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

[superconfex]

riblon why didn't he go with millar? strange tatics going on...if any

 

[Bala Verde]

Also don't understand why TGBM wasn't seriously contesting the polka points.

-the MTF (40) there are what 30 points available?

 

[Jeanne]

riblon why didn't he go with millar? strange tatics going on...if any

looks like no tactics

 

[roundabout]

Also don't understand why TGBM wasn't seriously contesting the polka points.

-the MTF (40) there are what 30 points available?

32 points before the final climb.

 

[The Hitch]

OMG the Tour has found a way to make this stage boring.

Bore de France indeed.

THis is the only race of the year where we can watch stages from the start but most stages have the first climb 50 or 60km in.

Only 19 is left to give us some from the get go excitement, but at 109km its not going to be too long.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

He wins races though, kind of whats its about unless I'm missing something.
They've toughened up the finishes but he still wins.

Always takes one stage to get attuned to the race though - he seems to be making a tradition of making a hash of the first sprint, then being unstoppable after that.

But the thing is, it doesn't matter how many races you win, if you have to hold on to cars to make it to the end of the race, as Cav is being accused of, you should be excluded, rather than having the commissaires bending over backwards to keep you in.

That's not to say that the accusations are true, but if they are he's being allowed to get away with it, and that's not fair.

 

[Jeanne]

pretty pointless attack riblon!

 

[Bala Verde]

32 points before the final climb.

yep there you go. If you are in the break, you might as well collect all those points to create an opportunity to go for a jersey. At least you'll set yourself a goal.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Sandy Casar now in virtual yellow by 12 seconds

 

[sublimit]

Perhaps the group of twenty are stuffed. Tough with heat on top of that.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Bah, TGBM is suffering, he isn't good.

 

[HL2037]

He wins races though, kind of whats its about unless I'm missing something.
They've toughened up the finishes but he still wins.

He wins races, but only with a 5 person leadout train + an entourage of yes men constantly assuring him that he is still the best sprinter in the whole wide world. His lack of independence and mental strength makes it hard for me to respect him.

 

[roundabout]

pretty pointless attack riblon!

The group isn't working together so it's his last chance to do something before the gap really balloons out.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Perhaps the group of twenty are stuffed. Tough with heat on top of that.

Most likely:

FDJ were the source of almost all of the impetus in the group. Now Casar is off the front, their two men in the break aren't going to chase their own teammate down.

Leopard have no reason to work since they're only placeholders for the group behind.

Some of the riders (eg Costa, Sánchez, Pérez) have been in breaks already in this race and have a bit of dead weight in their legs.

 

[vcampbell]

LeoTard on the front, there will be blood.

 

[Jeanne]

The group isn't working together so it's his last chance to do something before the gap really balloons out.

yeah, but he's already back in the bunch, no? at least that's what they're telling here

 

[icefire]

Leopard to the front. The party is about to start.

 

[Publicus]

Is it my imagination or is Cav still in the peloton?

EDIT: and as expected, Leopard Trek realized their tactic has not succeed and they are moving to the front.

 

[Bala Verde]

Leopard trekking the peloton.

Action please.

 

[virenque216]

i told you

OMG the Tour has found a way to make this stage boring.

Bore de France indeed.

THis is the only race of the year where we can watch stages from the start but most stages have the first climb 50 or 60km in.

Only 19 is left to give us some from the get go excitement, but at 109km its not going to be too long.

I said it yesterday how boring this is,breakaway wins everyday and only bad lucks decided the race so far for GC,race will start 5km to go

 

[Libertine Seguros]

He wins races, but only with a 5 person leadout train + an entourage of yes men constantly assuring him that he is still the best sprinter in the whole wide world. His lack of independence and mental strength makes it hard for me to respect him.

But he IS the best sprinter in the world. He can do it alone too.

He does throw the toys out of the pram pretty much every single time he doesn't win, and he goes uphill about as well as water, but he is the best sprinter in the world, no doubt.

 

[El Pistolero]

If Europcar keeps leading the peloton they might finish outside the time limit

Can't believe the tactics of some climber teams here...

Edit: aha, finally
.

 

[Tony80]

why would they let Cavendish stay in the race if he finishes outside the time limit (and not in the gruppetto) ?

I thought they only did this in exceptional circumstances (crash or weather for example).

Is there any precedent of them waiving the time limit for an individual not involved in a crash etc ?

 

[roundabout]

yeah, but he's already back in the bunch, no? at least that's what they're telling here

Don't think so.

Tour page still has him chasing alone.

 

[spalco]

Seems to me like the Cav haters are far bigger crybabies than Cav himself.