TDF Stage 19 - Saturday, July 24 2010, Bordeaux - Pauillac, 51 km ITT

[Steel4Ever]

Well actually, as some have pointed out, 2008 his first TdF he was 14th in the ITT, and 16th at the Olympics. Last years TdF ITT he was 43rd, and this year not quite top 50. Doesn't seem like he has suddenly learned how to TT.

Exactly.

2009 TT 40.5km @ 47.5km/hr (with a hill)
2010 TT 52km @ 46km/hr (flat w/ wind)

Yeah...wow. It's like he was never on a TT bike before in his life!
It's like every single TT he ever did sucked a$$ until this one.
Get a grip, dutchies.

 

[Steel4Ever]

Oh! Just a list in another thread with the ITT results compared between Gesink-Ryder and Rodriguez - Ryder.

I think it is in the thread This year's unsung heroes.

Yeah - it was ME who posted those.
Ryders TT today was completely within his previous performances.
So sorry that JR and RG crapped out today.
Their loss (mostly JR's loss).

 

[El Pistolero]

Most people aren't as fast as Cancellara period. That was the whole strategy of the day. Alberto isn't known for being able to ride the cobbles very well regardless.

I'm not saying Schleck is the better overall rider. I'm just saying I think that going even in the mountains while he tugged Contador up the Tourmalet might show he is ever so slightly the faster climber, and that if his chain hadn't dropped, he would've started the ITT behind Contador and might've been able to hang on.

Either way, if I were Contador I would be a bit worried for the coming season. Schleck has a few years to continue to improve and Contador is pretty much in his prime for the next one or two. Over four minutes last year, 39 seconds this year, and at worst equal in the climbs where he was getting slaughtered by Alberto in the climbs last year.

Well, I think Alberto relied too much on his time trial prowess and there for rode a very conservative Tour. Next year he'll know he can't rely too much on time trials alone and he'll probably won't ride as conservative as this year.

That's my 2 cents anyway.

--

On a totally unrelated note: I hope Contador decides to ride the Vuelta this year as well >_> He already said he wanted to try the Giro/TdF or TdF/Vuelta double in 2011. Why not now?

 

[Rob_Roy]

Yeah - it was ME who posted those.
Ryders TT today was completely within his previous performances.
So sorry that JR and RG crapped out today.
Their loss (mostly JR's loss).

Only if you are Dekker-Tifosi under another handle my friend.

He showed me some statistics from CQ.

 

[Steel4Ever]

Only if you are Dekker-Tifosi under another handle my friend.

He showed me some statistics from CQ.

I also posted them. So...so there!

 

[VoidSix]

Well, I think Alberto relied too much on his time trial prowess and there for rode a very conservative Tour. Next year he'll know he can't rely too much on time trials alone and he'll probably won't ride as conservative as this year.

That's my 2 cents anyway.

--

On a totally unrelated note: I hope Contador decides to ride the Vuelta this year as well >_> He already said he wanted to try the Giro/TdF or TdF/Vuelta double in 2011. Why not now?

Hopefully he does. If Schleck doesn't improve enough to beat Contador or Contador improves enough to stay ahead of him, I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility for him to eventually be considered the best road cyclist ever. He would need a Merckx-style stage win or a decisive Armstrong-style couple in a row in order to climb that high though, in my opinion.

 

[Rob_Roy]

I also posted them. So...so there!

darn

I really though I had you checkmate there..

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility for him to eventually be considered the best road cyclist ever.

Breathe it in boys, this time tomorrow it'll all be over for another year.

 

[VoidSix]

Breathe it in boys, this time tomorrow it'll all be over for another year.

How about until the Vuelta starts?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Vuelta?

Next week, Clasica San Sebastian! 2x Jaizkibel this year
And we'll see the return of some REAL racers. Not people waiting for eachother uphill

 

[icefire]

Contador says he's gone through stomach upset last night and he saw it all lost. It may explain his ITT performance:

Original in Spanish:

http://www.elmundo.es/elmundodeporte/2010/07/24/ciclismo/1279985010.html

Half-decent google translation:

http://translate.google.com/transla...10/07/24/ciclismo/1279985010.html&sl=es&tl=en

 

[The Hitch]

Really upset that Samu didnt get 3rd but Menchov he did win by 2 minutes so its hard to argue that he wasnt the 3rd best. Still feel that with a bit of luck he could have caught ac/ as on the madeline descent which would have gotten him an extra 50s and we will never know how much time the elbow injury hurt him, and if maybe he could have gotten more on the tourmalet.

Oh well, I have nothing against Menchov, hes a humble guy and he deserves it.

 

[personal]

What about todays poor performance by Evans?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Meh, with a broken elbow? I'm surprised he even finished the Tour

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

How about until the Vuelta starts?

Apologies, my original post wasn't very clear. I was highlighting you as someone who joins in July, posts palpable rubbish during the Tour then likely disappears quicker than Cav tomorrow.

No one will ever match Mercx. Someone could be equally talented, but the nature of modern cycling is such that they could never win the same breadth or volume of races. His record is as safe as Bradman's.

 

[The Hitch]

omg, eurosport talking about menchov as if he is some old guy- possibly his last tour.

Hes 32 years old, according to wikipedia 10 days older than sanchez, hes got a good 4 years of gts in him.

 

[goggalor]

Contador says he's gone through stomach upset last night and he saw it all lost. It may explain his ITT performance:

Looks like Contador dug deeply into the suitcase of courage today.

I doubt we'll see him toying with the competition and gifting stages at next years Tour. After today's near miss I think he'll start taking seconds wherever he can.

 

[lagartija]

Most people aren't as fast as Cancellara period. That was the whole strategy of the day. Alberto isn't known for being able to ride the cobbles very well regardless.

I'm not saying Schleck is the better overall rider. I'm just saying I think that going even in the mountains while he tugged Contador up the Tourmalet might show he is ever so slightly the faster climber, and that if his chain hadn't dropped, he would've started the ITT behind Contador and might've been able to hang on.

Either way, if I were Contador I would be a bit worried for the coming season. Schleck has a few years to continue to improve and Contador is pretty much in his prime for the next one or two. Over four minutes last year, 39 seconds this year, and at worst equal in the climbs where he was getting slaughtered by Alberto in the climbs last year.

you know you need to look at it in its entirety ...........as a whole berto was down to andy 1:23 by stage 7, that includes the 1:13 on stage 3............
by the final ITT he is up 39 seconds, thats over a 2 minute turn around, so regardless of chaingate the strongest guy won

as far as the tormalet is concerned, not sure what you where looking at but berto looked way better than andy, and had he sprinted from 50 mtr out nothing andy could have done about it

and it just came out that berto was on antibiotics 10 days before the tour started, and apparently had stomach issues last nite to boot, according to him he slept poorly and was fatiged right from the start

yes im a berto fan, but have no issues with andy either, but you cant argue with a 2 minute turn around in the overall

 

[Polyarmour]

I saw Cadel Evans interviewed before the stage.

Question: "Who do you favour for the win Cadel?"

His answer: "Millar followed by Contador"

Now far be it from me to question Cadel's judgement.... but any answer that didn't at least include a reference to Cancellara and/or Tony Martin was bordering on the delusional.

 

[Dedelou]

Wrong side of the Tourmalet?

There is "no" wrong side on the Tourmaletl both sides are right but they are indeed different in lengh and other variables.

 

[roundabout]

you cant argue with a 2 minute turn around in the overall

Uh, Contador gained 31 seconds head-to-head after week 1, 1.10 with the chain.

 

[MKirilenko]

Looks like Contador dug deeply into the suitcase of courage today.

I doubt we'll see him toying with the competition and gifting stages at next years Tour. After today's near miss I think he'll start taking seconds wherever he can.

wow, spectacular picture, thx for posting. Looks like he went absolutely "all-in". I think AS & AC are worth each other with the courage and stamina. Great champs

 

[Dedelou]

Wind change. Pay attention

I guess Fabian has improved his flat riding skills and got a break from the winds' goddess. Did he make any time on GC? I think Contador can afford to loose 25 minutes on Fabian and still wear yellow in Paris.

 

[Dedelou]

Whatever! Screw around with the Tour any more than they do now and the race will only become more and more uninteresting. The problem with too many time trials is the situation that you looked at today. There can be huge differences between the early and late starters. Assuming that everyone knows which way the wind blows in Bordeaux, the organizers tried to do their best to make it somewhat interesting, but pretty much assured the winners of the stage, as the forums can pretty much attest.

In short, the TDF is a circus and Contador is Claude Kirschner. He's screwing around with everyone. Do the math. 39 seconds means something. Figure it out. It won't be hard to do.

wait wait wait.. You trying to tell us that when ASO planned the route, one to two years in advance, they took into consideration the placing of this year racers? Boy they are good. Here I thought they only knew how to make a few extra bucks but I find they might be wizards. Last time trial "always" should be a long one. The reason for that is simple: It becomes a battle between the 10 GC guys , regardless of where they are finishing in the TT due to race or wheater conditions. Cancelera got lucky because he started early? Well that does change anything , not even a second for the likes of contador, schleck, Menchow or Sanchez. They were fighting each others and the Longer trial , like the mountains or the in between stages demands that the tour's top guys who are fighting for the overall win should all be good in all the aspects of the race. NO specialist should be able to win the tour based on his dominance in one type of skill.. Stage winners have that privilege.

 

[Dedelou]

Good stage

The wind must have changed quite dramatically with some pretty topsy-turvy results but the top standings for the stage and for the GC guys look right.

Pretty good tour. I hope we get some fun tomorrow.

I agree with you +1 that the results for the stage placing give little surprise. And the placing for the GC contenders reflect what the battle what for them. Andy did a good show. Contador proved he watched old movies of Anquetil and has a some sense of humor