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

[Midnightfright]

brilliant photo from yesterday

How is it AS always seems to be staring at his front wheel during race photos? Be honest dlwssonic how long did it take u to find a photo with Conti grimaceing so and Cadel looking cool as a cucumber?

 

[just some guy]

How is it AS always seems to be staring at his front wheel during race photos? Be honest dlwssonic how long did it take u to find a photo with Conti grimaceing so and Cadel looking cool as a cucumber?

Its from the BMC website

 

[dlwssonic]

How is it AS always seems to be staring at his front wheel during race photos? Be honest dlwssonic how long did it take u to find a photo with Conti grimaceing so and Cadel looking cool as a cucumber?

it was easy. got it from the bmc website

 

[Midnightfright]

Its from the BMC website

Ha ha. That does explain the picture choice.

 

[manafana]

well for me today i see the break having a chance, all about whether garmin and omega are interested in chasing it down, can see trek and bmc doing a little work and maybe saxo bank too.

Just watching something where weekend, declaring that one sport prefer watching to doing, id agree when it comes to the high moutains lol.

Anyway for stage, gilbert, evans and also expect something devenyns he did well yesterday.

 

[dlwssonic]

I hope contador does a dig again. expect to see schlecks sucking wheels. gilbert attacking and evans sprinting.

 

[powderpuff]

or this one from Cadel's website too

several others on Tim De Waele's website. AS smiling in most and AC grimacing alot

 

[dlwssonic]

evans looked cool yesterday but contador was grimacing. however expect a super pale evans when we get to the mountains.

 

[The Barb]

I'm with those who don't see any obvious team to chase down the break. So the question is, who will be in it?

Ordinarily I'd say Chavanel (and he still might) but he may need a bit longer to recover from his fall. Charteau is a likely candidate, but I dooubt he is good enough to win. Sky will be represented, but by whom? My guess is Gerrans and is a proven winner when he does make the break. Knees tried yesterday but missed. Geraint Thomas has been strongly back.

Anyway, I'm waaaay drunk right so it doesn't really matter ...

Please race start soon. Bored watching netball.

 

[Martina]

Who else (besides Hoogerland) is targeting the polka dots? Could Kreuziger do that or is he too beat up?

Kreuziger will be lucky to finish the stage, he can´t hold the bars with his left hand, so we will see after first downhill if he quits - I guess mechanics will have to switch front wheel brake to his right side as he is not able to use his left - so he will have to go really slow. Too many downhills today to pass the time limit
I only hope he will not end as Jens Voight in 2009 when his hands slipped off the bars an the fall was not a nice one.

 

[Midnightfright]

I'm with those who don't see any obvious team to chase down the break. So the question is, who will be in it?

Ordinarily I'd say Chavanel (and he still might) but he may need a bit longer to recover from his fall. Charteau is a likely candidate, but I dooubt he is good enough to win. Sky will be represented, but by whom? My guess is Gerrans and is a proven winner when he does make the break. Knees tried yesterday but missed. Geraint Thomas has been strongly back.

Anyway, I'm waaaay drunk right so it doesn't really matter ...

Please race start soon. Bored watching netball.

Wouldn't be surprised to see G or Gerrans in the break G looked pretty strong yesterday seems to be turning into a very strong all rounder.

 

[manafana]

Kreuziger will be lucky to finish the stage, he can´t hold the bars with his left hand, so we will see after first downhill if he quits - I guess mechanics will have to switch front wheel brake to his right side as he is not able to use his left - so he will have to go really slow. Too many downhills today to pass the time limit
I only hope he will not end as Jens Voight in 2009 when his hands slipped off the bars an the fall was not a nice one.

on brake thing, he needs be able used rear brake not front brake, althou you should use both, id rather press the rear than front if i had choice.

 

[boomcie]

This one is going to the break. Can't see it end differently.
Hope it's going to be a quality break though.

 

[dlwssonic]

Im going with a crazy bet! burghardt for the win ahahahahhaha

 

[Libertine Seguros]

please I hope the break doesnt make it! its rather boring I rather see a uphill bunch sprint. evans has a chance to win! but gilbert will be the fav.

Did you seriously think yesterday's stage was boring, with the tactical stand-off between the break (obviously won by Costa, who was clearly almost as strong as if not as strong as Tejay, but rode smarter, Tejay wasted a lot of energy unnecessarily early on; once he'd made the selection of himself and Costa he should have shared the work as he would outsprint Costa to the GPM anyway) then the "will he won't he" of Vino chasing Rui down in the late going, then them going under the flamme rouge and suddenly the péloton being in the background and wondering if they might actually chase the solo leader down if there came big attacks?

 

[Martina]

on brake thing, he needs be able used rear brake not front brake, althou you should use both, id rather press the rear than front if i had choice.

Depends on speed and situation (and personal habit), the front brake is much more effective, but more dangerous, has to be used very carefully, but for small adjustments in speed (what I use in long downhills) is very good.
I prefer front but it needs good feeling in hand. Back is for me mostly for emergency when needed stop on spot.
Honestly I don’t remember last time I used rear only

Back to stage 9, ok?

 

[The Barb]

A Vancansoleil rider on the attack ...

... only 24 hours late .... grrumph.

 

[YoRUsh]

I only hope he will not end as Jens Voight in 2009 when his hands slipped off the bars an the fall was not a nice one.

Correct me if im wrong, but I thought his handlebars broke of causing him to crash?

 

[Sylvester]

Did you seriously think yesterday's stage was boring, with the tactical stand-off between the break (obviously won by Costa, who was clearly almost as strong as if not as strong as Tejay, but rode smarter, Tejay wasted a lot of energy unnecessarily early on; once he'd made the selection of himself and Costa he should have shared the work as he would outsprint Costa to the GPM anyway) then the "will he won't he" of Vino chasing Rui down in the late going, then them going under the flamme rouge and suddenly the péloton being in the background and wondering if they might actually chase the solo leader down if there came big attacks?

You seem to be a member of the July crowd. Have you been following cycling before? Real connoisseurs know all the best races are decided by uphill bunch sprints and won by Cadel Evans with Hincapie in second, Santaromita in third, Schär in fourth and Morabito in fifth place. Contador, who must lose eight seconds, should also be grimacing so the BMC effort looks even more impressive. Cadel must take the polka dots, the green jersey and of course the yellow jersey in the process. He should also win the Vittel Combativity Award, the Special Prize for Dog Owners, and the award for best post-race interview, awarded by the French Union of Journalists. Daniele Righi must finish outside of the time limit.

Other good races include the Swiss TT championships and all races in which Greg Van Avermaet takes part — he might win points jerseys.

Breakaways are boring.

 

[vcampbell]

You seem to be a member of the July crowd. Have you been following cycling before? Real connoisseurs know all the best races are decided by uphill bunch sprints and won by Cadel Evans with Hincapie in second, Santaromita in third, Schär in fourth and Morabito in fifth place. Contador, who must lose eight seconds, should also be grimacing so the BMC effort looks even more impressive. Cadel must take the polka dots, the green jersey and of course the yellow jersey in the process. He should also win the Vittel Combativity Award, the Special Prize for Dog Owners, and the award for best post-race interview, awarded by the French Union of Journalists. Daniele Righi must finish outside of the time limit.

Other good races include the Swiss TT championships and all races in which Greg Van Avermaet takes part — he might win points jerseys.

Breakaways are boring.

Hahahahaha love it

 

[just some guy]

Westa in the break on his own

 

[YoRUsh]

Westa in the break on his own

And hes back in the pack again

 

[just some guy]

Westa in the break on his own

not anymore he has been caught

 

[Midnightfright]

You seem to be a member of the July crowd. Have you been following cycling before? Real connoisseurs know all the best races are decided by uphill bunch sprints and won by Cadel Evans with Hincapie in second, Santaromita in third, Schär in fourth and Morabito in fifth place. Contador, who must lose eight seconds, should also be grimacing so the BMC effort looks even more impressive. Cadel must take the polka dots, the green jersey and of course the yellow jersey in the process. He should also win the Vittel Combativity Award, the Special Prize for Dog Owners, and the award for best post-race interview, awarded by the French Union of Journalists. Daniele Righi must finish outside of the time limit.

Other good races include the Swiss TT championships and all races in which Greg Van Avermaet takes part — he might win points jerseys.

Breakaways are boring.

Breakaways are sometimes excusable if they involve Alexander Kristoff as his attacking spirit/endeavour and charisma will automatically bring some excitement to any race.

 

[just some guy]

anyone playing a cofidis puncture drinking game ? your liver will not like you after the tour is finished -how many can one team have ?