Paris-Nice 2012: Stage 2 Mantes-la-Jolie - Orléans (185 km)

[Eyeballs Out]

Porte also

 

[BillytheKid]

Can only assume that they don't have the strength to contribute today. There doesn't seem to be any tactical reason for them to sit on.

By the way, Sean Kelly just cracked me up talking about Leipheimer's tactic and his interview.

In Levi's defense today, he is working at the front. But that mouthful from him was funny. He's working now that Tony is dropped.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Peraud and Roche too. Ag2r have two men in the break, but neither of their fringe GC men made it.

 

[Frosty]

Seeing Spilak up there, what's happened to him recently? He won the tour of romandie a few years back (well after Valverde got banned) and doesnt seem to have done much since.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

In Levi's defense today, he is working at the front

I know. I keep rubbing my eyes in disbelief every time I see him roll through to the front.

Actually it's sort of strange that he is working. OPQS have four men in the break. Shouldn't they have the other two working for Levi and Boonen, rather than letting their GC man take pulls?

 

[classicomano]

why isnt Rabofail joining the chase!!!???

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

why isnt Rabofail joining the chase!!!???

They are peaking for the Japan Cup. PN is not important

 

[Frosty]

Bit surprised that the sour sausages got caught out. I would have thought that this was their biggest race of the spring and they would have best team out and really try their best to keep Coppel up there (easier said than done). Maybe they didnt want to commit too many men to the chase at first. Suppose its a similar situation for Cofidis, although maybe they have better hopes in a breakaway than Saur-Sosajun do.

 

[gog...]

Wiggins pushing them on

 

[Thibaut Pinot]

Somebody saw Taaramae somewhere? I hardly see any red in the peloton...

 

[Fetisoff]

Seeing Spilak up there, what's happened to him recently? He won the tour of romandie a few years back (well after Valverde got banned) and doesnt seem to have done much since.

Well it was in 2010. He's done nothing last year, you're right (I think he was injured early on but I could be wrong, maybe just no room for him to do anything over at Lampre).

We'll see how he does this year at Katusha, could flourish or be another bigfail

 

[BillytheKid]

I know. I keep rubbing my eyes in disbelief every time I see him roll through to the front.

Actually it's sort of strange that he is working. OPQS have four men in the break. Shouldn't they have the other two working for Levi and Boonen, rather than letting their GC man take pulls?

He looks a new man. Himself? Or out from under Bruyneel?

 

[Tyke1968]

Thrilling stage best since the big split in the Giro the 30 man escape.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Assuming the lead group stays away, is the GC now a straight battle between Wiggins and Leipheimer? Who else might be able to compete? Valverde?

 

[palmerq]

are the pictures bad for everyone or is it just the stream i am watching?

 

[insideout leadout]

are the pictures bad for everyone or is it just the stream i am watching?

It's french HD.

 

[Fetisoff]

Assuming the lead group stays away, is the GC now a straight battle between Wiggins and Leipheimer? Who else might be able to compete? Valverde?

Van Garderen too, probably.

As for outside shots - Kiserlovski? Spilak? Monfort?

 

[skidmark]

Chavanel, Leipheimer, Monfort, Wiggins, Valverde, Kiserlovski, Van Garderen, and to a lesser extent Jeanneson, Spilak are the big GC winners in the group. If it stays like this I can practically see a podium of Wiggins, Valverde, Leipheimer (Tejay outside shot) at the end of the week. But who knows, there's a lot of unpredictable racing to go, maybe this'll be like P-N 2009...

 

[TeoSheva]

Assuming the lead group stays away, is the GC now a straight battle between Wiggins and Leipheimer? Who else might be able to compete? Valverde?

this should be the podium, but all of them can win. Valverde included

 

[BillytheKid]

are the pictures bad for everyone or is it just the stream i am watching?

Mine's fragged as well.

 

[search]

Somebody saw Taaramae somewhere? I hardly see any red in the peloton...

I think Ghyselinck is the only Cofidis-rider in the peloton, but I'm not sure (he's just the only one I have seen so far)

 

[Richeypen]

Gap starting to come down



slowly

 

[TeoSheva]

flat for Spilak

 

[Richeypen]

Mine's fragged as well.

http://sports-livez.com/channel/ch-7.php

 

[Fetisoff]

flat for Spilak

He's back into the group safely already