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

[alberto.legstrong]

Ppl STOP watching versus! or your need to see the RS icon in the bottom of the screen is that much??

I like watching that little red circle gradually move off the screen when the road goes up.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

21kp/h on an 11% grade

That's just ****ing insane. Mind boggling for a tourist rider like me.
Don't know how it is for amateurs, semi-pro's and other cyclists that are on here. I can't compare

 

[Ryaguas]

Cote de la Croix Neuve (Distance 3.1 Km, Grade 10.1 %, Elevation 312 m)

Alberto Contador, Joaquim Rodriguez

Time 9 min 32 sec, Speed 19.51 Kph, VAM 1964 m/h, 6.33 w/kg

Andy Schleck, Jurgen Van den Broeck, Samuel Sanchez, Denis Menchov.

Time 9 min 44 sec, Speed 19.11 Kph, VAM 1923 m/h, 6.20 w/kg

Last kilometre (Distance 1.0 km, Grade 10.9 %, Elevation 109 m)

Alberto Contador

Time 2 min 46 sec, Speed 21.69 Kph, VAM 2364 m/h, 7.60 w/kg

Hey! THX for this INFO!!! could you put the link to this info?? plz

 

[ManInFull]

I don`t know what is bad about wheel sucking??? Alberto won the 2007 Tour wheel sucking Michael`s wheel so what???
If you are not strong enough to attack that is the only way to climb.

Levi's career TdF performance, other than 2007, can be summarized in one phrase: wheelsucking. His only chance to a podium position or even victory is to wheelsuck and then make up time in the TT. That worked for Miguel Indurain, but not Levi.

As you said, since he isn't strong enough to attack, he just holds on until he gets dropped, loses time during multiple mountain stages, and then watches he false-GC contender cred go down the drain. He's won the Tour of California multiple times because the elite GC contenders, who are usually better climbers, don't show up for the race.

 

[ManInFull]

yup.
Vino rode well, he was upset at not getting a stage win (not at Contador going by him).
Contador's attack was fine too, hurt Schleck the Arrogant. (I mean Schleck the younger).
Where Alberto made his mistake in my opinion was not agreeing to gift the stage to Rodriquez, as mentioned by Cali.
I think that is what Rodriquez asked when Contador shook his head no. Rodriquez was obviously sitting on and could have provided a little more horsepower and possibly a few more seconds. Contador tried sprinting against him so I read that as he wanted the stage too. That was Contador's tactical mistake of the day, the only one.

Has someone confirmed this with the winner? We need a lip reader...What if Contador was asked whether he planned to go for the win?

 

[flicker]

Levi's career TdF performance, other than 2007, can be summarized in one phrase: wheelsucking. His only chance to a podium position or even victory is to wheelsuck and then make up time in the TT. That worked for Miguel Indurain, but not Levi.

As you said, since he isn't strong enough to attack, he just holds on until he gets dropped, loses time during multiple mountain stages, and then watches he false-GC contender cred go down the drain. He's won the Tour of California multiple times because the elite GC contenders, who are usually better climbers, don't show up for the race.

when Levi lost the vuelta 2001 he has been afflicted with this wheelsucking problem. Definatley strong and fast enough to gt podium in any race. Levis issue is in his head.

 

[CatsNK]

From Vino: “I wanted to be up the road to help Alberto if he needed it and to try to win the stage. I can understand why Alberto attacked – he needs to get time on Schleck,” Vinokourov said after finishing third. “Alberto is very strong and he will be even better in the Pyrénées. We are confident about Alberto in the coming stages. The GC is complicated for me. I will ride to help Alberto win the Tour with Astana.”

This is good enough for me. I take back anything negative I said about Contador. I'm happy for Vino - he did a great job today. I'm glad he's OK with the situation and what happened.

 

[slowoldman]

Has someone confirmed this with the winner? We need a lip reader...What if Contador was asked whether he planned to go for the win?

Then I believe Rodriquez would have done some work and Contador wouldn't have sprinted. This is just my thought, with the benefit of hindsight of course. It would be interesting to hear the answer directly from Contador or Rodriquez.

 

[El Pistolero]

This is good enough for me. I take back anything negative I said about Contador. I'm happy for Vino - he did a great job today. I'm glad he's OK with the situation and what happened.

He also said he was disappointed for not winning the stage though, in the same interview. But he doesn't have a grudge against Contador or anything. GC is far more important then a stage win. Vino knows that.

 

[The Hitch]

Just watched it. Great stage. Loved the crowds. Huge. Most we have seen this tour i think. Shame vino didnt win

 

[halamala]

Hey! THX for this INFO!!! could you put the link to this info?? plz

Source is myself. But I think the numbers are pretty correct.

Frédéric Portoleau has written an interesting article (in French), which theme is Alpine stages: http://www.cyclismag.com/article.php?sid=5950

 

[Ryaguas]

Source is myself. But I think the numbers are pretty correct.

Hey wow... put the formulas that you used plz... I would like to have it and have my own results... BTW REALLY NICE article! THX for the link!

BTW for those ppl who still thinks that Vino is angry at AC and he will show him the door... look at this

Vino's words...

 

[Siriuscat]

Cote de la Croix Neuve (Distance 3.1 Km, Grade 10.1 %, Elevation 312 m)

Alberto Contador, Joaquim Rodriguez

Time 9 min 32 sec, Speed 19.51 Kph, VAM 1964 m/h, 6.33 w/kg

Andy Schleck, Jurgen Van den Broeck, Samuel Sanchez, Denis Menchov.

Time 9 min 44 sec, Speed 19.11 Kph, VAM 1923 m/h, 6.20 w/kg

Last kilometre (Distance 1.0 km, Grade 10.9 %, Elevation 109 m)

Alberto Contador

Time 2 min 46 sec, Speed 21.69 Kph, VAM 2364 m/h, 7.60 w/kg

Would question these numbers my friend the first 3km rise at an average of 9.9% for a vertical gain of 312m. The last km is almost flat 0.7% for a vertical gain of just 3m. Interested in your formulas as well, just because I'm a geek!!

 

[flicker]

hardman stage. check out the fotos of riders at finish on pez cycling news
pezcyclingnews hardcore day.

 

[HokieJoe]

Great stage today guys and gals. Contador looked like he was chugging a bit right before his breakaway. I don't think it was an act though. Everyone looked like they where hurting. Poor Schleck looked like a rabid dog drooling in pursuit of Contador. AC had the legs today.

 

[HokieJoe]

I don`t know what is bad about wheel sucking??? Alberto won the 2007 Tour wheel sucking Michael`s wheel so what???
If you are not strong enough to attack that is the only way to climb.

I don't get this wheel-sucking meme either. All of the major Tour winners do it. What's more, the aero benefit of slipstreaming isn't quite as beneficial going up a 10% incline. Gravity is as much or more the enemy more than wind resistance.

 

[HokieJoe]

Ppl STOP watching versus! or your need to see the RS icon in the bottom of the screen is that much??

Are you joking? Why in Hades would I stop watching VS? I get to watch the Tour in beautiful HD!

 

[hrotha]

I don't get this wheel-sucking meme either. All of the major Tour winners do it. What's more, the aero benefit of slipstreaming isn't quite as beneficial going up a 10% incline. Gravity is as much or more the enemy more than wind resistance.

People who don't wheelsuck:
Vino
Van den Broeck

That is all.

 

[HokieJoe]

People who don't wheelsuck:
Vino
Van den Broeck

That is all.

I respect a rider for being aggressive and riding to their skill set, but neither of these riders are real contenders for the GC. That's my only point.

 

[ManInFull]

I don't get this wheel-sucking meme either. All of the major Tour winners do it. What's more, the aero benefit of slipstreaming isn't quite as beneficial going up a 10% incline. Gravity is as much or more the enemy more than wind resistance.

The wheelsucking comment comes up about Levi because we all know that at some point he gets dropped! Yes, the major Tour winners do it and they wheelsuck to the END of the stage. That's a big difference.

 

[RedheadDane]

Something completely different. Does anyone know how Vino reacted after Contador pretty much stopped him from taking a stage-win? As they said on Danish TV; he is Contador's boss...

Hopefully he's man enough to say "okay, I was going for a stage-win. You aim to win the entire Tour. "

 

[joy118118]

Something completely different. Does anyone know how Vino reacted after Contador pretty much stopped him from taking a stage-win? As they said on Danish TV; he is Contador's boss...

Hopefully he's man enough to say "okay, I was going for a stage-win. You aim to win the entire Tour. "

from his facebook

This was planned in the team's strategy today, I had to insert myself in a group of escapees to encourage the other teams in the bunch to work, in the end it seems to me that it happened, I think Saxobank worked hard today. Of course I thought about the stage win, I know this arrival in…… Mende, I have already won a stage here at the Grand Prix du Midi Libre (in 1999), and Tour de France already wen’t here in 2005. I didn’t know that Alberto was arriving, when you arrive near the finish line, with the noise of the crowd you can hear nothing, if I had known, I woukd have slowed down a bit in the hump and I helped in the flat.Today has been a long day is over, It's unfortunate for the stage win, but the last bump was hard, ultimately we have only missed about ten seconds to win, whatever, I could appreciate the atmosphere of Tour de France, when you arrive in the lead the welcoming is impressive, there is a particular atmosphere, it’s exceptional! But we are here to play overall and the main thing is that Alberto gained time on Andy, after it will remain four major stages in the Pyrenees, this is where the final victory will be played, and I have a fully trust Alberto and his abilities and in the team to win this victory.

 

[The Hitch]

The wheelsucking comment comes up about Levi because we all know that at some point he gets dropped! Yes, the major Tour winners do it and they wheelsuck to the END of the stage. That's a big difference.

Now that is just not true. People here attack him for wheelsucking whole races, and waiting for tts to overtake opponents. He doesnt always get dropped.

Of course this tour he hasnt been good enough but the idea of levi wheelsucking has been around longer.

 

[The Hitch]

from his facebook

as much as i would like that to be true, i dont neccesarily buy into what is said to the media. Last time bertie had a teammate problem in the tour, the guy said something along the lines of "we now know we have the strongest rider in our team, and i will ride to help him win in paris".

Didnt quite work out that way did it? Hopefully Vino will understand that rodriguez would have beaten him regardless, especially since contador wanted vino to win, that was clear, but with vino you never know.

 

[HokieJoe]

The wheelsucking comment comes up about Levi because we all know that at some point he gets dropped! Yes, the major Tour winners do it and they wheelsuck to the END of the stage. That's a big difference.

Point taken.

Not saying you, but others have made the comments about, to paraphrase, 'LA wheelsucking his way through Tours'. IIRC, it was in the big thread on Stage 8.