Cobbles in le Tour

[Mellow Velo]

And racing those early season cobbles races helped Valverde... how, exactly?

Well, he was 30 seconds better off than Contador and that with a borrowed bike.
It's not about winning the stage, but limiting ones losses, after all.

Contador should just continue racing the races he can win, duh, a 160th place at Dwars door Vlaanderen won't add anything to his palmares

If winning some early season stage race is more important than dropping a packet on a bit of pave in the season's major objective, that's his prerogative.
No use moaning about it, afterwards.

I hated it, for reasons I stated above (and the fact that I dislike Boom and Nibali).

Let's face it, you hate any rider who shows the slightest possibility of beating your cherished one.
Hardly a reason for the non inclusion of legitimate terrain, guaranteed to produce excitement, which is what the majority of pundits want and makes for excellent tv.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Well, he was 30 seconds better off than Contador and that with a borrowed bike.
It's not about winning the stage, but limiting ones losses, after all.

Yes, and many guys who did not ride the early season cobbled classics were also 30 seconds better off. They might just be better suited to the cobbles? Or did that thought not enter your Skybot brain.

If winning some early season stage race is more important than dropping a packet on a bit of pave in the season's major objective, that's his prerogative.
No use moaning about it, afterwards.

Have you heard Alberto moan about it?

Let's face it, you hate any rider who shows the slightest possibility of beating your cherished one.
Hardly a reason for the non inclusion of legitimate terrain, guaranteed to produce excitement, which is what the majority of pundits want and makes for excellent tv.

Let me make this clear: I don't care what you think of me, Mr Sky fanboy you're wrong, but that is hardly a surprise.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Let me make this clear: I don't care what you think of me, Mr Sky fanboy you're wrong, but that is hardly a surprise.

Let me make this clear: I don't like Sky.
I abhor the way they race and how they misuse young riders.
But what I like even less is the attitude of some, towards the team.
So, I remain objective towards them.
I don't think I'm far off the mark.


Anyhow, 95% of the poll think on this, you are wrong and we both know that you have a lot of faith in the CN pro racing polls.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Let me make this clear: I don't like Sky.
I abhor the way they race and how they misuse young riders.
But what I like even less is the attitude of some, towards the team.
So, I remain objective towards them.
I don't think I'm far off the mark.


Anyhow, 95% of the poll think on this, you are wrong and we both know that you have a lot of faith in the CN pro racing polls.

Mellow Velo, did you perhaps miss my post yesterday? I believe cobbles should be included once every 3-5 years (which is also the option I voted for in the poll)

 

[thehook]

Huge Conta fan here. I say Cobbles every year. Nibs was a beast on them last year. And he deserved every second he gained. Chapeau Nibs

 

[LaFlorecita]

Nibs was a beast on them last year.

Agreed. He was also very lucky Fuglsang and especially Westra were beasts too though.

 

[cineteq]

Agreed. He was also very lucky Fuglsang and especially Westra were beasts too though.

Banalizing cyclists, races or your own little world where riders are lucky or not.

 

[Kwibus]

Pretty much agree with every point you make. I'd like to see the cobbles included in le Tour every year but that is my unexperienced opinion. I am only just discovering that I can watch the spring season of road cycling the past 3-4 years and it has become my favorite part of the season, along with the Giro d italia.

As far as the competition at TdF this year, yeah I was hoping for the big fireworks between Contador, Froome, and Nibs in the mountains too. But I disagree with discrediting Nibali's win (but that is an entirely different topic from including cobbles in GT's - I don't mean to go there! )

I'm not discrediting Nibali's win at all. He won it fair and square. I was only talking about 'what if'.
So we agree on all points really.

 

[Kwibus]

Agreed. He was also very lucky Fuglsang and especially Westra were beasts too though.

Contadors men were pulling the bunch, until they realised Contador let a gap himself and was losing ground.
Nibali on the other hand was passing riders on the cobbles and moving to the front of the group.

I like Contador, but you really are a fangirl who is far from objective about anything that could relate to Contador in the slighest way.
Sure, I know you don't care, but it's true though

 

[LaFlorecita]

Contadors men were pulling the bunch, until they realised Contador let a gap himself and was losing ground.
Nibali on the other hand was passing riders on the cobbles and moving to the front of the group.

I like Contador, but you really are a fangirl who is far from objective about anything that could relate to Contador in the slighest way.
Sure, I know you don't care, but it's true though

You don't agree the gap would not have been as big if Fuglsang and Westra had not been in such great shape
Particularly Westra surprised everyone I would think. He pulled for what, 50k or so?
(If you don't remember, watch the stage again. It was definitely not just Nibali, not by a long shot)

And I do value your opinion, it's just Mellow Velo I don't care about, he's had it out for me on here and on Velorooms for years
And I think you are wrong, in no way I'm trying to say Contador was as good as Nibali on the cobbles, no way, Contador failed massively, but if he'd been on the front of the peloton at the start of the second segment, and the following, he would not have lost as much time. He got over the first one perfectly fine, sure it did not look comfortable, but he stayed near the front. When I saw how far back he was before the second segment, I was shouting at the TV that he should move up, but he didn't and lost what, 40s? on that part alone.
What annoys me is that people act as if Nibali, on his own, got 2'30", that isn't true, Westra pulled the group for a big part, and later Fuglsang.

 

[Mellow Velo]

You don't agree the gap would not have been as big if Fuglsang and Westra had not been in such great shape
Particularly Westra surprised everyone I would think. He pulled for what, 50k or so?
(If you don't remember, watch the stage again. It was definitely not just Nibali, not by a long shot)

And I do value your opinion, it's just Mellow Velo I don't care about, he's had it out for me on here and on Velorooms for years
And I think you are wrong, in no way I'm trying to say Contador was as good as Nibali on the cobbles, no way, Contador failed massively, but if he'd been on the front of the peloton at the start of the second segment, and the following, he would not have lost as much time. He got over the first one perfectly fine, sure it did not look comfortable, but he stayed near the front. When I saw how far back he was before the second segment, I was shouting at the TV that he should move up, but he didn't and lost what, 40s? on that part alone.
What annoys me is that people act as if Nibali, on his own, got 2'30", that isn't true, Westra pulled the group for a big part, and later Fuglsang.

How often do we cross swords? I'd say rarely, given the volume of your posting.
Holding the belief that Valverde, not Bertie was the rider of the season, is not having it in for you. I don't not hold a contrary position, simply to annoy you, but for well founded reasons.

I'm glad you feel cobbles should appear in the Tour every few years. I am also surprised.
I had missed that post. On this, we agree.

 

[damian13ster]

You don't agree the gap would not have been as big if Fuglsang and Westra had not been in such great shape
Particularly Westra surprised everyone I would think. He pulled for what, 50k or so?
(If you don't remember, watch the stage again. It was definitely not just Nibali, not by a long shot)

And I do value your opinion, it's just Mellow Velo I don't care about, he's had it out for me on here and on Velorooms for years
And I think you are wrong, in no way I'm trying to say Contador was as good as Nibali on the cobbles, no way, Contador failed massively, but if he'd been on the front of the peloton at the start of the second segment, and the following, he would not have lost as much time. He got over the first one perfectly fine, sure it did not look comfortable, but he stayed near the front. When I saw how far back he was before the second segment, I was shouting at the TV that he should move up, but he didn't and lost what, 40s? on that part alone.
What annoys me is that people act as if Nibali, on his own, got 2'30", that isn't true, Westra pulled the group for a big part, and later Fuglsang.

Wait, you are telling me that cycling isn't a purely individual sport

And that positionning is important? Give that woman a Nobel prize!
Newsflash for you: teams, tactics and positionning are all part of racing, and if you fail at that, then you lose time.


Besides, didn't Nibali take more pulls and stuck himself out to the wind on stage 5 more than Contador did? So wouldn't it be more correct to say that Contador lost just 2:30 only because he didnt have to take any pulls as opposed to Nibali?


Seriously, faboyims (girlism?) is clouding your brain.

 

[happytramp]

I like Contador, but you really are a fangirl who is far from objective about anything that could relate to Contador in the slighest way.
Sure, I know you don't care, but it's true though

There is WAY too many people on this forum that care more about Contador than Cycling. They pollute every single thread they can possibly squeeze his name into. Best Cyclist of all time? CONTADOR!!!! Best ride of all time? CONTADOR!!! Best tyres for riding in the wet? CONTADOR!!!. It like trying to have a conversation with a bunch of children screaming over you. And I actually like the guy, he's pretty awesome, but his fans? oh my god....

 

[LaFlorecita]

How often do we cross swords? I'd say rarely, given the volume of your posting.
Holding the belief that Valverde, not Bertie was the rider of the season, is not having it in for you. I don't not hold a contrary position, simply to annoy you, but for well founded reasons.

I'm glad you feel cobbles should appear in the Tour every few years. I am also surprised.
I had missed that post. On this, we agree.

come on guy

 

[LaFlorecita]

There is WAY too many people on this forum that care more about Contador than Cycling. They pollute every single thread they can possibly squeeze his name into. Best Cyclist of all time? CONTADOR!!!! Best ride of all time? CONTADOR!!! Best tyres for riding in the wet? CONTADOR!!!. It like trying to have a conversation with a bunch of children screaming over you. And I actually like the guy, he's pretty awesome, but his fans? oh my god....

You are overreacting. Yes some people mention his name in certain threads like Ride of the year, Rider of the year, is it a crime to do so?! Should they just stay quiet because oh god, we can't pollute these threads even though Contador is a perfectly legitimate subject to discuss

I have yet to see anyone mention him in a discussion about best cyclist of all time, best ride of all time or FFS best tyres of all time. Come on dude.
(Maybe I missed something, but I sure as hell never brought him up in any of those threads. I'm not ***.)

 

[cineteq]

There is WAY too many people on this forum that care more about Contador than Cycling. They pollute every single thread they can possibly squeeze his name into. Best Cyclist of all time? CONTADOR!!!! Best ride of all time? CONTADOR!!! Best tyres for riding in the wet? CONTADOR!!!. It like trying to have a conversation with a bunch of children screaming over you. And I actually like the guy, he's pretty awesome, but his fans? oh my god....

They are so insecure that they are really toxic.

 

[Rollthedice]

Bring on the cobbles. Those two and a half minutes put into Conator is nothing compared to what next year will bring, Boom will lead Nibali to a glorious victory leaving his opponents in the dust (that is if it will not rain). Froome should be lucky if he will even get to the cobbles sectors.

I am joking, of course.

 

[The fridge in the blue trees]

. I'm not ***.)

That one was funny.

 

[LaFlorecita]

They are so insecure that they are really toxic.

And in the other corner we have the Nibali fans, who are so overconfident they cannot be taken seriously.

 

[LaFlorecita]

That one was funny.

Don't pretend you know me, because you don't.

 

[Kwibus]

You don't agree the gap would not have been as big if Fuglsang and Westra had not been in such great shape
Particularly Westra surprised everyone I would think. He pulled for what, 50k or so?
(If you don't remember, watch the stage again. It was definitely not just Nibali, not by a long shot)

And I do value your opinion, it's just Mellow Velo I don't care about, he's had it out for me on here and on Velorooms for years
And I think you are wrong, in no way I'm trying to say Contador was as good as Nibali on the cobbles, no way, Contador failed massively, but if he'd been on the front of the peloton at the start of the second segment, and the following, he would not have lost as much time. He got over the first one perfectly fine, sure it did not look comfortable, but he stayed near the front. When I saw how far back he was before the second segment, I was shouting at the TV that he should move up, but he didn't and lost what, 40s? on that part alone.
What annoys me is that people act as if Nibali, on his own, got 2'30", that isn't true, Westra pulled the group for a big part, and later Fuglsang.

Westra and Fuglsang definately were very strong, but do keep in mind that Contador never put his nose in the wind the entire stage and. Nibali certainly put his nose in the wind.
In fact most GC contenders never put their noses in the wind and were sitting in the wheels of domestiques during the entire stage. Of what I remember Porte did some racing near the end after he stuck to Thomas wheel for a wheel to take some extra time on most the other GC men.

So this only confirms that Nibali was by far the strongest of the GC men on the cobbles and he would more likely have taken even more time if there were no domestiques, ofcourse that's not part cycling and completely irrelevant.

Actually after analysing this I only respect Nibalis performance during this stage more then I did before.

P.s. I also was yelling at Contador to move forward at that time, but in hindsight I feel like he simply had a really hard time during this stage.

 

[The fridge in the blue trees]

Don't pretend you know me, because you don't.

That one was even funnier!
Because you don't? Using pretend in the first part already makes it clear that I don't.

 

[Kwibus]

There is WAY too many people on this forum that care more about Contador than Cycling. They pollute every single thread they can possibly squeeze his name into. Best Cyclist of all time? CONTADOR!!!! Best ride of all time? CONTADOR!!! Best tyres for riding in the wet? CONTADOR!!!. It like trying to have a conversation with a bunch of children screaming over you. And I actually like the guy, he's pretty awesome, but his fans? oh my god....

I know it gets on my nerves as well, but it's not just contador fanboys/girls unfortunately.

I'm glad I love cycling and appreciate any good ride by any rider. Ofcourse I got riders I like more and riders I kinda dislike, but that's normal.

 

[Kwibus]

They are so insecure that they are really toxic.

Talking about the other fanboys/girls.....

 

[Kwibus]

That one was funny.

Unneccesary.
Unlike some real trolls, provocative people on this forum La Flo is just a huge fangirl with an clouded opinion, but atleast she keeps it decent and isn't trolling with the intent to troll.

So while I shake my head at some of her posts at time I do realise she is posting her honest opinion.