TDF Stage 14: Saint-Gaudens - Plateau de Beille 168km

[Tuarts]

By all indications he's called their bluff. If I didn't know any better, I wouldn't think Saxo had ANY riders in the peloton--they really do a great job of hiding

They had 3 riders, Navarro, Porte, CAS with Contador in the group at the base of Luz Ardiden.

Why would Saxo go to the front? Giving Casar the yellow isn't a problem, so there is no need to work. Actually, the bigger the gap, the less likely it becomes they will see Voigt and Gerderman back before the finish. So for Saxo letting the gap grow might actually be a good tactic.

Not Saxo giving a **** if Casar gets yellow, the other teams. Give him too much slack and he becomes a problem. Saxo working at all was my main question, whether they'd do it at all but it seems from the tactics of BMC, Leopard and Liquigas, that they are trying to make them do just that.

 

[Publicus]

Nice assist from the Garmin car for Gilbert.

 

[Sciatic]

A note about the Plateau de Beille climb: I'm just back from France (thus I'm wide awake at 4am), and while in that area 2 weeks ago I "previewed" the climb by driving up, and see what it is like.

The fog kept me from seeing the views but one thing really noticeable, even more than the relentlessness of the climb, is that the gradient seems to get even steeper in the switchbacks, rather than flattening out a bit. This is particularly true between Kilometers 7 to 12 of the climb.

Oh, and there were cows on the road, which was pretty alarming in the fog...

 

[Publicus]

They had 3 riders, Navarro, Porte, CAS with Contador in the group at the base of Luz Ardiden.



Not Saxo giving a **** if Casar gets yellow, the other teams. Give him too much slack and he becomes a problem. Saxo working at all was my main question, whether they'd do it at all but it seems from the tactics of BMC, Leopard and Liquigas, that they are trying to make them do just that.

Saxo won't care if Sandy gets yellow because he would be just as much of a threat to the Schlecks, Evans and Basso as well (not much). As I said before, I would just sit in and enjoy the ride which not only conserves energy, but likely frustrates Leopard-Trek.

 

[spalco]

Oh, and there were cows on the road, which was pretty alarming in the fog...

lol, that could be funny, especially with the Contador situation.

 

[salixcycling]

I hate Europcar, they're ruining this race. Voeckler should have never gotten the yellow jersey, their team is pathetic, they can't even drop Cavendish.

There are other teams in the race other that Europcar who are allowed to up the pace if they want to. They clearly don't, so why blame just one team?

 

[Jeanne]

lol, that could be funny, especially with the Contador situation.

will he see them and change his mind on the whole vegetarian-thing

 

[Publicus]

lol, that could be funny, especially with the Contador situation.

LOL. I wonder if Andy would wait if AC is knocked off his bike by a cow.

 

[sultanofhyd]

will he see them and change his mind on the whole vegetarian-thing

He doesn't eat raw anyways.

 

[luckyboy]

Just turned on. Wow large, strong looking break today.

 

[sultanofhyd]

Just turned on. Wow large, strong looking break today.

Turned on?

 

[El Pistolero]

There are other teams in the race other that Europcar who are allowed to up the pace if they want to. They clearly don't, so why blame just one team?

Because Europcar are doing it for them. And apparently no one cares about winning on the Plateau de Beille.

 

[spalco]

If Cav is getting dropped already, he's going to have a haaaaaard day ahead of him...

 

[Parrulo]

cav's bike is pretty awesome. i wouldn't trade it for a green one just because of the jersey either

 

[sultanofhyd]

So Perez is not interested in the polka dots, fail.

 

[roundabout]

Towrope time.

 

[screaming fist]

lol @ Cav not being able to cool himself

 

[virandociclista]

Anthony Charteau
Team Europcar

Is in the break... so why is europcar at the front of the peloton?

 

[c&cfan]

Because Europcar are doing it for them. And apparently no one cares about winning on the Plateau de Beille.

looks like gilbert will end the tour with one stage win.

that's pretty good for him, but how's that for you fanboy? you were talking about six stages and green.

i will say that you are just another one like ryo and that's bad

 

[superconfex]

I hate Europcar, they're ruining this race. Voeckler should have never gotten the yellow jersey, their team is pathetic, they can't even drop Cavendish.

1st contender for DOH!!! of the day???

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Anthony Charteau
Team Europcar

Is in the break... so why is europcar at the front of the peloton?

Because Sandy Casar could take yellow if the break gets another 2 mins 30 s

 

[HL2037]

If Cavendish can't make the time and gets kicked out wearing green, I am going to giggle a little bit when nobody sees it

 

[sultanofhyd]

Anthony Charteau
Team Europcar

Is in the break... so why is europcar at the front of the peloton?

They are hardly burning the road up, they are just riding tempo, because they have the maillot jaune.

 

[salixcycling]

Anthony Charteau
Team Europcar

Is in the break... so why is europcar at the front of the peloton?

Because of the rule that says the yellow jersey team must be at the front of the peleton.

The heads of state are happy riding tempo.

 

[Kwibus]

I hate Europcar, they're ruining this race. Voeckler should have never gotten the yellow jersey, their team is pathetic, they can't even drop Cavendish.

Not their fault.
If Lotto or Movistar made this race hard from the start then they had the opportunity to let Cav finish outside the timelimit.