TdF Stage 2 *spoiler*

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Comments

  • eh
    eh Posts: 4,854
    The point about going down the descent gently is interesting, as often slippery roads are made worse if you try and ride them slowly. You do also have to wonder about carbon wheels in these kind of conditions, but all conjecture really, I guess we will never really know.
  • moray_gub
    moray_gub Posts: 3,328
    micron wrote:

    V surpised that Armstrong was scared of a bit of wet weather -

    What gives you that impression ?
    Gasping - but somehow still alive !
  • moray_gub
    moray_gub Posts: 3,328
    edited July 2010
    deejay wrote:
    micron wrote:

    V surpised that Armstrong was scared of a bit of wet weather - didn't he build his first TdF victory in worse conditions?
    One day wet..... (Paris - Nice is wet and cold and that is why he has never finished that race)
    1996 The rain pee'd down the first week and that little darling stopped, ripped his number off and rode off in the opposite direction so that no media would follow.
    greasedscotsman wrote:
    And you can add the Passage du Gois to that list
    That is his first podium TDF 1999 and how he put the boot in at the crossing of the Passage du Gois when Zulle and others fell over.
    No prisoners that day.

    Oh deary me.
    This not in your history books, Suckers.

    Seem to recall after 1996 he discovered he was not very well or something maybe wrong on that one though talking of history books he didnt seem to bother with the rain too much on the way to Hautacam in 2000 or in Norway in 1993.Anyway this stage was not really about him he was a bit part player but as usual you cant help yourself with your incoherent ramblings.
    Gasping - but somehow still alive !
  • eh
    eh Posts: 4,854
    Dunno if someone has already mentioned it but CVV is out.
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,253
    Moray Gub wrote:
    Seem to recall after 1996 he discovered he was not very well or something maybe wrong on that one though talking of history books he didnt seem to bother with the rain to much on the way to Hautacam in 2000 or in Norway in 1993.Anyway this stage was not really about him he was a bit part player but as usual you cant help yourself with your incoherent ramblings.

    I vaguely remember Armstrong was ill in 1996. I think it turned out to be quite serious. I don't think he likes to talk about it much.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • moray_gub
    moray_gub Posts: 3,328
    afx237vi wrote:
    Well said Thor!

    Does this just work for certain teams then becuase I could well imagine the reaction from the likes of yourself and othes if Radioshack had put the hammer down this place would be going into meltdown. Anyway For what its worth the Schlecks should have been nailed today its bike racing after all .
    Gasping - but somehow still alive !
  • stagehopper
    stagehopper Posts: 1,593
    From Velonews:

    "It all started when Lampre rider Francesco Gavazzi crashed out of the breakaway on the Stockeu. A TV motorcycle then crashed while avoiding hitting Gavazzi, and the bike spilled oil on the road. The oil had time to run down the hill by the time the peloton came through a few minutes later, setting off a dangerous domino effect that saw over 60 riders sliding across the road."
    @stagehopper
  • moray_gub
    moray_gub Posts: 3,328
    RichN95 wrote:
    Moray Gub wrote:
    Seem to recall after 1996 he discovered he was not very well or something maybe wrong on that one though talking of history books he didnt seem to bother with the rain to much on the way to Hautacam in 2000 or in Norway in 1993.Anyway this stage was not really about him he was a bit part player but as usual you cant help yourself with your incoherent ramblings.

    I vaguely remember Armstrong was ill in 1996. I think it turned out to be quite serious. I don't think he likes to talk about it much.

    I also didnt realise that in the rain his body actually starts to melt, hence his facial expression half up a hill when it started to piss down. Ok there were some cracking facial expressions from others but they dont count.
    Gasping - but somehow still alive !
  • afx237vi
    afx237vi Posts: 12,630
    Moray Gub wrote:
    afx237vi wrote:
    Well said Thor!

    Does this just work for certain teams then becuase I could well imagine the reaction from the likes of yourself and othes if Radioshack had put the hammer down this place would be going into meltdown. Anyway For what its worth the Schlecks should have been nailed today its bike racing after all .

    What does Radioshack have to do with it? I was just commenting on what I saw today. Not everything revolves around Radioshack, you know.
  • moray_gub
    moray_gub Posts: 3,328
    afx237vi wrote:
    Moray Gub wrote:
    afx237vi wrote:
    Well said Thor!

    Does this just work for certain teams then becuase I could well imagine the reaction from the likes of yourself and othes if Radioshack had put the hammer down this place would be going into meltdown. Anyway For what its worth the Schlecks should have been nailed today its bike racing after all .

    What does Radioshack have to do with it? I was just commenting on what I saw today. Not everything revolves around Radioshack, you know.

    I know it doesnt but i know If RS has put the hammer down as you were clearly looking for someone to do you would be going puce .
    Gasping - but somehow still alive !
  • knedlicky
    knedlicky Posts: 3,097
    inkyfingers wrote:
    Would Fabian have thrown his toys out of the pram and got it neutralised if it had been a group of B Box and Euskatel riders that had gone down? I think not.
    Exactly! I think it was really a Saxo team move, nothing to do with respect for all the riders who fell.

    Seemed to me that before Cancellara went to the race directors car to arrange the neutralisation, he had a conversation over his headphone, so presumably with Riis, who probably told him A. Schleck was still behind the main peloton and therefore in danger of losing a couple of minutes to Martin and a minute or so to both LA and Contador, and suggested what Cancellara should do. I doubt any consideration was given to any other riders who were behind.

    Also, I wonder about the slippery road theory. The road may have been a bit slippy, but having the Lampre rider's bike dead centre in the road and everyone trying to avoid it probably had at least as much influence.

    Hushvod was right to be unhappy; presumably his attitude is that of his whole team. The Milram and Columbia race directors were also very unhappy with the action but their riders Gerdemann and Martin agreed with it, so maybe this evening there were a few hard words said to them.
    I wonder if the difference of opinions will be enough for Cervelo, Milram amd Columbia to form an alliance tomorrow against Saxo?
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,253
    eh wrote:
    Dunno if someone has already mentioned it but CVV is out.

    You've got to feel sorry for him. He's started two Grand Tours this season and not made it to the home country of either, which must be some kind of record.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • stagehopper
    stagehopper Posts: 1,593
    knedlicky wrote:
    Seemed to me that before Cancellara went to the race directors car to arrange the neutralisation, he had a conversation over his headphone, so presumably with Riis, who probably told him A. Schleck was still behind the main peloton and therefore in danger of losing a couple of minutes to Martin and a minute or so to both LA and Contador, and suggested what Cancellara should do. I doubt any consideration was given to any other riders who were behind.

    Only problem with this theory is Cancellara went to the race director's car about 1km from the end, well after the Schlecks and other GC contendors rejoined his leading group.
    @stagehopper
  • disgruntledgoat
    disgruntledgoat Posts: 8,957
    afx237vi wrote:
    Graeme_S wrote:
    Some people are saying it must have been diesel on the road. I came off on the way home from work in the wet once. It was under overhanging trees and I think there must have been sap or something on the road. I was turning slightly, and my bike suddenly shot out from under me. Next thing I knew, I was sliding feet first along the ground on my stomach facing back the way I'd come. It was so slippery i struggled to get up, and almost fell over twice again once I was on my feet. No diesel, trecherous descent or poor route choice required!

    Some people on Podiumcafe were speculating that it may have been a newly laid surface on the road, which apparently gets very oily during the first few periods of rainfall.

    You've jogged my memory there... my very limited experience in Belgium and a couple of mates much more relevant experience taught us that when they relay a road, especially a slab road, the aggregate is coated in a waxy substance which apparantly aids longevity. This stuff is the scourge of cyclists, I saw a crash of about 30 guys in an amateur race pinned on that stuff.
    "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
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    THOR FTMFW Tomorrow. I hope Cancellara is no where near contention.

    Cav was out of it too y'day so Thor could have increased his lead again to Cav and Farrar. That being said, maybe if he builds up such a lead it will effectively nullify the Sprint competition so maybe better this way for the fans. Hushovd will be riding with anger tomorrow so good for the fans.
    Contador is the Greatest
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    Also what is up with Andy, his brother looked a lot more banged up then him, but he looked totally bemused and lost on the side of the road. What if the stage wasn't neutralised - he would have been in big trouble.

    Thanks for the VN article on the team round up.
    Contador is the Greatest
  • pat1cp
    pat1cp Posts: 766
    disgruntledgoat wrote:
    afx237vi wrote:
    Graeme_S wrote:
    Some people are saying it must have been diesel on the road. I came off on the way home from work in the wet once. It was under overhanging trees and I think there must have been sap or something on the road. I was turning slightly, and my bike suddenly shot out from under me. Next thing I knew, I was sliding feet first along the ground on my stomach facing back the way I'd come. It was so slippery i struggled to get up, and almost fell over twice again once I was on my feet. No diesel, trecherous descent or poor route choice required!

    Some people on Podiumcafe were speculating that it may have been a newly laid surface on the road, which apparently gets very oily during the first few periods of rainfall.

    You've jogged my memory there... my very limited experience in Belgium and a couple of mates much more relevant experience taught us that when they relay a road, especially a slab road, the aggregate is coated in a waxy substance which apparantly aids longevity. This stuff is the scourge of cyclists, I saw a crash of about 30 guys in an amateur race pinned on that stuff.

    The location of the accident looked pretty pot holed to me. Just found this image, it most definately isn't a newly surfaced road. Maybe just oil from the bike, as previously mentioned.
    http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-tou ... 1201.story
    http://tinyurl.com/332edp
    http://tinyurl.com/2nu7r3
  • FJS
    FJS Posts: 4,820
    stagehopper wrote:
    Apart from Kloden who was up front with Cancellara as they slowed it down, was there a GC rider who didn't crash?

    Gesink was in the lead group. His crash was earlier than the mass Schleck-Armstrong-Contador-etc crash.
    Rabobank is now saying they should not have waited, and asking why nobody waited for Gesink, but they did for Armstrong, Bertie and the Schlecks. And, whether anyone will wait if Menchov and Gesink crash on the cobbles today. It's like they've almost resigned to Menchov and Geisnk going down...
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,725
    Moray Gub wrote:
    afx237vi wrote:
    Moray Gub wrote:
    afx237vi wrote:
    Well said Thor!

    Does this just work for certain teams then becuase I could well imagine the reaction from the likes of yourself and othes if Radioshack had put the hammer down this place would be going into meltdown. Anyway For what its worth the Schlecks should have been nailed today its bike racing after all .

    What does Radioshack have to do with it? I was just commenting on what I saw today. Not everything revolves around Radioshack, you know.

    I know it doesnt but i know If RS has put the hammer down as you were clearly looking for someone to do you would be going puce .

    What are blabbering on about? IF Shack were there and IF they put the hammer down, you would be going puce?

    They weren't.
    Might as well say if Astana and the Schlecks were there and put the hammer down on the Shack, you would be going puce.

    It was a general racing situation, with most teams involved caused by a motorised vehicle.

    Trying to get a rise out of posters over this unfortunate incident shows who has got the real obsession.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • greasedscotsman
    greasedscotsman Posts: 6,962
    Not sure if anyone else has mentioned this, the thread is getting a little long now, but I didn't realise that the TV's are now banned from team cars. Leipheimer mentions it here...

    http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/leiphei ... e-survival

    But it seems to me that there was an awful lot of confusion after the crash and riders didn't seem to quite know what to do. Andy Schleck was riding on his own for a very long time until Voight dropped back to help him. Seems alot of the riders didn't know what to do without instruction from their directors, so took the safe option and decided not to race. Think we might see alot of this as the radio ban comes into force.
  • thiscocks
    thiscocks Posts: 549
    Realy dissapointed with this stage finish. Agree with Thors comments. Why wait for people who have crashed-and then no racing??? What a bunch of self righteous tools.
  • FJS
    FJS Posts: 4,820
    thiscocks wrote:
    Realy dissapointed with this stage finish. Agree with Thors comments. Why wait for people who have crashed-and then no racing??? What a bunch of self righteous tools.

    The waiting for people after the crash, and the decision not to contest the bunch sprint are two different things. I'm sure Hushovd was more than happy with a go-slow up the Rosier.
  • Cumulonimbus
    Cumulonimbus Posts: 1,730
    greasedscotsman wrote:
    Not sure if anyone else has mentioned this, the thread is getting a little long now, but I didn't realise that the TV's are now banned from team cars. Leipheimer mentions it here...

    Strictly speaking i think Levi is wrong here. They are allowed tvs in the car just not in the front which is where the DS normally sits. In fact this is stated lower down in the article.

    In the middle of the stage, the race organisation issued a release about transport regulations for stage 3, which included a reminder to the team managers: "For safety reasons, we remind you that a TV receiver in the front positions of the vehicles is prohibited."

    I think the idea is that its for safety reasons, they dont want the driver to be put off or something?
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    Horner was pretty vocal:
    http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/horner- ... y-deserved

    Riders reaction; good to hear from their first hand perspective:
    http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/reactio ... ed-stage-2
    Contador is the Greatest
  • Kléber
    Kléber Posts: 6,842
    frenchfighter wrote:
    Horner was pretty vocal:
    http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/horner- ... y-deserved
    Possibly a few too many caffeine energy gels? Saying the stage "had no place" in the Tour was daft, the race has often gone through the Ardennes and the Tour is a famously hard race, complete with tricky moments. It sounds like there was an oil slick, not a dangerous road.
  • k2rider
    k2rider Posts: 575
    Farrar looked in quite a bit of distress at the stage finish yesterday

    farrar.jpg
    who cares?
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    edited September 2015
    del
    Contador is the Greatest
  • shmo
    shmo Posts: 321
    I knew the TdF was going to have to do something special to trump this years Giro but riding a stage through Afghanistan was just asking for trouble.
  • calvjones
    calvjones Posts: 3,850
    Cumulonimbus wrote:
    greasedscotsman wrote:
    Not sure if anyone else has mentioned this, the thread is getting a little long now, but I didn't realise that the TV's are now banned from team cars. Leipheimer mentions it here...

    Strictly speaking i think Levi is wrong here. They are allowed tvs in the car just not in the front which is where the DS normally sits. In fact this is stated lower down in the article.

    In the middle of the stage, the race organisation issued a release about transport regulations for stage 3, which included a reminder to the team managers: "For safety reasons, we remind you that a TV receiver in the front positions of the vehicles is prohibited."

    I think the idea is that its for safety reasons, they dont want the driver to be put off or something?

    +1. If dipshit DSs didn't insist on driving as well as looking at the TV and shouting at riders, there wouldn't be a problem.
    ___________________

    Strava is not Zen.
  • flattythehurdler
    flattythehurdler Posts: 2,314
    FJS wrote:
    thiscocks wrote:
    Realy dissapointed with this stage finish. Agree with Thors comments. Why wait for people who have crashed-and then no racing??? What a bunch of self righteous tools.

    The waiting for people after the crash, and the decision not to contest the bunch sprint are two different things. I'm sure Hushovd was more than happy with a go-slow up the Rosier.
    Absolutely right. Cancellara was ready to put the hammer down in that group and hushovd would have been nowhere near a point if they had. Cancellara sacrificed his yellow to wait for the Schlecks, and had enough clout to get the rest of the group to pull up with him. He then got to thinking, got thoroughly p1ssed off, and spat out the dummy, neutralising the sprint which would, in any case, have been contested by riders who would have been a couple of minutes back withouit the initial wait. I though he was very noble, and then a little petulant.
    One thing for sure, the whole lot of them are hard hard f@ckers.
    Bravo.
    Dan

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