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

[Ryaguas]

I imagine it will be measured in hours rather than minutes.

Maybe days? and Skin?? I have a feeling that he will have the same problem like Rasmussen

 

[auscyclefan94]

?

Not an excuse... Gesink performed well, unlike, say, Leipheimer who cracked miserably.

so he is blaming altitude?

 

[theyoungest]

When he makes an excuse he doesn't get shot down for it.

Excuse? He finished among the favourites, so he doesn't need an excuse. He just explained why he got dropped briefly.

It's probably a combination of being a natural climber and his altitude training, both factors in doing well when there's less oxygen.

 

[ScottyMuser]

so, after months of ACF claiming that Evans was a much superior rider than Menchov, and that Manchov doesn't deserve the fact he has a better palmares than Evans, now Evans has cracked AGAIN under pressure, after having a great season, he now comes out and supports Menchov as he doesn't like VDB (because he had the temerity of riding with evans and being better than him?) or Gesink (as Gesink has a broken bone in his arm, like Armstrong, but is able to continue through the pain and ride to a top 5/6, sticking with AC/AS no problem today)

 

[Bala Verde]

Just as a general warning, please do not start, or if you've already done so, desist from insulting other posters!!

 

[Kwibus]

so he is blaming altitude?

Insert facepalm picture here.

 

[LugHugger]

I don't give a ****! Your hilarious!

Oh, the irony.....

 

[auscyclefan94]

Wouldn't want to be too tired for school in the morning..

Yes, uni starts up again today.

 

[nesocip]

Someone who doesnt watch the race and came to this forum would probably think that Cadel and Gesink are battling it out for yellow, and pedalling with their broken hands.

Now that i wrote it, wouldnt it be a sight?

Anyways, i feel that Contador is in complete control. 15 seconds to Samu and Menchov arent going to make any difference in the end.

If Samu doesnt attack on the crest of the final climb tomorrow to put some 40-50 additional seconds on Menchov before the TT, he can kiss the podium goodbye. And it would be a shame really, hes been fantastic this July.

 

[theyoungest]

Yes, uni starts up again today.

Strange trimesters you guys have down in Oz.

 

[Moondance]

so he is blaming altitude?

He says he climbs better at higher altitudes... That, to me, seems like a critique of his own abilities, and not any type of excuse.

Also, he performed well, with the two men who he is closest to in the GC, save Leipheimer who he beat. That he looks to holes in his own performance despite having a good day is a sign of his healthy attitude to his sport.

 

[autologous]

**+edtied by mod ***

 

[dsut4392]

When he makes an excuse he doesn't get shot down for it.

To be fair, Gesink says "I'm not good at that sort of climb", where Cadel says "I have been sick for a week but didn't want to tell anyone" (Giro 10, tour 09), or "I broke my arm in a crash yesterday but didn't want to tell anyone" (tour 10), or "don't TOUCH me" (tour 08), or "step on my dog and I'll cut off your head".

One of these days he just needs to man up and say "Mate, I tried as hard as I could today, but I ran out of great form half way through the Giro, and to be honest I have never really been that great a climber anyway". Maybe the dodger could give him some lessons in self-deprecating aussie speak...

 

[ScottyMuser]

He says he climbs better at higher altitudes... That, to me, seems like a critique of his own abilities, and any type of excuse.

Also, he performed well, with the two men who he is closest to in the GC, save Leipheimer who he beat. That he looks to holes in his own performance despite having a good day is a sign of his healthy attitude to his sport.

Plus the fact that he had a team mate up the road so trying to gain any more time would have meant he was riding against menchov, wohich would have been stupid beyond measure. HE was defintiely 1 of the better riders today, as long as tomorrow he doesn't fall, it puts Rabo in a good position for 2 in the top 5/6

 

[Trev_S]

ignorance. gesink has a fracture in his arm

it's just less discussed.. i wonder why

A couple of reasons perhaps??
Gesink is a lower profile than Evans?
The press report on Evans more than Gesink? (maybe different in the Netherlands though)
Evans wore the Yellow Jersey and Gesink didn't?

 

[theyoungest]

*** edited by mod ****

 

[El Pistolero]

The big news today is Contador tried one big attack but Andy Schleck managed to cover it with ease.

I think we are seeing a repeat of the Rasmussen/Contador battle. AC will blow himself out trying to attack in the coming days, then Schleck will finish him off with one big counter attack.

So when Andy Schleck tried to attack 3 times on the Madeleine it meant nothing? You're cherry picking here mate.

To say it with the words of Roger de Vlaeminck: The guy who attacks the most, is the one I'll give the advantage.

Anyway Andy Schleck shouldn't be defending, he should be attacking... It's Andy Schleck that needs time on Contador, not the other way around. He just threw away another stage now.

And you shouldn't compare the 24 year old Alberto Contador to the 27 year old Contador. He's way better now then when he was 24 years old. Owh, Rasmussen is a doper by the way.

Let's not forget how much Alberto Contador has improved in time trials since 2007?

 

[hrotha]

The big news today is Contador tried one big attack but Andy Schleck managed to cover it with ease.

I think we are seeing a repeat of the Rasmussen/Contador battle. AC will blow himself out trying to attack in the coming days, then Schleck will finish him off with one big counter attack.

Except if it comes down to it AC can still take it in the TT. It's not ideal for him because it's a bit of a gamble, but he'd still have much better odds than AS. Andy's the one who's losing with this little game, I'd say.

Knowing Riis, I bet they've picked one stage, and only one, where AS will try to put decisive time on AC. Probably on the Tourmalet.

 

[The Hitch]

*** edited by mod ****

 

[Hugh Januss]

Breaking news, Lance Armstrong has just turned onto the beginning of the final climb and has been dropped by the Running in Antlers Guy.

 

[The Hitch]

Except if it comes down to it AC can still take it in the TT. It's not ideal for him because it's a bit of a gamble, but he'd still have much better odds than AS. Andy's the one who's losing with this little game, I'd say.

Knowing Riis, I bet they've picked one stage, and only one, where AS will try to put decisive time on AC. Probably on the Tourmalet.

Considering Schlecks strenght is mtfs not descents and he needs to look for time, today was his best chance before the tourmalet (woops, i said that 90 pages ago). Then again at this rate, he will NEED to put time on the tourmalet so that will be an exciting stage.

(quietly) right?

 

[roundabout]

I don't think Schleck jr is such a lousy descender. He sure looks weird doing it though.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Breaking news, Lance Armstrong has just turned onto the beginning of the final climb and has been dropped by the Running in Antlers Guy.

I heard he is still going.

Meanwhile, it seems we have 3/4 battles going on now

1) Contador vs A.Schleck for yellow
2) Menchov vs Samuel Sanchez for 3rd place
3) Vandenbroeck vs Gesink vs Rodriguez vs Leipheimer(?) for 5th..
4) Rest of top 10 spots between the failing Basso/Kreuziger and so on

 

[The Hitch]

Has anyone of note missed the time limit. Pettachi? Cav? THor?

 

[Hugh Januss]

So when Andy Schleck tried to attack 3 times on the Madeleine it meant nothing? You're cherry picking here mate.

To say it with the words of Roger de Vlaeminck: The guy who attacks the most, is the one I'll give the advantage.

Anyway Andy Schleck shouldn't be defending, he should be attacking... It's Andy Schleck that needs time on Contador, not the other way around. He just threw away another stage now.

And you shouldn't compare the 24 year old Alberto Contador to the 27 year old Contador. He's way better now then when he was 24 years old. Owh, Rasmussen is a doper by the way.

Let's not forget how much Alberto Contador has improved in time trials since 2007?

Yes, while Contador and Schleck are..............ahh nevermind............