Dauphine *spoilers*
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ok,
He was right on Froome's wheel - same time (but there were 10, 8 and 6 second bonuses). It's clear to most unbiased watchers that Contador had a proper dig to get round Froome in the last 200m but Froome not only held him off but actually gapped him a little (naff all but...).
Given that Bertie wheelsucked Froome the whole way up the climb (which given the GC situation is fair enough), it's a hell of a show of strength from Froome
It is a little hard to understand how bertie thinks his saddle would ve made enough difference to matter...We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
- @ddraver0 -
Sounds like it is worth a watch then. I'll enjoy that on the train in tomorrow. Thanks.0
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TMR wrote:Sounds like it is worth a watch then. I'll enjoy that on the train in tomorrow. Thanks.
It's a good stage but nothing exceptional. Don't waste time watching anything bar the last 10km.
On a separate note, forgot about Kirby.
Still absolutely awful. Uses the weirdest analogies to describe the most odd/irrelevant/wrong ideas.0 -
The only saving grace is that Brian Smith is the best colour commentator. In my opinion.0
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RichN95 wrote:
Unless he gets injured, Porte is a certainty for the Tour.Joelsim wrote:Will be interesting to see if Porte rides himself out of a Tour place this week. What then Sky?
Which is ridiculous if he's going to sit up half way up a climb having done no work. He did a great job last year and certainly stopped Froome losing time on Alpe D'Huez but his role is to still be there towards the end to do that sort of thing. No point having him there to pull on the flat or lower slopes as Sky already have some big engines for that.0 -
Last year Porte was able to drop pretty much every single rider bad his best monaco mate. Very odd that this year he cant do anything. If he rocks up at the Tour (current form certainly is a no no) and murders the bunch then that is unacceptable.Contador is the Greatest0
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You just cant really back a face like this can you?
Contador is the Greatest0 -
Peraud lost a packet today...
Konig did well again as did Elissonde.Contador is the Greatest0 -
Contador is the Greatest0 -
Pross wrote:RichN95 wrote:
Unless he gets injured, Porte is a certainty for the Tour.Joelsim wrote:Will be interesting to see if Porte rides himself out of a Tour place this week. What then Sky?
Which is ridiculous if he's going to sit up half way up a climb having done no work. He did a great job last year and certainly stopped Froome losing time on Alpe D'Huez but his role is to still be there towards the end to do that sort of thing. No point having him there to pull on the flat or lower slopes as Sky already have some big engines for that.
Absolutely. Rich, why do you say Porte is a certainty for the Tour? Makes no sense to me that the 2014 Porte is selected unless he can prove some form on the climbs.0 -
frenchfighter wrote:You just cant really back a face like this can you?
Weirder and weirder
FF, I mean, not Froome's face0 -
frenchfighter wrote:“Today was hard with a high tempo all day and some difficult roads as well but that’s okay because this was really good training for next month and the Tour. That’s why we’re here, no? Of course if we could have taken a stage win today we would but at the moment Chris is very strong so congrats to him. Now we’ll take it day by day and we’ll see how it goes in the final,” Contador told Cyclingnews at the summit, as he leant against the railings.
“The last kilometre was the hardest but the climb was okay. I want to take it day by day. There was a small problem with my bike when I was climbing out of the saddle but I’m very happy with the last two days and I think the coming days will be even better.”
Note that if Contador was on the limit he would not have been in such a high gear.
The Inner Ring June 10, 2014 at 9:27 am
Contador later said his heart rate was at 203.0 -
Kwiatek has never trained at altitude and does not own an oxygen tent.Contador is the Greatest0
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Contador:
"I was much better than expected. The tactic was to focus on Froome. I didn't think about the victory. On the other hand, I was not aware that we were battling for the stage victory. During the ascent I did not realize that we had caught all escapees.
"In any case, it was impossible to pass him. He is very strong at the moment, better than me. And in the time trial, one can only congratulate him. But I'm very happy with how I performed on the climb and with my condition.
'It's always important [to be able to respond to his attacks]. The first was very strong and very long. But I had good legs and that made it more simple.
"I am sorry to repeat myself, but I want to take it day by day. For the weekend I guess I have to bring my heart rate down. Today I reached 203 on the climb.
"I was not surprised that Kelderman, Talansky, Van den Broeck and Nibali were close to us. They are all very good bike riders."
"Sky had done hard work all day to keep the break under control and they rode really fast," he said. "In the end, they paid for that effort."
Nibali:
"I'm not surprised by Froome's performance," he told Cyclismactu. "He was already very strong in the Tour de Romandie, and it is normal that he gets better as we get close to the Tour de France. I think he really wanted to show his superiority today and he wanted to take a solo win. With Alberto Contador, they are a level above the rest. I just spoke to Alberto. He seems to be very strong and I think, for his part, he was really determined to show Froome that he could follow him.
"Personally I know I'm not 100%. So I'm not so surprised by my performance. I had a difficult winter and some physical problems. But my training at altitude in May showed me that I have come back to a good level. When Froome launched his first attack, my director told me to follow him. But that's not what I did because I knew I could not. So I preferred to ride at my own pace."Contador is the Greatest0 -
Q: What will be the best stage to test yourself in during Dauphiné?
AC: Stage 7, because the climbs are like in the Tour de France, with 8 percent gradients and long climbs. This is where it gets really challenging in the Tour and it’s on these percentages where I’ll see my fitness.Contador is the Greatest0 -
frenchfighter wrote:Last year Porte was able to drop pretty much every single rider bad his best monaco mate. Very odd that this year he cant do anything. If he rocks up at the Tour (current form certainly is a no no) and murders the bunch then that is unacceptable.
it's as if him and Contador have swapped places....
on a more serious note, those sunglasses do not do Contador justice. he needs to sign a personal sponsorship deal with Oakley0 -
Crozza wrote:frenchfighter wrote:Last year Porte was able to drop pretty much every single rider bad his best monaco mate. Very odd that this year he cant do anything. If he rocks up at the Tour (current form certainly is a no no) and murders the bunch then that is unacceptable.
it's as if him and Contador have swapped places....
on a more serious note, those sunglasses do not do Contador justice. he needs to sign a personal sponsorship deal with Oakley
Contador's palmares have already cemented him as best stage race rider of his generation. Anything else is a bonus.
So you want him to get Oakleys and look like every other rider?Contador is the Greatest0 -
Because he's Froome's sidekick. That's how these things work.FleshTuxedo wrote:Absolutely. Rich, why do you say Porte is a certainty for the Tour? Makes no sense to me that the 2014 Porte is selected unless he can prove some form on the climbs.Twitter: @RichN950 -
indeedRichN95 wrote:
Because he's Froome's sidekick. That's how these things work.FleshTuxedo wrote:Absolutely. Rich, why do you say Porte is a certainty for the Tour? Makes no sense to me that the 2014 Porte is selected unless he can prove some form on the climbs.0 -
Can someone explain why Tinkoff Saxo is using Roval wheels?Didn't they said on the beginning of the season that Zipp's wheels are better?0
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frenchfighter wrote:Contador's palmares have already cemented him as best stage race rider of his generation. Anything else is a bonus.
So you want him to get Oakleys and look like every other rider?
my point was that you make the comment that Porte has seemingly gone from hero to zero. Contador has done the reverse
are we still in his generation? I hope so - I think the sport could use a clash of the titans. I was never convinced that Schleck could be that rival to AC, because of his weak TT and refusal to spend any time improving it. A fit again Contador vs Froome (and eventually Quintana) will be something to savour
AC rides a specialized, with s-works shoes and helmet already - along with countless others. is it the sunglasses that set him apart? the current ones look naff0 -
ivanoile wrote:Can someone explain why Tinkoff Saxo is using Roval wheels?Didn't they said on the beginning of the season that Zipp's wheels are better?
Using both according to this
http://eltiodelmazo.com/2014/01/24/spec ... r-en-2014/0 -
RichN95 wrote:
Because he's Froome's sidekick. That's how these things work.FleshTuxedo wrote:Absolutely. Rich, why do you say Porte is a certainty for the Tour? Makes no sense to me that the 2014 Porte is selected unless he can prove some form on the climbs.
But he's nowhere near Froome's side when it matters. What he did last year earns him some patience, but surely he has to prove himself at some level this week?0 -
frenchfighter wrote:Peraud lost a packet today...
Konig did well again as did Elissonde.
I think Peraud was involved in a crash earlier on the climb, which might be why.
Agreed, Elissonde in particular looked very strong, pulling that group back. Hope he can develop from here.0 -
Ah ok, would have thought it unlikely he would come that far back from form.
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Last 20km:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIAWEAnzuAgContador is the Greatest0 -
frenchfighter wrote:Crozza wrote:frenchfighter wrote:Last year Porte was able to drop pretty much every single rider bad his best monaco mate. Very odd that this year he cant do anything. If he rocks up at the Tour (current form certainly is a no no) and murders the bunch then that is unacceptable.
it's as if him and Contador have swapped places....
on a more serious note, those sunglasses do not do Contador justice. he needs to sign a personal sponsorship deal with Oakley
Contador's palmares have already cemented him as best stage race rider of his generation. Anything else is a bonus.
So you want him to get Oakleys and look like every other rider?
And.....anyone who knows and cares about cycling knows how and why, and also why he has done little, by comparison, since his ban.
Regarding his gearing pointing to him being well in control on the climb? Rubbish. He has never spun up a climb he tends to ride bigger gears and climb in and out of the saddle. Another reason? he was so knackered he had no idea what gear he was in.
FF and Bertie seem to be one of a kind, can never accept defeat with good grace and sportsmanship.
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adr82 wrote:
indeedRichN95 wrote:
Because he's Froome's sidekick. That's how these things work.FleshTuxedo wrote:Absolutely. Rich, why do you say Porte is a certainty for the Tour? Makes no sense to me that the 2014 Porte is selected unless he can prove some form on the climbs.
I think this is more apt judging by recent events:
Although maybe not Porte seems to be leading. He should be slipping out the back leaving The Lone Ranger to venture on alone.Correlation is not causation.0 -
Contador likes the Wi FLi . He has said he prefers to ride in his big ring
We do have some other riders racing and lets hope they can make some serious impact.
Just looked on over the way and 2 pages on asthma pumps 0
