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

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Perez for the win plz

One of the worst climbers in the front group to win?

Not likely.

 

[Bala Verde]

Vansummeren, Voeckler or Ivanov.

V Summeren is 31th in the GC so probably the best climber

Good call about VSummeren. Voeckler obviously also knows how to 'will himself' to the top...

 

[superconfex]

One of the worst climbers in the front group to win?

Not likely.

i just like the thought of Footon showing up Sky

 

[cyclestationgiuseppe]

About 30 or 29, However the Map I was looking at had the climb at 18.5 KM and this climb is 19.3 so I could be out by a KM or so.

http://www.climbbybike.com/climb.asp?Col=Port-de-Bales&qryMountainID=7057

last 10k are brutal....

gap under 9 already

 

[salixcycling]

At last, the peloton has picked the pace up enough to start fragmenting at the back..

 

[ericthesportsman6]

Gap coming down fast

 

[Anonymous]

I guess in the past, the snarky comments have at least been about riders doing something or in the race.

Things like the bazillion Karpets puns everytime he attacks in a race or comments on Levi sucking someone's wheel seem more appropriate then talk about Lance when he's 20 minutes down.

I just got through a weekend listening to the Versus guys talk WAAAY too much about Lance during stages he did nothing. Now I'm getting more of that through a forum where I expected better. Perhaps that's my mistake.

And this isn't in any way venom. It's annoyance. But I'll shut up and be annoyed quietly from now on.

Dude, there had been 3 comments regarding P&P's comments about Contador/Lance when you posted your first post on this. I am not sure how many posts YOU have wasted discussing this since then, but it is more than 3. How productive has this been if your whole point is the uselessness of not posting about what is happening in the race right at that moment?

I understand some of the frustration regarding hearing Lance's name. As I posted yesterday, I am done talking about him in the race because he is not a factor. My comment was about the live coverage that had proceeded my post. Chill out man, it wasn't that big of a deal, and there hasn't really been any of the back and forth about in the fanboy/hater time continuum. However, there has been plenty of back and forth with you. Have you not just defeated the purpose of your posts?

 

[lilyprotector]

just saw an astana rider talking to an rs rider. he put his hand on his shoulder. anyone catch this? it was so fast. pretty sure it was rs unless it was caisse. just wondering who the two were?

 

[sublimit]

i just like the thought of Footon showing up Sky

Sky have been useless so far apart from Lovqvuist and Thomas. Footen are more impressive no question.
I'm Hoping Sky will cherry pick their best talent for next year's Sky team.

 

[khodder]

http://www.climbbybike.com/climb.asp?Col=Port-de-Bales&qryMountainID=7057

last 10k are brutal....

gap under 9 already

Exactly the Map I had looked at. Great site if you want to find the percentage breakdowns of climbs.

I thought Cancellara was an OK climber, at least to go to work on the front a bit for Saxo. If they had O'Grady, then Canc, then Voigt to try and destroy riders along the false flat then go to the Sorenson's at the start of the climb and they would be very dangerous.

But Cancellara always seems to fall back very early. Is he just one of the riders for Saxo that is given that leeway becasue he will wear yellow and will win a stage for the team in just about every tour he rides becasue of his incredible TT'ing ability.

 

[khodder]

just saw an astana rider talking to an rs rider. he put his hand on his shoulder. anyone catch this? it was so fast. pretty sure it was rs unless it was caisse. just wondering who the two were?

At a guess, as I did not see it at all, I would go with maybe Serginho Paulino from RS and one of the Spainish riders from Astana.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Breakaway group is going backwards

 

[salixcycling]

just saw an astana rider talking to an rs rider. he put his hand on his shoulder. anyone catch this? it was so fast. pretty sure it was rs unless it was caisse. just wondering who the two were?

Saw that as well in the autobus, but didn't think it was RS

 

[khodder]

Rather than asking who is the best climber in the front group, we should ask who is the best Descender.

So who is it, Turgot? Sprinters can usually go downhill.

 

[Spare Tyre]

just saw an astana rider talking to an rs rider. he put his hand on his shoulder. anyone catch this? it was so fast. pretty sure it was rs unless it was caisse. just wondering who the two were?

I saw it, but didn't recognize which riders.

 

[cyclestationgiuseppe]

Breakaway group is going backwards

Gap already under 8 and getting lower all the time....
Kind of surprised no one in the break is gonna give a go..

Maybe Voeckler...

 

[ericthesportsman6]

Rather than asking who is the best climber in the front group, we should ask who is the best Descender.

So who is it, Turgot? Sprinters can usually go downhill.

I'm sure Van Summeren is fast, mostly because he's huge and a good cobbles rider, so he's a good bike handler.
EDIT: Turgot already gone from break

 

[Bala Verde]

just saw an astana rider talking to an rs rider. he put his hand on his shoulder. anyone catch this? it was so fast. pretty sure it was rs unless it was caisse. just wondering who the two were?

Caisse is black, are you not mixing them up with BMC?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Vansummeren upping the pace

 

[Bala Verde]

Turgot = gone

Mondory = Gone

Remaining

Ballan, Perez, Voeckler, V Summeren, Ivanov.

 

[khodder]

We see the front group hit the double digit percentages and BOOM. Splits all over the place.

Schleck and Bertie look to be really putting it in with the pace set by Voigt. Could be an interesting last 5 or so KM of the climb.

 

[superconfex]

hang in there Perez

 

[salixcycling]

Voeckler stayed in the front group. How well does he descend?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Perez Arrieta the sprinter hanging on. Wtf

 

[Bala Verde]

Perez Arrieta the sprinter hanging on. Wtf

Putting his foot down.