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

[linenoiz]

How about Ben Stiller presenting the yellow jersey! He looked more than a little disappointed he was putting it on Cancellara rather than Armstrong

LOL I think he was expecting Lance.

 

[Captain Kirk]

Agreed. That's no team for a rider of Cadel's caliber. Horner couldn't have helped them today.

+1

so piiiiisd off cannot type.....

 

[clydesdale]

Well to be honest I don't see the stronger TTT teams wanting Evans. He is getting older, Astana and Saxo have stronger riders already. THR have upcoming riders, maybe Garmin, but i doubt it. Liquigas has talented youth. Where could he go that would really improve his situation and where he wouldn't just be a domestique??

Evans will never win the tour.

Even a team like Garmin though? They'd be a perfect fit. He gives garmin their best chance of having a rider in yellow. Even if he doesn't end up winning the tour.

Is that Ben Stiller giving Canc his yellow jersey?

 

[eleven]

Um, it's already a team sport WITHOUT the team time trial, and that's fine. But adding the time time trial on top of everything else basically eliminates everyone who's not on the two or three strongest team. That's not how to design an exciting race.

That's like saying that a great pitcher should get a World Series ring because he has the best stats - even though the rest of his team can't play defense and they didn't even make the playoffs (....of course, if you're not from North America or Japan that might make no sense....)

The Team Time Trial forces teams to build the broadest base or riders. I realize you don't respect people who see that, but such is the way of the world.

 

[rolfrae]

Gutted for Garmin not getting the stage. They have the moral victory IMO. Noticed Contador going straight onto the team bus, not a word to Lance whilst the Texan hung about outside high fiving.

The last time there was an TTT in the Tour was 2005 and it feels like nothing has changed since then in our sport - in a bad way.

 

[Not Riding Enough]

LA said Popo and Kodi were strongest.

 

[jaylew]

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?

Honestly, after Levi. I just don't see all 4 of the Astana crew getting dropped by enough to lose the Tour. And with another TT coming? Mostly a question of which Astana guy wins.

They even have Zubeldia sitting nicely in 7th.

 

[dsut4392]

My bet on Menchov is looking more and more a poor choice

Wonder what odds you'd get on him now.

Edit: Bloody 66/1. He was 12/1 to begin with :'(

I thought he would be up to 2/1 by now...oh wait, you're talking odds on him winning, I was thinking odds on him crashing in the next TT

 

[Andre.J]

They have to keep the TTT out of the Tour. It corrupts the overall and punishes some contenders unjustly.

 

[Parrot23]

No, I saw Alberto congratulate/hug Lance. CN's story is incorrect.

 

[Carl0880]

You cant get any closer than that

Im happy with Fabian keeping yellow - he deserves it

Lotto are a disgrace I think cadel could of ridden that TT alone by himself

That was one of the most incredible performances I have seen that Fabian put. In fact, all the time the cameras were on Saxo, I don't recall any one other then Fabian on the front. If either Schleck brother makes it on the podium they better get fabian a brand new house thanks to him limiting the losses

 

[Rechtschreibfehler]

You either didn't watch or you're blind, or just blinded by your dislike of LA - he took longer turns than anyone else (as far as we could see from the pictures we saw) in the first half of the course, leading on many of the tricky bits. Lance worked his nut off today.

Might be that I really didn't pay close enogh attention, or much more at the end of the stage. But most of what I saw of Astana I didn't see him leading or not particulary long.

I'm certainly not blinded by my dislike of Armstrong. If I had seen him leading or to me looking particulary strong I would have said so.
Contador didn't look that good eighther I think but that could just be a false impression because he's moving so much on the bike, even time trialing.

 

[msjett]

Evans is down 2.59, I really thought it would be far worse...and its along way to go. You have to hand it to Astana, they rode a good race...bring on the mountains...

 

[TibetT]

i think there may be a few teams sharing hotel rooms and having discussions...

Evans, Sastre and Menchov ahhhh a beautiful thought. They have nothing to lose after all.

 

[auscyclefan94]

They have to keep the TTT out of the Tour. It corrupts the overall and punishes some contenders unjustly.

e.g. Cadel Evans... such bad luck today. He is going to have to attack hard at Arcalsis

 

[ndc147]

Gutted for Garmin not getting the stage. They have the moral victory IMO. Noticed Contador going straight onto the team bus, not a word to Lance whilst the Texan hung about outside high fiving.

Yeah, and the boneheads threatening anyone that came within 20 yards...

 

[eleven]

Robbie McEwen (who might know a thing or two about cycling) just re-affirmed his statement that LA will win the tour.

I happen to think he's wrong, but who the hell am I to doubt McEwen's cycling take?

 

[39*23t]

You either didn't watch or you're blind, or just blinded by your dislike of LA - he took longer turns than anyone else (as far as we could see from the pictures we saw) in the first half of the course, leading on many of the tricky bits. Lance worked his nut off today.

Armstrong just gave a interview and says that kloedi was definetly the strongest today. guess lance must hate himself now

 

[Kazistuta]

Lighten up, guys!

This is the way it's almost always turning out after a TTT in TDF. One team dominates after winning the stage. Maybe you've just forgotten how it usually is, since it's been four years

Let's take a look at the overall ranking after the team time trial last time LA was here - including the supposed GC contenders:

1. LA
7. Vino +1,21
10. Basso +1,26
14. Ullrich +1,36
18. Galdeano +1,44
20. Landis +1,50
------------------
Botero +2,18
Leipheimer +2,21
Klöden +2,29
Beloki +2,43
Heras +2,58
(Evans +3,29)
Valverde +3,32
Mancebo +3,39
Mayo +5,48

I know Armstrong went on to win Le Tour, but I just feel like people are overreacting to the fact that there's quite some time deficits between the main GC favorites. After a TTT that seems pretty normal to me

Nevertheless, it bodes well for friday.

 

[rolfrae]

No, I saw Alberto congratulate/hug Lance. CN's story is incorrect.

I was watching it on Eurosport, must have missed it. I happen to think the Contador/Armstrong rivalry is overrated. It was Contador's mistake yesterday that lost him yellow, not Armstrong's riding.

 

[Parrot23]

Armstrong just gave a interview and says that kloedi was definetly the strongest today. guess lance must hate himself now

Maybe riding for the Yellow today, per Popo also blowing up. Loyal to Lance, I think. But I think he would by loyal to whomever is top at the moment. Can't fault him for that.

 

[lostintime]

LA not in yellow is the best thing that could have happened for their team.. Saxo has to continue to lead and chase, while Astana just rides their draft. Conserve as much as energy as you can until the mountains.

With the big gaps to Sastre, Mechov and Evans, maybe we'll see them take some chances now in the mountains instead of play follow the leader. Desperation makes for good racing!

 

[dsut4392]

Might be that I really didn't pay close enogh attention, or much more at the end of the stage. But most of what I saw of Astana I didn't see him leading or not particulary long.

I'm certainly not blinded by my dislike of Armstrong. If I had seen him leading or to me looking particulary strong I would have said so.
Contador didn't look that good eighther I think but that could just be a false impression because he's moving so much on the bike, even time trialing.

Much as I'm disappointed to see him so close to yellow, I agree that Armstrong seemed to be taking big, big pulls, especially early on. By the end he was looking shattered, much more so than Contador.

Must say I even had the impression 'bertie was holding back a little - not shirking pulls, but not burying himself either. And I couldn't blame him for it if he were...why would he want HIS team sacrificing energy over the next couple of days defending the jersey for Lance? Not worth it just to pick up a few extra seconds today, when minutes could be made on Ventoux alone if it comes down to the wire.

 

[slcbiker]

I really like watching the TTT. When a team is good at it, it is a thing of beauty to watch. And cycling is a team sport. Maybe you go back to the maximum time gain cutoff.

The bigger question is that Astana is now starting to look like some horrible combination of Barca/Real Madrid/ManU. Not only were they much stronger in the TTT, but they also have a set of the strongest climbers.

Even if the other teams work together, it's going to be tough for them to dislodge all the Astana riders from the top. Particularly since they are all strong TT riders. Evans has that combination, but he's way back. VanDeVelde might be abe to do it, and is relatively close with a reasonably strong team, but who knows what shape he's in.

What we will find out in the mountains is who is strongest on Astana. They are certainly going to get attacked, and we will find out who can walk the walk.

 

[Azdak6]

Robbie McEwen (who might know a thing or two about cycling) just re-affirmed his statement that LA will win the tour.

I happen to think he's wrong, but who the hell am I to doubt McEwen's cycling take?

Nothing against RMcE, but we have all seen the front of a winning Tour ride many more times than he has.