TDF Stage 8 *Spoilers*

RichN95.

They're under way and a nine man break has 1.15

Christophe Riblon (AG2R), Rui Costa (Movistar), Xabier Zandio (Sky), Addy Engels (Quick Step), Tejay Van Garderen (HTC-Highroad), Romain Zingle (Cofidis), Cyril Gautier (Europcar), Alexandr Kolobnev (Katusha) and Julien El Farès (Cofidis).

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graeme_s-2

Nice to see Sky have been true to their word and got a man in the break. Probably come to nothing, but nice to see them having a go.

jp1985

That seems like a pretty strong break away group. I wouldn't be surprised to see it stick to the end

milton50

Graeme_S wrote:

Nice to see Sky have been true to their word and got a man in the break. Probably come to nothing, but nice to see them having a go.

I think their best chance of the victory will be Uran with an attack at the end. So they're giving themselves two chances to win.

iainf72

I'd think someone like EBH would be a good shout for a win on a stage like this. If he gets to the finish in a group he'd win a sprint. And it's not high high mountains.

inkyfingers

I went for Evans as im sure he'll be in the selection but think that EBH or Gilbert will be the best bets for the win so long as none of the favourites really decide to light things up.

milton50

iainf72 wrote:

I'd think someone like EBH would be a good shout for a win on a stage like this. If he gets to the finish in a group he'd win a sprint. And it's not high high mountains.

Yeh, but I'm not sure how the teams of the GC contenders are thinking of playing it this afternoon. If they really put the pressure on over the category 2 climb and then at the start of the final climb then I think EBH will struggle to stay on.

RichN95.

Intermediate Sprint:

10th: Gilbert
11th: Rojas
12th: Ventoso
13th: Cavendish

(It was uphill)

inkyfingers

Interesting that HTC did a proper lead out for Cav but he don't really seem to contest it, just limited his losses.

blazing_saddles

Sean Kelly heavily criticizing Sky's all stop and wait for Bradley, routine, effecting Thomas's and EBH's GC situation.
Have to say, if they could have stayed up in the front group, they could have always dropped back and picked up the chase, were he to remount.

Oh and Mr Riis's car has been rear ended by those dastardly French.

ddraver

Blazing Saddles wrote:

Sean Kelly heavily criticizing Sky's all stop and wait for Bradley, routine, effecting Thomas's and EBH's GC situation.
Have to say, if they could have stayed up in the front group, they could have always dropped back and picked up the chase, were he to remount.

Oh and Mr Riis's car has been rear ended by those dastardly French.

I thought that I admit, Another beginner mistake perhaps (although in fairness with the very best intentions!)

inkyfingers

Blazing Saddles wrote:

Sean Kelly heavily criticizing Sky's all stop and wait for Bradley, routine, effecting Thomas's and EBH's GC situation.
Have to say, if they could have stayed up in the front group, they could have always dropped back and picked up the chase, were he to remount.

Oh and Mr Riis's car has been rear ended by those dastardly French.

Easy to say in hindsight. If Brad had been able to continue after a coupl of minutes then having a strong team to pace him back to the group could have saved his tour. Thomas and Boassen Hagen are not serious GC contenders, it was nice for GT to have the white jersey but as he has just said in the interview on Eurosport he would never have kept it. Their only other remote GC hope (Uran) went down in the crash as well so other than the chance of winning the stage yesterday I don't think they lost much. Having their some senior riders lose time on GC will increase their chances of getting into breaks so all is not lost.

rebs

Sky had Uran and Wiggins down didnt they? they were the only 2 who could come close to the GC. Made sense for the whole team to stop.

they have no GC ambitions now which should be interesting. Will be nice to see Sky turn into a team full of Hoogerland's :P

frenchfighter

2008, Super Besse: Ricco, Valverde, Evans, Schleck

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1COGu8HEvY

morstar

What are BMC doing?

frenchfighter

blazing_saddles

morstar wrote:

What are BMC doing?

Cadel clearly wants an early yellow jersey, having had his team do all the work for 60 odd kms.
Finally, Vinoastana lend a hand.
Personally, I think BMC, while clearly far stronger than they have been all season, are not the smartest tools in the box.
Grafting for the reward of having to pull the peloton for a whole week, before finally, a proper mountain arrives.

afx237vi

Cadel is playing a dangerous game if he wants the jersey this early. Even if he has the legs, does he have the head to deal with the accompanying circus for two whole weeks?

Le Commentateur

So the alternative is to just allow it to pootle along so contador can reach the final climb nice and fresh? Cadel must be planning/hoping to reach the mountains with as big a gap over Contador as possible, not allow him to grab back the deficit in chunks of 20 or 30 seconds. So I don't think he has too much choice but to get the team moving it along, especially if no-one else is doing it.

rick_chasey

afx237vi wrote:

Cadel is playing a dangerous game if he wants the jersey this early. Even if he has the legs, does he have the head to deal with the accompanying circus for two whole weeks?

I think BMC want a bit of a hedge.

Win a stage or two, have the yellow for a bit without that much cost is better than doing a Evans and coming 2nd everywhere.

rebs

His held yellow before,and has Hincapie with him so being able to handle it for 2 weeks I don't think is a problem (so long as he doesn't break any bones then people will have to learn to not tough him :P).

Think it'll be a good move for Evans to get yellow now.

morstar

Don't get me wrong, no harm in Evans getting yellow. Thought it would have been ok to get it earlier in the race on one of the uphill finishes. They could have selectively protected it.
Can't understand why they're flogging the team to try and get it though.

afx237vi

Crikey... JJ Rojas climbing next to Evans and Gesink. That's an ominous sign for Cav.

afx237vi

Big attack by Vino. Tiralongo up the road...

frenchfighter

Rojas stayed on Contadors wheel (the only rider) up the final climb in the Spanish RR. The boy can climb.

Nice work by Hoogerland here

Le Commentateur

It's now or never again for Vino.

frenchfighter

Bike racing is definitely better for having Vino. Class act.

rwsbike971

Flecha and Hoogerland chasing leaders.

graeme_s-2

Where's Thor? I can't spot the jersey in the main group

frenchfighter

Vino 32 secs down on GC

Gazzetta67

Shock Horror Andy Schleck has a nosebleed at the front of the bunch - were is his bumboy brother