Tour de France 2011 Stage 9: Issoire - Saint-Flour 208 km

[Arnout]

See, here's the thing that really annoys me. These guys have at least a year to view the race route after it's announced, and they can go and check out the roads. They know what they're getting into, and they CAN slow down on wet roads (like the ones they were just on).

They need to start being proactive, rather than reactive, neutralise the stage and take away the chance for the breakaway to get the stage win.

What are you talking about, this belongs to racing, it was a perfectly normal descent. **** like this happens. No need to neutralize every time.

 

[sportzchick]

So are they going to soft pedal the rest of the stage?

If thats the case this is an insult to Wouter. Soft pedaling a stage should be done in someones honour, not because Canc was an ego boost.

here here!

 

[Moviefan1203]

Btw just for the haters, seems Cancellara (and most of Leopard) is helping to control the pace, and hmmm no Schleck's behind. Just sayin'

It seems everyone want to slow it down.

 

[Dutchsmurf]

Saxo and Euskaltel should go to the front and ride since the peloton didn't wait on Stage 1.

There is nobody to wait for tho, so they should just keep going again. Show must go on.

 

[Ferminal]

Come on Phil, go on a 90km solo.

 

[hatcher]

See, here's the thing that really annoys me. These guys have at least a year to view the race route after it's announced, and they can go and check out the roads. They know what they're getting into, and they CAN slow down on wet roads (like the ones they were just on).

They need to start being proactive, rather than reactive, neutralise the stage and take away the chance for the breakaway to get the stage win.

You can't control how poorly the rider in front of you rides.

 

[rides like a girl]

please race on...don't do this truce crap all stage long...

 

[The Hitch]

So, we have only Evans, Schlecks, AC and Basso, all the other serious guys have abandoned. I would say that this Tour now lacks even more depth GC-contenders' wise than 2008.

Sanchez and Gesink havent abandoned but they have been screwed. Having said that, with a rest day tomorow, if today becomes a rest day then Gesink has a lot of time to recover.

 

[craig1985]

Klodi is back in the peloton.

 

[maltiv]

If this continues, Voeckler will win the TDF...

 

[GroupDK]

God damn, not much when we hit the real mountains.

a joke to put it as fare as 12 stage

 

[Publicus]

This is crap.

 

[ak-zaaf]

Anybody has that live SRM data link again?

 

[woodburn]

How is this all Cancellara's fault? Does he really have the power to stop the race? Thor doesn't seem to eager to ride hard either. Or Gilbert.

People get upset when teams attack after crash. Now they're upset the field is waiting with favorites down.

 

[HL2037]

See, here's the thing that really annoys me. These guys have at least a year to view the race route after it's announced, and they can go and check out the roads. They know what they're getting into, and they CAN slow down on wet roads (like the ones they were just on).

They need to start being proactive, rather than reactive, neutralise the stage and take away the chance for the breakaway to get the stage win.

Would you have the DS spray the tarmac with water to see where it becomes slippery? For thousands of km of road?

 

[Maxiton]

Btw just for the haters, seems Cancellara (and most of Leopard) is helping to control the pace, and hmmm no Schleck's behind. Just sayin'

Thanks.

I hope it's just that everyone's shaken and they need some time to get it together and race again, not that they're going to neutralize this stage protesting against... uh... cycling I guess.

LoL. Agreed.

 

[Arnout]

What's the peloton doing now? Neutralizing uphill

 

[Franklin]

In the year they lost WW of course they are scared!

A colleague just had a horrible crash yet you want them to put down the hammer?

 

[Ferminal]

O'Grady riding at the front on 10% gradient, exciting stuff.

 

[Anonymous]

BS!

I have been watching cycling for 30 years. Attrition like this is something relatively recent. Sure we had the idiotic 1999 crash, but that was idiotic parcourse. We had Beloki, but that was partly a mechanical as his tube just stuck to the tarmac (also he fell alone).

No, it's not. The first week is always like this. Always has been and it always will be. 198 fresh riders, no sortout on GC, rain, etc... c'mon. This is a bike race.

 

[rzombie1988]

They are just calling a truce until some of the guys catch up, which is perfectly fair when it's teammates trying to look after their captain.

Sucks to see another crash though, especially for Vino. The crashes are insane this year. I wonder if they try to do something about this for next year. I wonder, who will crash next?

 

[kjetilraknerud]

A shame for Thor to lose yellow this way. Where is his team?

 

[For The World]

What are you talking about, this belongs to racing, it was a perfectly normal descent. **** like this happens. No need to neutralize every time.

And I'm saying EXACTLY that. I don't want them to neutralise it. They've had chances to look at the route and ride it, and there'll be talk tonight from the regular DSs about how dangerous this route was.

 

[Bala Verde]

Neutralized stage is new yellow jersey for the ones ahead.
Don't see why they need to neutralize though...

 

[markene2]

I am not watching anymore of this tour. Simply because all the main contenders is out. I dont want to watch a **** boring duel between Schleck and Contador