TDF Presentation "Live"

[ak-zaaf]

You never know... ;p

 

[HL2037]

AS (looking great!) and AC avoiding eye contact in order to prevent a dog fight

 

[ak-zaaf]

The same weak teams that usually loose time in the TTT are the ones that loose time in the cobbles.

Don't agree.
It's not a team thing, you don't need 5 guys to cross the line, you just need to have your GC guy close to a specialist. S/L lost a lot in the TTT, but if they can get Evans to stay close to the Belgian cobble specialists he has an advantage.

 

[Azdak6]

As expected it's the 2009 route without the TTT and with the alps and pyrenees switched.

So while 2009 was all about the TTT + the third week, this one is ONLY about the third week. The first two weeks are going to be mind-bendingly boring

Agreed. Tour organizers seem to have the goal of making the TdF as exciting as an NBA game in March--between the Clippers and the Bobcats.

 

[thehog]

Don't agree.
It's not a team thing, you don't need 5 guys to cross the line, you just need to have your GC guy close to a specialist. S/L lost a lot in the TTT, but if they can get Evans to stay close to the Belgian cobble specialists he has an advantage.

Alas we'll see a repeat of the Giro where Lance will have everyone do a "go slow" through the pave.

 

[skidmark]

People were having fun!

Lance: Oh, man Andy, look at that stage! That'll be a fine steak to roast, huh? Huh? A real cooker!

Andy: (oh my god, someone please get this man to stop making barbecue analogies for every g*ddamn stage... breathe deep, Andy, just grit your teeth, grip your pen tightly, and it will all be over in 45 minutes)

Alberto: (good god, if there's ever a time I'm glad to pretend not to speak English, it is right now)

 

[luckyboy]

Only 2 (proper) Alpine stages?! Would've been nice to see Alpe d'Huez back

That stage to Pau looks like they got it the wrong way round. What a waste.

I'm a bit surprised about only the one TT - looks like we're gonna be waiting until Ax-3 Domaines for any exciting GC stuff. Ah well, at least there's no TTT.

To sum it up, roll on the Giro!

 

[Laszlo]

Why aren't there any long stages ? 225kms is the longest- of course it's easy to sit here and say that, but those are just good training distances and while the mountains and and other stages fit certain specialists, there is nothing for the pro who has endurance in his favour.

 

[Bala Verde]

LA: What? Where's the TTT I paid for?
AC: Cobbles? So just like Avila! Perfect!
AS: Wow, This stick-figure I've just drawn looks just like Rasmussen

haha!

LA: Wringing his hands in anticipation of the soon to be announced TTT *Ha money can't buy me love but sure can buy myself a TTT hehe*

AS: *Arghh, that nasty cramp in my fingers is killing me... I'll have to make Bjarne sign a new bar tape sponsor if he wants to keep me through 2011/12*

AC: *Mierda, que hambre que tengo... pero que veo bajo el asiento? Alguien le cayo una galleta! Si nadie me ve, lo recojo del suelo...*

 

[Mellow Velo]

Any offers?

 

[Escarabajo]

Don't agree.
It's not a team thing, you don't need 5 guys to cross the line, you just need to have your GC guy close to a specialist. S/L lost a lot in the TTT, but if they can get Evans to stay close to the Belgian cobble specialists he has an advantage.

You might be right on the Evans team, but I was referring more to the spanish teams or teams with more climbers than rollers. Well, times have changed anyway and I don't know what to expect from climbers anymore.

 

[Publicus]

Anyone notice anything odd about JV's comments (from VN)?

Jonathan Vaughters, Garmin-Slipstream: “It’s harder than last year. On paper, that’s better for Christian (Vande Velde) because he’s always stronger in the third week. The cobbles in the first week will be good for Tyler (Farrar), because he lives in Ghent and he knows them really well.”

I'm looking to see if he expounded any, but this seems pretty telling if this is his full statement...

 

[Publicus]

I've got to say this image is why I think Astana is ultimately in trouble. UCI and ASO want their two biggest stars at the race with decent teams.

Btw, I think this is a complete diss of AS (unless he's in another photo with AC in front of the route presentation). He finished 2nd by a decent margin. He deserves his share of the limelight (unless of course he demurred, then it's a moot point).

 

[Angliru]

Any offers?

No TTT??!! I'm frakked!

 

[rghysens]

quick assesment of the route:

prologue: cancellara
1st stage: probably the flattest of them all, bunch sprint
2nd stage: depends how many hills are there in the last 50-60 km, probably sprint of a (large) group: 20-60 riders, depending on the exact route
3rd stage: the haveluy stretch with 10km to go is really difficult (4*), but only 11km of cobblestones won't cause too big gaps. Probably the only stage where Armstrong can gain time over contador
4th-6th stage: flat, bunch sprints
7th stage: hilly, a breakaway or a large group with the likes of gilbert, pozzato, hushovd and all favourites will sprint for the stage
8th stage: not overly difficult, but if the climbers lost some times in the previous stages (i'm thinking about A.Schleck), we can expect the first attacks here
9th stage: they could have made something better, probably a breakaway group
10th stage: quite tricky, the col de Laffrey and the col de Noyer are the climbs were Luis Ocaña destroyed Merckx in the tour of 1971, but i don't think we'll see much fireworks this time.
11th stage: flat(ish)
12th stage: hilly, finish just 2km after a steep hill, probably some time gaps between the contenders and the pretenders
13th stage: hilly, probably a breakaway
14th stage: one for the pure climbers, let them take advantage of it
15th stage: port the balès with 20km to go is difficult, good climbers can create time gaps, but are they courageous enough? I doubt it
16th stage: waste of climbs
17th stage: queen stage, but not overly difficult. only 3 climbs, far from each other. A good opportunity foor the good climbers to gain an extra minute (or 2) over the TT'ers. Guys like contador and A.Scleck should have at least 4-5 minutes on Evans, Menchov, Leipheimer, Klöden,... And 8-10 on Wiggins, Vandevelde,....
18th stage: bunch sprint
19th stage: long tt, good to sort out the top 10
20th stage: bunch sprint

 

[Anonymous]

After carefully considering the route, I've come to the following conclusion:

7 months till the Giro starts, 10 days till the route is presented

+1

This has all the makings of a snorefest. Lots of "Wait unitl..." going on. I hope I am wrong, but it looks BORING to me. At least this year we could complain about the TTT for a couple of weeks. Maybe the cobbles will cause a split or something, though they end AT the Arenberg, not AFTER. Imagine the whining and complaining if they actually had to ride REAL cobbles...

Come on Giro!

 

[Crunchy Frog]

Any offers?

Moe the bartender.

 

[hfer07]

Any offers?

LA:
Damn it!! El pistolero never liked me at all, Andy definitely likes him way better than me, Bruyneel is stuck with the Kazakhs-which are making my life so miserable, and now Prudhomme just sh!ts on my face with this parcours.... What's wrong with me? ...........better check on Matthew McConaughey if he still loves me...

 

[ggusta]

Any offers?

Andy Schleck's dad looks just like Lance Armstrong!

 

[OKRider79]

I've got to say this image is why I think Astana is ultimately in trouble. UCI and ASO want their two biggest stars at the race with decent teams.

Btw, I think this is a complete diss of AS (unless he's in another photo with AC in front of the route presentation). He finished 2nd by a decent margin. He deserves his share of the limelight (unless of course he demurred, then it's a moot point).

Schleck is just cropped out of this picture; he's on Contador's right. There's another picture that shows the whole stage on Velonews.

 

[titan_90]

After looking at next years route I must say I agree issoisso and others, bring on the Giro!!!

Prudhomme and company needs to look at this thread among others to see what fans actually want to see in a TdF parcour.

 

[Mellow Velo]

If only it really looked like this!

It doesn't. Still, better than this year's bummer.

 

[ggusta]

If only it really looked like this!

THAT is what i am talkin about

 

[auscyclefan94]

Prudhomme hasn't given much at all for Menchov, Leipheimer or Evans. Real cop out. Annoyed Those guys should ride the giro instead now.

 

[Publicus]

Prudhomme hasn't given much at all for Menchov, Leipheimer or Evans. Real cop out. Annoyed Those guys should ride the giro instead now.

Do you really think Lance will let Levi not ride the TdF? I'd have to say the chances of that happening (other than as a result of an injury) is exactly nil.