Official thread - TdF Stage 4: Team Time Trial (Montpellier - Montpellier 38 km)

[Publicus]

Astana gets maximum time on the GC candidates and DON'T have to defend the jersey before the mountains. Beautiful day. Off to work!

 

[Mellow Velo]

Get ready for a fanboy sperm shower.

The Garmin 4, get my vote as today's top dogs.

 

[Jasper]

Cancellara still in yellow, but 4 Astana riders in the top 5. Andy Schleck already 1'49" behind Armstrong, Evans even 2'59" back. Where will he ever make up such a difference?

 

[Parrot23]

Astana have to be careful not to pull a Mapei.

Total success for them today: no yellow, and took time on all the favs.

 

[patswana]

Cancellara still in yellow, but 4 Astana riders in the top 5. Andy Schleck already 1'49" behind Armstrong, Evans even 2'59" back. Where will he ever make up such a difference?

When hell freezes over

 

[eleven]

Evans even 2'59" back. Where will he ever make up such a difference?

On the flight back to Australia. He's done.

 

[Delicato]

Feel sorry for Armstrong. He won't wear yellow in this Tour now.

 

[linenoiz]

Ya Brunyneel couldn't have drawn it up better on paper. Maximum time gains for his GC riders, and they don't have the responsibility of driving the pace. Lucky if you ask me.

 

[frizzlefry]

Astana gets maximum time on the GC candidates and DON'T have to defend the jersey before the mountains. Beautiful day. Off to work!

couldnt have worked out better for Astana. LA and JB said they didnt want the jersey to have to defend.

 

[yetanothergreenworld]

God I hate the team time trial! Evans did a better opening TT than Armstrong, yet he's now out of contention, and by no fault of his own. This stage is always a farce. I have no respect for people who like it.

 

[Ibanez]

Am I right in thinking that the race is almost over now? 2 minutes is a long time nowadays, even in the tour. Armstrong versus Contador. How depressing.

 

[eleven]

I know it works out for Astana's tactics, but surely the team would rather have Armstrong in yellow (excepting Contador, perhaps)

 

[luckyboy]

Armstrong versus Contador. How depressing.

This is the closest Armstrong will ever be to yellow.

 

[clydesdale]

Cancellara still in yellow, but 4 Astana riders in the top 5. Andy Schleck already 1'49" behind Armstrong, Evans even 2'59" back. Where will he ever make up such a difference?

Schleck is about where I thought he would be. I always suspected he'd need to take 3 minutes in the mountains. He's a climber and he does attack. It's not impossible. I'm not betting on him either though.

 

[eleven]

God I hate the team time trial! Evans did a better opening TT than Armstrong, yet he's now out of contention, and by no fault of his own. This stage is always a farce. I have no respect for people who like it.

It's a team sport. Get over it.

 

[Ibanez]

This is the closest Armstrong will ever be to yellow.

I hope so. Who knows what his form in the mountains will be.

 

[Parrot23]

Yeah, it's totally an internal race now. Then a procession to Paris as Lance finally concedes to Alberto.

But again, Astana have to be careful not to pull a Mapei. This is going to raise a stink over the sport.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Quick estimation... (Roughly)

GC WATCH:

Armstrong ----
Contador + 20
Kloden + 25
Liephiemer + 30
VdV - + 1.15
Kruziger + 1.35
A. Schleck + 1.40
F. Schleck + 2.25
Sastre + 2.45
Evans + 3.10
Menchov + 4.10

EDIT: Fixed roman

 

[Rechtschreibfehler]

Am I right in thinking that the race is almost over now? 2 minutes is a long time nowadays, even in the tour. Armstrong versus Contador. How depressing.

We can only hope that the other teams will totally go bersek in the mountains.
Most untrhilling could be Contador vs. Klöden as Klöden wouldn't attack his captrain ever.

 

[linenoiz]

I think its fitting that LA was the 5th rider across the line who was 1/10ths of a second slow.

 

[Not Riding Enough]

I reckon that may have actually been better for AC if LA did take yellow (except for the extra team effort required). It would then be seen as a succesful return and allow him to "sacrifice" himself for AC on the first mountain stage. Now he may fight harder but doesn't stand much of a chance on Friday but the team may not be all for one.

 

[Amsterhammer]

Get ready for a fanboy sperm shower.

The Garmin 4, get my vote as today's top dogs.

If I could arrange it I'd squirt right in your eye, misery guts.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Am I right in thinking that the race is almost over now? 2 minutes is a long time nowadays, even in the tour. Armstrong versus Contador. How depressing.

In other words, after 3 refeshing years of unpredictable racing, the normal dull plod to Paris is resumed.
Daily trains, dropping off bedraggled contenders.
Still, looking on the bright side. This race is never the hightlight of my cycling year.

 

[Anonymous]

Some big gaps appearing

Armstrong 0.00
Contador 0.19
Kloden 0.23
Levi 0.31
Martin 0.52
Dave Z 1.06
V de V 1.16
Kreuziger 1.31
Rogers 1.32
Baby Schleck 1.41
Frank 2.17
Sastre 2.44
Cadel 2.59
Menchov 3.52

where are we putting the cannot win the tour cuttoff?

 

[Parrot23]

I think its fitting that LA was the 5th rider across the line who was 1/10ths of a second slow.

LOL. Didn't notice that