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

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Wish Chavanel could keep yellow jersey for a week. dont want to put up with ACF for the next week

He'd do much more work at defending the yellow than all of BMC could hope for.

 

[auscyclefan94]

GC contenders classification
Evans
Schleck + 30''
Vinokourov + 52"
Contador + 1'01''
Menchov + 1'10"
Wiggins s.t.
Kreuziger + 1'45"
Armstrong + 1'51"
Leiphimer + 2'14"
Rogers + 2'21"
Gesink + 2'37"
Sastre + 2'40"
Basso + 2'41"

 

[Publicus]

Calling bs on Astana not wanting the yellow jersey. He is the virtual yellow jersey guy all along as the race favorite. So what? Grab it and defend it against the favorites...they are riding that way now anyhow.

I cannot think of another race where one gc guy is happy to let another (much less couple) gc favorites with a decided lead, keep it, when he an opportunity to take and pad time on them.

I really hope Astana is arrogant enough to believe they can handle the field later.

It's a good thing you aren't a DS. He'll take time, but he has no need to waste his team's energy over the course of the second week defending the jersey. It really is as simple as that.

 

[Publicus]

GC contenders classification
Evans
Schleck + 30''
Contador + 1'01''
Menchov + 1'10"
Wiggins s.t.
Kreuziger + 1'45"
Armstrong + 1'51"
Leiphimer + 2'14"
Rogers + 2'21"
Gesink + 2'37"
Sastre + 2'40"
Basso + 2'41"

You list Levi but not Vino?

 

[auscyclefan94]

It's a good thing you aren't a DS. He'll take time, but he has no need to waste his team's energy over the course of the second week defending the jersey. It really is as simple as that.

I think he will just mark the attacks from RSH and maybe make a late move.

 

[SpartacusRox]

Could be a very boring stage with the expected outcome of Contador attacking and winning it easily. I hope someone can stay with him for the sake of excitement.

I don't think he will do too much, though he may want to try out Evans to see what he has got. I don't think he will win easily if at all. This will be bit of a test of Andy Schlecks form and i am not sure he has it this year. Basso is the dark horse of this tour.

 

[Christophe]

Basso should play the rainmaker on this one. He HAS to make up time if he's serious about contending later, it takes eyes off Kreuziger who is in better position currently, and I think Conti, Evans, and Schleck might give him just a little bit of leash and use him to take some additional steam out of Radioshack.

 

[Publicus]

If it's not clear by now, it should be: there is no clear call for what will come out of this stage. There are too many quality riders with real time deficits to predict an orderly procession that results in coronation of rider [X]. Anything can happen tomorrow.

 

[scribe]

It's a good thing you aren't a DS. He'll take time, but he has no need to waste his team's energy over the course of the second week defending the jersey. It really is as simple as that.

Defending it from what? Guys that are trying to take some time outta his *** whether he's in yellow or not?

But the strategy of waiting til the last handful of stages works for me.

 

[Ryaguas]

Defending it from what? Guys that are trying to take some time outta his *** whether he's in yellow or not?

But the strategy of waiting til the last handful of stages works for me.

Cuz is a tradition that the team with the maillot jaune has to chase the breakaways and that means that all the team would be burned in 4 stages... cuz I'm pretty sure that nobody is going to help in the chase...

 

[Ryaguas]

I will repeat my predictions...

Liquigas showing muscle today with Basso and Kreuziger trying to close the gap... I know that Ramaz et Avoriaz are not the best mountains for Basso, maybe for Kreuziger, but they need to close the gap... and today the whole bunch of Liquigas rested their climbers and domestiques... sooooooo... today the SuperSix is going to work A LOT...

Or

Rabobank with a train for Menchov - Gesink - Garate and Boom (hoping that he can has better legs today)...

 

[python]

two things will animate the stage: the rest day tomorrow and the shack’s pressure to perform .

but like yesterday, the shack may not be the first to start tightening the screws. astana will.

i don’t agree with those who predict berto wont try to put his stamp on - stage 8 is one of just few opportunities where he can maximize his main strength. He’d be a fool not to if he has the legs. but it does not mean he wants the yellow so soon..

i am puzzled by the menchov/gesink cooperation.. somehow i don’t think they have any mutual strategy and I expect gesink to go first.

evans ? i think he’ll be fine may even gain more time.

basso ? a dark horse.

armstrong ? I think he’ll be very strong but will not gain much over other gc contenders if any.

wiggins ? have no idea.

vino ? paradoxically i think todays stage fits his characteristics better than yesterday but he and navarro will be covering wheels.

rodriguez and sastre to surprise.

but tbh as exciting the stage will be, my mind and heart will be on football

as my friend said yesterday, there is no other thought when you are in the finals.

 

[hamperium]

after yesterday i think Alberto is in a good shape
so my tip will be
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hamperium_espana/4759770166/

 

[craig1985]

two things will animate the stage: the rest day tomorrow and the shack’s pressure to perform .

but like yesterday, the shack may not be the first to start tightening the screws. astana will.

i don’t agree with those who predict berto wont try to put his stamp on - stage 8 is one of just few opportunities where he can maximize his main strength. He’d be a fool not to if he has the legs. but it does not mean he wants the yellow so soon..

i am puzzled by the menchov/gesink cooperation.. somehow i don’t think they have any mutual strategy and I expect gesink to go first.

evans ? i think he’ll be fine may even gain more time.

basso ? a dark horse.

armstrong ? I think he’ll be very strong but will not gain much over other gc contenders if any.

wiggins ? have no idea.

vino ? paradoxically i think todays stage fits his characteristics better than yesterday but he and navarro will be covering wheels.

rodriguez and sastre to surprise.

but tbh as exciting the stage will be, my mind and heart will be on football

as my friend said yesterday, there is no other thought when you are in the finals.

So you think it would be in Contador's best interests to let a break go, with somebody who is no threat to him to take the stage/yellow (by giving him a big enough lead), but still attack to take time out of his rivals?

 

[Roland Rat]

Apparently the Shack's bus was delayed en route to the hotel last night for about an hour, so that may affect the Shack's performance today.

 

[Sasquatch]

I wouldn't be too worried in Contador's position if I got yellow now. I would make sure someone takes it off me on Stage nine. Just because you wear yellow, you don't need to defend it.

 

[ozymandias]

leiphimer's comments about the stage



armstrong's comment about the stage


See the hypocrisy?

No, I don't see any hypocrisy. I do not think that word means what you think it means.

 

[ulrikmm]

Apparently the Shack's bus was delayed en route to the hotel last night for about an hour, so that may affect the Shack's performance today.

*You mean the bus had a "breakdown" on a deserted mountain road, the team drawing the curtains and all that, trying to boost performance and improve recovery?

 

[Roland Rat]

*You mean the bus had a "breakdown" on a deserted mountain road, the team drawing the curtains and all that, trying to boost performance and improve recovery?

No, because that would be doping talk outside of the Clinic. I'm simply relaying information that the Shack's bus was delayed for an hour. That could also mean delays on getting sleep, hindering recovery. Read into it what you want.

 

[The Barb]

I think there's a reasonable chance of a break succeeding, maybe only 25% or so, but not impossible. A chance for a few polka dot hunters to have a crack perhaps ... Martinez, Lloyd, Taaramae, Moinard.

But I do think Gadret losing four minutes yesterday is a sign that this is a stage he will target. Could even take yellow.

 

[Barrus]

No, because that would be doping talk outside of the Clinic. I'm simply relaying information that the Shack's bus was delayed for an hour. That could also mean delays on getting sleep, hindering recovery. Read into it what you want.

Where did you find that about the bus, because I've been searching and coming up empty. Would be interesting what the effects of this breakdown will be for the shack boys tomorrow

 

[Roland Rat]

Where did you find that about the bus, because I've been searching and coming up empty. Would be interesting what the effects of this breakdown will be for the shack boys tomorrow

NYVelocity Twitter, retweeting a retweet from Bruyneel:

"I hear you can do a lot in 1 hour on a stopped bus. RT @johanbruyneel 1 hour after the finish and still not moving (via @REVWW)
about 15 hours ago via Twitterrific "

 

[Barrus]

NYVelocity Twitter, retweeting a retweet from Bruyneel:

"I hear you can do a lot in 1 hour on a stopped bus. RT @johanbruyneel 1 hour after the finish and still not moving (via @REVWW)
about 15 hours ago via Twitterrific "

Ah yeah, found it, but I think they were not the only ones, you can also see the milram bus stuck as well, so perhaps every team will have the same disadvantages. (it probably was a bit too public for them to do something shady)

 

[Chef_Vodnik]

Apparently the Shack's bus was delayed en route to the hotel last night for about an hour, so that may affect the Shack's performance today.

Now, that sounds awfully familiar.

Off to the clinic!

 

[Mellow Velo]

I want Evens in yellow, just to see how BMC manage to be on the front and off the back, at the same time!

Having read this thread through, I think you guys every scenario covered.
Bit of a snoozefest, until Ramaz, then............a bit more of a snoozefest.
Then again, maybe not.