*Spoliers* Tour de France talk *Spoilers*

attica

30k and already there are 5 distinct groups on the road, hope some big names attack at some point.

cjcp

Some strong riders in that big group. Wonder if Roulston and Haussler have gone ahead to help Sastre up the final climb.

attica

Spartacus is up there too for Schleck

jonginge

Attica wrote:

Spartacus is up there too for Schleck

And Big Jens 'the tank'

attica

What does Hushovd stand to gain from pushing himself today? surely he's little chance of sprint points, yet he's not in the autobus

jonginge

Listening to the eurosport commentary. Here's a bit of paraphrasing:
A: Stuey OGrady, he's a bit chunky. Big Head.
SK: No, not really.
A: Chunkier than Andy Schleck
SK: Well, certaintly. I'm waiting for him to fall over

attica

Attica wrote:

What does Hushovd stand to gain from pushing himself today? surely he's little chance of sprint points, yet he's not in the autobus

Now Cavendish is in the group in front of Thor, WTF?

Deadeye Duck

Attica wrote:

Attica wrote:

What does Hushovd stand to gain from pushing himself today? surely he's little chance of sprint points, yet he's not in the autobus

Now Cavendish is in the group in front of Thor, WTF?

It's in every sprinters best interests to stay with the peloton as long as possible. The larger number of riders means they'll have more shelter and it'll only be a bit harder for them as being in a smaller group at a slower pace. That's usually why you see the grupetto grow in size over the course of the stage as riders drop back one by one as they're spat out the back of the peloton. Also, the longer they're in the peloton, the less time they'll have to spend at the front of the grupetto doing their part.

Capo

Coriander wrote:

Greg66 wrote:

Anyone see the interview with Dave Brailsford on the ITV4 prog this evening?

Having talked around the fact that he's looking for top Euro talent as well as Brits:

"So, Alberto Contador. He's very unsettled where he is. Would you have him?"

"No."

"No" was delivered in a flat tone of "No, and not even if you wrapped him in free money."

Does he know something, I wonder? Or is that reading too much into it?

I saw that and was intrigued as well. Maybe he just knows that he couldn't afford him? Or maybe he figures there's no point creating a team around someone who will always win, giving little opportunity for the up and coming Brits to shine...???

Could it be something to do with Contador on the Stage into Verbier breaking Bjarne Riis's climbing record and hardly looking out of breath at the end of it? Just saying...

Capo

Thought Wiggo had a chance to go second on podium for a moment there... great work by LA to get back into the Schleck/Contador/Wiggins etc attack

attica

@DeadEyeDuck
I get that but Thor and Cav have swapped places today, when I posted that Cav was in a group with the GC contenders, now it seems that Thor is in a group of 1 and last on the road!!! (call me partisan but I hope he misses the cut)

Deadeye Duck

Attica wrote:

@DeadEyeDuck
I get that but Thor and Cav have swapped places today, when I posted that Cav was in a group with the GC contenders, now it seems that Thor is in a group of 1 and last on the road!!! (call me partisan but I hope he misses the cut)

That would infact make my day, and I would heartily lol all the way home tonight.

jonginge

Rob, I believe the tour stats page about as far as I could comfortably spit out a rat. Cav in the gruppetto, way back...

il_principe

Get in there Lance! and GOOOOOO WIGGINS!!

Capo

OUCH!!!!

Jens Voight really bad fall at speed descending, hit something in road, slid along for ages, I couldn't even watch the second replay, mserious road rash, hope nothing broken.

attica

JonGinge wrote:

Rob, I believe the tour stats page about as far as I could comfortably spit out a rat. Cav in the gruppetto, way back...

Haha, you've no idea how frustrating it is with no TV coverage, I'm giving the BBC ticker a try now.

DonDaddyD

I gotta say I'm finding this a little boring. Contador has won this tour and it all seems manufactured.

He hasn't really had to attack nor has he really been challenged by anyone. He has performed two notable attacks and that's all I can remember of him (oh and the first TT). Where is the epic duel, the behind the scenes story and the controversy that we're having to create ourselves through speculation about Team GB.

The story of this tour has been about other things such as Astana Leadership - Armstrong has now enough momentum/publicity to leave and start his new team, Cavendish and Wiggins. In my eyes, if the tour ended today even with Contador in Yellow, they (Cavendish, Armstrong and Wiggins) would be the real winners.

Tell me I'm wrong, go on.

Deadeye Duck

You're wrong.

DonDaddyD

Deadeye Duck wrote:

You're wrong.

Why?

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the first week. I enjoyed the hints of inter-team rivalry between Bertie and Lance - though it all seemed to come to a flat anti-climax. I loved the tactics used in some stages and the interplay between riders. But those were largely individual moments of a larger story that didn't really happy.

Deadeye Duck

You didn't say anything about justifying it

Capo

Jonathan Vaughters has just tweeted that rumour is cranial traumatism for Jens Voigt. Sounds bad.

cjcp

Capo wrote:

Jonathan Vaughters has just tweeted that rumour is cranial traumatism for Jens Voigt. Sounds bad.

I hope Voigt's family knew this before it found its way onto Twitter.

Hope he's ok.

jonginge

cjcp wrote:

Capo wrote:

Jonathan Vaughters has just tweeted that rumour is cranial traumatism for Jens Voigt. Sounds bad.

I hope Voigt's family knew this before it found its way onto Twitter.

Hope he's ok.

+1
Crash sounded a bit horrific
Come on Jens

cjcp

There's something far more enjoyable watching Voigt and Cancellara absolutely bury themselves for their team along the flats or the start of the climb than there is seeing AC scamper up a rockface on two wheels.

Coriander

cjcp wrote:

There's something far more enjoyable watching Voigt and Cancellara absolutely bury themselves for their team along the flats or the start of the climb than there is seeing AC scamper up a rockface on two wheels.

+1

Such a display of selflessness moves me to tears.

Jeez, I'm getting soppy. :roll:

Sea_Green_Incorruptible

Capo wrote:

Coriander wrote:

Greg66 wrote:

Anyone see the interview with Dave Brailsford on the ITV4 prog this evening?

Having talked around the fact that he's looking for top Euro talent as well as Brits:

"So, Alberto Contador. He's very unsettled where he is. Would you have him?"

"No."

"No" was delivered in a flat tone of "No, and not even if you wrapped him in free money."

Does he know something, I wonder? Or is that reading too much into it?

I saw that and was intrigued as well. Maybe he just knows that he couldn't afford him? Or maybe he figures there's no point creating a team around someone who will always win, giving little opportunity for the up and coming Brits to shine...???

Could it be something to do with Contador on the Stage into Verbier breaking Bjarne Riis's climbing record and hardly looking out of breath at the end of it? Just saying...

Ha! That's what I thought too. Brailsford looked like someone had just asked him to kiss a scabby monkey on the ar*e when Contador's name was mentioned. The implication was pretty clear I thought.

oscarbudgie

DonDaddyD wrote:

Deadeye Duck wrote:

You're wrong.

Why?

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the first week. I enjoyed the hints of inter-team rivalry between Bertie and Lance - though it all seemed to come to a flat anti-climax. I loved the tactics used in some stages and the interplay between riders. But those were largely individual moments of a larger story that didn't really happy.

Can you tell me how on earth Contadors attack on Armstrong on Verbier was a 'flat anti-climax'! It was f@#kcin brilliant. Now Contador has to defend yellow all week against the Schlecks, Wiggins Sastre and, (despite what he says )Armstrong. No mistakes permitted while they all attack him + he's got to defend at least the gap he has to Wiggins especially or be forced to take chances in the TT which Bradley could monster. I think if you want instant winners you should look to (yawn) track cycling.

Stone Glider

Imagine how much AC would cost a team. He would command a huge fee in his own right, then demand supporting riders of exceptional quality (and wages) to ensure that he would deliver the GT wins his talent deserves.

Sky's money will only stretch so far and Team GB will be a small operation in the first years, with no automatic invites to the top races. Perhaps D B's reaction was a reflection of the absurdity of the question?

greg66_tri_v2.0

Stone Glider wrote:

Imagine how much AC would cost a team. He would command a huge fee in his own right, then demand supporting riders of exceptional quality (and wages) to ensure that he would deliver the GT wins his talent deserves.

Sky's money will only stretch so far and Team GB will be a small operation in the first years, with no automatic invites to the top races. Perhaps D B's reaction was a reflection of the absurdity of the question?

Possibly. If a picture's worth 1000 words, then a video clip is worth 1000 pictures. Watch the clip, and draw your own conclusions. Reading about what he said/how he said it is no substitute for watching it.

DonDaddyD

oscarbudgie wrote:

DonDaddyD wrote:

Deadeye Duck wrote:

You're wrong.

Why?

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the first week. I enjoyed the hints of inter-team rivalry between Bertie and Lance - though it all seemed to come to a flat anti-climax. I loved the tactics used in some stages and the interplay between riders. But those were largely individual moments of a larger story that didn't really happy.

Can you tell me how on earth Contadors attack on Armstrong on Verbier was a 'flat anti-climax'! It was f@#kcin brilliant. Now Contador has to defend yellow all week against the Schlecks, Wiggins Sastre and, (despite what he says )Armstrong. No mistakes permitted while they all attack him + he's got to defend at least the gap he has to Wiggins especially or be forced to take chances in the TT which Bradley could monster. I think if you want instant winners you should look to (yawn) track cycling.

Yes the second of Contador's two attacks in two weeks was something, rare, but quite something. I wonder if the rarity of the attack makes it that much more special...

As for the other stuff, Contador having to defend the jersey, that waits to be seen. As of today nothing of that sort really happened.

On team Sky. One would think that Team Sky - being able to fund an entire team with it as the sole sponsor with the exception of probable Boardman bikes - is likely to be one of the more richer teams in pro cycling. I mean Sky TV is hugely profitable and the TV revenue alone from Sky on the Continent (which in the past hasn't been that popular) showing all the bike races featuring Team Sky will add to its financial clout.