TDF Stage 17 - Thursday, July 22 2010, Pau - Col du Tourmalet, 174 km

[The Hitch]

"Why does Contador have an advantage over Schleck in the TT? Schleck weighs 150lb compared to Contador's 130lb, which means that Schleck is putting out 15% more power as he climbs. With the yellow jersey on and chasing Contador, it seems he should be able to TT faster. Schleck is taller which will cause a couple of a percent loss in aerodynamics, but not 15%."

Schleck cant time himself as well - doesnt spread out his effort over the 50km as good. Also he isnt as good as going round corners though there wont be too many on this descent, and isnt as good at getting the aero position - very important.

 

[Bala Verde]

Sastre was afraid that when he would open his umbrella in the peloton, some riders' eyes would be poked out.

In front of the pack, he does not anger his colleagues so much...

 

[Wergeland]

Flecha, EBH, Pauriol, R. Perez, Burghardt, Kolobnev, Koren.

Sastre pedalling mindlessly between them and the bunch.

Isn't Sastre on 3rd in front of Sanchez and Menchow on the virtual standing now?

 

[Kazistuta]

Man, the guy wins an incredible stage in 2003 ahead of Ullrich and Armstrong, wins the whole tour in 2008 (with a brilliant attack on a late mountain stage) and still he gets no respect. Not from the peloton, not from the race commentators. I'd so love to see him get onto or close to the podium here. Unlike some other riders, he's willing to take risks and try to win from the front. Viva Sastre!!!

Welcome to the forum, better late than never!

Sastre actually get loads of credit in here, his act today has just been "a tad" on the unethical side.

 

[meandmygitane]

Is the Team Sky's rainjacket the most beautiful ever?

Jet-black and a sky-blue stripe down the middle, classy!

The only time when a team's kit looks better in rain (oh yeah, maybe Footon-Servetto looks better covered)

 

[The Hitch]

Andy is the younger bro

And therefore, you know more than carlton about cycling.

 

[alberto.legstrong]

Not much love for Sastre in these parts....Or maybe everyone is just cycnical? Or both. I'm going with both.

 

[ABRABR]

The peleton is already chasing. My guess is no one from the break will survive. Do you really think anyone is stupid enough to let him get onto the podium on a day like today?

We'll see!

 

[ericthesportsman6]

Not much love for Sastre in these parts....Or maybe everyone is just cycnical? Or both. I'm going with both.

The timing of his move today was a little un-ethical.

 

[Bala Verde]

Is the Team Sky's rainjacket the most beautiful ever?

Jet-black and a sky-blue stripe in the middle, classy!

The only time when a team's kit looks better in rain (oh yeah, maybe Footon-Servetto looks better covered)

Team overcast knows rain, and they use those jackets a lot.

 

[Ramira]

Technique...Not sure...Maybe someone who knows cycling better/ more intricately can help.

Well I'm not a real specialist but I've been following it long enough to give it a go. Mostly it's about the Time Trial bikes as far as I know, it makes it a totally different discipline then just riding hard on the flat (which I reckon AS can do better, see his LBL win) as you're forced into a very certain position and have to be able to get maximum power out of it. There's a couple of real hard riders who aren't monster time trialists because the TT bike doesn't fit them and they lack the perfect aerodynamic position. Basically Contador has been a Time Trialist ever since he was young so he's comfortable on the bike and can get the very best out of it, AS on the other hand has only been training on the bike for about two years or so probably less. Obviously all of this means there's a good chance the gap might get smaller in the future and it might even be diminished today.

This is my attempt to explain it, I might be wrong and if so feel free to correct me but I hope this gave some sort of an idea why there's such a big gap.

 

[Big GMaC]

And therefore, you know more than carlton about cycling.

Right, so he got it wrong. Massive error!

 

[Ramira]

And therefore, you know more than carlton about cycling.

Or Carlton is aware of some sort of very complex time Paradox we mere mortals are unable to comprehend, yeah it must be that. Or maybe he's simply clueless.

 

[sometriguy]

"Why does Contador have an advantage over Schleck in the TT? Schleck weighs 150lb compared to Contador's 130lb, which means that Schleck is putting out 15% more power as he climbs. With the yellow jersey on and chasing Contador, it seems he should be able to TT faster. Schleck is taller which will cause a couple of a percent loss in aerodynamics, but not 15%."

One reason is that schleck is nowhere near 150... he probably weights 135 tops.

Additionally, I think contador is 135-140...

I am the same height as schleck and weight 159... he weighs a metric ton less than me... have you seen how skinny he is?

 

[Lyds97]

Isn't Sastre on 3rd in front of Sanchez and Menchow on the virtual standing now?

You're right. But there's no way he's gonna stay out front all day. Rabo and Euskaltel will bring him back if they get worried and he hasn't shown any climbing form at all this year.

 

[Francois the Postman]

Or Carlton is aware of some sort of very complex time Paradox we mere mortals are unable to comprehend, yeah it must be that. Or maybe he's simply clueless.

Clueless is internet speak for not getting it a 100% right all the time, right?

He certainly flunks at times and has pretty apparent personal likes and dislikes, but his day long coverage covers more than just the bases. To call him clueless is, well, clueless.

 

[balkou]

nice weather...

 

[indurain666]

One reason is that schleck is nowhere near 150... he probably weights 135 tops.

Additionally, I think contador is 135-140...

I am the same height as schleck and weight 159... he weighs a metric ton less than me... have you seen how skinny he is?

Contador 5-9" 137 pounds

Schleck 6'2" 137 pounds

So Contador is actually "heavier" than Schleck

 

[superconfex]

Clueless is internet speak for not getting it a 100% right all the time, right?

He certainly flunks at times and has pretty apparent personal likes and dislikes, but his day long coverage covers more than just the bases. To call him clueless is, well, clueless.

Oh come on Mr Postman...Carlton only knows the names of a dozen riders... he is utterly(UTTERLY) clueless

 

[andy1234]

Well I'm not a real specialist but I've been following it long enough to give it a go. Mostly it's about the Time Trial bikes as far as I know, it makes it a totally different discipline then just riding hard on the flat (which I reckon AS can do better, see his LBL win) as you're forced into a very certain position and have to be able to get maximum power out of it. There's a couple of real hard riders who aren't monster time trialists because the TT bike doesn't fit them and they lack the perfect aerodynamic position. Basically Contador has been a Time Trialist ever since he was young so he's comfortable on the bike and can get the very best out of it, AS on the other hand has only been training on the bike for about two years or so probably less. Obviously all of this means there's a good chance the gap might get smaller in the future and it might even be diminished today.

This is my attempt to explain it, I might be wrong and if so feel free to correct me but I hope this gave some sort of an idea why there's such a big gap.

Not really....
Time Trialling is like climbing, in that regardless of power outputs and weights of the riders, some can do it better than others. Practice obviously makes perfect, but at this level, the differences in TT bike are not that great.

From experience, some riders are more able both physically and mentally to hold a threshold pace over a given distance. Others need the competeive element of a road race to get the best from themselves.

 

[Ramira]

Clueless is internet speak for not getting it a 100% right all the time, right?

He certainly flunks at times and has pretty apparent personal likes and dislikes, but his day long coverage covers more than just the bases. To call him clueless is, well, clueless.

Like I said before I'm watching Belgian TV so I don't actually know the guy. But saying Andy is the big brother is one of the most elementary mistakes you can make as a cycling commentator.

That being said most commentators tend to make mistakes during a long stage and I was only saying it in jest going along in the flow that the original comment was made in.

 

[sometriguy]

Contador 5-9" 137 pounds

Schleck 6'2" 137 pounds

So Contador is actually "heavier" than Schleck

That makes a whole lot more sense.

I looked up some old pictures of the chicken doing a TT and put them next to pictures of andy....

the chicken looks a little plump...

we just haven't gotten the bike tan shirtless pictures of schleck yet

 

[indurain666]

Wow, I was watching cyclingnew's pics of Barredo during the rest day. It is impressive how skinny/fit these guys are. I am 5'7" 145 pounds (summer), 10% very low body fat and people in the office describe as skinny/fit. Now if I'l be racing the TDF I'll be more like 5'7" and 126-128 pounds, 6% bf

 

[Ramira]

Not really....
Time Trialling is like climbing, in that regardless of power outputs and weights of the riders, some can do it better than others. Practice obviously makes perfect, but at this level, the differences in TT bike are not that great.

From experience, some riders are more able both physically and mentally to hold a threshold pace over a given distance. Others need the competeive element of a road race to get the best from themselves.

While that is definitely partially true it doesn't explain why many time trialists get significantly worse at it when they don't practice it (look at VDB but there have been many time trialists who lost their edge by focusing on other disciplines) It's also being comfortable on the bike. That being said the 'one of' monster TT's that people like Pantani and Sastre have done in their Tour wins does show the importance of the right mindset, but I truly doubt it's because AS can't focus for about an hour going on the limit he can't TT as well as AC especially considering the long explosion he had in LBL.

 

[Big GMaC]

Vino stolen the Yellow Jersey!

Oh wait... Rain Jacket