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

[Ripper]

Snap. You gotta love a little bit of crazy.

He's taken like, what, 50 seconds out of the peleton on the climb so far? Can't wait to see what he does at the other end of the summit.

Well on this monster of a climb, he might be really good, or he might be back and then off the back pretty soon. It is a long climb.

 

[Thee_chisa]

jens's face is a picture

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Bore de France at it's best. No racing on the last col of the day

 

[kurtinsc]

I *think* that as well. I'm just not wholly convinced of it.

Vino is going to be managing Astana... either next year or the year after. He wants to keep the best cyclist in the sport riding for him when that happens. I actually think he's smart enough to give up one last shot at the Tour win for 5 years of running the most dominant stage race team in the sport.

Now if he can manage to finish 2nd to Contador... I think he'd LOVE that.

 

[eleven]

This is why i could never ever hate vino..

ASO should pay Vino for his efforts to actually injecting something of interest into the Tour stages interesting once in a while.

 

[BroDeal]

Vino's cadence is amazing. He must be working with a certain Miguel Indurain...

I thought Armstrong invented high cadence. Don't tell me they have been lying to me.

 

[Jamsque]

Finally an actual climber is setting the pace, and we have hit some gradients. People popping off the back left right and centre.

Big Jens has fallen away from the lead group now. I'd expect him to sit up a bit and wait for Andy.

 

[Ferminal]

Bore de France at it's best. No racing on the last col of the day

So much for the Queen stage of the Alps!

 

[BroDeal]

ASO should pay Vino for his efforts to actually injecting something of interest into the Tour stages interesting once in a while.

The ASO should have a huge monetary prize for the most aggressive of the day. It would encourage people to attack.

 

[Anonymous]

I thought Armstrong invented high cadence. Don't tell me they have been lying to me.

Oh nooo....

It was Indurain's deal. He passed it along from one great TdF champ to another.

 

[kurtinsc]

Can someone give me a rundown of who's around in the "contender" group? Ticker said it was down to 20... I'm curious who's still there.

 

[Ferminal]

Lloyd finally dropped, pace going up now courtesy of Saxo.

 

[Francois the Postman]

Well on this monster of a climb, he might be really good, or he might be back and then off the back pretty soon. It is a long climb.

They are not doing a lot behind him. Vino has 60 secs now. I would be amazed if he slips back to the pack that isn't racing. Vino still a delight to have around, if the other racing attitude on display is the alternative.

 

[hoolaparara]

Vino has gone because he knows he won't be able to climb with the better guys at the end.. this way he is ahead at the top and ready for the flat bit...

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Sastre dropped!!!
Hesjedal too

 

[Jamsque]

Sastre is gone!

Hes-Jay's stay in the top 10 looks to be coming to an end. Astana are now chasing down... vino? What?

 

[Ten Percent Grade]

Sastre, lol

 

[Beech Mtn]

Sastre dropped

 

[Lyds97]

What do you mean? Lance is the only great TdF champ. He could totally have beaten Indurain in the 90s only he wasn't really trying

 

[Thee_chisa]

sastre and hesjdal off

 

[Zoncolan]

Sastre and Hesjedal dropped1

 

[Cerberus]

Finally an actual climber is setting the pace, and we have hit some gradients. People popping off the back left right and centre.

Big Jens has fallen away from the lead group now. I'd expect him to sit up a bit and wait for Andy.

I'd expect him to try to get over the climb before the favourites to help Andy if he attacks. Of cause there's 9 k to the top and he's got less than 5 minutes so it might be hard.

Sastre has let go.

 

[nvpacchi]

^Why Cervelo had Sastre race the Tour and not rest for the Vuelta is still beyond me?

 

[Beech Mtn]

Lance seems better after the rest day

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Why are Astana pulling the peloton - with Vino up there

oh I see Cuddles is lossing it!