Le Tour de France 2011 STAGE 8 - Aigurande-Super-Besse Sancy 189 km

[Maxiton]

Actually kind of impressed that Paul could translate Rui's interview...I didn't know that Paul knew Portugues!

Yeah, that is impressive about him. Guy's like United Nations of languages.

time to go ride, i like to imagine the vultures circling over me are actually helicopters

Lol. Chapeau!

 

[richwagmn]

Getting a top ten seems to mean a lot for Vaughters, I don't know why. They're so 2008.

Well, what can you say about Vaughters and his results? I have no idea what time of team he's trying to create. If they're trying to be High Road, they're a failure. They're definitely not a GC team.

I'm unsure why this guy is even running the team. His results are mediocre at best.

But staying in the yellow jersey is probably the best thing that's happened.

 

[SiAp1984]

Great stage. Costa deserved ther win, nice move by Vino. Saxo messed up an attack shortly before the finish, didn't they? Sorensen? jumped out of the group but AC didn't follow him. AS only kept an eye on AC and didn't react when Evans went. On this short climb, the favorites were even. We will see how it continues, but it is hard to see AC gaining any time on AS and Evans right now. I am not sure if this is because of AC being tired... I guess les Schlecks, an in-form Evans and guys like van den Broek and Klöden are just harder opponents then the likes of Scarponi, Nibali et al. Oh, and chapeau Hushovd- great ride. Just perfect.

 

[franciep10]

I don't think he looks good but we have to wait until luz ardiden to really know but still great win by rui costa

 

[sublimit]

wsh they had car video again you would see JV swear when Thor stayed in Yellow.

As well as Thor and Costa rides of the day

Dumb ride of the Day BMC plus the DS as it turned out.

VDB2 Podium at this stage looking good

Garmin played the best card. BMC were so dumb it was ridiculous.

 

[ScottyMuser]

Agree. Not sure what everyone is so excited about. If Thor is there it is NOT a mountain stage.

or you could say a stage with just 2 small cat 4s, a cat 2 before the end, and only a cat 3 to finish means it is the very definition of an intermediate stage

 

[Arnout]

A stage like this many times more exciting than bunch sprint.

Often this are the most exciting stages, even better than the high mountains. We've only had this kind of stages in the last couple of Tours and time and time again they were very exciting.

But its back to flat on Tuesday and Wednesday.

 

[just some guy]

as BMC who would you rather wear it - Thor or Vinikorov (sp?)

It doesn´t matter

 

[Maxiton]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Moose McKnuckles
The Giro is definitely affecting Contador. No question. He doesn't have the punch.

Quote:
Originally Posted by cineteq
His pedaling was not smooth...good news for Evans!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Parrulo
unfortunately it loosk like that




too early to tell fellas if AC is fried from the Giro or Evans form is really that good. Wait for stages 12-14, then we'll see.

OK. I concede that. We really are getting ahead of ourselves.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Puts him firmly in the same catagory as your mate, Rujano, then.

rujano has podiumed a gt, gesink nowhere near

 

[Alberto Attack]

Jeez i hate how these damn crashes on flat stages are spoiling the tour for some GC men and entertainment later in the tour.

 

[GroupDK]

Given the way AC is climbing, I wouldn't include him in that list. Giro was clearly too much.

I love it , when you can judge something then the experts and comeptitors cant. !

come on fellow.

give the man a chance, its secondary stages..

 

[Zoncolan]

rujano has podiumed a gt, gesink nowhere near

Fluke too short

 

[sportzchick]

It doesn´t matter

it doesnt suit your argument of course it doesnt matter.....

it matter little now whats done is done....and im off to bed

 

[Bala Verde]

Koos Moerenhout said that they need to try/hop that Gesink improves physically in the next couple of days and that they need to make sure it 'doesn't get in his head'

Seems like he is convinced they can continue to play the Gesink card.

They should cut the team loose, have them hunt stages and only sacrifice 1-2 men for Gesink. What are they going to do? Have 8 men work for a max top 10 place? Go for white, even Mollema can do that? They have enough mountain men to go for polka too. Gesink would to better compete for a Vuelta victory instead of going for white.

Rob Ruijgh best dutchie.

Great work by Hshvd, still in yellow.

Vino imploded in the end.

What a charge by Rui!!!! Great win, too bad TJVG lost on smarts...

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

I love it , when you can judge something then the experts and comeptitors cant. !

come on fellow.

give the man a chance, its secondary stages..

same people who claimed after montevergine stage in giro that contador would not win the giro

 

[thehog]

Great stage. Costa deserved ther win, nice move by Vino. Saxo messed up an attack shortly before the finish, didn't they? Sorensen? jumped out of the group but AC didn't follow him. AS only kept an eye on AC and didn't react when Evans went. On this short climb, the favorites were even. We will see how it continues, but it is hard to see AC gaining any time on AS and Evans right now. I am not sure if this is because of AC being tired... I guess les Schlecks, an in-form Evans and guys like van den Broek and Klöden are just harder opponents then the likes of Scarponi, Nibali et al. Oh, and chapeau Hushovd- great ride. Just perfect.

It was very windy today. No one was going to gain time into a headwind inn the final km. Shleck knew that as did Contador.

Tracking was order of the day.

 

[richwagmn]

Given the way AC is climbing, I wouldn't include him in that list. Giro was clearly too much.

Yea, no punch at all so far. As a matter of fact, his attacks are probably giving confidence to his rivals. I'm unsure why he's showing his cards at all right now. Why not just stay in there and keep your opponents guessing?

He could still podium if he can pull out a good TT. Not sure he can win at this point.

 

[furcah]

Neither AC nor AS look sharp this year, that's why Evans is really on the driver's seat.

And you can say this after riders havent had a single 1. cat or hc climbs? These small hills are like different sport.

Just wait for stage 12. Hopefully Cadel can stay with them but i really doubt it.

 

[Anonymous]

Great stage of racing.

And Gesink does not look good. The white jersey competition has just been blown WIDE open.

 

[Midnightfright]

I cant find the original post from whoever said it but it did look a bit like Contador was favouring one side.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Koos Moerenhout said that they need to try/hop that Gesink improves physically in the next couple of days and that they need to make sure it 'doesn't get in his head'

Seems like he is convinced they can continue to play the Gesink card.

They should cut the team loose, have them hunt stages and only sacrifice 1-2 men for Gesink. What are they going to do? Have 8 men work for a max top 10 place? Go for white, even Mollema can do that? They have enough mountain men to go for polka too. Gesink would to better compete for a Vuelta victory instead of going for white.

Rob Ruijgh best dutchie.

Great work by Hshvd, still in yellow.

Vino imploded in the end.

What a charge by Rui!!!! Great win, too bad TJVG lost on smarts...

rabobank is on course having such an epic fail tour.
guess it serves them right for having no back up plan.

At this point I think I'd rather see gesink quit and try the vuelta.

 

[just some guy]

it doesnt suit your argument of course it doesnt matter.....

it matter little now whats done is done....and im off to bed

No it doesn´t matter stage 12 Vino and Thor will lose time - see it doesn´t matter

 

[Publicus]

TJVG has some real potential. I wonder where he lands next year.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Garmin played the best card. BMC were so dumb it was ridiculous.

Sadly I have to agree.

Contador was definetly labouring. Phil Anderson was saying that as well. Shame they rode that final climb not very quickly like in 2008. I wish Cadel pushed the pace a little earlier on and was more ambitious. He looked very omfortable.