Official Thread: Stage 20: Montélimar - Mt. Ventoux 167km

[Parrot23]

Ha, ha. Prob. meant or had read about the English expression, "going bananas..." Yes, attacking like crazy, as in "going bananas". This could be an unconscious Liggetism by a Luxembourger.

 

[indurain666]

Dont know if it has been mentioned, and certainly did not see it on the tely, BUT...

Anyone else notice that there looked to be a sprint today atop Ventoux? Look at the results, and you will see Cav and Hushovd (+25.42) just ahead of the autobus (+25.49), but well behind the group ahead(+22.44).

Good natured rivalry, or a preview to some nastiness tomorrow?

Yup, noticed the same thing. It has always been like that this year, these two guys have sprinting from the autobus for 150th whatever place. They have been really trying to get into each others head.

 

[rhubroma]

Strongly disagree, Jan could climb in 97, he finished 40 second off the pace of Pantani on Alpe Dhuez, which (if properly measured) translates to 36: 45- 36:50 (measured at 13.8km). He just never reached that level again ever.

Amazing ride by Andy Schleck, waiting for his bro while sacrificing his stage win. What a classy and elegant racer he is , kudos to him. Perhaps Lance boy could learn a thing or two from this young rider. Not sure if it was the best tactic, but I guarantee that Frank will always race his heart out for Andy on the years to come.

AC is just out of this world. Unbeatable.

Any ideas at the times up Ventoux today? I am guessing 1:02 - 1:05 for Schleck and Contador..

Indurain666 normaly I respect your opinion, but Jan climbed well for all of one year (his weight was a huge problem, but also his pedigree). Alberto is a pure blood, by contrast.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

The trouble with that is that the DSs would just neutralize the stage until the final climb. They'd have radio control and selectively allow a break to go which contained no hopers, and then ride slowly all day.

Not with Hinault around they didn't! Then again, there's no one at all like Hinault riding today.

Agree on LeakyGas. If Basso can get any of his acceleration back from years gone by, he could be a serious threat to Contador, Schleck, or anyone else next July. He had been out of the sport for almost three years, and though he faded at times, he was very aggressive, and rode very boldly during the Giro this year. Almost riding everyone off his wheel on some of the climbs. I still content that had he never been caught, there would be a very good chance he would have been going for his 4th straight Tour this year.

 

[Four Winds]

What a selfless ride by Andy S today. Sacrificed a certain stage win when it looked fairly clear Frank was never going to escape LA

 

[mapei81]

I don't know about "certain" vs. AC, but he still was incredibly loyal and impressive.

 

[fulcrum]

What a selfless ride by Andy S today. Sacrificed a certain stage win when it looked fairly clear Frank was never going to escape LA

The kid did try to help Frank. It's a pitty that Frank wasn't up to his best today. That fact determined the way the last climb unfolded. Every time Andy dropped Lance's group and saw that AC was on his wheel, he would slow down and wait.

For a moment there, I was crossing my fingers and hoping Andy would go for the stage win with Contador and Nibali on his wheel. That would have added some excitement and force Lance to set tempo, but it wasn't meant to be.

 

[180mmCrank]

Must admit to being a little disappointed today

It's a shame we didn't really get to see Alberto in full flight against the Schleck's. I imagine a couple of factors here...

Frank was clearly tired from the last few days (and three weeks of grind) and his brother wasn't prepared to leave him - kudos to Andy

Contador was always going to follow Andy (and Lance follow Frank I guess)

Bradley was cooked too - so although I thought he rode great (suitcase of courage and all that!) he clearly didn't have the legs to make a move. Awesome result for him though.

Finally I wonder how much the war of words around Contador not being a team guy played into all this. Frankly I think Contador is a great team guy - he has done his job as team leader and won the race! I understand it but I think it's a shame that he wasn't able (allowed?) to go for the win - a win on Ventoux is a big deal and would mean a lot to him , to the team, the mountain and the race - as I say a shame.

What is more I am sure he could have done this without any impact on Lance's podium place...would have pulled Andy but not Frank away from the rest. Oh well - the main thing is the best guy won the GC and the next best guys were 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th all in the right order IMO.

I think it was great that pellizotti took the spotty jersey and was able to have a flier on the Ventoux - awesome job.

Looking forward to big show down on th chancy sleazy with Thor and Cav...

 

[Anonymous]

They can't, because their hatred is so pathologically deep and bitter - and yes, I fear it'll be even more than a month's worth of endless moaning and complaining about what they think 'would have' happened 'if only' this, that, or the other, had been different. It's an utterly pointless exercise, but it will provide the hateboys with an ongoing 'issue' with which to continue LA bashing ad nauseum.

It only takes half a brain to realise what our "hero" is up to, the other half can be used in a salad lunch for four persons, that would in turn feed the half that knows.
It is always necessary to paint anothers view as darkly as possible, especially if your own argument has a gas problem, either smelling terribly or just plain out of. If your out to lunch crowd of coleslawed "Lance haters" really are off the boil as you steam to say would it not be helpful to offer up a new recipe to avert this terrible disaster brought on by these people who don't believe in fairy tales as their backfiring destructive power when exposed would in turn make life unwearable?

I hate people who chew gum through false teeth inserted in their bum. Now that is a rational hatred and I've started a group on MySpecies to discuss it. Join, why don't you?


You can find it on my home page which is "Chance cheats, just look at his teeth, they're not one day clean"

 

[krebs303]

I hate people who chew gum through false teeth inserted in their bum.

+1..................

 

[benpounder]

Must admit to being a little disappointed today

I, on the other hand was not. I saw Alberto riding very smant, and Andy trying to do everything he could to shake Alberto. I saw Lance marking every move that Frank, via Andy instigated. I saw Kloden droped and recovered, droped and recovered. I saw a tenatious Bradley cling on, get dropped, clawing back, getting spun off and still finishing to protect his high GC.

I saw a break with little hope of surviving yet they did, weathered old fellow Juan-Manuel beating out the young whipper-snapper Tony for all the glory. I saw very aggressive team tactics at the foot of one of the nastest climbs by three teams. I saw members of teams relegated to second-tier status win the team race. In fact I saw the already determined "mountain-goat-king" trying to win the stage.

Dissapointing?

I'm glad I dont have that perspective...

 

[saphblue]

The kid did try to help Frank. It's a pitty that Frank wasn't up to his best today. That fact determined the way the last climb unfolded. Every time Andy dropped Lance's group and saw that AC was on his wheel, he would slow down and wait.

For a moment there, I was crossing my fingers and hoping Andy would go for the stage win with Contador and Nibali on his wheel. That would have added some excitement and force Lance to set tempo, but it wasn't meant to be.

That was so frustrating that Frank didn't have the legs today. I was jumping up and down in the living room like a fool urging him on from thousands of miles away. All props to Lance, but I really wanted to see the bros on the podium together.

 

[richwagmn]

Yup, noticed the same thing. It has always been like that this year, these two guys have sprinting from the autobus for 150th whatever place. They have been really trying to get into each others head.

They were both laughing. I think Cav has grown up a little this tour. And Thor earned his respect with his breakaway in the mountains.

You don't have to be *** to be good.

 

[BroDeal]

I, on the other hand was not. I saw Alberto riding very smant, and Andy trying to do everything he could to shake Alberto. I saw Lance marking every move that Frank, via Andy instigated. I saw Kloden droped and recovered, droped and recovered. I saw a tenatious Bradley cling on, get dropped, clawing back, getting spun off and still finishing to protect his high GC.

The rest of us saw a super strong Andy playing with the group while his brother did not have the legs to go with him. The pace of the group kept varying as Andy halted his attacks, hoping that Frank would come good as the climb progressed. His slowing allowed the likes of Kloden and Wiggins to catch back on whenever they had their bad moments.

Andy never made a serious effort to drop Contador. He was always looking out for what effect his attacks were having on his brother.

 

[richwagmn]

I, on the other hand was not. I saw Alberto riding very smant, and Andy trying to do everything he could to shake Alberto. I saw Lance marking every move that Frank, via Andy instigated. I saw Kloden droped and recovered, droped and recovered. I saw a tenatious Bradley cling on, get dropped, clawing back, getting spun off and still finishing to protect his high GC.

Dissapointing?

I'm glad I dont have that perspective...

It was basically a defensive race for 3rd place. Since when does a tour stage come down to that?

No doubt Andy and Alberto would have been up the road if the race 3rd place wasn't happening. But I can't fault Andy for giving a damn about this brother. Actually, it's pretty cool to see.

AC having to "work" for LA was just stupid though.

 

[180mmCrank]

I, on the other hand was not. I saw Alberto riding very smant, and Andy trying to do everything he could to shake Alberto. I saw Lance marking every move that Frank, via Andy instigated. I saw Kloden droped and recovered, droped and recovered. I saw a tenatious Bradley cling on, get dropped, clawing back, getting spun off and still finishing to protect his high GC.

I saw a break with little hope of surviving yet they did, weathered old fellow Juan-Manuel beating out the young whipper-snapper Tony for all the glory. I saw very aggressive team tactics at the foot of one of the nastest climbs by three teams. I saw members of teams relegated to second-tier status win the team race. In fact I saw the already determined "mountain-goat-king" trying to win the stage.

Dissapointing?

I'm glad I dont have that perspective...

Well said and yes I saw that too - and like you I enjoyed watching. It's just well I guess I wanted a GC contender to win on the Ventoux. Maybe just cake and icing or something like that - I'll make do with the chocholate sponge underneath - still pretty tasty

 

[Hugh Januss]

They were both laughing. I think Cav has grown up a little this tour. And Thor earned his respect with his breakaway in the mountains.

You don't have to be *** to be good.

It sure doesn't seem to hurt though.

 

[benpounder]

The rest of us...

Meaning those that agree with you?

saw a super strong Andy playing with the group while his brother did not have the legs to go with him. The pace of the group kept varying as Andy halted his attacks, hoping that Frank would come good as the climb progressed. His slowing allowed the likes of Kloden and Wiggins to catch back on whenever they had their bad moments.

Or perhaps Andy really didnt have the legs to shell Alberto. Maybe he was looking back in the hope that his big bro could come along and help. You don't know, and neither do I.

Andy never made a serious effort to drop Contador. He was always looking out for what effect his attacks were having on his brother.

absolutely, Claire...

 

[tigerboy]

Firstly well done JM Garate on what is the crowning glory of a career not without real achievement.

It was a very anti climatic stage. The great mountain deserves drama and what did we get? Cat and mouse. Never mind 3rd and 4th what Andy Schleck should have done was try to burn Contador. He woudn't have but should have tried. The top 2 climbers at it hammer and tong was what the Ventoux deserved.

Merckx would have tried to win.

 

[benpounder]

No doubt Andy and Alberto would have been up the road if the race 3rd place wasn't happening. But I can't fault Andy for giving a damn about this brother. Actually, it's pretty cool to see.

Using you as foil, so many see the race through the prism of what they desire and yearn for.

Andy was great, no, stellar. If he was riding for Frank, all the power to him. But Frank did not respond, or could not respond cuz he had Armstrong stuck on his tail. Blame Contador, blame Andy, but still Lance was there.

As such, both Andy and Alberto were riding tactically smart. A Saxo Bank team mate on the podium, or an Astana team mate? Brilliant for Andy to do so, but stupid for Alberto??? In these forums so many wanted to see several particular riders blow themselves up by performing stupidly. And that they did not (certain Astana riders) unquestionably makes the race boring.

What ever happened to the importance of nuance?

Sorry, but not only is that myopic, but it is immature as well.

 

[pedaling squares]

Firstly well done JM Garate on what is the crowning glory of a career not without real achievement.

It was a very anti climatic stage. The great mountain deserves drama and what did we get? Cat and mouse. Never mind 3rd and 4th what Andy Schleck should have done was try to burn Contador. He woudn't have but should have tried. The top 2 climbers at it hammer and tong was what the Ventoux deserved.

Merckx would have tried to win.

Yeah... that would have been better for us viewers, but we don't have our brother struggling to keep up and trying to claw onto the podium. I also wanted Andy to go all out for the stage win, but have no problem with how he rode considering that particular teammate means more to him than a stage win.

 

[Parrot23]

Two great Ventoux pics from today:

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Great win by Garate

 

[fulcrum]

Two great Ventoux pics from today:

Wow! that tower is seriously crooked. The wind must have been terrible!

 

[Parrot23]

Great win by Garate

Agree. Nice to see an underdog on the podium on a big stage for a change.