Stage 8: Station des Rousses - Morzine-Avoriaz 189km

[auscyclefan94]

evans!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Anonymous]

MAybe we're entering into an era of actual racing again.

That would be refreshing.

 

[bobs nob]

Going for a ride, then a showr, maybe go out for lunch. Hope to see LA come in when I get home.

 

[The Hitch]

Hey, Thee Chisa, want to rethink that Samuel Sanchez thing? He's getting better and better.

2 Footon guys finishing up there. Nice to see.

and menchov too. 5th atm. THee chisa predicted they would be out of top 10

 

[luckyboy]

Andy's gonna need a lot more than 9 seconds in the rest of the mountains.

Chapeau though.

 

[Cerberus]

Is it possible Conti is just "acting"?

I don't think so, you don't throw away perfectly good GC time to throw your competitors of the scent. it's not like anyone is going to let Contador go and not mark him because he lost 10 seconds.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Well, that finish suggests we might now have a very interesting, Lance free Tour.
Contador not almighty and most of the names still in the mix.

A very ordinary stage, if you take out the historical news, though.

 

[sportzchick]

evans!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Im going to enjoy it whilest it last

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Beautiful win by Andy.

He took a beating after his performance at the ToC, but he's having a fantastic Tour.

What a relief that we're actually going to see a damn race, rather than a group ride behind the Astana train.

 

[Thee_chisa]

and menchov too. 5th atm. THee chisa predicted they would be out of top 10

first big mountains. i stand by my predictions

 

[Kwibus]

Cadel was caught off guard when the attacks went.

Haha. Your a true fanboy He just couldn't handle it obviously.

 

[The Hitch]

Andy's gonna need a lot more than 9 seconds in the rest of the mountains.

Chapeau though.

its like 40.

 

[RdBiker]

Is it possible Conti is just "acting"?

Didn't really need to go after AS so late in the stage and waste energy for such a little gain, or that is my opinion. As said, Evans is his main rival now as Armstrong is out of the race.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I think conti and others were caught off guard a bit also.

 

[Jamsque]

Cadel was caught off guard when the attacks went.

He was well placed, he just looked cooked. He's done incredibly well this first week to get himself in to yellow, and by doing so I think he has made BMC's first tour a huge success.

I really think he will struggle to defend it on Tuesday, though. If AC and AS decide to make things difficult on the Col de la Madeleine I would be surprised if Evans has the legs to go with them.

 

[Anonymous]

Is it possible Conti is just "acting"?

No, he got DROPPED. He tried to cover and it wasn't there.

One thing to note though is that Contador had covered every move to that point, and Andy was sitting in. I would say now that the tactics changing to Contador following Andy could produce a gap for Andy on another stage. The pressure for Contador just eased in the sense that he no longer has to ride like the leader of the Tour. That moves to Andy, and we will see how he handles it.

Not taking away from Cadel being in yellow, but when they get to the high mountains, he will pop off the back just because he has to grind.

 

[Cerberus]

evans!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think you're trying to tell us something but I can't figure out what. Is the colour a clue?

 

[Parrot23]

Question now:

Can Bertie and Evans hang close enough on climbs to Andy to get the edge in TT?

 

[Kwibus]

Lets take this opportunity to praise Armstrong for a fantastic career.

At almost 39 he can be extremely proud of giving it a go and everything he has done for the sport.

What say you, chaps?

I totally agree. He's 39 so there is no shame. Great career

 

[Publicus]

I think Armstrong is just bluffing. He's going to go in the break a la Landis and win it all.

 

[luckyboy]

its like 40.

I know, but he's gonna need to take more than 9 seconds on each mountain stage. He'll need like 2 minutes come the final TT.

 

[Race Radio]

Lots of suffer today, nobody looked comfortable. May hard days to come and the possibility of bad days/good days for many.

Still a very open race.

 

[happychappy]

evans!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Will he be able to wheelsuck all the way to Paris?

 

[superconfex]

Great (GREAT) ride by two Footon boys...so there not the worse team ever to enter tdf... i make it ANC

 

[bobs nob]

How far down is that wild boar?