Tour De France 2011 - The Commuters Spolier Thread

tailwindhome

DonDaddyD wrote:

Questions:

I still don't understand how Schleck's group was able to catch up with Contador - is he that slow and just a really good climber. Explain how Schleck's group managed to catchup?

Dunno. Highlights didn't really show that too well. They just arrived Stephen Roche style out of nowhere
What does the Mavic car with the Mavic branded bikes do?

Neutral service vehicle loaded with Yellow Caad 9s to assist in mechanicals if the team car isn't there. To anwer your next question - toe clips and flat pedals.
Is Thomas Voeckler clean? No one has mentioned or given a whiff to any doping, while refreshing... really!?

Dunno

jonginge

The Schleck/Evans group had more firepower. They worked together for a couple of reasons. They wanted to catch Bertie/Sanchez but also wanted to distance TommyV and Basso.

sketchley

If they are together at the top of the Izoard then they will finish together / close on the Galibier. It's long but not that steep on the side they are riding up today.



Tomorrow last climb will sort out the tour much steeper.



Today I'd love to see Europcar set the pace on the first too climbs so Tommy is in the main group at the top of the Izoard, Then some lunatic descending to give him a few seconds at the bottom. However my prediction is AC will attack on the first climb then try and stay out in front or at the very least drop everyone bar the lead contenders as any with a few team mates left for the Izoard and Galibier will have an advantage.

I've also lost a lot of respect for the Schelks after yesterday interviews. There's a competition for best climber it's called King of the Mountain, so if you can't go down hill try and win that instead. A GC rider should be the best overall and not just the best climber. Now stop moaning and go out and win it. Personally yesterday's decent was some of the best TV of the whole tour. I'd love to see a downhill TT one year.

cjcp

Rick Chasey wrote:

Depends on which way the wind blows...

Both occasions I've been down the Lautaret, there's been a tough ol' headwind, which means they'll be doing a good pace up it if they have a tailwind today. Ideally, the Izoard will split the field, so the GC contenders won't have any teammates from Briancon onwards, so will have to work for themselves up the Lautaret and Galibier.

EDIT: Evans to win.

jonginge

cjcp wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

Depends on which way the wind blows...

Both occasions I've been down the Lautaret, there's been a tough ol' headwind, which means they'll be doing a good pace up it if they have a tailwind today. Ideally, the Izoard will split the field, so the GC contenders won't have any teammates from Briancon onwards, so will have to work for themselves up the Lautaret and Galibier.

I've descended down that side of the Galibier three times and had a headwind each time. Hardly exhaustive data I'll admit but...

Look for fireworks after the Lautaret turn, gets steeper after that. I also hope the teams are gone before the start of the galibier #trueracing

tailwindhome

Sketchley wrote:

Tomorrow last climb will sort out the tour much steeper.

I think tomorrow will be a damp squib(or squid). At least I hope so. My niece had the damn cheek to be born 1 year ago on Friday and her parents think celebrating this should override the Alpe Dhuez stage of the Tour.

I've also lost a lot of respect for the Schelks

That view would seem to be universal

jzed

Schleckly - Even though its not massively steep, and they're likely to have a tailwind, its a long old slog and as JG said there's enough gradient from halfway up for Bertie or Schlecks to make an attack. The riders think the Galibier is going to decide the tour - that says it all. The Alpe is tough but relatively short - enough to make massive inroads in time?

I'm going for Voeckler to lose the jersey today. He's been outstanding so far but these climbs are differrent class to the ones that have gone before. Reckon Bertie will take the stage but Evans close enough to take the yellow.

jzed

Basso's 22/1 for a stage win - good outside bet?

rick_chasey

JZed wrote:

Basso's 22/1 for a stage win - good outside bet?

Nah.

bigmat

I think the impact of the Galibier today will depend on how hard the racing has been up to then. The onus is on the Schlecks and Basso to keep things hard on the first two HC's in the hope that there will be tired legs on the Galibier and a chance for major selection. Evans can just hold steady, Contador may feel that he has a chance of taking sufficient time on Evans on the final climb, Sanchez will be happy to help Bertie / go for stage win / podium - I get the feeling he doesn't believe he can win overall.

cjcp

JZed wrote:

The Alpe is tough but relatively short - enough to make massive inroads in time?

Enough for Sastre to have an advantage over Evans in 2008.

I'm going for Voeckler to lose the jersey today. He's been outstanding so far but these climbs are differrent class to the ones that have gone before.

Yep, I think the teams will keep the pace high-ish* to wear him out, then try to gap him on the Izoard.


*I've not checked the live feed, so this could be nonsense.

jzed

cjcp wrote:

Enough for Sastre to have an advantage over Evans in 2008.

True - that was a couple of minutes wasn't it. I'd like someone to make a bit more of a race of it before the last climb. There's got to be potential for someone to make inroads toady and on the two Galibier climbs.

EDIT: Any reason why they don't do the longer Marmotte route? Try and keep it together for a race up the Alpe?

cjcp

If things are still in the balance today (and I think they will be), ADH should be great fun. Bertie will then have to attack the lot of them to gain enough of an advantage before the TT.

cjcp

JZed wrote:

cjcp wrote:

Enough for Sastre to have an advantage over Evans in 2008.

True - that was a couple of minutes wasn't it. I'd like someone to make a bit more of a race of it before the last climb. There's got to be potential for someone to make inroads toady and on the two Galibier climbs.

EDIT: Any reason why they don't do the longer Marmotte route? Try and keep it together for a race up the Alpe?[/quote]

Because they are girls.

cjcp

An idea for a drinking game: drink a shot every time Paul Sherwen says(apparently in relation to anyone one the screen who's riding a bike) "He's a great descender", "He can descend with the very best", "He's a crack descender", "He's very good going downhill", or "He's one of the very best [going downhill]".

You'll be battered in five minutes.

sketchley

cjcp wrote:

An idea for a drinking game: drink a shot every time Paul Sherwen says(apparently in relation to anyone one the screen who's riding a bike) "He's a great descender", "He can descend with the very best", "He's a crack descender", "He's very good going downhill", or "He's one of the very best [going downhill]".

You'll be battered in five minutes.

Where and when?

bigmat

cjcp wrote:

An idea for a drinking game: drink a shot every time Paul Sherwen says(apparently in relation to anyone one the screen who's riding a bike) "He's a great descender", "He can descend with the very best", "He's a crack descender", "He's very good going downhill", or "He's one of the very best [going downhill]".

You'll be battered in five minutes.

Down a pint for "a great job of work" or "in the sport of professional cycle racing" - I mean seriously, who talks like that?!

cjcp

sketchley

JZed wrote:

Schleckly - Even though its not massively steep, and they're likely to have a tailwind, its a long old slog and as JG said there's enough gradient from halfway up for Bertie or Schlecks to make an attack. The riders think the Galibier is going to decide the tour - that says it all. The Alpe is tough but relatively short - enough to make massive inroads in time?

I'm going for Voeckler to lose the jersey today. He's been outstanding so far but these climbs are differrent class to the ones that have gone before. Reckon Bertie will take the stage but Evans close enough to take the yellow.

Today's stage may well decide the tour, my point is that if they are still together at the top of the Izoard then then it won't.

cjcp

Just seen the snow at the top of the Galibier. :shock:

jzed

Sketchley wrote:

Today's stage may well decide the tour, my point is that if they are still together at the top of the Izoard then then it won't.

I'm going to be very disappointed if someone doesn't make a real move to win this TDF today.

Watching the Alps is giiving me ideas - time for another trip.

ketsbaia

cjcp wrote:

JZed wrote:

cjcp wrote:

Enough for Sastre to have an advantage over Evans in 2008.

True - that was a couple of minutes wasn't it. I'd like someone to make a bit more of a race of it before the last climb. There's got to be potential for someone to make inroads toady and on the two Galibier climbs.

EDIT: Any reason why they don't do the longer Marmotte route? Try and keep it together for a race up the Alpe?

Because they are girls.

It's funny because it's true.

jzed

Would seem either ITV4 player has gone down or IT have shut it down. I'm going with the latter.

MonkeyMonster

It seemed to go down on me (ooer missus) yesterday afternoon.

sketchley

http://www.tvcatchup.com/watch.html?c=10

you'll need an account but it's free.

jzed

Sketchley wrote:

http://www.tvcatchup.com/watch.html?c=10

you'll need an account but it's free.

Mmm, suspect they are watching me - thats been blocked.

sketchley

Tempted to go for beer in LookMumNoHands and watch it there..... Not doing much work as it is....

suzyb

Schleck the younger has gone.

And ITV was on a break at the time :roll:

jzed

Fair play to him - didn't think he had the balls to do it - must have had a bowl of Weetabix this morning.

ketsbaia

No reaction from the rest either. :shock:

Schleck's tour, then.