SHACK ATTACK: Radioshack fail dismally!

[roundabout]

I would say that naming Evans as a bigger threat is writing Schleck off.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Andy Schleck finished this years prologue almost exactly the same amount of time behind Contador - ~40-50 secs - as last year's prologue. I don't understand why this year's prologue should be any more an indication of his form than last year's???

There was no prologue last year. It was a 15k TT with a hill in it.

 

[alberto.legstrong]

I would say that naming Evans as a bigger threat is writing Schleck off.

No, I am not writing Andy off. Still a long way to go and he still has a good team. Anything can happen.

Changing subject (does a thread already exist for this question?):
Who are the pre-race GC guys who CAN be or definitely ARE written off?

 

[scribe]

Today was an indication of desperation for the Shack.
They rode 100kms at the front of the peloton.
Why?
Hoping for a crosswind that never looked like materialising.

IMO, A pretty good indication that Lance doesn't think he can climb his way back into contention over Contador, Schleck or Cuddles.
Not really a surprise.

Radioshack was protecting the yellow jersey. They are riding for Saxo Bank now.

 

[ManInFull]

+ pancake flat vs. climbing

I *believe* that this year's ITT is pancake flat and over 50K. That hurts AS and AC.

 

[ManInFull]

Today was an indication of desperation for the Shack.
They rode 100kms at the front of the peloton.
Why?
Hoping for a crosswind that never looked like materialising.

IMO, A pretty good indication that Lance doesn't think he can climb his way back into contention over Contador, Schleck or Cuddles.
Not really a surprise.

Interesting observation. I'm new to the forums--who is Cuddles? Is it Cadel?

 

[Hugh Januss]

No, I am not writing Andy off. Still a long way to go and he still has a good team. Anything can happen.

Changing subject (does a thread already exist for this question?):
Who are the pre-race GC guys who CAN be or definitely ARE written off?

Frank Schleck and Vande Velde are almost certainly out of the running.

 

[Publicus]

I *believe* that this year's ITT is pancake flat and over 50K. That hurts AS and AC.

The was in reference to a question why Andy's 42 second loss in this year's prologue is more meaningful than his similar 42 second loss last year. The pancake flat final TT (52KM) hurts them both, but AC less.

 

[scribe]

Interesting observation. I'm new to the forums--who is Cuddles? Is it Cadel?

Him slap you for that!!

 

[alberto.legstrong]

Frank Schleck and Vande Velde are almost certainly out of the running.

OK, so now I have 3:
FS
CVV
and Cav....

Who else?

 

[saganftw]

OK, so now I have 3:
FS
CVV
and Cav....

Who else?

cunego...since 2004

 

[flicker]

Today was an indication of desperation for the Shack.
They rode 100kms at the front of the peloton.
Why?
Hoping for a crosswind that never looked like materialising.

IMO, A pretty good indication that Lance doesn't think he can climb his way back into contention over Contador, Schleck or Cuddles.
Not really a surprise.

BMC/SAXO/SHACK tag team Vs. ASTANA, whatya think? I saw Vino hiding in the bunch today.

 

[Maxiton]

BMC/SAXO/SHACK tag team Vs. ASTANA, whatya think? I saw Vino hiding in the bunch today.

Sounds like a likely prospect. Even before the Tour started I thought Lance and Bruyneel would try to leverage their connections to assist Lance. (Don't they always do that?) In this case they've got Ochowicz and Rihs on the BMC side, who probably have their own reasons for helping Lance where they can; while with Saxo they have a team owner desperate for help getting a new sponsor. So, yeah, a Shack/BMC/Saxo triumvirate sounds very much like something that could happen. One things for sure: you'll see Radio Shack teaming up with someone if they stay in the race.

 

[scribe]

Sounds like a likely prospect. Even before the Tour started I thought Lance and Bruyneel would try to leverage their connections to assist Lance. (Don't they always do that?) In this case they've got Ochowicz and Rihs on the BMC side, who probably have their own reasons for helping Lance where they can; while with Saxo they have a team owner desperate for help getting a new sponsor. So, yeah, a Shack/BMC/Saxo triumvirate sounds very much like something that could happen.

Cadel and Schleck both should be liking their prospects against Armstrong as opposed to Contador at this point. Quite frankly, Armstrong has the mountain mules they really need.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Sounds like a likely prospect. Even before the Tour started I thought Lance and Bruyneel would try to leverage their connections to assist Lance. (Don't they always do that?) In this case they've got Ochowicz and Rihs on the BMC side, who probably have their own reasons for helping Lance where they can; while with Saxo they have a team owner desperate for help getting a new sponsor. So, yeah, a Shack/BMC/Saxo triumvirate sounds very much like something that could happen. One things for sure: you'll see Radio Shack teaming up with someone if they stay in the race.

In what situation could this materialize? Work together to drop Contador on a climb? On a crosswind? Where?

 

[hrotha]

BMC/SAXO/SHACK tag team Vs. ASTANA, whatya think? I saw Vino hiding in the bunch today.

That sort of thing never happens. If a team can't beat Contador on their own, they'll go for 2nd, and thus be forced to attack and chase the other teams in that unholy alliance of yours.

It's all talk for the press, it never materalizes on the road.

 

[lancewillwin8]

Just wait until Team radioshack hits the high mountains. Lance will have Levi, Kloden, Jani, Horner, Popo with him, while contador and schleck will have no one.

 

[scribe]

I lol whenever I see that username.

 

[BYOP88]

The only way I see those teams working against Contador is if he gets dropped on a climb. I don't think BMC have a good enough team for the mountains and Schleck wont want to tow Armstrong around the mountains just incase Armstrong pulls a rabbit out the hat for the last ITT. And even if these teams did gang up on Contador I'm sure some spanish team(s) would help out Astana, hello Caisse d'Epargne.

 

[scribe]

That sort of thing never happens. If a team can't beat Contador on their own, they'll go for 2nd, and thus be forced to attack and chase the other teams in that unholy alliance of yours.

It's all talk for the press, it never materalizes on the road.

I don't know. Position in peloton, lead up to the mountain, position within the selection. It's very subtle but highly likely when there are converging interests.

 

[scribe]

The only way I see those teams working against Contador is if he gets dropped on a climb. I don't think BMC have a good enough team for the mountains and Schleck wont want to tow Armstrong around the mountains just incase Armstrong pulls a rabbit out the hat for the last ITT. And even if these teams did gang up on Contador I'm sure some spanish team(s) would help out Astana, hello Caisse d'Epargne.

"Contador is my friend. I tried to hand him my water bottle and Armstrong swept it from my hand."

 

[Anonymous]

Just wait until Team radioshack hits the high mountains. Lance will have Levi, Kloden, Jani, Horner, Popo with him, while contador and schleck will have no one.

You are correct, LA will have all these guys with him.

The problem is that LA will be 1:30 behind AC & ASchleck in the high mountains.

 

[Maxiton]

Cadel and Schleck both should be liking their prospects against Armstrong as opposed to Contador at this point. Quite frankly, Armstrong has the mountain mules they really need.

You mean Armstrong has the mules Schleck and Cadel need? Or are you saying that Armstrong doesn't need the other teams' help because he already help the other teams are envious of?

In what situation could this materialize? Work together to drop Contador on a climb? On a crosswind? Where?

Remember Paris-Nice last year? Where many riders attacked Contador and he blew himself up by covering every attack, thereby losing the race? Granted, his DS should have given him better direction on the road (I think they wanted him to lose in order to diminish his confidence), and this year his director is actually working for him; but I doubt that even Contador can cover the attacks from these three teams if they are working together and he is isolated in the mountains.

That sort of thing never happens. If a team can't beat Contador on their own, they'll go for 2nd, and thus be forced to attack and chase the other teams in that unholy alliance of yours.

It's all talk for the press, it never materalizes on the road.

Those kinds of behind the scenes deals are never really discussed in the open, but I'm sure they happen all the time. I think Riis and Bruyneel have some history together doing deals in grand tours, just to cite one example.

 

[lancewillwin8]

You are correct, LA will have all these guys with him.

The problem is that LA will be 1:30 behind AC & ASchleck in the high mountains.

The champ will have his ferrari engines finely tuned for the alps. Contador without the bruyneel is the one you need to worry about.

 

[hrotha]

I don't know. Position in peloton, lead up to the mountain, position within the selection. It's very subtle but highly likely when there are converging interests.

Yes, but my point is that their interests will diverge sooner rather than later.