Stage 4 - Team Time Trial SPOILER

Cumulonimbus

Blazing Saddles wrote:

I find it amazing that we had all those crashes, but none of the big hitting teams at the end, had so much as a puncture between them.

Maybe because they'd noted which corners were causing the problems?

donrhummy

Bernard Hinault looked a little nervous there. LOL.

Good to see Poulidor there!

PeteinSQ

Or they had practised the course more, or they have better riders.

afx237vi

Jez mon wrote:

I have to say, feel sorry for Cadel today, this is the issue with TTTs, they can be very harsh to riders without good teams.

Agreed. The old time limiting rule was crap, but maybe 39 km is still too long. The Giro and Vuelta have it right... 20 kilometres or thereabouts is the right distance. Still makes a selection, but doesn't put anyone out of contention.

donrhummy

Totally O/T but what the heck is with Ben Stiller's hair? He looks like he was training in the wind tunnel without a helmet.

afx237vi

So what happened to Robin Williams? Did Lance ditch him for a younger model?

PeteinSQ

They were in dodgeball together weren't they? (Lance and Ben Stiller)

jackhammer111 - banned

afx237vi wrote:

SpaceJunk wrote:

Will people now shut up about Astana being divided now?

That was a great team win by them.

And Fabian - he singularly kept his yellow. Brilliant stage. Why did they ever take TTT out?

Silence Lotto only ones who wished they didn't.

Do you really believe they're not divided after what Noval said?

zzzzzzzzzzzz...

It's certainly a good tactic to let competition think you are divided but I doubt the other DS's are fooled. The thing they have to worry about is not knowing what rider to mark when when the mountains come.

Rhods

A lot of people are writing some of the main GC contenders off because they're a minute down. I think it potentially makes things interesting - now, they'll have to attack if they want to make the time back. That will, in turn, show us how Astana will react and who will do the chasing!

bipedal

Rhods wrote:

A lot of people are writing some of the main GC contenders off because they're a minute down. I think it potentially makes things interesting - now, they'll have to attack if they want to make the time back. That will, in turn, show us how Astana will react and who will do the chasing!

Who's got the attacking chops though? Sastre and the Schlecks maybe... but Cadel and Menchov don't stand a chance

afx237vi

jackhammer111 wrote:

afx237vi wrote:

Do you really believe they're not divided after what Noval said?

zzzzzzzzzzzz...

It's certainly a good tactic to let competition think you are divided but I doubt the other DS's are fooled. The thing they have to worry about is not knowing what rider to mark when when the mountains come.

Maybe they won't have to worry. We may see a repeat of the T-Mobile tactics used a few years ago - Armstrong marks AC, Kloden marks Armstrong, Levi marks Kloden... everyone else benefits. Kloden has lots of practise in that type of racing.

micron

Or it means that Astana will set a train in the mountains inhibiting all attacks until they launch Conatdor/Armstrong in the last 3 kms. Normal service has been resumed :roll:

mididoctors

NapoleonD wrote:

How gutted did Ben Stiller look giving the jersey to Cancellara!

very

how abut Lance failing to get a kiss off the podium girl...

top_bhoy

afx237vi wrote:

Jez mon wrote:

I have to say, feel sorry for Cadel today, this is the issue with TTTs, they can be very harsh to riders without good teams.

Agreed. The old time limiting rule was crap, but maybe 39 km is still too long. The Giro and Vuelta have it right... 20 kilometres or thereabouts is the right distance. Still makes a selection, but doesn't put anyone out of contention.

Great to watch but a TTT only benefits the big budget teams and needs to be scrapped. It wouldn't be my preference but a crit would be preferable to a TTT if some localised event is required.

mididoctors

roman Kreuzniger ... nibali and sastre are all still there


Saxo bank I think will survive the 3 weeks better than first appears

great stage..

very good ride by Gamin..

columbia=tired

Rhods

bipedal wrote:

Rhods wrote:

A lot of people are writing some of the main GC contenders off because they're a minute down. I think it potentially makes things interesting - now, they'll have to attack if they want to make the time back. That will, in turn, show us how Astana will react and who will do the chasing!

Who's got the attacking chops though? Sastre and the Schlecks maybe... but Cadel and Menchov don't stand a chance

I was thinking more Sastre, potentially the Schlecks. Let's be honest, after the opening TT Menchov didn't look up to much. I'm sure Cadel will try his best too- no point waiting for his team to chase people down. That won't happen and he doesn't have the edge in the TT. He'll have to try something.

Liquigas look ok; have they got enough firepower to help Kreuziger do something?

afx237vi

Cadel should change tack and go for the polka dots. 3 minutes is too much to make up.

Cumulonimbus

A few teams there with a few contenders. Liquigas arguably have 3. Hopefully they can go on the attack a lot and try to tire out Astana. Mayeb CSC could send F Schleck up the road as well? Andorra could be a very active stage as the next two stages have a long run in making it hard for a few people to slip away.

blazing_saddles

afx237vi wrote:

Cadel should change tack and go for the polka dots. 3 minutes is too much to make up.

He should have already changed tack and ridden the Giro.
Dennis has already had a winning season and Cuddles will even lose his enernal second tag.

Me? I think I'll try and peer through the media's sea of turqoise and wrinkles, to follow the white jersey battle.
Looks to be where the action will be.

top_bhoy

Cadel went quite well in the recent Dauphiné Libéré but I don't think he has the kick to get away from the main contenders and I don't think the likes of Astana would allow him to get away to collect KoM points without hunting him down - just in case.

His only chance is for one day in the mountains - put his head down, take a chance and just go blast it earlier than he normally would. An almost 'all or nothing' approach.

jackhammer111 - banned

afx237vi wrote:

jackhammer111 wrote:

afx237vi wrote:

Do you really believe they're not divided after what Noval said?

zzzzzzzzzzzz...

It's certainly a good tactic to let competition think you are divided but I doubt the other DS's are fooled. The thing they have to worry about is not knowing what rider to mark when when the mountains come.

Maybe they won't have to worry. We may see a repeat of the T-Mobile tactics used a few years ago - Armstrong marks AC, Kloden marks Armstrong, Levi marks Kloden... everyone else benefits. Kloden has lots of practise in that type of racing.

Of course what I mean by marks is marking an attack. The team may have decided this already and if not they will. They can launch diversionary attacks from any or all of 3 different riders at this point. Which one do you follow if you are another team?

donrhummy

jackhammer111 wrote:

PeteinSQ wrote:

I see Alberto wasn't there to give Lance a hug.

Wrong! Hi five and a hug.

No, I believe you might be incorrect here. Are you sure you saw Contador (in his Spain colors, NOT in the Astana colors) hugging Lance? I didn't and i watched the hug/high-fives 4 times.

frenchfighter

Wow that was exciting and how wonderful it was to watch it on my French satelitte - the rtbf commentary was pretty good.

Crazy amount of crashes.

Although it provides interest to the viewers, a long TTT can be a bit too harsh to some GC contenders, effectively ruling them out. HOWEVER being split as it is, it could provide more excitement as there will be more attacks.

At one point, one of the Schlecks nearly took out the rider behind him four times in 20 secs by weaving blindly!!

Cancellara's pulls were incredible and I am glad to see him in yellow still, espceially as it means he will be riding his stylish ride

Robbie McEwen said that Armstrong sat up in the last 50m to let Fabian hold it but that is just nonsence. He also thinks he will win it...

Menchov crash:
http://www.steephill.tv/players/youtube ... fLoc&w=560

Bbox crash:
http://www.steephill.tv/players/youtube ... 9aCY&w=560

frenchfighter

WTF is wrong with the weather here - I cannot see more than 30m for all the hailstones :shock:

Btw, Roche speaks superb French.

donrhummy

The only contender outside Astana who can ride away from Contador and Astana in the mountains is Andy Schleck. I don't see anyone else, not even Sastre who can do it.

frenchfighter

dennisn

frenchfighter wrote:

Wow that was exciting and how wonderful it was to watch it on my French satelitte - the rtbf commentary was pretty good.

Crazy amount of crashes.

Although it provides interest to the viewers, a long TTT can be a bit too harsh to some GC contenders, effectively ruling them out. HOWEVER being split as it is, it could provide more excitement as there will be more attacks.

At one point, one of the Schlecks nearly took out the rider behind him four times in 20 secs by weaving blindly!!

Cancellara's pulls were incredible and I am glad to see him in yellow still, espceially as it means he will be riding his stylish ride (Graham Watson):


Robbie McEwen said that Armstrong sat up in the last 50m to let Fabian hold it but that is just nonsence. He also thinks he will win it...

Guess who made sure he was centre stage (Getty Images):


Menchov crash:
http://www.steephill.tv/players/youtube ... fLoc&w=560

Bbox crash:
http://www.steephill.tv/players/youtube ... 9aCY&w=560

Thanks for the video links. I'm was sitting here at work following it on cycling news(no video) and while it's OK, it's not quite the same as seeing things happen.

frenchfighter

WTF has gone wrong with the weather. Outside here are the worst hailstones I have ever seen in my whole life. It is like a river on the ground.

I wish I was here:


Btw, this Tour has had more excitement already than there was in three weeks of the Giro.

juggler

Interesting for tomorrow... on paper win for Cav, but the other spinters and teams will be wanting revenge for yesteday, given being left red faced from the breakaway and Colombia comments post race whihc made them look like chumps.

GC... less than a second between Armstrong and Cancellara..... interesting, given Astana have 5 guys i tink in top 7, they can put someone out for a breakway, rackon they will kepp their powder dry until Thursday, but who know... interesting race, especially as only in first week.

frenchfighter

Dennisn:

Last 6k of Astana's ride:
http://www.steephill.tv/players/youtube ... OynI&w=560

Last 2k of Saxo:
http://www.steephill.tv/players/youtube ... 42iY&w=560

VDB crash:
http://www.sporza.be/cm/sporza/videozon ... s/1.559007