Samuel Samu Sanchez official awesomness thread.

[sartoris]

Good Point

At least you agree with yourself in this one

 

[Midnightfright]

At least you agree with yourself in this one

Same avatar different posters. Both members of the we bet on Contador to not race the tour so are stuck with the David rebellin for all of July sub group

 

[craig1985]

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

Both posts were made 6 minutes apart and the two posters both have the same avatar, for a second I thought hrotha was agreeing with himself

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

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

He hasn't given up nor should you.

 

[Duitama]

He hasn't given up nor should you.

Last year after Stage 5 he was 2.25 back on Evans, I still can see him finishing on the podium.

 

[hrotha]

Both posts were made 6 minutes apart and the two posters both have the same avatar, for a second I thought hrotha was agreeing with himself

While I do agree with myself, I'm not The Hog.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Last year after Stage 5 he was 2.25 back on Evans, I still can see him finishing on the podium.

Little bit different this year

 

[Midnightfright]

Little bit different this year

In that cadel is going to win with a 3 minute gap? There will be plenty room on the podium behind Cadel.

 

[phanatic]

Sammy won today's stage the hard way, and likely has a day to recover, so if Andy and Alberto are weaker than last year as they seem to be, Sanchez might run away with this tour and take time on every MTF, if not the stage as well.

 

[The Hitch]

Sammy won today's stage the hard way, and likely has a day to recover, so if Andy and Alberto are weaker than last year as they seem to be, Sanchez might run away with this tour and take time on every MTF, if not the stage as well.

I think Samu is definately stronger than Cadel and Basso.

He also has an awesome kick, espcially after climbs like that.

I feel if he had stayed with the favourites rather than attacked, and gone with Frank Schleck at that 3k mark then he would have made more time than he did today.

Now that hes got his stage win i hope he forgets about that and a starts focusing about taking on Andy and Frank mano a mano on the mountain stages.

Also shove it down the throats of all these no nothings who said hes not even a pre race favourite.


The worst moment of the day was watchingt that bald head in the ES studio take credit for "predicting Samus win" ( he had actually only read out the Samu wants to work with Contador story), after saying that Samu unlike Cuddles isnt someone with the ability to win the Tour.

Our sport needs some real experts.

If mediums were to come onto this forum and pick out 10 random posters their cycling journalism would improve 10 fold.

 

[El Pistolero]

I think Samu is definately stronger than Cadel and Basso.

He also has an awesome kick, espcially after climbs like that.

I feel if he had stayed with the favourites rather than attacked, and gone with Frank Schleck at that 3k mark then he would have made more time than he did today.

Now that hes got his stage win i hope he forgets about that and a starts focusing about taking on Andy and Frank mano a mano on the mountain stages.

Also shove it down the throats of all these no nothings who said hes not even a pre race favourite.


The worst moment of the day was watchingt that bald head in the ES studio take credit for "predicting Samus win" ( he had actually only read out the Samu wants to work with Contador story), after saying that Samu unlike Cuddles isnt someone with the ability to win the Tour.

Our sport needs some real experts.

If mediums were to come onto this forum and pick out 10 random posters their cycling journalism would improve 10 fold.

Take a look at stage 16 and 17 Samu will rock this Tour. He just needs to survive on Plateau de Beille.

 

[The Hitch]

Take a look at stage 16 and 17 Samu will rock this Tour. He just needs to survive on Plateau de Beille.

I dont know how much time he can get on those descents, and those 5 and 6% climbs arent going to get rid of too many riders.

Galibier is a climb for diesels so i think Alpe and the tt are where he needs to get time on Basso and Cuddles.

 

[lancaster]

although spending a while up the road isn't perfect i don't think it will have taken that much more out of him than being in the group of faves.

most of the lead was taken on the descent then he rode Luz at a pretty even pace (ie no accelerations)

not as much time taken as he'd have wanted but a good day out for the Olympic champ.

 

[El Pistolero]

I dont know how much time he can get on those descents, and those 5 and 6% climbs arent going to get rid of too many riders.

Galibier is a climb for diesels so i think Alpe and the tt are where he needs to get time on Basso and Cuddles.

It's a free stage win. Though I think Gilbert will survive and win on stage 16. Stage 17 is for Samu I think. Stage wins are great as well. Samu will take time back in the time trial. Cuddles and Frank are notorious bonkers.

Though I'm really glad Jelle could follow the third best climber in last year's Tour.

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

Now that hes (ed: Samu) got his stage win i hope he forgets about that and a starts focusing about taking on Andy and Frank mano a mano on the mountain stages.

Yessiree. I'd love to see that, like a new and improved Vino.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Recover tomorrow, ride with the favourites Saturday, rolling rest day, rest day, then his 2 big opportunities to get right back in amongst it.

Sammy can TT very well when healthy, I'd love to see him pull up a bit closer and then see what happens in Grenoble.

 

[roundabout]

I dont know how much time he can get on those descents, and those 5 and 6% climbs arent going to get rid of too many riders.

Galibier is a climb for diesels so i think Alpe and the tt are where he needs to get time on Basso and Cuddles.

I think that Pramartino hillock is slightly steeper than the official page suggests.

 

[The Hitch]

Yessiree. I'd love to see that, like a new and improved Vino.

I was just wondering what would have happened had VIno been here.

I think he would have gone with Sammy and Jelle, then attacked 3k from the end, and Samu would follow him and then it would be 50 50 for the stage win.

 

[nvpacchi]

I dont know how much time he can get on those descents, and those 5 and 6% climbs arent going to get rid of too many riders.

Galibier is a climb for diesels so i think Alpe and the tt are where he needs to get time on Basso and Cuddles.

I'd rather have the opposite.

Another stage win and forget the GC. He'll still finish top10 most likely, but stage wins will be remembered.

As Arnout said, everyone remembers Roberto Laiseka triumphed on Luz in 2001, but no one remembers who finished the 2001 Tour in 4th overall place.

I'd like to see Samu take a flyer tomorrow, if the correct opportunity presents itself. Get Izagirre in the break and have them tandem down the Aubisque.

 

[jens_attacks]

epic stuff by sammy.riding at home in the front for the entire luz.now that's something.had balls to attack from long range and he made it.guess what?tomorrow he will attack again,i'm sure of it.he has an amazing form.
if sammy decides not to risk (just like hitch saying) and go instead for a 4th-6th place which means a lot less than attacking everywhere,winning polka dots and winning stages he will lose most of my support.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

epic stuff by sammy.riding at home in the front for the entire luz.now that's something.had balls to attack from long range and he made it.guess what?tomorrow he will attack again,i'm sure of it.he has an amazing form.
if sammy decides not to risk (just like hitch saying) and go instead for a 4th-6th place which means a lot less than attacking everywhere,winning polka dots and winning stages he will lose most of my support.

You're assuming if he goes for GC he can only get 4-6 and I'm not really sure why.

No one other than Andy and a resurgent Bertie is going to drop him in this form, and he may drop a few of the others. There are 2 stages set up for him to get some cheap seconds on a downhill attack, and he's one of the better TTers at the sharp end of the race. A podium is absolutely on for him as it stands tonight.

 

[jens_attacks]

so why not to attack tomorrow?he can take 20 seconds on the climb and a minute on the downhill.he won't lose 1:20 on the 12 km of flat to the finish.plus he will make some more time on basso,he won't get down quick.
i'm sure sammy will try

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

so why not to attack tomorrow?he can take 20 seconds on the climb and a minute on the downhill.he won't lose 1:20 on the 12 km of flat to the finish.plus he will make some more time on basso,he won't get down quick.
i'm sure sammy will try

Because he went deep today and he needs to go deep Saturday. Attacking tomorrow would just be stupid, plain and simple. Whether he's going for the stage or GC, this Tour provides 2 tailor made descent attack opportunities.

As such I would be amazed and horrified if he is stupid enough to go looking for one tomorrow.

 

[nvpacchi]

Because he went deep today and he needs to go deep Saturday. Attacking tomorrow would just be stupid, plain and simple. Whether he's going for the stage or GC, this Tour provides 2 tailor made descent attack opportunities.

As such I would be amazed and horrified if he is stupid enough to go looking for one tomorrow.

Attacking tomorrow would add to his Pyrenean lore. But he has to be sensible about it. If the break is within a reachable distance, and Euskaltel can get a rider in the break to assist him, he would become even more of a legend to the Basque faithful than he already is.

I so hope he goes for it tomorrow, but if not, I'll eagerly be lickin' my chops for the stage to Pinerolo.

 

[The Hitch]

so why not to attack tomorrow?he can take 20 seconds on the climb and a minute on the downhill.he won't lose 1:20 on the 12 km of flat to the finish.plus he will make some more time on basso,he won't get down quick.
i'm sure sammy will try

Which climb are you talking about?

The Aubisque is the main climb but then its a small descend a bit of flat and a small bump to the Solour. From then on its still 34k to the finish and thats not just descending but some flat, then some more descent and 13k of flat.

Its not the usual hc mountian descent when its just down down down.

On the profile it looks like a 20k descent but theres sections of flat there. I dont think Samu could stay away and even if he did, you dont want to be doing a 13k timetrial against the peloton the day before that Plateau stage.