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

[TRDean]

While this is before my time so I'm going by what I got from people talking about it, I'm sure there are some people here who know a lot more about it. In the old days before TT bikes there weren't real TT specialists, the strongest riders were usually also the best Time Trialists.

Are you kidding? There have always been guys who specialize in the race against the clock...I mean really?

 

[Ramira]

What's up with Sastre now? He's gone from a minute and a half back to nearly 4 minutes since the Marie-Blanque.

Has the break or the bunch upped the tempo? Or has he just realised he's not getting anywhere?

7 Classic type riders working together vs 1 pure climber. When he didn't catch up at the start of the valley this was always going to happen.

 

[Bala Verde]

What's up with Sastre now? He's gone from a minute and a half back to nearly 4 minutes since the Marie-Blanque.

Has the break or the bunch upped the tempo? Or has he just realised he's not getting anywhere?

Classic case of

 

[Publicus]

I say Contador marks every move today.

Nope. Only the one that counts: Andy. He has to force Andy to protect his podium position from an attack from Menchov or Sanchez. The smart move is to watch Andy and then strike if the opportunity presents itself.

 

[balkou]

While this is before my time so I'm going by what I got from people talking about it, I'm sure there are some people here who know a lot more about it. In the old days before TT bikes there weren't real TT specialists, the strongest riders were usually also the best Time Trialists.

indeed! The strongest riders were the winners.

 

[andy1234]

While this is before my time so I'm going by what I got from people talking about it, I'm sure there are some people here who know a lot more about it. In the old days before TT bikes there weren't real TT specialists, the strongest riders were usually also the best Time Trialists.

There were plenty of sucessful road riders who performed consistently (relatively) poorly in TTs.
Again, some riders have always been more capable of holding a threshold TT pace than others, regardless of equipment.

 

[Publicus]

What's up with Sastre now? He's gone from a minute and a half back to nearly 4 minutes since the Marie-Blanque.

Has the break or the bunch upped the tempo? Or has he just realised he's not getting anywhere?

Seven guys working in a break versus one small climber working in a break across a valley.

 

[Ten Percent Grade]

Nope. Only the one that counts: Andy. He has to force Andy to protect his podium position from an attack from Menchov or Sanchez. The smart move is to watch Andy and then strike if the opportunity presents itself.

That's what I meant.. Marks every move [by Andy]

 

[sartoris]

And that is what this Tour needs, a Contador loss of around 90 seconds today.

You're wrong. That's what AS needs.

 

[icefire]

What's up with Sastre now? He's gone from a minute and a half back to nearly 4 minutes since the Marie-Blanque.

Has the break or the bunch upped the tempo? Or has he just realised he's not getting anywhere?

Maybe. The sudden increment from 1 to 4 minutes was around the feed zone. He must have stopped at a restaurant

 

[indurain666]

Are you kidding? There have always been guys who specialize in the race against the clock...I mean really?

I wondered the same thing, were do these guys come with this bogus information??...

 

[superconfex]

Does anyone know if the Lotto boys are more or less the same guys Cuddles had last year???
Thank you

 

[Lyds97]

Maybe. The sudden increment from 1 to 4 minutes was around the feed zone. He must have stopped at a restaurant

Yeah that must have been it

Makes sense that he hasn't been able to catch on the flat, thanks for answering guys.

 

[cyclestationgiuseppe]

http://www.climbbybike.com/climb.asp?Col=Col-du-Soulor&qryMountainID=6705

Penultimate climb is no picnic for the last 8k.

 

[Eyeballs Out]

I would love to see Schleck put his podium place up for grabs and sit on Contador's wheel while Menchov rides off up the road. Nice little game of chicken

 

[skidmark]

Maybe. The sudden increment from 1 to 4 minutes was around the feed zone. He must have stopped at a restaurant

'dammit, McDonalds said it'd be ready in 30 seconds!'

 

[Publicus]

Does anyone know if the Lotto boys are more or less the same guys Cuddles had last year???
Thank you

Basically the same squad sans Cuddles.

 

[timmarshall]

'dammit, McDonalds said it'd be ready in 30 seconds!'

could you order a pizza and get the moped to come catch you up? that would have been a better way of doing it...

 

[theovaf]

Seven guys working in a break versus one small climber working in a break across a valley.

He needed someone to pull him through the flat section betweent the 1st and 2nd climb. ideally someone who would drop from the breakaway group. unfortunatelly he's on his own

 

[Dedelou]

What's up with Sastre now? He's gone from a minute and a half back to nearly 4 minutes since the Marie-Blanque.

Has the break or the bunch upped the tempo? Or has he just realised he's not getting anywhere?

looks like Sastre is not bridging this time.

 

[indurain666]

indeed! The strongest riders were the winners.

So are you saying that a guy like Luis Ocana was as good as Francesco Moser against the clock?

And applying your same logic, you are saying that AC is better than AS against the clock cause AC has an aerodynamic bike and AS is riding a 10 speed steel huffy?

 

[Big GMaC]

Bala, could perhaps explain Chasse Patate a bit more? That link wasn't helpful

 

[kurtinsc]

You're wrong. That's what AS needs.

I don't agree.

I think single rider dominance is not good for the Tour. The years where Indurain and Lance dominated were good for fans of those riders... but winning constantly by 4-5 minute gaps doesn't make the races particularly interesting. It feels like we're getting another stretch with Contador doing that... it would be better if Andy really could outclimb him and have a lead without the TT's... that would add a lot of suspense.

When the best TT rider is equal to the best climber in the mountains... then the tour can lack some suspense. Pantani vs Ulrich or Lemond vs Fignon years are the most enjoyable... even Sastre vs Evans.

 

[Lyds97]

Bala, could perhaps explain Chasse Patate a bit more? That link wasn't helpful

I google translated it. The result was 'hunting potato'. I remain unenlightened.

 

[superconfex]

Basically the same squad sans Cuddles.

Thanks Publicus....obviously him and the team/guys didn't gell then