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

[maltiv]

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

Well it's raining and it's cold, so he had no choice but to join the breakaway. EBH always joins the breakaway when the weather is like this

 

[timmarshall]

Well it's raining and it's cold, so he had no choice but to join the breakaway. EBH always joins the breakaway when the weather is like this

He's currently leading them up the last bit of the climb and appears to have dropped some people... Surprising, but a pleasant one!

 

[Lyds97]

Burghardt and Eddy Boass losing a bit of ground, will get back on on the descent presumably. Flecha, Koren and Perez take the first KOM points

 

[sportzchick]

anyone got a decent feed?

 

[ericthesportsman6]

wow Tony Martin dropped with Pettachi

 

[Publicus]

Love seeing Noval leading the group up this climb. Would have thought he was the first guy off the back for Astana.

 

[Big GMaC]

Euskatel rider takes hands of the bars coming over the top of the climb

- Boasson Hagen and JA Flecha scream in expectant terror

 

[Sasquatch]

wow Tony Martin dropped with Pettachi

He's clearly saving himself for the time trial. Most rested = higher chance to win.

He has been the most rested - taking it easy over the climbs.

Same deal with Grabsch.

 

[Mongol_Waaijer]

anyone got a technical answer to this?

"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%."

 

[The Hitch]

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

<Puke>

He also said he thinks andy schleck has been better off without trying to help his younger brother.

 

[Big GMaC]

Sastre 1'20 from the escape, he'll catch.

 

[musclesza]

Who is in the leading pack? Assuming the peleton wont catch them anytime soon if at all - and we are probably in for another crash with the weather like this.

Glad Sanchez is ok.....

Assume the peleton will have a few breakaways in the next couple of hours but not counting on AC or AS to win this stage

 

[Ramira]

Sastre at 1'20'' he might join the lead group on the descent if that happens he has a good chance to win it with over 8 minutes on the peleton.

 

[khodder]

"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%."

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

 

[Tyke1968]

Seems like Sastre will make it to the break.
If the GC guys don't fight it out Carlos should take the stage.
Long way to go though.

 

[Big GMaC]

He also said he thinks andy schleck has been better off without trying to help his younger brother.

Andy is the younger bro

 

[Lyds97]

Who is in the leading pack? Assuming the peleton wont catch them anytime soon if at all - and we are probably in for another crash with the weather like this.

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

Sastre pedalling mindlessly between them and the bunch.

 

[alberto.legstrong]

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

<Puke>

tbh, when he wants to ride with heart, he can. he just seems bored by it all now (this year). Tuesday's ride seemed very contrived/planned what with all the 'hope rides again' banners and well placed 'fans' replete with their livestrong apparel and the guys in yellow in identical costumes with the 8 on it in multiple places. he didn't show up to race. he had a nice prologue though.

EDIT: Good morning everyone west of the atlantic.

 

[ABRABR]

No respect for Sastre?!

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!!!

 

[Big GMaC]

Descent looks grim. Very grim

 

[Ramira]

Andy is the younger bro

I'm not sure but I think that was the point of the quote, that's how I read it anyway. Showing how clueless this Carlton guy apparently is (I'm in the Netherlands so not a clue who he is but still )

 

[Francois the Postman]

"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%."

Because cycling isn't just weight and height thrown into formulas?

 

[skidmark]

wow no one going for KOM points

 

[ericthesportsman6]

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!!!

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?

 

[unsheath]

"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%."

Better blood, higher FTP.