Tour de l'Ain 2011 2.1 09/08 - 13/08

[Tuarts]

Prologue is different to a proper ITT. Really, the only "names" that he beat at this discipline are Peraud and Coppel.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Keldermann sucked in Tour de Alsace vs amateurs like two weeks ago and now he wins, beating some of the top pros in Tour de l'Ain. What's up with that? Does he have Andy Schleck-like form development?

Kelderman came just out of a rest period + after that training period in Alsace

 

[theyoungest]

Kelderman came just out of a rest period in Alsace

You mean a training period.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Keldermann sucked in Tour de Alsace vs amateurs like two weeks ago and now he wins, beating some of the top pros in Tour de l'Ain. What's up with that? Does he have Andy Schleck-like form development?

to be fair it was..
a) first race in almost 2 months.
b) just a prologue yesterday.

anyway he intends to peak later this year.

 

[theyoungest]

First stage:

1. Jimmy Casper

 

[El Pistolero]

I don't think a short, technical prologue is an indicator of anything, except talent for this particular discipline. That doesn't mean he'll be up there on the mountain finishes. Last year he was very good in Alsace and Tour de l'Ain, and not so great in l'Avenir, now he's peaking later.

Also, it depends on what you call sucking if the race leader (and professional 'crosser + former winner on the Ballon d'Alsace) Niels Albert is dropped way earlier than you are.

Albert just uses this for the cross season though.

 

[Nielsa]

The Grand Colombier stage will be live on France 3.

Gah, I wish they'd televise stage 2 and 3 as well. I hope something happens on the ENECO stages tomorrow and friday.

PS it looks like the France 3 stream is unauthorized for les Etats-Unis (US), at least I can't find in the list. (Click on the little icon of France below the stream window.)

 

[l.Harm]

No flat stage tomorrow in the Eneco Tour so probably

 

[LaFleur]

Taaramae wrote in his blog that they got into something attack-ish when Saur chased for the breakaways. Basically they rode some kind of hill and Taaramae as usual got into the front to take on the descent. When they looked back they discovered that others were left behind. Anyway they waited for them to get back (Casper was behind too I think). But in the beginning of the descent Coppel crashed bad just infront of Taaramae (head and hand injuries), but obviously managed to ride on and finished in the main pack.

 

[greenedge]

Congrats to Casper

 

[Tuarts]

Does Coppel have some Colombian/Dutch blood in him? No luck this year.

 

[roundabout]

stage 2

1 Thibaut Pinot (FDJ)
2 Rein Taaramë (Cofidis)
3 Wouter Poels (Vacansoleil)
4 Sylvain Georges (BigMat) à 12’’
5 Thomas Damuseau (Skil)
6 Romain Bardet (Equipe de France)
7 Johnny Hoogerland (Vacansoleil)
8 Robinson Chalapud (Colombia es Pasion)
9 Romain Hardy (Bretagne-Schuller)
10 Johan Gadret (AG2R)

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

So, the expected Pinot/Taaramae/Poels battle.

Although no Coppel. Wonder where Kelderman finished!

 

[Ferminal]

Happy with that top3.

Team Gadret could be preparing for a big push on Saturday.

 

[roundabout]

Kelderman 14th

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

@12" ?

if so thats not bad.
poels is pretty quick, thought he could have won that sprint

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Poels is good at not winning.

 

[roundabout]

I would guess so. But the results are updated quite quickly so we'll know soon for sure

 

[Karbonkel]

1 1 PINOT Thibaut Pinot FDJ
2 TAARAMAE Rein COFIDIS
3 POELS Wouter Vacansoleil-DCM
4 GEORGES Sylvain Big Mat - Auber 93 à 12’’
5 DAMUSEAU Thomas Skil-Shimano
6 BARDET Romain Equipe de France espoirs
7 HOOGERLAND Johnny Vacansoleil-DCM
8 CHAPALUD GOMEZ Robinson Edo Colombia Es Pasion
9 HARDY Romain Hardy Bretagne-Schuller
10 GADRET John AG2R la Mondiale
11 DIETZIKER Andreas Team Netapp
12 GUAY Julien Roubaix Lille Métropole
14 KELDERMAN Wilco Rabobank Continental
15 KANGERT Tanel Pro Team Astana
16 ROLLAND Pierre Team Europcar
17 LEVARLET Guillaume Saur - Sojasun
18 MONCOUTIE David COFIDIS
19 GUILLOU Florian Bretagne Schuller
20 IMPEY Daryl Team Netapp
21 OLIVIER Daan Rabobank Continental
22 BERNAUDEAU Giovanni Team Europcar
23 BARGUIL Warren Equipe de France Espoir
24 DUPONT Hubert AG2R la Mondiale
25 TUFT Svein Team Spidertech

More results here.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

So Daan Olivier also in there. That's pretty good.
Looking forward to Colombier stage

 

[jens_attacks]

rolland and gadret still there,ready to hit.

 

[Tuarts]

Did Peraud and Rolland finish with the +12" bunch?

Next two stages are going to be progressively harder. Is there a French ticker doing text updates for this?

EDIT: Ah, thanks Karbonkel!

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Did Peraud and Rolland finish with the +12" bunch?

Next two stages are going to be progressively harder. Is there a French ticker doing text updates for this?

rolland, gadret, kelderman etc all in the +12 bunch. everyone of note really

 

[Tank Engine]

So Coppel didn't suffer too much from the crash, although it's going to get harder each day. Every second counts in a race like this and a hilly finish normally shows who's strong and that's a strong front three.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

If Pinot is anywhere near as strong as in the Dauphine and in Alsace, he is going to win