Tour de France: Prologue - Rotterdam - 8.9km

[The Hitch]

Why was it all the same riders at the front?

C.mon, guys, everyone expected AC to beat Armstrong and most everybody else today.

The truth is AC's TTing has gotten worse - or more realistic - than last year.

no no. AC's tting hasnt gotten worse. No way.

The point about the climbs is correct. AC is very fast but marginally slower than the other tt specialists on flat, but when climbs come in he makes up those seconds.

Lance beat Ac because lance improved, not because AC got worse.

 

[Iker_Baqueiro]

Why was it all the same riders at the front?

C.mon, guys, everyone expected AC to beat Armstrong and most everybody else today.

The truth is AC's TTing has gotten worse - or more realistic - than last year, evidenced at the Dauphine.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB100...200584006.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_LEADNewsCollection

 

[titan_90]

Are you saying the media isn't playing up the TdF by their over-coverage of Armstrong and his chances? Are you kidding me?

Is this a two-person race between him and Contador?

If you listen to the news, you'd sure think it was!

Remember in 2006 how the media tried to make it interesting? They were advertising Landis as the next flag bearer. Why? Because he's American.

Everyone roots for the home crowd. That doesn't mean the TdF falls off the map when Armstrong is gone, but it becomes a harder sell to the American public if he's not in the race. You don't agree with this?

It's just shortsighted marketing, VS's is just trying to cash in on Armstrong's name. Universal Sport's race coverage is infinitively better without dumbing it down for the average stupid American. They should be focusing on the dedicated cycling fan who was here before Armstrong and will be after he retires again instead of dumbing down the coverage to a level of a three-year old.

Also, not everyone is a nationalistic ***. I am from the USA and I am more inclined to support a rider who is not.

 

[ferryman]

Why was it all the same riders at the front?

C.mon, guys, everyone expected AC to beat Armstrong and most everybody else today.

The truth is AC's TTing has gotten worse - or more realistic - than last year, evidenced at the Dauphine.

Nice try but the actual truth is quite the reverse. Change AC for LA and realistic for unrealistic and you just about make sense.

 

[Publicus]

You think AC is back to 2007 form?

The course is similar.

1 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC 8.50 (53.7 km/h)
2 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana 0.13
3 George Hincapie (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 0.23
4 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone
5 Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 0.25
6 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Caisse d'Epargne 0.26
7 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana 0.30
8 Thomas Dekker (Ned) Rabobank 0.31
9 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Liquigas 0.32
10 Benoît Vaugrenard (Fra) Française des Jeux
11 David Zabriskie (USA) Team CSC
12 José Ivan Gutierrez Palacios (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 0.33
13 David Millar (GBr) Saunier Duval - Prodir
14 Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi
15 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 0.35
16 Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Astana
17 Cadel Evans (Aus) Predictor - Lotto 0.36
18 William Bonnet (Fra) Crédit Agricole
19 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone
20 Michael Rogers (Aus) T-Mobile Team 0.37
21 Oscar Pereiro Sio (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
22 Linus Gerdemann (Ger) T-Mobile Team 0.38
23 Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) Astana
24 Sébastien Rosseler (Bel) Quickstep - Innergetic 0.39
25 Rik Verbrugghe (Bel) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone
26 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 0.40
27 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank
28 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole 0.41
29 Tomas Vaitkus (Ltu) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 0.42
30 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Liquigas 0.43

I'm getting the very distinct impression that you are being deliberately obtuse.

 

[Old&slow]

If I recall correctly, at last years long ITT, AC had a 46 second gap on Cancellera at the top of the climb and ended up winning the ITT by around 3 seconds. A Flat ITT is not good for AC.

But as LA graciously pointed out he was very fortunate to get good weather that not all riders got. IF AC and LA had ridden in the weather Kloeden rode in neither would have made the top 20 today.

 

[Publicus]

If I recall correctly, at last years long ITT, AC had a 46 second gap on Cancellera at the top of the climb and ended up winning the ITT by around 3 seconds. A Flat ITT is not good for AC.

But as LA graciously pointed out he was very fortunate to get good weather that not all riders got. IF AC and LA had ridden in the weather Kloeden rode in neither would have made the top 20 today.

ABsolutely agree. AC wasn't taking risks today on a relatively drier surface. I imagine he would have finished well outside the top 20 if it was raining.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Why was it all the same riders at the front?

What does that have to do with anything? You were yapping about flat TTs, and you were reminded that there were no flat TTs in last year's TdF.

Oh, and Lance was NOT at the front. He finished 4th on his own team in the Monaco TT.

 

[The Hitch]

does anyone know what the attendance was today in rotterdam?

 

[rides like a girl]

just a few comments on the VS commentary and teaching the sport to non-cycling Americans.

I had a celebration of Europe this morning at my house to eat breakfast, watch the early World Cup game, then watched TDF cycling and back to the second World Cup game. Great day of sports.

Had many younger relatives who explained the finer details of soccer penalties and fouls to me and I was explaining the cycling to the best of my ability...as many have never sat and watched a stage of any race.

A couple comments from the kids, there are too many commercials in cycling races...How come Canc was barely shown? Isn't he the Olympic and world champion in TT? ( one of the many phil phrases they picked up) Did he not go at the right time? Why was Lance shown more than other riders? ESPN and ABC show other teams in the World Cup...they don't just show the US team...Why does this channel only show Lance? Why is Canc so much better than the other guys?

At the end of the TT, the women liked Canc...when they same him on the podium. The kids didn't really like what they saw and heard but promised to give me another stage tomorrow and again next weekend. I have to watch another world cup game from start to finish too.

Cycling in the US won't grow unless the reporters and commentators explain the sport to the viewer. What are some differing strategy, give insight, explain the role of specialists, explain some of the history, point out the personalities of the riders. If it is all about one rider and one team, and he and that team leaves, there will be a void

I can't wait for the void to happen. Maybe the commentating will get better.

 

[mowie133]

guess i was right in saying miller would do a good job no hat eating for me lol

 

[spanky wanderlust]

it's pretty unbelievable how much time all but one of bertie's challengers lost today. wtf happened to schlecklet? wiggins?

i'm sorry but a little rain doesn't equal 30+ sec over 9k. wiggins is making excuses. he didn't have it today. he got smoked. it wouldn't have mattered if he started last.

 

[spanky wanderlust]

and what about that ride by farrar? awesome! he is on very good form and certainly looked a lot better than cav or thor today. i see some stage wins (and maybe yellow?) in his near future.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

I deleted a few posts talking about doping that were not in context, such as the link to the WSJ article. If there is doping information that pertains to stages, fine, but speculation belongs in the Clinic, not here.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

How come Canc was barely shown? ...Why was Lance shown more than other riders?

Cycling in the US won't grow unless the reporters and commentators explain the sport to the viewer....

First, as I noted before more than once, the coverage in this Tour will mostly be about Lance, regardless of how well he rides or what place he finishes. There's a lot of controversy surrounding him, he's very well known, and doesn't shy away from media attention. While you, and I and others may think that's not fair and race leaders should get more coverage, that's how how Versus covers the sport. The commentators are long-time friends with Lance, and Lance has wide appeal to the average person who rides a bike a few times a year and only watch one race in July. Even if they don't like him or think he's a bad guy, they know who he is. I'm not saying you have to like it, I don't think it's right either, but it's the way it is. Broadcasting is a for-profit business, and this is how Versus (owned by Comcast) has chosen to operate in order to please their sponsors and gain enough viewing share in the ratings.

If your friends and kids get more into cycling, I would encourage them to watch some other races, especially those on Universal Sports. While not Pulitzer winning commentary, Steve Schlanger is neutral and at least likes the sport, and Todd Gogulski has become an excellent commentator, giving unbiased information on riders, and explaining strategy well. Universal Sports covered the Giro, and will cover the Vuelta, arguable the two most exciting stage races in the world.

As to outside analysis through video production (video packages explaining strategy and rules, riders and teams, with experts using footage and graphics), unfortunately that is expensive to produce. It also requires producers to get in touch with experts, teams, riders, which can be time consuming and require one to be a linguist, plus the support required to pull it off.

 

[auscyclefan94]

There were no flat TTs in last year's TdF. The 2007 TdF had flat/flatter TTs and we all (well maybe not you) saw how that went for AC (he lost a decent chunk of time in the final TT to his teammate (Levi) and Cuddles). I expect the same will happen at Stage 19 this year as well.

I would have to agree. I think though Conti handled that course quite well. He would have to be quite happy and others who would of thought to be closer to him or even beat him would have to be dissapointed

Quote from Evans on his diary

Me? Very average, 30 seconds off the pace, disappointing but a long way to go yet

Otherwise, Brent Bookwalter put our team car in eighth, which is always useful. Unfortunately, our Matthias Frank will not start tomorrow. A bizarre crash, where on an almost straight road, his rear wheel slid on something and sent him into the barriers. A broken thumb, cut lip, swollen knee, and quite a few squashed spectators who also required medical attention.

 

[lilyprotector]

shocked by armstrong/ac finish

If I recall correctly, at last years long ITT, AC had a 46 second gap on Cancellera at the top of the climb and ended up winning the ITT by around 3 seconds. A Flat ITT is not good for AC.

But as LA graciously pointed out he was very fortunate to get good weather that not all riders got. IF AC and LA had ridden in the weather Kloeden rode in neither would have made the top 20 today.

i was totally shocked that la finished ahead of ac. yes, it's only five seconds, but both these guys like the head games, and there is no way that ac did not want to show la who's boss today.

i was doing a very happy dance that la came in ahead of contador. i was, to be honest, also surprised how well he did overall, although the rain might have changed that if he had run into it. so glad to see lance seems to be finding his tt skills again just in time!

 

[9000ft]

LA did a little better than I expected, AC did about what I expected. Schleck, hmmm, probably not enough lost time to put him out of contention, but that's not going to help. Cancellara, no surprise there, even without a little electric motor! Really nice rides for Farrar and Bookwalter and respectable job by Liephiemer considering how everyone has discounted him..

All and all though, it's just a prologue. Don't mean all that much. The weather probably skewed the results a bit.

Three weeks to go and anyhting can happen. Should be fun.

 

[auscyclefan94]

They were atrocious. Frank Schleck is officially Stuart O'Grady.

The Tour is officially over as well. Lance has won already. Phil is appalling. I will personally tear this man to shreds if I ever lay eyes on him.

Everything is about Lance. I swear Liggett might as well apply for the role of Lance's lover, but that is already taken. The man is disgusting and a disgrace. Then i have to put up with the SBS tool host Tomalaris. Another absent minded fool. I'm almost tempted to find an online feed and listen to the Tour in a language I don't understand because the English commentary I get is awful. Phil is worse than he has been in previous years.

I hope Lance falls or gets caught doping asap. One day in and I hate this years event.

Tomolaris=biggest tool! He seriously does not have a clue.

He was definitely taking it easy in the corners. From his comments about the cobble stage, he wants to reach the mountains and does not mind giving up a little time to safely reach them.

I think quite a few contenders were taking it easy through the corners as they obviously did not want to get injured.

Gesink survived the prologue without falling and lost a lot less than I'd expect. And even won time on riders I didn't expect..
Great start

Yes Gesink was very impressive. To only lose 12 seconds to Evans is a grat result. Anyone dare say he had drafting from a motorbike?

 

[Ferminal]

They were atrocious. Frank Schleck is officially Stuart O'Grady.

The Tour is officially over as well. Lance has won already. Phil is appalling. I will personally tear this man to shreds if I ever lay eyes on him.

Everything is about Lance. I swear Liggett might as well apply for the role of Lance's lover, but that is already taken. The man is disgusting and a disgrace. Then i have to put up with the SBS tool host Tomalaris. Another absent minded fool. I'm almost tempted to find an online feed and listen to the Tour in a language I don't understand because the English commentary I get is awful. Phil is worse than he has been in previous years.

I hope Lance falls or gets caught doping asap. One day in and I hate this years event.

My biggest nitpick wasn't cycling related... According to these two, weather = climate.

"The climatic conditions are playing havoc with the riders here today"

Strewth, that old coastal climate at it again - where's Al Gore when you need him.

IT'S WEATHER.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

The big winner today was Contador. He gained a good bit of time on his closest rival.

Lance had an excellent prologue, though I doubt Contador cares the least bit. He knows exactly when and where he's going to make his move. Having Lance 5 seconds ahead of him is meaningless, as we saw last year.

The good thing about today's results is that we might see even more aggressive racing from Saxo Bank.

 

[Highlander]

It's just shortsighted marketing, VS's is just trying to cash in on Armstrong's name. Universal Sport's race coverage is infinitively better without dumbing it down for the average stupid American. They should be focusing on the dedicated cycling fan who was here before Armstrong and will be after he retires again instead of dumbing down the coverage to a level of a three-year old.

Also, not everyone is a nationalistic ***. I am from the USA and I am more inclined to support a rider who is not.

US usually doesn't get too many of the Lance races. However, when they do, they are perhaps even more on the Lance bandwagon than Versus. Last year in the Giro, we kept hearing every day about Lance and what he was going to do. One of the brilliant announcers, I don't remember who, even was ready to put Lance in the pink jersey when Cav lost it even though Petacchi won the stage and was already ahead of Lance in the GC.

Fact of the matter is, it doesn't matter who is doing the coverage. If a big name American is in the race - especially Armstrong - they will get the bulk of the coverage from an American TV station. I say just ignore it and be glad that cycling is actually on TV as opposed to the old days when you couldn't see anything.

 

[Publicus]

Yep. He finishes in the top ten of a pancake flat prologue, which is proof positive of his missing power. And his weight is exactly the same as last year (61 kg). But other than that I think you might be on to something.

 

[scribe]

Contador looked really skinny - the skinniest I've seen him. He might be down on power due to this, which will make it extra dangerous for him on the cobbles.

In theory this will be great for the mountains but if he's too low it could leave him short on energy over three weeks.

The big reason he doesn't look good is because his team is much weaker than last year. They are better off focusing on the vuelta this year

 

[Barrus]

Excellent effort. He is going to be dangerous this tour if he can stay upright.

Probably not, I expect him to lose a lot of time in the final tt, he should be at least 5 minuites in front before that or he won't be dangerous