TDF 2011 - Stage 14 Spoiler

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Comments

  • stokepa31
    stokepa31 Posts: 560
    LA on twitter saying TV can win!
    Burning Fat Not Rubber

    Scott CR1
    Genesis IO ID
    Moda Canon
  • Doobz
    Doobz Posts: 2,800
    stokepa31 wrote:
    LA on twitter saying TV can win!

    Same doctors maybe?
    cartoon.jpg
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,253
    gsk82 wrote:
    i think the shlecks are so obsessed with contador they're forgetting they each need a minute or so on evans before the tt. contador looked a lot better today so hopefully come the alps he'll be firing and be able to take a minute out of the shlecks and evans. i can't see it happening but it would make the tt very interesting

    They keep letting Sanchez go too. On his day, he's a pretty decent TTer.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • timoid.
    timoid. Posts: 3,133
    Interview with Basso was interesting, saying that attacks need to be longer to make any difference. He and Frank both annoyed that nobody wanted to race.


    Bertie the big winner here. He's on one leg at the moment and should have been buried by the Schlecks. They will regret not doing so come the alps.
    It's a little like wrestling a gorilla. You don't quit when you're tired. You quit when the gorilla is tired.
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    JVB. He would have attacked them left right and centre and had Van to help.

    I think you're right gatto...cannot see a situation yet which would have put Wiggins in difficulty. And he would dominate the TT hands down. REAL shame.
    Contador is the Greatest
  • P_Tucker
    P_Tucker Posts: 1,878
    Timoid. wrote:
    Interview with Basso was interesting, saying that attacks need to be longer to make any difference. He and Frank both annoyed that nobody wanted to race.


    Bertie the big winner here. He's on one leg at the moment and should have been buried by the Schlecks. They will regret not doing so come the alps.

    Couldn't agree more with this analysis. He's going to CRUSH them.

    Bit rich from Basso though, his attacks seem to consist of 10 hard seated pedal strokes.
  • Gazzetta67
    Gazzetta67 Posts: 1,890
    Right Andy you attack - But i dont want to leave you brother Frank - Ok i will attack get a gap and then sit up and wait then the whole group can get back. I know Frank my neck is sore cos i think the race is behind me.....Wait a minute i will attack and grab THREE whole seconds....That"l show em eh :roll: :roll:
  • GeorgeShaw
    GeorgeShaw Posts: 764
    I don't see why anybody is so surprised. It's only the second major mountain stage. Everybody is fairly evenly matched. They're only going to try a 90% attack, and see who follows. Frank got away two days ago, Samu did today. They both got a big enough gap and then committed. But you could see that Frank's effort probably cost him today. So it's a war of attrition. If one does weaken, then you can be sure that they would all commit a bit more to put them out of the race, but nobody's going to gutter themselves with a week to go in such an even fight. Andy got a bit of a gap today, but never enough to make it worth while burying himself.

    At the end of next week, we'll see who's got 3-week legs, it won't be decided until then.
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    P_Tucker wrote:
    Timoid. wrote:
    Interview with Basso was interesting, saying that attacks need to be longer to make any difference. He and Frank both annoyed that nobody wanted to race.


    Bertie the big winner here. He's on one leg at the moment and should have been buried by the Schlecks. They will regret not doing so come the alps.

    Couldn't agree more with this analysis. He's going to CRUSH them.

    Bit rich from Basso though, his attacks seem to consist of 10 hard seated pedal strokes.

    Basso rides people off his wheel with sustained, constant high pace. He is not one to get out the saddle, accelerate very fast, get a gap then hold it. He has GT wins in the bag dont forget.
    Contador is the Greatest
  • moray_gub
    moray_gub Posts: 3,328
    Gazzetta67 wrote:
    TheBullet wrote:
    Gazzetta67 wrote:
    TheBullet wrote:
    Not really sure why everyone keeps having a go at the Shlecks. Andy kept attacking and if he got a serious gap he would have carried on riding. He tried hard unlike anyone else and I think Frank just didn't have the legs today.

    Can't help feeling that alot of people are jumping on the bash a shleck bandwagon. Bit boring really.

    Eh ??? Serious Attacking - Andy Shleck should have his head on the other way round....NEVER seen 2 more negative riders in all my life.....Like watching paint dry that stage....Think i'l get the 1983 - 1984 Tour out tonight on VHS. :twisted:

    The only thing negative is you. Don't understand why there's so much hatred.

    What you talking about HATRED ??? - There are some on here who actually know how pro racing goes.....and that today was a Non-Event and full of negative tactics

    If you know how pro racing goes you will know that is often a feature of GT races . Why you are getting all indignant and abusive about it is beyond me.
    Gasping - but somehow still alive !
  • Seanos
    Seanos Posts: 301
    Gazzetta67 wrote:
    Right Andy you attack - But i dont want to leave you brother Frank - Ok i will attack get a gap and then sit up and wait then the whole group can get back. I know Frank my neck is sore cos i think the race is behind me.....Wait a minute i will attack and grab THREE whole seconds....That"l show em eh :roll: :roll:
    You don't want them to win so why do you even care?
  • It was pretty much by the script and unimpressive. Predictable and I didn't see Bertie having much of a pop at all. Andy put some doubts to bed, not all of them, but some.

    I think that we might have seen a different story had Jens not gotten twisted, twice...but he did..

    How about next year we have this as a TDF:

    1. Massive mountain Stage.
    2. Time Trial
    3. Sail onto the Champs Elysees.

    Jaded I am, can't help it, that wasn't a race it was everyone else looking at each other's ar5es.

    I think Lance is jumping the gun with that comment...

    I am still not writing Basso off at all...

    In reality, and no I don't like him, but he is going to have to do so much work in the Alps, as proven today, that he had better have a lot left to give if he is going to bag it....
  • finchy
    finchy Posts: 6,686
    A. Schleck is claiming that the slopes weren't selective enough for him to attack today.

    Voeckler says that he would have cracked if a serious attack had been put in.

    http://www.lequipe.fr/Cyclisme/breves20 ... -rien.html
  • timoid.
    timoid. Posts: 3,133
    P_Tucker wrote:
    Timoid. wrote:
    Interview with Basso was interesting, saying that attacks need to be longer to make any difference. He and Frank both annoyed that nobody wanted to race.


    Bertie the big winner here. He's on one leg at the moment and should have been buried by the Schlecks. They will regret not doing so come the alps.

    Couldn't agree more with this analysis. He's going to CRUSH them.

    Bit rich from Basso though, his attacks seem to consist of 10 hard seated pedal strokes.

    Basso rides people off his wheel with sustained, constant high pace. He is not one to get out the saddle, accelerate very fast, get a gap then hold it. He has GT wins in the bag dont forget.


    One of which was legitimate.

    Agree with you that he wins by burning people off rather than blowing them away.

    Seems Sylvestre didn't get his gear through French customs so he can help with the usual tactics.
    It's a little like wrestling a gorilla. You don't quit when you're tired. You quit when the gorilla is tired.
  • Gazzetta67
    Gazzetta67 Posts: 1,890
    Seanos wrote:
    Gazzetta67 wrote:
    Right Andy you attack - But i dont want to leave you brother Frank - Ok i will attack get a gap and then sit up and wait then the whole group can get back. I know Frank my neck is sore cos i think the race is behind me.....Wait a minute i will attack and grab THREE whole seconds....That"l show em eh :roll: :roll:
    You don't want them to win so why do you even care?

    Nah Nah nee nah nah 8)
  • Seanos
    Seanos Posts: 301
    Gazzetta67 wrote:
    Seanos wrote:
    Gazzetta67 wrote:
    Right Andy you attack - But i dont want to leave you brother Frank - Ok i will attack get a gap and then sit up and wait then the whole group can get back. I know Frank my neck is sore cos i think the race is behind me.....Wait a minute i will attack and grab THREE whole seconds....That"l show em eh :roll: :roll:
    You don't want them to win so why do you even care?

    Nah Nah nee nah nah 8)
    Huh?
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,697
    I'm gonna have to bring out my "people have to learn new tactics now there's no drugs" theory in a minute if things don't change (still collecting evidence though)....That or the tour organisers are going to have to start finishing races consistently at the top of SERIOUSLY big climbs to encourage people to attack...this clearly was nt big enough...

    What is becoming clear is that short sharp attacks either have to be devastaing (AC in Giro esque) or people need to think of new ideas, the heavily doped up US Blue train approach does nt work when the train has to run on mineral water again!
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,697
    Seanos wrote:
    Gazzetta67 wrote:
    Seanos wrote:
    Gazzetta67 wrote:
    Right Andy you attack - But i dont want to leave you brother Frank - Ok i will attack get a gap and then sit up and wait then the whole group can get back. I know Frank my neck is sore cos i think the race is behind me.....Wait a minute i will attack and grab THREE whole seconds....That"l show em eh :roll: :roll:
    You don't want them to win so why do you even care?

    Nah Nah nee nah nah 8)
    Huh?

    He's trolling to p1ss people off!
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • ddraver wrote:
    I'm gonna have to bring out my "people have to learn new tactics now there's no drugs" theory in a minute if things don't change (still collecting evidence though)....That or the tour organisers are going to have to start finishing races consistently at the top of SERIOUSLY big climbs to encourage people to attack...this clearly was nt big enough...

    What is becoming clear is that short sharp attacks either have to be devastaing (AC in Giro esque) or people need to think of new ideas, the heavily doped up US Blue train approach does nt work when the train has to run on mineral water again!

    I see where you are coming from, however I don't think that "the substance" has changed too much...they just want to deliver it in the same way, and they are not the Blue Train...and it isn't Lance. So I agree with you wholeheartedly that things are going to have to change, however looking at the average speeds, nothing has changed, people are just following a tried and tested model that isn't going to work because the dynamics are so different without The Blue Train.

    I was really hoping we would se evidence of a change today, but no...

    Being in an environment with non TDF fans who are getting into it, it is almost becoming impossible to explain why today's stage was as dry as a bad of ar5eholes...they were not watching in LA times, so they get it, but don't get why everyone chugs along, waiting for....what...

    Weak Sauce which makes the scenery more thrilling than the race...it isn't far to Paris, and I stick by my comment of why don't we just scrap it all and have one huge uphill and then a TT...

    Having said that, yesterday was cracking...but it wasn't about the GC...
  • Interview at start:

    Interviewer asks A Shrek about tactics, A Shrek gives smug grin and says "As if I am going to tell you the tactics"

    Yah, that would be about right Andy and the reason that you can't tell anyone is that you simply don't have any.

    JESUS H CHRIST that was boring...
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,697
    It's easy to blame the Schlecks but I have to point out that no one else did anything either....why is it up to them to entertain us? They actually were the most entertaining!!
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • verylonglegs
    verylonglegs Posts: 4,023
    ddraver wrote:
    It's easy to blame the Schlecks but I have to point out that no one else did anything either....why is it up to them to entertain us? They actually were the most entertaining!!

    Yeah, lot a raging on here lately, it's odd imo. Becoming as bad as a football forum.
  • Bagman
    Bagman Posts: 311
    What an anticlimax! Aside from gutsy riding by jelly, and TV the rest was dull. I sat waiting and waiting for the big 4 to launch some attacks and put a bit of time into each other. Never happened. Schlecks are pretty dull and Evans doesn't know what to do when he isn't 1cm behind someone else's wheel. AC obviously out of sorts.
    Hope Tommy wins the Tour
  • Seanos
    Seanos Posts: 301
    ddraver wrote:
    It's easy to blame the Schlecks but I have to point out that no one else did anything either....why is it up to them to entertain us? They actually were the most entertaining!!
    + 1. And if today wasn't he most exciting mountain stage ever, it wasn't as dull as the predictable posts from the armchair tacticians.

    And while I'm at it, 'Shrek' and LeoTURD' - is that the best you can do? Really?
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,697
    The Anty Schlecks as it were....(f'nar)
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • cogidubnus
    cogidubnus Posts: 860
    First off well done to Tommy Voekler, I'm really hopiing he can hang on in there to Paris. He certainly deserves it for the effort he is putting in.

    I will happily admit i am not Schleckdee or Schleckdums biggest fan but today was embarrassing. AC is practically riding with one leg at the minute and was struggling to keep up everytime Andy attacked today. Yet AS decided to sit up and wait for Frank each and every time. And then when he does attack he does it on the flat part where he can only gain 2 seconds. If Andy EVER wins the tour I will be amazed.

    AC looks to be getting better with each day, I cannot wait to see him taking it to them in the alps.

    Samu is now looking like a decent bet for the podium with his climbing at the moment.

    Poor Wiggins he would be well up the GB at this rate, gutted :(
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,697
    FFS!!!

    he's not waiting for his brother he stops because someone else (TV, CE or IB today) has bridged the gap and he doesnt want to tow them up the hill.Is it that hard to understand? Why do you think Chris Hoy does nt Hare off the line straight after the gun in a Sprint race?
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • cogidubnus
    cogidubnus Posts: 860
    ddraver wrote:
    FFS!!!

    he's not waiting for his brother he stops because someone else (TV, CE or IB today) has bridged the gap and he doesnt want to tow them up the hill.Is it that hard to understand? Why do you think Chris Hoy does nt Hare off the line straight after the gun in a Sprint race?

    Last year with out Frank in the mountains Andy attacked a hell of alot more..
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,697
    No he didnt! See the last stage on the Tourmalet for an example, and actually the stage the day before...
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • inkyfingers
    inkyfingers Posts: 4,400
    I'm actually with Dave Harmon on this, i'd like to see how Schleck brothers get on if they weren't on the same team.
    "I have a lovely photo of a Camargue horse but will not post it now" (Frenchfighter - July 2013)