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

[No_Balls]

It means that Andy is a hard-working, humble cyclists who gives his all and never takes the short-cut. His high cadence and preparation makes him a winner, unlike some of the others in the Tour.

Nice point.

But i meant the part with "It´s Frank and me". Sounds like they are forever inseparable on track and that Frank follows me wherever because himself say so. Frank needs to cut off his umbilical cord with this man. Would be nice to see him in another team actually racing.

Also, where is the recognition of his team in this? First it´s me and then it´s Frank and none else.

 

[H2OUUP2]

Anyone see any comments from Contador on the stage? English-speaking media seems disinterested.

Good luck on that one. Maybe Bobke interviewed him himself!

 

[killswitch]

Also, where is the recognition of his team in this? First it´s me and then it´s Frank and none else.

Did you read the whole article?

edit:

Andys getting a bit stressed - he said there's more than Contador to worry about as we can see from todays stage.

Shouldn't have bet so much on him winning the Tour ffs.

 

[just some guy]

Andys getting a bit stressed - he said there's more than Contador to worry about as we can see from todays stage.

 

[VemrJR?]

Originally Posted by c&cfan
second, i am tired to listen to people saying how andy is the big thing for the future when he is 2 years younger than alberto (who knows who is going to end their career first?) and the difference in quality and palmares is abysmal.

Reckon AS will be AC's domestique before long

 

[Escarabajo]

I read the whole thread and I am surprised that there was not mention about Uran's performance except for 3 posters (Ryo of course, and I am happy that you won money because of Uran). He attacked and seemed to have extra power to keep going on the steep part but he kept looking bad like looking for somebody. I am not sure if he cut his attack short because he could be dropping Wiggins. Remember that he is the smallest of those GC contenders and could have made a gap. On the false flat was very hard for him to beat more powerful and bigger riders.

Today's stage was between two riders, Evans and Gilbert. If you were going to bet on someone today you have to be out of your mind not to pick any of these two.

I am happy for Contador's performance today. I am happy that he put the hurt on everyone. I think his form is improving by the day.

Kloden the best of the Shack Retirement Home. LOL. He even beat the second best climber of the world. If I was going to cheer for someone in the RadioShack house that would be Kloden.

Happy to see Evans so in form now. I hope it does not happen like the Giro or the Tour last year where he peaked too early. At least he got his stage win.

I was expecting more of Cunego. I thought before the stage that he had a chance at the win. But let's hope that he is going to be good for the big mountains instead.

I think Andy Schleck is in trouble. I am not sure if this is like the previous years where he did not show much early in the Tour and then came back. This time he does not look on form. IMHO. I am happy for Frank's performance. Maybe he will be the leader of their team later during the Tour.

Very nice tour so far. It looks like the Giro now.

 

[Publicus]

Anyone see any comments from Contador on the stage? English-speaking media seems disinterested.

“It’s an important day for my morale and the morale of my team,” Contador said. “We started this race with some bad luck and today we took advantage of the opportunity. It’s only a few seconds, but any time you can take back is important. It’s never easy to take on rivals like Andy (Schleck).”

Schleck also shrugged off suggestions that Contador recaptured the momentum and said he rode at his own pace up the finale.

“I prefer a mountain that’s longer and harder,” Andy Schleck said. “I don’t have the same punch that some of these guys have on a finish like today. Contador had some bad luck on the first day, it’s not a surprise what he did today. He’s here to win, but for us, it’s been a good start to the Tour.”

Despite the minimal differences taken back Tuesday, Contador was pleased that he could open up a gap in such a short climb. When the dust settled, he trimmed his gap to Andy Schleck to 1:30.

“It’s not a lot of time in respect to what we lost in the first two days, but it’s positive,” Contador said. “To take eight seconds on Andy in one kilometer is something incredible, something that we didn’t manage to do in the team time trial. It was up to me to shake up the race today, so that perhaps cost me a little in my chances for the stage victory. I am a little bit angry to come so close because the team did a great job for me today and winning is always something to celebrate.”

“It’s too early to say if Evans is the strongest rival, because it wasn’t that steep of a climb,” Contador continued. “I am feeling the Giro in my legs and we’ll see if I can get through this first week and then we’ll see how things stack up. My other rivals didn’t race the Giro, so they perhaps have that advantage on me.”

http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/07/news/alberto-contador-takes-some-time-back_181909

Watching the replay, Andy did not ride at his own pace up the mountain. He was there and then AC went and he had nothing.

 

[eljimberino]

Contador already looks tired to me. On a stage like this, even if he does not win he hardly ever looks this pushed at the start of a tour.

 

[Galic Ho]

The only thing we have seen so far is a couple of power climbs. Based on that, Thor might be the winner in Paris.

Yeah maybe. I did say GC guys. Wigans has been working hard as well. I'm taking preparation into consideration as well. Evans seems as strong as Valverde was in 2008, like Jamsque mentioned. Maybe not as dominant looking but only by a smidgen, but it's definitely worlds better than Andy Schleck. I cannot fathom why he wouldn't be next to or near Franck on todays stage. Andy wasn't 8 seconds back. Cunego was and Andy was in the large group Cunego led. His positioning behind every major GC guy is concerning, meaning he'd better get good quick. That alone is a big tell as well as his reluctance to take pulls in the TTT. The guy ain't fooling Riis and he's in AC's corner. Today was one battle Schleck lost.

Attitude wise and form so far, one can tell who has dotted their t's and crossed their i's. That would be the guys I mentioned. I expect Shack to goof up and not recognise Kloeden is their strongest guy somewhere along the line.

 

[No_Balls]

My point was it was reasonable to expect the riders I listed to lose a small amount of time on such a short climb due to the reasons I mentioned. What happened at the finish today gives me a slim glimmer of hope that Contador will not be able to dominate in the mountains as he has in the past and that some of the other riders may be able to keep him close enough to have a chance at winning.

Ah, you suspected perhaps Andy and the other GC contender, who actually lost time and where by no means "glued to his wheel", would lose some five minutes on an 800 meter climb? And by AC not shaking them "convincingly" off on a 800 meters climb is actually a sight of relief for those who actually lost time and almost a bad sign for Alberto?

To sum it up: It is a good sign of losing time and a bad sign gaining some?

 

[red_flanders]

Watching the replay, Andy did not ride at his own pace up the mountain. He was there and then AC went and he had nothing.

Thanks for posting those comments! Very illuminating.

 

[rhubroma]

Alberto turned on the gas on an 800 meter climb and put everyone, including the specialists, in the red zone.

Do you think when it comes to the Galibier, he won't be dancing away from his rivals?

 

[Escarabajo]

Anyone see any comments from Contador on the stage? English-speaking media seems disinterested.

They make good comments about him in Colombian television. Except for Victor Hugo Pena which was invited yesterday. He is cheering for Andy Schleck all the way so I assume where this is coming from. He probably still talks with that guy from Texas.

 

[Cimber]

I know Andy says that those short of climbs dont siut him, but since he is a rider who does very well in LBL short climbs like that should be ok for him. When Hushovd was able to be in the group, so should he. 8 secs doesnt mean a lot, but Contador just regained the psychological advantage. Andy might have gained time on stage 1 and 2, but that had nohting to do with the individual strength. This stage was about that though.

There is a long time till Luz-Ardiden and his form might peak by then and Bertie might feel the Giro then, but never-the-less this stage was a nice little sneak-preview about the conditions of the favorites before the real mountains.

 

[jens_attacks]

first of all,congrats to cadel for his first tour stage victory!terrible good engine.
what the hell was doing hushovd up there?that was something you don't see every day,mad respect that's how you honour le maillot jaune.
contador is back,looked a little bit tired but on the pyrenees he will be at his best.klodi and basso did better than expected,my other two favourites for le tour victory along vino.
andy's form is weird but i still kind of expect him to fly on the mountains.

 

[Descender]

Well if that is his own pace he can start thinking about saying bye to the Tour.

 

[No_Balls]

There is a long time till Luz-Ardiden and his form might peak by then and Bertie might feel the Giro then, but never-the-less this stage was a nice little sneak-preview about the conditions of the favorites before the real mountains.

Super besse is just around the corner and there are some more room for improvement. AC will for sure lit the afterburner there too.

 

[jobiwan]

I know Andy says that those short of climbs dont siut him, but since he is a rider who does very well in LBL short climbs like that should be ok for him. HWne Hushovt was able to be in the group, so should he. 8 secs doesnt mean a lot, but Contador just regained the psychological advantage. Andy might have gained time on stage 1 and 2, but that had nohting to do with the individual strength. This stage was about that though.

There is a long time till Luz-Ardiden and his form might peak by then and Bertie might feel the Giro then, but never-the-less this stage was a nice little sneak-preview about the conditions of the favorites before the real mountains.

Yeah, Andy can't really say he's no good on these climbs.

2nd in Fleche Wallone '09. VERY similar to today's stage.
To me (hopefully) it means he hasn't reached top peak yet, but we'll see.

He would be wise to try harder on Super Besse.

 

[Parrulo]

i just saw the last 4k with phill and paul commentating and jesus christ talk about biased. they said about 6 times that contador had overcooked himself. lol

and ya schleck is just bsing here. he may not be as good as frank on the hills but he is much better then this.

ofc i said it before and will say it again his form will appear the day of the first MTF. its magic

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

i just saw the last 4k with phill and paul commentating and jesus christ talk about biased. they said about 6 times that contador had overcooked himself. lol

I almost threw up watching that. Liggett and Sherwen are absolute clowns. Complete morons.

 

[Cimber]

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.........

He would fit in very well for the classics, but I still doubt that it would be a happy marriage since he would never be able to ride his own chance in the Tour.

 

[ferryman]

They make good comments about him in Colombian television. Except for Victor Hugo Pena which was invited yesterday. He is cheering for Andy Schleck all the way so I assume where this is coming from. He probably still talks with that guy from Texas.

Fantastic. Another reason to hate Andy Schleck - Columbian t/v commentators. Keep em coming folks..

 

[maxmartin]

what a nice ride from Thor, I am sure he will get a nice contract next year just because of this and let people know what is world champion made of

LOL at Thor beating Andy!

Great defend Thor!

 

[Parrulo]

I almost threw up watching that. Liggett and Sherwen are absolute clowns. Complete morons.

indeed.

they were saying goss was one of the favourites . . . .

 

[Oldman]

i just saw the last 4k with phill and paul commentating and jesus christ talk about biased. they said about 6 times that contador had overcooked himself. lol

and ya schleck is just bsing here. he may not be as good as frank on the hills but he is much better then this.

ofc i said it before and will say it again his form will appear the day of the first MTF. its magic

PP are really insightful, eh? Contador did rope-a-dope a bit but that climb looked painful for all.
As for the magical appearance of form; it will be interesting considering the level of scrutiny how dramatic anyone's change of form could be.