Tour de France Stage 3 Wanze - Arenberg Porte du Hainaut, 207km

[hrotha]

Who was the Astana rider who was involved in the crash with Frank Schleck?

Benjamín Noval.

 

[Publicus]

suffered a mechanical? As if it was something that happened TO him instead of something he CAUSED. Poor helpless Lance. Choosing a poor line is not suffering a mechanical. His inexperience in the cobbles caused him to choose a poor line, and poor bike handling meant he didn't unweight when he realised he was slamming into a potentially puncture causing obstacle . Better riders than Lance made it through just fine. Cobbles are a bike handling challenge, Lance failed.

If the roles had been reversed, there would have been a snide tweet from LA about AC's lack of experience, how it doesn't take a genius to know that you need to chose good lines through the cobbles. How AC has so much to learn.

Pretty sure you are spot on as to what would have been said or done if the roles were reversed for AC and Lance.

 

[hfer07]

After today's carnage - My podium stads is this:

Winner: AC
podium: ASchleck & CEvans
I'm really impresed by Evans-his insticts are sharp & his experience is getting the most with his new aggresive attitude-good for him
AC? he's got the "winner's luck" and all-round riding skills. today he passed the test and barring an illess/accident/positive test-he's set to get third
and I'm glad Hushov won the stage, after taking so much BS from yesterday

 

[Escarabajo]

Like Sastre has any chance of winning. As far as I'm concerned, Sastre's TdF victory should have an asterisk beside it. He won when nobody was there. The press treats him as if he is a GC contendor, but he really isn't it. All he can realy hope to do is win a stage.

Why do you hate Sastre? What did he do that pi$$ed you off? Who are you rooting for?

 

[richwagmn]

Not sure if anyone else has said it, but what about a hand for Andy? He crashed really hard yesterday and had a great ride today. I have even more respect for the guy after today. Well done Andy.

 

[Anonymous]

Not sure if anyone else has said it, but what about a hand for Andy? He crashed really hard yesterday and had a great ride today. I have even more respect for the guy after today. Well done Andy.

I would feel that way if I had not seen his whining interview before the stage. He went on about how a stage like this was ridiculous and how stages like this had no place in the Tour. His mouth was much more of a pussy than his legs were today.

 

[richwagmn]

I would feel that way if I had not seen his whining interview before the stage. He went on about how a stage like this was ridiculous and how stages like this had no place in the Tour. His mouth was much more of a pussy than his legs were today.

Oh, I hadn't seen that. Well, fear can be a great motivator.

 

[Cobblestones]

So guys, I looked at the official TdF website standings, and Bertie is still listed with 20" behind Vino. Is he going to get s.t. as Vino or not?

ETA: funny detail: looking at the points classification, first is Hushovd with 63 points, last is Cavendouche with 1 point.

 

[mastersracer]

I would feel that way if I had not seen his whining interview before the stage. He went on about how a stage like this was ridiculous and how stages like this had no place in the Tour. His mouth was much more of a pussy than his legs were today.

Voigt complained bitterly after the state - you think he's a pussy too?

 

[rghysens]

So guys, I looked at the official TdF website standings, and Bertie is still listed with 20" behind Vino. Is he going to get s.t. as Vino or not?

Probably not. The rules say it only happens if it is visibly clear that something (crash or mechanical) happened, you get the same time. If contador stepped of his bike the last 3km and changed it, he would have had the same time as the vino-group, even if he soft-pedalled till the finish.

 

[Arnout]

That sounds a bit like we've not seen the goal and we won't use replays.

 

[ManInFull]

Of course. Have you been watching Versus. The announcers all but say how dumb AC is and how skilled, smart, and driven LA is. I was really impressed with how AC dug deep and caught the LA droup just as LA was puncturing.

 

[Publicus]

So guys, I looked at the official TdF website standings, and Bertie is still listed with 20" behind Vino. Is he going to get s.t. as Vino or not?

ETA: funny detail: looking at the points classification, first is Hushovd with 63 points, last is Cavendouche with 1 point.

Looks like he won't get those 20 seconds back:

Some misread that Vinokourov was attacking, but Contador said he couldn’t have been more pleased with how his controversial Astana teammate rode over the cobbles.

“Vinokourov did a great job for me today. I am very pleased with how he rode and how the day transpired,” Contador said at the line after crossing 13th at 1:13 back. “My back wheel was rubbing for the final part of the race and it was simply the fatigue of the effort catching up with me. I felt pretty good on the cobbles today, so I can only be content with how things played out.”

The Spanish captain broke a spoke when he dodged to avoid the falling Schleck with about 28km to go. Another rider slammed into his rear wheel, breaking a spoke. The wheel worsened over the final punishing cobblestones and was visibly wobbling as he crossed the line.

Hopefully he recovers well over the next couple of days, because I expect the weekend to be a hot one (race-wise).

EDIT: If he was craftier, he should have held up on the side of the road once he hit the 3KM to go and gotten a new wheel.

 

[Dr. Maserati]

Like Sastre has any chance of winning. As far as I'm concerned, Sastre's TdF victory should have an asterisk beside it. He won when nobody was there. The press treats him as if he is a GC contendor, but he really isn't it. All he can realy hope to do is win a stage.

No- I dont believe Sastre will be anywhere near the podium but every position in the top 10 of the TdF is fought for.

While I don't understand it, obviously the 'beancounters' have it all worked out and know the value of each place in the top 10.

Watch any previous footage - including Sastre win in 2008 (which he deserved) and you will see unfortunatley that most teams (GC contenders) try and defend their positions in the last week - rather than attacking and losing everything. (Vino 05 an exception...but Vino is always an exception)

 

[armstrong]

To Torontonians/Canadians

Does OLN replay the TdF in the evening again? I remember they used to air it live in the morning, and replayed it again at night. It's showing in the morning - but does it run again? I missed Stage 3 this morning and really want to watch it.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

EDIT: If he was craftier, he should have held up on the side of the road once he hit the 3KM to go and gotten a new wheel.

Actually, I think the psychological impact of finishing ahead of Armstrong on a stage where Contador was expected to fare poorly was worth not stopping for a new wheel.

 

[Publicus]

To Torontonians/Canadians

Does OLN replay the TdF in the evening again? I remember they used to air it live in the morning, and replayed it again at night. It's showing in the morning - but does it run again? I missed Stage 3 this morning and really want to watch it.

If it is like Versus in the US, then it replays all day, with a primetime show in the evening (8 pm Eastern).

 

[rides like a girl]

Gratitude

I was stuck at work on the west coast of the states...so angry I didn't have enough vacation time to take a day off... I am grateful for all those posters on this thread who kept me informed during my commute and entertained throughout the day! I tried to follow a couple race reports on my phone, found this was as good as those live race reports. I can now go home and watch my recorded stage to hear P & P' s comments for giggles. Kind of know how they will frame it...

Thanks for keeping me employed and informed.

 

[armstrong]

I sure hope so!

This stage was so exciting to read - I need to see it!

 

[Anonymous]

To Torontonians/Canadians

Does OLN replay the TdF in the evening again? I remember they used to air it live in the morning, and replayed it again at night. It's showing in the morning - but does it run again? I missed Stage 3 this morning and really want to watch it.

NOt this year.

Live morning coverage, and that's it.

 

[ManInFull]

To Torontonians/Canadians

Does OLN replay the TdF in the evening again? I remember they used to air it live in the morning, and replayed it again at night. It's showing in the morning - but does it run again? I missed Stage 3 this morning and really want to watch it.

You can catch at 7 PM Central on Versus each night.

 

[Anonymous]

Voigt complained bitterly after the state - you think he's a pussy too?

If his opinion is the same as Andy, yes.

I for one am sick of whiney prima donna's who ride a bike for a living and only want to do so on pristine ribbons of road. Sucks for them I guess?

 

[Anonymous]

Voigt complained bitterly after the state - you think he's a pussy too?

I am delighted that this stage was in it.

Since 1999 the TdF has become dull and largely rote. It has become formulaic.

We started to see some animation in '08 and maybe some last year, this year is shaping up nicely.

The TdF is about providing entertainment for the fans, if the riders think that this stage ( the best in years) shouldn't be in the race I guess they would prefer to just spend the month riding on nice glass smooth pavement in the sun.

Actually that would be nice, but not much for the fans to tune in for.

 

[ManInFull]

Because, for the general viewer and casual race fan, he offers a compelling story and brings more charisma/personality to the proceedings than many other GC contenders. Admire him or hate him, you DO notice him. Contador, Evans and several other GC riders don't have that same sort of quality, IMHO. They may be excellent riders and all-around great guys, but it's too easy for the casual viewer to ignore them. I bet Versus is sweating bullets over the idea that 1/2 of their audience will disappear if they think LA is out of it.

Lance has one big advantage over the other riders--he has the "overcoming cancer" story that none of the others have. That's what has given him the wide appeal and that connection brings in the casual fans. That's why Versus presents everything from Lance's perspective. Did you catch Versus' review of last year's TdF? AC is nothing but a selfish teammate....

 

[Juan Speeder]

If his opinion is the same as Andy, yes.

I for one am sick of whiney prima donna's who ride a bike for a living and only want to do so on pristine ribbons of road. Sucks for them I guess?

Then you are an idiot.

To call Voigt a pussy, regardless of what his opinion is, is idiotic.