- Feb 21, 2010
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Galic Ho said:Actually Vino came across the line in 3rd in the TTT. He slowed down, not all the way in the Giro but to some degree. Vino was unfairly criticized for that debacle.
What I loved was reading back over everyone's reaction here when Contador was off the back. I cannot believe people would think that Alberto Contador would pop on the third stage of a GT, especially when Vino, Menchov and Wigans are all present in his group. A flat was the obvious reason.
So I guess the time sheet will be adjusted after the race officials back up the call and AC will be 1:21 back instead of 1:41. The one rider who doesn't need an advantage. That is awesome.
Totally agree with this.
Vote for best ride of the day is to Evans. Nice ride by Hesjedal as well. Tough to have Cancellara rolling throttle to pull you back.
Unless there is something very magical for Lance, this race is kaput for him. He may be Top 5 but no more than that.
- Oct 26, 2009
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I agree. Cadel has been surprising this year. Is he going to attack in the mountains or is he going to try to be a wheel-sucker who eventually gets dropped? If he can wheel-suck the entire time in the mountains, he could go into the ITT with at least a minute on Contador.
- Nov 7, 2009
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Wheels Go Round and Round said:probably true but magic comes in many forms
Yep. Pill, ointment, syringe.
I'm puzzled as to why Shack was supposed to kick on this stage? Who are their proven performers on the cobbles? Their roster is largely dominated by flyweight->middleweight stage race quasi-GC men.
- Mar 20, 2009
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wink
They were marking time so they can claim the most important prize at TDF: The best team hat.. Now we have vino and contador close on GC.. the other teams will have to cover two types of attacks : conti in the sharp slopes - Vino on the transition stages of mid race
Not bad.. Vino got Conti safely near the finish probably if not for the mechanical they would finish together
Parrot23 said:
They were marking time so they can claim the most important prize at TDF: The best team hat.. Now we have vino and contador close on GC.. the other teams will have to cover two types of attacks : conti in the sharp slopes - Vino on the transition stages of mid race
Not bad.. Vino got Conti safely near the finish probably if not for the mechanical they would finish together
- Nov 7, 2009
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Hilarious to hear Phil and Paul rave about how much Lance loves riding on cobbles. Because he's done Roubaix so many times, right?
- Feb 21, 2010
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Wheels Go Round and Round said:probably true but magic comes in many forms
Usually in the form of tiny oxygen-carrying cells that are red in color.
Wink-wink, nudge-nudge, know what I mean?
Humorously alluding to it only confirms your disingenuous position in the Clinic.
Back on topic, Lance did well to get back on the group in front of him and limit his losses. That he was the recipient of bad luck, for the first time in 6 or 7 years, in the Tour, is quite a thing.
Wheels Go Round and Round said:
Really. Auto is right.
Shows how much the average fanboy knows about riding the cobbles.
Ride in the dirt and it is smoother, but you increase your chances of picking up a puncture.
That's what happened. Gambled on his line and lost.
Pave is puncture heaven and rider hell.(of the North, of course
)Seems to be a few conflicting stories regarding what happened to AC.
Vino reports he lost a spoke from his back wheel with 35kms to go so couldn't work at the front of the group.
So that said, is it possibly that the race directors wont give AC the same time as the Vino/Wiggins/Mechov group because the flat tyre/mechanical may have been a result of a problem that occurred before the 3km mark??
Genuine question as I am new to cycling so am not aware of all the rules etc.
Thanks
Vino reports he lost a spoke from his back wheel with 35kms to go so couldn't work at the front of the group.
So that said, is it possibly that the race directors wont give AC the same time as the Vino/Wiggins/Mechov group because the flat tyre/mechanical may have been a result of a problem that occurred before the 3km mark??
Genuine question as I am new to cycling so am not aware of all the rules etc.
Thanks
- Aug 12, 2009
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Colm.Murphy said:
Yeah, I was not pleased when Hesjedal was caught with 6km to go. Everyone else from the break had been caught just after 40km to go. He did amazingly well to hold on. Ryder has had a phenomenal season. I think Saxo deserve the praise for the moves today. Evans gets lots of Kudos for moving into position at the right time and AC for bridging back a gap on his own. Lance did well when he punctured as well but he was made to work for it. That and his prologue have really been savage on his engine. Can't help but feel he might pay for it this weekend.
About Lance. I couldn't agree more. His top 3 GC hopes are pretty much over. I didn't think he could match Menchov or Evans, let alone AC or AS. Lots of work to do. I simply do not see how he gains time. Nobody will let his team send Levi or Andreas up the road. He is better off than Rogers, Basso, Samu and Sastre, but he had hopes of winning this race. That is just the way the dice roll. Can't win em all.
Ten Percent Grade said:
...yeah Bruyneel really screwed the pooch today...Popo is probably the last man you'd want on the pave, as we saw with the ease at which Armstrong dropped him...now they have to figure out how they are going to steal that time back because without it Armstrong is going to be fighting for sloppy seconds...he might be regardless...Contador looked strong today, though he had a rough patch...unfortunate for Armstrong...ominous sign, as none of his previous campaigns have seen this kind of loss to GC rivals on a flat stage...today it is likely that he's lost any chance of winning the tour...he needed to not flat and stay with Cancellara's group and he would've really dealt Alberto a blow but no dice...such is life...
...Cadel really helped himself today but the third week still haunts him in the Tour and he's already done the Giro...he surely can't match Contador's explosiveness so Contador is really the big winner today...Andy motorpaced behind Fabian but his TT weakness will be the reason he finishes on the podium but does'nt win...the scale flipped to Contador today in a big way...
...no way will Armstrong drop Contador unless something freakish like a bonk occurs and 52km of time trial won't be enough either...his prologue was good but how will he go for a 60-70 minute effort...as it stands even a podium placing is beginning to disappear...he'll have to climb better than he did last year and last month at Suisse...and that's if he hopes to not get dropped and lose more time to Schleck and Contador...those are the two climbers to fear...that said, 52 km of time trial is Armstrong's only hope now and given previous time trials this year no one is going to take bets on that one...serious damage done today...the best team money could buy failed miserably...i'm sure they'll hear about it tonight...
We Celts must stick together so seeing as there's no Dim yet today I thought I'd do the "great ride today" by Gee on a fantastic stage also a good ride by Cav to finish 25th just 2 mins down together with Petacchi. Also well done to Farrar for finishing the stage with his injuries.
- May 26, 2009
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Pretty great stage all round.
Had to happen to Chavanel though, didn't it? Crap. Sucks for Frank too, we'll see what Andy can do without his his help though. He'll have to drop AC in the mountains though. AC, Andy, Cadel did very well too. Great ride by Geraint Thomas too.
Chapeau to all the guys injured yesterday who made it through ok.
Had to happen to Chavanel though, didn't it?
Crap. Sucks for Frank too, we'll see what Andy can do without his his help though. He'll have to drop AC in the mountains though. AC, Andy, Cadel did very well too. Great ride by Geraint Thomas too.Chapeau to all the guys injured yesterday who made it through ok.
- Jun 10, 2010
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what
About LA's chances to end on the podium, I'd say if he had chances before today's stage, he still has them. He didn't lose that much time on anyone but Evans and Andy, and if he was truly strong enough to hope for a podium finish he should do better in the mountains than a tired Evans.
Lots of if's here.
This is a rather absurd argument based on opinion, started because you decided that anyone who disagrees with your opinion is the type of person who only watches the TDF. It's a fairly pervasive attitude on these boards. I countered that silliness by pointing out that I watch all sorts of races and in my opinion the cobbles don't belong in the Tour.Thoughtforfood said:
descending mountain passes is an integrated part of every TdF and staying upright on such passes is generally related to bike handling skills.
I don't particularly care if you think my opinion "rings hollow". It's an opinion, TFF. It's not about the level of danger - you put those words in my mouth.
Galic Ho said:
...well, i'm not sure a ten minute effort would harm the form of any team leader [professionals at that...these guys have CTL's so monstrous that a prologue is akin to a rest day]...i've ridden 16km time trials and felt nothing the very next day...and everyone was on the rivet today, either working to gain or not to lose...
...the first real test is coming this weekend...we will know a lot more then...
- May 20, 2010
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Mellow Velo said:
CN still reports that AC got dropped by Vino at the end. But then again, it's CN we're talking about...
- May 5, 2010
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Just a, rather cynical, thought after Fränk Schleck's unfortunate exit.
Other than the fact that Saxo of course will be a strong rider short in the mountains couldn't this be an advantage? This way the Schlecks double-podium-dream is out so Andy won't, as we saw it a bit to Mount Ventoux last year, wait for Fränk...
Sidenote: Andy stating afterwards that he hoped Fränk only had broken his collarbone sorta says something about how bad the crash was...
Other than the fact that Saxo of course will be a strong rider short in the mountains couldn't this be an advantage? This way the Schlecks double-podium-dream is out so Andy won't, as we saw it a bit to Mount Ventoux last year, wait for Fränk...
Sidenote: Andy stating afterwards that he hoped Fränk only had broken his collarbone sorta says something about how bad the crash was...
Wheels Go Round and Round said:Maybe the Boss has something left in those tired legs...........
That's what the AFLD is wondering about as well.
Mellow Velo said:Really. Auto is right.
Shows how much the average fanboy knows about riding the cobbles.
Ride in the dirt and it is smoother, but you increase your chances of picking up a puncture.
That's what happened. Gambled on his line and lost.
Pave is puncture heaven and rider hell.(of the North, of course
it's always great commentary from the cat 4 riders
- Oct 16, 2009
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God I laughed when Dirk pulled up his famous placard at the finish today.
Watch it appear out of nowhere @ 8:12: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpdYTM6XcM0#t=8m10s
Watch it appear out of nowhere @ 8:12: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpdYTM6XcM0#t=8m10s
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