't you?
Sky don't need them. They'd get less opportunities.

I hope they both stay too, both doing very well with Orica.

Let's see how Yates does this next 2 stages, would be great to see him get a stage win and maybe push for a top 5 on GC.

because Orica won't be a sposor in 2 years and the team future isn't clear.

OGE's funding past the next 2 years is safe as even if they had trouble finding a main sponsor (which they won't) they still have Gerry Ryan bankrolling the team and I don't see him taking his money anywhere for a long time yet

 

[StryderHells]

Re: Re:

Certainly looks like Yates is the strongest he has ever been.

Yep i reckon he and Simon will stay at orica at then end of the season. Why wouldn't you?
Sky don't need them. They'd get less opportunities.

It would be best for both all parties if they sign one year contract extensions - Next year will be their 4th year as Pro's and let them ride for GC at Giro and Vuelta.

Pretty safe bet that Chaves will be leading the team at the Giro next season and neither of the Yates boys have shown they are ready to ride high in a GT GC yet

 

[jilbiker]

Will he do better tomorrow or not. We have been there, having great hopes in 2013 or 2015 for a fabulous comeback at the TDF which did not materialize. Perhaps we are the ones at fault not listening to Bertie's statements that he did not come her for a win but to train. We are used to these two sided half baked statements from Bertie. His team did not look like it came here for training. Was wondering why they did not allow the break to go or another team to chase.

Not knowing what are his exact true intentions, I can only observe tomorrow

 

[claude cat]

Re: Re:

Certainly looks like Yates is the strongest he has ever been.

Yep i reckon he and Simon will stay at orica at then end of the season. Why wouldn't you?
Sky don't need them. They'd get less opportunities.

It would be best for both all parties if they sign one year contract extensions - Next year will be their 4th year as Pro's and let them ride for GC at Giro and Vuelta.

Pretty safe bet that Chaves will be leading the team at the Giro next season and neither of the Yates boys have shown they are ready to ride high in a GT GC yet

I believe the plan is for Chaves to ride the TdF next year.

 

[memyselfandI]

Re: Re:

Interesting to see how Alaphilippe handles this day, he looked like he was riding his own tempo yesterday and saving quite a bit for today. Looks much more stronger undercover than Martin who was not at all strong yesterday in my eyes..he was pretty bad looking actually.

 

[Pantani_lives]

Re: Re:

Porte on his day can climb as well as Porte.

Yes, he can.

 

[Praying Mantis]

Stage 6, La Rochette → Méribel (141 km, Mountain)

Saturday, June 11th • Stage info • Startlist • Live ticker • Livestreams • Weather, Start • Weather, Finish
Starts at 13:10 - Live video from 16:10 - Finish at 17:15 (CEST)

Profile:

Mountain passes & hills:
Km 17.0 - Col de Champ-Laurent 9.3 kilometre-long climb at 8.1% - category 1
Km 24.0 - Col du Grand Cucheron 3.4 kilometre-long climb at 6.9% - category 2
Km 70.0 - Col de la Madeleine 19.2 kilometre-long climb at 7.9% - category H
Km 113.0 - Montée des Frasses 8 kilometre-long climb at 6.5% - category 1
Km 141.0 - MÉRIBEL-LES-ALLUES 12.3 kilometre-long climb at 6.6% - category 1

Climbs:

The Route: another short stage. Just six kilometres on the flat and then it’s uphill. A shock to the system awaits with the Col de Champ Laurent, a steep climb on a narrow road – and an even more narrow approach to the foot of the climb – and a series of twisting hairpin bends which line out the peloton and allow attackers to quickly get out of sight if the peloton lets it. There’s a brief descent before the route picks up the Col du Grand Cucheron, a much wider road and if the gradient picks up it feels more steady. A high speed descent follows.

The Col de la Madeleine won’t on TV but you’re bound to see its effects. 19km at 7.9% makes this a giant and if the profile looks level it often goes up in steps. It’s unlikely to be decisive – even if Alberto Contador wanted to go wild on the climb the roads after don’t suit a raider – but it will drain many riders. A reciprocal descent follows and then a series of balcony roads on the side of the valley via the first category climb to Les Frasses, 8km at 6.5% and then

The Finish: 12km at 6.6% and a wide ski station access road. As the profile shows the slope varies along the way. After the early hairpins it’s got some long straight sections before arriving in the swank ski resort of Méribel.

Current standings:

Abandons Stage 5:
DNS: BONIFAZIO, Niccolo (Trek - Segafredo)
DNS: LAPORTE, Christophe (Cofidis, Solutions Crédits)
DNS: HAGA, Chad (Team Giant - Alpecin)
DNS: GOUGEARD, Alexis (AG2R La Mondiale)
DNF: KOSHEVOY, Ilia (Lampre - Merida)
DNF: FERNÁNDEZ, Rubén (Movistar Team)
DNF: VANBILSEN, Kenneth (Cofidis, Solutions Crédits)
DNF: BOUHANNI, Nacer (Cofidis, Solutions Crédits)
DNF: BOECKMANS, Kris (Lotto Soudal)
DNF: GRUZDEV, Dmitriy (Astana Pro Team)
DNF: KWIATKOWSKI, Michal (Team Sky)
OTL: SOUPE, Geoffrey (Cofidis, Solutions Crédits)
159 of 176 riders remain in the race.

 

[Miburo]

Can be an awesome stage, champions are like lions. They're most dangerous when they're wounded.

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Re: Re:

Interesting to see how Alaphilippe handles this day, he looked like he was riding his own tempo yesterday and saving quite a bit for today. Looks much more stronger undercover than Martin who was not at all strong yesterday in my eyes..he was pretty bad looking actually.

What ????

 

[Pantani_lives]

It would have been more interesting if Porte had the jersey and Froome was forced to attack. Now Sky only has to defend.

 

[Vasilis]

Re:

It would have been more interesting if Porte had the jersey and Froome was forced to attack. Now Sky only has to defend.

So the time gap that caught out Contador the other day could still have an effect on the outcome of the race or at least the way it pans out, even though Contador may have been taken out of the equasion.

 

[DFA123]

The stage today has really good potential. One of those stages where the riders can make it into an amazing race if they are aggressive; or, if not, it could be a bit dull and just an uphill sprint in the last 500m.

If it's ridden hard I can see Landa winning. He's tested his legs a couple times, but the field was too fresh and reeled him in easily; this time he might be able to stay away. Purito also looked to be finding some form yesterday; if they soft pedal the Madeleine, then this finishing climb looks made for a rider like hiim or Martin.

 

[SafeBet]

What's the point of designing such a good stage and then showing only one hour of live pictures. On Saturday...

 

[Miburo]

Re:

What's the point of designing such a good stage and then showing only one hour of live pictures. On Saturday...

Will be like PN this year . The Madeleine might be crazy