Samuel Samu Sanchez official awesomness thread.

[Sylvester]

Q: Which week of a GT suits Samu best?
A: The third week.

Q: When will other contenders lose a lot of time?
A: During the third week.

Q: Will Samuel Sanchez target the polka dots?
A: No, he won't. Not in a million years.

Q: Will Contador and Sanchez work together whenever they can?
A: That's very likely.

Q: Will Euskaltel finish last in today's TTT and lose over a minute to ALL other teams?
A: I don't think so.

Q: Is Sanchez' Tour over?
A: NO WAY

 

[jens_attacks]

1:20 is nothing.when alberto will attack on tourmalet the third guy on the stage will come at 2-3 minutes,that one could be sammy.

 

[theyoungest]

Q: Which week of a GT suits Samu best?
A: The third week.

Q: When will other contenders lose a lot of time?
A: During the third week.

Q: Will Samuel Sanchez target the polka dots?
A: No, he won't. Not in a million years.

Q: Will Contador and Sanchez work together whenever they can?
A: That's very likely.

Q: Will Euskaltel finish last in today's TTT and lose over a minute to ALL other teams?
A: I don't think so.

Q: Is Sanchez' Tour over?
A: NO WAY

Last year, in his famous third week, Sanchez gained about a minute max on his various rivals for the podium, before the final TT. So a likely gap of two minutes seems pretty huge. That being said, this year's third week seems to be quite a bit harder.

 

[Midnightfright]

Maybe he could now work as Contadors super-domestique.

 

[Lanark]

Let's not exeggerate. It's never a good thing to lose a lot of time in the first 2 stages, but in the end it probably won't matter more than 1 place in the GC. If that means you finish 5th instead of 4th it's a shame of course, but it's not the difference between a good and a bad Tour. He is not suddenly going to ride in Contador's service.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Meh, I don't entirely agree. Samu and Contador know the rules. It is **** when something like this happens to your favourite rider but that's cycling. I certainly can empathise with you. I certainly do feel sorry for you. It certainly sucks when this **** happens. But Samu needs to pick himself up, rally the team and look to attack. It is only the 1st day.

If _____ hadn't happened, Cadel would have won _____.

It's an almost ubiquitous sentence, at least referring in the past tense since he's worked out how to actually win things now. So yea, I'm pretty sure you can empathise!

 

[Ramira]

If Samuel Sanchez can recapture the form he had last year (and there's no reason to say he can't), I very much doubt he's worried about losing a little over a minute.

At the end of last year's tour Samu was 3 minutes ahead of the number 5 while injured and with Menchov not present this year he is still the front runner for the third podium place in my mind.

How about we wait for next thursday before we start dooming one of the best grand tour riders of the moment because he lost a bit of time which he might well take back on everyone but Contador and Schlecklet the first time we get to the high mountains.

 

[US Patent Exploding Cyclist]

If Samuel Sanchez can recapture the form he had last year (and there's no reason to say he can't), I very much doubt he's worried about losing a little over a minute.

At the end of last year's tour Samu was 3 minutes ahead of the number 5 while injured and with Menchov not present this year he is still the front runner for the third podium place in my mind.

How about we wait for next thursday before we start dooming one of the best grand tour riders of the moment because he lost a bit of time which he might well take back on everyone but Contador and Schlecklet the first time we get to the high mountains.

I don't agree with this statement. At this point he can't be the front runner for 3rd as Evans, Gesink, VDB2, and Basso all have over a minute on him and they should all be able to gain more time today. (In this scenario I am assuming Contador is at least top 2)

I would love to see him go for the Polka Dot jersey. It would be great to see that jersey fly up and scream down mountains.

 

[Ramira]

I don't agree with this statement. At this point he can't be the front runner for 3rd as Evans, Gesink, VDB2, and Basso all have over a minute on him and they should all be able to gain more time today. (In this scenario I am assuming Contador is at least top 2)

I would love to see him go for the Polka Dot jersey. It would be great to see that jersey fly up and scream down mountains.

How can Gesink (who was 6 minutes behind him last year) and VDB2 (who was 3 minutes behind last year) and Basso (who's coming back from a crash and hasn't shown anything yet) be favourites over him because they have a minute on him. If Evans is on top form I could see him be a serious threat but the others have to show me something next thursday before I will believe they can beat Samu.

 

[US Patent Exploding Cyclist]

How can Gesink (who was 6 minutes behind him last year) and VDB2 (who was 3 minutes behind last year) and Basso (who's coming back from a crash and hasn't shown anything yet) be favourites over him because they have a minute on him. If Evans is on top form I could see him be a serious threat but the others have to show me something next thursday before I will believe they can beat Samu.

I'm not saying the other riders are definetly going to beat SS, but I think starting over a minute behind (again this is expected to grow today) throws him out of the favorite for 3rd place. The gap at the end of today will not be insurmountable but it will be enough to not be a lock for top 3.

The KOM statement was not to say Samu's tour is over, that is just me being selfish and wanting a rider I root for go for that prize. I would rather Sammy get KOM than top 5 overall. Just my preference...

 

[theyoungest]

How can Gesink (who was 6 minutes behind him last year) and VDB2 (who was 3 minutes behind last year) and Basso (who's coming back from a crash and hasn't shown anything yet) be favourites over him because they have a minute on him. If Evans is on top form I could see him be a serious threat but the others have to show me something next thursday before I will believe they can beat Samu.

Lol. In recent years, Evans hasn't managed to keep up with any of those guys (and certainly not with Samu) in the high mountains, so why he should be the main threat is beyond me.

 

[Ramira]

Ok I guess we just differ in opinion there then. That being said I'd love to see Samu go for the mountain jersey, that would really open up the race but with how devalued the jersey has gotten lately I doubt someone of his stature would go for it.

 

[US Patent Exploding Cyclist]

how devalued the jersey has gotten lately

That is the exact reason why I want a "name" to go for it.

 

[greenedge]

Good luck Samu i want to see your attacking flair. Again awesome thread(s)

 

[The Hitch]

If Samuel Sanchez can recapture the form he had last year (and there's no reason to say he can't), I very much doubt he's worried about losing a little over a minute.

At the end of last year's tour Samu was 3 minutes ahead of the number 5 while injured and with Menchov not present this year he is still the front runner for the third podium place in my mind.

How about we wait for next thursday before we start dooming one of the best grand tour riders of the moment because he lost a bit of time which he might well take back on everyone but Contador and Schlecklet the first time we get to the high mountains.

2 minutes 20 to his podium rivals is not a little over 1 minute.

Its also a major pscych blow to actually have to earn your time while everyone else gets it for free.

Most importantly he is all on his own while everyone of his rivals has a team behind them.

It would take a Landis to get Samu back into any sort of contention.

 

[jobiwan]

2 minutes 20 to his podium rivals is not a little over 1 minute.

Its also a major pscych blow to actually have to earn your time while everyone else gets it for free.

Most importantly he is all on his own while everyone of his rivals has a team behind them.

It would take a Landis to get Samu back into any sort of contention.

Don't lose faith, Hitch!

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

2 minutes 20 to his podium rivals is not a little over 1 minute.

Its also a major pscych blow to actually have to earn your time while everyone else gets it for free.

Most importantly he is all on his own while everyone of his rivals has a team behind them.

It would take a Landis to get Samu back into any sort of contention.

It is looking harder and harder for samu.

I think he is good enough to get the time back on most of the guys, but the time he is trailing puts him in a poor tactical position. It will be a tall task I concede, but he should't give up.

He will top 5 I think, I haven't discounted the podium either.

I personally can't wait for the cadel lovers' bubble to burst when they hit the cols.

 

[nvpacchi]

2 minutes 20 to his podium rivals is not a little over 1 minute.

Its also a major pscych blow to actually have to earn your time while everyone else gets it for free.

Most importantly he is all on his own while everyone of his rivals has a team behind them.

It would take a Landis to get Samu back into any sort of contention.

Personally I see it the opposite way. The fact that he has something to aim for puts the pressure on the shoulders of Gesink, Evans, VDB2, Basso, etc.

They will see Sanchez slowly but surely gaining back time, and will keep looking over their shoulders (metaphorically speaking) in angst.

 

[greenedge]

Timmy you live in Melbourne. Why not go for your fellow Victorian. Also i think every " Cadellover " realises he will lose time in the cols, we just don't know how much???

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

I like a some aussies, but cadel isn't one of them.
Never liked his whinning, or his approach in GTs.

I prefer dutch riders anyway

i know how much, tons

but alas I will drop it, and we are just going to have to wait..

 

[Sylvester]

2 minutes 20 to his podium rivals is not a little over 1 minute.

Its also a major pscych blow to actually have to earn your time while everyone else gets it for free.

Most importantly he is all on his own while everyone of his rivals has a team behind them.

It would take a Landis to get Samu back into any sort of contention.

Nonsense. Euskaltel will be of more use for Samu in the mountains than OPL for VDB. Verdugo, Txurruka and Velasco are in good shape, Egoi Martinez is a former Vuelta top 10 rider, they will do just fine.

 

[hrotha]

Meh, I can't feel pity for Samu. All these years he dediced to stay at Euskaltel, where he probably got a bit too comfortable on his throne. If he wanted a stronger team, he could have found one easily.

 

[just some guy]

Meh, I can't feel pity for Samu. All these years he dediced to stay at Euskaltel, where he probably got a bit too comfortable on his throne. If he wanted a stronger team, he could have found one easily.

Good Point

 

[Parrulo]

I personally can't wait for the cadel lovers' bubble to burst when they hit the cols.

word

10 char

 

[The Hitch]

It was sad to see Samu waste so much energy for nothing today.