Stage 4 - Team Time Trial SPOILER

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Comments

  • SpaceJunk
    SpaceJunk Posts: 1,157
    donrhummy wrote:
    BTW, if Lance isn't in yellow it actually works better. Now they don't have to defend yellow.

    I'm sure LA wishes they finished a second quicker.
  • skavanagh.bikeradar
    skavanagh.bikeradar Posts: 1,097
    I'm sure he does. Keeps things interesting all round though that he isn't.
  • Kléber
    Kléber Posts: 6,842
    What. A. Stage.

    I thought I'd have the stream on in the background, a TTT is always a bit of a procession but this got the adrenalin going, it was amazing. Prudhomme seems to be scripting races that a Hollywood wouldn't dare write.
  • Pokerface
    Pokerface Posts: 7,960
    So Evans is boned at 3 mins back. And Armstrong can potentially actually make the podium now.


    Bring on the mountains.
  • skavanagh.bikeradar
    skavanagh.bikeradar Posts: 1,097
    Won't have to wait long for 'em this year....
  • PeteinSQ
    PeteinSQ Posts: 2,292
    I don't think he is going to be in yellow at all now somehow. I still see him being dropped in the mountains.

    I think he missed his best opportunity here.
    <a><img></a>
  • donrhummy
    donrhummy Posts: 2,329
    Am I correct that Lance missed yellow by .05? I think he needed 46:29:27, right?
  • afx237vi
    afx237vi Posts: 12,630
    Fab C credits his jersey to Swiss timing... haha :lol:
  • SpaceJunk
    SpaceJunk Posts: 1,157
    Kléber wrote:
    What. A. Stage.

    I thought I'd have the stream on in the background, a TTT is always a bit of a procession but this got the adrenalin going, it was amazing. Prudhomme seems to be scripting races that a Hollywood wouldn't dare write.

    Yep, he's got the Midas touch. Wonder what Mount Ventoux will deliver.
  • Jez mon
    Jez mon Posts: 3,809
    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.

    What were you expecting a divided team to do, they wouldn't bother hurting their own chances, if there had been a mechanical, maybe we would have seen some difficult choices being made, but as it was the team kept together.
    You live and learn. At any rate, you live
  • Cumulonimbus
    Cumulonimbus Posts: 1,730
    Armstrong 00
    Contador 19
    Kloden 23
    Leipheimer 31
    Kreuziger 1:31
    Rogers 1:32
    Nibali 1:36
    A. Schleck 1:41
    Kirchen 2:16
    f Schleck 2:17
    Pellizotti 2:32
    Sastre 2:44
    Evans 2:59
    Gesink 3:36
    Menchov 3:52
  • afx237vi
    afx237vi Posts: 12,630
    Game over for Sastre, Evans and Menchov.
  • donrhummy
    donrhummy Posts: 2,329
    They're interviewing VandeVelde, he looks VERY tired. Of course they ask nothing but dumb questions like, "Was it the team's strategy to drop 4 guys early?"
  • PeteinSQ
    PeteinSQ Posts: 2,292
    First four actual contenders are from Astana. Pretty amazing.
    <a><img></a>
  • Cumulonimbus
    Cumulonimbus Posts: 1,730
    I make it that the fourth Astana rider is still one minute ahead of the first proper challenger from another team
  • donrhummy
    donrhummy Posts: 2,329
    Did you guys just see Lance heading towards the podium? Good lord. no wonder he has bodyguards. Even with cops, they couldn't stop the crowd. Some cops looked like they goot hurt there - the crowds are insane around Lance.
  • Cumulonimbus
    Cumulonimbus Posts: 1,730
    Although Vandevelde is at 1:16 - cant see him finishing quite as high as last year.
  • skavanagh.bikeradar
    skavanagh.bikeradar Posts: 1,097
    Weridly I now want Armstrong to be able to give Contador a run for his money as this might otherwise be a Tour that fizzles out given the time gaps to other GC men on other teams. A good day for Alberto I'd say.
  • Jez mon
    Jez mon Posts: 3,809
    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.
    You live and learn. At any rate, you live
  • le_patron
    le_patron Posts: 494
    afx237vi wrote:
    Game over for Sastre, Evans and Menchov.

    Mad isn't it, and we haven't even seen a mountain yet.

    There is bound to be a few twists and turns yet though.
  • PeteinSQ
    PeteinSQ Posts: 2,292
    skavanagh.bikeradar wrote:
    Weridly I now want Armstrong to be able to give Contador a run for his money as this might otherwise be a Tour that fizzles out given the time gaps to other GC men on other teams. A good day for Alberto I'd say.

    True. I just don't think Lance can manage it some how. I'm basing this on the Giro though.
    <a><img></a>
  • greeny12
    greeny12 Posts: 759
    So, realistically, of the main 'contenders':

    Evans gone
    Menchov gone
    Sastre got mountain to climb (literally)
    Schlecks struggling
    Kreuziger just about still there
    VDV not at races after Giro crash

    Astana benefit from here on in. Thank goodness for the Lance/Contador rivalry otherwise the next couple of weeks would be dull as dishwater.

    TTT was exciting, but it's killed the race as an open contest.
    My cycle racing blog: http://cyclingapprentice.wordpress.com/

    If you live in or near Sussex, check this out:
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  • dennisn
    dennisn Posts: 10,601
    afx237vi wrote:
    Game over for Sastre, Evans and Menchov.

    It would seem so, yet stranger things have happened. All it takes is one really good ride
    by someone to turn the whole thing around. Long way to go.
  • SpaceJunk
    SpaceJunk Posts: 1,157
    Jez mon 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.

    What were you expecting a divided team to do, they wouldn't bother hurting their own chances, if there had been a mechanical, maybe we would have seen some difficult choices being made, but as it was the team kept together.

    Of course not. They're professionals. My comment was more tongue in cheek after all the comments made yesterday after stage 3 how Astana would self destruct etc - you kow AC sabotaging the team.

    Sorry for any misunderstanding.

    Fabian should fo Blue Steel whilst on the podium.
  • edhornby
    edhornby Posts: 1,780
    this could well be one of those races to remember.. it probably already is

    I do feel sorry for Cadel though - yes he was slated for being a dull wheelsucker last year (I'd be the first to throw that one at him) but to be denied by the fact that his teammates couldn't TT is harsh really....
    "I get paid to make other people suffer on my wheel, how good is that"
    --Jens Voight
  • PeteinSQ
    PeteinSQ Posts: 2,292
    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.

    Yeah but he should dump crappy old Silence Lotto and move to a decent team. Its all very well being Robbie Mckewen and winning stages in a crap team because somehow you're invisible but that clearly isn't working for Cadel.
    <a><img></a>
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    How gutted did Ben Stiller look giving the jersey to Cancellara!
  • bipedal
    bipedal Posts: 466
    Ben Stiller looked a bit cheesed off!
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,725
    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.

    Always seems to pan out the same.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • afx237vi
    afx237vi Posts: 12,630
    Wow, a real megastar presents Cancellara with his jersey. Ben Stiller... erm... great... I really loved your performance in... erm... yeah, thanks.

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