TdF Stage 17 *Spoilers*

paulcuthbert

Mettan wrote:

Contador had nothing left in the final hairpins - seemed like an even race to me - no gifts. There are 2 riders at the top of the sport now.

I know, it was great.

Did you see how steep the final hairpin was? I'd have trouble going up that at any sorta speed at the start of the climb, let alone after 18km at 8%!!

AidanR

It was epic, so long as you have some understanding of cycling. If not, it just looked like 2 blokes riding next to each other in fog.

blazing_saddles

paulcuthbert wrote:

Pokerface wrote:

Wow. There's just no pleasing some people. And you can tell who on the forum has probably never ridden or raced a bike.

Some of the best racing I've seen for a while there. But the effort that takes is immense. Some people seem to think they can race at that pace for the entire Tour.

+1

I can't believe someone just called it "Dull, Dull, Dull". My sister's fiance came in as it was finishing and asked me for a less than 10 word update, and my response was "One-of-the-best-stage-i-have-ever-seen"

I seem to recall you saying you didn't see any of the Giro?
Understandable sentiment, in that case.

Mettan

paulcuthbert wrote:

Mettan wrote:

Contador had nothing left in the final hairpins - seemed like an even race to me - no gifts. There are 2 riders at the top of the sport now.

I know, it was great.

Did you see how steep the final hairpin was? I'd have trouble going up that at any sorta speed at the start of the climb, let alone after 18km at 8%!!

Agreed - awesome by both men - a great battle.

woodford2barbican

Pokerface wrote:

Wow. There's just no pleasing some people. And you can tell who on the forum has probably never ridden or raced a bike.

Some of the best racing I've seen for a while there. But the effort that takes is immense. Some people seem to think they can race at that pace for the entire Tour.

You're right - never have raced.

But AS & AC are way too chummy for me - they need to contest the race not give each other too much respect and stage victories. Not enough ruthlessness for me, in this stage by AC and earlier on in the Alps by AS.

Don't expect them to race at that pace for whole Tour, fully appreciate that this is not possible, but I feel that chances to win have been missed and that others in the past would have taken them.

afx237vi

SpaceJunk wrote:

That was the most boring stage in the history of cycling ever.

I feel sorry for the fans who camped out for 3 days to watch a cycling parade cruise by.

Why don't these riders try?

They're weak. The sport is stuffed. If they are going to be so lame, juice them up to at least make it interesting.


FFS - people.

Where are those quotes from?

Personally I lost a bit of interest when it became obvious that Contador was in no danger of getting in trouble. And it became obvious fairly quickly.

Thick Tester

Fangs for the memories Andy......

We all know who the moral victor is

gabriel959

I preferred the Giro too, this is dull.

donrhummy

It's weird but EVERY grand tour, there's a ton of people who say, "That was so boring." Seriously, why are you on a cycling forum if you're not really a fan of watching cycling? And why are you continuing to watch, only to tell everyone how boring it was?

FJS

Blazing Saddles wrote:

Horner into top 10 and top Shacker.
So, we basically have a "battle" for 3rd in the ITT?

Possibly, although both are good TT-ers, and it was a bit closer before today.
The rest of the top 10 seems pretty settled. Gesink is a better TTist than Van den Broeck, but 1'14" is maybe a bit too much.
Hesjedal getting 2 minutes on J-Rod? Perhaps

samiam

The people who called it dull are saying it was dull because they were disappointed. Of all the results, Schleck and Contador cancelling each other out was the least desirable.

Stop being so dramatic. Particularly the guy saying 'You've obviously never ridden a bike before!'. Get a grip.

donrhummy

BTW, anyone know what Andy said to Contador after answering his attack and coming up alongside him?

SpaceJunk

Yes, great stuff. 2 riders side by side for so long up the climb. Images of the two slugging it out were fantastic.

Here's for a great rivalry to continue over the next few years.




Ryder was great.

And RadioShack will be basing their 2011 TDF around Chris Horner.

stjohnswell

AidanR wrote:

It was epic, so long as you have some understanding of cycling. If not, it just looked like 2 blokes riding next to each other in fog.

We had a foggy Tourmalet in the 2008 Etape and it made for a dull slog.

paulcuthbert

woodford2barbican wrote:

Pokerface wrote:

Wow. There's just no pleasing some people. And you can tell who on the forum has probably never ridden or raced a bike.

Some of the best racing I've seen for a while there. But the effort that takes is immense. Some people seem to think they can race at that pace for the entire Tour.

But AS & AC are way too chummy for me - they need to contest the race not give each other too much respect and stage victories. Not enough ruthlessness for me, in this stage by AC and earlier on in the Alps by AS

I'd say attacking when someone has stopped in the road with a mechanical is pretty ruthless...

Disagree about having too much respect. It's important in sport. Respecting of great competitors is essential for sport. It keeps people grounded and keeps it interesting.

The gestures at the end made the stage even better. You could see they'd matched each other and they both knew it. It was great to see!

stjohnswell

SpaceJunk wrote:

Ryder was great.

And RadioShack will be basing their 2011 TDF around Chris Horner.

Lance's retirement might turn out to be the making of Radio Shack.

Mettan

SpaceJunk wrote:

Yes, great stuff. 2 riders side by side for so long up the climb. Images of the two slugging it out were fantastic.

Here's for a great rivalry to continue over the next few years.

Fully agree.

moray_gub

stjohnswell wrote:

SpaceJunk wrote:

Ryder was great.

And RadioShack will be basing their 2011 TDF around Chris Horner.

Lance's retirement might turn out to be the making of Radio Shack.

Yea they should now be able to concentrate on young uns like Chris Horner

StefanP

EBH beats Wiggins up the Tourmalet :roll:

paulcuthbert

SpaceJunk wrote:

And RadioShack will be basing their 2011 TDF around Chris Horner.

Doubt it. Horner is the same age as Lance. Doubt they'll make the same mistake again next year

SpaceJunk

stjohnswell wrote:

SpaceJunk wrote:

Ryder was great.

And RadioShack will be basing their 2011 TDF around Chris Horner.

Lance's retirement might turn out to be the making of Radio Shack.

Klöden, Levi, Popo et al will be super domestiques for Horner in 2011. Andy and Alberto will be having some some sleepiness nights in July next year.

SpaceJunk

Those chicks could've got out of their pyjamas to present the KOM award.

FJS

Wiggins coming in at 23 minutes

paulcuthbert

FJS wrote:

Wiggins coming in at 23 minutes

4th place definitely was a fluke

AidanR

paulcuthbert wrote:

FJS wrote:

Wiggins coming in at 23 minutes

4th place definitely was a fluke

It'll be interesting to see what he can manage in the TT.

bigmat

FJS wrote:

Wiggins coming in at 23 minutes

Lets hope he's saving himself for the time trial. Cancellara had to work pretty hard today.

SpaceJunk

I heard that Julien Deann didn't finish the stage today. He got distracted when those sheep tried to infiltrate the peloton.

domhopson

SpaceJunk wrote:

I heard that Julien Deann didn't finish the stage today. He got distracted when those sheep tried to infiltrate the peloton.

Probably felt as though he was back home

stagehopper

MatHammond wrote:

FJS wrote:

Wiggins coming in at 23 minutes

Lets hope he's saving himself for the time trial. Cancellara had to work pretty hard today.

He made it pretty clear that was his plan in an interview on Eurosport. He said the TT suited him, he knew a lot of the GC riders were tired and Cancellara would have to do a lot of work again today. So if he has the legs he'll go for it.

fastercyclist

On the bike radar front page Schlecklet and Accountant are both wearing yellow straps around their wrist as they cross the line - what is it? Doesn't look like a livestrong bracelet.