Critérium du Dauphiné 2012 stage 4, 53.5km, Villié-Morgon-Bourg-en-Bresse, ITT

[Froome19]

Hmm. Still I can't help but think many TDF contenders are clearly not 100% yet, including Wiggins himself. After all Kelderman finished just 1'25 down and he's a neo pro

Rather Kelderman is an exception

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Like i said above, i will root for him, that doesn't mean i think he will win the tour. The discussion started with a statement that said top 5 is the best he could hope for. I disagree. He could be 2nd or 3rd. He could also be 9th or 10th. And i also disagree that Gesink outclimbed him. I don't think i'm making outlandish claims, just calling 'm like i see 'm. And based on todays ITT, it's looking better than i previously imagined. Now we just have to see if his climbing suffered from his ITT training.

PS: and i'm fed up with the argument some make of him being "less talented" than his opponents. If that were the case, he wouldn't finish his last GC's of the three major GT's in the top 8. The worst placing of those, being a month after he broke his ribs, colarbone and punctured his lung.

JvdBroeck was unlucky that in his early years of career it were different times so he couldn't compete. It's clear he was very talented as it showed in the youth already.
I underestimated him pre-2010 but right now I think, like El Pistolero said already, he's the same level as Gesink. I do believe however both Gesink/JvdB on topform are better GC riders than Nibali but will get flamed for saying so.

 

[Morbius]

Today's Schleck Line, 164,

Schleck took a nasty fall today, judging by the state of his skin-suit and his a**e (that's a** for Americans)

 

[ElChingon]

Schleck took a nasty fall today, judging by the state of his skin-suit and his a**e (that's a** for Americans)

It is the Schleck Line, there is no *'s involved in the Schleck Line rating.

 

[webvan]

Nice to see Froome back at the top!

 

[Cervelo77]

Hmm. Still I can't help but think many TDF contenders are clearly not 100% yet, including Wiggins himself. After all Kelderman finished just 1'25 down and he's a neo pro

What's the deal with this Kelderman kid? How good is he/expected to be?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

What's the deal with this Kelderman kid? How good is he/expected to be?

Hard to say, he was top at u23 but ofcourse nearly every pro rider was good in his youth. But Kelderman was like Gesink, Mollema, T.Dekker, he stood out. In top form he could win tt's, hilly stages, mountain stages, hell he even won a mass sprint against Luke Rowe and some other notable U23 sprinters.
then there's the downside, he has a habit of falling. And not like Gesink, but far worse, Kelderman falls a lot. Its why his Tour l'Avenir 2011 went up in smoke for instance. And he missed some other goals as well.

No idea where/how good he ends up. Just hope the Dutch press leaves him alone

 

[theyoungest]

then there's the downside, he has a habit of falling. And not like Gesink, but far worse, Kelderman falls a lot. Its why his Tour l'Avenir 2011 went up in smoke for instance. And he missed some other goals as well.

Yeah, he actually got surprising good results considering he was injured a lot.

He had an eye problem though, he literally couldn't see anything in the rain. He has now had his eyes lasered.

 

[JA.Tri]

GC skinsuit

Reported on telecast I saw:

Brad had choice of medium or small skinsuit. He was unsure of the size that would best suit him so he asked for both. This request was refused. Brad offered to buy both suits...this offer too was refused.

WTH! If report accurate I am astounded. Surely GC leader should have opportunity to verify which size works/fits best.

Given above, all the more reason for desiring own skinsuit...which leads to ...WTH not relinquish GC lead as originally flagged??

 

[The Hitch]

A Murray win just like a Wiggins one I am sure will be claimed and celebrated throughout Britain. I guarantee you that.

A murray win will get celebrated throughout Britain. He will get knighted, honrary degrees from oxford and cambridge , parades, statues, streets named after him etc.

Wiggins might get 3 lines after 10 pages of transfer rumours.

Especially after the British press has spent 1 july day every year for the last 4 years explaining why the sprinters jersey worth just as much if not more than the overall.

 

[Morbius]

Wiggins would get Sportsman of hte Year even in Olympic year, unless of course Murray wins Wimbledon or England win the Euros

EDIT: Of course I meant Sports Personality...

 

[Froome19]

A murray win will get celebrated throughout Britain. He will get knighted, honrary degrees from oxford and cambridge , parades, statues, streets named after him etc.

Wiggins might get 3 lines after 10 pages of transfer rumours.

Nah you will be surprised with the euphoria made over the Tour win, it will be quite special.

 

[will10]

A murray win will get celebrated throughout Britain. He will get knighted, honrary degrees from oxford and cambridge , parades, statues, streets named after him etc.

Wiggins might get 3 lines after 10 pages of transfer rumours.

Especially after the British press has spent 1 july day every year for the last 4 years explaining why the sprinters jersey worth just as much if not more than the overall.

I know you're hyperbole-ing, but I wouldn't underestimate the effect a Tour win would have here. People don't know what the Dauphine or Paris-Nice is, but every man and his dog knows the Tour and that it's a big deal.

 

[hatcher]

the Inner Ring ‏@inrng
Pierre Rolland, J-J Cobo & Egoi Martinez were penalised with an extra 2 minutes for repeatedly drafting other riders in today's TT stage.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

the Inner Ring ‏@inrng
Pierre Rolland, J-J Cobo & Egoi Martinez were penalised with an extra 2 minutes for repeatedly drafting other riders in today's TT stage.

Surprised Wiggins didn't also get hit.

Utterly transparent attempt to freeload on Cadel's amazing effort in the last 15km.

 

[The Hitch]

I know you're hyperbole-ing, but I wouldn't underestimate the effect a Tour win would have here. People don't know what the Dauphine or Paris-Nice is, but every man and his dog knows the Tour and that it's a big deal.

It depends when they actually start mentioning it. Last few years, if not before, the 10 oclock news programmes in this country have only mentioned the tour on the last day and that is in a 1 -2 minute brief segment which mentions who the winner was and from what country (though not how they won or anything) and footage of cav winning the final sprint.

It cant be that big a deal if people only get told about the win after it happens. Sure the news can try to shove it down people's mouths but if people didn't actually watch the thing, don't know what happened and most importantly don't have those memories of him actually winning, then it can not be that big a deal no matter what.

I think many countries pay more attention to the tour after the one their guy won. Would be funny if britain did that too and put expectations on Bradley to repeat as The Great One returns next year.

Unfortunately i believe as in previous years the non sport where people drive cars and get paid 20 million a year as if they were real athletes, has one of its events on the day the tour finishes.

Which unfortunately means that even if he wins, wiggins will likely not be the main sports story.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Unfortunately i believe as in previous years the non sport where people drive cars and get paid 20 million a year as if they were real athletes, has one of its events on the day the tour finishes.

Genuine quote (approximated) from a Champ Car World Series race back when that series was running:
"the fitness and stamina required to perform in these events is incredible. In fact, the only sport that requires you be able to maintain peak heart rate and exertion for longer than this is professional cycling, and they have the problem of providing the engines themselves too"

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

It depends when they actually start mentioning it. Last few years, if not before, the 10 oclock news programmes in this country have only mentioned the tour on the last day and that is in a 1 -2 minute brief segment which mentions who the winner was and from what country (though not how they won or anything) and footage of cav winning the final sprint.

It cant be that big a deal if people only get told about the win after it happens. Sure the news can try to shove it down people's mouths but if people didn't actually watch the thing, don't know what happened and most importantly don't have those memories of him actually winning, then it can not be that big a deal no matter what.

I think many countries pay more attention to the tour after the one their guy won. Would be funny if britain did that too and put expectations on Bradley to repeat as The Great One returns next year.

Unfortunately i believe as in previous years the non sport where people drive cars and get paid 20 million a year as if they were real athletes, has one of its events on the day the tour finishes.

Which unfortunately means that even if he wins, wiggins will likely not be the main sports story.

Sorry, but you're miles off on this one.

It would be a big, big deal.

Not sure why you're using the BBC news as a benchmark for anything anyway, viewing figures are miles down on before they started messing with times. It would be front page of every paper and every major website, which is where people get their news.

 

[Lexman]

Wiggins confirmed
Evans not yet there
Martin better and better
Confirmation of VDB of all his work
Work to do for Nibali
Schleck will have to learn to stay on his bike
Kelderman surprise of the day

 

[will10]

It depends when they actually start mentioning it. Last few years, if not before, the 10 oclock news programmes in this country have only mentioned the tour on the last day and that is in a 1 -2 minute brief segment which mentions who the winner was and from what country (though not how they won or anything) and footage of cav winning the final sprint.

It cant be that big a deal if people only get told about the win after it happens. Sure the news can try to shove it down people's mouths but if people didn't actually watch the thing, don't know what happened and most importantly don't have those memories of him actually winning, then it can not be that big a deal no matter what.

I think many countries pay more attention to the tour after the one their guy won. Would be funny if britain did that too and put expectations on Bradley to repeat as The Great One returns next year.

Unfortunately i believe as in previous years the non sport where people drive cars and get paid 20 million a year as if they were real athletes, has one of its events on the day the tour finishes.

Which unfortunately means that even if he wins, wiggins will likely not be the main sports story.

Wiggo got a lot of coverage on his way to 4th overall in 09. If he is up there again, especially if he takes the jersey at some point, there will be plenty of column inches going his way.

I think it's probably the worse year, with the Olympics & Euros for a Brit to win the Tour in terms of impact, but there's no denying that it would be a big story.

 

[hfer07]

After a busy morning I'm just catching up with the results, & here is what I wrote prior to the stage:

looks bumpy to me-don't know how "accurate" those sharp inclines are, but the parcours does not look entirely flat to me- so TMartin won't have it easy to win it. Evans & Wiggo will have the upper hand for sure-but I'm so intrigued by MENCHOV-he needs to show some indication of how his form is coming along-then is the test for Nibali too. interesting stage indeed

Good to be right. So Wiggo has reached a new level where he's ready to take on "anyone" who crosses his path-no matter what the terrain conditions are like or whose contender is battling him against....

Disappointed by Nibali & Menchov, because I thought they were going to show some form for this ITT, but I guess during Tour their performance will be different for sure

more power to SKY I guess...

 

[webvan]

Wiggins confirmed
Evans not yet there
Martin better and better
Confirmation of VDB of all his work
Work to do for Nibali
Schleck will have to learn to stay on his bike
Kelderman surprise of the day

Chavanel did extremely well too, it's the first time he's at this level in a major ITT I think. I never thought much of his French National ITT jerseys but he's really in another league now.

 

[hfer07]

Chavanel did extremely well too, it's the first time he's at this level in a major ITT I think. I never thought much of his French National ITT jerseys but he's really in another league now.

Chavanel has been always a good TT'er.

 

[cycladianpirate]

It depends when they actually start mentioning it. Last few years, if not before, the 10 oclock news programmes in this country have only mentioned the tour on the last day and that is in a 1 -2 minute brief segment which mentions who the winner was and from what country (though not how they won or anything) and footage of cav winning the final sprint.

It cant be that big a deal if people only get told about the win after it happens. Sure the news can try to shove it down people's mouths but if people didn't actually watch the thing, don't know what happened and most importantly don't have those memories of him actually winning, then it can not be that big a deal no matter what.

I think many countries pay more attention to the tour after the one their guy won. Would be funny if britain did that too and put expectations on Bradley to repeat as The Great One returns next year.

Unfortunately i believe as in previous years the non sport where people drive cars and get paid 20 million a year as if they were real athletes, has one of its events on the day the tour finishes.

Which unfortunately means that even if he wins, wiggins will likely not be the main sports story.

Come on! You know full well that for the (not-so) great British public, cycling means track cycling. To expect that to change overnight is asking for the moon on a stick. If I haven't misunderstood the name "The Hitch" and your avatar, then straight talking is something that appeals to you.

But does it matter? Who cares what Joe Bloggs of Dagenham things about road cycling? Genuine cycling-loving nations should not care two hoots about whether the British public appreciates the sport or not.

But that aside, am I alone in admiring Wiggins as someone who has turned a superb track career into a pretty solid road career? Those formative years are important - to switch from riding around the boards to hanging on in the Alps is pretty impressive in my book.

 

[webvan]

Chavanel has been always a good TT'er.

I'd say decent, not "good", at least not in major races, but if you find me a TOP 5 in a major race that will make my day.