Cav and Lance down for Tour of Ireland

[craig1985]

But can anybody blame Eurosport wanting to show the Tour of Ireland instead? I mean they are in the business of getting ratings, and like it or not, that is what Armstrong does, brings ratings to TV stations. As for ENECO, does anybody really care about it? It's a rather dull race where most stages are either are a sprint or there is a TT which suits a specialist to the ground. Why not spice it up a big by including the Muur de Huy as a stage finish and some of the cotes in LBL the next day.

 

[lucybears]

http://www.tourofireland.ie/media/stage_1_rider_list.pdf

 

[Steampunk]

What time does the stage start tomorrow?

Favourites for the Tour? Will be pulling for Fuglsang & Deignan (though maybe not in that order); one has to fancy Cav's chances at taking the first two stages...

 

[pmcg76]

What time does the stage start tomorrow?

Favourites for the Tour? Will be pulling for Fuglsang & Deignan (though maybe not in that order); one has to fancy Cav's chances at taking the first two stages...

Stage details and times are all on the official site:

tourofireland.ie

Stage starts at 10am Irish time. Cav will win methinks.

 

[Steampunk]

Stage details and times are all on the official site:

tourofireland.ie

Stage starts at 10am Irish time. Cav will win methinks.

Thanks. You really think Cav will be able to stick three times up St. Patrick's Hill? I just don't see it.

 

[pmcg76]

Thanks. You really think Cav will be able to stick three times up St. Patrick's Hill? I just don't see it.

LOL, sorry I thought you meant tomorrow. Cav didnt even finish the Cork stage last year. I will be shouting for a home victory, PD is the man for the job.

 

[Steampunk]

LOL, sorry I thought you meant tomorrow. Cav didnt even finish the Cork stage last year. I will be shouting for a home victory, PD is the man for the job.

Ah. Gotcha. Yes: Cav tomorrow. And, likely Saturday, too. And I'd be thrilled with a PD victory.

 

[Bluebeard]

Yup, all fingers crossed for Phil Deignan!

Anyone going to Waterford for the predicted Cav procession tomorrow? Hopefully the Irish Team can do something special to commemorate Healion, though it is doubtful.

 

[seidodge]

Yup, all fingers crossed for Phil Deignan!

Anyone going to Waterford for the predicted Cav procession tomorrow? Hopefully the Irish Team can do something special to commemorate Healion, though it is doubtful.

I'd love it to happen, but I think there are stronger breakaway riders than Phil.

Can't see past cav for the first couple of days

BTW for anyone with an ipod touch/iphone, there is a Tour of Ireland app, giving live updates etc

 

[Steampunk]

I guess we all got this one wrong. Cav finished more than 2 minutes back of the sprint finish. It seems as though Saxo Bank forced a split in the peloton with about 40 km to go, and Cav missed out.

 

[Steampunk]

Interesting side story in this race:

http://www.tourofireland.ie/shownews.php?a=14

 

[Ninety5rpm]

I guess we all got this one wrong. Cav finished more than 2 minutes back of the sprint finish. It seems as though Saxo Bank forced a split in the peloton with about 40 km to go, and Cav missed out.

Saxo Bank?

Per velonews: "Astana and Saxo Bank drove the peloton hard up and over the day’s categorized climbs, shattering the field and setting a group of 23 riders free with just under 40km to go."

velonews.com/article/96906/downing-wins-stage-1-as-astana-saxo-split-peloton

 

[Ninety5rpm]

Interesting side story in this race:

http://www.tourofireland.ie/shownews.php?a=14

Yes, good story.

But he came in behind even the main peloton today.

81 Bradley Potgieter (Rsa) MTN Cycling 0:02:33
82 Adrien Niyonshuti (Rwa) MTN Cycling

 

[Irish2009]

Yes, good story.

But he came in behind even the main peloton today.

81 Bradley Potgieter (Rsa) MTN Cycling 0:02:33
82 Adrien Niyonshuti (Rwa) MTN Cycling

Give the guy a break, his first proper race, first race over 150km, didn't finish last(As A certain L.Armstrong did in his first pro race). And after Cavendish/Armstrong/Irish riders he was the most popular with the crowd/media today. Philip Lavery had a great go today, he's only first year senior and was very upset at the death of Paul Healion, went of the front and blew his lights, Deignan drove the break, he's going well.

 

[Steampunk]

Saxo Bank?

Per velonews: "Astana and Saxo Bank drove the peloton hard up and over the day’s categorized climbs, shattering the field and setting a group of 23 riders free with just under 40km to go."

velonews.com/article/96906/downing-wins-stage-1-as-astana-saxo-split-peloton

Was drawing from this:
"On the climb out of Inistioge (km 156) Saxo Bank moved to the front and split the peloton into at least three large groups. Stuart O’Grady, Jakob Fuglsang, Karsten Kroon, Matti Breschel and Alexander Kolobnev made Saxo Bank the dominant team, while Lance Armstrong, Janez Brajkovic and Haimar Zubeldia gave Astana three in the twenty-four strong group that emerged clear at the summit. Cervelo Test Team had three: the in-form Philip Deignan, Gabriel Rasch and Dan Lloyd. ISD-Neri was brilliantly positioned with four riders. Russell Downing was the only CandiTV-Marshalls rider that had made the cut."

http://www.tourofireland.ie/results09_stage1.php

I missed today's stage altogether in the end, unfortunately.

 

[Quicksilver]

Good to see Lance was in the thick off the action maybe next year he will want it will be back to 5 days.

Great route and weather, thank god to see some narrow roads in the race. Ireland is full of new wide carriageways.

Plenty of Armstrongs in N.Ireland and now Lance declares in his pre race interview on ITV4 his mothers maiden name is Mooney and her family from Ireland. So thats Obama and him both claiming Irish ancestry.
Could Lance be the next white President after he conquers Texas with the aid of the Bush dynasty. Probably easier than winning the tour again.

 

[doddy13]

The tour of Ireland deserves the new publicity with Lance, but the 5 day race was better, let's hope to have it back next year.

And the Rwandan cyclist is a great story, lots of respect for him, as does Lance apparently. "If i'm going to have a drink with anyone tonight, i'd be him"

 

[Steampunk]

Interesting side story in this race:

http://www.tourofireland.ie/shownews.php?a=14

Niyonshuti held on for 170 km today before falling off the back of the peloton. He came in 10 minutes behind the leaders. It really is a terrific story; let's hope he gains a lot of experience and we see more of him in Europe in the years to come.

 

[Steampunk]

Armstrong abandoned the race toward the end of stage 3.

[Edit]: ...followed by half the peloton, according to one report. Heavy, heavy rain. That's the Ireland-in-summer I remember...

 

[Bluebeard]

Yup, cycling fans has their ticker, while according to the Irishcycling ticker (done by cyclingnews regular Shane Stokes), the following are clear:

Marco Pinotti (Team Columbia - HTC), Craig Lewis (Team Columbia - HTC), Karsten Kroon (Team Saxo Bank), Matti Breschel (Team Saxo Bank), Russell Downing (Candi TV - Marshalls Pasta), Mathias Frank (BMC Racing Team), Lars Petter Nordhaug (Joker Bianchi)

Of that 7, all but Frank and Nordhaug are in contention, I think. Could be VERY exciting!

 

[Anonymous]

Armstrong abandoned the race toward the end of stage 3.

[Edit]: ...followed by half the peloton, according to one report. Heavy, heavy rain. That's the Ireland-in-summer I remember...

...so glad Versus dumped Eneco for this race...

That makes 3 races he has wussed out of this year. (2 stages in the Giro and this one. 4 if you count him dropping out because of a broken collar bone, cause lets face it, Tyler and Hincapie both finished harder races with one too...)

 

[scribe]

Armstrong abandoned the race toward the end of stage 3.

[Edit]: ...followed by half the peloton, according to one report. Heavy, heavy rain. That's the Ireland-in-summer I remember...

Reportedly due to back problems with weather and hills not in his favor.

 

[hfer07]

Can anybody remember how much money was LA paid to deliver a DNF?

 

[yourwelcome]

Christ, a good race went on but as per usual it's back to whining about Lance. Give it up.

 

[Anonymous]

all i can say is abssolutely cracking performance by russ...

we watched the replay tonight, where at a festival today, and as he was stuck in the group with three saxos attacking him we where shouting at him to attack them, he did.. what a performance.. made up for him..