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

[Ramira]

As a sanchez fan, its sad after hearing all this crap about how menchov was going to crash and hand sanchez the podium

I'm not specifically a Sanchez fan but he is definitely one of the riders I got a soft spot for and it's a real shame he might lose the chance to fully fight for his podium place due to a crash, he definitely deserves to have a shot at it, and to be honest he's done more for it then Menchov up till now.

 

[Moondance]

I can't watch at work...how bad is the weather?

Not bad where they are now... A little light rain and wet roads.

But there is currently almost zero visibility on the Tourmalet.

 

[Ramira]

I can't watch at work...how bad is the weather?

It's pretty decent, even up on Tourmalet it's stopped raining for now but it's only about 5° Celsius there so the cold might well have it's effect.

 

[The Hitch]

If he just had the wind knocked out of him, he's fine.

Hopefully. He is getting medical treatment at the moment. I am usually pesimistic about these things, especially after what happened to cuddles.

 

[Lyds97]

I can't watch at work...how bad is the weather?

Apparently it's raining hard at the finish, but by the standards of this year's Giro it's nothing. Could pose a problem for heli pictures later on though.

Let's all just hope Sammy isn't too affected by his crash. He's had a brilliant Tour and I for one have loved watching him.

 

[Mellow Velo]

If he just had the wind knocked out of him, he's fine.

He did, but I'm not sure he's fine. He grimaced just going over a speed bump.
We will see on the Marie Blanc.

 

[Publicus]

Hopefully. He is getting medical treatment at the moment. I am usually pesimistic about these things, especially after what happened to cuddles.

Well maybe it was more than having the wind knocked out of him. He's grimacing a bit and he shouldn't be if he had the wind knocked out of him.

EDIT: I see Mellow Velo and I made the same observation simultaneously.

 

[ericthesportsman6]

If that gap is right, Sastre has been losing time on the break.

 

[Eyeballs Out]

Harmon just said visibility on the top of Tourmalet is down to about 10m

Anyone remember that Joux-Plane stage in the early 90s when there were barely any pictures all day and all we really saw was Claveyrolat emerge from the gloom in the last 100 yds ?

 

[Moondance]

Sastre alone. I say he gets caught well before the Soulor

 

[Sasquatch]

Evans finished well on the stage he crashed on though.

Sanchez could do the same then if he's injured, battle through the time trial. There is no climbing after this stage so if he can ride on adrenalin, he can keep top 5.

 

[Sasquatch]

I'm just annoyed there won't be a KOM battle. That sucks.

 

[ericthesportsman6]

Wow Sastre is losing time on the break.

 

[Lyds97]

I'm just annoyed there won't be a KOM battle. That sucks.

Me too, struggling to make sense of the tactics there but those who've said the Shack wouldn't have let Moreau escape may well have it the nail on the head

 

[Moondance]

Sorensen to the front. Carlos is going bye-bye

 

[Roland Rat]

Not bad where they are now... A little light rain and wet roads.

But there is currently almost zero visibility on the Tourmalet.

Perfect for a "It's Roche! It's Stephen Roche!"-esque epic.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Sastre roflmaopants

 

[sometriguy]

Sastre roflmaopants

He really does suck....and it makes me happy

 

[Lyds97]

Is Sastre the new Moncoutie?

Only wants to ride out in the front or off the back?

 

[LiboHC]

Boasson Hagen, what he is doing there?
Ouh, Sky still alive, see you in Tourmalet

 

[ericthesportsman6]

Is Sastre the new Moncoutie?

Only wants to ride out in the front or off the back?

No, Moncoutie is better.

 

[Moondance]

Perfect for a "It's Roche! It's Stephen Roche!"-esque epic.

Yeah.. They'll be yelling "It's Roche! It's Nicolas Roche!" when the fog lifts and the mangled body of John Gadret is found.

 

[Tyke1968]

Carlton just said about LA: '...has a long memory and the heart of a lion'

<Puke>

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Cav Cav off the front early

 

[Roland Rat]

Carlton just said about LA: '...has a long memory and the heart of a lion'

<Puke>

He certainly doesn;t have a long memory. Look at how many times he's said "I can't remember" recently...