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

[lancaster]

i'd love vino to finish above levi.

the astana boys, have a days work to do. they've been the best team this year though, so strong, i think they've been even stronger this year than last. (although they haven't been required to work on the flat yet)
another day of pain for navarro! (if AC leaves astana this summer Navarro goes with him)

 

[Kazistuta]

I wonder what Paul, the squid, has to say?

Hopefully the bad weather won't affect the TV transmission. Danish TV just showed Rolf Sørensen wearing 6 sweaters and an umbrella at the top of Tourmalet, and all the various network caravans were stuck in mud all over the place.

Who should be the main benefactors of the rain and cold? I know a guy like Sastre doesn't like it cold (even though he finished in front the awful day in the giro, but that was mostly by coincidence), Vinokourov & Armstrong doesn't care, but what bout the toptiers? Van Den Broucke might be a bit more accustomed with the bad weather, being Belgian and all, but does guys like Menchov and Sanchez fear todays weather? I would say Menchov should be a bit worried, and I somehow got a feeling that Rodriguez won't like the forecast as well.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

this means one thing: Vino time!

 

[Sasquatch]

I wonder what Paul, the squid, has to say?

Hopefully the bad weather won't affect the TV transmission. Danish TV just showed Rolf Sørensen wearing 6 sweaters and an umbrella at the top of Tourmalet, and all the various network caravans were stuck in mud all over the place.

Who should be the main benefactors of the rain and cold? I know a guy like Sastre doesn't like it cold (even though he finished in front the awful day in the giro, but that was mostly by coincidence), Vinokourov & Armstrong doesn't care, but what bout the toptiers? Van Den Broucke might be a bit more accustomed with the bad weather, being Belgian and all, but does guys like Menchov and Sanchez fear todays weather? I would say Menchov should be a bit worried, and I somehow got a feeling that Rodriguez won't like the forecast as well.

Nah. Rodriguez should be fine.

The hot weather is what was getting to Rodriguez. If it was another hot day, he would lose his top ten place. With these conditions, he should cope.

 

[Bernardus]

Van Den Broucke might be a bit more accustomed with the bad weather, being Belgian and all, but does guys like Menchov and Sanchez fear todays weather?

I think the Basque Country actually has more annual rainfall than Belgium, so Sanchez should be used to the weather too.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

sanches is definetely in favor as he loves the rain and especially in downhils, this will be horrible for menchov. let's hope they will attack in downhil

 

[Ramira]

I think the Basque Country actually has more annual rainfall than Belgium, so Sanchez should be used to the weather too.

Well I remember a certain German cyclist who had issues following a guy from Texas in bad weather but had little issues when it was hot, so I really doubt that where someone was born has anything to do with how well they can cope with certain weather conditions. So I really don't dare to make any predictions as to how they will cope if the weather will stay the way it is now. That being said I think after today we can make a nice little list of which cyclist can deal with the bad weather. The extreme conditions of today combined with a finish at the top of the Tourmalet at 2.115m will make sure that the strongest rider will win it and hopefully end up winning the tour as well regardless of who it will be.

 

[step23]

this means one thing: Vino time!

Looks thrilling, might be an epic stage though. If AC wins AS here he won't surely hear any booing anymore.

 

[Bernardus]

Well I remember a certain German cyclist who had issues following a guy from Texas in bad weather but had little issues when it was hot, so I really doubt that where someone was born has anything to do with how well they can cope with certain weather conditions. So I really don't dare to make any predictions as to how they will cope if the weather will stay the way it is now. That being said I think after today we can make a nice little list of which cyclist can deal with the bad weather. The extreme conditions of today combined with a finish at the top of the Tourmalet at 2.115m will make sure that the strongest rider will win it and hopefully end up winning the tour as well regardless of who it will be.

I didn't say Sanchez would perform better or worse just because he's used to the weather. I was reacting to the assumption that VDB would know what rain was and Sanchez wouldn't.

 

[Ramira]

I didn't say Sanchez would perform better or worse just because he's used to the weather. I was reacting to the assumption that VDB would know what rain was and Sanchez wouldn't.

Sorry if it seemed to be a direct reaction to you, I just wanted to use a quote to jump into the debate I never tried to imply you said otherwise I just wanted to have something to hang my point on, I'm sorry if it seemed I was putting words in your mouth that was never my intention. I just wanted to make the point that there's some cyclists who have strange preferences for weather considering the conditions they grew up in.

 

[Spare Tyre]

Eurosport UK suggest there won't be choppers (for TV) today.

 

[Ramira]

And it's started.

 

[Ramira]

10 degrees Celcius at the top of the Tourmalet, that's going to be quite a shock for some cyclists comparing with the last week or two.

 

[reyan12]

live here http://www.fromsport.com/v-0/0/148/v-14923.html

 

[The Barb]

5 minutes until the start ...

... This is the most excited I've been since the moment 5 minutes before I realised I was about to lose my virginity ... (sadly 15 years ago)

... I just hope that's where the comparison ends and I will not be similarly disappointed afterwards ...

 

[reyan12]

today is definitely an epic day!

 

[Anonymous]

Doesn't Contador dislike cold weather immensely?

 

[Anonymous]

Eurosport UK suggest there won't be choppers (for TV) today.

That better no be the freaking case! I don't want to have lied about being sick for nothing...

 

[Big GMaC]

That better no be the freaking case! I don't want to have lied about being sick for nothing...

So many cycling Fans are thinking that same thought

 

[The Sheep]

That better no be the freaking case! I don't want to have lied about being sick for nothing...

well that was a helicopter shot just then.

 

[Spare Tyre]

Eurosport UK suggest there won't be choppers (for TV) today.

They're now saying choppers for the first 30-40 km (the flat bit), but none when the race starts heading up.

 

[Sasquatch]

That better no be the freaking case! I don't want to have lied about being sick for nothing...

Move to Australia, the land of opportunity.

You can these watch the cycling at night. Currently 8:40pm.

 

[Big GMaC]

LOL, Eurosport talking about Vino going nuts attacking

 

[Ramira]

That better no be the freaking case! I don't want to have lied about being sick for nothing...

Even if there's no choppers they got a plane ready to get up in the air, worst case scenario there won't be any overview shots but the motorcycle shots will be there so we can see the AS/AC battle for sure.

 

[Big GMaC]

Even if there's no choppers they got a plane ready to get up in the air, worst case scenario there won't be any overview shots but the motorcycle shots will be there so we can see the AS/AC battle for sure.

A plane? Vino will attack the plane.