Tour de France : Stage 1 Rotterdam Bruxelles 223.5 km

[theyoungest]

Wow it only took 1 stage...

Then again, who didn't fall?

Yes, he was involved in the massive pile up, which also softened his fall, so this one really is only due to bad luck.

 

[johnnh]

Who is responsible for the design of the route, ASO or the Dutch/Belgian organisers? That was just about the worst last few kms I’ve ever seen of the TDF. To put a sharp right (almost doubling back) in at a point where the sprinters teams are building up to full steam is just plain stupid. It caused the Cav incident (although even as a fan I can’t defend him for that one – just bad bike handling) and also caused the peloton to bunch up which is why so many were involved in the next smash. If the Dutch /Belgians designed the route then do not ASO have a last say? Someone should fall on his/her sword over that.

 

[Christian]

Who is responsible for the design of the route, ASO or the Dutch/Belgian organisers? That was just about the worst last few kms I’ve ever seen of the TDF. To put a sharp right (almost doubling back) in at a point where the sprinters teams are building up to full steam is just plain stupid. It caused the Cav incident (although even as a fan I can’t defend him for that one – just bad bike handling) and also caused the peloton to bunch up which is why so many were involved in the next smash. If the Dutch /Belgians designed the route then do not ASO have a last say? Someone should fall on his/her sword over that.

I was watching the stage by the flamme rouge today and I thought it was a great road. It must have gone at least 2 if not more kms completely straight.

I saw the fall in the curve on TV and the curve really didn't seem all that difficult - plus Freire said the same.

This was a great ligne droite, nothing wrong with it at all, and still they managed to cause a crash. IMO it's just many of the riders being overly motivated and nervous and doing risky moves that they probably shouldn't.

You can't avoid any curves and honestly this was at least 2 km ligne droite, if we need 5 km ligne droite now we'll have all finishes on highways (those might then be wide enough too!).

 

[theyoungest]

Who is responsible for the design of the route, ASO or the Dutch/Belgian organisers? That was just about the worst last few kms I’ve ever seen of the TDF. To put a sharp right (almost doubling back) in at a point where the sprinters teams are building up to full steam is just plain stupid. It caused the Cav incident (although even as a fan I can’t defend him for that one – just bad bike handling) and also caused the peloton to bunch up which is why so many were involved in the next smash. If the Dutch /Belgians designed the route then do not ASO have a last say? Someone should fall on his/her sword over that.

How many TdFs have you seen? That wasn't too bad.

Oh wait, the Dutch and Belgians are deliberately trying to bring the Anglophones down. Just because.

 

[hektoren]

Was out today and just caught it on the rerun. Beside the crashes, how comes that Hushovd can't even get around Renshaw?

Give him a break. He fractured his collarbone less than two months ago, underwent surgery and hasn't been able to do any sprint-specific training since, due to severe pain when pushing max. He's in great shape, though, beat EBH easily last sunday and won the national road-championship. He's lean, very fit and said today that there's more to come.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Indeed, I've seen far worse finishes in the middle of france.

 

[Rocksteady]

Anyone else think Farrar would have had this had he not been taken out? His leadout did well, just got unlucky. Next sprint is his.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Where's that wonderful troll who kept on about how dangerous the Giro route was and how it would never happen at the Tour?

 

[Anonymous]

Anyone else think Farrar would have had this had he not been taken out? His leadout did well, just got unlucky. Next sprint is his.

I actually did not think so. I'm a Farrar fan but just before that accident I was actually thinking that he was out of gas.

He had a great chance, his main competition out of it, but I don't think he was going to do it. Too bad.

 

[velobabee]

VS sucks†

too bad VS sucks lance and levi's you know what, now phil and paul want in on the same action. never ever thought i would have to put TdF on mute. america get a grip, these guys aren't my hero's, quite the opposite. where is H E L P when you need it. need to move to europe during the grand tours and watch on RIAS-TV.

 

[Cobblestones]

Give him a break. He fractured his collarbone less than two months ago, underwent surgery and hasn't been able to do any sprint-specific training since, due to severe pain when pushing max. He's in great shape, though, beat EBH easily last sunday and won the national road-championship. He's lean, very fit and said today that there's more to come.

But that's precisely what I heard, great shape, won the national etc.

You know, I hope for him to do well, but was a bit surprised he couldn't get around Cav's lead-out man. Also Ale Jet, while a great sprinter, is not the youngest anymore. He should do well against those two.

 

[Anonymous]

Where's that wonderful troll who kept on about how dangerous the Giro route was and how it would never happen at the Tour?

I actually blame all of those crashes on the organisers. If you are going to make riders do 200km of complete boredom you can expect them to switch off and lose concentration. Do that and when the time comes to race, mistakes get made. It happens time and time again.

 

[RedheadDane]

Gotta say; I never want Brian Holm as my boss!
"Broken collarbone? No prob! To the front dude!"

 

[luckyboy]

I actually blame all of those crashes on the organisers. If you are going to make riders do 200km of complete boredom you can expect them to switch off and lose concentration. Do that and when the time comes to race, mistakes get made. It happens time and time again.

Pretty much every sprint stage is this. At least in the Tour they usually are.

 

[royalpig180]

never ever thought i would have to put TdF on mute. america get a grip, these guys aren't my hero's, quite the opposite. where is H E L P when you need it. need to move to europe during the grand tours and watch on RIAS-TV.

I agree. Two days in and I can't stand the VS commentary. Lance gaining 5 seconds over Contador in the prologue is not a "victory" in this "two man rivalry".

Although I do like Lance, I will be glad when he retires so that hopefully we can get some better (neutral) commentary and news coverage here in the US.

 

[mowie133]

Was out today and just caught it on the rerun. Beside the crashes, how comes that Hushovd can't even get around Renshaw?

renshaw is the best leadout man in the world.so you would think he would be a good sprinter..if he wanted to he could be a teams main sprinter

 

[LugHugger]

Has it ever been different?

When I reacted on a different forum that I wish Cavendish should be deported back to the Isle of Man and keep him there, the British went ballistic

Why? Oh, wait, Rabo......Sure, he leaned into Freire and took took them and a couple of guys out. Why are you spitting the dummy so bad? Was this Freire's one and only chance? I think that Cav is an immature numpty and I'm tired of people apologising for him on the basis of his age. But, this was a racing incident, he's had {imo} one black flag in his career (TdS '10 - TdF '09 demotion was a joke) and all of a sudden he needs to be ejected from pro cycling?

 

[roundabout]

Gotta say; I never want Brian Holm as my boss!
"Broken collarbone? No prob! To the front dude!"

It's "only" a broken sternum.

 

[hektoren]

But that's precisely what I heard, great shape, won the national etc.

You know, I hope for him to do well, but was a bit surprised he couldn't get around Cav's lead-out man. Also Ale Jet, while a great sprinter, is not the youngest anymore. He should do well against those two.

What part of "not being able to do sprint-specific training the last couple of months" was unintelligible for you?
As I said, nothing wrong with his core engine, and he's got a natural ability to sprint well, but he hasn't been able to sprint at all lately because of the forces that come into play going flat-out, pulling at the wounded collarbone and scar tissue.
But he'll get there. Have faith.

 

[Cobblestones]

What part of "not being able to do sprint-specific training the last couple of months" was unintelligible for you?
As I said, nothing wrong with his core engine, and he's got a natural ability to sprint well, but he hasn't been able to sprint at all lately because of the forces that come into play going flat-out, pulling at the wounded collarbone and scar tissue.
But he'll get there. Have faith.

If he couldn't get any sprint specific training in so far, he sure won't get any in now (beside, you know, the actual sprints). At least he got quite a head start for the green.

 

[hektoren]

If he couldn't get any sprint specific training in so far, he sure won't get any in now (beside, you know, the actual sprints). At least he got quite a head start for the green.

You'd be surprised at the effect riding the tour has on a lot of the riders. A lot of them ride themselves into shape along the way. As for the green jersey, I believe neither Thor nor Cav will end up on Champs Elysees in it this year.
Tyler Farrar and even Petacchi are more likely candidates, though Hushovd will have a great day tomorrow. Tomorrow's stage has his and Cancellara's name written all over it.

 

[ferryman]

You'd be surprised at the effect riding the tour has on a lot of the riders. A lot of them ride themselves into shape along the way. As for the green jersey, I believe neither Thor nor Cav will end up on Champs Elysees in it this year.
Tyler Farrar and even Petacchi are more likely candidates, though Hushovd will have a great day tomorrow. Tomorrow's stage has his and Cancellara's name written all over it.

As it happens I agree with you on this. My money (literally) is on Tyler for the Green. Oh and Cav got that corner soo wrong.

 

[stephens]

According to ligget brussels is now a country

And according to Frankie Andreu, during his little profile of Merckx's hometown of Meise, Merckx sponsors Omega Pharma Lotto. Surely he means Quickstep?

 

[spaceboy]

Using the word "uniballer" in reference to Lance Armstrong shows hatred for someone who survived cancer in part by having a piece of themselves cut off. Arguably, such a person has a disability. Is making fun of the physically disabled something CN moderators view as acceptable?

Expressing a dislike for LA the rider/human being is acceptable - but expressing this dislike in the form of making fun of a cancer survivor is hateful and disgusting.

Oh please. Best friend was called the Wreckin' Ball, 23 years ago when he had his surgery and another is called the Crazy Canut. (Canuck take off). Robin Williams has been making the one-ball jokes for ages, you really think cancer survivors are that thin skinned? If they are they didn't learn anything from their illness.

 

[Dedelou]

Who is responsible for the design of the route, ASO or the Dutch/Belgian organisers? That was just about the worst last few kms I’ve ever seen of the TDF. To put a sharp right (almost doubling back) in at a point where the sprinters teams are building up to full steam is just plain stupid. It caused the Cav incident (although even as a fan I can’t defend him for that one – just bad bike handling) and also caused the peloton to bunch up which is why so many were involved in the next smash. If the Dutch /Belgians designed the route then do not ASO have a last say? Someone should fall on his/her sword over that.

each rider , each team is informed of the route months in advance. I would expect a pro to ride according to the route they have to face. If the printers teams only rely on a single strategy that can only work when the finish is a straight line for miles and if they wait to the last kilometers to grind down the opposition they will take a chance to have larger and larger number of people challenging for the finish. I read oscar saying that he thought GC contenders and other should lay back and not crowd the sprinters in the end. I find that almost ridiculous. Next we are going to see the climber asking those who have not chance to win a mountain stage to stay out of their way on the climbs or descents. Where are we going with this kind of mentality? It should be up to the sprinter's team to harden the race earlier and thin out the peleton so there remains fewer people for the finish.