TDF Stage 9 - Tuesday, July 13 2010, Morzine-Avoriaz - Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, 204 k

[hrotha]

Well, it was a wise decision (he could have sprinted at 100% for a few seconds to catch Navarro, Contador and Andy I guess). Otherwise it'd have been 1996 Heulot all over again, and that would have meant standing out a bit too much for Levi's tastes.

 

[Benotti69]

a domestique's view of today...tweeted.

"That went straight into top 3 of worst days on a bike in my life. Had to turn myself inside out to finish. Feel a bit sorry for myself now."

Charlie Wegelius, OmegaPharmaLotto

 

[ScottyMuser]

Well, it was a wise decision (he could have sprinted at 100% for a few seconds to catch Navarro, Contador and Andy I guess). Otherwise it'd have been 1996 Heulot all over again, and that would have meant standing out a bit too much for Levi's tastes.

Levi could have sprinted to keep up with Navarro? Really? =Considering he isn't that good a climber in the first place, and was in pain for the climb when Gesink put the power down, I have no illusions in saying he a) wouldn't have, and b) woudl have droped quicker than a stone from a cliff. I would be *very* surprised, even with all the help he can get from the rest of RS, to see Levi stick with the big guns on a couple of the pyrennees stages - can see him maybe even falling out the top 10. No way is he a podium contender.

 

[rabofan]

That's good! Because

"There's only two things I hate in this world. People who are intolerant of other people's cultures and the Dutch."!

"What?"
"Take Elagabalus Away ..."
"Dutch Hater!"

I love that movie scene also.

 

[D Avoid]

Has anyone else had a hard tome finding live feeds this last week? - I cant believe I finally found one tonight :
http://www.channelsurfing.net/watch-tour-de-france-2.html
But its about as clear as a smashed windscreen. I supppose you guys in Europe are watching this on telly?

You can't miss them, they are so many, "Cycling fans" or "Steephill tv", Cycling fans was live from early this morning, with the odd tweak or reload, excellent quality, many languages available, plus the usual Séan Special.

 

[hamperium]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hamperium_espana/4759094119/
Mauro Santambrogio , wow what a great person, he helped Cadel really good today. Super

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hamperium_espana/4759094119/
Mauro Santambrogio , wow what a great person, he helped Cadel really good today. Super

Spamming knucklehead.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I told you so!

A bit of I told you so I guess will come in but I am proud of him regardless of the results. Getting into the jersey was already a great result for the team. Even one day in it is a great result even though it is not the one they wanted. I know he must be annoyed about certain illnesses and injuries coming up and destroying his main goals for the season but it is great to see what a changed more attacking rider he has become this year. Hopefully he can get a stage win but he has represented the rainbow stripes very well.

It was great to see him embrace his team mates which indicates a very close group. The way the BMC team rode, which is not a team of great climbers who can ride on the front in the mountains, showed the dedication to Cadel and his aspirations. I am not sad today but am happy seeing the aussie spirit in Cadel while fighting for yellow

 

[red_flanders]

Funniest quote in the news on Leipheimer's 'wise decision' to let Shleck and AC go up the road. Who writes this stuff? Hilarious.

In the interview Bottle is clearly saying he had to let them go because he was going too far into the red trying to follow (of course) them. He was clear that he wasn't climbing at that level.

He clearly wasn't saying he "let" them go as if he could have held them.

 

[halamala]

Ascent times:

AC/AS: 1:04:57

Breakaway: 1:09 ish

I am really curious to see how this compares to Virenque or Pantani's times in 97 and 98

How about AC/AS ascent times of the last 10 kms?

 

[hrotha]

Levi could have sprinted to keep up with Navarro? Really? =Considering he isn't that good a climber in the first place, and was in pain for the climb when Gesink put the power down, I have no illusions in saying he a) wouldn't have, and b) woudl have droped quicker than a stone from a cliff. I would be *very* surprised, even with all the help he can get from the rest of RS, to see Levi stick with the big guns on a couple of the pyrennees stages - can see him maybe even falling out the top 10. No way is he a podium contender.

Err, I wasn't completely serious. Of course if he had sprinted he'd have run out of stamina in like 20 seconds and would have lost 20 minutes in the finish line. Hence the 1996 Heulot reference.

What I was implying is along the lines of what red_flanders said: he didn't try to go beyond his limits, and that was wise decision.

 

[reubenr]

Levi could have sprinted to keep up with Navarro? Really? =Considering he isn't that good a climber in the first place, and was in pain for the climb when Gesink put the power down, I have no illusions in saying he a) wouldn't have, and b) woudl have droped quicker than a stone from a cliff. I would be *very* surprised, even with all the help he can get from the rest of RS, to see Levi stick with the big guns on a couple of the pyrennees stages - can see him maybe even falling out the top 10. No way is he a podium contender.

Ditto on that. It will be interesting to see what tactics RS will apply to the remainder of the race, since to slip out of the Top 10 would be a pretty big disgrace, especially in the face of all the doping allegations. There are at least 5 guys that could easily pass him, however, before the end of the Pyrenees and another few that could bury him. Hmmm! It's kind of a surprise that he's still in there at this point, but there have been a lot of guys taking turns going backwards and soon it will be his turn.

The most noteworthy event in this stage, sadly, was Evans' demise. It will still be a great race between Schleck and Contador, but it would have been a better race with Evans present. These are 3 very decent men with such differing personalities and style, representing the full spectrum of character and grace as people and as cyclists that we are unlikely to see the likes of again.

Thirdly, and probably not lastly, the announcers need to get a grip. How can you be watching and reporting on a race and not know where Contador finished. Mr. Liggett needs to retool. For those with the online service, you should take a listen to the reporting concerning the ending of the race and the immediate aftermath. If you listen to the Versus announcers you might think that Contador dropped off the planet at some point there. These guys can not see or report the race either accurately or as it unfolds. If you don't know where people are then just say so. Don't make something up to make it seem something is happening that is not. To have Armstrong ahead of Leipheimer is just ridiculous or is it testimony to the way they want to see the race unfold regardless of reality. They are oblivious the the fact that no one really cares about Armstrong, they are interested in knowing how the leaders are doing and not getting their draws in a wedgie. We will soon be rid of Armstrong, and hopefully, we will soon be rid of PL and PS. Surely there is some one out there that has some imagination and can announce an event of this kind.

 

[top_tenz_finish]

I watched a feed of Versus at the weekend and whilst many viewers may not care where Armstrong is the people paying for all his ads during the breaks will. I realised then why P+P mentioned him so much, thankfully we don't have a lot of those ads in the UK coverage!!

 

[Benotti69]

I think AStana will set a decent tempo but if nobody of significance is not behind or cracking, the tempo will not be that high.

how right you were

Ps great effort by the tough little possom today. hope he can ride the rest of the race in not too much discomfort and finish in the top 20.

 

[cyclestationgiuseppe]

Cyclingnews "news" stories

Many other news and sports website offer a viewer comments section at the bottom of each story. This allows discussion of the story itself (usually a link just below the article)
It would be nice on this site then all the readers could offer up comments directly to the writer of the story instead of embedding them in a forum.

I.E. Leipheimer limits losses on Madeleine

By:
Stephen Farrand

Did this guy watch the same race as me? Or is it that I feared that RS sponsor money has created the same stupid bias of Phil and Paul.

What a tool.

 

[ManInFull]

Ditto on that. It will be interesting to see what tactics RS will apply to the remainder of the race, since to slip out of the Top 10 would be a pretty big disgrace, especially in the face of all the doping allegations. There are at least 5 guys that could easily pass him, however, before the end of the Pyrenees and another few that could bury him. Hmmm! It's kind of a surprise that he's still in there at this point, but there have been a lot of guys taking turns going backwards and soon it will be his turn.

The most noteworthy event in this stage, sadly, was Evans' demise. It will still be a great race between Schleck and Contador, but it would have been a better race with Evans present. These are 3 very decent men with such differing personalities and style, representing the full spectrum of character and grace as people and as cyclists that we are unlikely to see the likes of again.

Thirdly, and probably not lastly, the announcers need to get a grip. How can you be watching and reporting on a race and not know where Contador finished. Mr. Liggett needs to retool. For those with the online service, you should take a listen to the reporting concerning the ending of the race and the immediate aftermath. If you listen to the Versus announcers you might think that Contador dropped off the planet at some point there. These guys can not see or report the race either accurately or as it unfolds. If you don't know where people are then just say so. Don't make something up to make it seem something is happening that is not. To have Armstrong ahead of Leipheimer is just ridiculous or is it testimony to the way they want to see the race unfold regardless of reality. They are oblivious the the fact that no one really cares about Armstrong, they are interested in knowing how the leaders are doing and not getting their draws in a wedgie. We will soon be rid of Armstrong, and hopefully, we will soon be rid of PL and PS. Surely there is some one out there that has some imagination and can announce an event of this kind.

That all sounds nice. But the fact is, Versus knows that it's ratings are much higher if Lance or some other American is doing well. They may already be seeing a slip in the ratings.

What's really interesting is the number of people who are now pulling for AS over AC. I think Versus did a good job of turning general viewers against AC in last year's TdF. Of course, some folks don't like his pistol shots at the end of a winning stage. It's all amusing to me...

 

[jaylew]

Did anyone happen to see when AS and AC caught Vino? Did he try to help? Did they just fly by? He was off the front, then I didn't see him again until he was in Armstrong's group.

 

[woodburn]

AS was wrecked at the end of the stage. Was impressed that he pulled out almost another minute after the top of the Madeline with Contador.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Did anyone happen to see when AS and AC caught Vino? Did he try to help? Did they just fly by? He was off the front, then I didn't see him again until he was in Armstrong's group.

Astana drilled it as soon as they saw Evans was in trouble. That's why they caught Vino so fast. They AS attacked.

 

[Stuart]

The most noteworthy event in this stage, sadly, was Evans' demise. It will still be a great race between Schleck and Contador, but it would have been a better race with Evans present. These are 3 very decent men with such differing personalities and style, representing the full spectrum of character and grace as people and as cyclists that we are unlikely to see the likes of again.

A well reasoned and commendable post sir - I commend you as many posters on CN really have it in for Cuddles but I really appreciate his 100% heart on the sleeve, prickly personality and his never say die attitude.

So now we know that Cuddles has a broken elbow and his GC tour is over. Lots of the peripheral GC candidates have slipped too far back so it's the Andy and Alberto show. So wish that Jens was a GC contender! Still a great stage and Saxo & Astana showed just how strong they are while RS appear to have little as far as GC goes.

As for Liggett and Sherwin, we have them on SBS here in Australia (where we get live coverage in HD on free-to-air TV for the last 100-120 k's normally) and it was plain disgusting to hear the glee with which they danced on the grave of Cadel, the man in yellow, while still trying to build up Armstrong and say that it's all down to bad luck why he's not winning - give me a break.

Roll on stage 10.

 

[ericthesportsman6]

A well reasoned and commendable post sir - I commend you as many posters on CN really have it in for Cuddles but I really appreciate his 100% heart on the sleeve, prickly personality and his never say die attitude.

So now we know that Cuddles has a broken elbow and his GC tour is over. Lots of the peripheral GC candidates have slipped too far back so it's the Andy and Alberto show. So wish that Jens was a GC contender! Still a great stage and Saxo & Astana showed just how strong they are while RS appear to have little as far as GC goes.

As for Liggett and Sherwin, we have them on SBS here in Australia (where we get live coverage in HD on free-to-air TV for the last 100-120 k's normally) and it was plain disgusting to hear the glee with which they danced on the grave of Cadel, the man in yellow, while still trying to build up Armstrong and say that it's all down to bad luck why he's not winning - give me a break.

Roll on stage 10.

I know Phil and Paul can be idiots, but there obsession with LA is merely because Versus (The American channel they commentate for) gets the best ratings that way. Most Americans only care about Lance. Also, I didn't think they were all that harsh with Cadel.

 

[reubenr]

I know Phil and Paul can be idiots, but there obsession with LA is merely because Versus (The American channel they commentate for) gets the best ratings that way. Most Americans only care about Lance. Also, I didn't think they were all that harsh with Cadel.

They weren't as harsh with Cadel, as much as they were thoughtless in dismissing him. This is another case where the Abbott and Costello act of the TDF just misses the point. What? They have no information? They speak to no one? Or, they are in a studio in Istanbul and getting the feed just like we? If so, who needs them, I ask in simple language. They are awful. I am a North American. I do not want to hear about Lance, unless he has something nice to say about something other than himself (which is not a likely event). Evans was fabulous in retrospect. He broke his wrist. He trucked on and staid with the chase and pulled on the Yellow Jersey, when Armstrong pulled on the sheets and went under the pillow. Please! Can we get new announcers now?

 

[Elagabalus]

Oh... FFS!!!!

Here's the deal. SBS, ITV4 AND Versus all use Phil and Paul. And PnP do it live (well, don't we all ). Don't know whether they are in the same booth or not or just have very directional mics. If you watch SBS and ITV4 you'll notice that Phil will "drop out" for awhile and Paul will probably ramble on about some interesting French factoid. That's because Phil has to do the lead-ins and lead-outs for all the commercials for Versus. Which means he has to sit there with some Director in his ear telling him "we need to go a commercial!" You want to try and do that without stumbling on a few words?

Besides as an unapologetic PnP fan I just have to say-PnP are the voice of cycling and are therefore above reproach!!! Harrumpf!!

Besides, if they bother you that much just turn the sound down. Or better yet get the Sporza feed with closed captions for the hearing impaired and translate it using Google translator. Turns any cycle race into sublime comedy. I guarantee!!

 

[Spare Tyre]

Oh... FFS!!!!

Here's the deal. SBS, ITV4 AND Versus all use Phil and Paul. And PnP do it live (well, don't we all ). Don't know whether they are in the same booth or not or just have very directional mics. If you watch SBS and ITV4 you'll notice that Phil will "drop out" for awhile and Paul will probably ramble on about some interesting French factoid. That's because Phil has to do the lead-ins and lead-outs for all the commercials for Versus. Which means he has to sit there with some Director in his ear telling him "we need to go a commercial!" You want to try and do that without stumbling on a few words?

And all of Versus' puff pieces and competitions etc. Can't be easy.

I understand all of that, but I still find their commentary hard to take -- all the fanboy stuff and the repeated stories and cliches. Grrr.

 

[ericthesportsman6]

They weren't as harsh with Cadel, as much as they were thoughtless in dismissing him. This is another case where the Abbott and Costello act of the TDF just misses the point. What? They have no information? They speak to no one? Or, they are in a studio in Istanbul and getting the feed just like we? If so, who needs them, I ask in simple language. They are awful. I am a North American. I do not want to hear about Lance, unless he has something nice to say about something other than himself (which is not a likely event). Evans was fabulous in retrospect. He broke his wrist. He trucked on and staid with the chase and pulled on the Yellow Jersey, when Armstrong pulled on the sheets and went under the pillow. Please! Can we get new announcers now?

I live in California, and I don't want to hear about Lance, or Levi for that matter. But 99% of Americans watching the Tour know nothing about anything in cycling except for Lance. That's the audience Versus is trying to appeal to, so Phil and Paul are instructed to rage all day long about Lance. Believe me, I would love new commentators, but it's not gonna happen.