CSC? *SPOILER*
Today was supposed to be one of two action packed attacking stages witth CSC showing their strength.
But they didn't attack Evens today. Voight put in a big effort over the latter kms of the climb but was never going to drop Evans.
So, has CSC blown it or are the keeping their powder dry for tomorrow?
But they didn't attack Evens today. Voight put in a big effort over the latter kms of the climb but was never going to drop Evans.
So, has CSC blown it or are the keeping their powder dry for tomorrow?
Rich
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Hopefully the latter. Waiting for the Alpe is useless, they need to smash it up from the foot of the Croix-Fer.0
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Hey, thanks for the spoiler
Pictures are better than words because some words are big and hard to understand.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34335188@N07/3336802663/0 -
Looked like Schleck Snr was on a bad day. Sastre was covering moves to keep it together and they went tempo - very fast tempo - up the Bonette. There was a big headwind which meant that if you could attack, getting away was hard as a group could always come back.
Increases the chances of fireworks tomorrow and Andy Schleck looks very strong, he blew on Hautacam after forgetting to eat enough. He could be in yellow for the sake of a few gels and bars...0 -
Kléber wrote:Increases the chances of fireworks tomorrow and Andy Schleck looks very strong, he blew on Hautacam after forgetting to eat enough. He could be in yellow for the sake of a few gels and bars...
Damsgaard's invisible testosterone gel?
"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
Hilarious.Le Blaireau (1)0
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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 tempo 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.0 -
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) 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 tempo 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.
Sounds spot on to me0 -
I disagree. If Evans could pull back 2 minutes on a descent, he would. Look how Schleck put time into Menchov on the descent. CSC weren't hanging around.0
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I'm sure it would be, if somebody else posted it.DaveyL wrote:Hilarious.
CSC missed an opportunity, today. Andy Schleck could have gone up the road. There was no other team capable of chasing. Jens could have led the rest.
Working as he did for his bro, he could have made back a bundle of time. CSC would then have regained a 3 pronged attack.
As it is, Evans can give him 10 minutes tomorrow and still win the overall. It's all down the how CSC play it. Tempo won't kill Cadel,
Bertie showed how, but is the Carlos and Frank show, up to it?"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
Why can't we have a lance style, turn back, look into evans's face and then just blast up the mountain likes its downhill?
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They kept their powder dry until tomorrow. Obviously competitive on the descent -- otherwise Menchov wouldn't have been gapped -- but not kamikaze attacking stuff as there wouldn't be much time gained relative to the potential risk of disaster: as anyone having a mishap so close to the finish would have lost the tour there whether or not there was a spare bike available.0
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Blazing Saddles wrote:CSC missed an opportunity, today. Andy Schleck could have gone up the road. There was no other team capable of chasing. Jens could have led the rest.
Working as he did for his bro, he could have made back a bundle of time. CSC would then have regained a 3 pronged attack.
As it is, Evans can give him 10 minutes tomorrow and still win the overall. It's all down the how CSC play it.
Totally agree, would have been a great day for Andy to push on and try and get 5mins back. And for Carlos to have gone a couple of KM from the top and looked for a minute or two.
Evans couldn't have marked them all.
Now he has just has to get through one more day.Rich0 -
Evans can pull back 2 minutes on Schleck and 1.45 on Kohl in the last time trial, if the result from the first is anything to go by.0
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Plus it's the penultimate stage and everyone is knackered - time gaps won't be massive.0
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It was Alpe D'Huez that saw a then 'clean-on-the-day' Landis struggle in 2006 yes? He lost 5 minutes that day on the climb. Does this prove that if there is any mountain where huge time gaps can be created it is this one.
If CSC or even Kohl or Menchov attack early, so between 10 and 15kms to the finish, then getting this time is possible. I don't doubt the leaders to attack each other, what I do doubt is that a significant break will come far too late and only time gaps of around a single minute will be the result. Therefore it looks good for Evans in the TT...
Frank Schleck hasn't been on fire recently. I'd say that Sastre looks the strongest and maybe he could try and do it for himself? Question is, will the team be looking into the future or taking a stage at a time? If they are taking a stage at a time, and therefore only focusing on keeping yellow and not risking losing it at all costs, then Sastre will be held back, CSC will eventually lose the jersey to Evans and it'll be a massive failure. If the team has some sense then they won't try and keep it with Schleck if he is struggling, and Sastre will try and go up the road to get the best chance of winning yellow for the team after the time trial.
CSC are the strongest team in the Peleton - it can't be argued. But they may not have the best tactics in the Peleton.0 -
RichA wrote:Blazing Saddles wrote:CSC missed an opportunity, today. Andy Schleck could have gone up the road. There was no other team capable of chasing. Jens could have led the rest.
Working as he did for his bro, he could have made back a bundle of time. CSC would then have regained a 3 pronged attack.
As it is, Evans can give him 10 minutes tomorrow and still win the overall. It's all down the how CSC play it.
Totally agree, would have been a great day for Andy to push on and try and get 5mins back. And for Carlos to have gone a couple of KM from the top and looked for a minute or two.
Evans couldn't have marked them all.
Now he has just has to get through one more day.
But IF evans had chased them, and he probably would have had to, then frank would have had to chase evans and they would have finished all together anyway but all the more tired before tomorrow
It depends if they were defending F Schlecks Yellow Jersey or attacking cadel - i think they went for defence today.....We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
- @ddraver0 -
CM92S4E wrote:It was Alpe D'Huez that saw a then 'clean-on-the-day' Landis struggle in 2006 yes? He lost 5 minutes that day on the climb. Does this prove that if there is any mountain where huge time gaps can be created it is this one.
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It might, if you had the right mountain."Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
I think Mr Roche got it right, when he said that CSC have to send one of the two (Frank and Carlos) up the road. It doesn't mater which, but it forces the other teams (largely Evans) to chase, and then IF they do catch up with whichever one is up the road, the other one just nips off after having a ride for however many kilometres.
They really do have all the cards, and it is up to them to burn them.
However, here we all are expecting tomorrows stage and the time trial to be the only one to have an impact on the GC but i think the one into St Etienne could have a bearing, if the contenders don;t pay attention.0 -
Crazy tactics - they could have won the tour today
All they needed to do was attack with Frank S and Sastre, Evans would have had to chase both and would have died. Whichever of the 2 got the lead would be in yellow in Paris. Andy S was riding for his brother not for a team outcome in my eyes.
Tempo rides arent going to scare Evans. They do the same thing in the next stage and Evans will be in Yellow in Paris.0 -
Yes, all Sastre had to do was drop a group of the world's best cyclists whilst riding over Europe's highest mountain pass and into a raging headwind at that. Easy!
Er... no. Anyone who's ever done the lowly Etape will know that trying to ride 1km/h faster than others on a mountain pass requires a lot more effort. Now do this at 2800m and into a headwind. Even if Sastre had gone, say Menchov would have followed him and sat there, meaning Sastre tows Menchov into yellow. If they get caught, maybe Kohl would have ridden away? CSC had a good hand of cards but the wind put paid to any action. Perhaps they could have tried but these are pros, they know how they feel, whether they can get a gap or not.0 -
I thought CSC did what they could today riding a high tempo on the front, But Evans is good at this also if its a steady pace he just stays with it.
Looking forward to tomorrow,everyone on GC is vulnerable should be fun to watch.0 -
CM92S4E wrote:It was Alpe D'Huez that saw a then 'clean-on-the-day' Landis struggle in 2006 yes? He lost 5 minutes that day on the climb. Does this prove that if there is any mountain where huge time gaps can be created it is this one.
Sorry but that's incorrect. Floyd actually beat all his top GC competition on Alpe d'Huez on stage 15, placing just behind Frank Schleck. However, that effort knocked Floyd out the NEXT day, when on stage 16 Floyd lost 8 minutes on La Toussuire.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_Tour_ ... o_Stage_200 -
Yesterday was a bit of a damp squib really, but today everyone has got to lay it on the line. They have no choice, unless they simply cannot do it. Today will be different.0
