Official Thread: TdF Stage 8, Andorre-La-Vieille to Saint-Girons

[Publicus]

Oh my god really! Such a scandal! Nike CEO in the Car with Johan! When reports of Astana having money trouble, and lance starting his own team next year. WOW, what a shocker! Contador will not be on astana next year more then likely. Vinokourov has stated he wants back on Astana and he wants control. I don't think Johan will stick around after this year specially with the money issues the team has. Getting a sponsor like Nike to support your team would be a win for cycling and whoever rides for that team. What's wrong with that?

Why don't you guys take this over to the Official Lance thread?

 

[Mellow Velo]

Saxo's tactics were great today.. just didn't pan out. It should be a lot easier to force Astana into yellow tomorrow however.

Thank God. That was my take, but I thought I was nuts!

 

[Publicus]

Saxo Bank's tactics so deliberately peverse, that Bruyneel will lose 10 minutes sleep, tonight, thinking about their cunning plans.

I see Kloden got the Armstrong "shaft" today, so that's OK. Not a problem.

LL, my man, shows his smarts, once again.

What's the Armstrong "shaft"?

 

[Cobber]

Thank God. That was my take, but I thought I was nuts!

Well I hope they do that anyway! The "stress" of having to defend the yellow along with the paranoia of not knowing who on Astana is going to do what might make the transition to the alps a bit more interesting.

 

[grimpeur]

Getting a sponsor like Nike to support your team would be a win for cycling and whoever rides for that team. What's wrong with that?

A few years back Nike romped into the cycling industry thinking they were going to take over that market segment also. They failed miserably, even with their association with Trek, an industry veteran. I think there's not a demand for the Nike brand in cycling. So they really don't have a product to support in cycling.

 

[Mellow Velo]

What's the Armstrong "shaft"?

Just a bit of friendly leg pulling for the FB's.
Still. Sent on the attack, then immediately chased down, because Evans and Schleckette got up there.
Then he had to do most of the graft on the final climb....

But what the heck, that's what he's really there to do, right?
He will be the "first" expendable, of the fantastic four....

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Back on topic to today's stage:

Is it really right to classify this as a mountain stage when the first 56 riders all pretty much finish with the same exact time?

The same thing is going to happen tomorrow unless there's a break, which is likely to be no one on GC. The mighty Tourmalet neutered, and essentially irrelevant, as it comes 80km before the finish, where it's nearly flat.

Amazing that we're going to be through the Pyranees, and only about 20 seconds worth of change on the GC riders, from an attack initiated 3km from the finish yesterday.

Could it be this way all the way to Annecy, or even Ventoux???

This could be the first Tour in history essentially decided by the TTT.

 

[jaylew]

Saxo's tactics were great today.. just didn't pan out. It should be a lot easier to force Astana into yellow tomorrow however.

I don't know, with 70ks of flats/downhill finishing the stage. They would have to not only push the pace on the climb, but also push the pace on the decent and flat. Seems like a lot of work for the team to do just to force Astana into yellow.

 

[Cobber]

Back on topic to today's stage:

Is it really right to classify this as a mountain stage when the first 56 riders all pretty much finish with the same exact time?

The same thing is going to happen tomorrow unless there's a break, which is likely to be no one on GC. The mighty Tourmalet neutered, and essentially irrelevant, as it comes 80km before the finish, where it's nearly flat.

Amazing that we're going to be through the Pyranees, and only about 20 seconds worth of change on the GC riders, from an attack initiated 3km from the finish yesterday.

Could it be this way all the way to Annecy, or even Ventoux???

This could be the first Tour in history essentially decided by the TTT.

I completely agree. The race organisers essentially took the Pyrenees out of this years tour. They may well have just skipped them altogether, as the only climb that could matter was pretty tame (yesterdays). Maybe something interesting will happen tomorrow (Armstrong crack? ), but I think the only thing of significance will be the yellow jersey changing hands to Contador.

 

[jaylew]

Back on topic to today's stage:

Is it really right to classify this as a mountain stage when the first 56 riders all pretty much finish with the same exact time?

The same thing is going to happen tomorrow unless there's a break, which is likely to be no one on GC. The mighty Tourmalet neutered, and essentially irrelevant, as it comes 80km before the finish, where it's nearly flat.

Amazing that we're going to be through the Pyranees, and only about 20 seconds worth of change on the GC riders, from an attack initiated 3km from the finish yesterday.

Could it be this way all the way to Annecy, or even Ventoux???

This could be the first Tour in history essentially decided by the TTT.

On a positive note, the polka-dot jersey competition is really exciting and completely up for grabs

 

[Cobber]

I don't know, with 70ks of flats/downhill finishing the stage. They would have to not only push the pace on the climb, but also push the pace on the decent and flat. Seems like a lot of work for the team to do just to force Astana into yellow.

My reasoning is only because the Col de Tormalet is a much tougher climb for Nocentini to stick around on. If any of the GC riders attack, Contador will have to follow and Nocentini will probably lose time. If he loses time on the Tormalet, it will probably be enough that he won't catch up on the flat... unless, of course, Astana slow pedals the main group to the finish like they did today.....

 

[Bala Verde]

He will be the "first" expendable, of the fantastic four....

Is he the disappearing woman, or the Stretchy guy (leaving the other one being LL). I know who is on fire and who the rock hard bloke is

Boring stage, impressive how the ASO could lull us into hibernation mode on the weekend...

 

[jaylew]

If he loses time on the Tormalet, it will probably be enough that he won't catch up on the flat... unless, of course, Astana slow pedals the main group to the finish like they did today.....

Exactly. Astana will have to have a good reason to push that last 70k since they've made it clear they don't want the jersey yet. A big contender will need to have been dropped or someone who is a threat will need to be in a break. If neither of those things happen, another team will likely have to push the pace.

 

[richwagmn]

Back on topic to today's stage:

Is it really right to classify this as a mountain stage when the first 56 riders all pretty much finish with the same exact time?

The same thing is going to happen tomorrow unless there's a break, which is likely to be no one on GC. The mighty Tourmalet neutered, and essentially irrelevant, as it comes 80km before the finish, where it's nearly flat.

Amazing that we're going to be through the Pyranees, and only about 20 seconds worth of change on the GC riders, from an attack initiated 3km from the finish yesterday.

Could it be this way all the way to Annecy, or even Ventoux???

This could be the first Tour in history essentially decided by the TTT.

I completely agree. Stupid, stupid stage today and tomorrow. What a waste of the Tourmalet.

One of the worst TDF courses I can remember. Race is over until the Alps and the final TT.

Was interesting though to see Saxo try to put Astana in yellow.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Boring stage, impressive how the ASO could lull us into hibernation mode on the weekend...

The route has been universally condemned across the various forums...well, by the neutrals, at least.

 

[Animal]

Back on topic to today's stage:

Is it really right to classify this as a mountain stage when the first 56 riders all pretty much finish with the same exact time?

The same thing is going to happen tomorrow unless there's a break, which is likely to be no one on GC. The mighty Tourmalet neutered, and essentially irrelevant, as it comes 80km before the finish, where it's nearly flat.

Amazing that we're going to be through the Pyranees, and only about 20 seconds worth of change on the GC riders, from an attack initiated 3km from the finish yesterday.

Could it be this way all the way to Annecy, or even Ventoux???

This could be the first Tour in history essentially decided by the TTT.

I agree. It's crap. They should finish at Hautacam tomorrow for a real shake up.

 

[Animal]

Someone has to do something explosive on the Col des Mosses next Sunday. A group of climbers with a couple of rouleurs who are able to take one climb very fast to assist on the valley approach to the Verbier climb.

 

[issoisso]

Could it be this way all the way to Annecy, or even Ventoux???

Nah. But until the previous day at Le Grand Bornand, I think so.

This could be the first Tour in history essentially decided by the TTT.

Unless you count the 79 Tour which was clearly designed for Hinault to win, with his team dominating the TTTs and him the ITTs. That Tour had 7 time trials in total

I know, I know, I'm rambling. I'm sorry

 

[Rechtschreibfehler]

Its amazing that stage 13 and 19 will most likely create bigger time changes in the GC than 3 full days of racing in the Pyranees.

That must be three of the wrost disigned stages I have ever watched in a GT(yes I have not watched number 3 yet but I really don't have to to claim that).

All my hope for action before the Alps now is in the Colmar stage...
Really not a lot flat parts, no team radio.

Actually thinking about this...
Thats not just totally ****ed up disigning by the ASO it's an insult for/to(whatever) any fan of the sport.

 

[whiteboytrash]

My reasoning is only because the Col de Tormalet is a much tougher climb for Nocentini to stick around on. If any of the GC riders attack, Contador will have to follow and Nocentini will probably lose time. If he loses time on the Tormalet, it will probably be enough that he won't catch up on the flat... unless, of course, Astana slow pedals the main group to the finish like they did today.....

Who's Nocentini ? Do they have a yellow jersey this year ? I haven't seen anyone ride for it. I thought this years Tour was a two up sprint between Contador and Armstrong.

 

[autologous]

Who's Nocentini ? Do they have a yellow jersey this year ? I haven't seen anyone ride for it. I thought this years Tour was a two up sprint between Contador and Armstrong.

what's your point?

 

[Cobblestones]

With your username, watch out for the fanboys. Soon, they won't let you post other places than the clinic.

 

[autologous]

that's assuming a lot of comprehension on the part of the mouth breathers

 

[53x11 in DC]

don't yall get it??? The ASO designed these stages with French riders in mind. Give them a chance to win from long breakaways that they KNEW the GC folks would let go. Worked yesterday (Feillu, first French summit win since Virenque SEVEN years ago, with Kern 2nd) and nearly again today (with Casar).

How's THAT for a conspiracy theory? I direct that question to the gaggle of conspiracy theorists that inhabit this forum.

Sans doute, Moncoutie tomorrow from a group of 6.

 

[williej]

Armstrong playing with the field like a fiddle

All of this lancehate is amusing. I guess 7 wins didn't do it after all. So I'm sure this 8th win won't do it either, but it will happen. He's playing with everyone right now. He was in WAY better shape last year than he reveiled and it shows merely by the fact that he is 8 seconds out through the first week. He's already deep inside AC's head and will crush him in the last week. Lance has shown he's the team leader by being a team player and the boys on Astana will abandon AC, and America will laugh once again. he already know's it. It is neat to see the tour ride back into France and see all those white flags waving on the sides of the road.