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

[luckyboy]

LOL guys in the Eurosport studio talking about Thomas and Boasson Hagen as challengers to the white jersey

 

[dlwssonic]

argh cadel didnt get the win or the yellow. but they cant win all the time i guess. i have a feeling cadel wont get yellow.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Well the only chance EBH or G wins the white jersey is if Gesink drops out and EBH rides really well in the final week.

 

[Andre.J]

So who's going to be the one to take the yellow from Thor on Luz Ardiden, Andy, Frank or Cadel? (I doubt he'll lose it before that and Alberto is to far away imo)

VDB of course

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

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.

I'm not sure he will get the yellow now.

If andy goes on Luz Ardiden he should be able to take 15 seconds from cadel no problem.

 

[dlwssonic]

LOL guys in the Eurosport studio talking about Thomas and Boasson Hagen as challengers to the white jersey

the british

 

[Moviefan1203]

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

He's insanely talented, but he needs to use his head more. He wasted a lot of energy covering attacks. Still nice to see him get the Polka dot jersey and be voted most aggressive rider. Well deserved.

 

[auscyclefan94]

BMC's stupidity really baffled me today.

 

[dlwssonic]

andy was never in doubt of having good form. he looked very strong today. he sucked contadors wheel good.

 

[thehog]

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.

There was a headwind! Come on. He was tracking Shleck & Evans. How can you read labouring into finishing in the main pack of the day with all other favourites?

 

[Midnightfright]

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.

Yeah for me he looked the most comftable of the GC guys then AS , I thought the giro would take it out of Contador but still surprised to see him struggling.

 

[Greenflame]

Great stage, really enjoyed the battle between the breakaway guys, with Vino closing up on them.. One of the best stages in a long time imo. Glad TJ got the polka jersey anyway, he was the strongest, though Costa was much smarter.

For the GC, Evans and Andy are looking good, Contador's form is still unclear to me. And for all those who are saying these 3 will fight for the podium, don't forget Basso. He got through the opening stages without any real damage, despite being probably least suited for this kind of stages. His terrain is coming with the MTF's, he'll be up there. Also, Frank Schleck is very strong as well, he could surprise people. Especially if Leopard finally learn some tactics and allow Frank to profit from Contador focussing solely on Andy.

Those 5 are for me the podium candidates now. As others have said, it seems like Andy's tour to lose now, but he definitely hasn't won yet.

 

[roundabout]

Cut BMC some slack. They tried to win the stage but couldn't close the last bit of the gap. It happens.

 

[Sidbike]

Vino made this a great stage to watch!

 

[Moviefan1203]

How much time does Andy need over Cadel before the final time trial to feel comfortable? At least a minute and a half I would think. If Cadel can limit his losses, he has a fighting chance to win this race.

 

[auscyclefan94]

There was a headwind! Come on. He was tracking Shleck & Evans. How can you read labouring into finishing in the main pack of the day with all other favourites?

The other gc riders looked more comfortable than him. Put it this way, even Phil Anderson said AC looked average in the finale.
Shame about Gesink

 

[luckyboy]

Well the only chance EBH or G wins the white jersey is if Gesink drops out and EBH rides really well in the final week.

There are quite a few U25 riders who are a lot better in the mountains that either of those Sky boys.

Uran, Coppel, Taaramae.

Damn Intxausti DNF today.

 

[sublimit]

Still Evans is in contention but his helpers need to back off. The tough stuff comes next week when it will explode hopefully.

Ride of the day TJVG IMO.

 

[Andre.J]

OHHH!! Gilbert you almost did it. Good ride. You out punched them all again.

 

[dlwssonic]

gilbert might have won if the break was caught. so for me a close 2nd would have been more painful than a far 3rd.

 

[killswitch]

Well the only chance EBH or G wins the white jersey is if Gesink drops out and EBH rides really well in the final week.

You are forgetting TGBM.

 

[theyoungest]

LOL guys in the Eurosport studio talking about Thomas and Boasson Hagen as challengers to the white jersey

For the white jersey battle, it would be interesting if Gesink abandoned. I have no idea who could win it, Uran? Taaramae? Coppel?

Definitely not Thomas and Hagen, that's true.

 

[Anonymous]

There are quite a few U25 riders who are a lot better in the mountains that either of those Sky boys.

Uran for one.

 

[Publicus]

Will be interesting to see what AC says about the stage today. I thought he was testing folks, but didn't want to expend the energy until Cuddles went and seemed to labor to close the gap. Frankly, though, Cuddles didn't put any distance between himself and the rest of the GC candidates so, in retrospect, I'm not sure what this actually tells us about anyone's form.

 

[dlwssonic]

its true contador didnt look very strong today he was grimacing as he attacked and it wasnt a very good attack. I think he doesnt have great form. i certainly think it will be very hard for him to win le tour.