Tour de France Stage 2 (3/7/11) - Les Essarts 23km TTT

[thehog]

Andy never looked in trouble, and never took a turn (I can't remember one anyway), clearly a team tactic, but has anyone heard if he would have done something had their time checks been down on rival teams? I'd think that a TTT for Leopard would be about limiting losses, once the losses are limited get through safe and conserve energy. Seems smart. Andy pulling turns for a TTT result seems a good way to waste someones energy for going 5 seconds faster.

Also and its not been reported (yet) but Frank was stung by a bee at the 5km mark. Thats why he was at the back messing about.

Still they looked fairly dire.

I still say it was AS won the battle but lost the war.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Riis about the Schlecks after today's TTT:

"I noticed that the Schlecks were not taking their pulls. That bodes well."

LOL, the mind games begin. Riis knows they are mentally weak.

I'm probably not the only one, after today the Schlecks have gone down even more on my ladder...

Hanging in the wheel almost the entire TTT, and they call themselves team leaders... compare that to all other contender teams. They all did their work.

Meh, just about every team dropped their weak links in the TTT and Andy and Frank were the weakest links and they HAD to keep them on. They did the right thing.

Supposedly their was some controversy in the bike control area as Cadel was saying in his diary entry that for some reason the French were not happy with riders on many different teams' saddle heights and positions.

The full entry is through here.

 

[danjo007]

what the hell are ASTANA doing with their "priscilla - queen of the desert" skin suits .... ???

did they also wear their matching glitter make-up, and (diamond studded purses in place of camelbacks?)

 

[mewmewmew13]

I'd like to see any one on this forum do a grueling TT while being stung by a bee.

 

[Dedelou]

Riis about the Schlecks after today's TTT:

"I noticed that the Schlecks were not taking their pulls. That bodes well."

in my days we used to call that kind of TTT riding: Sh*t-hooking. Not a particular glorious way to contribute to team effort. Penalty was "last one " to get to the shower. I bet AS was sent to the press instead

 

[Dedelou]

I don't think the Schlecks looked weaker than any of their teammates, Cancellara aside. Fabian makes everyone look silly on the flats.

No sir.. failing to take pulls during an ITT is not a sign of clever tactics, I see it is a sign of dependance on others at best, or a sign of fear of being dropped. Probably Cancellara had to constantly adjust his own speed down and in the end "Leotort" may have failed to gain enough time on AC. The Slackers brothers can't be going to sleep at night thinking.. we are ahead by 1: 41 on AC because we beat him bad. So far only thing AS has to take comfort for the time advantage is a crash and Fabian carrying him like a baby.

 

[Dedelou]

I'd like to see any one on this forum do a grueling TT while being stung by a bee.

doesn't bee sting act like steroid? .. no no.. i am mixing my drugs reaction.. more like an adrenaline shot .. turbo booster for sure .

 

[jobiwan]

jeez , cut the Shlecks a little slack. They optimized themselves and used their whole team in an intelligent manner...it worked well.
next..

Don't you know its a forum crime to defend the Schlecks? (Does seem that way sometimes)

Was a great stage for Garmin, BMC, Leopard.

Disappointed by Radioshack, actually thought they would win, but 10 seconds really isn't that bad.

Thought Saxo did well too, considering Larsson wasn't on the team.

 

[dlwssonic]

Im sure contador will lose time today the question is how much. His team looked weak yesterday on the flat. He was the only saxo in his group at the finish. and had no one to help him with the chase. Their team has lots of mountain men though. Yes like acf said people have been underestimating BMC in the TTT and im sure they will surprise some people and do well today. they have a strong squad. htc for the win. But i would like to see a surprise.

my brilliant prediction

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

To be fair you always predict bmc

---

My internet went down during the itt.
When bmc came in 2nd I was kinda glad tho.
They made me eat my words The later starters did seem to have the wind on the final part tho.

Eisel probably cost htc the win.

Evans will take yellow on the Mur anyway so no reason to be disapointed.

He'd be wise to just sit in the front group and not try to follow imo.
His team is already gonna get owned in the mountains, don't increase the work load and pressure.

2 minutes behind Schleck is something to worry about. 2 minutes behind Evans is not.

I like Evans, but let's be real. He could easily lose 2 minutes to Contador on a single climb.

this.

Winners
Losers
Vino

is he even going for gc ? I know he wanted yellow, and he'll probably fight until the end, but he isn't gonna contend anyhow.

Ah yes, because you'd never be unsufferable if it was Rabo who came 1st?

Garmin started before Rabobank too, so can't use excuses here.

no they didn't, but yeah they were awesome.

Depends. Though Super-Besse is the kind of finish Evans is good at, Andy is only at 3 seconds, so it only needs a slight off-day, or to get slightly boxed in, and Andy will overhaul him even if Andy won't be too keen to try and defend yellow for 13 days.

I like Evans for Super-Besse.
However there are some nervy days coming up, who knows what will happen.
Stage 5 we'll get wind. Stage 4 will be nerveous. Hopefully tomorrow the riders can relax a little. Or not

Also and its not been reported (yet) but Frank was stung by a bee at the 5km mark. Thats why he was at the back messing about.

Still they looked fairly dire.

I still say it was AS won the battle but lost the war.

lol why is that? because a bunch of CN members frown upon his TTT performances. I don't like the guy either, but he hasn't lost anything at this point.

In fact the 1.40 advantage might be bridgeable, but the pressure it puts on ac is huge. AS has tactical advantage, that is what is most important for him

---

great for evans.

but in reality this changes nothing, I said before the tour the first week that evans is the rider who could have a great first week (tho I didn't expect the ttt.. and really 12 seconds between all those gusy is nothing)

But in the mountains he will still fail If he doesn't lose 1.30+ to schleck or ac in the mountains by stage 15 I will gladly use a cadel avatar.

 

[dlwssonic]

they could very well top 5 if they do a real real good TTT

everyone waiting before BMC unleashes all hell on this course

not a lot. they have burghardt, hincapie, bookwalter, schar, morabito, evans and quinziato. All of them can do good prologues. the weak links would be santamorita and moinard. I actually think their squad is strong.

Told you guys BMC would be good

 

[dlwssonic]

To be fair you always predict bmc

haha yes i do always state i hope the BMC riders can do something if i see that the course suits them.

 

[dlwssonic]

Guy is just building up a hope that there will come a team (unknown which ) who will ride to the horizon, flying like a wind, and take out some two-three minutes on Alberto.

your sarcastic statement was right other than the two-three minutes

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

haha yes i do always state i hope the BMC riders can do something if i see that the course suits them.

which is pratically every stage in cycling

 

[dlwssonic]

which is pratically every stage in cycling

of course what an all rounded team they have.
not todays course for sure.

 

[auscyclefan94]

ACF's CN Forum report for the thread

Before the TTT, Dekker_Tifosi provides his words of wisdom. The oracle has spoken...

BMC is so overrated.
Quinziato's day as top TT-er are long gone.
Burghardt has his moments but not more. Schär is inexperienced. The rest are mediocre. Only Evans is really good.

But if they do well as team...

Realisation is starting to settle in. Dekker_Tifosi looks to suck up to ACF by saying I will be happy.

Wow BMC is owning!!

ACF will be happy.

Havetts, another Dutch mafia member, think I creamed myself. I was jumping around the room with happiness and I put my arm out because of BMC's awesomeness but never creamed myself.

Evans for yellow, ACF is going to cream

The realisation that the Oracle (aka Dekker Tifosi) was wrong is stratling to the oracle so he tries to make an excuse for Rabobank getting it's **** spanked. Just to let you know, it was an out and back course.

I don't want ACF on here now. His parade of BMC beating Rabobank is too much to handle.

Not to mention he will disregard the wind factor

 

[greenedge]

Love the BMC TTT ( they have Cadel in a great position ) I think Cadel will not lose so much to Contador. He evidently does not have great form and you can't base this on the last 2 years where he has excuses/ concerns/ bad team. Which in itself is sort of worrying. However i have a good feeling for this and even if he does not win i would still feel happy if he gets on podium. Did anyone else find it odd that right before the first intermediate Cancellara just sat up??? I think if Eisel had stayed upright HTC would have won. Garmin did well too, they look like they are a real threat in this week. ACF i thought Rabo did ok though maybe not up to the standards expected as they needed time in flats to look after Gesink. Finally back in Australia, can get the Aussie hyping reaching a new level.

 

[Midnightfright]

Before the TTT, Dekker_Tifosi provides his words of wisdom. The oracle has spoken...




Realisation is starting to settle in. Dekker_Tifosi looks to suck up to ACF by saying I will be happy.


Havetts, another Dutch mafia member, think I creamed myself. I was jumping around the room with happiness and I put my arm out because of BMC's awesomeness but never creamed myself.


The realisation that the Oracle (aka Dekker Tifosi) was wrong is stratling to the oracle so he tries to make an excuse for Rabobank getting it's **** spanked. Just to let you know, it was an out and back course.

I hope u aren't going to go easy on him and there's plenty of gloating to come

 

[No_Balls]

your sarcastic statement was right other than the two-three minutes

Well, at least it was right

Congrats by the way.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I hope u aren't going to go easy on him and there's plenty of gloating to come

I am not going to let him off the hook. That first post directed towards The Oracle is only the beggining except some other posters may start to cop it

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

I am not going to let him off the hook. That first post directed towards The Oracle is only the beggining except some other posters may start to cop it

let me guess who

 

[Tuarts]

He was right about Burghardt, he as one of the first two dropped.

Out of interest, other than Eisel did the HTC train drop anyone?

 

[spalco]

I'm probably not the only one, after today the Schlecks have gone down even more on my ladder...

Hanging in the wheel almost the entire TTT, and they call themselves team leaders... compare that to all other contender teams. They all did their work.

In a way I guess the Schlecks aren't the leaders of the team, Cancellara is. At least he seems to be the one who fancies himself patron of the peloton even if he isn't a GC rider.