Tour de France Stage 4: Lorient - Mur de Bretagne - 172.5 km

[Lanark]

I think it's pretty safe to say that Andy's form just isn't there yet. His Tour de Suisse was bad, but that's common. What he showed in the TTT and here is just below his level, even if he isn't at a 100% yet. He still has time, but he'll need it. One consolation is that last year his prologue was extremely poor as well (lost more time in those couple of kilometers on Contador than in the entire closing ITT), but that was because he was sick a week before the Tour, this time it appears to be because his shape is lacking.

 

[funnytanlines]

did andy fall asleep?

 

[jobiwan]

GC:

1 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Team Garmin-Cervelo 13:58:25
2 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team 0:00:01
3 Fränk Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek 0:00:04
4 David Millar (GBr) Team Garmin-Cervelo 0:00:08
5 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Team RadioShack 0:00:10
6 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Procycling
7 Geraint Thomas (GBr) Sky Procycling 0:00:12
8 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky Procycling
9 Andy Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek
10 Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Leopard Trek
11 Tony Martin (Ger) HTC-Highroad 0:00:13
12 Peter Velits (Svk) HTC-Highroad
13 Tejay Van Garderen (USA) HTC-Highroad
14 Christopher Horner (USA) Team RadioShack 0:00:18
15 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team RadioShack
16 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Team RadioShack
17 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team 0:00:20
18 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Pro Team Astana 0:00:32
19 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:00:33
20 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:00:39

Contador - 1:42

 

[RdBiker]

Today it looked like a lot easier than Mende tho. And it isn't really that he lost time that is the problem, but the way in which it happened. Even his brother could follow, while usually those two stick together. You saw Frank looking back a couple times to find his brother. Now would be the perfect time for Riis to start mindgames.

This was the most troubling thing. Hopefully his having a slow start. Or then Fränk for the win!

 

[dlwssonic]

EVANS OWNS TODAY!!!! What a photo finish!!!! evans showing people what a good puncheur he is. he has a great power diesel sprint too.
I LOLed at contador when i found out cadel won. he thought he got the win. BMC is having a magic tour. 2nd at stage 1, 2nd at stage 2 and 1st at stage 4. I would be pretty ****ed if evans got another 2nd. I actually thought so after seeing contadors celebration. I imagine many of you guys will be happy that you didnt get to see evans celebrate.

 

[hrotha]

He lost a similar amount of time at Mende last year, if that means anything.

Still a little disappointing, though.

Yeah, but at Mende he was only beaten one-on-one by Contador and Purito (I'm not counting Vino since he went before). This should be a lot more worrying for him.

 

[auscyclefan94]

WHO'S YOUR DADDY MOTHER****ERS?!!!!!!!!!!!!


**** Yeah!

Go Cadel, brilliant. Into the headwind for the sprint and still wins.

 

[Trond Vidar]

Thor just now: "there is nothing left now, I was really deep today." talked about being " in the basement". his target is to keep it until Saturday, and had the outmost desire to keep it today.

To follow myself up. New interview on TV2 with Atle Kvålsvoll, Thors personal trainer. Said that they had worked quite a bit on medium climbs the last two years, since the pure sprinters are a bit faster than him now. He also talked about the gearing Thor ran, which was quite heavy.

double the gearing of the purists

. Meaning that it cost Thor a ****load to stay with them.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

But Andy Schleck normally is explosive as well. Not as much as Gilbert or brother Fränk, but still more explosive than most GC guys. And an ex-winner of LBL and always good in Amstel as well.

So I wouldn't expect him to finish this far behind. Andy did worse than non-explosive guys like Leipheimer, Martin and Gesink today

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

It looks like the only guy shooting for the Top 10 who finished behind that group was Roche, and he's probably a very long shot for a Top 10 placing.

According to his Tour diaries, he's still feeling the effects of his crash at the Dauphine, slowly improving and just hoping not to lose significant amounts of time in the first week.

 

[Carl0880]

Today it looked like a lot easier than Mende tho. And it isn't really that he lost time that is the problem, but the way in which it happened. Even his brother could follow, while usually those two stick together. You saw Frank looking back a couple times to find his brother. Now would be the perfect time for Riis to start mindgames.

There is no comparision, Mende is a climb I think they need to include in the Tour more often, its similiar to a Giro finish. Mende is 3 km at 10 and some change % average, this was about 8% for the first km and less then 3 the last km.

 

[jobiwan]

Yeah, but at Mende he was only beaten one-on-one by Contador and Purito (I'm not counting Vino since he went before). This should be a lot more worrying for him.

Oh, I agree with you.
Lucky for him, it's Stage 4 and Pyrenees aren't till next Thursday.

Still, 8 seconds isn't much at all, it's really the fact that Alberto said to everyone that he's got good legs. That's what's worrying.

EDIT: And the fact that Thor finished ahead to me means Andy's not yet at Top Form. Still not a good excuse though.

 

[dlwssonic]

also not to forget what a great job BMC did bringing up to the front after the puncture. and a massive pull by veteran hincapie. this is just the warmup before ACF comes

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

WHO'S YOUR DADDY MOTHER****ERS?!!!!!!!!!!!!


**** Yeah!

Go Cadel, brilliant. Into the headwind for the sprint and still wins.

Cadel is an awesome punchy rider.

He would have won fleche again I reckon.

 

[dlwssonic]

WHO'S YOUR DADDY MOTHER****ERS?!!!!!!!!!!!!


**** Yeah!

Go Cadel, brilliant. Into the headwind for the sprint and still wins.

brilliant!! started his sprint from way out. honestly I thought someone else was gonna win when they were on the hill. dont know what happened to gilbert today. wasnt that strong.

 

[auscyclefan94]

also not to forget what a great job BMC did bringing up to the front after the puncture. and a massive pull by veteran hincapie. this is just the warmup before ACF comes

Exactly right! Marcus Burghardt and Hincapie were phenomonal.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

But Andy Schleck normally is explosive as well. Not as much as Gilbert or brother Fränk, but still more explosive than most GC guys. And an ex-winner of LBL and always good in Amstel as well.

So I wouldn't expect him to finish this far behind. Andy did worse than non-explosive guys like Leipheimer, Martin and Gesink today

yeah, Gesink has been crappy on a finish like this for the last 2 seasons, especially in stage races.

Schleck is pretty explosive.
But on a finish like this, it is over so quick, so one mistake or feeling bad for a slight moment can cost you.

 

[Jeanne]

Yeah, but at Mende he was only beaten one-on-one by Contador and Purito (I'm not counting Vino since he went before). This should be a lot more worrying for him.

Did he even try? He just seemed to disappear.

 

[dlwssonic]

Exactly right! Marcus Burghardt and Hincapie were phenomonal.

brilliant everyone was underestimating the strenght of BMC but they are great on the flat thats for sure.

 

[thirteen]

But Andy Schleck normally is explosive as well. Not as much as Gilbert or brother Fränk, but still more explosive than most GC guys. And an ex-winner of LBL and always good in Amstel as well.

So I wouldn't expect him to finish this far behind. Andy did worse than non-explosive guys like Leipheimer, Martin and Gesink today

he's still waiting to peak

 

[ansimi]

Nice finish!

I think 1:30 behind Andy is a good spot for Contador.

Evans looking great. I hope he can hold form and stay in the mix through the end of the Tour. His team looks decent too!

Very impressed with Hushovd. I like seeing somebody really fight to keep the jersey. Other than missing the split on day one, Garmin has been performing very well.

 

[reyan12]

Oh, I agree with you.
Lucky for him, it's Stage 4 and Pyrenees aren't till next Thursday.

Still, 8 seconds isn't much at all, it's really the fact that Alberto said to everyone that he's got good legs. That's what's worrying.

EDIT: And the fact that Thor finished ahead to me means Andy's not yet at Top Form. Still not a good excuse though.

Andy will abandon the Tour next Wednesday i bet!

 

[dlwssonic]

This has already been quite a successful tour for BMC and evans so that takes the pressure off them. Evans must be the favorite for super man sancy.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Cadel is an awesome punchy rider.

He would have won fleche again I reckon.

You know what Timmy, he would of done the triple this year.

No matter what happens from here on in, BMC have something to take out of the Tour. This great for team morale.

 

[dlwssonic]

he was only gonna do amstel and fleche. but i believe he could have won fleche.