It ain't over....

skut

....till the A sample comes back.

Sorry to be a cynic but you never know. :roll:

victorponf

are you talking about Kohl?

sing_for_absolution

No, Wim Vansevanent I think. Getting another last place really is dodgy as anything.

skut

I'm talking about everyone I suppose.

CSC as a team definitely seem pretty suspect to me though.

perhaps I should have said "A samples"

Garry H

skut wrote:

....till the A sample comes back.

Sorry to be a cynic but you never know. :roll:

There was nothing extraordinary about Sastre's ride though, was there?

victorponf

Garry H wrote:

skut wrote:

....till the A sample comes back.

Sorry to be a cynic but you never know. :roll:

There was nothing extraordinary about Sastre's ride though, was there?

I think Sastre was in his lever(maybe a little better) and Evans did a bad TT (he hadn´t any wheell to follow )

skut

Garry H wrote:

skut wrote:

....till the A sample comes back.

Sorry to be a cynic but you never know. :roll:

There was nothing extraordinary about Sastre's ride though, was there?

No - but there was nothing bad about it either.

There was nothing extraordinary about Moises Duenas or Beltran's rides earlier in the tour.

TBH, I reckon if CSC are at it, it probably can't be tested for in any case.

ps the tests from Alpe D'Huez won't be back yet either remember.

donrhummy

skut wrote:

I'm talking about everyone I suppose.

CSC as a team definitely seem pretty suspect to me though.

perhaps I should have said "A samples"

Why?

Sastre's been top 4 a number of times. He's placed on the podium. So him being up there is no surprise and his 12th place today was fitting with his usual. It was Evans who lost.

Schleck raced like usual. Very well in the mountains and sucked in the TT.

Cancellara rode his usual - strong in the TT, and his ride in the mountains was over the 4% section. Nothing surprising there.

Andy has placed 2nd in the Giro (no small feat) and was strong but with a bad day that he never made up for.

So, what's suspicious?

Jez mon

Congratulations for the most necessary post ever.

Would you have posted the same if Cadel had won?

Garry H

skut wrote:

Garry H wrote:

skut wrote:

....till the A sample comes back.

Sorry to be a cynic but you never know. :roll:

There was nothing extraordinary about Sastre's ride though, was there?

No - but there was nothing bad about it either.

There was nothing extraordinary about Moises Duenas or Beltran's rides earlier in the tour.
TBH, I reckon if CSC are at it, it probably can't be tested for in any case.
ps the tests from Alpe D'Huez won't be back yet either remember.

Geez mate, you're clutching at straws here. Why should it have been bad? He rode within his usual level, Evans was the one that under-performed. He's more than capable of taking 1'34" off Sastre over 53KM. Sastre's a noted climber, his Alpe time wasn't partcularly fast. There's nothing to see here, move along.

gavintc

I agree, I think it was one of the cleanest tours and yes CSC did well. But, they were all men of ability.

Garry H

gavintc wrote:

I agree, I think it was one of the cleanest tours and yes CSC did well. But, they were all men of ability.

Indeed, we've all earned the right to be a wee bit cynical, but he's done nothing to warrant any suspicion.

claudb

I see nothing remotely untoward in this result. Sastre seemed to be about his recent level and Evans was simply too worn out mentally and physically. After all, Sastre was hardly seen until L' Alpe d Huez while Evans has been constantly under pressure - and really not looking all that strong. No, for me Sastre is a good winner and I'm pleased for him as he has battled away just missing out on big placings for years. He also seems a pleasant outgoing guy confirming the impression I got when I saw him 2 years ago in Malaga at La Vuelta start where he was happily posing for Photos with young children after the team presentation while several riders I tried to say hello to were much less communicative.

Garry H

claudb wrote:

I see nothing remotely untoward in this result. Sastre seemed to be about his recent level and Evans was simply too worn out mentally and physically. After all, Sastre was hardly seen until L' Alpe d Huez while Evans has been constantly under pressure - and really not looking all that strong. No, for me Sastre is a good winner and I'm pleased for him as he has battled away just missing out on big placings for years. He also seems a pleasant outgoing guy confirming the impression I got when I saw him 2 years ago in Malaga at La Vuelta start where he was happily posing for Photos with young children after the team presentation while several riders I tried to say hello to were much less communicative.

A good winner. Amen

skut

I really like Sastre as well, and I'm glad he beat Evans.

I I just don't think we'll be able to say for certain that Sastre has won when he's standing on the top step of the podium tomorrow.

fast as fupp

can we be certain of anything-it might all be just a dream

tony_s

The only other rider who's looked a bit suspect to me (apart from Ricco, before his dismissal) has been Schumacher

Bugly

Solid ride by Sastre - EVans looked to be weakened by the attacks by CSC in the Alps a deserving win.

In hindsight Sastre hiding in the pelaton till Alp de Heuz was Riis's tactic - he saved enough of himself to win - the rest of the CSC team did not time trial to their max ability as they were spent from their effort porpelling Sastre to the Mailott Juene. Kudos to a great team ride and victory in the GC, best young rider and best team.

A fantastic tour for them. Evans did well for a second place finish without any support from Silence Lotto.

Good tour and a slightly surprising winner.