TDF Stage 15 - Monday, July 19 2010, Pamiers - Bagnères-de-Luchon, 187 km

[The Hitch]

Is that based on evidence or that Frank crashes some times?

Based on what you can see in front of your eyes. The latest evidence being the Madeleine descent, where Andy looked far from amazing. Don't know what this has to do with Fränk, though.

Its a witty comment, and I like it. He is basically making fun of the fact that people see the Schlecks as one and the same, very similar in everything, with andy being slightly stronger.
Here is a picture to back this theory up

Somewhat old picture, but looks like the Schlecks do almost everything together, even get pretty much the same injuries...

 

[ericthesportsman6]

Rooting for Gadret to take the win today, if he's not to tired from the Giro.

 

[frizzlefry]

Look for more fireworks from Vino. He's sitting in 11th place behind Basso. Look for him to try to move into the top 10.

 

[hrotha]

the following quote was posted every day during the giro by various people



It didnt quite come to pass.

All the more reason to wish he makes it then!

 

[Publicus]

I think we see a replay of Madeline (sp), but this time they trade shots and one of them cracks.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

What's so disappointing is that 6 years ago I was the biggest Lance fan.

The Simeoni incident was an eye-opening experience. After that, the whole illusion crumbled.

 

[Ferminal]

A bit worried for Menchov here today after his great performance yesterday. Hopefully he's strong enough to be 3rd man over the top and have a bit of a buffer on Sanchez going down.

 

[Bennyl]

Look for more fireworks from Vino. He's sitting in 11th place behind Basso. Look for him to try to move into the top 10.

surely he is tired. after the giro, his last three days, that should be it from him IMHO. He only seems to keep getting better. He should ride the Vuelta, he'd be a monty for the win.

 

[Ryaguas]

surely he is tired. after the giro, his last three days, that should be it from him IMHO. He only seems to keep getting better. He should ride the Vuelta, he'd be a monty for the win.

Vino is a faking monster... after 3 days riding really hard he still have plenty of energies to drop Gesink, Bottle, Basso and Kreuziger... and riding clean! pffff Vino 4eva!!! if tomorrow he can manage to stay with the leaders he is going to win for sure... maybe tomorrow is a good day to be in the breakaway and put Saxo to work no?

About La Vuelta... I don't think that he will ride that race... after La Grande Boucle he will be toasted... maybe we can expect AC to ride it but He hasn't said anything yet... one rider from Astana is going for sure and is Oscar Pereiro...

 

[theswordsman]

The descent tomorrow is one of those key parts of the race where people thought they could make up time on Contador. I think the massive effort by Astana on Sunday was wasted - they should have let Saxo Bank do the work as race leaders, and they could have still had the same result with Alberto and Andy. As long as everyone can do it without crashing, I'd love to see some serious action on both the climb and the descent. Let a couple of great bike handlers fight to reach the top first, then go for it. I'd especially like to see Menchov, Sanchez and a few others try to turn this into a race.

 

[Bennyl]

Vino is a faking monster... after 3 days riding really hard he still have plenty of energies to drop Gesink, Bottle, Basso and Kreuziger... and riding clean! pffff Vino 4eva!!! if tomorrow he can manage to stay with the leaders he is going to win for sure... maybe tomorrow is a good day to be in the breakaway and put Saxo to work no?

Vino is in the top 5 riders for the tour so far, easily. With all the energies he has expended supporting AC and chasing wins to date, while still being in 11th, you could say that only AC and AS have looked stronger.

 

[ericthesportsman6]

I like Vino's style, but the gushing amounts of love for him on this forum recently have been painful.

 

[Ryaguas]

I like Vino's style, but the gushing amounts of love for him on this forum recently have been painful.

That's cuz you are not Vino's fan... is like when a I see posts supporting LA... that is painful too me... but I just shut up and I try to don't read that kind of post

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Vino has been absolutely spectacular this season, but I don't think it's a good idea for him to ride the Vuelta. He's going to completely fry himself. I'd rather see him rest and rebuild form in time for Worlds.

 

[Bennyl]

I like Vino's style, but the gushing amounts of love for him on this forum recently have been painful.

don't include me as a vino lover. the questions I have about him don't belong in this forum. seeing he is back and clean however, I'm wondering how long he can keep up the incredible form he has since LBL, the Giro and the Tour.

 

[Lajeretta4Ever]

who is the better descender? bertie? or andy?

Bertie. It looks like Andy was schooled in descending by the same teacher that Jan Ullrich used. Although neither of them is the second coming of The ll Falcon.

 

[2wheels]

I soooo hope Cunego will win either this one or stage 16. He deserves it.

Have to disagree mildly with this. Yes, he's been getting out in breaks (or trying to), but once there he seems to mostly wheelsuck and then hope he can win on the last climb. His strategy in recent years seems to be giving up early in terms of the overall GC, so he can just lurk for stage wins (and rest on those days that don't suit him). Maybe he has some French ancestry. Contrast this with someone like Paulinho, Tiralongo, Horner, Voigt, or Chris Anker Sorensen-- all guys who could play the same game, but are instead working hard for teammates.

 

[royalpig180]

Hushovd to go in the early break for sprint points. The Contador Schleck stalemate will continue, and Hushovd will score sprint points at the final too!!
(okay, probably not, but would be fun )

I think Lampre will work hard to make sure any early break containing Hushovd doesn't get away or will at least cover it with someone like Bole again.

 

[royalpig180]

The descent tomorrow is one of those key parts of the race where people thought they could make up time on Contador. I think the massive effort by Astana on Sunday was wasted - they should have let Saxo Bank do the work as race leaders, and they could have still had the same result with Alberto and Andy. As long as everyone can do it without crashing, I'd love to see some serious action on both the climb and the descent. Let a couple of great bike handlers fight to reach the top first, then go for it. I'd especially like to see Menchov, Sanchez and a few others try to turn this into a race.

Are you implying that the race for third (between Menchov and Sanchez) could be decided on the descent? Sanchez will be half way down in the mountain and Menchov will be in a ditch less than a km from the top trying to figure out what happened...

 

[blaxland]

My money will be Samuel Sanchez he sure can desend..

 

[Blakeslee]

This could be a potentially fun stage to watch! First I expect Hushovd will attack attempting to get the sprint points with Lampre and HTC doing all they can to stop him from getting the green jersey back. Second the final climb should be interesting to see whether any of the GC contenders are going to take a chance and attack or whether they will play it conservative again like today and just mark each other. Third if Armstrong is serious about attempting to win a stage these next two are his only realistic chances of doing so, it will be interesting to see if he will try something or just continue to quietly close out the race.

 

[Galic Ho]

After seeing the profile of tonights (it is on at night in the Land Down Under) stage I think this will be much better than last nights. Both my top 3 pre race challengers are up there. Menchov and Samu. Rodgriguez is coming up trumps and Van Den Broecke is a surprise. Samu is a monster descender. But he has been tired lately, you can see it in his climbing, he is jsut holding onto AS and AC. If he is with Schleck and Contador at the top of the final climb, he will attack. I can see Contador going with him, but not Schleck. Andy is not a very good descender at all. His lines are attrocious. Only Franck and Basso are worse IMO. I've always thought Samu could potentially challenge AC if he beat him to the top of a climb and there was a descent to the finish. If the AS and AC counter moves occur this could happen, but AC is too smart for that. He'll make sure his compatriot is at a minimum right next to him at the summit. Samu could put maybe 20 seconds on AC, but that won't be a worry. Schleck however might be in trouble. Probably not though. They'll probably gap Samu and if he catches on the descent, he catches, just to play it safe. Andy cannot afford to lose time to Samu or Menchov.

Which leaves Dennis the Menace. He dropped 40 seconds in 2008 on a long climb. Dennis and Rabo, aka, Tankink, Boom, Garate and finally Gesink need to set something up. This means getting the drop on Sanchez, because he can't guarantee if Sanchez attacks on a descent he won't lose time. Should be a good stage viewing wise.

I have managed to get all top 6 on GC, except Gesink on my fantasy team. I had a trade for the Liquigas guys who I think are not going any higher. I was jumping when I tuned in last night and all three of my backups, Lloyd, Thomas and Zabriskie all were making moves. Hopefully my changes do well.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Only question is now whether the gaps created on the ascent are greater than those created by the descent....

A break will probably take this, but Samuel Sanchez should be able to trump the other GC men.

depends on what happens on the climb really. I can sense some destruction here.

 

[craig1985]

If Cadel Evans were fit (ie no fractured elbow), I would of backed him to do something on the final climb, as he is also a fantastic descender. As for the climb, false flat for the first 8km, and then kicks up to 8%, and basically carries on like that until the summit, with sections near the top at close to 14% (at least it is going around corners), to start the fast descent. There are some sections where you average 'cyclo tourist' can do easily 70km/h. But be careful halfway down as there is a sharp right hand corner and if a rider overshoots it then they will go flying into a brick wall

 

[theyoungest]

Video of the Port de Bales descent (first part hidden under a veil of clouds). Quite a soothing video actually.