Race Thread: Stage 9, Val d'Isere - Briancon (spoilers)

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Comments

  • Johnny Ergo
    Johnny Ergo Posts: 40
    Now I'm really annoyed that I played my joker for Popovych on stage 8. Hmmph! :x
  • iainf72
    iainf72 Posts: 15,784
    Bravo Soler. It's nice when a wildcard team do a good ride.

    Interesting stage. Evans looks better than he has in the past.
    Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.
  • PeteinSQ
    PeteinSQ Posts: 2,292
    Vinokourov has lost another 2 minutes, they must surely be looking towards Kloeden as their GC hope now?
    <a><img></a>
  • iainf72
    iainf72 Posts: 15,784
    PeteinSQ wrote:
    Vinokourov has lost another 2 minutes, they must surely be looking towards Kloeden as their GC hope now?

    Cyclingnews reported he was in tears at the finish.
    Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.
  • TheBigOne
    TheBigOne Posts: 99
    The race is now between:

    Kloden
    Valverde
    Contador
    Sastre
    Rassmusem
    Evans

    Still think Klodi will blow the field apart in the TT's, althoguh i think on the high finishes Contador is going to take some beating....

    Am v sorry for Vino, to have his hopes dashed by the slip of a chain sucks..
  • graeme_s-2
    graeme_s-2 Posts: 3,382
    iainf72 wrote:
    PeteinSQ wrote:
    Vinokourov has lost another 2 minutes, they must surely be looking towards Kloeden as their GC hope now?

    Cyclingnews reported he was in tears at the finish.

    The BBC reported the same.
  • aba2005
    aba2005 Posts: 487
    iainf72 wrote:
    PeteinSQ wrote:
    Vinokourov has lost another 2 minutes, they must surely be looking towards Kloeden as their GC hope now?

    Cyclingnews reported he was in tears at the finish.

    yep read that. He actually finished 3 minutes back.
    "You can plan for the life you're supposed to have, but when you try to make plans, God is known to laugh"
    Talib Kweli - Broken Glass [The Beautiful Struggle]
  • PeteinSQ
    PeteinSQ Posts: 2,292
    He should try to work for Kloden now so that the team (which is essentially his) doesn't come away entirely empty handed. In return Kloden should promise to work his arse off for Vino next year. Am I being naive here?
    <a><img></a>
  • Johnny Ergo
    Johnny Ergo Posts: 40
    Who knows how much Kloden held back in Sunday's stage to help Vino? He lost over a minute to Evans and Valverde. Time will tell (scuse the cliche). One thing's for sure this is most open and exciting Tour for some time.
  • shazzz
    shazzz Posts: 1,077
    PeteinSQ wrote:
    He should try to work for Kloden now so that the team (which is essentially his) doesn't come away entirely empty handed. In return Kloden should promise to work his ars* off for Vino next year. Am I being naive here?


    I agree, and the best way to help Klodi is to go on the attack in the Pyrennes, which is probably what he will want to do anyway (injuries permitting) and is what he is best at. I won't be surprised to see Vino winning a stage towards the end of the race.
  • SteveR_100Milers
    SteveR_100Milers Posts: 5,987
    What on earth were the chasing group doing when they split up on the run in into Briancon...who was it that let the yellow jersey group go like that..???
    http://www.pontypoolrcc.co.uk/
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  • Moose11
    Moose11 Posts: 235
    Great race today!! That final little climb up to the finish looked real nasty. The race is still wide open I just cant pick who is going to win it. Everyone looks like they could have a huge day yet everyone looks like they could have a real bad day. It's great so far.
    www.cycleseen.com
  • iainf72
    iainf72 Posts: 15,784
    Contadors accelerations uphill are amazing. He's like a scalded cat.

    Evans is definately looking more convincing. It will be interesting to see what happens on Saturday. In the Dauphine Cadel was at least 30 seconds quicker over 40km than anyone who is a challenger now (that was Levi)

    And he did win that shortish one in Romandie last year

    http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2006/ap ... omandie065

    Of course, Kloden should be the strongest, but you never know. Levi has done some good rides this year against the watch.
    Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.
  • timoid.
    timoid. Posts: 3,133
    iainf72 wrote:

    Of course, Kloden should be the strongest, but you never know. Levi has done some good rides this year against the watch.

    Still clutching to that straw Iain? :wink:

    Speaking of which, why did he help so much with the chase when he had TWO colleagues up the road?

    Other than to save Iain's PTP
    It's a little like wrestling a gorilla. You don't quit when you're tired. You quit when the gorilla is tired.
  • iainf72
    iainf72 Posts: 15,784
    Timoid. wrote:
    iainf72 wrote:

    Speaking of which, why did he help so much with the chase when he had TWO colleagues up the road?

    Probably because Bruyneel told him to chase. That was stupid when that gap opened.

    Levi constantly lets me down so I expect he will in the next few days.

    Can I just mention

    18 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 7.10
    Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,549
    iainf72 wrote:
    Contadors accelerations uphill are amazing. He's like a scalded cat.
    He showed his inexperience today though, attacking like that was always going to be pointless as any time he was going to make up would be lost on the long descent to Briancon. They won't give him any leeway for the rest of the race now.

    I'm reminded of an incident between Moreno Argentin and Giancarlo Ferretti back in 1987 just prior to the Worlds. Argentin attacked in one of the warm up races, I think the Coppa Sabatini, and dropped everyone thus showing everyone how good his form. Afterwards Ferretti was heard to criticise him by saying, "Well done, everyone knows you have good form now. They'll be on you like fleas at the Worlds!".
  • iainf72
    iainf72 Posts: 15,784
    andyp wrote:
    iainf72 wrote:
    Contadors accelerations uphill are amazing. He's like a scalded cat.
    He showed his inexperience today though, attacking like that was always going to be pointless as any time he was going to make up would be lost on the long descent to Briancon. They won't give him any leeway for the rest of the race now.

    Discovery are constantly putting people up the road - I know they need the air time but it also makes Levi's life easier because he can suck wheels guilt free.

    Even if you don't give him much leeway, there aren't many people who can answer an acceleration like his.
    Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,549
    I think he's looked the best climber in the race so far. But he's still young and may fade in the final week. Wasting energy like he did today won't help that. But let's hope he enlivens the race next week.
  • jimmythecuckoo
    jimmythecuckoo Posts: 4,718
    BenR wrote:
    15:48 CEST
    Evans hits the front and drives it!

    Can this be true? :)

    I just saw it on the highlights with my own eyes!
    http://fendrieneu.home.blog
    My blog and pod...
    Beers of Belgium Cycling Club UK
  • timoid.
    timoid. Posts: 3,133
    iainf72 wrote:
    Timoid. wrote:
    iainf72 wrote:

    Speaking of which, why did he help so much with the chase when he had TWO colleagues up the road?

    Probably because Bruyneel told him to chase. That was stupid when that gap opened.

    Levi constantly lets me down so I expect he will in the next few days.

    Can I just mention

    18 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 7.10


    Ahem, yes. Don't even have a disappointing american straw to clutch.

    Bruyneel is odd. Gets his tactics sooo right and then sends out orders to undo everything.

    He also looks like Herr Lipp
    It's a little like wrestling a gorilla. You don't quit when you're tired. You quit when the gorilla is tired.
  • Bronzie
    Bronzie Posts: 4,927
    Dingbat wrote:
    Impressed to see Nicolas Sarkozy in the Director's car.
    Couldn't imagine our political leaders getting so involved in any races over here.
    Errrm,,,,,,,,,,,,Ken Livingstone..........Okay so not a leader like the PM but still a political figure (in London anyway),
    What on earth were the chasing group doing when they split up on the run in into Briancon...who was it that let the yellow jersey group go like that..???
    Watched that a couple of times on highlights...........Klodi was 3rd in line and pulled to the left of the road, Evans (5th in line) immediately followed him.............4th in line (Kirchen) and 6th (Rasmussen) closed the gap..........and then rode off down the road :?: :!:

    Kloden then lead the chase to get back on :? ............can only think that he was try to force the 2 Saunier riders at the back to do some work..........but it was odd.

    Glad Valverde read my script anyway.............another 5 PTP points!
    It's a Lifestyle! -+-+- Coggan Training Levels
  • jimmythecuckoo
    jimmythecuckoo Posts: 4,718
    Having just watched the highlights I have to say that was one of the most exciting stage finishes I have seen for ages.

    Well apart from that Giro one which finished in that walled city thing on that steep climb... that was in France somewhere, anyway I digress.

    This is turning into a very special Tour. The start in London, the sprinting in the first week and now some of the most suicidal attacking in the Alps I can remember.

    Who looks back on recent Tours where USPS/Disco controlled the whole race in the mountains with any fondness now? I certainly don't.

    Whilst he may be naive (and even poorly advised by his Director Sportif) Contador was sensational today and the way he flew out of that group was reminiscent of the greatest climber of all time, Marco Pantani (there I have said it!).

    If the second half of the Tour provides as much entertainment as the first it will be the best race since '89.
    http://fendrieneu.home.blog
    My blog and pod...
    Beers of Belgium Cycling Club UK
  • LangerDan
    LangerDan Posts: 6,132
    jimmythecuckoo wrote:
    BenR wrote:
    15:48 CEST
    Evans hits the front and drives it!

    Can this be true? :)

    I just saw it on the highlights with my own eyes!


    Not to mention David Harmon uttering the immortal words "I think Evans is doing too much work"
    'This week I 'ave been mostly been climbing like Basso - Shirley Basso.'
  • afx237vi
    afx237vi Posts: 12,630
    Nothing will ever top David Harmon's comments about Freire's recurring saddle cyst. "Last year he thought he had it licked..."

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