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

[Gubby Allen]

I honestly had never noticed how bias it is until yesterday. Discretion should be given by the race comisaars. Jurgen Van den Broeck lost out worst today of those GC guys who were lucky crash wise yesterday and raced to the line. He got to the finish nicely and yet guys who didn't race all the way but soft pedalled knowing they had a freebie took big time off him today. Honestly, if you crash in the final 3km with less than a substantial (where discretion comes in) and a prior crash group catch you, then at most you should get their time. If people got their actual times yesterday, Evans, Kloeden and Horner would be over a minute ahead of most GC aspirants.

I can't wait till the mountains. If Contador is rested, some people are going to be in for a new ripping. Oh and if you didn't notice, I can't stand Sherwen. In his mind from what I heard tonight just before Omega finished, AC already has lost the 2010 Tour. Why else say Jurgen came 4th last year? I'm filing a complaint against him and SBS with our broadcasting ombudsman. Sick of these tools ruining July with their idiocy for Down Under viewers.

Indeed, first time I've really considered it to be a bit of a nonsense, how Evans only earnt 3 seconds & Thomas nothing on 30 odd guys who finished so laboured, they ended after a group who ended over minute down on them.

What's also a bit daft (although I'm not sure what the alternative is) is that they were so strung out at the 2.5km crash that guys barely in touch if at all with the main group (and had no involvement whatsoever in the crash are considered part of it. While the front of the chasing pack, within sight of them are not.

 

[Greenflame]

Great rides by Evans, Hushovd and Wiggins (and their teams of course) today. Hushovd a deserved yellow jersey, he worked really hard for it. Evans will get his yellow soon though, either on Mur de Bretagne or Super Besse.

Leopard did tactically perfect: finishing with exactly 5 riders including the two worst time trialists in the team at a great time. Easy to hate the Schlecks for not getting back to the front after jut 1 or 2 pulls, but I have to give the entire team credit for riding a perfect race and setting a great time, despite Posthuma dropping way too soon and the Schlecks not working.

Too bad for Sanchez and Contador these two days, but they'll recover. It will make the Tour more interesting since everyone has to attack. Schleck needs more time on Contador and Evans, Contador can't trust entirely on his TT so will need to attack Schleck in the mountains and guys like Basso, Gesink, VDB and Sanchez need time if they want to finish on or near the podium. The only ones who can ride a conservative race now are Wiggins and Evans, who are sure to lose some time in the mountains.

 

[rzombie1988]

Good day for Evans, Radioshack and a great day for Leopard.

Andy needs about 30 more seconds to be in the safe zone, but so far he's in a great spot. I don't see Contador getting more than 90 seconds on him, so things are looking good.

Totally surprised, but Cadel is in a great position right now. I think he probably needs about 3 + minutes total to be sure of having a shot at Contador though, so he could use another lucky break. If he can hang on somehow in the mountains, he might have a shot. Him being able to do the TT really helps him.

Contador getting caught in the crash has really opened things up and made for an exciting race. If he gets involved in one again, this race is wide open.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I am just ****ed that I can't go onto twitter because my Internet is so slow so that I can rejoice with my other BMC friends!

 

[c&cfan]

Yes yes yes!

Our boys did it!

Some notes

- Cadel is happy
- The team will give everything and are doing well for Cadel
- Cadel is fresh
- Cadel has rode smartly.
- Cadel has the support of ACF and dwlssonic.


btw, the ACF MAfia have places open if anyone wants to join? Move away from the Dutch Mafia is my call!

^ this looks like adobe after the FCPX. lol it was a good day ACF, but anyone knows who the boss is.

 

[Scansorial]

Evans should just let Gilbert go on stage 4 and follow the GC guys. I don't see why Hushovd wouldn't fight to keep the yellow jersey and Evans doesn't need it this early.

 

[Sebastian]

no...

canc would've won if he was alone.

THIS! Good post. The 3km rule is laughable and apparently applied by idiots. Yesterday many riders just coasted up the final "climb" while others were racing hard and still they got the same time, that's just totally wrong and I think it's disgusting.

Exactly. At a flat finish it might work, but the stage of yesterday showed you can not use this rule every time a crash happen inside the last 3 km (even if it is cat. as a flat stage). Andy is a good example on this. Yesterday he didnt had to ride the last hard 2 km and today he didnt do any work in the ITT. Still he is up there amongst the leaders without even racing so far...You might call it karma or luck but still at least I want the race to be decided on the roads not by some stupid rules...

 

[dlwssonic]

Yes yes yes!

Our boys did it!

Some notes

- Cadel is happy
- The team will give everything and are doing well for Cadel
- Cadel is fresh
- Cadel has rode smartly.
- Cadel has the support of ACF and dwlssonic.


btw, the ACF MAfia have places open if anyone wants to join? Move away from the Dutch Mafia is my call!

all of that = great start for BMC and evans!!!!
this has been the ideal two days for BMC
best thing is that we will see him in yellow by tuesday!!!
yes the ACF mafia is kinda duo.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Evans should just let Gilbert go on stage 4 and follow the GC guys. I don't see why Hushovd wouldn't fight to keep the yellow jersey and Evans doesn't need it this early.

I agree though that might be tricky. If he doesn't get it at Mur de Bretagne he'll be in yellow at Super besse.

 

[Carl0880]

Indeed, first time I've really considered it to be a bit of a nonsense, how Evans only earnt 3 seconds & Thomas nothing on 30 odd guys who finished so laboured, they ended after a group who ended over minute down on them.

What's also a bit daft (although I'm not sure what the alternative is) is that they were so strung out at the 2.5km crash that guys barely in touch if at all with the main group (and had no involvement whatsoever in the crash are considered part of it. While the front of the chasing pack, within sight of them are not.

The problem was that yesterday was declared a flat stage. Any other type of declaration then the 3 km rule would not apply. The rule is fine, its just how they graded the stage is the problem.

I find it interesting that they consider it a flat stage, but they awarded a point at the top of the finishing climb in the mtns competition.

 

[Anonymous]

I betted my money on sky winning. I was close. still I also betted on lotto outperforming bmc and that will happen for sure

You're an idiot I guess?

 

[Spine Concept]

Evans needs all the time he can get now before the mountains. He didn't impress me at all at the Dauphine. He might not have been in top form, but then again neither were the other riders with tdf GC ambitions. BMC were impressive today though, chapeau.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

It is an out and back course. I don't see that as being a relevant point as teams will get a big tail wind on the journey. FAct is, BMC were excellent, people must give credit where credit is due.


dwlssonic and I told you all that BMC would do the job today. I felt sick to the stomach before BMC's start but I am so proud of my BMC boys!

Nono, give credit where it is due. You told us Rabobank would beat BMC. You were not as true as a believer as dwlssonic

 

[Walkman]

I agree though that might be tricky. If he doesn't get it at Mur de Bretagne he'll be in yellow at Super besse.

I'd say it would be nice to see Evans atack on stage four and then just let a break go on stage 5 in the case of him getting yellow the day before. He seems to be in great form so why not take advantages of that?

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I agree though that might be tricky. If he doesn't get it at Mur de Bretagne he'll be in yellow at Super besse.

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.

 

[valentius borealis]

No: Gilbert will wear green tomorrow. He also leads the KoM, so that shirt passes to the secomnd in that competition: Cadel Evans.

With the changes in the way that the KOM competition is scored, Gilbert is the only rider to have scored a point so far, so I presume that the polka dot jersey would pass to the second rider on GC, who is David Millar.

 

[dlwssonic]

super besse sancy really suits evans the most. could go for the win.

 

[auscyclefan94]

lol!

TFF, can you do me a favour? Can you please rub in the fact that BMC beat Sky in the TTT on twitter as I can't access twitter until Tuesday?

Would be much appreciated.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

GC riders

1 Evans
2 F. Schleck +3s
3 A. Schleck +3s
4 Wiggins +3s
5 Tony Martin +4s
6 Klöden +9s
7 Horner +9
8 Leipheimer +9
9 Brajkovic +9s
10 Gesink +11s
11 Vinokourov +31s
12 Van den Broeck +38s
13 Basso +56s
14 Cunego +1m03s
15 Hesjedal +1m13s
16 Contador +1m41s
17 Danielson +1m48s
18 Van de Velde +1m48s
19 Kreuziger +2m20s
20 S. Sanchez +2m35s

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

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.

So Alberto should attack at Super Besse, to force Andy to respond and thus take on the burden of Yellow. The tactics get more nefarious...

 

[Boardslide]

Congrats to Garmin-Cervelo! They've been wanting a win like this for a long time.

Not bad since they've spent all last week training on it.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Was anyone surprised that Contador was heavily booed?

 

[hfer07]

So Alberto should attack at Super Besse, to force Andy to respond and thus take on the burden of Yellow. The tactics get more nefarious...

Contador will attack on stage 4 -but don't tell anyone...

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Andrey Amador can barely walk on that right now, but he managed to haul it around the TTT without being dropped.

 

[Havetts]

Doubt he will, still has to recuperate a little from the Giro before real mountains start.