Stage 8 spoiler

Jez mon

emadden wrote:

Jez mon wrote:

How about Wiggins for today, by the sounds of it the current climbing speed is a bit fast, so I should think that even if some sprinters manage to stay up there, they are probably going to be knackered by the finish, even if they get there in the top group. Wiggo however, is climbing superbly atm, and if he still has some of the power left over from his pursuiting days, could make a break from a group in the last few kilometres.


What does everyone think about stages like today's? Personally I think I'd probably prefer it if the last climb came later giving the race less time to come back together.

I agree with you... These stages waste what the mountains have to offer... The stage is designed to minimise the time gaps so the whole race comes down to the final week... I'd prefer to see the mountain top finishes of years ago...

Seems a bit pointless given the long TTT earlier!!

chriskempton

Wigging in main peloton then?

chriskempton

Wiggins

Jez mon

Hope so, they haven't shown him, however, they are on the phone with Matt White (Garmin DS i think!) and he's saying that Wiggo is feeling good.

frenchfighter

Jez I agree, but then look at the stages to come - much better for that type of long range attack to hold off.

Fri:

2nd Tues:

2nd Wed:

2nd Fri:

emadden

Jez mon wrote:

emadden wrote:

Jez mon wrote:

How about Wiggins for today, by the sounds of it the current climbing speed is a bit fast, so I should think that even if some sprinters manage to stay up there, they are probably going to be knackered by the finish, even if they get there in the top group. Wiggo however, is climbing superbly atm, and if he still has some of the power left over from his pursuiting days, could make a break from a group in the last few kilometres.


What does everyone think about stages like today's? Personally I think I'd probably prefer it if the last climb came later giving the race less time to come back together.

I agree with you... These stages waste what the mountains have to offer... The stage is designed to minimise the time gaps so the whole race comes down to the final week... I'd prefer to see the mountain top finishes of years ago...

Seems a bit pointless given the long TTT earlier!!

Not really.. even though the TTT gaps were big, they wouldnt compare to the gaps that would open up if you had three successive mountain top finishes where minutes and minutes can be lost

sportbilly1976

some power being generated going up there - Nikki Sorensen generating 872 watts near the summit....

frenchfighter

HUSHOVD in the CADEL group!!!

dbmnk

frenchfighter wrote:

Thanks emadden - now watching it on rtbf. I guess 12.30 is for feeds online...

Beppu is out the back already! I thought they had a lot of mountains in Japan : )

yeah they do have a lot of mountains in japan, very lovely ones with switchbacks and all, but they generally seems to have no clue of roadbiking. That includes streetbiking - they are all terrible cyclists.

I'd love to see a grand tour in Japan though, the scenery here is awesome.

And then I'd just like to thank you guys for this great coverage of the tour, since my timezone is really screwed for watching live tour. The comments induce almost the same excitement as seeing it live.

Will find me a good stream now, and watch it through the night - any recommendations?

Jez mon

Thor is in the Evans group! :shock:

deal

this is decent if you dont mind french http://www.justin.tv/zkbash

Jez mon

Correction, Thor is ahead of the Evans group, dropping like a stone!

frenchfighter

Hushovd has about 500m on the Cadel group which now has Hincapie, Cancellara and a few more riders. He will bag all the intermediate sprints in the valley and take the Green jersey - excellent move.

Cumulonimbus

There are two sprints in between this mountain and the next. I expect that they are Thor's first target. Maybe he is going all out to scoop the points there?

Thor and Friere both finished in the autobus yesterday. Freire especially is a better climber than that so i think they will have been saving as much energy for today as possible. Bennati was also a long way back. He would normally have a chance of being there if there was a group of 40-50 coming to the finish but seems to have been off form recently.

takethehighroad

I'm SO annoyed I didn't pick Thor for PTP today, I knew he'd try something to snaffle the points, like Freire did last year.

Jez mon

Wonder if the Evans group will work together, they could prove hard to chase down if they do.

frenchfighter

dbmnk wrote:

Will find me a good stream now, and watch it through the night - any recommendations?

Official streams...hopefully you are in one of these countries : )

http://www.letour.fr/2009/TDF/LIVE/de/s ... ideos.html

frenchfighter

They caught Thor so he must have slowed. Hincapie not happy with Evans. Seven Astana on the front.

frenchfighter

Cancellara really not happy either. I think they are both saying to Evans to pull back and let the escape go to the end, but ti could be completely different. Leave the boy alone.

top_bhoy

Cancellara appears to be abusing Evans ordering him back.....I know he wants a stage win but Evans has to try and get some time back for the GC. Cancellara has had his time...move on!!!

Jez mon

I think this group has got too many people just marking the break, rather than wanting to get away.

dbmnk

frenchfighter wrote:

dbmnk wrote:

Will find me a good stream now, and watch it through the night - any recommendations?

Official streams...hopefully you are in one of these countries : )

http://www.letour.fr/2009/TDF/LIVE/de/s ... ideos.html

thanks, but I'm sufferingfrom beeing in japan. streaming not allowed. Haven't got the patience to sort out a good proxy right now. dammit!

deal

dbmnk wrote:

frenchfighter wrote:

dbmnk wrote:

Will find me a good stream now, and watch it through the night - any recommendations?

Official streams...hopefully you are in one of these countries : )

http://www.letour.fr/2009/TDF/LIVE/de/s ... ideos.html

thanks, but I'm sufferingfrom beeing in japan. streaming not allowed. Haven't got the patience to sort out a good proxy right now. dammit!

not great picture but english commentary - http://www.justin.tv/oleolep2p7

NicFrance

shouldn't cancellara work in the evans-group to put more pressure on astana?

Jez mon

Gap is around 44 seconds, brave move by Cadel, but I don't think it'll work

Jez mon

NicFrance wrote:

shouldn't cancellara work in the evans-group to put more pressure on astana?

But that would mean helping Cadel against the Schlecks!

emadden

Im taking bets on a bunch sprint... hope this stage doesnt turn out to be damp...

Break is over :-(

SpaceJunk

Not sure why 'Big George' was upset (or was that mis-reported)?

No offence, they don't have a rider capable of top 3; and if they are just riding for a high overall, e.g. top 10-15; well they should take a risk.

C'mon be brave, be aggressive. 'Do a Cadel!"

deal

Jez mon wrote:

NicFrance wrote:

shouldn't cancellara work in the evans-group to put more pressure on astana?

But that would mean helping Cadel against the Schlecks!

if they are going for the win then the astana riders are the biggest threat, they should get cancellera to help the group - but not enough for it to stay away, make astana work like dogs all day chasing then the schlecks can attack a tired astana

Cumulonimbus

Maybe Saxobank have sent Cancellara up ahead in the hope that he will reach the top of the first cat climb at the same time as the Schlecks. He may be able to do a job like the one he did in the Pyrenees last year - blast away on the front down the long valley to try and increase the gap on people in the following groups.