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

[c&cfan]

Fuglsang, Monfort, Voigt, Posthuma and O'Grady aren't exactly weak ITT'ers either. Cancellara blew up the rest of his team in the Tirreno, but I'm sure he's learned from that.

maybe you are right.

 

[Bavarianrider]

That would be sweet, but I bet you Htc prefers Martin to get it.

Tony gets it anyway if HTC wins it. He's ahead of Velits in the GC!

 

[goggalor]

If HTC win, Tony Martin will be the leader unless he is dropped.

I think they'd give it to Cav. Maximum publicity.

Edit: Where's Cav on GC? Forgot to check...
Edit 2: Cav's @ 6 secs too (hah, yeah right). So how does it work anyway? Whoever crosses the finish line first from the team gets yellow?

 

[meandmygitane]

I think what is in Saxos favour is that 1) its short, so they can burn their weak climbers in the start and make do with 5 people for the last what 5-8k?
2) Vandborg and Nicky isnt exactly bad at leading a train
3) Riis got an obscession with these things, and they are sure to have drilled positions et.al to optimize performance
4) leopard have to drag the schlecks to the finish line

So while they may lose a bunch of time to garmin, sky, schack, htc, I doubt they will loose more than 12-20 secs to leopard. But as they say, time will tell

5. They left Gustav Larsson behind! But of course Contador has gotten great back up so far on the road ...

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

I think they'd give it to Cav. Maximum publicity.

Edit: Where's Cav on GC? Forgot to check...
Edit 2: Cav's @ 6 secs too (hah, yeah right). So how does it work anyway? Whoever crosses the finish line first from the team gets yellow?

According to commentators today (ITV in the UK), it is based on placings today, so if Garmin win it'll be Hushovd; if Sky, Thomas has it; if Radioshack, Kloden will be in yellow, and if HTC win, Tony Martin will be GC leader. Assuming, of course, that these teams finish more than 6 seconds ahead of Omega and more than three faster than BMC, and that the named riders are in the same group as the top 5 for their team.

 

[goggalor]

According to commentators today (ITV in the UK), it is based on placings today, so if Garmin win it'll be Hushovd; if Sky, Thomas has it; if Radioshack, Kloden will be in yellow, and if HTC win, Tony Martin will be GC leader. Assuming, of course, that these teams finish more than 6 seconds ahead of Omega and more than three faster than BMC, and that the named riders are in the same group as the top 5 for their team.

Thank you.

 

[Ferminal]

Not so sure about that.

HTC is an American Team and looking for a New Title Sponsor.
TVG may bring better promo?

TVG is too far down, they would have to drop Martin and Velits. They "could" swap Velits and Martin, but you would think it will be Tony on the front doing the work anyway.

 

[cineteq]

Starting time
14:30 Saxo Bank-SunGard
14:37 Euskaltel-Euskadi
14:44 Vacansoleil-DCM
14:51 AG2R-La Mondiale
14:58 Saur Sojasun
15:05 Rabobank
15:12 FDJ
15:19 Liquigas-Cannondale
15:26 Garmin-Cervélo
15:33 Europcar
15:40 Quick Step
15:47 Movistar Team
15:54 Astana
16:01 Katusha Team
16:08 Sky
16:15 Lampre-ISD
16:22 Cofidis
16:29 RadioShack
16:36 HCT-Highroad
16:43 Leopard-Trek
16:50 BMC
16:57 Omega Pharma-Lotto

 

[Moviefan1203]

Saxo-Bank has a major disadvantage of starting first. We'll see how they compare at the end of the day, Contador is going to have to do monstrous pulls.

 

[Polish]

TVG is too far down, they would have to drop Martin and Velits. They "could" swap Velits and Martin, but you would think it will be Tony on the front doing the work anyway.

You're right, thanks.

I was mistakenly thinking the "head of thr TT Train" would get the yellow given the train was fast enough to get enough time on the other teams & teammates.

The Stage One TTT in the Giro a few years back did it that way.
DiLuca threw a Hissy Fit when another team mate led the train into the finish and took the Pink.
But that was a Stage One TTT, so that makes more sense

 

[auscyclefan94]

If someone does that, then it will be the fastest Tour de France team time trial ever at 57.420km/h.

I say 24:33

Out and back courses are harder to get really fast average speeds due to the fact if their is a tailwind for the trip out their will be a head wind on the way back. The fastest TTT's are always the ones which are wind assisted like in 2005 which was a tough course but the wind ensured the speeds were high.

If Rabobank doesn't finish top 10 then it's a total fail.

True, but I see them doing really well.

I don't think Saxo will do very well. BMC will surprise a few people. They actually do course reconnaisance of a TTT course.

 

[Andre.J]

I sure hope Team Lotto does a great ride. I would love to see Gilbert in yellow again. Don't see how that's going to happen though if he loses it tomorrow. Lotto would have to place in the top 5 maybe.

fingers crossed

 

[auscyclefan94]

If Lotto beat BMC, I will become a whiny little ***** on the forum tommorow though I personally feel BMC willl beat them.

This TTT is very predictable.

Last night on SBS (TV Channel) News Bulletin they had some footage of HTC discussing the TTT where things were getting quite heated between the team but especially Goss and Cavnedish. It was quite funny.

 

[Eric8-A]

I know after Garmin loses the TTT tomorrow, they're going to blame it on the fact that Tommy D, Vandevelde, and Hesjedal were still feeling the effects of the crash and they couldn't go full gas. So with them out of the picture, Radioshack for the win with Kloden in yellow.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

bavarianrider might be unbearable tomorow

he is already that.

--

LTD injured??

 

[mewmewmew13]

If Lotto beat BMC, I will become a whiny little ***** on the forum tommorow though I personally feel BMC willl beat them.

This TTT is very predictable.

Last night on SBS (TV Channel) News Bulletin they had some footage of HTC discussing the TTT where things were getting quite heated between the team but especially Goss and Cavnedish. It was quite funny.

Wish we could get that vid clip...I wonder if it will turn up somewhere.

btw, Cadel did himself proud today...

 

[movingtarget]

Contador to go further behind. Can't see Gilbert holding yellow. Looks like someone from R/Shack for yellow.

 

[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.

 

[Mambo95]

Come on Sky.

COME ON GERAINT!!!

Sorry, but I live in Cardiff and know people who know Geraint T. I'd love to see him in yellow.

 

[Clemson Cycling]

According to commentators today (ITV in the UK), it is based on placings today, so if Garmin win it'll be Hushovd; if Sky, Thomas has it; if Radioshack, Kloden will be in yellow, and if HTC win, Tony Martin will be GC leader. Assuming, of course, that these teams finish more than 6 seconds ahead of Omega and more than three faster than BMC, and that the named riders are in the same group as the top 5 for their team.

So after that, if riders continue to be on the same time through the sprint stages ahead, does it swap to the team rider that finishes the stage first every day?

 

[Mambo95]

So after that, if riders continue to be on the same time through the sprint stages ahead, does it swap to the team rider that finishes the stage first every day?

No, it doesn't.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I know after Garmin loses the TTT tomorrow, they're going to blame it on the fact that Tommy D, Vandevelde, and Hesjedal were still feeling the effects of the crash and they couldn't go full gas. So with them out of the picture, Radioshack for the win with Kloden in yellow.

you have no confidence in your team!

I personally think the win is between Leopard Trek and Radioshack. Liggett will wee himself at that.

 

[greenedge]

How many seconds would BMC lose. I would say 35 to the top team as they have Burghardt and Hincapie. Samu's TDF is in my view over for podium threat unless if he is very aggresive in the mountains and can gain time. I shall go Geraint for yellow, with Thor just pipped. Gilbert could lose up to 50 seconds.

I'm missing out on 1st 2 stages cannot wait to get back to Australia.

 

[dlwssonic]

How many seconds would BMC lose. I would say 35 to the top team as they have Burghardt and Hincapie. Samu's TDF is in my view over for podium threat unless if he is very aggresive in the mountains and can gain time. I shall go Geraint for yellow, with Thor just pipped. Gilbert could lose up to 50 seconds.

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.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I think what is in Saxos favour is that 1) its short, so they can burn their weak climbers in the start and make do with 5 people for the last what 5-8k?
2) Vandborg and Nicky isnt exactly bad at leading a train
3) Riis got an obscession with these things, and they are sure to have drilled positions et.al to optimize performance
4) leopard have to drag the schlecks to the finish line

So while they may lose a bunch of time to garmin, sky, schack, htc, I doubt they will loose more than 12-20 secs to leopard. But as they say, time will tell

Yes and Contador will have to drag some of the others to the finish. Andy isn't that bad in the ttt even though he isn't the best.

How many seconds would BMC lose. I would say 35 to the top team as they have Burghardt and Hincapie. Samu's TDF is in my view over for podium threat unless if he is very aggresive in the mountains and can gain time. I shall go Geraint for yellow, with Thor just pipped. Gilbert could lose up to 50 seconds.

I'm missing out on 1st 2 stages cannot wait to get back to Australia.

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.

I agree with dlwssonic.

Hincapie, Bookwalter, Evans, Quinziato, Morabito and Schar are all quite decent time triallers. Burghardt generally isn't great but he is a strong roleur. Santaromita isn't the strongest ITT rider but he was apart of the team which finished 2nd in the Vuelta TTT of which he finished with the leaders. Moinard is the weak link. I think it is a very strong squad. Lelangue commonly drops the odd rider in the TTT.