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

[luckyboy]

Wonder what odds you would've got before the Tour on Moreau finishing ahead of Armstrong, Basso, Wiggins and Evans.

 

[hfer07]

well, the only truly winner today?

Specialized bikes-

I really want my money back money back on this plain, boring & flavorless tour (GT contention wise)

 

[MKirilenko]

Ouch... That's gotta hurt the morale, getting outclimbed by Spartacus

He probably wanted to leave his energy for TT, but anyway its highly doubtful that he manages to win with Cancellara

 

[WinterRider]

Canadian Broadcasting Center?

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, which is the nearest thing to a national religious institution in Canada with their weekly "Hockey Night in Canada" broadcasts in the winter.

Chapeau to Hesjedal. I never thought he'd be anywhere near the top ten after the first mountain stage.

 

[euphrades]

Wonder what odds you would've got before the Tour on Moreau finishing ahead of Armstrong, Basso, Wiggins and Evans.

Who would have thought Horner would be the top RS rider?

 

[Train in Spain]

Horner showed in the races prior to the TdF that he was Radioshack's strongest rider. He kept pace with Contador on mountain top stages on a few occasions, dropping him as well just a few weeks ago. Then there was the TT stage when he pipped Valverde to win the Basque Tour after a mighty display in the mountains.

The fact is, as the peloton has got cleaner Horner's results have got better - he is competing now in a way he couldn't 2-4 years ago because it is a more level playing field. He has done all he was asked to do by LA and Brunyeel, a domestique of the highest calibre and a true team player.

I think today he was given the chance to ride for himself in late recognition of his previous efforts.

It's a great shame he's in the twilight of his career, he's one of the good guys for sure.

 

[BroDeal]

Wigans finally came in at 23 minutes. Oh, the humanity.

 

[Anonymous]

And Cuddles came second again!

Sorry...sorry... open goal... I shouldn't but couldn't resist.....I'll log off now.

Game. Set. Match.

 

[BroDeal]

Maybe he has an eye on the ITT.

Shut up, BPC.

 

[Sasquatch]

How much chance does Contador have to win the time trial?

I know Cancellara's a way better tter, but he doesn't recuperate as fast as Contador.

I reckon he has a strong chance, but probably won't win it. If there was a climb in it like last year, he would. But due to the complete flatness of the course, I think it's a race between Cancellara and Martin.

Martin has been tanking all the mountain stages. Clearly saving himself for the time trial.

 

[Carl0880]

well, the only truly winner today?

Specialized bikes-

I really want my money back money back on this plain, boring & flavorless tour (GT contention wise)

Hell I think I saw more attacks in the peleton for riders trying to get into the Top 10 then we saw for number 1. Outside of chaingate, for the overall GC win, Schleck was the only one to attack (Menchov and Sanchez I dont count the one stage since that was more of AS and AC ****ing off and shadowboxing). the cobbles was fun to watch, but otuside of that it has been a bland tour.

Maybe as I read someone suggest, maybe we need the first mountain stage to be a major climb to create excitiment. Let's try something different.

 

[Climbing]

I think Andy will win the TT and therefore the Tour.
Seriously

 

[Sasquatch]

Wonder what odds you would've got before the Tour on Moreau finishing ahead of Armstrong, Basso, Wiggins and Evans.

I'm not sure but Sammy Sanchez was $14-1 to beat Armstrong, Basso, Wiggins and Evans. $$$$$$$

Books got that one wrong big time. Three did the Giro and one is an old fart. One actually prepared for the Tour making sure he's fresh.

 

[roundabout]

I reckon he has a strong chance, but probably won't win it. If there was a climb in it like last year, he would. But due to the complete flatness of the course, I think it's a race between Cancellara and Martin.

Martin has been tanking all the mountain stages. Clearly saving himself for the time trial.

Martin was dead tired after week 1.

Stage itself: damp squib as said elsewhere.

 

[Sasquatch]

Maybe he has an eye on the ITT.

That's what he said.

 

[Publicus]

Wigans finally came in at 23 minutes. Oh, the humanity.

Well I guess you were being generous with your 20 minute loss prediction. He showed you! He's 41+ minutes down, thank you very much!

 

[alberto.legstrong]

Your a quick one...

It's not like I spent my whole morning in here. I actually have a job and my employer rudely expects me to continue working during my scheduled hours, bike race or no bike race. My point is people need to leave the troll alone.

 

[jaylew]

It's clear now. Contador is the new Armstrong.

Wheelsuck in the mountains. Win in the TT.

And everyone says you had a "smart race".

This reminds me of Armstrong "giving" Pantani the win on Mont Ventoux.

C'mon, I dislike LA as much as the next guy, but that's just ridiculous. He took time from his rivals in the mountains all the time.

 

[Bala Verde]

I've made a deal for next year with the people organizing the tour-game at my work, so I can play for free if Mollema is the only rider in my team. They don't know what's gonna hit them.

I will play Tom-Jelte Slagter in 2013...

assuming he is no Elthink

 

[jazzcyclist]

C'mon, I dislike LA as much as the next guy, but that's just ridiculous. He took time from his rivals in the mountains all the time.

In the 2004 Tour, Armstrong and Basso shadowboxed on all the mountain stage, and Lance was only able to take time out of him in the time trials.

 

[Anonymous]

I do know one guy who between now and next year's tour will be working harder on his TT preparation than any other rider in pro cycling. Unfortunately, that also could mean that we are treated to a two may no drop mountain ride with the only drama being the TT...which, while a bit compelling, never rises to the excitement of an all out mountain slugfest.

 

[Publicus]

I do know one guy who between now and next year's tour will be working harder on his TT preparation than any other rider in pro cycling. Unfortunately, that also could mean that we are treated to a two may no drop mountain ride with the only drama being the TT...which, while a bit compelling, never rises to the excitement of an all out mountain slugfest.

I'd be surprised if AC defends his title next year. Maybe does the Giro/Vuelta double instead. Andy can get his first title and AC can probably face off with Ricco in the mountains!

 

[theyoungest]

Martin was dead tired after week 1.

What exactly did he do? A few meters in the sprint train, but not much, no?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Martin trained way and way to hard prior to the Tour.
He was already dead when it started

 

[El Pistolero]

I'd be surprised if AC defends his title next year. Maybe does the Giro/Vuelta double instead. Andy can get his first title and AC can probably face off with Ricco in the mountains!

I've heard in an interview once that Conti will not focus his entire career on winning the Tour de France, so you may be right. I hope so at least, TdF is getting boring with Schleck and Contador together.