Tour de France - rest day1 round up

[Dekker_Tifosi]

With Gesink more than likely to withdraw, he has to be one of the best left in the competition. Van Gaderan and Mollema both sacrificed themselves for there teams and will continue to until there respective leaders are out of contention.

Thomas also has the most superior time trial out of nearly all the young riders.

After today I would not say Gesink is likely to withdraw.

plus Thomas is a terrible climber compared to Taaramae.

 

[b.broadhurst]

One of the best climbers left? No way. Coppel, Taaramäe, Urán, Jeannesson, Rolland, Mollema, van Garderen, Costa... all are better climbers than Thomas. Easily.

I am talking about being in with a chance for the white jersey, costa, van garderen and mollema are all working for there teams and are over 5 mins behind thomas. Jeammesson is not a better climber and with rolland supporting voeckler and the yellow jersey now. It gives Thomas a good shot at white but 2bh i prefer either uran or coppel.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

I wasn't saying he had to go ballistic, he's not Voeckler or Hoogerland that attacks every day. But to do well you have to attack from the pack, he is in the form of his life and is out to prove his capabilities on the biggest cycling stage.

Mosquera cannot be included in this, he has doped. Velits will be able to ride away from most bar a handful of riders and then make up any lost time with his sensational time trial, top 5 for sure overall.

You weren't saying he'd go ballistic, but you were saying that he would be an attacking force in the mountains. He won't be, unless he's lost his mind.

If he has any sense at all (and the Vuelta is a pretty good indication that he does) he will ride extremely conservatively in the mountains, following wheels and when he can't hold on riding his own tempo rather than going into the red. He has no reason to attack at all. The mountains for him are just about minimising losses before putting the screws to most of the other GC riders in the ITT.

As a climber, he was probably the worst of the Vuelta contenders. The Tour contenders, even with most of them seemingly competing to see who can pick up the most injuries, are of a different calibre. And yes, I do think that a top 5 is a possibility for him, particularly if other guys keep crashing. And if HTC have the sense not to have him ride for Martin.

 

[b.broadhurst]

After today I would not say Gesink is likely to withdraw.

plus Thomas is a terrible climber compared to Taaramae.

The words he used after todays stage seem like he has doubt that he will make it to Paris. Only stayed with the group because of the slow pace due to the crazy crash with flecha.

Thomas climbed well last year in support of wiggins and is definitely in better shape this year, I think he will surprise some people.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I wasn't saying he had to go ballistic, he's not Voeckler or Hoogerland that attacks every day. But to do well you have to attack from the pack, he is in the form of his life and is out to prove his capabilities on the biggest cycling stage.

Mosquera cannot be included in this, he has doped. Velits will be able to ride away from most bar a handful of riders and then make up any lost time with his sensational time trial, top 5 for sure overall.

Velits did well at last year's Vuelta WITHOUT ATTACKING FROM THE PACK ONCE.

Also, he gained next to nothing on riders like Nicolas Roche in the mountains. He lost out to a fatigued Rodríguez and to Nibali, and only beat a recently-returned-from-a-broken-collarbone Fränk Schleck once. That's something completely apart from Contador and Andy Schleck.

Besides, Jürgen van den Broeck didn't have to attack to get 5th in the Tour last year. He just had to follow the right moves.

That's what Velits will do. He won't initiate any attacks, he'll just keep tabs on the ones he needs to and wait for the ITT. It worked for him before, why change it to a model that doesn't suit him?

 

[b.broadhurst]

You weren't saying he'd go ballistic, but you were saying that he would be an attacking force in the mountains. He won't be, unless he's lost his mind.

If he has any sense at all (and the Vuelta is a pretty good indication that he does) he will ride extremely conservatively in the mountains, following wheels and when he can't hold on riding his own tempo rather than going into the red. He has no reason to attack at all. The mountains for him are just about minimising losses before putting the screws to most of the other GC riders in the ITT.

As a climber, he was probably the worst of the Vuelta contenders. The Tour contenders, even with most of them seemingly competing to see who can pick up the most injuries, are of a different calibre. And yes, I do think that a top 5 is a possibility for him, particularly if other guys keep crashing. And if HTC have the sense not to have him ride for Martin.

Yes I think he will attack in mountains and maybe even look for a stage win. Last years Vuelta was pretty poor 2bh and I think he is in a lot better shape and form that last year, if his team didn't think he was in good shape then he wouldn't of got his place ahead of Svitsov. Van Garderan seems like the one that will ride for both of them and Velits looks stronger after the uphill finished so far.

 

[b.broadhurst]

Velits did well at last year's Vuelta WITHOUT ATTACKING FROM THE PACK ONCE.

Also, he gained next to nothing on riders like Nicolas Roche in the mountains. He lost out to a fatigued Rodríguez and to Nibali, and only beat a recently-returned-from-a-broken-collarbone Fränk Schleck once. That's something completely apart from Contador and Andy Schleck.

Besides, Jürgen van den Broeck didn't have to attack to get 5th in the Tour last year. He just had to follow the right moves.

That's what Velits will do. He won't initiate any attacks, he'll just keep tabs on the ones he needs to and wait for the ITT. It worked for him before, why change it to a model that doesn't suit him?

Lets just wait for the mountains, I am excited because I don't think its all about Contador and Schleck this year.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

The words he used after todays stage seem like he has doubt that he will make it to Paris. Only stayed with the group because of the slow pace due to the crazy crash with flecha.

Thomas climbed well last year in support of wiggins and is definitely in better shape this year, I think he will surprise some people.

He never used those words. I don't know which interview you saw, but I saw all the ones on Dutch TV and it's nothing like that.

We'll see who is right.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

The words he used after todays stage seem like he has doubt that he will make it to Paris. Only stayed with the group because of the slow pace due to the crazy crash with flecha.

Thomas climbed well last year in support of wiggins and is definitely in better shape this year, I think he will surprise some people.

His highest mountain stage showing last year was 56th. On the stage to Pau when Thor Hushovd made it to sprint for 10th place or whatever it was.

Suddenly he's going to outclimb a guy who has a 2 minute headstart, who won on the Col du Grand-Colombier and who podiumed the Tour de Romandie and Volta a Catalunya and top 5ed Paris-Nice?

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Yes I think he will attack in mountains and maybe even look for a stage win. Last years Vuelta was pretty poor 2bh and I think he is in a lot better shape and form that last year, if his team didn't think he was in good shape then he wouldn't of got his place ahead of Svitsov. Van Garderan seems like the one that will ride for both of them and Velits looks stronger after the uphill finished so far.

So if last year's Vuelta was poor, and he was getting dropped on the climbs, what makes you think he will attack the superior climbers in this year's Tour?

 

[kjetilraknerud]

I remember Christophe Moreau used to attack in mountain stages and complaining about conservative riding afterwards And he was certainly not the best climber among the top 10 candidates.

Not saying Velits will do that, but being inferior doesn't automatically mean conservative riding.

 

[b.broadhurst]

His highest mountain stage showing last year was 56th. On the stage to Pau when Thor Hushovd made it to sprint for 10th place or whatever it was.

Suddenly he's going to outclimb a guy who has a 2 minute headstart, who won on the Col du Grand-Colombier and who podiumed the Tour de Romandie and Volta a Catalunya and top 5ed Paris-Nice?

He was helping the team last year and now has effectively taken over the team leadership this year. Also Thor Hushovd has proven this year that he can get over the lumbs.

Taraamae is only 1min ahead which he could quite easily lose in a time trial and Sky has a better team than Cofidis,

 

[Libertine Seguros]

He was helping the team last year and now has effectively taken over the team leadership this year. Also Thor Hushovd has proven this year that he can get over the lumbs.

Taraamae is only 1min ahead which he could quite easily lose in a time trial and Sky has a better team than Cofidis,

OK, I'll do a deal with you.

Geraint Thomas wins the white jersey, and I take an HTC-High Road avatar until the Vuelta.

The other regulars on here will fill you in on why that's a punishment.

 

[b.broadhurst]

So if last year's Vuelta was poor, and he was getting dropped on the climbs, what makes you think he will attack the superior climbers in this year's Tour?

The fact that he is in the form of his life and has shown his hand in every uphill finish so far.

 

[jens_attacks]

tony martin and peter velits might drop some bombs in the pyrenees.don't ask me how that will be possible,certainly they won't attack they will just follow.they are looking very very sharp

 

[b.broadhurst]

He never used those words. I don't know which interview you saw, but I saw all the ones on Dutch TV and it's nothing like that.

We'll see who is right.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/gesink-loses-time-motivation-and-sight-of-the-podium

 

[Libertine Seguros]

The fact that he is in the form of his life and has shown his hand in every uphill finish so far.

Short uphill finishes are where he can show his hand. I don't see Peter Velits attacking the heads of state, good form or no good form.

 

[b.broadhurst]

OK, I'll do a deal with you.

Geraint Thomas wins the white jersey, and I take an HTC-High Road avatar until the Vuelta.

The other regulars on here will fill you in on why that's a punishment.

I don't think he will win it, I just think he has a chance.

Punishment?

 

[b.broadhurst]

tony martin and peter velits might drop some bombs in the pyrenees.don't ask me how that will be possible,certainly they won't attack they will just follow.they are looking very very sharp

Somebody who agrees, I think there is lots of Contador/Schleck/Gesink fans on this forum. HAHA

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I don't think he will win it, I just think he has a chance.

Punishment?

As in, why I would then forfeit the bet and have to take an HTC avatar. And that is a punishment for my losing the bet.

 

[b.broadhurst]

Short uphill finishes are where he can show his hand. I don't see Peter Velits attacking the heads of state, good form or no good form.

Thursday on wards will prove one of us wrong. Predictions on the Luz-Ardiden?

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Somebody who agrees, I think there is lots of Contador/Schleck/Gesink fans on this forum. HAHA

But you said Velits would attack. JA is NOT saying that. JA is saying that they will follow, but are looking very sharp.

I wouldn't disagree with any of what JA has said. I disagreed with your assertion that Velits would attack in the mountains and is an attacking climber.

 

[LaFleur]

Geraint Thomas taking back 1 minute on Taaramäe in Grenoble? Seriously? He won him by just 20 seconds on the Dauphine and Taaramäe's form is a lot better now..

 

[b.broadhurst]

But you said Velits would attack. JA is NOT saying that. JA is saying that they will follow, but are looking very sharp.

I wouldn't disagree with any of what JA has said. I disagreed with your assertion that Velits would attack in the mountains and is an attacking climber.

I am agreeing on the fact that Martin and Velits are in such good form and that many people are anti-HTC, and i guess you must be one as you will take a HTC avatar until the Vuelta.

I stand by it, Velits will attack and I also think he will win a stage.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I am agreeing on the fact that Martin and Velits are in such good form and that many people are anti-HTC, and i guess you must be one as you will take a HTC avatar until the Vuelta.

I stand by it, Velits will attack and I also think he will win a stage.

Right, that's a bold assertion, so you need to have a forfeit for if you're wrong too. Deal?