Tour De France stage 3
Comments
-
Rhods, it's all part of the three week soap opera, complete with many sub-plots. And one of those is the Astana team and how it will function, given the outstanding favourite for the race is Contador yet he's having to battle against a team mate of his.
It's fascinating and makes the Tour one of the rare sports events where the more you follow, the more interesting it gets.0 -
dennisn wrote:Is this a case of you're not pleased so therefore your chosen rider isn't pleased? He must be p*ssed off because I am?
Is he negotiating for his exit or just putting the squeeze on them for more money?
Could it work either way in both cases?
No. He's not going to be pleased because Lance shows him very little respect but expects that same respect from others. Carlos Sastre said the same. Lance has no loyalty to the team, even less so now that he's out on his ear after the Tour
Whatever. So, did Rogers let Lance know in advance...
They're old friends from St Mortiz you know.Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.0 -
Common sense in an uncommon degree is what the world calls wisdom0
-
iainf72 wrote:dennisn wrote:Is this a case of you're not pleased so therefore your chosen rider isn't pleased? He must be p*ssed off because I am?
Is he negotiating for his exit or just putting the squeeze on them for more money?
Could it work either way in both cases?
Whatever. So, did Rogers let Lance know in advance...
They're old friends from St Mortiz you know.
George H.?0 -
out trainning with mick "take a massive pull" rogers?"If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm0
-
St Moritz is Dr Ferrari's base camp.0
-
OH please just shut up about who did what to what team mate, it was a fantastic stage, great entertainment.
stop whining and enjoy it.
flame proof suit at the ready.0 -
Kléber wrote:Interestingly Christophe Le Mevel said he was on Contador's wheel when the move went and the Spaniard blew, he was unable to hold the wheel in front.
do you have the source for that?
If it's true AC was gassed at that point in a flat stage he's in big trouble.
hard to believe.
i really doubt it.0 -
On l'equipe, translated
Alberto Contador (ESP / Astana): "I will not begin to comment on the tactics of the team, each draw its own conclusions."Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.0 -
jackhammer111 wrote:Kléber wrote:Interestingly Christophe Le Mevel said he was on Contador's wheel when the move went and the Spaniard blew, he was unable to hold the wheel in front.
do you have the source for that?
It's the footnote to this report on VN.0 -
Oui, http://www.lequipe.fr/Cyclisme/breves20 ... lache.htmljackhammer111 wrote:do you have the source for that?0 -
Started off a bit boring until that break led by Colombia. Made for great watching!
Awesome performance by Cav, and Lance of course.Shazam !!0 -
Evans needs more fat thighed belgium rouleurs in his team..."If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm0
-
Cumulonimbus wrote:
Yes, if this had been different people involved then we would be talking about what a good ride it was. The fact that there were no other GC guys there accounts for the poor chase too i imagine.RichN95 wrote:I don't see the problem with Astana did today. If one of your GC candidates has a chance to gain 40 seconds on all his rivals - you take it.
Bertie's only 19s down and in 4th, so he's hardly out of contention.If he can't take that back off a 38 year old in the mountains then he doesn't deserve to win (I'm sure Schleck, Evans et al will).RichN95 wrote:
The sprinters (except Cav and Thor) need to have a good hard look themselves though - out a green jersey contention in two stages.
Its a long way to Paris but it will be hard to pull back Cav's lead. The lack of chase from Rabobank and Quickstep makes me wonder if they've given up all ready? Rabobank do have the TTT tomorrow in which they will try and limit their losses for Gesink and Menchov (although he may have other concerns) but you'd have thought that they would have given it a go.
As for Quickstep i would have thought that their main goal was Boonen in the sprints? Apparently he isnt quite there yet given the drama but even so i would have thought they would have put a good chase on?
You are right the wailing and gnashing of teeth is purely becuase its Lance, the animosity towards him seems to have a strange side effect on people you notice ............ie the inability to see a normal race tactic when it hits you square in the face. I couldnt care less if Lance pulls out tommorow but i admit i do take pleasure in his ability to have forum posters the world over puce with rage................brillaint so it is.Gasping - but somehow still alive !0 -
Anyone remember a comment by one of the other GC contenders about T-mobile having "too many cowboys and not enough Indians" a few years back? Can't remember who it was said it...
What a b*****d0 -
It's not often I agree with arch-devils advocate Moray, but I found myself texting my training buddy this afternoon moaning about Armstrong urging all and sundry to pull out the gap whilst doing sod all himself. He rightly pointed out "that's the game, you've done it yourself. The rest is showbiz"
Too true, whatever is happening on the inside of Astana is simply brilliant entertainment. From a personal point of view, what Armstrong did makes absolute sense, from a team perspective, the fact that contador was riding tells me he was ad libbing."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'"
@gietvangent0 -
stjohnswell wrote:jackhammer111 wrote:Kléber wrote:Interestingly Christophe Le Mevel said he was on Contador's wheel when the move went and the Spaniard blew, he was unable to hold the wheel in front.
do you have the source for that?
It's the footnote to this report on VN.
Thanks... seems odd to blame a single rider for such a spit.... wrong actually... people were free to pass him and he doesn't take up much room.
The only GCer in the split was Lance. Why chase? It's only stage 3. There's no question that Columbia floored it. Alberto has shown patience in the past, like his giro win.
Astana had been all together before the split. It almost seems like a conscious decision have one with the front of the split and one with the other GCers. A split was obviously very possible under those winds. JB be no dummy.
Remember what the 3rd week of this will be like. I keep reminding people that AC didn't even show up in the top 10 of the 07 tour until stage 8. It's the tour, there'll be plenty of climbing to sort things out.0 -
Kléber wrote:
Oui, http://www.lequipe.fr/Cyclisme/breves20 ... lache.htmljackhammer111 wrote:do you have the source for that?
thanks again... i believe the quote but have little to no respect for L'Equipe.
The bit about Paris-Nice is way out of context. As I recall AC's 4th had way more to do with a food bonk on a climbing stage than being trapped by a curb anywhere.0 -
jackhammer111 wrote:have little to no respect for L'Equipe.
Why?0 -
Just go read the cyclingnews forums.diarmuid wrote:jackhammer111 wrote:have little to no respect for L'Equipe.
Why?
Anything that may have any tenuous link to Armstrong et al.
Jack is very popular over there for his L'Equipe hating."Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
The reference to Paris-Nice is not out of context, it simply mentions he lost a minute during the race before finishing fourth overall. Knowing he's already been caught out by this sort of team tactics just four months ago is highly relevant.
As for L'Equipe it has a great website, a big roster of staff and is often first with the news. It's essential reading during July.0 -
I don't know why anyone thinks Lance needed a nod from whoever to get in that move. He's always sat in the first 20 at every key point in any race, just watch the TV pictures.
He'll have read the road book, noted which way the wind's blowing, wouldn't put it past him to have known about that central reservation too.
Popo's always sat infront of him, so no surprises there either.
Cancellara saw it coming too, straight onto the move, because he was up front also.
Those who missed it, were dawdling towards the back.
Big kudos to Columbia, Skil & the rest who either were in the move from the off, or saw it go & knew they had to get up there.Remember that you are an Englishman and thus have won first prize in the lottery of life.0 -
diarmuid wrote:jackhammer111 wrote:have little to no respect for L'Equipe.
Why?
it goes way back.. but even recently they interviewed Kohl only to have Kohl flattly deny saying the things that got the most attention... and just this last week they assured us there would be 5-7 more sanctions coming from UCI before the Tour.
UCI immediately said they were wrong and no more sanctions happened.
They are owned by ASO.0 -
Eurostar wrote:Another incentive for the Astanas to ride for Armstrong is the Vino angle. No doubt Lance is telling everyone that the Kazakhs won't come up with the money and that Bruyneel will soon own the licence, with funding and sponsors sorted by you know who. For a young Astana domestique it must be very difficult to disobey the wealthiest most influential man in cycling when the future of the team is in doubt.
Cause Haimar Zubeldia and Yaroslav Popovych - the two Astani in the break besides Armstrong - are such spring chickens... :roll:
Anyway enough of the Astana in-fighting, or not, or whatever, that was a great ride by Columbia and I'm hoping they'll still have enough in the tank to put Martin into yellow. He's an exciting rider and it'd be great to see the team having both yellow and green - reward for some aggressive riding0 -
Dirk Van Gently wrote:OH please just shut up about who did what to what team mate, it was a fantastic stage, great entertainment.
stop whining and enjoy it.
flame proof suit at the ready.
Dirk - I think that everyone is enjoying this little Astana civil war. It's absolutely hilarious.
Not as entertaining as today's stage though, what a performance by the boys in yellow! :shock:0 -
Kléber wrote:The reference to Paris-Nice is not out of context, it simply mentions he lost a minute during the race before finishing fourth overall. Knowing he's already been caught out by this sort of team tactics just four months ago is highly relevant.
As for L'Equipe it has a great website, a big roster of staff and is often first with the news. It's essential reading during July.
I think it's a little but harsh on Contador, it's not like he's a rouleur who can jjust belt along in those situations like that. And in P-N, he was one of many to be caught out, and it was in fact him who contributed to help close down the gaps between groups. The only ones who weren't caught were the northern classics specialists, who were blowing riders out of their own group they were going so hard.0 -
just watched the replay when the break happened. Contador does indeed sit up and pull off leaving someone else to chase the break and causing the gap to form. I cant understand why he just sits up and peels off..
He also has another astana rider with him who does the same..
0 -
Dirk Van Gently wrote:OH please just shut up about who did what to what team mate, it was a fantastic stage, great entertainment.
stop whining and enjoy it.
flame proof suit at the ready.
Imagine. People discussing cycling on a cycling forum. Outrageous.0 -
Aye. Easy to say it from the comfort of my sofa, but that junction looked tailor made for a move - 90 degree turn on a single carriageway, in an area famed for difficult crosswinds, the day before a TTT so some of the stronger riders will be told not to overcook it in the chase... Strikes me that a lot of teams didn't do their homework, were lazy or got complacent (I'm looking at you VaughtersOffTheBackAdam wrote:I don't know why anyone thinks Lance needed a nod from whoever to get in that move. He's always sat in the first 20 at every key point in any race, just watch the TV pictures.
He'll have read the road book, noted which way the wind's blowing, wouldn't put it past him to have known about that central reservation too.
Popo's always sat infront of him, so no surprises there either.
Cancellara saw it coming too, straight onto the move, because he was up front also.
Those who missed it, were dawdling towards the back.
Big kudos to Columbia, Skil & the rest who either were in the move from the off, or saw it go & knew they had to get up there.
- disappointing for Wiggins, but then he should have been hanging near the front with Cancellara).
Great exciting finish. Glad I recorded and watched Eurosport, rather than bothering with Phil and Paul's w*nkfest. Hope that shakes a few GC attacks out on Friday...
0
