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

[Dutchsmurf]

I really don't get what everyone here expected the Schlecks to do.

They took their turns till they reached the point they knew they would blow if they didn't hang back and then they did. If they had done one more turn and gotten dropped you would all be screaming about what morons they were for blowing up. They did what they had to do finish as high as they could in the TTT.

The point is tho, if that was the max effort they could manage, they have a serious problem. Because they stopped working even before the first time point I think. If we take that as an indication of what they are capable of...

 

[maxmartin]

not a fan of schelecks, but i think Leoptrek had s very smart strategy today and it worked, kudos for that

That was a pretty pathetic showing today from the Schlecks, sitting on for 20 km not doing any work. Sums up what is wrong with team time trials when Contador leads his team to the line and still loses 24 seconds. Still, an entertaining day of racing, the small time gaps both added to the excitement and made the event less unfair than in previous years.

 

[Ramira]

The point is tho, if that was the max effort they could manage, they have a serious problem. Because they stopped working even before the first time point I think. If we take that as an indication of what they are capable of...

If there was a climb in this week maybe yes, but Andy always has had a tendency to get better during a tour (look at his horrible prologue form). I really think it's to soon to make any predictions about form until Luz Ardiden.

Not to mention when Cancellara pulls like mad not many can follow, just look how fast they blew up Posthuma and even Voigt

 

[Scansorial]

Not an Andy Schleck fan (Frank is OK in my book), but you guys are right. They did the smartest thing they could do given the rules of the TTT and the riders they had on their team. I know it's an annoying thing to say, but in this case don't hate the player; hate the game.

TTTs are fun to watch but I think they'd make the most sense as a prologue.

 

[Scansorial]

Riis about the Schlecks after today's TTT:

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

How does it bode well? We all know they can't TT. It's not like that's new. There's only one ITT and it's a relatively short one. Given that they have Cancellara on their team who can do the work of 3 guys, I'm not sure it says anything about their form.

I know he's just playing mind games, but he should at least make a little bit of sense while doing so.

 

[thehog]

How does it bode well? We all know they can't TT. It's not like that's new. There's only one ITT and it's a relatively short one. Given that they have Cancellara on their team who can do the work of 3 guys, I'm not sure it says anything about their form.

I know he's just playing mind games, but he should at least make a little bit of sense while doing so.

I think he suggesting that they were'nt very strong. Meaning their form is down. Its one thing letting your strongest guy pull the most but its another sitting on the back for the entire TTT!

 

[No_Balls]

I think he suggesting that they were'nt very strong. Meaning their form is down. Its one thing letting your strongest guy pull the most but its another sitting on the back for the entire TTT!

You must not forget that wheelsucking in 20 km was "part of the plan"

The one guy who only ride to win this very race needs on the second stage wheelsucking because it was part of the plan and not any sign of form.

 

[thehog]

You must not forget that wheelsucking in 20 km was "part of the plan"

The one guy who only ride to win this very race needs on the second stage wheelsucking because it was part of the plan and not any sign of form.

I agree. I would have done the same. In fact if Riis was still DS of the Shleck's he still probably would have done the same.

The point he was making was that even when the Shleck's were sitting on the back they didn't look all that strong.

The TDF is not just about time it’s about asserting superiority. The Shleck's did none of that today. They won the day but they looked weak and vulnerable.

Canc can't save them everyday..... and no one is going to wait ever again if there's another crash involving the Shleck's... (memory bank: Rabo / Saxo).

 

[Chef_Vodnik]

I agree. I would have done the same. In fact if Riis was still DS of the Shleck's he still probably would have done the same.

The point he was making was that even when the Shleck's were sitting on the back they didn't look all that strong.

The TDF is not just about time it’s about asserting superiority. The Shleck's did none of that today. They won the day but they looked weak and vulnerable.

Canc can't save them everyday..... and no one is going to wait ever again if there's another crash involving the Shleck's... (memory bank: Rabo / Saxo).

It's still some time to go 'til the mountains. Bertie knows that, and so do the Shrecks.

 

[thehog]

It's still some time to go 'til the mountains. Bertie knows that, and so do the Shrecks.

Who said anything about mountains?

 

[K-0tic]

That was a pretty pathetic showing today from the Schlecks, sitting on for 20 km not doing any work. Sums up what is wrong with team time trials when Contador leads his team to the line and still loses 24 seconds. Still, an entertaining day of racing, the small time gaps both added to the excitement and made the event less unfair than in previous years.

Frank Schleck just couldn't do better anyway and I think Andy neither. If they would have been better , they would have even gained more time over their opponents and every second counts. It was their maximum effort and they can be very happy with leader Cancellara doing quite a lot for them. Just think about it, the Schlecks without Fabian...

 

[roundabout]

Interesting that Riis is so preoccupied with 2 riders from 1 team who even before today were among the worst TT of the favorites that made it past the Saturday's crash. And one of them 'hasn't done much this year' or something like that according to Riis.

Maybe the media likes that angle, maybe Riis is caught up in his personal little battle and has become nearsighted, but there are more riders to focus on now.

 

[No_Balls]

The point he was making was that even when the Shleck's were sitting on the back they didn't look all that strong.

The TDF is not just about time it’s about asserting superiority. The Shleck's did none of that today. They won the day but they looked weak and vulnerable.

+1

I think much or less the same. It is a bit different sitting back and saving energy while playing tactical and a whole different story holding their own for dear life, while sitting in an awful position, despite Canc not even going for full gas.

Riis knows the signs and letting people know in his mindgames. Very clever since AS is a very mentally weak rider.

 

[goggalor]

Whether the Schlecks were playing the tactics game or just hanging on for dear life, it was in my opinion not a potential Tour winner worthy to get towed to the finish line like that. Meh.

 

[hrotha]

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

 

[Sebastian]

Whether the Schlecks were playing the tactics game or just hanging on for dear life, it was in my opinion not a potential Tour winner worthy to get towed to the finish line like that. Meh.

Exactly my point.

 

[Lanark]

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

Well, Fränk certainly looked weak, he had to sit in the back really early. Andy was a bit dissapointing today, he isn't a great time trialist, but not being able to do any work on the front in the last kilometers is pretty poor. It doesn't mean he would suddenly be an unworthy Tour winner (lol at those silly Contador fans), and it's still quite some time untill the mountains, but a GC candidate in good to great shape should normally be capable of doing at least some work during the entire TTT, not hanging for his dear life in the end.

 

[theyoungest]

Well, Fränk certainly looked weak, he had to sit in the back really early. Andy was a bit dissapointing today, he isn't a great time trialist, but not being able to do any work on the front in the last kilometers is pretty poor. It doesn't mean he would suddenly be an unworthy Tour winner (lol at those silly Contador fans), and it's still quite some time untill the mountains, but a GC candidate in good to great shape should normally be capable of doing at least some work during the entire TTT, not hanging for his dear life in the end.

I agree with those silly Contador fans: what kind of GT winner are you, if during one of the decisive disciplines of a GT you can't contribute anything? And what kind of impression does this give to your teammates?

 

[No_Balls]

The impression of Andy would be: Dude has to have his brother as a shadow to him, everyone needs to stand and wait for him if in trouble, Canc needs to STOP the race for him and now also drag him to finish.

I admit it can be difficult judging his form over his general spoiled attitude. The must-to-do-for-Andy list seems to be endless in this his only race of the season.

 

[Lanark]

I agree with those silly Contador fans: what kind of GT winner are you, if during one of the decisive disciplines of a GT you can't contribute anything? And what kind of impression does this give to your teammates?

A very smart one, because you build a team that can cover your weaknesses. And a team time trial is hardly a decisive discipline, and it certainly wasn't today. Do you really think that anyone will remember in three weeks how many pools Andy did today in the TTT? His teammates probably have a great feeling because of their great riding their team leaders are in a great position for the rest of the Tour.

 

[Alexei]

Photo report with 40+ hi-res pics from astanafan Alexander Gordeyev who lives with Team Astana for the first TdF 2011 stages:


http://astanafans.com/aleksandr-gordeev-komandnaya-razdelka.html

 

[Havetts]

And a team time trial is hardly a decisive discipline, and it certainly wasn't today.

You wont win the tour with a TTT, but you can definately lose it. (Euskaltel)

 

[goggalor]

Photo report with 40+ hi-res pics from astanafan Alexander Gordeyev who lives with Team Astana for the first TdF 2011 stages:


http://astanafans.com/aleksandr-gordeev-komandnaya-razdelka.html

Vino looked pretty happy with the result:

 

[Sebastian]

A very smart one, because you build a team that can cover your weaknesses. And a team time trial is hardly a decisive discipline, and it certainly wasn't today. Do you really think that anyone will remember in three weeks how many pools Andy did today in the TTT? His teammates probably have a great feeling because of their great riding their team leaders are in a great position for the rest of the Tour.

Actually I think a lot of people will remember Andy for the 3km rule and the TTT if he win this Tour with less than 1,5 min. Just as everyone will remember Pereiro for the break-away...

 

[karlboss]

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.