9 Days In, Whats The Verdict

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Comments

  • bompington
    bompington Posts: 7,674
    I think Bertie will come good after a rest day, a nice juicy steak and bags of recovery time :wink:
  • Courage Monsieur
    Courage Monsieur Posts: 534
    Always love the Tour but the field has been thinned a lot, and that's a bit disappointing.

    Wiggo, Vino, other team leaders, the losses at RShack etc.

    Don't forget also that Sastre and Menchov never even started.

    You might say (apart from wor Brad of course) none of these guys are true contenders, and you'd have a point, but it'd make things more interesting come the mountains.

    So it just looks like the Schlecks and 'Tubbs' Cadel left now.

    I say - watch out for Klodi.

    It'd be amazing if Basso did something, but I'm not expecting it...
  • inkyfingers
    inkyfingers Posts: 4,400
    eh wrote:
    For some reason in this tour I wouldn't rule out an Oscar Pereiro situation where the Schleks etc. don't react to a half decent rider and before they know it are big time in the sh*t. OK unlikely but that break they let go the other day could have had and still have serious consequences and will they learn from it, and get past their Contrador obsession who knows :?:

    Funnily enough I was thinking about that when I saw Luis Leon Sanchez in the break, he wasn't that far down on GC and is now second overall. He can TT well and climb OK (not as good as the specialists but good enough to win Paris Nice) so he should be able to cling on to a reasonably high place overall (top 10), especially as so many guys who would have been above him are now out of the race.
    "I have a lovely photo of a Camargue horse but will not post it now" (Frenchfighter - July 2013)
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,463
    For all the criticism of the Schlecks (including by me) I think they have had a really good first week along with Evans. All 3 have kept near the front and managed to avoid the crashes which shows they have learned from past mistakes given that they all have reputations for hitting the deck. Now if the Schlecks can also learn from past mistakes in being too passive who knows what could happen?
  • rebs
    rebs Posts: 891
    Basso could be interesting now.

    He has not had a great prep but it could be a mistake if others write him off. He has been riding near the front for the whole race after stage1. Must be riding strong to maintain such a postition. He has managed to stay out of trouble very well also.
  • inkyfingers
    inkyfingers Posts: 4,400
    rebs wrote:
    Basso could be interesting now.

    He has not had a great prep but it could be a mistake if others write him off. He has been riding near the front for the whole race after stage1. Must be riding strong to maintain such a postition. He has managed to stay out of trouble very well also.

    I really hope that Basso does have the form to light it up, he could make the race as he's a bit of an unknown as even though he won the Giro so convincingly last year we've never seen him race properly against the Schlecks or Contador. Will also be interesting to see how Evans and Basso match up; in the 2010 Giro Evans was clearly tired as the race went on and there are no Zoncolan style climbs in the TdF and I think that Evans will be closer to Basso on the French climbs.
    "I have a lovely photo of a Camargue horse but will not post it now" (Frenchfighter - July 2013)
  • richard wants a baum
    richard wants a baum Posts: 744
    Does anyone know what is the most time cadel has lost on a mountain stage .
    Cant remember him losing massive amounts of time other than in the last two editions.
    Take care of the luxuries and the necessites will take care of themselves.
  • avoidingmyphd
    avoidingmyphd Posts: 1,154
    richard wants a baum wrote:
    Does anyone know what is the most time cadel has lost on a mountain stage .
    Cant remember him losing massive amounts of time other than in the last two editions.
    On the 2009 stage to Grand Bornand, he came in in the grupetto, 37 minutes behind the Schlecks and Contador. That could be his worst, but no promises.
    I guess you really mean what is the most he's lost when he's at the pointy end and actually trying? In the 2008 tour, he lost around 1:45 to F Schleck at Hautacam, and 2 minutes to Sastre on Alpe d'Huez. In 2007, he lost 2 minutes to Contador at Plateau de Beille. Is that the kind of benchmark for what he might lose to the best performing other GC contender on a difficult TDF summit finish that you are looking for? Of course he doesn't always lose time - Col d'Aubisque in 2007 and Prato Nevoso in 2008 he lost none really, and he gapped Contador slightly on the way up to Tignes in 2007.

    It is very difficult to read anything into these stats though.
  • Moomaloid
    Moomaloid Posts: 2,040
    It would be fabulous if Cuddles won it... but...

    Chuffed to see Tommy in Yellow and Pip in Green

    On the Race so far... starting to feel like i'm desperately hanging on for a Mountain stage... So the Zomegnan is a masochist... but at least the stage finishes are always great...
  • Le Commentateur
    Le Commentateur Posts: 4,099
    Rain and strong winds forecast for tomorrow's rolling stage.
    Un uomo solo al commando
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    RichN95 wrote:
    According to SBS (Aussie broadcaster) on twitter, Contador had to leave the Saxo training ride early this morning. His knee is definitely a big problem.

    It would be complete BS to have the most talented, successful and exciting GT GC rider have to leave due to a knee problem. Really, really bad.

    Reading his own comments, his knee sounds pretty bad - he can't pedal properly and is in pain. If he hadn't crashed so many times and hadn't lost 1.20 for a BS reason he would crush the fancy Schlecks even with a huge Giro effort in his legs.

    The rest of the Tour will be rubbish if he leaves...then I hope that Basso and Evans destroy the Schlecks.
    Contador is the Greatest
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    "The Schlecks have to get rid of Cadel but it's going to be exciting all the way to Paris. There are some really hard stages. We did recon of the Alps and Pyrenees and the Luz-Ardiden stage is really scare and it's going to be every man for himself," Porte told Cyclingnews.
    Contador is the Greatest
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    “The idea did not even cross my mind,” Contador told reporters prior to Tuesday’s stage 10 start, according to Reuters. “Go home? Yes, but not before the end of the Tour. I will do everything I can to reach Paris as the winner. I feel actually better.”
    Contador is the Greatest
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W25H4f49KKI

    Evans is so likeable. A top guy. If he wins I would be happy.
    Contador is the Greatest
  • takethehighroad
    takethehighroad Posts: 6,821
    I think Basso came into the Tour smack bang out of form, which is hwy he was dropped on a bridge. But he's hung in when he needed to and will only get stronger.

    And with such a heavily loaded third week, he should come good.

    Cunego's also kept his nose clean...

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