Stage 16 - *spoiler*

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Comments

  • FixUpLookSharp
    FixUpLookSharp Posts: 66
    Evans the winner? I dunno... CSC set a pace that cost both Menchov and Vandevelde time, and Menchov was surely as big a threat as Evans. Evan hung on (as usual) but CSC never really tried to shake him. I think they were happy to put time into Menchov and bide their time on Evans.
    Hipster Nascar: A Blog About Track Cycling - http://www.hipsternascar.com.
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,725
    CSC's pace didn't cost Menchov any time at all. It was Dennis's decending.
    The Eurosport pundits are saying CSC have to stop riding tempo and attack.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • Moomaloid
    Moomaloid Posts: 2,040
    I think they will tomorrow. So much so i just ditched Menchov in my fantasy team and replaced him with Frank Schleck, i think CSC are gonna rip it up tomorrow...
  • FixUpLookSharp
    FixUpLookSharp Posts: 66
    I wonder why CSC are leaving it till tomorrow. I mean, after today it's almost 100% certain that they'll have to attack Evans tomorrow, right? So Evans/SilenceLotto will be even more alert to attacks than they were today.

    [edit] Nevermind, CSC have their own thread now.
    Hipster Nascar: A Blog About Track Cycling - http://www.hipsternascar.com.
  • donrhummy
    donrhummy Posts: 2,329
    I think the reason CSC didn't really attack today (and it was smart) is because of the huge descent afterwards. Evans is an incredible descender (from his mountain bike days) and Schleck's only so-so. With that much descending, Evans could have pulled back 2-3 minutes deficit if needed.

    Imagine that Schleck put out a huge effort, took 2-3 minutes by the top of the mountain and then Evans pulls back all that time. In doing it on the descent, Evans would put out less effort closing the gap going down than Schleck did building the gap going up.

    So instead, CSC put the temp high and just watched to see if Evans dropped just from the tempo. And I think the attack's going to come instead on Alpe d/Huez where there's no descent to make it up.
  • ms_tree
    ms_tree Posts: 1,405
    See it was 'Cadel-no-mates' again! :cry:

    We can speculate all we like....!
    'Google can bring back a hundred thousand answers. A librarian can bring you back the right one.'
    Neil Gaiman
  • donrhummy
    donrhummy Posts: 2,329
    Apparently (according to velonews) the reason Vande Velde lost so much time was that he crashed on the descent! Too bad, I was really pulling for him to do well.
  • deal
    deal Posts: 857
    donrhummy wrote:
    Apparently (according to velonews) the reason Vande Velde lost so much time was that he crashed on the descent! Too bad, I was really pulling for him to do well.

    any idea how far behind yellow he was at the summit ?

    edit: nm just 35seconds - he must be gutted!
  • donrhummy
    donrhummy Posts: 2,329
    deal wrote:
    donrhummy wrote:
    Apparently (according to velonews) the reason Vande Velde lost so much time was that he crashed on the descent! Too bad, I was really pulling for him to do well.

    any idea how far behind yellow he was at the summit ?

    edit: nm just 35seconds - he must be gutted!

    WOAH! Where'd you get that info from? If that's correct, he must be so disappointed at the absolute bad luck!
  • knedlicky
    knedlicky Posts: 3,097
    donrhummy wrote:
    I think the reason CSC didn't really attack today (and it was smart) is because of the huge descent afterwards. Evans is an incredible descender (from his mountain bike days)
    Why is this always said about Evans? His MTB days were over 10 years ago, and anyway descending through the rough on a MTB , even with steeper gradients, and descending on asphalt on a road bike for miles and miles of kms at high speed are two different kettles of fish.
    His going wide on the bend just where Augustyn had gone over (an nearly colliding with those standing there) didn't suggest Evans the 'Kermit' is a good descender.

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