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hfer07 said:he looked good "following wheels", but I'm sure we won't see him "attacking" anymore, and that's what counts....He's becoming more like the old Evans
hfer07 said:he looked good "following wheels", but I'm sure we won't see him "attacking" anymore, and that's what counts....He's becoming more like the old Evans
BYOP88 said:From how it looked it's kinda like last year, he can follow on the climbs if the tempo is steady but the moment attacks come he's dependent on his team or other riders closing it down he doesn't have the legs to go across the gaps alone. If Contador, Baby Schleck and Gesink really attack in the Tour or have thier teams set a furious pace on a climb then I think he'll suffer but then again I'm sure in 4 weeks time he'll be climbing and TTing like it's 2001.
Probably the effects of that yes. He was feeling better already, but you can't completely recup in 2 days time.Kwibus said:p.s. What happened to Mollema? Still ill? That would be a pity for him:/
Dekker_Tifosi said:Gesink only did 1 longer TT this year, Basque Tour, which was 15km, and which was after a fall (duh) earlier in the race with some road rash remains.
He finished 15th...And that was one of his lesser TT's.
I'm pretty sure he can do it if he doesn't fall or get sick.
In a similar time trial in the Tirreno 2008 he was 6th. Also 30km over hilly terrain.
kurtinsc said:While generally true... he did close down a gap on Grand Bornand himself.
Of course in doing so he brought others over to Contador... which was poor team play.
He also followed F. Schleck's attack attempts on Ventoux... but they were pretty weak attacks.
BYOP88 said:Well with the "attacks" on Ventoux I'd guess that if Andy wasn't concerned about Frank getting on the podium then I'd guess he'd have attacked Contador on the climb and I'm guessing Lance would have struggled to follow that and maybe that's how Frank could've ended up 3rd.
BTW on a side note are the Shacks plans for this Tour to get the 1-2-3?
BYOP88 said:Well with the "attacks" on Ventoux I'd guess that if Andy wasn't concerned about Frank getting on the podium then I'd guess he'd have attacked Contador on the climb and I'm guessing Lance would have struggled to follow that and maybe that's how Frank could've ended up 3rd.
BTW on a side note are the Shacks plans for this Tour to get the 1-2-3?
kurtinsc said:While generally true... he did close down a gap on Grand Bornand himself.
Of course in doing so he brought others over to Contador... which was poor team play.
He also followed F. Schleck's attack attempts on Ventoux... but they were pretty weak attacks.
hfer07 said:he looked good "following wheels", but I'm sure we won't see him "attacking" anymore, and that's what counts....He's becoming more like the old Evans
Publicus said:He actually didn't close down a gap on Grand Bornand. Remember Kloden had popped. The Brothers Schleck and Contador basically held their advantage at the top of the climb to the finish. But he did rocket away from Wiggans once he popped.
kurtinsc said:No, he actually did earlier in the stage.
Before the lead group of 4 got away, Frank attacked and Armstrong tried to cover... then Andy attacked and Contador went with him. Armstrong was dropped with Wiggins and Frank was yo-yoing off the back.
Armstrong towed Wiggins back, along with Frank once he passed him until they caught Kloden, Contador and Andy.
Then a couple of minutes later, Andy attacks and Contador and Kloden followed. A minute later Frank bridges over to create the 4 man group at the front.
Lance's pulling the others back basically eliminated a possible 2 on 1 with Kloden, Andy and Contador in the front.
instead, it was a 2 on 2 with the later action... and forcing Kloden to respond to TWO Andy attacks essentially blew him out so he couldn't follow when Contador went later.
So yes... he did respond to an attack (in a measured fashion) but he hurt his team in doing so. At the very least he should have sat up when he got to Frank and made him or Wiggins pull the rest of the way up to Contador, Kloden and Andy.
BYOP88 said:Don't let Lance fans see that, Lance would never hurt HIS team only horrible people who can't speak English do that
Eyeballs Out said:Correct. Armstrong's time-trialling has been his weakest discipline since he came back. I think the old man struggles to get into any kind of aero position these days
If anyone beats Gesink for the GC it will be Morabito
I don't think so. Löfkvist's and Gesink's TT is more or less at the same level.WildspokeJoe said:Armstrong has yet to have a good ride in the race of truth. There's no way he's going to bring back a minute. I doubt he would go fully into the red to win here.
He wants top 5. In both GC and TT
I think Thomas Löfkvist has the best shot at catching Gesink.
theyoungest said:I don't think so. Löfkvist's and Gesink's TT is more or less at the same level.