TdF Stage 9 *Spoiler*

iainf72

mroli wrote:

I dunno if that makes Wiggo a wanker - Evans blowing today and Armstrong yesterday would indicate that apart from Andy and Alberto, everyone is going to struggle....

That's a homage to Wiggins press conf yesterday

pitchshifter

I am a little dissapointed the tour has basically already been decided between 2 men...

gabriel959

Contador might struggle to claw back those 41 sec out of andy before the TT. He is looking stronger IMO.

donrhummy

You know it's funny, all the announcers are saying Casar was brilliant in knowing the finish line was right around the corner (really a dumb place for a finish line) but I swear, if you watch the replay, you'll see a very surprised look on his face to see the finish line there.

blazing_saddles

Maybe too big a stage, when I thought nothing might happen. :oops:

Looks like we have just 4 or 5 men left contesting the podium.

afx237vi

How amazing was Eurosport today? When was the last time they had an ad break? About 2 hours ago I reckon.

Pokerface

pitchshifter wrote:

I am a little dissapointed the tour has basically already been decided between 2 men...

Still lots of time for one or both them to blow. THey do look strong, but we've seen some shocking rides so far. All it takes is one bad day....and they are both more than capable of it.

rick_chasey

gabriel959 wrote:

Contador might struggle to claw back those 41 sec out of andy before the TT. He is looking stronger IMO.

A little sore from Sunday night/monday morning I wonder? I'm sure you were :P

donrhummy

I think Schleck/Contador are pretty even. Not sure either can gain time on the other in the mountains. If that's the caser, Contador wins.

dennisn

pitchshifter wrote:

I am a little dissapointed the tour has basically already been decided between 2 men...

The tour isn't over until it's almost over. Ya never know what will happen.

takethehighroad

afx237vi wrote:

How amazing was Eurosport today? When was the last time they had an ad break? About 2 hours ago I reckon.

Don't tell me, due to internet issues I had to watch ITV until the top of the Madeleine.

However, it did feature a classic P+P cock-up.

"It just shows that Armstrong is only where he is on GC due to bad luck, he's got the form"

*10 seconds*

"And Armstrong's been popped"

SpaceJunk

gabriel959 wrote:

Contador might struggle to claw back those 41 sec out of andy before the TT. He is looking stronger IMO.

I agree he looks stronger, but third week might be a different story. AC still my favorite, but I'd love Andy to do it, especially if he could clinch it by eating 21 energy gels and a deep fried whole turkey after punching out a bear whilst climbing the Tourmalet.

Moomaloid

Flecha is riding bloomin well...

donrhummy

Wow, must be two very "happy" former teams:

Omega-Pharma loving that Van den Broeck is ahead of Evans (and in 5th!)
Garmin loving that Wiggins has cracked and blown all at the same time

cal_stewart

frenchfighter wrote:

Cal_Stewart wrote:

anyone got a live feed

http://www.fromsport.com/v-0/0/148/v-14923.html

cheers mate

gabriel959

Rick Chasey wrote:

gabriel959 wrote:

Contador might struggle to claw back those 41 sec out of andy before the TT. He is looking stronger IMO.

A little sore from Sunday night/monday morning I wonder? I'm sure you were :P

Sore but happy, also did 106 miles on saturday, i am happy, lets hope contador can finish it off nicely. Also cheering for Sammy Sanchez, he is my kind of rider.

takethehighroad

Does Andy really need 3 minutes in the TT? The comparative differences is the same as 2008 with Sastre and Evans, probably 2007 with Contador and Evans too, and they only had around 2 minutes.

greeny12

Ha ha ha - had to laugh at wheelsucker numero uno Leipheimer's little sprint at the end. That group was the invisible group today but I bet a pound to a pinch of chinese excretement that was the ONLY occasion he was anywhere near the front for the entire time...

mididoctors

Blazing Saddles wrote:

Maybe too big a stage, when I thought nothing might happen. :oops:

Looks like we have just 4 or 5 men left contesting the podium.

a lot of guys have shot at the third step...

andy looks so fresh all the time but could still lose it in the TT


still paris is a long way away etc...

lot of terrestrial body language compared to previous years or am i mistaken?

DaveyL

Top 10 on GC, hurrah for clean cycling!

1 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 43:35:41
2 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana 0:00:41
3 Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 0:02:45
4 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 0:02:58
5 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:03:31
6 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team Radioshack 0:03:59
7 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank 0:04:22
8 Luis León Sánchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 0:04:41
9 Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha 0:05:08
10 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo 0:05:09

donrhummy

TakeTheHighRoad wrote:

Does Andy really need 3 minutes in the TT? The comparative differences is the same as 2008 with Sastre and Evans, probably 2007 with Contador and Evans too, and they only had around 2 minutes.

Last year, the final TT was 40km and Andy lost 1'45".This year, while he's supposedly worked on his TT, he had a very bad prologue TT. So maybe he'll do a little better, but this year's final TT is 51km and flat as a pancake, which isn't good for Andy. So unless he really did improve, he's likely to lose more than 2 minutes.

samiam

Contador doesn't look anywhere near as comfortable as last year, any reason for this?

fastercyclist

mididoctors wrote:

Blazing Saddles wrote:

Maybe too big a stage, when I thought nothing might happen. :oops:

Looks like we have just 4 or 5 men left contesting the podium.

a lot of guys have shot at the third step...

andy looks so fresh all the time but could still lose it in the TT


still paris is a long way away etc...

lot of terrestrial body language compared to previous years or am i mistaken?

Digging too deep, too often and too early in the race.

Still got the pyrenees to come. My heart is for Shecklet to win but my head says Contador if Schleck keeps beating himself up like this.

iainf72

DaveyL wrote:

Top 10 on GC, hurrah for clean cycling!

1 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 43:35:41
2 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana 0:00:41
3 Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 0:02:45
4 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 0:02:58
5 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:03:31
6 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team Radioshack 0:03:59
7 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank 0:04:22
8 Luis León Sánchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 0:04:41
9 Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha 0:05:08
10 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo 0:05:09

The guy in 10'th is ok

blazing_saddles

Cuddles and Basso?
Bad day for Iain, methinks.

The Dutch fans are very angry.
Apparently, Levi wouldn't work with Gesink and Menchov.
Anyone actually surprised? :roll:

donrhummy

iainf72 wrote:

DaveyL wrote:

Top 10 on GC, hurrah for clean cycling!

1 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 43:35:41
2 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana 0:00:41
3 Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 0:02:45
4 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 0:02:58
5 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:03:31
6 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team Radioshack 0:03:59
7 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank 0:04:22
8 Luis León Sánchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 0:04:41
9 Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha 0:05:08
10 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo 0:05:09

The guy in 10'th is ok

Keuzeger is only 2 seconds behind him.

rick_chasey

Blazing Saddles wrote:

Cuddles and Basso?
Bad day for Iain, methinks.

The Dutch fans are very angry.
Apparently, Levi wouldn't work with Gesink and Menchov.
Anyone actually surprised? :roll:

What, that Dutch fans are angry?

FJS

mroli wrote:

I dunno if that makes Wiggo a wanker - Evans blowing today and Armstrong yesterday would indicate that apart from Andy and Alberto, everyone is going to struggle....

So, because Evans and Armstrong have blown, everyone will blow?

I don't think it's over yet at all - Sammy Sanchez is in a pretyy good position still, with a much better TT than Andy Schleck, and so is Menchov.

iainf72

donrhummy wrote:

Keuzeger is only 2 seconds behind him.

We all know it'll be minutes by the end of the Tour.

BikingBernie

Wiggins did well, all things considered, coming in at 4.55. He is now 16th at 7.18

Perhaps surprisingly given the profile, almost 50 riders came in no more than 8.09 down on Cesar.