TDF Stage 14 - Sunday, July 18 2010, Revel - Ax-3 Domaines, 184 km

[DenisMenchov]

Tomorrow same thing as today.....

 

[DenisMenchov]

right, we've been over thies time and again, so let me repeat:
"IT IS COMMON COURTESY to wait for GC contenders early on in an early stage if they have fallen off because not of poor bike handling but atrocious wind/rain/oil conditions on the road. Doing so, Cancellara not only waited for Schleck, but a whole bunch of other riders, including IIRC Gesink, both sanchez, Wiggins, Evanms, Basso, VDB the list goes on (genuinely, only Kloden and Contador and maybe Menchov were in the group when Cancellara slowed it down to wait for eveeryone, and everyone bar VDV, Taarame, and Cunego of the semi-GC contenders were able to get back on. Just because LA in the 2003 went and won the tour because he didn't wait for Jan doesn't mean its a good thing to do. And the only reason Schleck was down on time was becauswe a large bunch of people went down int he oil, him included, then when he got up it was incredibly difficult to stay on with the rain and oil, and he like others fell again. Those were not usual conditions - heck I would say flat out they were the hardest conditions for a stage in the TDF I gave seen in the past 5 years.

Well maybe Gesink doesn`t like 35 degrees Celsius but still no one waits for him on Madaleine..... How come many people didn`t fell?

 

[Ryaguas]

Well here is a video from El Pistolero giving a briefing about what happen today in Le Ax - 3 Domaines

Alberto Contador's words...

 

[El Pistolero]

right, we've been over thies time and again, so let me repeat:
"IT IS COMMON COURTESY to wait for GC contenders early on in an early stage if they have fallen off because not of poor bike handling but atrocious wind/rain/oil conditions on the road. Doing so, Cancellara not only waited for Schleck, but a whole bunch of other riders, including IIRC Gesink, both sanchez, Wiggins, Evanms, Basso, VDB the list goes on (genuinely, only Kloden and Contador and maybe Menchov were in the group when Cancellara slowed it down to wait for eveeryone, and everyone bar VDV, Taarame, and Cunego of the semi-GC contenders were able to get back on. Just because LA in the 2003 went and won the tour because he didn't wait for Jan doesn't mean its a good thing to do. And the only reason Schleck was down on time was becauswe a large bunch of people went down int he oil, him included, then when he got up it was incredibly difficult to stay on with the rain and oil, and he like others fell again. Those were not usual conditions - heck I would say flat out they were the hardest conditions for a stage in the TDF I gave seen in the past 5 years.

Actually they didn't wait for Van den Broeck at all. He lost time on that stage.

Nor did Andy Schleck and Cancellara wait when most of the peloton was hold back because of Fränk Schleck's poor bike handling skills on the cobblestones. No, then they attacked...

 

[luckyboy]

Pleased to see Riblon win, and Menchov going up the road too. Be good if he ends up getting the podium place.

 

[etymology]

Anyway, I don't like Andy Schlecks after and pre-race comments. He seems like an arrogant douche bag

I'm actually rooting for Contador and also hoping Menchov will pass him as well.

i don't think it's as much a matter of andy being arrogant as it is he is yet to develop - for lack of a better description - a "seasoned professional answer" system. in a thread after the stage in which he gained 10 seconds, i wrote, to paraphrase myself, "andy needs to think before he speaks." until that time arrives - IF it arrives - maybe there could be "immediate post race" and a "three hours post race" interviews.

i admit that may sound lame, though i can't help myself - he is one of my favorite riders. why? because it is obvious to me he loves his sport and he loves to ride. he is close to his family. i laughed when i read about his telling frank to "call mom, tell her i'll be careful on the descents!" i laughed because i am an over the hill, out of warranty, 56 year old geezer who, when talking to *my* mom about a ride i took a few days ago or some rollerblading i did...*always* tell her "you bet i'm careful as careful can be, mom! much as i'd like to think my body is 18, i know it is not."

truth is i go as fast as i can down hills, risks and my aging body be damned. some things...mom just doesn't need to know.

i understand i may be approaching fanboy territory here...i know i am not, nor do i care.

schletlette just loves to ride. i almost died laughing when i read his blog's descripiton of his bike acciddent with the car some months back. it wasn't funny he ran into the car. it wasn't funny he was slightly injured. what i found funny in a refreshing way was this: he was riding his bike to brother frank's house becuase he and frank were going to go for...a bike ride. not a training ride. not some workout. a bike ride. a plain ol' bikeride because...he loves to ride his bike. how can i not love that???

as for contador...i am also rooting for alberto to be in yellow in paris. i hope he kicks andy's **** before the pyranees are a distant memory. i believe it is looking very, very good for alberto in yellow in paris. BUT...a flat at the most inopportune of times...the touch of a wheel...a wet road stripe, a patch of sand...a failed bunnyhop...an oily patch in a roundabout...hanything *could* happen, because that is bike racing.

meanwhile, i will continue my arguem...um, i mean, my impassioned debates with my fellow and fellowette cycling fans at w**k, as we continue to enjoy the rolling soap opera we know as "professional cycling."

 

[santacruz]

This whole tour reeks of games and nefarious bribery... Does AS even want to win the tour? Doesn't even look like he is trying to fight AC. Also I feel like AC could take off and gain 5 minutes every mountain finish but he doesn't bother because he doesn't have to, AC and AS are playing some stupid game that doesn't look anything like a grand tour bike race. The guys behind look like they are actually racing and dying.

 

[The Sheep]

right, we've been over thies time and again, so let me repeat:
"IT IS COMMON COURTESY to wait for GC contenders early on in an early stage if they have fallen off because not of poor bike handling but atrocious wind/rain/oil conditions on the road. Doing so, Cancellara not only waited for Schleck, but a whole bunch of other riders, including IIRC Gesink, both sanchez, Wiggins, Evanms, Basso, VDB the list goes on (genuinely, only Kloden and Contador and maybe Menchov were in the group when Cancellara slowed it down to wait for eveeryone, and everyone bar VDV, Taarame, and Cunego of the semi-GC contenders were able to get back on. Just because LA in the 2003 went and won the tour because he didn't wait for Jan doesn't mean its a good thing to do. And the only reason Schleck was down on time was becauswe a large bunch of people went down int he oil, him included, then when he got up it was incredibly difficult to stay on with the rain and oil, and he like others fell again. Those were not usual conditions - heck I would say flat out they were the hardest conditions for a stage in the TDF I gave seen in the past 5 years.

They didn't wait for Gesink or VDB when they fell earlier on that stage, they had to get their team mates to ride them back. That's why they both were ****ed off because they were up front with Cancelarra when he stopped the peloton

 

[vrusimov]

This whole tour reeks of games and nefarious bribery... Does AS even want to win the tour? Doesn't even look like he is trying to fight AC. Also I feel like AC could take off and gain 5 minutes every mountain finish but he doesn't bother because he doesn't have to, AC and AS are playing some stupid game that doesn't look anything like a grand tour bike race. The guys behind look like they are actually racing and dying.

...so far at least, it does'nt appear Contador has the same engine he had last year...anaerobically he seems superior but he can't seem to make the attacks stick...if you remember his ridiculous ascent of Verbier last year in contrast to what we are seeing this year it's just plain weird...

...Contador was blowing pretty good during his attacks on Schleck and he could'nt gap him without possibly destroying himself...they let a suddenly dangerous Menchov gain time unnecessarily...

...perhaps Alberto will go better on Tourmalet but Andy is going to try to avoid the ambush by keeping Contador in front of him at all times, undoubtedly a hedge against Alberto's little surprise attack a few days ago...

...Contador will win if current margins prevail and neither he nor Schleck cracks unexpectedly...i worry more about Andy, who appears woefully thin...can his body hold up for another week?

 

[peloton]

...Contador will win if current margins prevail and neither he nor Schleck cracks unexpectedly...i worry more about Andy, who appears woefully thin...can his body hold up for another week?

This is what I have been wondering as well, he looks unhealthy thin...

 

[oncehadhair]

.. Just because LA in the 2003 went and won the tour because he didn't wait for Jan doesn't mean its a good thing to do. ...

can of worms is open

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

The strangest thing to me was that Contadors first big attack was not only countered by Schleck, but also by Menchov. He could follow the acceleration.

I'm pretty sure that Contador 09 would've dropped both

 

[markjohnconley]

Riblon

I couldn't help but notice the non-workers in the break and Monsieur Riblon was one.