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

[theyoungest]

Ten Dam might be the scariest looking cyclist I have ever seen. Those head damages doesnt make it better. Would **** my pants if I met him in a dark alley.

Anyways, it was a scary looking crash. Didnt think he would be able to carry on.

You're afraid of beards? A trauma from Santa Claus, maybe?

 

[Cimber]

You're afraid of beards? A trauma from Santa Claus, maybe?

Nah am scared of mutans though Its not the beard that makes him look "extraterrestrial" (to use a Simoni phrase )

 

[Cimber]

“The plan emerged that I would go with Linus in the breakaway,” said Voigt. “In the later part of the race, I would be there to help our captains as they were going up the mountains. We could give them fresh bottles and gels and pull a little bit.
Wow. I'm speechless.

Omg was that the plan? Thats just pathetic and a waste of ressources.

 

[benpounder]

I don't know how you can dislike someone because others were unlucky. I agree that TTTs skew results a bit unfairly though.

This whining about the TTT is....

On that day Tommy Voeckler's EuropCar was down 0:50, whereas all the big teams were down 0:10 or less. Who is leading now?

 

[thehog]

Omg was that the plan? Thats just pathetic and a waste of ressources.

The fact that they're even stating what the plan was is a worry. It's like they're trying to rationalise using the entire team all day long to gain 2 seconds.

Meanwhile Saxo & Liquigas are resting their climbers for the Alps.

 

[benpounder]

...also JVDB would now be second overall and the biggest favorite for the win.

Only an alternate universe would prove your assertion.

In this universe, Van den Broeck crashed out days ago.

 

[hfer07]

Contador said he didn't have good sensations, but didn't have many difficulties either. He doesn't like this type of riding.

http://www.larazon.es/noticia/3630-contador-lo-de-hoy-me-anima-para-el-futuro

"Ellos han tenido un principio de Tour sin ning&#250]

they have had a beginning of the Tour without problems, whereas I have crashes & problems.....also the calender hasn't been the most ideal to confront "with warranties" a race such the Tour" . The madrileño was skeptic on the Schleck brothers tactics & notice they have not taken advantage in the mountains to distance the Australian Cadel Evans-"Victory will be more difficult for them" said Contador.

as crazy as it sounds-I have the feeling that Contador is going to win this one, despite all the setbacks......... amazing

 

[No_Balls]

You see. The crybaby already starts to with real ridiculous excuses, why he again will have finished 2nd in a TdF.

The climb wasnt long and/or steep enough is a good one

 

[ggusta]

they have had a beginning of the Tour without problems, whereas I have crashes & problems.....also the calender hasn't been the most ideal to confront "with warranties" a race such the Tour" . The madrileño was skeptic on the Schleck brothers tactics & notice they have not taken advantage in the mountains to distance the Australian Cadel Evans-"Victory will be more difficult for them" said Contador.

as crazy as it sounds-I have the feeling that Contador is going to win this one, despite all the setbacks......... amazing

He could pull it out. But it would be one hell of a comeback. I still can't see it happening.

 

[webvan]

You see. The crybaby already starts to with real ridiculous excuses, why he again will have finished 2nd in a TdF.

What's hard to understand is that they call these "attacks", these are 5 seconds accelerations, surely he can tell the difference between that and when he stepped on it last year on the way up toTourmalet last year and only Bertie could follow? Was he just hoping everyone would collapse after his girlish attacks today? Ridiculous indeed.

 

[Tuarts]

You see. The crybaby already starts to with real ridiculous excuses, why he again will have finished 2nd in a TdF.

If that climb wasn't steep enough for him - then why didn't he contest the Giro?

I realise the team have to rose tint things a bit but that i really a "wtf?" moment.

 

[Parrulo]

they have had a beginning of the Tour without problems, whereas I have crashes & problems.....also the calender hasn't been the most ideal to confront "with warranties" a race such the Tour" . The madrileño was skeptic on the Schleck brothers tactics & notice they have not taken advantage in the mountains to distance the Australian Cadel Evans-"Victory will be more difficult for them" said Contador.

as crazy as it sounds-I have the feeling that Contador is going to win this one, despite all the setbacks......... amazing

today gave me a lot of hope.

after today people who complain about contador being too dominant should shut up, if he was already at his best today the stage would have been much more exciting to watch

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

"The climb wasnt long and/or steep enough is a good one"

Yep. And after finishing 2nd in Paris, they´ll say the tour was too short. After 25 stages we´d have won...

 

[thehog]

If that climb wasn't steep enough for him - then why didn't he contest the Giro?

I realise the team have to rose tint things a bit but that i really a "wtf?" moment.

http://www.itv.com/tourdefrance/2011/news/schlecks-mean-business-as-tour-hots-up/

I'm not sure what they're talking about. What are they expecting the other riders to do? If you repeatedly attack a group then slow the group will just follow. Why didn't Frank ride super hard then have Andy attack. By slowing they were playing into the hands of everyone else. In addtion trying to have Frank & Andy finish together is never going to work.

 

[benpounder]

My prediction? Next Friday night, a whole lot of teams and riders are going to be wondering why they spent so much time marking the other pre-race favorites...

...and wondering if they can make up the 2:00+ minute deficit to Thomas Voeckler.

 

[Tuarts]

Omg was that the plan? Thats just pathetic and a waste of ressources.

It is? I thought it was fairly standard cycling 101 to send a cyclist up the road to help at a latter part of a stage. Voigt need something similar for Basso in '04.

 

[Escarabajo]

I just finished watching the stage re-run.

I am so happy for Uran. The white shirt is dedicated to his dead father and uncle.

What about Voeckler. How dare Andy ask him to chase down other attackers. LOL. Is he crazy?

Again, GO URAN.

 

[Parrulo]

My prediction? Next Friday night, a whole lot of teams and riders are going to be wondering why they spent so much time marking the other pre-race favorites...

...and wondering if they can make up the 2:00+ minute deficit to Thomas Voeckler.

atm i fairly sure a couple of people can close that gap on the itt. contador is 4 minutes behind and can prolly close that gap. so can evans for sure. andy, basso and frank is another story tho.

 

[T_S_A_R]

a lot of these comments are pathetic.

it reminds of americans complaining that a football match can end up a draw.

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

I just finished watching the stage re-run.

I am so happy for Uran. The white shirt is dedicated to his dead father and uncle.

What about Voeckler. How dare Andy ask him to chase down other attackers. LOL. Is he crazy?

Again, GO URAN.

Andy is a coward. It´s the "prevent loosing at all costs" tactic that will keep Voeckler in yellow. The problem is, some guys here don´t understand that and think TV is the "Über-Doper" nowadays. Ridiculous.

BTW, wait for the power datas. I expect something like 300 watts for the climb today, the way the "contenders" almost rode backwards...

 

[webvan]

atm i fairly sure a couple of people can close that gap on the itt. contador is 4 minutes behind and can prolly close that gap. so can evans for sure. andy, basso and frank is another story tho.

Well Evans put in a tad less than 2 minutes into Voeckler at the Dauphine ITT (exact same route as the TDF ITT) and Voeckler didn't have the yellow jersey on his back. Evans would put in 1 minute at best on him in that scenario I'm guessing.

 

[Four Winds]

After years of doing otherwise, Sean Kelly started saying "General Classification" today instead of his usual "Classement"

That was probably the highlight of the stage for me

 

[Gingerale]

I just finished watching the stage re-run.

I am so happy for Uran. The white shirt is dedicated to his dead father and uncle.

What about Voeckler. How dare Andy ask him to chase down other attackers. LOL. Is he crazy?

Again, GO URAN.

that's sweet to know abt uran. the VS coverage i have lacks podiums. they showed voeckler and vanendert stage win and briefly pulling on the polka dots but no white jersey. i have to go look for it somewhere.

 

[Bala Verde]

LTD thanks Hushovd for his generous support on the last climb

 

[Gingerale]

poor ten dam...

how does ivan basso remain so elegant?