Paris-Nice: STAGE 4 - Maurs -Mende 173.5 km

[BroDeal]

The good news is that those numbers aren't by any means "extraterrestrial." They are excellent as befitting the current best cyclist in the World, but they are most certainly not outside of the realm of unassisted human possibility.

They are outrageously good for March. What will they be in July?

 

[BikeCentric]

They are outrageously good for March. What will they be in July?

Heh, good point. I'm trying to be optimistic here Bro!

 

[Cerberus]

I didn't have the opportunity to watch the race but did Voigt get any help from the rest of Saxo Bank? I was a bit underwhelmed by what I saw on the highlights. It seemed like Voigt had to do all the work defending his jersey himself, and I would have thought that at least Frank Schleck and possibly also Fuglsang and Sørensen should have been able to help him. He couldn't have held of Contador of cause, but he might have been able to hang on to second place with better support. It probably doesn't mean anything beyond the fact that it's early in the season, but I was still a bit disappointed.

 

[Jamsque]

I didn't have the opportunity to watch the race but did Voigt get any help from the rest of Saxo Bank? I was a bit underwhelmed by what I saw on the highlights. It seemed like Voigt had to do all the work defending his jersey himself, and I would have thought that at least Frank Schleck and possibly also Fuglsang and Sørensen should have been able to help him. He couldn't have held of Contador of cause, but he might have been able to hang on to second place with better support. It probably doesn't mean anything beyond the fact that it's early in the season, but I was still a bit disappointed.

According to the tickers Saxo were chasing early in the stage to make sure that the break did not get too far down the road, but you are right that in the finale Voigt was all alone.

 

[BroDeal]

Astana was on the front nearly the whole time the vid feeds went live. This only changed when it was obvious the break was done for. At that point Astana eased off, and Saxo helped with the pace making a little but by that time they were nearly at the final climb. Contador went from near the bottom. From then on it was every man for himself. I don't recall seeing any Saxo helping Voight. It seems like F. Schleck had the ability to help pace Voight since at the end Schleck looked like he rode well within himself and he finished 25 secs adrift of Voight.

 

[python]

Alberto Contador @ La Croix Neuve

Distance: 3,1 km
Elevation: 313 m
Grade: 10,1 %
Time: 9.57
Speed: 18.69 Kph

Relative power (Watts/kg) = VAM (meters/hour) / Gradient Factor x 100)
VAM: 1887 m/h
Gradient Factor: 3.01 x 100 = 301

VAM 1887 m/h / Gradient Factor 301 = 6,27
Relative power (Watts/kg) = 6,27 Watts/kg

Contador's weight = 64 kg

64 kg * 6,27 Watts/kg = 401 Watts

Sources: halamala & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velocity_Ascended,_Metres_per_hour

thanx. looks sane to me .

it's a comment on the accuracy, not watt plausibility.

one thing needs to be stressed - at the end contador took off his leggings and shed everything else he safely could not because he was hot.

he dropped about 1kg of sweaty textiles and plastics he did not need wasting watts on. simply put - an instant 1.5% improvement in watts/kg.

thats how winning riders (contador) ride and why whining riders (levi) whine.

 

[thehog]

They are outrageously good for March. What will they be in July?

Bro it looked like Tommy Voeckler was well hydrated on yesterday’s stage Could you comment? Do you think he knows how to hydrate like some other riders?

 

[auscyclefan94]

Does anyone think the CN article "Contador climbs to crushing win" a bit over the top? A good win but he won by 10secs!

 

[Sasquatch]

Does anyone think the CN article "Contador climbs to crushing win" a bit over the top? A good win but he won by 10secs!

Hell yeah!!!

 

[thehog]

Does anyone think the CN article "Contador climbs to crushing win" a bit over the top? A good win but he won by 10secs!

Did you see the stage? Kept on keeping on. Watch the last 1km. He keep pushing when the chasers were gaining. Crushing.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Did you see the stage? Kept on keeping on. Watch the last 1km. He keep pushing when the chasers were gaining. Crushing.

Sorry I'm allergic to bull****!

 

[Angliru]

Does anyone think the CN article "Contador climbs to crushing win" a bit over the top? A good win but he won by 10secs!

I'd say he "crushed" the hopes of Voigt, Leipheimer and LL Sanchez. That's Saxo, Shack and Caisse, three of the strongest teams in the race, although Valverde replaced LL Sanchez as Caisse's highest ranking threat. Shack and Saxo have no one left to threaten Contador for the overall although, as often mentioned, in Paris-Nice it's far from over until the end of the last stage.

Of course Leipheimer was cold so should there be a sudden warm spell in the next couple of days surely he will be reborn and storm to an emphatic come from behind victory.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Valverde I think will have gained some real self belief from the vuelta last year, he'll be very close to this year's tour podium.

 

[Angliru]

Valverde I think will have gained some real self belief from the vuelta last year, he'll be very close to this year's tour podium.

I'd say the same applies to Sammie Sanchez. Both should be in the battle for the podium. Sanchez though worries me with his yo-yoing on the climbs. First he's dropped and then he battles back. Its lately been his signature. I guess whatever works.

 

[ravens]

Do you think he'll simply announce his retirement prior to the Tour? I believe that if he feels he's not going to be able to compete at the level that he had hoped, he will bail. He won't do the "team thing" and show up and work for Leipheimer. He'll have a tearful press conference, repeating that 7 is just as good as 8 and that he's picking Leipheimer to win the Tour--just without his help.

No. I think he will announce an injury or illness or Radio Shack will kill him.