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

[Delicato]

and the rumoured gifting of the Spanish championship, will not be present during the tour.

What rumours? Do people honestly think that Contador have any chance in a sprint against the rider like Rojas?

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

He seems to be rather weak on these climbs nowadays. When he was 22 he finished 4h in F-W though. Not sure why that changed.
Super Besse will be a tough one for him as well, but in general I can't say I'm 100% convinced he's going to be in the top5 at the end of the TdF. I sure hope so ofcourse

probably has a lot to do with his training.

For example he was pretty good on these climbs at the end of last year.
I can only assume his training was directed at the Cols for this tour. I still think he'll be very good in the high mountains, but of course this makes me worried to some extent.

 

[Kwibus]

What rumours? Do people honestly think that Contador have any chance in a sprint against the rider like Rojas?

Quite ridiculous indeed. I guess people expected AC to drop Rojas with ease on that climb.

 

[rhubroma]

I don't know, he looked strong today, but not super-human. Certainly I would go to sleep happy today if I were him, but it's far too early to celebrate.

Not strong?! The climb (hard part) was 800 meters at 10-11%. What else is he supposed to do? Gain 5 minutes?

The only Tour champion over the past 30-40 years capable of doing what he did today on such a short climb against his rivals and the specialists (Gilbert KO) would have been Merckx and Hinault.

Alberto is going to disintegrate them all in the high mountains.

 

[Spine Concept]

He seems to be rather weak on these climbs nowadays. When he was 22 he finished 4h in F-W though. Not sure why that changed.
Super Besse will be a tough one for him as well, but in general I can't say I'm 100% convinced he's going to be in the top5 at the end of the TdF. I sure hope so ofcourse

Meh, I've already doubted him once at the Dauphine and he proved me wrong. I will keep the faith this time around, though I must say that I detest the fact that he sucks so much on these punchy climbs. Makes me want to pull my hair out seeing him drop like a sack of potatoes when there are tempo changes on these climbs whilst being in good position. Rant over.

 

[hrotha]

Quite ridiculous indeed. I guess people expected AC to drop Rojas with ease on that climb.

If he had done that, Movistar's 394-man team would have pulled and reeled him in. I think he should have tried something towards the end, but sometimes cyclists just prefer to be realist and aim for 2nd. That doesn't mean they sold out or that there are any shady deals involved.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Nice move by Gilbert. How to be a **** towards a team member while shooting yourself in the foot and lose all tactical advantage.

Also lol at Hushovd outclimbing... well, basically everyone except the top 10.

Interesting finish.

 

[hfer07]

not to start some baseless gossiping, but during Riis post race interview -he was in awe by Hushov's riding performance today, and perhaps knowing he's looking around for a new team.........

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

How dd Gesink go? He was right up the front but seemed to fade a bit. He's better on the longer climbs but needs to minimise loses on the stage to Super Besse.

Anything around 10 seconds would be good. Hopefully no loss though, but then he needs to get explosive overnight. Not gonna happen.

 

[No_Balls]

Not strong?! The climb (hard part) was 800 meters at 10-11%. What else is he supposed to do? Gain 5 minutes?

The only Tour champion over the past 30-40 years capable of doing what he did today on such a short climb against his rivals and the specialists (Gilbert KO) would have been Merckx and Hinault.

Alberto is going to disintegrate them all in the high mountains.

After today it will be some troubled minds for sure. Specially now when he is fueled by rage and wrath. No gifts. No more smiles. Just bang bang.

Would i be Andy i would be serious worried at this moment.

 

[Altitude]

Not strong?! The climb (hard part) was 800 meters at 10-11%. What else is he supposed to do? Gain 5 minutes?

The only Tour champion over the past 30-40 years capable of doing what he did today on such a short climb against his rivals and the specialists (Gilbert KO) would have been Merckx and Hinault.

Alberto is going to disintegrate them all in the high mountains.

He never said he wasn't strong, he said he wasn't super-human. Get a grip.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Anything around 10 seconds would be good. Hopefully no loss though, but then he needs to get explosive overnight. Not gonna happen.

I thought Rabobank did a really good job with Mollema and LLS to get him in the right position. I think he'll be happy to get to the real Cols.

 

[Sylvester]

The second best climber in the world lost 8 seconds today. Waiting until Mount d'Huez to take the yellow jersey?

 

[just some guy]

Nice move by Gilbert. How to be a **** towards a team member while shooting yourself in the foot and lose all tactical advantage.

Also lol at Hushovd outclimbing... well, basically everyone except the top 10.

Interesting finish.

Maybe he was helping out a future team mate - just to start a rumor - WT points and all

 

[Publicus]

I don't think people should write andy off yet. Disappointing from him tho.



more like a bug.

Folks would be dumb to do so. I am looking forward to the excuses though. One day and 8 seconds. It's not the end of the world, but it is a troubling sign for him.

 

[therhodeo]

not to start some baseless gossiping, but during Riis post race interview -he was in awe by Hushov's riding performance today, and perhaps knowing he's looking around for a new team.........

I could definitely see Thor's performance today as laying it all out there for potential suitors.

 

[spalco]

Not strong?! The climb (hard part) was 800 meters at 10-11%. What else is he supposed to do? Gain 5 minutes?

The only Tour champion over the past 30-40 years capable of doing what he did today on such a short climb against his rivals and the specialists (Gilbert KO) would have been Merckx and Hinault.

Alberto is going to disintegrate them all in the high mountains.

You misunderstand my comment - I said he did look strong, just not "look at me as I ride away from with a rocket strapped to my bike while I laugh into your faces, puny mortals"-strong.

 

[c&cfan]

After today it will be some troubled minds for sure. Specially now when he is fueled by rage and wrath. No gifts. No more smiles. Just bang bang.

Would i be Andy i would be serious worried at this moment.

we are saying that since the chaingate. lol

 

[Publicus]

Quite ridiculous indeed. I guess people expected AC to drop Rojas with ease on that climb.

He (AC) said he made no effort to drop him since it was a long way to the finish. I assume he thought one of the more climby types would have made the selection and then the two could have sprinted for the win. But against Rojas? Yeah, that wasn't EVER going to happen.

 

[Blakeslee]

I'm not sure that today's finish told us much about what will happen in the mountains later in the race, but it was sure satisfying watching Contador attempting to ride away and failing to drop most of the contenders. Even more satisfying was the end watching Contador raise his arm in celebration not realizing his late surge had come up short and failed to overtake Evans.

 

[Parrulo]

The second best climber in the world lost 8 seconds today. Waiting until Mount d'Huez to take the yellow jersey?

priceless lol

 

[mikkemus23]

LOL at Thor beating Andy!

Great defend Thor!

 

[auscyclefan94]

Gotta hand it to Rigoberto Uran, great finish by him.

 

[funnytanlines]

kloden in top 5, 10secs. back. take out thor, gilbert & millar who are non-gc and that puts him at 3rd behind cadel & frank. horner & levi a further 8 secs back. does that make kloden the defacto leader of RS? i hope so. i prefer him to horner & levi to be honest.

 

[c&cfan]

I'm not sure that today's finish told us much about what will happen in the mountains later in the race, but it was sure satisfying watching Contador attempting to ride away and failing to drop most of the contenders. Even more satisfying was the end watching Contador raise his arm in celebration not realizing his late surge had come up short and failed to overtake Evans.

hum..

do you want to share your reasons with us?

oh.. and there was just 800 (max) climb today and only 500 or less at more than 8%.
by the end it was flat and the skinny guy almost won against evens. that said, he was amazing.