Stage 16 *spoiler*

andyjr

Graeme_S wrote:

I think the other favourites would be silly not to try and put AS under pressure on the summit/descent again tomorrow. If he can fire on all cylinders he could still put serious time into Evans and Voeckler in the Alps.

Descent is approx 45km's from the top at Sestirere, so i'd expect attacks about 5km's from the top of that from anyone who can descend

pb21

andyjr wrote:

WTF is Cav doing in 43rd?! Impressed as there's no other HTC riders within 3 minutes of him.

Really looking forward to the next 3 stages now.

Must've been hanging on to some fast cars!

tomb8555

andyjr wrote:

WTF is Cav doing in 43rd?! Impressed as there's no other HTC riders within 3 minutes of him.

Really looking forward to the next 3 stages now.

He's always said that he's actually not a bad climber, just that he saves his legs on the mountain stages so he can still sprint by the end of the tour.

I imagine his power to weight even over a long climb is rather good. Perhaps he was hoping he could be fairly high up so as not to concede too many points to Rojas/Gilbert - although I guess he was well out of the running with 43rd..

RichN95.

gabriel959 wrote:

Rojas and Gilbert scored some points over Cav though...

Only 3 and 2. A win for Cav, really

The time difference between Evans and Schleck Jr was only a couple of seconds more than the difference between Schelck Jr and Cav.

rockmount

Cav nearly got Basso there ..

andyjr

lost 3 to rojas & 2 to gilbert, think he'll be pleased enough with that

gabriel959

yes, I agree its not a big amount of points but that hasn't got anything to do with his 43rd placing today. Its to do with Rojas and Gilbert not doing better.

Tomorrow IMO is the last day Rojas and Gilbert have a chance of putting some points on Cav.

Dorset_Boy

A Scklek just been whinging - done himself no favours at all today claiming the descent was too dangerous :roll: .

seven7faces

ok, andy's now the most annoying rider in the race. Time to put up or shut up

josame

Dorset Boy wrote:

A Scklek just been whinging - done himself no favours at all today.

yeah caught that

This is not racing - in effect

wtf :roll:

smithy21

afx237vi wrote:

Contador to try again tomorrow?

Interesting stage with a cat 2 and then a descent to the finish again- although you'd possibly expect the break to be mopped up en route to the finish tomorrow.

Probably not what the Schlecks would have wanted to see after their debacle today.

FJS

gabriel959 wrote:

yes, I agree its not a big amount of points but that hasn't got anything to do with his 43rd placing today. Its to do with Rojas and Gilbert not doing better.

Tomorrow IMO is the last day Rojas and Gilbert have a chance of putting some points on Cav.

The Bourg d'Oisans intermediate on Friday is a possibility the way both are climbing, but to be honest I do think they needed more points today to have a realistic chance

disgruntledgoat

josame wrote:

Dorset Boy wrote:

A Scklek just been whinging - done himself no favours at all today.

yeah caught that

This is not racing - in effect

wtf :roll:

Has anyone put it to him that the 40 odd riders in front of him seemed to have no problem racing in it?

gabriel959

well, they also have tomorrow and thursday... but I reckon cav will get points on those too.

eh

Probably not what the Schlecks would have wanted to see after their debacle today.

Thats harsh on Frank, he did an OK ride today and didn't lose much time. Andy on the other hand, oh dear :oops:

milton50

It's funny but before the Tour I absolutely hated the fact that Contador was riding and I wanted Schleck to win it. But now I can't stand his riding style or his pathetic attitude, and I'd actually rather see Contador win it than Schleck.

disgruntledgoat

@Milton

I know what you mean... As much as I don't think he should be in the race, at least he's taking it on (after 2 weeks).

frenchfighter

Haha, Knee looking good Alberto? Hope you are firing on all cylinders in the coming days.

Getty

Gazzetta67

Maybe Andy can get those wing mirrors now for his handlebars - There is a few long straight bits on the Galibier if he can attack

Dumb & Dumber comes to mind for the shreks

alan_a

Milton50 wrote:

It's funny but before the Tour I absolutely hated the fact that Contador was riding and I wanted Schleck to win it. But now I can't stand his riding style or his pathetic attitude, and I'd actually rather see Contador win it than Schleck.

+1

However I really want Cuddles to do it.

graeme_s-2

It's worth noting that while Evans and Contador were attacking, it was Cancellara who was helping the Schlecks limit their loses, they didn't seem able to do much themselves.

alan_sherman

If cuddles does win. Do you think he will retire?

It would be nice to go out on a real high. He is older than most but still seems to be riding well. However a career has to stop at some point, and finally winning the tour would be the pinnacle of his (very very good) career. What do you go for afterwards? he's already been world champ. Maybe have a pop at the hour record 9but i don't think he will get it as he is a good GC alrounder, not a TTer).

stokepa31

disgruntledgoat wrote:

@Milton

I know what you mean... As much as I don't think he should be in the race, at least he's taking it on (after 2 weeks).

Similar view point here, nice to see him mixing it up even if he is tainted. at least it triggered some viewing pleasure and confirmed a thing or two about the quality of A shrek. Thought Cadel was great today

TimB34

GC after stage 16

1 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Team Europcar 69:00:56
2 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team 0:01:45
3 Fränk Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek 0:01:49
4 Andy Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek 0:03:03
5 Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 0:03:26
6 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Saxo Bank Sungard 0:03:42
7 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 0:03:49
8 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre - ISD 0:04:01
9 Thomas Danielson (USA) Team Garmin-Cervelo 0:06:04
10 Rigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Sky Procycling 0:07:55

39s between AS and AC ...

cornoyemade

THOR - GARMIN!
Hats off to both for a fantastic day!

What can't Thor do?

World Champion...check; Green Jersey...Check; Sprint...check; Climb...check; Time Trial...check; cobbles...check; make Mark Cavendish look like a punk...check.

Can't wait to see Cavendishy move to Sky so he will stop being an embarrassment to a US team, and become a british problem instead.

andyxm

cornoyemade wrote:

What can't Thor do?

Win a monument.

darren555

cornoyemade wrote:

Can't wait to see Cavendishy move to Sky so he will stop being an embarrassment to a US team, and become a british problem instead.

Yeah only four stage wins so far. What an embarrassment :roll:

PBo

cornoyemade wrote:

THOR - GARMIN!
Hats off to both for a fantastic day!

What can't Thor do?

World Champion...check; Green Jersey...Check; Sprint...check; Climb...check; Time Trial...check; cobbles...check; make Mark Cavendish look like a punk...check.

Can't wait to see Cavendishy move to Sky so he will stop being an embarrassment to a US team, and become a british problem instead.

Seriously fella, you need the intervention of mental health professionals.....

luckao

Dorset Boy wrote:

A Scklek just been whinging - done himself no favours at all today claiming the descent was too dangerous :roll: .

What about the ascent? Too wet?

He should have sent Canc to the front to neutralise the stage.

rockmount

cornoyemade wrote:

What can't Thor do?

Sprint like Cav !