TdF Stage 12 - Fri 16th - Bourg-de-Péage - Mende 210.5km

[CatsNK]

It's difficult for those who rely on Phil and Paul to explain to them what's happening in a bike race to make the adjustment when the facts so clearly get in the way.

One must hang on to the idea that "Vino bad".

That said. I think it would have been nice for vino to get the win. The climb wasn't long enough for the tactic Astana used.

So true. Phil & Paul are tiresome. I can't imagine why people pay for Versus livestream when you can get much better coverage free.

 

[ak-zaaf]

And yet AC didn't even try to drop AS in the Alps.

Are you really that ignorant?

Andy attacked in the first cycle of mountains because he needs time anywhere he can, Bertje just followed because it's way too early in the race for him.
Today CSC has to chase Vino all day, in the end J-Rod attacks, AC follows and sees that Schlecklet can't.

If you can't figure out why the rest happened as it happened you need to watch more cycling.

 

[flicker]

Great ride by Contador and Astana. Perfect tactics by Kloeden, Vino with their 4 man break. Made a bridge for Alberto and put a beacon out there for Levi to follow. About Lance at 3:30, so what. My Lord Armstrong is not a contender for GC. The type of hill it was was a hill for Levi to pace the leaders. If the haters want to bag Lance for easing up, well make my day punk!

 

[Beech Mtn]

Contador wouldn't have pushed on if Rodriguez wasn't there. He had no choice now. Too bad for Vino though. I cried a little.

+1. Some people don't understand race tactics.

 

[lostintime]

Maybe Vino should give AC a plate of "you're talkin" out you're ****" for dinner, after he tries to explain what he did.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I am sorry but people should not blame Alberto. If he can take time on AS, why not? I think he would of liked Vino to win the stage but if your opponents are suffering then you hit them. Andy Schleck looked very demoralised after the stage. That was a blow to him psychologically. Rodriguez on his own may have not bridged to vino as Contador was driving on the front not Joaquim so on his own he would of not caught vino imo. i do like watching vino race but personally I find it hard watching the guy win.

 

[Escarabajo]

And yet AC didn't even try to drop AS in the Alps.

Riders feel different on different days. Maybe he wasn't strong in the alps. How do we know these things? Maybe talking to their doctors.

 

[lostintime]

Maybe Vino should give AC a plate of "you're talkin' out your a-double-s" .... for dinner, after he tries to explain what he did.

 

[Publicus]

I see the forum is exploding because AC attacked when it was clear Andy couldn't go with Rodriguez's acceleration.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

This thread is absolute confirmation of the chasm that exists between Lance fans and fans who actually watch the sport.

 

[Ferminal]

Maybe Vino should give AC a plate of "you're talkin" out you're ****" for dinner, after he tries to explain what he did.

What makes you think Vino is so selfish that he'd be very angry at Alberto?

 

[Jamsque]

LOL, tell that to all the Contador fanboys.

Listen. I hate Contador. I hate with every fibre of my being. I think he is boring to watch and I think the fact that he's never been suspended is a disgrace to the sport.

THAT SAID, he did NOT attack his team-mate today. He saw Rodriguez go up the road, he knew what the gap to Vino was and he knew that Rodriguez would catch him and likely outsprint him for the stage, so he went after him to try to gain some time on the GC and maybe keep the stage win in the team. He tried to let Vino catch his wheel, and when that didn't work he tried to sprint for the win himself. He failed.

Nothing he did today was tactically unsound, and nothing he did today was contrary to the interests of his team. Of course Vino was annoyed crossing the line, he spent 100+km riding of the front and didn't win. I don't think there is any divide in the Astana camp this year.

 

[Escarabajo]

..but if your opponents are suffering then you hit them. Andy Schleck looked very demoralised after the stage. ...

+1. That's it.

 

[ExRower]

Contador ka din ba pre?

Contador forever pare! Great race tonight.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I thought Levi did quite well to stick with Andy as it is not an LL climb.

 

[indurain666]

HELLO, I'm a LA hater, I laugh at Radioshack, and I still tink AS was obviously not as strong as AC.

I have no doubt most LA fanboys are voicing their concern about AC's ride today because they hate him and all, but I think there's actual grounds to have a little discussion about actual cycling here, if you guys stop the strawmen.

I still don't understand why people criticize Alberto for gaining time on his rivals. When he attacked, Rodriguez was gone and Vino was fried. Even if Contador would have cracked, there is no way Vino would have caught Rodriguez again. The only reason Vino was close to Rodriguez at the finish line it is because Contador slowed down when he realized that Vino could catch them. At the top of the climb, AC had 12-13 seconds on AS.

 

[Ramira]

I am sorry but people should not blame Alberto. If he can take time on AS, why not? I think he would of liked Vino to win the stage but if your opponents are suffering then you hit them. Andy Schleck looked very demoralised after the stage. That was a blow to him psychologically. Rodriguez on his own may have not bridged to vino as Contador was driving on the front not Joaquim so on his own he would of not caught vino imo. i do like watching vino race but personally I find it hard watching the guy win.

I don't think that was Contador did was wrong in essence, and I do believe in most teams the same decision would be made if the leader was coming up and taking time on the yellow. But you do have to realise that this is Vino's team (yeye AC is the best cyclist but without Vino there would be no Astana) so like I said before, if Vino's ok with it it was a great move, if it ****ed Vino off in the long run AC is gonna regret it, regardless if it was the right thing to do or not.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

I thought Levi did quite well to stick with Andy as it is not an LL climb.

That wasn't Levi. It was Kloden.

 

[Polish]

"No Gifts"

Not even if it is your own team mate GRRRRRRR.
NO Gifts.

Last year Alberto gifted a stage win to Frank Schleck after attacking and dropping team mate Klodi. THAT was wrong.

Alberto is learning.

 

[ttrider]

Notice the guy who took a rest day for the pyrenees:........Daniel Navarro, hes actually put effort in 2 times all tour and each time he has had a massive positive impact for his team leader he ll produce havoc in the pyrenees because hes fresh as a daisy

 

[Francois the Postman]

Did no one see Rodriguez attack, getting up to Vino.
So Bertie marked him up to Vino and at that stage the great man had nothing at that steep point with Rodriguez going away?
What was he suppose to do?

Get off his bike. Log into this forum, explain to a few people here what is actually happening on the road, then climb back on and headbutt Rodriguez out of the way for Vino, then veer sharp right and manoeuvre Lance into the barriers to prove what a selfish *** he really is.

He could probably log back on and reply to some posts here by those who think that what is upcoming on the steeper slopes is spelled out already, rather than still speculation, before that last move too.

 

[alberto.legstrong]

Alberto is becoming more like Lance each and every day.
I may well end up being a Alberto fanboy someday!

bang bang
bangbangbang

bang

Then you better go get some more make believe bullets for your make believe gun. You're gonna need 'em.

 

[Publicus]

Good gosh folks are apparently stuck on stupid today. Andy was suffering and AC took advantage of it. It would have been great if Vino could have held on to get the win, but he couldn't have because even if AC hadn't joined J Rod, J Rod would have overtaken Vino and taken the stage.

AC got maximum time gain on AS for the stage, but more importantly, just popped Andy's self-confidence a bit. Or does anyone still think Andy believes he is the best climber in the Tour?

 

[Roland Rat]

Wow, this has become rapidly dull.

+1. It's just the LA fanboys hurting from the epic fail their hero is making them go through, lashing out. They're all over twitter too. I'd feel sorry for them if they weren't so stupid.

 

[Señor_Contador]

All the Contador criticizers forget how your beloved Uniballer won 7 Tours: Strong dedicated team with 1 clear leader, 8 domestiques. [...]

Exactly. When Lance was on his 7-TdF crusade noone questioned his tactics. He was always presupposed to be making all the right decisions. I mean... had Lance made the same move, back in the day, and all you'd hear is amazement at how smart this man is.

Alberto's gotten under their skin though.