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

[DamonAlbarn]

Contador is telling porkies!!

Here's a quote from the Velonews story that is in English:



So I'll go with this quote over the google translated one.

Some more quotes:





http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/07/news/alberto-contador-%E2%80%98andy-schleck-is-most-dangerous-rival%E2%80%99-at-the-tour-de-france_128182?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=VN

Allegedly he DECIDED not to chase according to the oracles that inhabit these shores. They should really put poor Albert in his place and tell him to edit his twitter.

 

[Publicus]

Allegedly he DECIDED not to chase according to the oracles that inhabit these shores. They should really put poor Albert in his place and tell him to edit his twitter.

Jeebus dude, give it a rest already. We have the quote from the horses mouth in English (I assume it was translated correctly), debate is over.

 

[DamonAlbarn]

Finally we can agree on something

Saxo may be weak, but AC was not stronger than Shleck today. Anyone that thinks otherwise is deluding themselves. Perhaps tomorrow will be different, but today Andy was the strongest. End of story.

The Saxo's were weak indeed.

 

[Galic Ho]

On current evidence I can't see the AC lovefest materialise sorry!
Jokes and togging todgers aside, this is going to be a very good race, I think we can all agree on that.
Let the fun beging, and perhaps some of us may have egg on our faces afterwards....

Deal?

Deal. I altered my post so go reread it. I was a bit harsh on you. My apologies. I'm really happy, Been saying for months that Samu would be a contender, so to Menchov and Rodriguez. They all shone today. So did my no.1 Liquigas guy, Kreuziger.

The best judge of a riders form is the rider himself. Contador has won more than enough races to know what he is doing.

Once Navarro dropped everyone looked to Alberto to make the moves. A wise rider would realise at that stage without a major kick in the gradient his chances of winning weren't going to be crash hot. Good for Roman to make a move when he did. He caught everyone sleeping. Andy's move was the smart one, even better he let the guy who caught him do the last work and then pounced. Too bad for that cramp.

Not that I care. I have AC, AS, DM, CE and SS in my fantasy team. Big points today.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

I thought it quite clear that Contador could not follow Schleck's attack.

 

[rhubroma]

The Saxo's were weak indeed.

Indeed. Yes, yes, quite true. (Are we comunicating?)

 

[richwagmn]

I thought it quite clear that Contador could not follow Schleck's attack.

Yep, said as much. He had been the one chasing prior to that too.

I think it's fair to say AC doesn't seem to have the top end right now that we've seen in the past. Lets see how he does in week 3.

 

[Galic Ho]

Yes, you are.

Did you watch the stage or read forums and twitter accounts? I still have over 30 pages to read on this thread and I am yet to see any rider comments. Of course I am sprouting an opinion. Fact is 10 seconds means little. Why didn't everyone else chase Andy? Why is everyone focusing on AC and earlier Lance's shocker? Because they are the big names. People should be paying attention to Dennis Menchov, Kreuziger and Sastre. They are hardly being mentioned.

 

[D Avoid]

Vino absolutely sacrificed himself today. I hope the haters are watching this.

They will watch it later, some of them were to busy trying to keep up with him in real time .

 

[Publicus]

I thought it quite clear that Contador could not follow Schleck's attack.

That's what he said.

I didn’t quite have the punch in my legs to react when Andy attacked,” Contador said at the finish. “Last year, Andy put me on the ropes. Now it’s obvious that he will be my most dangerous rival this year.”

 

[Cerberus]

NWM, misunderstood something.

 

[Publicus]

Yep, said as much. He had been the one chasing prior to that too.

I think it's fair to say AC doesn't seem to have the top end right now that we've seen in the past. Lets see how he does in week 3.

That's what I am expecting. I think a lot of folks expect Verbier every time their is a MTF. I think he is aiming to peak in the Pyrenees where the gaps will be larger.

 

[DamonAlbarn]

Problem is noone gives an inch!

Jeebus dude, give it a rest already. We have the quote from the horses mouth in English (I assume it was translated correctly), debate is over.

I would love to own up if I had posted something ridiculous and was evidently wrong, and I would love to pay for a pint or two, but people on here despite saying something really stupid, don't own up and that's my main beef.

 

[Publicus]

We have a machine translation - the very same translation also says he could hardly breathe (or seemed to at least). You don't get much less authoritative than that.

Besides Contador saying something (if indeed he did) doesn't make it so. Andy declared he was the worlds best climber after a stage where Contador out climbed him, that didn't make that true.

AC is a pretty straight shooter regarding what happens on a stage. He may sandbag at the start of a race, but if he doesn't have it, he says he didn't have it.

If you didn't see the quote from the Velonews article, he says he didn't have the kick in his legs to respond. That's pretty authoritative.

 

[Cerberus]

AC is a pretty straight shooter regarding what happens on a stage. He may sandbag at the start of a race, but if he doesn't have it, he says he didn't have it.

If you didn't see the quote from the Velonews article, he says he didn't have the kick in his legs to respond. That's pretty authoritative.

You're right, I thought we were still talking about the machinetranslation. I edited to a NWM when I realized I was wrong.

 

[DamonAlbarn]

But buttom of the line is...

some riders aren't where they should be form wise, so it's still early doors as for the overall. Everything could change within a week....

 

[Publicus]

some riders aren't where they should be form wise, so it's still early doors as for the overall. Everything could change within a week....

It's the end of the first week. Still 2 weeks to go. If you peaked for this stage, you are in trouble.

 

[DamonAlbarn]

absolutely, spot on!

It's the end of the first week. Still 2 weeks to go. If you peaked for this stage, you are in trouble.

Unless of course you are one of the freaks that are able to maintain the form for yonks (not a Cinic hint btw)

 

[ulrikmm]

Incredible how people on this forum think that their favorite riders win the tour de France by "saving energy", and finish a bit later than the main GC opponents.

Yesterday it was a rider from Geriatric Shack that "saved energy" (Klöden), today Contador "saved energy" at the low price of 10 measly GC seconds.

For clarification (TDF for Dummies): the winner of the Tour de France is the one, that used the least amount of seconds for the ride. Not the one that used the least amount of energy.

Look at the riders on TV: if they look cooked and on the limit, the reason probably is that they are near the limit. Yesterday my little favorite Fuglsang cooked, and again today. Sad but true It was clearly visible.

 

[top_tenz_finish]

Not that I care. I have AC, AS, DM, CE and SS in my fantasy team. Big points today.

Me too!!

I think being in 2nd place all up that climb and near the front with the apparent wind factors may well have meant Contador didn't feel quite at his best. I do think though that he could have gone with Schleck if he really, really wanted to and in fact he did begin to match him. Perhaps then he weighed up his options, the distance left wasn't very much, time loss would be minimal and so would it be worth his while to go? Extra energy expended, well that could be recouped tomorrow, but then what about the psychological factor? Schleck is boosted by the win, everyone is now looking at Contador and wondering whether he has chinks in his formerly gleaming armour. Matching Schleck and Sanchez may well not have brought a win, the 'sprints' at the end are in some ways lucky. This wouldn't have been a stamping of authority so then what would the real benefits be? Sometimes it is good for your rivals to think you have a bit of weakness, it can play into your hands.

Who knows though, not convinced that that is the case..

 

[santacruz]

If only Schleck believed in himself earlier and attacked AC with longer to go in the climb... I bet he didn't think for a second AC couldn't follow him. GO ANDY GOOOOOO!!!

 

[Cobblestones]

If only Schleck believed in himself earlier and attacked AC with longer to go in the climb... I bet he didn't think for a second AC couldn't follow him. GO ANDY GOOOOOO!!!

He's probably thinking along this line. Then again, Bertie wasn't alone until the very end.

It'll be interesting to see whether Andy will attack earlier on the next mountain stage. He's in a situation where he could really benefit from having Frank there.

 

[Publicus]

He's probably thinking along this line. Then again, Bertie wasn't alone until the very end.

It'll be interesting to see whether Andy will attack earlier on the next mountain stage. He's in a situation where he could really benefit from having Frank there.

I agree. He's going to really miss Frank over the next few days.

 

[bobs nob]

off topic

wife just called from work. after asking where our son is it was straight down to business: she wanted a complete rundown. who won? where did AC end up? AS beat him and AC couldn't counter? Really? How did Lance do? How did Lance do? he crumbl-- Tellme about it... What are the announcers going on about? 12 minutes? Yeah he finished like 50- What about FC? What about the guy who won yesterday[Chavanel]? How about that polka dot guy?

My son was outside (9 years old) with neighbor practicing their time trialing on my son's road-bike, complete with notebook to record times.

these are the good times

 

[Lady Luck]

I don't think 2009 Contador would have gotten dropped at the end like that. In fact if memory serves me correct AC choose the first mountain stage to make a surprise attack himself.

He is still the favourite but I don't think he will be breaking the power record or beating Canchellara in the ITT. He'll probably scrape a win like Paris Nice.