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

Page 3 - Get up to date with the latest news, scores & standings from the Cycling News Community.
Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
turtlesoup

turtlesoup

May 17, 2010
131
0
0
I could see BMC making a big push tomorrow for a win as they have alot of solid classics riders. Maybe George can finally get the win on the roubaix course that he's always wanted.
 
O

oncearunner

Jul 10, 2009
26
0
0
How tomorrow's stage will play out is anyone's guess. With most protagonists varying degrees of injured & sore it will probably be a slower stage than it otherwise would have been.

I still expect much jockeying over position prior to the pave and expect the GC guys to try to take time from each other.

Thor will be *highly* motivated to win this stage and unlike Cavendish he has the experience on the cobbles to do it.
 
Thee_chisa

Thee_chisa

May 31, 2010
541
0
0
turtlesoup said:
I could see BMC making a big push tomorrow for a win as they have alot of solid classics riders. Maybe George can finally get the win on the roubaix course that he's always wanted.
Click to expand...

tomorrow's stage isn't really a roubaix course. it has some pave, but a LOT less that the classic, and it isn't as long and the tactics will be different - a lot of riders climb off when they have give it their all for the leader, tomorrow they will have to finish.
 
Publicus

Publicus

Mar 17, 2009
11,341
1
22,485
hfer07 said:
As I wrote in another thread:
bear in mind that Quickstep has the MJ and a strong classics crew,capable of doing some serious damage to the rest of the peloton, in order to maintain Chavanel in yellow as long as possible-so if the attacks come from RS, Saxo, Sky,BMC- guess which team is going to make the race even harder.....

Tomorrow could be either a great stage "if they decide to ride" or a total fiasco "if the Peloton decides to neutralize it due to some serious accidents happening"
Click to expand...

Remind me how long was Chavanel in the break today? Most of the race? I think tomorrow is going to be a VERY hard day in the saddle for him.
 
Francois the Postman

Francois the Postman

Oct 29, 2009
2,578
0
0
Dekker_Tifosi said:
Gesink to go on the attack with Lars Boom and win 15 minutes on Contador and Armstrong who are pushed down by mad dutch fans
Click to expand...

Ah, I see they found a way to get you to show up at the road side after all :D
 
O

Old&slow

Jun 30, 2010
137
0
8,830
Anyone hear anything about Farrar's condition? I was hopeful he could do well tomorrow after his Tour of Flanders performance earlier this year. I had him on my fantasy team today and I will have to pay a large transfer fee to remove him for tomorrow. Any word on the condition of the other sprinters? Ciolek? Freire? Bolle? I heard McEwen was sent to hospital.
 
Francois the Postman

Francois the Postman

Oct 29, 2009
2,578
0
0
I now expect a lot of Teams to make sure that they have someone vaguely capable in "the break of the day", on the not-so-off-chance that "something" will cause the rest to rethink their commitment to the stage at some point, and opt for a speed that is well below as-fast-as-possible.

No idea who will win. If we are gonna have to factor in the willingness of riders to compete on pave-light, what is the point?
 
O

Old&slow

Jun 30, 2010
137
0
8,830
I have found the answer to my question about Farrar.

Team sprinter Tyler Farrar will start stage three, despite suffering extensive injuries. He sprained his left elbow, fractured his left wrist and suffered a significant hematoma and abrasion.

“Tomorrow is going to be painful for Tyler,” said Vaughters. “He’s got significant injuries, so starting alone is a huge step, and from there we’ll have to see how he goes. But regardless, a good, strong team remains at this Tour and we’ll be a part of the action throughout.”
Click to expand...
 
eljimberino

eljimberino

Dec 14, 2009
468
0
0
The cobbles are such an individual riders' surface. It's not like stronger, larger riders can simply pace their GC contenders over them.

If any time gaps exist at the end of the stage, they will be caused by what the riders do after the cobbles, not during. Will the classics specialists sit and wait for the GC guys? Or will they power on for the stage win? They will only power on if their GC rider is safe and in contention.

Has to play into Thor's hands.
 
BeachBum

BeachBum

Jul 7, 2009
260
60
9,130
eljimberino said:
The cobbles are such an individual riders' surface. It's not like stronger, larger riders can simply pace their GC contenders over them.

If any time gaps exist at the end of the stage, they will be caused by what the riders do after the cobbles, not during. Will the classics specialists sit and wait for the GC guys? Or will they power on for the stage win? They will only power on if their GC rider is safe and in contention.

Has to play into Thor's hands.
Click to expand...

I agree and disagree with you. True, the helpers cannot do the riding for their leaders, the GC guys will have to get over the cobbles on their own. Also agree that some of the classics guys will have to wait until they know that their GC guys have made it through all the cobbles before they go for the win.

Disagree that this plays into Thor's hands. If something happens to Carlos, SOMEBODY (ie Thor) has to pace him back up to any other GC guys who may be ahead of him, same with Flecha/Wigans, Cancelara/Shreks, Hincapie/Evans, etc.

My pick to win tomorrow would be a guy who is good on cobbles but doesn't have a GC guy he will have to babysit, somebody like Garmin's Maskaant (sp?). Lotto probably has somebody they can send up the road as well.

Also agree with earlier poster that said Chavanel will be too exhausted from today's effort to put the hammer down again tomorrow on cobbles. QuickStep is a cobbles team, but they may decide they have to keep riders with Sylvain.

As usual, all prognostications guaranteed or double your money back.
 
F

flicker

BANNED
Aug 17, 2009
4,153
0
0
shack goes hard at start. put a man in a breakaway. joust away during the day small attacks. 30km tempo then at 20 before cobbles attack hard. saxo is just going to protect andy. great day for shack. quick step will not protect jersey. please god hope no riders on any teams get hurt.
 
auscyclefan94

auscyclefan94

Jun 16, 2009
19,654
2
0
Dekker_Tifosi said:
Gesink to go on the attack with Lars Boom and win 15 minutes on Contador and Armstrong who are pushed down by mad dutch fans
Click to expand...
BMC are going to put the ****ing Hammer down and rip it up! ACF94 and my aussie friends will push over Cancellara.
Delicato said:
Contador to crash and pull out form the race.
Click to expand...
I don't exactly like the guy but I would hate to see a champ like him go down.

Publicus said:
That's what I think. Saxo and Radio Shack won't be dropping any hammers. Maybe following moves, but I don't see them as protagonists. Now I can see Cervelo, Garmin and Sky trying to make moves. Astana will go with its same game plan....cover and pray. :D
Click to expand...

Have you been saying your prayers? I have!:p Garmin won't do much and cervelo won't as they don't want to screw up Sastre. Sky, Radioshack and BMC will be the attackers.
 
auscyclefan94

auscyclefan94

Jun 16, 2009
19,654
2
0
Cadel has said he is nervous about crashing on cobbles but does not fear going over them at high speeds. He only has some bruising, no cuts as he slid on his helmet.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom