Stage 7 spoiler

Cumulonimbus
Cumulonimbus Posts: 1,730
edited July 2009 in Pro race
Stage 7 - Barcelona to Andorra. The first day in the mountains. The Astana pairing of Contador and Armstrong are near the top of the standings and have gained much time on the other favourites. Can the others pull back some time or will the Astana boys increase their advantage and turn this year's tour into a procession?

I think that there will be a lot of attacks on the climb to Andorra. People have a lot of time to make up and cant afford to waste a day like today. Someone from Astana reckoned that the Schlecks and Evans' of the world would be watching each other but at the moment Astana hold 1, 2 and 3 so i think the challengers' eyes will be elsewhere.

An attack will go off early on and could contain quite a lot of people. I expect Moncoutie to be there with a team mate along with a bunch of other hopefuls. Euskaltel will probably want to target this stage. Astana may have a lot of work to do in this tour so will they work that much early in the stage or will the break get a big enough lead for one of the guys to win the stage? I think that the break may initially get a big lead but that Astana will try to really ramp up the speed as we approach the final climb. Cancellara is apparently lighter but he must have worked hard for his yellow so i think he bows out of it today. Maybe losing 4 minutes? Tony Martin is still high up and after his good placing in the TdS it will be interesting to see how he goes today.
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Comments

  • Kléber
    Kléber Posts: 6,842
    It's a big day. I've got frayed nerves after the racing so far, from the suspense of the TTT and yellow jersey to the antics of Millar and Voeckler.

    But I'm wondering if today will be an anti-climax. Guys like Evans have lost time so in theory it's up to them to launch a long range attack but these are desperate moves. If they try this, they risk getting overhauled and then dropped and losing more time. So I think a lot of the second-string contenders might prefer to bide their time and learn who's-who in the mountains before trying to pinch back 20-30 seconds here and there, they will probably still want to finish 5th overall rather than trying for a podium spot and failing, ending up in 15th place.

    Astana will be interesting, will Contador attack or will the team ride in such a sense that he can't move that freely? The final climb is not that hard, yes it's a big one but there are no vicious ramps to cause changes in pace, the road to Arcalis can accomodate a bigger rider like Evans, Kreuziger or even Armstrong.
  • timoid.
    timoid. Posts: 3,133
    Kléber wrote:

    The final climb is not that hard, yes it's a big one but there are no vicious ramps to cause changes in pace, the road to Arcalis can accomodate a bigger rider like Evans, Kreuziger or even Armstrong.[/quote]

    What about chinny? Can he trial his way up it with the main contenders?

    Here's to Schleck the younger turning on the turbos.
    It's a little like wrestling a gorilla. You don't quit when you're tired. You quit when the gorilla is tired.
  • disgruntledgoat
    disgruntledgoat Posts: 8,957
    Kléber wrote:
    they will probably still want to finish 5th overall rather than trying for a podium spot and failing, ending up in 15th place.

    Anybody riding like this should be reported to Mr. Hinault for realignment
    "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'"

    @gietvangent
  • Doobz
    Doobz Posts: 2,800
    funny quote from here http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/10072009/58/tour-de-france-astana-dilemma-tour-enters-mountains.html

    "If I am Contador, I don't take the (yellow) jersey, it would be like committing hara-kiri.
    cartoon.jpg
  • Kléber
    Kléber Posts: 6,842
    Disgruntledgoat, it's not a very exciting attitude but it's the old cliche, expect it to be repeated today, "you don't win the Tour in one stage, but you can lose it in one stage" etc.

    Here's to Sastre, Evans, Pellizotti, Frank Schleck, Casar, Nibali and Menchov taking turns to attack on the Serra-Seca but don't get your hopes up.
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    At this stage last year, Sastre was 1.34 back on a weaker pack. He is currently 2.44 back.

    General classification after stage 6 2008

    1 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Team Columbia 24.30.41
    2 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto 0.06
    3 Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Gerolsteiner 0.16
    4 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30 0.44
    5 David Millar (GBr) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30 0.47
    6 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Team Columbia 0.54
    7 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 1.03
    8 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 1.12
    9 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Quick Step 1.21
    10 Oscar Pereiro Sio (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
    11 Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 1.27
    12 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC - Saxo Bank 1.34
    13 Maxime Monfort (Bel) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 1.40
    14 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre 1.42
    15 George Hincapie (USA) Team Columbia 1.45
    16 Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 1.49
    17 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC - Saxo Bank 1.56
    18 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team CSC - Saxo Bank 1.58
    19 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) Gerolsteiner 2.03
    20 Christian Knees (Ger) Team Milram 2.04
    21 Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Lampre 2.06
    22 Tadej Valjavec (Slo) AG2R La Mondiale 2.19
    23 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas 2.20

    Final General classification 2008

    1 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC - Saxo Bank 87.52.52
    2 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto 0.58
    3 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) Gerolsteiner 1.13
    4 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 2.10
    5 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30 3.05
    6 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC - Saxo Bank 4.28
    7 Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 6.25
    8 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Team Columbia 6.55
    9 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 7.12
    10 Tadej Valjavec (Slo) AG2R La Mondiale 9.05

    General classification after stage 6 2009

    1 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team Saxo Bank 19:29:22
    2 Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana
    3 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana 0:00:19
    4 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana 0:00:23
    5 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana 0:00:31
    6 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream 0:00:38
    7 Tony Martin (Ger) Team Columbia - HTC 0:00:52
    8 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin - Slipstream 0:01:16
    9 Gustav Erik Larsson (Swe) Team Saxo Bank 0:01:22
    10 Maxime Monfort (Bel) Team Columbia - HTC 0:01:29
    11 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas 0:01:31
    12 George Hincapie (USA) Team Columbia - HTC 0:01:36
    13 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas
    14 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 0:01:41
    Contador is the Greatest
  • disgruntledgoat
    disgruntledgoat Posts: 8,957
    Kléber wrote:
    Disgruntledgoat, it's not a very exciting attitude but it's the old cliche, expect it to be repeated today, "you don't win the Tour in one stage, but you can lose it in one stage" etc.

    Here's to Sastre, Evans, Pellizotti, Frank Schleck, Casar, Nibali and Menchov taking turns to attack on the Serra-Seca but don't get your hopes up.

    Fair point... But maybe somebody can ask them later on in the day who finished 5th in the 1992 Tour and who almost won yellow with a mammoth suicide breakaway.
    "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'"

    @gietvangent
  • Kléber
    Kléber Posts: 6,842
    The attacks have begun, J-I Gutierrez of Caisse d'Epargne is up the road with Egoi Martinez and Christope Riblon, with a chasing group at 20 seconds, the bunch 50 seconds down. Expect a very fast first hour.
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    The Tour last visited Arcalis in 1997 where it served as the finish for stage 10. That year, 23 year old Jan Ullrich of Deutsche Telekom attacked with 10 kilometers to go, and took the stage win ahead of Marco Pantani of Mercatone Uno and Richard Virenque of Festina. The two climbers finished together 1:08 behind the German.
    - Steephill
    Contador is the Greatest
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    Look how this stage ends! Magnificent I am so pleased I am at home to watch it all. Hopefully it will have the excitement of previous stages and then some.

    untitled-5.jpg
    Contador is the Greatest
  • FJS
    FJS Posts: 4,820
    Not many talk about him, but could he's still up there, and could he be one of the last Astana challengers? Looked concentrated this morning:
    24wr4oy.jpg
    Liitle Paul didn't look happy coming out of the team bus... who will he be working for today?
    2h7qjio.jpg
    And he, who'se domestiqque is he this time?
    rscs50.jpg
    He looked happy, probablt the last day in polka
    mju9n7.jpg
    He's remarkably upbeat, but how's his Italian?
    293iw05.jpg
    They got a bit more lard on them nowadays:
    2qal6bl.jpg
    2s639c5.jpg
    Talking about grease :D
    2dirl2q.jpg
    And even if you carry a well-deserved red number, you still have to carry your own bike cyclo-cross style to go for a warm-up spin
    t6e4jp.jpg[/b]
    Off to Andorra
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    Thanks for the photos FJS.
    Contador is the Greatest
  • Kléber
    Kléber Posts: 6,842
    Evans is married to an Italian, so he speaks it well. Is that a bald spot appearing on to of Pozzato's pate? And a few too many croissants for Wilfried Peeters but perhaps some "hormones de croissance" for Virenque and his curious forehead?
  • intothe12
    intothe12 Posts: 190
    every year I think it will be an epic, attack attack attack. We expect the favorites to go good guns from early doors, but at the end of the day, the riders have has some serious hard racing in their legs, TTT, cross winds etc.. I expect 8km to go we will see fireworks.

    the most time that will be pulled out by an of the GC contenders will bey 40 secs. There will be some big losers, menchov, probably, gerdeman, kirchen, frank schleck.. but sastre, evans, will be up there. as for AC and LA. who knows..
  • Kléber
    Kléber Posts: 6,842
    Nocentini, Pineau, Gutierrez, Kuschinsky, Riblon, Martinez, Froehlinger, Brice Feillu, Kern have a 8 minute lead on the bunch after 48km.
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    Reuters:
    610x.jpg
    Contador is the Greatest
  • Pokerface
    Pokerface Posts: 7,960
    Leading group now 14'20" ahead. :shock:
  • heavymental
    heavymental Posts: 2,091
    Fkin hell...he's done alright for an odd bod hasn't he! :shock:
  • Cumulonimbus
    Cumulonimbus Posts: 1,730
    Does anyone know who the best placed rider on GC is in the breakaway?
  • sportbilly1976
    sportbilly1976 Posts: 524
    "Le mieux classé des hommes de tête est l'Italien d'AG2R, Rinaldo Nocentini. Il occupe la 32e place du classement général à 3'13" de Cancellara."

    highest placed of the guys in front is Nocentini, 32nd place 3'13" down on Cancellara

    The complete list:

    CLASSEMENT DES HOMMES DE TETE: : Rinaldo Nocentini (AG2R) 32e à 3'13", Jérôme Pineau (Quick Step) 34e à 3'17", Jose Ivan Gutierrez (Caisse d'Epargne) 49e à 4'07", Aleksandr Kuschynski (Liquigas) 57e à 4'37", Christophe Riblon (AG2R) 84e 5'54", Egoi Martinez (Euskaltel) 87e à 6'04", Johannes Fröhlinger (Milram) 90e à 6'08", Brice Feillu (Agritubel) 113e à 8'05", Christophe Kern (Cofidis) 163e à 15'41".
  • Kléber
    Kléber Posts: 6,842
    Rinaldo Nocentini, 32nd overall, Jerome Pineau 34th overall.
  • takethehighroad
    takethehighroad Posts: 6,821
    What did I tell you about Brice Feillu?!?!?! ;)
  • micron
    micron Posts: 1,843
    Great to see Brice Feillu in the break!
  • edhornby
    edhornby Posts: 1,780
    interesting - I would bet that gutierrez is the danger man in the group as he's pretty handy even if he's not the highest placed of the breakers, wouldn't surprise me if ContaStrong give the order to pul these guys back
    "I get paid to make other people suffer on my wheel, how good is that"
    --Jens Voight
  • Pokerface
    Pokerface Posts: 7,960
    edhornby wrote:
    interesting - it wouldn't surprise me if ContaStrong give the order to pul these guys back

    Looks like that order has come down - as the lead group is now slowly being reeled back in.
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    Astana setting pace with LA up front and Contador protected.
    Contador is the Greatest
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,725
    Over the 3rd cat. Lead now 11 minutes.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • sportbilly1976
    sportbilly1976 Posts: 524
    At the base of the 1st cat - 7.7kms at 7.1% ave

    first 3 kms at 6%, then 8.5% and the final km at 10%.
  • Mettan
    Mettan Posts: 2,103
    5 Live - Phil and Paul.

    http://www.atdhe.net/7269/watch-le-tour ... -2009--en-
  • Mystique
    Mystique Posts: 342
    Just noticed on of the lead group has a small bag under his saddle ("Continental" sponsored)...good to see the pros carrying a spare tube & levers just in case.

    Seriously, why would a pro have a saddlebag, however small???

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