Can Voeckler win this? Serious?

[hfer07]

Pay close attention to Stages 16 & 17- Voeckler can try some crazy sh!t since he isn't afraid of & attack before those descends close to the finish line......that would be amazing

 

[mulletCobra]

Obvious from that is, that Voeckler has had some truly horrible TTs, far worse than the average TdF rider even, but some ok ones too.

If it comes down to the ITT, He might have the motivation to make it stick. I highly doubt he was riding those TTs to the best of his abilities.

The only way Voeckler wins this is if he gets some more time somehow. I don't see it happening or him keeping pace in the remaining mountain stages. Someone is going to have to attack.. No ones seems to want to though. As boring as the track stands of last year..

 

[The Hitch]

I hope not. I would lose all respect for a rider who was one of my very favorites in the peloton.

What, why?

 

[Anquetil]

In the third week it's not about TT skills but about motivation. Remember Sastre vs Evans. If Voeckler is still in yellow for the TT he will litteraly die on his bike.

 

[Moondance]

What, why?

Clinic stuff.

 

[Pantani_lives]

I still don't think he can win it, but I believe he can finish in the top 5 or something. You would have been ridiculed had you predicted this before the race.

 

[roundabout]

Armstrong thinks Voeckler can win as well.

Seriousness not guaranteed.

 

[spalco]

Armstrong thinks Voeckler can win as well.

Seriousness not guaranteed.

I don't see why he would not be serious about saying something like that; how much his opinion is worth is up for debate though of course. And I don't doubt he would be very amused if an underdog like Voeckler wins instead of Contador, Evans, Basso, Schlecks, etc.

 

[gilbertador]

As other posters have said if he gains with an ally like samuel sanchez on the 2 descent finishes i definitely think he can top 5, it would be a beautiful victory for the french, but theres only so much that pure guts and determination can do and all this effort just might catch up with him....

 

[palmerq]

I don't think he will, although I didnt think he would be in yellow after today :S I think he will still crack in the coming mountains and he has no chance in the time trial the odds are stacked against him..

even though his tactics today were very entertaining I dont think they were very wise he was chasing down everything and even trying to attack I think this effort will cost him in the 3rd week.

 

[montagna lunga]

In this year's TdF I have seen all of two riders show the kind of heart which makes a champion. Thor yesterday, and Volkler. The "calculating" crap of that bunch going up today was sickening. Say what you boys will, or avoid saying what you think is/isn't important, but this man in yellow today should keep it to Paris, he befits the jersey. And yes I do believe he can keep it to Paris. Finally someone to root for (whats that? you say I need to know of something in your clinic forum? **** that!)

 

[Fus087]

He will attack on the downhills to Gap and Pinerolo and get enough margin that way.

I am 100% serious.

I think so too. Preferably together with Gilbert...
Seriously, Voeckler is the guy to beat right now. There probably won't be big time gaps on the Pinerolo stage (at least not to Voeckler's disadvantage), and if the other favourites do the same thing on stages 18 and 19, Voeckler will have 1'49" before the ITT.
And in that ITT, it's very much about motivation - just like it was today and Thursday: Voeckler actually is an OK climber, but he said himself that he isn't that motivated when it's about being 20th. When it's about keeping the maillot jaune, he's giving it all he has.
He rarely had to ride a good ITT before, so there's no real data for a comparison.

 

[will10]

He'll lose 6 minutes on the Galibier stage.

 

[Anonymous]

I would love it if he could, but in a way it would also sadden me to see a rider I like beat riders of questionable morals.

That said, I think the Alps will be too much for him and he will bow out gracefully.

That said, what with him, Francais de Jeux holding both Polka dot and White for a day, the daily presence of French riders in the attacks, this is almost certainly the best Tour de France for the french in a long long time. That is a big positive, or a negative depending on your view.

 

[The Hitch]

Clinic stuff.

But there are a lot of riders no less tainted by that than Voeckler that you do like. Why hate on Tommy? Theres got to be something else.

 

[Zweistein]

There is a huge difference between being able to sit on wheels all day and having to be the one to respond to attacks. Voekler loses the jersey the moment he is made to respond. He sits in yellow because he isn't a threat.

 

[will10]

There is a huge difference between being able to sit on wheels all day and having to be the one to respond to attacks. Voekler loses the jersey the moment he is made to respond. He sits in yellow because he isn't a threat.

Voeckler covered almost every move of the favourites himself.

 

[Big Doopie]

If he keeps his form, who should stop him?

the rest day could.

even if he keeps his form.

the rest is for the clinic, i'm afraid...

 

[The Hitch]

For once the Eurosport panel proved usefull.

Their speculating as to the whole of France going mad if Voeckler still has the stage by Galibier, and all of France descending onto Lalpe if he still has it by 19 has got me very excited.

 

[Big Doopie]

The "calculating" crap of that bunch going up today was sickening.

i agree wholeheartedly about voeckler and thor.

however, i think basso and evans did precisely what they should do. they are never going to be able to drop schlecks with an violent attack. basso did exactly what he had to do, keeping the speed steady and high. evans benefits from so many GC contenders. the more the better for him as the pure climbers have to continually worry about burying themselves in one attack. meanwhile evans responded rapidly to each AS attack -- exactly what he has to do.

evans then "attacked" near the end and put "fuentes" schleck in difficulty -- in fact all of AS' attacks probably softened up his older brother.

basso and evans are doing exactly what they should do if they want to win the tour.

if they want to go down in some blaze of glory then --please-- go ahead, attack!

 

[superconfex]

Would love it if TV holds on.
Seeing a guy with heart hanging out with the big boys busting a gut is so much more exciting than some Gc’ers SPRINTING up a climb

 

[jens_attacks]

my new hero for this tour.evans is the main threat for him,but i think tommy will drop him on alpe,there is no way alberto will beat him maybe if he goes below 35 minutes on alpe d'huez or attacks on the penultimate climb.
french people will get their winner and then they will stop whining all day.

voeckler today responded to some of the most violent accelerations,rolland is there,he will get the white jersey for sure.europcar is one of the strongest teams in this race.have you seen yohan gene at the front of the peloton?freakin beast.
tommy for the win!

 

[patrick767]

I don't know. I'm still baffled. When has Voeckler ever been a top tier climber? Now here he is with the best in the world for two MTFs in a row? How? He's never finished higher than 18th in a Grand Tour because he can't hang in the mountains.

 

[just some guy]

my new hero for this tour.evans is the main threat for him,but i think tommy will drop him on alpe,there is no way alberto will beat him maybe if he goes below 35 minutes on alpe d'huez or attacks on the penultimate climb.
french people will get their winner and then they will stop whining all day.

voeckler today responded to some of the most violent accelerations,rolland is there,he will get the white jersey for sure.europcar is one of the strongest teams in this race.have you seen yohan gene at the front of the peloton?freakin beast.
tommy for the win!

Im thinking the opposite.

Eurocar will be spent by thursday as will Tommy V. He will lose the yellow on thursday - been an amazing journey where it finishs

 

[palmerq]

I don't know. I'm still baffled. When has Voeckler ever been a top tier climber? Now here he is with the best in the world for two MTFs in a row? How? He's never finished higher than 18th in a Grand Tour because he can't hang in the mountains.

The tour hasnt finished yet :S he allready lost time in one mountain stage and he has ridden like this before in 2004.