Official thread: le Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré

[Parrot23]

Good result for RAB today... 4 guys in the top 15. If they all start in the TTT in the TdF, they could be in for a surprise.

I noticed that just looking at this:

http://grahamwatson.com/gw/imagedocs.nsf/updateframesetcall?openform&09cdlSt4

See all the orange teeshirts when you scroll through the pics. One after another.

 

[BroDeal]

Can Evans pull this off? Looking at his palmares the Dauphine would arguably be his best win on the road. It depends on how you rate the Pro Tour title.

I would not call myself a fan of Evans, but you have to give him props for dogged determination on climbs while fighting to concede as few seconds as possible.

 

[Captain Kirk]

You must be speaking for yourself. I haven't met anyone who doesn't admire CE in Australia. I certainly know lots of people here who dislike LA. I'm glad CE isn't a control freak about his image like LA.

Take admire in the context of say the way Italian fans admire Italian cyclists. i.e. add pinch of passion.

For example, since "The Come Back" of Armstrong at the Tour Down Under, no person, no friend, no business associate, guys on sunday ride, competitors on start line at club or state event talk about Evans......it'l be "how's Lance or Armstrong going on the comeback"

Or at a BBQ with non cyclists, your a cyclist ,.....next question...... "is Armstrong going to do it at the TDF?"

Twitter : human logo 1,028,029
: Evans 5,700

Don't get me wrong, I'll be awake at 1am to watch him smash Bert of the mountain tonight

 

[Eldrack]

Can Evans pull this off? Looking at his palmares the Dauphine would arguably be his best win on the road. It depends on how you rate the Pro Tour title.

He'll loose time on Mont Ventoux, loose time on the short sprint of an uphill finish tomorrow and then the day after that he'll die a slow death on the way up the Madeleine with the 4000 metres of climbing involved in that stage so no, he can't pull this off. Second or third maybe but the lighter climbers are about to start keel hauling him.

 

[knorensnor]

I'm in for a surprise about Gesink...Last year he could almost follow with the best, so I hope for him that he can make the necessairy progress. But also that right hand of Valverde, Rigoberto Uran. Still so young and I have already seen nice things from him in the mountains the past years. and off course let's hope the Belgian's can show something =)

 

[powderpuff]

Sebastien Lang (SIL) who has been evacuated

Sebastien Lang (SIL) who has been evacuated has just had a fall and been evacuated by ambulance. Cadel is losing his team mates..Aerts(dns), Ralf (fall) now Lang will definately make it hard to stay in yellow.

 

[knorensnor]

Sebastien Lang (SIL) who has been evacuated has just had a fall and been evacuated by ambulance. Cadel is losing his team mates..Aerts(dns), Ralf (fall) now Lang will definately make it hard to stay in yellow.

Ralf? don't you mean Staf (Scheirlinckx)?
sucks for evans...curious who will take control on the ventoux

 

[BroDeal]

He'll loose time on Mont Ventoux, loose time on the short sprint of an uphill finish tomorrow and then the day after that he'll die a slow death on the way up the Madeleine with the 4000 metres of climbing involved in that stage so no, he can't pull this off. Second or third maybe but the lighter climbers are about to start keel hauling him.

I'll put my vote in for Evans holding on to the end. He looks like he is in great form, and he has said he wants to win the DL.

 

[powderpuff]

Ralf? don't you mean Staf (Scheirlinckx)?
sucks for evans...curious who will take control on the ventoux

Woops..yep I meant Staf. not Ralf thx

 

[Jasper]

Evans is too damn supersticious allright, even though he laughed at the matter at the start of the Dauphiné. Two years in a row he came second here, and two years in a row he came second in Paris. I bet he won't push his luck this time, and just go for the overall win, just in case.
Of course, the supposed mental blow he'll give Contador ahead of the Tour will be on his mind as well, or at least the mental bonus Evans himself will gain.

But we'll see what todays stage tells us.

 

[Jasper]

Mont Ventoux!! \o/



There better be some action now

 

[53x11 in DC]

Showtime!!

 

[53x11 in DC]

Wow - Evans appears to be down to one guy already

 

[Jamsque]

I am curious to see how Dan Martin rides today.

 

[Parrot23]

I am curious to see how Dan Martin rides today.

Ditto. Good to see new guys making progress, I hope.

 

[Jasper]

Liquigas again with the same Giro tactics

 

[Parrot23]

Anyone know if this climb suits Basso?

 

[53x11 in DC]

Cadel not responding the way I would think he should. Bertie biding his time to jump across.

 

[Jasper]

Pretty erratic attacks so far, no structure at all...

 

[Jamsque]

Who is the Garmin in the Evans group?

[edit]Dave Millar! I thought it looked like him. Good man. I watched him win a crit in Edinburgh not two weeks ago.

 

[Parrot23]

It's Millar.

Uniforms of Rabo and Garmin looks like photographic negatives: colours just transposed. Gets confusing!

 

[Jasper]

Valverdeeeeeeeee


Come on Bertie, time to lay down the law!

 

[Parcours]

Valverde on the attack.

 

[Parrot23]

Gutsey move by Valverde. Has the most to prove of anyone here. Doesn't usually go this early at all.

Looks way overgeared/cadence wise?

 

[Jamsque]

I think Valverde has gone too early, once they hit the headwind the Evans group should haul him back.