2016 TdF, Stage 16: Moirans-en-Montagne → Bern (209km)

[doperhopper]

back on flat around Neuchatel lake, and Panzer resists, well defending the 3 min lead... is there a hope?

 

[MikeTichondrius]

It's Panzer. I've seen him do some craaaaazy stuff before. It's not past him to hold on.

 

[doperhopper]

OK looks it's over, they cracked to 2 min... still, Tony probably did unofficial 120 km (or how many) ITT record (cca 47 kmh)

 

[doperhopper]

wtf Cav? just rolling behind Sagan ))

 

[DFA123]

So dull they can't even be bothered to contest an intermediate sprint despite being in position to do so. Sums up this tour.

 

[Cannibal72]

Sometimes - not often, but sometimes - Carlton Kirby is magnificent.

 

[Pantani Attacks]

Sagan has green sewn up already. No point wasting energy contesting him.

 

[StryderHells]

Re:

So dull they can't even be bothered to contest an intermediate sprint despite being in position to do so. Sums up this tour.

Why would Cavendish contest the intermediate sprint? First up the battle for Green is over and second up in my opinion Cavendish won't make it to Paris

 

[KGB]

He will he wants Paris stage.

 

[StryderHells]

Re:

He will he wants Paris stage.

I think he will pull out of the race on tomorrow's rest day

 

[markene2]

It's a technical last 9k, hope there wont be any crashes that take out GC contenders.

 

[doperhopper]

they already saw the peloton from the hill, smiling...

 

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

So dull they can't even be bothered to contest an intermediate sprint despite being in position to do so. Sums up this tour.

Why would Cavendish contest the intermediate sprint? First up the battle for Green is over and second up in my opinion Cavendish won't make it to Paris

But he wasted energy to put himself in second position and then just didn't bother going past Sagan in the last few metres? What was the point of that?

I'm sure the crowd that had gathered by the sprint really appreciated it.

 

[vedrafjord]

Tony + Ala giving up, unless it's an elaborate ruse...

 

[Ruby United]

Any moment now Martin is going to suddenly go for it, bring the gap p 2 minutes in 2km and then Ala will attack and TT to victory!

 

[tomorrow]

Re: Re:

So dull they can't even be bothered to contest an intermediate sprint despite being in position to do so. Sums up this tour.

Why would Cavendish contest the intermediate sprint? First up the battle for Green is over and second up in my opinion Cavendish won't make it to Paris

But he wasted energy to put himself in second position and then just didn't bother going past Sagan in the last few metres? What was the point of that?

I'm sure the crowd that had gathered by the sprint really appreciated it.

well, sagan can still fall or something and not score points today/in paris, and cavendish can earn reasonable sum of points, mainly in paris, so that's why cav didn't want to loose more points than those 2 he lost in the intermediate sprint. If nothing happens, sagan probably has the green, but what if?

 

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

So dull they can't even be bothered to contest an intermediate sprint despite being in position to do so. Sums up this tour.

Why would Cavendish contest the intermediate sprint? First up the battle for Green is over and second up in my opinion Cavendish won't make it to Paris

But he wasted energy to put himself in second position and then just didn't bother going past Sagan in the last few metres? What was the point of that?

I'm sure the crowd that had gathered by the sprint really appreciated it.

well, sagan can still fall or something and not score points today/in paris, and cavendish can earn reasonable sum of points, mainly in paris, so that's why cav didn't want to loose more points than those 2 he lost in the intermediate sprint. If nothing happens, sagan probably has the green, but what if?

Sure, but why didn't he go past hime and get a few more points? If Sagan has a mechanical or something and gets no points on one stage, Cav could get back in contention. What was the point in spending energy to get on Sagan's wheel, but then not just coming round him in the last 50m. Sagan was going almost at walking pace by the end.

Presumably they'd made an agreement before not to contest it fully, but why? It's a dull enough race as it is.

 

[doperhopper]

etixx train at the back

 

[Ruby United]

Re: Re:

So dull they can't even be bothered to contest an intermediate sprint despite being in position to do so. Sums up this tour.

Why would Cavendish contest the intermediate sprint? First up the battle for Green is over and second up in my opinion Cavendish won't make it to Paris

But he wasted energy to put himself in second position and then just didn't bother going past Sagan in the last few metres? What was the point of that?

I'm sure the crowd that had gathered by the sprint really appreciated it.

well, sagan can still fall or something and not score points today/in paris, and cavendish can earn reasonable sum of points, mainly in paris, so that's why cav didn't want to loose more points than those 2 he lost in the intermediate sprint. If nothing happens, sagan probably has the green, but what if?

Battle for green is over most probably but it was very logical for Cav to get second but not go for first.
a) It's a hard stage and if he wants to make it over the last climb he needs to keep as much energy as possible
b) Even though green battle is over he wants to ensure that if Sagan crashes out or something that he is safely second
Therefore it is very logical for him to go for second whilst expending as little energy as possible, especially as no one else really went for it

 

[Cannibal72]

Re: Re:

So dull they can't even be bothered to contest an intermediate sprint despite being in position to do so. Sums up this tour.

Why would Cavendish contest the intermediate sprint? First up the battle for Green is over and second up in my opinion Cavendish won't make it to Paris

But he wasted energy to put himself in second position and then just didn't bother going past Sagan in the last few metres? What was the point of that?

I'm sure the crowd that had gathered by the sprint really appreciated it.

well, sagan can still fall or something and not score points today/in paris, and cavendish can earn reasonable sum of points, mainly in paris, so that's why cav didn't want to loose more points than those 2 he lost in the intermediate sprint. If nothing happens, sagan probably has the green, but what if?

Sure, but why didn't he go past hime and get a few more points? If Sagan has a mechanical or something and gets no points on one stage, Cav could get back in contention. What was the point in spending energy to get on Sagan's wheel, but then not just coming round him in the last 50m. Sagan was going almost at walking pace by the end.

Presumably they'd made an agreement before not to contest it fully, but why? It's a dull enough race as it is.

Sagan agreed not to contest the stage win and to lead out Cav, because otherwise he might still have to ride for Tinkov.

 

[markene2]

Lutseeeeeenko!!!! Allez

 

[StryderHells]

Re: Re:

So dull they can't even be bothered to contest an intermediate sprint despite being in position to do so. Sums up this tour.

Why would Cavendish contest the intermediate sprint? First up the battle for Green is over and second up in my opinion Cavendish won't make it to Paris

But he wasted energy to put himself in second position and then just didn't bother going past Sagan in the last few metres? What was the point of that?

I'm sure the crowd that had gathered by the sprint really appreciated it.

It didn't look like he used much energy working his way up to sit behind Sagan, so he went from 62 points behind to 64, don't think that makes much of a difference in this classification. As for the crowd at the intermediate missing out on a little action, well I'm sure they'll get over it

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Re:

Lutseeeeeenko!!!! Allez

First time i've seen him all tour. Hpe he will do the Vuelta with a more free role, so that he can take a stage or 2

 

[markene2]

Re: Re:

Lutseeeeeenko!!!! Allez

First time i've seen him all tour. Hpe he will do the Vuelta with a more free role, so that he can take a stage or 2

He is targeting the Olympics this year, seems to get into form just like Vino did in 2012. Big hopes from me! :razz:

 

[doperhopper]

Re: Re:

well, sagan can still fall or something and not score points today/in paris, and cavendish can earn reasonable sum of points, mainly in paris, so that's why cav didn't want to loose more points than those 2 he lost in the intermediate sprint. If nothing happens, sagan probably has the green, but what if?

Sure, but why didn't he go past hime and get a few more points? If Sagan has a mechanical or something and gets no points on one stage, Cav could get back in contention. What was the point in spending energy to get on Sagan's wheel, but then not just coming round him in the last 50m. Sagan was going almost at walking pace by the end.

Presumably they'd made an agreement before not to contest it fully, but why? It's a dull enough race as it is.[/quote]

Sagan agreed not to contest the stage win and to lead out Cav, because otherwise he might still have to ride for Tinkov.[/quote]

already sold one stage to Bling