Paris-Nice Stage 7: Nice-Nice

[bianchigirl]

This is where 'Bottle' comes from http://nyvelocity.com/toto

He fetches them, he's pint size and he totally lacks it when it comes to attacking

 

[stefrees]

What a great race that was, the speed was fascinating! Congratulations to all riders who made it to the finish, especially Le Mevel, what a bad luck.



Well it's hard with RK, always the same in the mountains - "Contador attacks!" or "here goes Valverde, Rodrigues!" etc. and then "where the hell is Kreuziger??" But then you look at the GC in Nice (or elswhere) and "who knows how he does it" Kreuziger is just there with the best. For example this time he was the only one really competing with the Spaniards (and there was a lot of good rides there) from the start to the finish. Big mystery

And one more thing on this. Liquigas got here white jersey, green jersey, 2 stage wins, 4. place on GC etc. (simply great). Than on the Tour, there will be not that much stronger Astana or Caisse, but there will be a hell of a stronger Liquigas - add Basso, Pellizotti, Nibali, Szmyd (Bennati)... This is little bit scary!

i cant see basso being invited to the tour? maybe wrong. and they wont all work for each other.

 

[luckyboy]

i cant see basso being invited to the tour? maybe wrong. and they wont all work for each other.

So Basso is going to work for Pellizotti in the Giro and then not go to the Tour?

 

[stefrees]

So Basso is going to work for Pellizotti in the Giro and then not go to the Tour?

i just though he was persona non grata with aso?

 

[Angliru]

What a great race that was, the speed was fascinating! Congratulations to all riders who made it to the finish, especially Le Mevel, what a bad luck.



Well it's hard with RK, always the same in the mountains - "Contador attacks!" or "here goes Valverde, Rodrigues!" etc. and then "where the hell is Kreuziger??" But then you look at the GC in Nice (or elswhere) and "who knows how he does it" Kreuziger is just there with the best. For example this time he was the only one really competing with the Spaniards (and there was a lot of good rides there) from the start to the finish. Big mystery

And one more thing on this. Liquigas got here white jersey, green jersey, 2 stage wins, 4. place on GC etc. (simply great). Than on the Tour, there will be not that much stronger Astana or Caisse, but there will be a hell of a stronger Liquigas - add Basso, Pellizotti, Nibali, Szmyd (Bennati)... This is little bit scary!

You're forgetting Rein Taaramae (Cofidis) who was battling with Contador, Valverde, Sanchez, and Rodriguez till the peloton overtook them.

I agree, Liquigas is looking like one of the deepest teams in the pro ranks. Scary is right! So much talent even before the start of P-N and Tirreno-Adriatico. Bennati getting back to elite sprinter form really brings me joy considering the difficult past 2 years he's had.

 

[Angliru]

I agree. Actually he seems to attack (or try to attack) just few times a year, which is definitely not attractive to much I think one reason is, that he just doesn't have the acceleration (flat/mountains). Second thing is that the competition in GC is just incredible and to do some results is very very hard - so you have to be aware of your abilities and don't play silly games with guys stronger than you are. And third thing is - even if it looks boring sometimes, I'm sure it is little bit different from the saddle, watching Alberto accelerating in front of you on 10% climb

Kreuziger seems to be more of a diesel type of climber in the mode of Basso. He had a pivotal attack in Romandie last year that pretty much won him the race. He simply rode away from everyone. Now as stated when he's matched up with the elite climbers he really can't afford to waste energy on attacks that may leave eventually dangling off the back after the likes of Contador, Valverde and Rodriguez respond.

My point was that normally I would have rated Kreuziger at least a tier above Luis Leon Sanchez in the climbing department. It's quite likely that Kreuziger just wasn't at the height of form the way LL Sanchez was known to be. I recall that initially LL Sanchez wasn't even scheduled by Caisse to ride P-N but he lobbied to be included after showing such great form leading up to it in hopes of being there to defend his 2009 win.

 

[Hugh Januss]

What about those Team Radio Slack studs, moving up two places to get on the podium in the all important Team GC.
Lance must be so proud!

 

[luckyboy]

i just though he was persona non grata with aso?

I don't know - can't find the post, but someone said that riders have generally sat the Tour out for the first year back (from a ban), but then they were allowed in ok. The discussion was about Vino.

Oh here it is - Angliru's post #45

 

[Moondance]

I don't know - can't find the post, but someone said that riders have generally sat the Tour out for the first year back (from a ban), but then they were allowed in ok. The discussion was about Vino.

Oh here it is - Angliru's post #45

I think part of it has to do with Tom Boonen courtroom drama from last year. The ASO tried to ban him, but the judge in the case said that you can't block individual riders on teams you've already invited.

I don't know whether it's precedent setting or anything, but the message was clear.

 

[luckyboy]

Wasn't it the same with Virenque in 99?

Edit: Oh no, that was because they tried to ban him 'too close' to the race. Nevermind.

 

[thehog]

Pure Gold! The team classification!!! (and don't mention Contador)

Team Director Alain Gallopin added, “When we attacked on the last climb, all six of our riders were still in the first peloton.* The good weather helped us to recover.* All of our sick riders feel better now. Without a small mistake in one stage we would even have won the Team’s Classification here.* It can only become better from now on.* We are confident.”

http://www.livestrong.com/teamradioshack/news_team-radioshack-comes-together-paris-nice/

 

[bianchigirl]

A few years ago ASO (under LeBlanc) tried desperately to exclude Virenque when he came back but CAS told them they had to let him ride so the precedent has been set and is clear. I hope Basso is there but - unless he's had a more meaningful relationship with Fuentes - I can't see him having any answers to Contador.

 

[bianchigirl]

Pure Gold! (and don't mention Contador)



Team Director Alain Gallopin added, “When we attacked on the last climb, all six of our riders were still in the first peloton.* The good weather helped us to recover.* All of our sick riders feel better now. Without a small mistake in one stage we would even have won the Team’s Classification here.* It can only become better from now on.* We are confident.”

http://www.livestrong.com/teamradioshack/news_team-radioshack-comes-together-paris-nice/

Comedy gold - or Fool's gold?

 

[Angliru]

A few years ago ASO (under LeBlanc) tried desperately to exclude Virenque when he came back but CAS told them they had to let him ride so the precedent has been set and is clear. I hope Basso is there but - unless he's had a more meaningful relationship with Fuentes - I can't see him having any answers to Contador.

I wasn't putting into doubt Basso's participation since he had voluntarily passed up trying do the Tour last year, I'm assuming to avoid jeopardizing his team's participation. I was referring to Vino whose suspension ended after the Tour had begun so he had no chance of even trying to muscle his way onto Astana's Tour team. I know ASO tried to exclude Boonen but since his violation was not performance related and was also deemed "unintentional" his was a stronger case to argue.

It remains to be seen if there is a controversy regarding Vino. I'm sure ASO would like to see him race an entire season first before allowing him to participate in the Tour but if he feels he's being treated unjustly and has the Virenque case to fall back on to support his cause then ASO may have to reluctantly concede. I believe David Millar also voluntarily sat out the Tour in his first year back from suspension (Someone please correct me if I'm wrong).

 

[cotterpin]

select this

the *** shack sez Conta who??
ASO kept AC out before will they do it again I can see how they left them out of P-R but it sets a bad precedent doesn't it?
I think RS will lead in the shaved head/bald team classification however

 

[BroDeal]

the *** shack sez Conta who??
ASO kept AC out before will they do it again I can see how they left them out of P-R but it sets a bad precedent doesn't it?
I think RS will lead in the shaved head/bald team classification however

Maybe RS can hire Schumacher, AKA "Potato Head", after his suspension. He would match the team's look, and he also supports the team's doping policy.

 

[BroDeal]

It remains to be seen if there is a controversy regarding Vino. I'm sure ASO would like to see him race an entire season first before allowing him to participate in the Tour but if he feels he's being treated unjustly and has the Virenque case to fall back on to support his cause then ASO may have to reluctantly concede. I believe David Millar also voluntarily sat out the Tour in his first year back from suspension (Someone please correct me if I'm wrong).

This is not the old, pre-2009 ASO. The management has been replaced with UCI and dope friendly managers. They have already signaled that Vino will be able to ride by saying that there is nothing in the rules to prevent it. Vino will be at the TdF.

 

[yetanothergreenworld]

Does anyone know if there were any repercussions from Le Mevel's crash on the final descent into Nice? It sure looked to me like Sanchez swerved in front of him and clipped his wheel; I figured that Sanchez would get penalized or something, but so far I've heard nothing.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Prudhomme has already said that Vino is the price the ASO will have to pay, for having Contador at the Tour.
Basso will almost certainly be there, as the Italian David Millar.

 

[Bala Verde]

Does anyone know if there were any repercussions from Le Mevel's crash on the final descent into Nice? It sure looked to me like Sanchez swerved in front of him and clipped his wheel; I figured that Sanchez would get penalized or something, but so far I've heard nothing.

What I (thought I) observed was that Sanchez took over from Lemevel at the front, who subsequently hit his rear wheel (sanchez's) when he tried to move into his slipstream.

 

[BroDeal]

Millar: "...something...something...something...DARKSIDE. Something...something. COMPLETE!"

 

[ratatata]

Winner

Alberto Contador

28h 35' 35" ( 44.941 km/h ) Fastest P-N in History?

 

[taiwan]

Millar: "...something...something...something...DARKSIDE. Something...something. COMPLETE!"

LOL hahahahahaha

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Winner

Alberto Contador

28h 35' 35" ( 44.941 km/h ) Fastest P-N in History?

Yup.
And then they say cycling is getting cleaner

 

[python]

This is not the old, pre-2009 ASO. The management has been replaced with UCI and dope friendly managers. They have already signaled that Vino will be able to ride by saying that there is nothing in the rules to prevent it. Vino will be at the TdF.

pretty much the case and the fact. now, it does not mean vino can't do something a capricious aso wont dislike. but vino is not italian. he tried once to play over the uci head (hint: the olympics), failed, and as any smart person he learned to play the game.