Can Voeckler win this? Serious?

[The Hitch]

Well, I'd love to see TV win; but what I'd love to see more is for France to finally, finally have a real GC contender again. How this talent drought has gone on for so long baffles explanation. Therefore I find Rolland's performances to be the real revelation here. He was pegged for big things a couple of years back, and finally seems to be delivering. He could have stayed with the leaders on L-A if he hadn't been on domestique duty; hopefully, if Tommy V cracks next week, he'll give Rolland the go-ahead to ride his own race.

Lets not forget Peraud and Gadret double team next year.

I see a top 5 coming for the French.

 

[gilbertador]

I agree with Lance that if it comes to the final tt voeckler will crucify himself on the bike to ensure he doesnt lose yellow, hes got guts and form but i just fear that one massive attack could totally blow him out of the water

 

[Maxiton]

Lance's thoughts on Voeckler:

He wasnt swinging off the back 2day. He was one of the strongest. THe others werent assertive and/or agrressive enough to make a selection.

He has 2:06 on Evans. Final TT is 42 km. He's French. It's the Tour de FRANCE. He wont lose 2:06 in the final TTASSUMING...he keeps them close on Alpe d"huez. His teammate RIerre ROland has been a rockstar and continues to be.
Lastly, the dude knows how to suffer. Will be fun to watch . Enjoy

If those are Lance's thoughts - or anyone else's for that matter - I agree with them 100%. The caveat in his statement, though, is key: keeping them close on Alpe d'Huez. And whether he can do that depends in part on what happens with his competitors on the rest day, if you see what I mean.

"I've progressed since 2004," explained Voeckler, who has won a stage in the past two editions of the race.


"Right now I think I have the best form of my career. But even if I'd had the same condition in 2004, I don't think I would have been able to follow Armstrong."

If Voeckler said this any more directly, he'd have had to do it in the Clinic.

I'm rooting for him, too. It would be awesome to see him in the Maillot Jaune in Paris - and awesome to see Paris go crazy. In many ways and for many reasons, I think it would renew the race, and the sport itself. Whether it will actually happen, though - seems pretty doubtful.

 

[rzombie1988]

When the rider himself doesn't believe he can do it, I have a hard time believe it as well. However, I wonder how much of a ploy it is to throw people off and how much of it is truth.

 

[thirteen]

When the rider himself doesn't believe he can do it, I have a hard time believe it as well. However, I wonder how much of a ploy it is to throw people off and how much of it is truth.

i think it is the truth. but he also said he would give it everything he has...

if the Schleck bros continue to ride stupidly and no one else attacks, that would suit Tommy just fine

 

[Damiano Machiavelli]

If Voeckler said this any more directly, he'd have had to do it in the Clinic.

I think what Lance was getting at is that juiced to levels unseen in the history of mankind, they had a heck of a job prying the jersey off Voeckler in 2004. Now with less preparation possible and an older, stronger, and craftier Voeckler, the contenders might very welll not be able to do it. Unfortunately, I do not think TV will hold on with only a two minute buffer. He will get gapped in the Alps and lose enough time for Evans to overtake him in the ITT.

With another 30 to 60 seconds and it might be possible. Perhaps if he could gain a little time on a stage with a descent before the finish then it could happen for him.

It will be sad because the only riders who have been racing as though they want and deserve the yellow jersey are Gilbert, Thor, Voeckler, and maybe Evans.

Roland has impressed me, though. It will be interesting to see what he can do next year when he does not have to give everything for Voeckler.

 

[Maxiton]

I think what Lance was getting at is that juiced to levels unseen in the history of mankind, they had a heck of a job prying the jersey off Voeckler in 2004. Now with less preparation possible and an older, stronger, and craftier Voeckler, the contenders might very welll not be able to do it. Unfortunately, I do not think TV will hold on with only a two minute buffer. He will get gapped in the Alps and lose enough time for Evans to overtake him in the ITT.

With another 30 to 60 seconds and it might be possible. Perhaps if he could gain a little time on a stage with a descent before the finish then it could happen for him.

It will be sad because the only riders who have been racing as though they want and deserve the yellow jersey are Gilbert, Thor, Voeckler, and maybe Evans.

Roland has impressed me, though. It will be interesting to see what he can do next year when he does not have to give everything for Voeckler.

Probably that is what he was thinking. I was thinking the same, which is why I agreed with him, but that doesn't mean a different rider(s) can't find today some other rest day solution to the problem.

Anyway, in the part of my statement you quote I wasn't really referring to that. I was trying to point out that Voeckler's statement was a subtle way of claiming that he wasn't doping. In other words, he was making the same point that I made up thread: I (Voeckler) am the same rider as before, but my competitors have become human.

EDIT: Actually, I made the point in the Clinic thread, not this one.

 

[Damiano Machiavelli]

Probably that is what he was thinking. I was thinking the same, which is why I agreed with him, but that doesn't mean a different rider(s) can't find today some other rest day solution to the problem.

Anyway, in the part of my statement you quote I wasn't really referring to that. I was trying to point out that Voeckler's statement was a subtle way of claiming that he wasn't doping. In other words, he was making the same point that I made up thread: I (Voeckler) am the same rider as before, but my competitors have become human.

I agree, but we should probably stop this line of discussion here.

I think it would be way cool if someway, somehow Voeckler hangs on to Paris. He has looked great so far in the mountains. The Schlecks do not seem like they have got it this year, and the others cannot put in the type of attack that will instantly drop Voeckler. They will have to grind him off their wheels. A resurgent Contador is a real danger. If Contador attacks, the others will be forced to follow at a speed they do not seem willing to set themselves.

 

[Maxiton]

I agree, but we should probably stop this line of discussion here.

Agreed.

I think it would be way cool if someway, somehow Voeckler hangs on to Paris. He has looked great so far in the mountains. The Schlecks do not seem like they have got it this year, and the others cannot put in the type of attack that will instantly drop Voeckler. They will have to grind him off their wheels. A resurgent Contador is a real danger. If Contador attacks, the others will be forced to follow at a speed they do not seem willing to set themselves.

Yep. He is the nameless rider I was thinking of. (Along with Neck the Younger, perhaps.) It's hard to believe that Contador in particular won't unleash something before the end of this Tour. The question, of course, is whether he can given all the circumstances (including his exhaustion from the Giro) and constraints.

 

[swimdrag]

what time vockler

Any one out there with a clue as to what time mr tommy v would need in hand, going into the tt for a win overall against all the other contenders.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Any one out there with a clue as to what time mr tommy v would need in hand, going into the tt for a win overall against all the other contenders.

There is already a thread where this has been discussed.
http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showthread.php?t=14536 It is about the Schlecks, but Voeckler also passes by.

 

[jens_attacks]

he just needs le maillot jaune on his back.that's enough.

 

[thirteen]

he just needs le maillot jaune on his back.that's enough.

+1
(10 char)

 

[VeloCity]

The headline is a bit misleading, but Sammy Sanchez thinks Voeckler can win it:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/sanchez-considers-voeckler-his-biggest-favourite-for-tour-victory

 

[jens_attacks]

the funny thing is voeckler was not at his best in the pyrenees.on collet d'allevard in this year's dauphine he was at 430 watts for 33 minutes.it was no doubt his biggest super-performance of the carreer.if he will come close to that,le tour will be in his hands,that's sure.
only problem?contador to be revived and attack from long range taking no prisoners or if the other contenders will start the attacks on agnel and rolland will be dropped.
there are bigger chances that these two problems won't appear.

 

[Winterfold]

This feels like the 'Wiggins wont top 10 the Dauphine' 'Wiggins will be lucky to stay on the podium' 'Wiggins will lose minutes today' 'Wiggins will lose the overall' 'Holy **** Wiggins just smoked the Dauphine' conversations.

These guys are not climbing as hard as the Dauphine right now. Therefore I am not surprised Tommy V can hang in there.

AC and AS are either both way off form, or have had their top end seriously curtailed...

LA is right about one thing, Tommy V knows how to suffer.

Suffer he will, win he might.

Someone is going to have to grow a pair to take it off him, and one thing I am sure of is that Tommy V has big balls.

 

[Master50]

I think that if the favorites continue to race like they have been then TV has a chance.
Hey Bert you pull! Sorry Andy its Cadel's turn. I pulled last time, isn't it Franks turn? On and on. Does anyone actually want to win besides TV?

 

[jobiwan]

Voeckler has no shot, but he's done well so far.

You got a hint at what will happen on Stage 12. Andy, Basso, and Evans finally realized they could gap Contador. They upped the pace and Voeckler was straight out the back. W/o Rolland he would have lost even more time than he did.

Basso and the Schlecks need time, and will make this race crazy hard to get it.
Voeckler will lose 4 minutes on Galibier, even more on Alpe, and TONS of time in the TT. He'd be doing very well to stay in the Top 10.

Rolland should be free to go for the white jersey, which he has a legitimate chance for.

 

[Pantani_lives]

Voeckler has no shot, but he's done well so far.

You got a hint at what will happen on Stage 12. Andy, Basso, and Evans finally realized they could gap Contador. They upped the pace and Voeckler was out the back. W/o Rolland he would have lost even more time than he did.

Basso and the Schlecks need time, and will make this race crazy hard to get it.
Voeckler will lose 4 minutes on Galibier and even more on Alpe.

Rolland should be free to go for the white jersey, which he has a legitimate chance for.

I agree. Voeckler will probably end up between place 4 and 8.

 

[terri@canberra]

Unfortunately it doesn't seem he will, but for me Hushovd and Voeckler have made this TDF for me.

 

[davestoller]

People who think he is a contender:

Lance Armstrong
Laurent Jalabert
Sammy Sanchez
J. A. Flecha

WHo says Voeckler is a d#ck, but he could win:
from CN:
But he was also disappointed by the attitude of one of his fellow riders - Thomas Voeckler who was with him in the escape.

"Looking at the replay of the crash, his first reaction was to go faster, he didn't even stop pedalling for half a pedal stroke. On the next day, everybody in the bunch came to see me to see how I was doing, but he didn't. It just shows how he is as a person," Flecha said bluntly.

"He only cares about himself. If you ask the other riders in the bunch, they would agree with me. He never gives anything to others."

 

[Animal]

That's just ridiculous though.

You expect a ride from another team who is after the yellow jersey to stop and tend to you mid race?

No. You carry on. It's terrible what happened to Flecha, but he should stop crying.

 

[gregod]

i seem to remember ********* (name synonymous with Ego and Poor spOrtsmanship) making a prediction about the vuelta many years ago that i thought "no way" but he was spot on.

so his judgment about voeckler may have some validity.

 

[frenchfry]

That's just ridiculous though.

You expect a ride from another team who is after the yellow jersey to stop and tend to you mid race?

No. You carry on. It's terrible what happened to Flecha, but he should stop crying.

I was surprised that after the peleton got itself together after the big crash where VDB abandoned, it was OPL that started leading the charge. No sentiments for their own rider?

The TDF is a huge machine that just keeps rolling.

The rider in the yellow jersey has an incredible amount of obligations, and hardly has time to pee (except for doping control) much less visit injured riders. Sure, Voeckler could have made a gesture towards Flecha and probably should have, but he didn't.

In interviews Voeckler has made it clear that he doesn't spend time worrying about the others, he does what he has to do. May sound cold hearted, but to stay in yellow, that is the only approach that can work.

In any case I find all these debates about "should they have waited" so very tiresome. On a group ride a few Sundays ago we hit a bad section of road at full speed and 3 guys flatted. Nobody else even slowed down. If the TDF peloton waited every time there was an incident, it would last all year not 3 weeks. There are doctors that stop for the injured, mechanics that stop for equipment problems. The riders job is to ride.

 

[jens_attacks]

mentally,voeckler is like armstrong anyway,he will do anything do reach his goal.that's another reason why i think the other contenders will have headaches in the alps where tommy will fight to his least breath.