TdF official thread: Stage 3 Marseille-Grand Motte (196.0km)

[Belokki]

if you think that you are deluded. This is the seven time TdF winner. losing 40 seconds is a "big deal".

+1 You can ask Ullrich how serriuosness of that one

 

[DavidT]

Great day for Columbia. 2nd stage win and a realistic shot at putting Tony Martin in yellow tomorrow

 

[Anonymous]

if you think that you are deluded. This is the seven time TdF winner. losing 40 seconds is a "big deal".

Not at this point of the race.

 

[rhubroma]

Just think if AC were on any other team but his own right now...

 

[Moondance]

While i'm not going to do the complete doublethink and say that this was good for Contador, i do think it helps him in that he will have more freedom now that it's Lance with the target on his back now.

I think Contador is going to go completely ape$hit in Andorra come next Saturday. He'll be in yellow for Stage 8 i think.

 

[Franklin]

lol. asif they fear Rogers and Kirchen. I'll put myself out on a limb here and say neitehr will finish in the top ten, no way!

That is very definite language.

Kirchen

2007: 7th overall TdF
2008: 7th overall TdF

Rogers

2009 8th overall Giro

I wouldn't stake my reputation saying "neither will finish in the top ten, no way!"

 

[Rechtschreibfehler]

lol. asif they fear Rogers and Kirchen. I'll put myself out on a limb here and say neitehr will finish in the top ten, no way!

Neither Top 10? Not thats an interesting call!
They proved they can do it, actually.
Do you think there are to many better riders in this years Tour or do you question their form?

 

[Kennf1]

he is right.
contador will drop him like a fly on the steeper slopes.

Unless Contador starts thinking too much. Today's stage might kick his paranoia into overdrive (and perhaps rightfully so). Don't underestimate the mental component to having a good ride in the mountains.

 

[Anonymous]

First off, Armstrong isn't 40 seconds ahead of Contador. He is ahead of Cadel and Schleck and that matters to them. However, Lance will quite probably lose 40" to Contador in 1K on stage 7 so no real worries for him. Actually, he looked pretty calm and bored when they put the camera on him.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Neither Top 10? Not thats an interesting call!
They proved they can do it, actually.
Do you think there are to many better riders in this years Tour or do you question their form?

and if people are gonna claim menchov is tired from giro, then the same goes for rogers.

I stand by my call. Rogers/Kirchen wont make top ten.
They certainly won't be anywhere near the winner anyway.

 

[didgeridan]

Johan is a tactician

Everything went according to plan in the end for Astana. They sit in a very strong position overall right now. They played their hand perfectly.

 

[Mellow Velo]

"I'd like to introduce you to Lance's little beech, on my left,....Alberto Heras,....sorry, I mean Roberto Contador....well, whoever...Go fetch boy!"

19 seconds is plenty of lead to see Old Tex over Arcalis.

 

[Anonymous]

Just think if AC were on any other team but his own right now...

The most likely he would be in the exact same spot considering he wouldn't be riding for Astana and wouldn't be on Skil and wouldn't be on Columbia. He would still have missed the split.

 

[ak-zaaf]

Unless Contador starts thinking too much. Today's stage might kick his paranoia into overdrive (and perhaps rightfully so). Don't underestimate the mental component to having a good ride in the mountains.

i think contador will be fueled by anger and will destroy everyone as soon as andorra.

 

[Kennf1]

The most likely he would be in the exact same spot considering he wouldn't be riding for Astana and wouldn't be on Skil and wouldn't be on Columbia. He would still have missed the split.

Especially if that rumored Garmin deal had gone through!

 

[Moondance]

"I'd like to introduce you to Lance's little beech, on my left,....Alberto Heras,....sorry, I mean Roberto Contador....well, whoever...Go fetch boy!"

This.

V. well put

 

[jaylew]

Gerdemann quietly slips into the top 10 at 7th. Wouldn't be surprised to see him stay in the top 10-15.

 

[Kennf1]

i think contador will be fueled by anger and will destroy everyone as soon as andorra.

If he digs into his suitcase of courage and turns the pedals in anger, it will make Phil Ligget's day.

 

[didgeridan]

Contador is their strongest chance at victory, yes. But, now if he gets caught up in a bad crash or some other misfortune, they still have alternative cards to play. They played it perfectly.

 

[ak-zaaf]

pic

the only thing i could see contador thinking in that press conference was "talk all you want you arrogant piece of sh*t, as soon as we hit the mountains i'll show you who's boss"

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Gerdemann quietly slips into the top 10 at 7th. Wouldn't be surprised to see him stay in the top 10-15.

agreed, hasn't got a bad team either. (though they will struggle in the TTT)

 

[Rechtschreibfehler]

Gerdemann quietly slips into the top 10 at 7th. Wouldn't be surprised to see him stay in the top 10-15.

Yeah. Usually not.
But that probably really depands on how he can ride himself into form.
It didn't look very brilliant in Switzerland. And not in the Sastreesque kind of way. He was pretty desapointed with it but than pointed out that his Tour de Suisse in 2007 was even worse.

 

[klodifan]

I think a lot of you are overthinking this. Take away so-called tactics being called by JB. You must consider the human dynamic. LA has a winner's mentality. All this talk about wanting to raise awareness for cancer is a smokescreen. He wants to win, believes he can win, and today showed his true intent. Whether he can win is a big question, but by directing Popo to ride to the front, having three riders protecting him, it's obvious he feels like he is the leader. Who cares about the time gaps now. It is the psychological aspect that may wear on the other contenders. He wasn't there riding for AC. If he was, he would have warned him like any other good teammate. JB is loyal to LA and vice versa.

 

[Moondance]

the only thing i could see contador thinking in that press conference was "talk all you want you arrogant piece of sh*t, as soon as we hit the mountains i'll show you who's boss"

True. When Contador releases the Wrath of Pantani on the peleton come stage 7 we'll see who is really going to challenge him. I think Lance will get dropped before A.Schleck, Evans & Sastre have to finally let go.

 

[Amsterhammer]

i think contador will be fueled by anger and will destroy everyone as soon as andorra.

A perfectly possible scenario.

Another possible scenario is that LA got a huge moral boost from today, while AC got the opposite. Remember, he knows that this was his own fault for hanging too far back!

The first climb will tell us lots about their relative strengths at the moment and like everyone else, I expect AC to gain plenty of time on all of his rivals. Even TFF knows that 40 seconds in the first km. is just wishful thinking.