Stage 17 *spoiler*

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Comments

  • Courage Monsieur
    Courage Monsieur Posts: 534
    Sastre is awesome and always has been. Plenty of scope for it to go wobbly in the TT though....
  • ricadus
    ricadus Posts: 2,379
    edited July 2008
    It would be interesting to see Evans go on the offensive in the final section tomorrow, though as a bullied kid I can't see him initiating that kind of action -- he's survived thus far through life by responding to attacks.
    Tour de France
  • Moomaloid
    Moomaloid Posts: 2,040
    I would like to have seen Andy go on to join to Sastre, i believe he could've.
  • skavanagh.bikeradar
    skavanagh.bikeradar Posts: 1,097
    So they have. It all depends on what Evans has left for the TT. We can assume Sastre will give it both barrels and do the TT of his life.

    Might be worth CSC sending Frank up the road tomorrow to force Evans to work for it a bit more, take a bit of edge off for the TT. Kohl would have an interest in that too. I think Menchov has well and truly blown it.

    Where did Cuenego end up? I wanted him to do well for some reason (don't know why, just did), but he's been cack.
  • portuguese mike
    portuguese mike Posts: 695
    Agreed bigdawg; evans has it in the bag :evil: - he took took 1 min 16 out of sastre in the cholet TT. At least evans did some work at the front for one i suppose. All in all very disapointed. surely sastre should at least have attempted to sprint for the line; if he loses it by 5 - 10 seconds he's going to look pretty stupid.

    Fingers crossed the wheelsucking troll gets a few flats in the TT :twisted:
    pm
  • mooro
    mooro Posts: 483
    Kléber wrote:
    Their only mistake in the race was not feeding Andy Schleck on the descent of Hautacam where he bonked, he'd be in yellow by now with a significant lead.
    too right, looking forward to next years tour with A Shcleck against Contador.
  • Adieu
    Adieu Posts: 83
    edited July 2008
    I think Sastre was always the team leader and that they have had this planned for a while. However I feel sorry for Frank having to give jersey to teammate and even more for Andy who looked so strong this whole tour.
  • skavanagh.bikeradar
    skavanagh.bikeradar Posts: 1,097
    A bit harsh the Porto Mike....I think he did everything he was capable of (Evans that is). He isn't capable of explosive climbing.
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,725
    The GC is just as grey, as it was before the start of the day.
    We still have 5 men contesting the 3 podium spots.
    1'-34" is borderline. Depends on which Sastre and Evans turns up for the ITT.
    Menchov could till pinch a podium from either Frank and Bernie, if they can't
    turn in a good one.
    Recovery is more important than ever.
    Mooro wrote:
    too right, looking forward to next years tour with A Shcleck against Contador.

    I hope there is room on next year's cols, for two trains going side, by side. :wink:
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • afx237vi
    afx237vi Posts: 12,630
    skavanagh.bikeradar wrote:
    Where did Cuenego end up? I wanted him to do well for some reason (don't know why, just did), but he's been cack.

    18th @ 5'32"
  • Kléber
    Kléber Posts: 6,842
    If Evans wins, he's worked his socks off for it. Alone he battled CSC's riders. It's not like you look at the GC and think "hmm, that guy doesn't deserve to be there."
  • ricadus
    ricadus Posts: 2,379
    You mean "recovery" ? :twisted:
    Tour de France
  • skavanagh.bikeradar
    skavanagh.bikeradar Posts: 1,097
    If CSC let Evans have any tomorrow.
  • Salsiccia
    Salsiccia Posts: 405
    Kléber wrote:
    If Evans wins, he's worked his socks off for it. Alone he battled CSC's riders. It's not like you look at the GC and think "hmm, that guy doesn't deserve to be there."

    Can't argue with that.
    I was only joking when I said
    by rights you should be bludgeoned in your bed
  • FixUpLookSharp
    FixUpLookSharp Posts: 66
    Kléber wrote:
    If Evans wins, he's worked his socks off for it. Alone he battled CSC's riders. It's not like you look at the GC and think "hmm, that guy doesn't deserve to be there."
    Grudgingly agree...
    Hipster Nascar: A Blog About Track Cycling - http://www.hipsternascar.com.
  • portuguese mike
    portuguese mike Posts: 695
    skavanagh.bikeradar wrote:
    A bit harsh the Porto Mike....I think he did everything he was capable of (Evans that is). He isn't capable of explosive climbing.

    On any objective level i would absolutely agree with i am being harsh - Evans did ride with a lot of guts towards the end of the stage but i feel he was very very reluctant to take on the pace making when it became clear that Sastre was pulling out a big lead. He just wanted to sit behind someone in the apparent hope that they would be going fast enough to keep the gap manageable which although that may be all he's capable of it's hardly the heroic stuff that makes me want to get out on my bike right now and try to emulate. Put it this way: when was the last time you were busting your balls on a tough climb and thought 'i'm Cadel Evans grimly hanging on to a wheel'?
    pm
  • skavanagh.bikeradar
    skavanagh.bikeradar Posts: 1,097
    I'd be wishing I was able to that, certainly. However I'm no head of state like the men in this race today turning themselves inside out....etc

    Seriously, I always settle for hanging on like grim death it's my only way to climb. I know what you mean though, in my mind I'd like to be Robert Millar bobbing to victory.
  • portuguese mike
    portuguese mike Posts: 695
    Kléber wrote:
    If Evans wins, he's worked his socks off for it. Alone he battled CSC's riders. It's not like you look at the GC and think "hmm, that guy doesn't deserve to be there."

    Maybe for the last few km of l'alpe today other than that it seemed to me that he just followed whoever happened to be around. apart from today i don't remember him being at the front chasing down CSC.
    pm
  • disgruntledgoat
    disgruntledgoat Posts: 8,957
    portuguese mike wrote:
    skavanagh.bikeradar wrote:
    A bit harsh the Porto Mike....I think he did everything he was capable of (Evans that is). He isn't capable of explosive climbing.

    On any objective level i would absolutely agree with i am being harsh - Evans did ride with a lot of guts towards the end of the stage but i feel he was very very reluctant to take on the pace making when it became clear that Sastre was pulling out a big lead. He just wanted to sit behind someone in the apparent hope that they would be going fast enough to keep the gap manageable which although that may be all he's capable of it's hardly the heroic stuff that makes me want to get out on my bike right now and try to emulate. Put it this way: when was the last time you were busting your balls on a tough climb and thought 'i'm Cadel Evans grimly hanging on to a wheel'?

    Nail. Head.

    Plus, unless he wins that TT, he'll win without even coming close to winning a stage. You know what i respect in a rider? Panache, the commitment to entertainment even when you might lose (in fact, especially when you know you can't win). Evans has the panache of a tea towel.
    "In many ways, my story was that of a raging, Christ-like figure who hauled himself off the cross, looked up at the Romans with blood in his eyes and said 'My turn, sock cookers'"

    @gietvangent
  • DaveyL
    DaveyL Posts: 5,167
    He chased down a few attacks on the Alpe today before the last few km, and was driving it for a large part of the last few km, until the Sanchez attack.

    If he takes more than 90 sec out of Sastre in the final TT (assuming nothing changes on GC during the next two stages, which is not necessarily the case) then he will have ridden a tactically very astute race.
    Le Blaireau (1)
  • skavanagh.bikeradar
    skavanagh.bikeradar Posts: 1,097
    Luckily for Evans there isn't a rule about that.

    I know what everyone means, but really after 3 weeks somebody should have come up with a way to beat him if they were going to. The fact they can't shake him off is a testament to Evans' ability to grit his teeth.

    Don't step on his dog though!
  • Moomaloid
    Moomaloid Posts: 2,040
    i want Evans to win it, and put it this way, FOr everyone who has moaned about this tour and Evans, why not let him win it, get it out the way, and i'm sure he won't be up there so much next year... he NEEDS to win this race. And i for one hopes he does.
  • liversedge
    liversedge Posts: 1,003
    If you extrapolate Evans margin over Sastre in Stage 4 (1:16 over a 29k course) you get a 2:18 margin of victory in Saturdays 53k TT.

    Evans has it in the bag even if he has a mare and Sastre does something special. I'll be praying for rain and mechanicals for the aussie.

    His petulance when someone touched his shoulder and general Aussieness (not to mention his wheel-sucking) must make him one of the most unpopular winners ever.

    At least in my house.

    Bring on Contador next year.....
    --
    Obsessed is just a word elephants use to describe the dedicated. http://markliversedge.blogspot.com
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,253
    Some of you seem to think this is a Playstation game. Each rider has to play the hand nature (or a doctor) has handed them. They each have strengths and weaknesses. Maximise your gains with your strengths and minimise your loses from your weaknesses.

    If Evans was on CSC and Sastre at Lotto, this would have been over long ago.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • portuguese mike
    portuguese mike Posts: 695
    DaveyL wrote:
    He chased down a few attacks on the Alpe today before the last few km, and was driving it for a large part of the last few km, until the Sanchez attack.

    If he takes more than 90 sec out of Sastre in the final TT (assuming nothing changes on GC during the next two stages, which is not necessarily the case) then he will have ridden a tactically very astute race.

    Not arguing with that, its just that its so boring and uninspiring (to me). Personally i'm distinctly average (at a push) but my cycling heroes all have something special about them; something that i aspire to however impossible it may be for me to achieve
    pm
  • skavanagh.bikeradar
    skavanagh.bikeradar Posts: 1,097
    Criticism of Evans is like moaning about Wimbledon playing long ball football in 1988 and beating Liverpool. If Wimbledon had played pass and move Liverpool would've won 3-0. If Evans had attacked he'd have lost 3'30". The record book doesn't say Evans* (*boring win).

    Everyone else will have to replan for next year, espeically if Contador and Astana are back in.
  • FixUpLookSharp
    FixUpLookSharp Posts: 66
    I really dislike Evans. I hate his tactics and I hate the way he rides a bike.

    But, it was clear from before the Tour began that it was up to the other riders to beat him, and so far they haven't been able to. Yes, it bothers me to see such a defensive rider wheelsucking his way to a Tour victory without ever attacking, let alone winning a stage. But, the simple fact is that no one has been able to seriously challenge him...
    Hipster Nascar: A Blog About Track Cycling - http://www.hipsternascar.com.
  • disgruntledgoat
    disgruntledgoat Posts: 8,957
    skavanagh.bikeradar wrote:
    The record book doesn't say Evans* (*boring win).

    .

    hmmm... any got Prudhomme's phone number?
    "In many ways, my story was that of a raging, Christ-like figure who hauled himself off the cross, looked up at the Romans with blood in his eyes and said 'My turn, sock cookers'"

    @gietvangent
  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    FixUpLookSharp wrote:
    I really dislike Evans. I hate his tactics and I hate the way he rides a bike.

    You hate his tactics? And if he pulls on the yellow jersey on sunday on the podium, his (probably) dope free tactics would have won him the race. His only job is to win the Tour not pander to some small minded peoples entertainment.

    IMO Evans was at the limit of his abilities, I don't think he could have done anymore but he is the strongest all rounder in the race, and the other riders need too beat him - why can't people understand that? Why should he attack and blow up and lose his chance to win the tour?

    He doesn't look very elegant when he's pedalling out of the saddle though.
    I like bikes...

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  • espoir
    espoir Posts: 61
    I am not the greatest Evans fan but what does make him 'special' in my eyes is the fact that he is making the most of his ability to achieve his dreams. He is taking all the talent that god has given him and he is using every last bit of it to win the TDF. It may not be pretty or exciting but there is something heroic to be seen if you can look at it like that.

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