TDF Stage 16 - Tuesday, July 20 2010, Bagnères-de-Luchon - Pau, 196 km

[Jamsque]

Roche, Hes-Jay and Wiggo all in the break and all well (ish) placed on GC. This is going to be a real test of Astana's might today. If they do bring this back, expect Saxo to hit them hard.

 

[khodder]

Cadel dropping off the back. No surprise. Think the Giro has hurt him big, look at what happened to Basso today.

Look for Wiggans to get dropped from the "break" early if they do get away.

 

[Ramira]

Evans gone, a real shame. I'm starting to wish he'd simply abandoned after he lost the yellow and focused on the Vuelta to show what he can do because this is not the real Evans.

 

[carrai]

Sastre and Vino trying to get into the group...

 

[khodder]

On another note, Radioshack trying to bring Paulinho over to the Break in the Charteau, Sastre, Kireyenka, Vino group.

 

[Ferminal]

Sastre and Vino trying to get into the group...

and Klöden, all or nothing for the TEAMS classification!

 

[The Hitch]

Damn ryder hejsddal you selfish guy. Im liking this breakaway, why do you have to ruin it.

Maybe they are trying payback to wiggins.

 

[Ramira]

Look for Wiggans to get dropped from the "break" early if they do get away.

Just checked Wiggans lost 9 minutes or so y-day he's not good this tour but he's not that bad, I think he saved some energy y-day, I don't think he's the strongest up front but I reckon he'll last quite a while.

Also Vino now the best placed man up front.

Am I the only one who's thinking Vino jumping is a sign Astana isn't sure they can control this brakeaway btw? Doesn't seem like there will be much help either, only teams I can see helping are Rabobank, Omega-Pharma Lotto and Euskaltel and I'm not sure they will have any helpers left.

 

[Jamsque]

Damn ryder hejsddal you selfish guy. Im liking this breakaway, why do you have to ruin it.

Maybe they are trying payback to wiggins.

Vino is in (nearly) in it too, and he is one place ahead of Ryder on GC. Astana are still chasing at the head of the field, though.

 

[khodder]

Just checked Wiggans lost 9 minutes or so y-day he's not good this tour but he's not that bad, I think he saved some energy y-day, I don't think he's the strongest up front but I reckon he'll last quite a while.

Also Vino now the best placed man up front.

I am talking more his legs from the Giro could be hurting him. See Evans and Basso. Smyzd might go earlyish, especially if he has to do all the work for Kreuziger...

"Break" at 35 seconds

Gadret trying to get into the break too. How will Roche like that....

 

[Mellow Velo]

Roche in the break, Gadret drops. Well done Johnny.

Even the break guys are hanging.

 

[khodder]

Matty Lloyd in the break for OPL, Sastre and Charteau have bridged. Look for Charteau to try and take points at the top.

 

[Mellow Velo]

J VdB attacks!

 

[khodder]

Van Den Broeck trying to bridge...Now THIS is interesting.

 

[carrai]

I am talking more his legs from the Giro could be hurting him. See Evans and Basso. Smyzd might go earlyish, especially if he has to do all the work for Kreuziger...

"Break" at 35 seconds

Gadret trying to get into the break too. How will Roche like that....

I guess Gadret's break is in the wrong direction

 

[Ramira]

I am talking more his legs from the Giro could be hurting him. See Evans and Basso. Smyzd might go earlyish, especially if he has to do all the work for Kreuziger...

"Break" at 35 seconds

Gadret trying to get into the break too. How will Roche like that....

Wiggins never really rode in the Giro though unlike Evans and Basso, but I guess we'll know in an hour or so how much he'll have left. It's a real shame Fränk Schleck isn't here today that would've made everything explode.

WTF!!! Van den Broeck going! Now this is a race I think the peleton is going to have to close the gap if anyone else jumps.

 

[thrawn]

van den broeck attacks on the first climb of the day. this is nuts!

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Jurgen Vandenbroeck what the ****

 

[superconfex]

gang up on AC day methinks

 

[Big GMaC]

VINO vino VINO vino VINO

 

[Ramira]

Contador has 1 good helper and 1 more left in the back, this is really going to be fascinating.

 

[khodder]

Gap at the top to Alberto is close to 45 seconds.

 

[Jamsque]

The rest of the pack is throwing the kitchen sink at Astana today. Alberto seems to be down to one team-mate already! At least they have crested the first climb.

 

[Ramira]

Guess VDB is having that superday he's been waiting for all Tour.

 

[khodder]

Roche falls off the break.