Official thread: le Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré

[Jamsque]

Wow zyzyzyzyzzmmmdd just blew apart

Yeah, he just stopped dead. I wonder if Valverde offered him some cash.

 

[Parrot23]

Savage last corner.

 

[Jamsque]

Haha, Polish commentators going BALLISTIC.

 

[Angliru]

Don't forget, Evans isn't necessarily here for the win. He's doing what he usually does, he's limiting his losses with the intention of making them up in the ITT. Oh there aren't any ITT's left. My bad!

 

[Jasper]

If this is anything like what we're going to see during the Tour, I might as well order a few crates of Red Bull to keep me awake...

 

[Parrot23]

I think the Alpe d'Huez fiasco of a chase at last year's Tour is a factor behind Lance coming back, and his dismissive attitude to Sastre. Right or wrong, but probably a factor.

 

[jaylew]

That was one of the weirdst finishes ever?

They made a deal for Szmyd to win the stage in exchange for helping Valverde by taking pulls. Szmyd died a bit in that curve(or had a small mechanical?) and Valverde waited a bit for him.

 

[Not Riding Enough]

Bet Valverde wishes he took the straight line through that last corner.

 

[jaylew]

Originally Posted by jaylew
Listening to Magnus Backstedt's commentary: " I have no idea what these guys are doing."

Where are you finding that?

cycling.tv

 

[Snake8]

They made a deal for Szmyd to win the stage in exchange for helping Valverde by taking pulls. Szmyd died a bit in that curve(or had a small mechanical?) and Valverde waited a bit for him.

That makes sense. My feed cut out at the last corner so I didnt see Valv-e-dope waiting...

 

[Mellow Velo]

Ironic that today CONI handed over all the evidence proving Valverde's blood was indeed in bag 18. Now it's with the UCI to look over and decide if he gets a worldwide ban.

Right.
Hands up all those who think Cadel Contador is a boring, wheel-sucking tw*t?
Turned a potentially exciting stage into a damp squib.
Never off Evan's wheel, until the Aussie finally got the better of the limp limpet.

No? a tactical genius no doubt.

 

[Parcours]

Nibali seemed to be riding really well and same goes for Gesink and Fuglsang. Contador does not appear to be in as good shape as Evans currently but I imagine that the next time they go up Ventoux Contador will not be sitting on Evans wheel.

 

[powderpuff]

I don't think it is bad to lose the lead as Cadel doesn't have the team to protect him for the next 2 hard days. It was 2 men against one for the last 5 kms into a headwind. Maybe the Cadel's DS thought the AC was the man to tag, still only 16 seconds and he gained another couple on AC.
Forget the ITT at the TdF; this year Stage 4 is the biggest threat to Cadel not making the podium.

 

[jaylew]

Szmyd just said that was his first win as a pro. I'm sure he mentioned that to Valverde as well.

Another young gun on the rise? Fuglsang's only 24.

Surprising rides by Millar the last couple of days. Best I've seen him since his return.

Happy to see Valverde take the bull by the horns and attack early. Maybe he can go out with a bang before his suspension.

 

[Parcours]

Ironic that today CONI handed over all the evidence proving Valverde's blood was indeed in bag 18. Now it's with the UCI to look over and decide if he gets a worldwide ban.

Right.
Hands up all those who think Cadel Contador is a boring, wheel-sucking tw*t?
Turned a potentially exciting stage into a damp squib.
Never off Evan's wheel, until the Aussie finally got the better of the limp limpet.

No? a tactical genius no doubt.

I think it was more that he couldn't attack today. Contador looked in similar shape to last years Giro in that all he could do was follow wheels.

I dont think it is often that you can say Contador is a boring rider, I think in terms of GT riders Contador is the most exciting around.

 

[Not Riding Enough]

..Contador is a boring, wheel-sucking tw*t?
Turned a potentially exciting stage into a damp squib.
Never off

It is usually what everyone says about Cadell.

 

[Escarabajo]

Nibali seemed to be riding really well and same goes for Gesink and Fuglsang. Contador does not appear to be in as good shape as Evans currently but I imagine that the next time they go up Ventoux Contador will not be sitting on Evans wheel.

Correct. A lot of things can happen between now and the end of July.

 

[Parrot23]

Yeah, Contador looked ragged, but training, I guess. Big thing is to be on the upward tangent to Tour and not be overcooked at top of tangent once you arrive, a la Leecheimer at Giro.

Lot of people in past have said blood is withdrawn around the time of (just after?) Dauphine for use in the Tour. A form of super-compensation.

Maybe Evans is holding his cards close to his chest, being smart, I hope, LOL. His ability to close gaps looks improved. Will need it in Tour.

A win at Dauphine is a phyrric victory for many riders in the past aiming at Tour. But sure hope he has learned from last year's Alpe d'Huez. Really dislike these dog's breakfasts chases. Tours are lost this way--not won.

Where's Hinault?

 

[jaylew]

Ironic that today CONI handed over all the evidence proving Valverde's blood was indeed in bag 18. Now it's with the UCI to look over and decide if he gets a worldwide ban.

Right.
Hands up all those who think Cadel Contador is a boring, wheel-sucking tw*t?
Turned a potentially exciting stage into a damp squib.
Never off Evan's wheel, until the Aussie finally got the better of the limp limpet.

No? a tactical genius no doubt.

C'mon, you're smarter than that, mellow. Are you surprised? He all but stated this was what he was going to do for the last several days. When I heard his comments, I thought, "Well that means he'll probably be in the group of favorites(he is Contador after all) but won't pull, attack, or chase down hard attacks and if the pace gets too hot he will drop off.

He's not at his best form and didn't want to go too deep here. As we've seen countless times, when he's on and going for the win, he attacks.

I think Cadel bought into the idea that Contador's comments were gamesmanship and was too focused on him. Either that, or maybe he wasn't quite as strong as we all thought he was at the moment.

 

[Not Riding Enough]

They made a deal for Szmyd to win the stage in exchange for helping Valverde by taking pulls. Szmyd died a bit in that curve(or had a small mechanical?) and Valverde waited a bit for him.

Watching the replay you might be right. Valverde did keep looking back, which I thought was to make sure he was ahead but then he did kind of pause in the first part of the corner.

If it was to reward Szmd for helping gain time why did Valverde waste those 5 potentially important seconds waiting? Why did Szmyd pause? Looked like a dropped gear but then he seemed to be puting something in his mouth.

 

[Mellow Velo]

C'mon, you're smarter than that, mellow. Are you surprised?

Not in the slightest. That was him, already riding the Tour, today.

Simply pointing out, in my own "style", that if that had been Leipheimer on Cadel's wheel, or Evans on Contador's wheel, there would be a raft of "boring" or "dull" posts.

A pity, though, as it effectively neutered the select group.

 

[Publicus]

Contador is riding for July

Yeah, Contador looked ragged, but training, I guess. Big thing is to be on the upward tangent to Tour and not be overcooked at top of tangent once you arrive, a la Leecheimer at Giro.

Lot of people in past have said blood is withdrawn around the time of (just after?) Dauphine for use in the Tour. A form of super-compensation.

Maybe Evans is holding his cards close to his chest, being smart, I hope, LOL. His ability to close gaps looks improved. Will need it in Tour.

A win at Dauphine is a phyrric victory for many riders in the past aiming at Tour. But sure hope he has learned from last year's Alpe d'Huez. Really dislike these dog's breakfasts chases. Tours are lost this way--not won.

Where's Hinault?

One thing I've noticed about Contador he doesn't bs. When he says a course doesn't suit him and is better for his teammate (see 2009 Castilla y Leon) he means it. At the start of the Dauphine he said he wasn't going to dig deep because his goal isn't to win the Dauphine, but the TdF. As such, I didn't expect him to attack Cadel unless he could do so without killing himself. That's why he was riding Cadel's wheel. He looked fine most of the ride, he just never stepped on the gas. There are 3 more days of climbing.

 

[Delicato]

Not in the slightest. That was him, already riding the Tour, today.

Simply pointing out, in my own "style", that if that had been Leipheimer on Cadel's wheel, or Evans on Contador's wheel, there would be a raft of "boring" or "dull" posts.

A pity, though, as it effectively neutered the select group.

The presence of Leipheimer would have turned today's stage into a nightmare, seems like Contador learned from his teammate how to wheelsuck.

 

[Animal]

Liquigas again with the same Giro tactics

A gift from Valv.Piti though.

 

[jaylew]

A pity, though, as it effectively neutered the select group.

Too true. I wonder if Cadel, knowing Contador is his biggest Tour threat and following his lead, thought that he'd start racing the Tour today as well.