Behind the Grupetto

[klodifan]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTPKaeFbcA8

A true race against the clock...

 

[Anonymous]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTPKaeFbcA8

A true race against the clock...

Really cool video, thanks for posting. That is actually one of the best things I have watched this Tour. Sincerely.

 

[Anonymous]

One correction to the video though, that was Stage 8, not Stage 12

 

[klodifan]

Really cool video, thanks for posting. That is actually one of the best things I have watched this Tour. Sincerely.

Me too. It would be nice if Versus showed a different persepctive from time and time. This is something they could add to their "expanded" primetime coverage.

 

[Escarabajo]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTPKaeFbcA8

A true race against the clock...

Thanks. That was a nice video.

 

[Titaniumtim]

Great video. I liked the drafting at 80kph and the constant encouragement from the car. Helping the other teams riders is really outstanding as well.

 

[benpounder]

Very nice... Thanks for the link.

 

[Cobber]

Wow... great video. Thanks

 

[elapid]

Really cool video, thanks for posting. That is actually one of the best things I have watched this Tour. Sincerely.

+1. Loved it. This kind of racing hurts, but you rarely see it on TV coverage. The encouragement from the fans and particularly the DSs car was great. No team rivalry, just a common cause, and eventual joy and relief, in beating the cut off time. Great stuff. Thanks.

 

[cody_57]

Really Cool

So cool compared to the "stuff" we get through Versus. I do not think that their commentators can complete a whole sentence without saying Lance Armstrong.. at least twice.

My problem is not with Armstrong, but the effectively useless coverage we're getting about the race, because all focus is on him. Or any other american for that matter. When George Hincapie missed out on the yellow by 5 seconds, all interviews were around that and yet, in that same stage Mark Cavendish most likely lost the opportunity to wear green on the Champs Elysees. Can't Versus get interviews with non-amarican riders

 

[Lones1]

I have been following Kenny's exploits on the following link for the last week or so. You have to scroll down to the bottom and read up to the top to see how Kenny has been faring. There are other posts in between, but Kenny's story is being told too . Go Kenny!!

http://www.cyclingtipsblog.com/

 

[TRDean]

Fantastic video...thanks for posting the link. I for one am following Kenny van Hummel very closely. As exciting as it is to see Contador and Schleck dominate in the mountains...I am more impressed with Kenny's perserverance and fortitude. He is truely a great rider with an iron will. I'm sure he has already won over many new fans with his never say die attitude!! Keep fighting Kenny...there are many who are getting inspiration from your struggle!!

 

[benpounder]

My problem is not with Armstrong, but the effectively useless coverage we're getting about the race, because all focus is on him. Or any other american for that matter. When George Hincapie missed out on the yellow by 5 seconds, all interviews were around that and yet, in that same stage Mark Cavendish most likely lost the opportunity to wear green on the Champs Elysees. Can't Versus get interviews with non-amarican riders

I love the game of golf - I suck, but I still love it, and I love watching it played well. That said, I turn off most of the coverage because Tiger Woods, the best golfer in the world by large margin, sucks up all the TV time. While I havent watched football for a while, I suspect there have been players (Beckenbauer) and teams (Manchester United) that suck up coverage in their home countries as well.

It is understandable. Those of us who revel in the minutia will always tune in, whereas the neophyte needs a 'hero' to follow.

 

[Dr. Maserati]

Really cool video, thanks for posting. That is actually one of the best things I have watched this Tour. Sincerely.

+1....Excellent post Klodi!! Lots of 'sticky' bottles handed out from the car!

Anyone who makes it to Paris is a Giant of the Road.

 

[Three wheeler]

Enough complaining already about LA on Versus! Yes, they mention him constantly...it's an American network, showing a niche sport to an American audience. Thus all the furor over Hincapie as well. I was surprised that the LL pullout didn't have a bit more to it.

I have watched Canadian coverage of the Olympics, and I can report that they certainly make sure to show the full stories of every Canadian competing as well.

The video is almost exclusively from the French coverage, so don't blame them for the camera coverage, although they may have some control over which shot to show.

As for the comment about not talking with Cavendish, I can attest that we have had virtually daily interviews with him on Vs as well.

 

[Anonymous]

Enough complaining already about LA on Versus! Yes, they mention him constantly...it's an American network, showing a niche sport to an American audience. Thus all the furor over Hincapie as well. I was surprised that the LL pullout didn't have a bit more to it.

I have watched Canadian coverage of the Olympics, and I can report that they certainly make sure to show the full stories of every Canadian competing as well.

The video is almost exclusively from the French coverage, so don't blame them for the camera coverage, although they may have some control over which shot to show.

As for the comment about not talking with Cavendish, I can attest that we have had virtually daily interviews with him on Vs as well.

Hey, why not delete the Armstrong posts on this thread and move them to the Armstrong thread. There is nothing here that has anything to do with him, and I for one am ready for other topics.

 

[indurain666]

Amazing stuff!! Thanks for posting it!! Keep it coming

 

[indurain666]

This video brings me sweet (and painful) memories: after juniors in 2001 when I raced (tried) at elite/Div 3 professional, needless to say, I spent a lot of lonely kilometres chasing pelotons/groups

These guys, still averaged 38-39 kmh, over hilly 200 kms. Amazing

 

[RigelKent]

That's just a nice clip. Maybe if we all mail-assault Versus with the link they'll get an idea of what a special feature really is? Build real fan understanding so maybe some of them will stay around when the big names are gone?

As far as the video on Versus, the French feed shows the race the whole time. It's Versus choice to cut away. Hell, Paul and Phil still do coverage during the Versus crap for other English speaking channels around the world who might want to see some racing. Although I guess they hit the mute button there, too.

 

[klodifan]

For Kenny fans...

http://player.nos.nl/index.php/media/play/tcmid/tcm:5-543829/

 

[Kennf1]

You know, you watch this and you just have to wonder, why does Versus Suck so bad?

 

[MKirilenko]

Finally I satisfied my curiosity, thx klodi. I have always wondered what happens at the back, how does the "fight with time" look like, and how is grupetto riding, and actually never seen something like that on Eurosport, unless it was s1 important that stood back.
Nice video

btw. Poor Koldo Fernandez from Euskaltel didnt manage to hold with those guys. It must be hard to realize u cant make it to the end.

 

[Dr. Maserati]

.......btw. Poor Koldo Fernandez from Euskaltel didnt manage to hold with those guys. It must be hard to realize u cant make it to the end.

Yes - you could see it in him, he was totally beat. He did go on to finish - but finished outside the time limit. An honourable exit- chapeau Koldo!

 

[Anonymous]

probably one of the best cycling videos ive seen in recent years.. I love stuff like that..

 

[mickkk]

Great vid thanks!