Official Thread: TdF Stage 10, Limoges - Issoudun 194.5 km

[craig1985]

Andy Schlek has a puncture. Seems like only Thomas Voeckler was in favour of the ban.

Some of the rider stats:

Live Rider Stats - Updated: 14:01 CEST

* Johannes Froehlinger - Milram
o Distance: 0km, Speed: 29km/h, Power: 212watts, Cadence: 101rpm
* Bert Grabsch - Columbia-HTC
o Distance: 0km, Speed: 0km/h, Power: -1watts, Cadence: -1rpm
* Brian Vandborg - Liquigas
o Distance: 0km, Speed: 0km/h, Power: -1watts, Cadence: -1rpm
* Chris Sorensen - Saxo Bank
o Distance: 0km, Speed: 29km/h, Power: 110watts, Cadence: 90rpm
* Nicki Sorensen - Saxo Bank
o Distance: 0km, Speed: 0km/h, Power: -1watts, Cadence: -1rpm

 

[bikeandy61]

Race Radios and Columbia Tactics

1. Race radios - how about one way rider to DS radios only? Surely that addresses the arguments of safety and mechanicals? All riders have the bible to study so should be aware of road furniture/sharp bends at crucial points. Got a mechanical - radio team car and let them know. I definately feel that riders have become "lazy" when it comes to reading a race. I remember in 87 when Roche won it was said that he was brilliant at reading a race and knowing which were the dangerous moves and those that could be ignored. I understand though that now sponsors are probably a big source of the pressure to keep up the radio comms to "ensure" their teams win.

2. This is a back seat owner/manger comment. If I was Bill Stapleton I'd say on one of the sprint days (not Paris obviously) that HTC don't chase down breaks. o me they are doing far too much work because of Cav. It's time to bluff big time eb=ven though it could mean losing. Maybe then the others looking for stages will pull their finger out.

 

[msjett]

Are we there yet?

 

[Bala Verde]

My Italian isn't that good, but did 1-2 riders have radios per team?

 

[Archibald]

14:32 CEST
A herd of cows pointedly ignores the peloton as it rushes by.

it's all happening today!!

 

[Archibald]

My Italian isn't that good, but did 1-2 riders have radios per team?

no, it was suggested as a compromise, but that was quashed by ASO

 

[Mellow Velo]

In 2007 they rode a stage (the one where Cancellara TT'd off the front in the final 500m and won) and only averaged 35km/h.

Is that the one where Bradley Wiggins was off the front all day?
Great finish. Cobbles. Erik Zabel just failing to catch Canc.

 

[El Imbatido]

Some of the rider stats:

Live Rider Stats - Updated: 14:01 CEST

* Johannes Froehlinger - Milram
o Distance: 0km, Speed: 29km/h, Power: 212watts, Cadence: 101rpm
* Bert Grabsch - Columbia-HTC
o Distance: 0km, Speed: 0km/h, Power: -1watts, Cadence: -1rpm
* Brian Vandborg - Liquigas
o Distance: 0km, Speed: 0km/h, Power: -1watts, Cadence: -1rpm
* Chris Sorensen - Saxo Bank
o Distance: 0km, Speed: 29km/h, Power: 110watts, Cadence: 90rpm
* Nicki Sorensen - Saxo Bank
o Distance: 0km, Speed: 0km/h, Power: -1watts, Cadence: -1rpm

Bert grabsch power, speed and distance are wrong but i'm pretty sure that is about his right cadence

 

[Bala Verde]

no, it was suggested as a compromise, but that was quashed by ASO

Ah ok! thanks... These Italians just talk so bloody fast... On the other hand, perhaps I should focus more on what they say instead of reading a dutch and spanish newspaper simultaneously

Looks like a bunch sprint today?

Niermann solved it with an antenna....

 

[msjett]

Is it me or do the riders look bored?

 

[Mellow Velo]

Crash and Kurt (AA) is hurt!
Something about the heli's being too low and blowing the riders about.

 

[Amsterhammer]

News from team Milram via Maarten Ducrot, Dutch commentator -

The DS's are making a "statement" by telling all their teams to keep to an average of 36 kph out of "safety" considerations. So, the boredom we're witnessing is deliberate. The last 40 kms will be 'open' for proper racing again.

We are witnessing a power struggle between the DS's and the ASO. This is clearly what Bruyneel alluded to in last night's interview.

 

[Cobblestones]

So, this is the feared no-radio stage?

I think they let the first best break go, so they could stop thinking.

Did they keep the motorcycle with the chalkboard?

 

[Bala Verde]

News from team Milram via Maarten Ducrot, Dutch commentator -

The DS's are making a "statement" by telling all their teams to keep to an average of 36 kph out of "safety" considerations. The last 40 kms will be 'open' for proper racing again.

We are witnessing a power struggle between the DS's and the ASO. This is clearly what Bruyneel alluded to in last night's interview.

For that reason alone, they should force them to ride without adios for the remainder of the TdF...

What about the compliance of SKL/GAR and the French teams with the 'rebellious DS', they never opposed right?

 

[Cobblestones]

The DS's are making a "statement" by telling all their teams to keep to an average of 36 kph out of "safety" considerations. So, the boredom we're witnessing is deliberate. The last 40 kms will be 'open' for proper racing again.

So they repeat the same type of protest as in Milan? That worked like a charm.

 

[sometriguy]

Bunch of freaking cry babies

 

[Animal]

News from team Milram via Maarten Ducrot, Dutch commentator -

The DS's are making a "statement" by telling all their teams to keep to an average of 36 kph out of "safety" considerations. So, the boredom we're witnessing is deliberate. The last 40 kms will be 'open' for proper racing again.

wan-kers....

 

[Cobblestones]

Did they keep the motorcycle with the chalkboard?

ok, I just saw one. So the riders will know the gaps.

 

[ak-zaaf]

News from team Milram via Maarten Ducrot, Dutch commentator -

The DS's are making a "statement" by telling all their teams to keep to an average of 36 kph out of "safety" considerations.

because riding a flat course at 45km/h without race radio is much more dangerous than downhilling the tourmalet at 100km/h with a radio.

 

[Mellow Velo]

To think, the only stage of remote interest to the GC, this week, is the Colmar finish.
The other stage without radios............
Tosseurs.

Ha! French tv showing pictures of snails on the roadside, trying to cross!

 

[Bala Verde]

Every passing day of TdF seems to result in another anticlimactic low. I thought they had hit boredom's rock bottom, but they just started digging.

The Mont Ventoux will probably be ridden the 'Casartelli way', a long communal procession up hill, to honor the sudden, and unfortunate death of the TdF.

 

[TRDean]

This is pathetic!!

 

[Cobblestones]

You'd think, French desire to win on Bastille day trumps peloton protest unity.

Haha, the cameraman made a statement. Did you see the snail?

 

[Amsterhammer]

Average for today now 37.4 kph.

So, what are the scenarios for these fantastic last 40 kms that we're going to see?

Will the speed suddenly jump up so high that individual breakaways become all but impossible? The finish is not really suitable for a big mass sprint, so what will the game plan of the sprinters be?

Will Ignatiev jump away from the front with 41 kms to go?

Will they know how far they have left if no one tells them?

Nice touch showing the snails on the road.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Go Boonen!!