Critérium du Dauphine Stage 5: Parc des Oiseaux - Les Gets

[King Of The Wolds]

Not much like that in tour 09, where basically 3 mtf's were softpedalled up and the only real difference was made in the downhill mountain stage finish (when schlecks + contador teamed up), and the ITT(s)

I keep hearing that 3 MTFs were softpedalled in 09. Which ones were these (it certainly wasn't Ventoux or Galibier) and what evidence do you have that they were? Were the times of the top guys up these climbs slower than on previous years?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

kidding me, ventoux wasn't softpedalled up you say??? a group of 8 or something came in together

 

[roundabout]

Verbier was very much contested, but it's way too short and it was an 'easy' stage before.

 

[Lanark]

I keep hearing that 3 MTFs were softpedalled in 09. Which ones were these (it certainly wasn't Ventoux or Galibier) and what evidence do you have that they were? Were the times of the top guys up these climbs slower than on previous years?

Thanks in advance.

Nothing happened on Arcalis untill Contador spoiled the Armstrong-party in the last 2 km, pretty much soft pedalling the whole climb. Verbier was a proper race, but on the Ventoux Andy and Bertie would have been wise to attach a rear view mirror on their bike, because all they did was looking back to where their teammates were.

But soft pedalling wasn't even the issue, the problem was that all MTF's were extremely easy before the final climb, ideal for a fairly lightweight TT'er, who can just pretty much ride a time trial after 150 or so flat kilometers. The only stage with a succesion of climbs (Le Grand Bornand) immediately caused Wiggins to lose over 3 minutes. This year has four mountain top finishes on really difficult climbs (compared to one difficult MTF in 2009), and most stages are quite hard before the final climb, causing modified TT-specialists like Wiggins gasping for breath.

 

[ferryman]

i'm always exaggerating a little bit but wiggins 09 was one of the most impressive things i've seen since a long time,the transformation and all of that.there are signs that he still can reach that form.and what if he can even go beyond that form?

we still have to wait until luz ardiden,the day of truth but i feel there will be some big big surprises there.

Aye, but just more than a wee bit in this case Wiggins 09 form means he only loses 1.30 at best and 3 + at worst on Luz Ardiden. I expect the latter and tour over

 

[PedalCastro]

Awful to see Roche fall like that, just when he was coing into good form again. I really thought he was gonna do something today. Losing Kadri to a leg problem was bad news enough for AG2R, I just hope Nicolas can start tomorrow and recover fully to challenge top 10 in TdF. Heartening to see him ride to the end today

 

[King Of The Wolds]

kidding me, ventoux wasn't softpedalled up you say??? a group of 8 or something came in together

Of the top 10, only Contador (who was following Andy) and Andy recorded in the same time.

 

[ferryman]

I keep hearing that 3 MTFs were softpedalled in 09. Which ones were these (it certainly wasn't Ventoux or Galibier) and what evidence do you have that they were? Were the times of the top guys up these climbs slower than on previous years?

Thanks in advance.

Watch the race without your Brad/Brit specs on.

 

[Andy99]

Brad and Geraint have just read this forum..

teamsky.com

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Of the top 10, only Contador (who was following Andy) and Andy recorded in the same time.

The difference between 3 (Andy) and 9 (Nibali) is 20 seconds. On a climb like Ventoux, that's soft-pedalling.

 

[Captain_Cavman]

The difference between 3 (Andy) and 9 (Nibali) is 20 seconds. On a climb like Ventoux, that's soft-pedalling.

It's not quite as simple as that though. The race had turned into a battle for 3rd place, Contador and A Schleck were riding for Armstrong and F Schleck respectively who were definitely not soft pedalling. Wiggins and Nibali lost contact but just about regained. If Armstrong or Schleck had had anything else to give they would have done.

You are right in that everyone had already conceded the first two steps of the podium, but you're wrong to say that the rest of them weren't riding full on.

 

[William H]

A. Schleck and Contador could definitely have ridden Ventoux faster, but the rest were pretty much on their limit. The headwind limited the gaps, though.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

It's not quite as simple as that though. The race had turned into a battle for 3rd place, Contador and A Schleck were riding for Armstrong and F Schleck respectively who were definitely not soft pedalling. Wiggins and Nibali lost contact but just about regained. If Armstrong or Schleck had had anything else to give they would have done.

You are right in that everyone had already conceded the first two steps of the podium, but you're wrong to say that the rest of them weren't riding full on.

If they were riding full on the gaps in the top 10 would have been, much, much, much, much, muuuuuch bigger
I can tell you that.

 

[Cobblestoned]

Wiggo doesn't look cool no more since his Koteletten are gone.

 

[El Pistolero]

And about nothing happening on Arcalis.... There was a big headwind. Obvious no one dared to attack until late. No soft pedaling there.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

Wiggo doesn't look cool no more since his Koteletten are gone.

nothing wrong with stekkebeentjes

 

[El Pistolero]

Wiggo doesn't look cool no more since his Koteletten are gone.

Now I'm hungry.

 

[ferryman]

If they were riding full on the gaps in the top 10 would have been, much, much, much, much, muuuuuch bigger
I can tell you that.

You are being too kind

 

[Winterfold]

A. Schleck and Contador could definitely have ridden Ventoux faster, but the rest were pretty much on their limit. The headwind limited the gaps, though.

This

If they were soft pedalling then f schleck would have creamed Wiggins, instead he had to come up with his lame 5th is better than 4th excuse LOL

LA had Contador as all-time mega domestique once they were past the cafe

Nice if you can get it

 

[boomcie]

Andy Capelle has a broken rib and a concussion.

 

[The Hitch]

Just watched it. So glad the Europcar rider Christophe stayed away. Is that the first non Voeckler win for Europcar?

Great to see someone have their moment of glory like that.

Lol at Kirby talking about how sad Voeckler not winning the stage himself and then a picture of Voeckler celebrating is shown.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Just watched it. So glad the Europcar rider Christophe stayed away. Is that the first non Voeckler win for Europcar?

They've got a few:

Anthony Charteau, 1st GC Tropicale Amissa Bongo
Sébastien Chavanel, 1st stage 2, Circuit de Lorraine
Yohann Gène, 1st stage 2, Tropicale Amissa Bongo
Yohann Gène, 1st stage 5, Tropicale Amissa Bongo
Saïd Haddou, 1st stage 5, Etoile de Bessèges
Vincent Jérôme, 1st, Tro Bro Léon
David Veilleux, 1st, La Roue Tourangelle

This is certainly the biggest non-Voeckler win though (and 4 of those non-Voeckler wins are in January and February too).

 

[greenedge]

Nice work by Kern/ Europcar. Nice to see CAS attacking too and others too. Also Basso finally came good staying with the group. Martin has proved he can ride well in the mountains before the TDF which is important if he wants to be selected. Gesink was surprising too. Hermans also sheperding Brajkovic to the line should = him riding the TDF. I think Pinot is also showing lots of potential too.

 

[boomcie]

Nice work by Kern/ Europcar. Nice to see CAS attacking too and others too. Also Basso finally came good staying with the group. Martin has proved he can ride well in the mountains before the TDF which is important if he wants to be selected. Gesink was surprising too. Hermans also sheperding Brajkovic to the line should = him riding the TDF. I think Pinot is also showing lots of potential too.

Wait, what? That makes no sense for so many reasons.

 

[theyoungest]

Wait, what? That makes no sense for so many reasons.

Makes perfect sense, if it's about Dan rather than Tony.