USAPCC Stage 1: Salida to Crested Butte 159.9km (23/8/2011)

[icefire]

Evans showing the lack of race fitness in his legs, I don't think I've ever seen him dropped by Levi before.

Aubisque 2007

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Kind of a killer that Leipheimer already has such a lead though. Will be very hard to beat him now. Hope the Antioquia's murder the field tomorrow

 

[l.Harm]

I don't think Gesink wanted to be top here. He showed a decent form and I think this was what we could expect.

And I'm shocked, I saw Levi attacking Must be the first time I've seen him doing that.

 

[Jamsque]

GC:

Levi
CVV +11
TJVG +17
Evans +17
Gesink +30
Bookwalter +34
Sutherland +35
Hincapie +37
Danielson +37

 

[benpounder]

Bottle vs Henao 2.0

Hey Boston, might you drop the pejoratives for this week at least?

 

[FF'Wilco]

No Liquigas rider in top 20. Thats a shame.

 

[Havetts]

I don't think Gesink wanted to be top here. He showed a decent form and I think this was what we could expect.

Yes but right now he has the acceleration of a peanut...

 

[kielbasa]

Wow, them gurls really planted those kisses on bottle.

 

[luckyboy]

What is the reasoning behind there being no mountain-top finishes in this mountainous area? Tomorrow's stage looks like an opportunity missed for a start (I know Aspen would've paid a lot for the stage finish, but still no MTFs the rest of the race).

 

[Jamsque]

Whoever told the podium girls to slather on the lipstick is a genius, so funny.

 

[cineteq]

Whoever told the podium girls to slather on the lipstick is a genius, so funny.

Euro podium girls should take a hint

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Yes but right now he has the acceleration of a peanut...

I think I have a better sprint uphill

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Andy +1:00
Basso +2:12
P.Velits +3:45
Zabriskie +5:20

 

[Havetts]

The right girl is definatly a nominee for best podium girl

 

[l.Harm]

Yes but right now he has the acceleration of a peanut...

He was on the last wheel the last km's. I think he just wasn't good enough to win here, or top 3. Or are you saying he was on the last wheel because of his bad acceleration?

 

[hrotha]

I think I have a better sprint uphill

Can Gesink sprint faster than Basso on a TT bike?

Hell, Basso off a TT bike works here too.

 

[hatcher]

The right girl is definatly a nominee for best podium girl

Was that the brunette? She should do all podium presentations.

 

[Havetts]

He was on the last wheel the last km's. I think he just wasn't good enough to win here, or top 3. Or are you saying he was on the last wheel because of his bad acceleration?

Well, look at most races he has been riding this season. You saw him ride on the inner ring on the Cat.4 climb/bridge on the 2nd stage (if i remember correctly) in the TdF. It is hardly possible when you are riding such a low gear and thus have an extreme RPM, to up the RPM even higher to respond to accelerations.

Although, his form is probably not in a peak yet I doubt he wouldve won here aswell but you saw he didnt even bother responding to Andy cause he knows he doesnt have the acceleration in him. Worst part is he was interviewed by the Procycling magazine and said he had worked on his acceleration on a special machine and it 'helped' him improve his acceleration. Imagine how bad it is without that machine .

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I can show you a video of when he won the Settimana Lombarda stage in 2006, that was a hilly stage and no real mountains. The acceleration he had there I've only seen twice after that. Tour of Belgium 2007 and Montreal GP 2010

 

[Havetts]

I can show you a video of when he won the Settimana Lombarda stage in 2006, that was a hilly stage and no real mountains. The acceleration he had there I've only seen twice after that. Tour of Belgium 2007 and Montreal GP 2010

Link it to me if possible .

 

[theyoungest]

I can show you a video of when he won the Settimana Lombarda stage in 2006, that was a hilly stage and no real mountains. The acceleration he had there I've only seen twice after that. Tour of Belgium 2007 and Montreal GP 2010

Also had to do with the quality of the riders at the Settimana, of course. He'll probably still accelerate away easily from second rate climbers.

 

[l.Harm]

Who were that three riders riding at the front of the peloton for i think 20 km? I didn't see one of them in the final?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

But back then he was 19/20

 

[luckyboy]

Who were that three riders riding at the front of the peloton for i think 20 km? I didn't see one of them in the final?

Some riders for Exergy. Don't know what they were doing apart from getting some TV time.

 

[patrick767]

Catching up... the forum stream here is a better recap than the race news reports.

So Levi came away with a huge acceleration at the finish when many people thought there would be hardly any time gaps among the GC contenders. Very interesting and of course it was an impressive move by a rider who almost never attacks. He will be hard to beat now. He's taken the lead before the big TT. Barring a lousy day from LL, does any GC contender besides Cadel have a shot at beating him in the time trial?

Andy Schleck... wtf? He attacks a bit, then manages to lose a full minute on that short climb. He just exploded. Something tells me Andy has been hitting the brew pubs again now that the TdF is over.

Ivan Basso... wtf and then some... 2:12 down on the stage. Why did he show up for this event? If Andy's sucking down beers, I think Basso must be doing that along with a little mary jane.