TDF Stage 11 - Besançon to Oyonnax *Spoilers*

OPQS

TailWindHome wrote:

Nick Bull ‏@nickbull21 · 16m
Garmin-Sharp DS Robbie Hunter was fined twice (2x200CHF) and Andrew Talansky once (50CHF + 20sec pen) for "abri prolongé" today.

Is that too 'sticky' a 'sticky bottle'?

ben@31

TailWindHome wrote:

Nick Bull ‏@nickbull21 · 16m
Garmin-Sharp DS Robbie Hunter was fined twice (2x200CHF) and Andrew Talansky once (50CHF + 20sec pen) for "abri prolongé" today.

It's not as if Talansky benefitted from his extended rest. It did not alter the race standings.

50 swiss francs? I would not be too upset about that. I've received bigger car parking fines.

above_the_cows

bobmcstuff wrote:

What's the point of the fine when he already finished more than half an hour back... Seems like a pointless exercise.

Them's the RULES!

Yeah, as you say pointless.

tailwindhome

DeVlaeminck

OnYourRight wrote:

I’m pleased that Sagan at least didn’t chase this time. He should almost never chase. Chasing is like paying a ransom to hostage takers – it sets a precedent you don’t want to live with.

Anyone got some tips for Sagan for the next time?

Take your point but I think he should have chased - well having got himself in a position where the 4 of them were out in front with 2k to go and Gallopin attacks I don't see what option he had. If you are by far the fastest finisher of the three then close down the attacks and if you can't then attack first.

gsvbagpuss

Does Degenkolb always sprint like that or was he in the wrong gear?

frenchfighter

Sagan has almost double the points of second place (Coquard). Over 300. Very impressive given only stage 11 and the average points to win the jersey in the last 30 odd years cant be much different to that. He may be on track for an all time podium. Sean Kelly is the reference - over 400 each time.

Credit again to Gallopin. Super win. Would like to hear his fiancee commentating on that if she did.

k-dog

So is Tony Martin going to wear his skinsuit every day?

davidof

frenchfighter wrote:

Would like to hear his fiancee commentating on that if she did.

oooh... ahhh.... ooh la la (continues for another 5 minutes in a very nasal high pitched voice)

Lanterne_Rogue

frenchfighter wrote:

Sagan has almost double the points of second place (Coquard). Over 300. Very impressive given only stage 11 and the average points to win the jersey in the last 30 odd years cant be much different to that. He may be on track for an all time podium. Sean Kelly is the reference - over 400 each time.

Credit again to Gallopin. Super win. Would like to hear his fiancee commentating on that if she did.

Haven't they changed the points distribution since Kelly's day? Direct comparisons may be (excuse the pun) pointless.

tailwindhome

I'm giving Cillian one last chance with the stats

Cillian Kelly ‏@irishpeloton · 12m
If Peter Sagan is worried, maybe he should be. Sean Kelly had won five stages by 1982. But despite three more green jersey wins after that..

Cillian Kelly ‏@irishpeloton · 12m
...and despite riding the Tour for another 10 years, he never won another stage.

ddraver

So Sagan approaches the last 5 km of a hilly stage that has seen the big sprinters shelled, there's the remnants of a break ahead

*No one chases the breakaway because "Sagan will win anyway" - Sagan loses

*Rider X breaks jumps out of the peloton - No one chases because "Sagan will win anyway" - Sagan loses

*Sagan Breaks away, but cannot hold on because he's not a Cancellara or Martin, and no one thinks he is - Sagan loses

*The break is captured but as they do so the bunch slows down, none of the normal chasing domestiques have made it over the hills, everyone sits up and waits, conserving their energy with allowing the first point to happen - Sagan loses

The reality is at the moment that Sagan is fighting against almost impossible circumstances to win stages. The fact that he has repeatedly tried to do so anyway and missed out on many by tyre widths should be applauded. The only way Sagan can win is if he has a team to keep the pace high at the end of hilly stages which his team is not able to do at the moment. However, it does seem like he's realised this and is doing something about it for 2015

tailwindhome

When's Tommeke retiring?

Sagan + OPQS would be unstoppable.

OPQS

TailWindHome wrote:

When's Tommeke retiring?

Sagan + OPQS would be unstoppable.

That's not a bad shout actually. OPQS are over-flowing with talent and power.

iainf72

OPQS wrote:

TailWindHome wrote:

When's Tommeke retiring?

Sagan + OPQS would be unstoppable.

That's not a bad shout actually. OPQS are over-flowing with talent and power.

OPQS burnt that bridge when they didn't want to hire him when he turned pro.

OPQS

iainf72 wrote:

OPQS burnt that bridge when they didn't want to hire him when he turned pro.

Times change. People change. Bridges can be rebuilt.

iainf72

OPQS wrote:

iainf72 wrote:

OPQS burnt that bridge when they didn't want to hire him when he turned pro.

Times change. People change. Bridges can be rebuilt.

Yep - But then, OPQS have a new Boonen and he's a Belgie.

tailwindhome

OPQS wrote:

iainf72 wrote:

OPQS burnt that bridge when they didn't want to hire him when he turned pro.

Times change. People change. Bridges can be rebuilt.

Piles of Euro notes stacked neatly would make a fabulous bridge.

andyp

Garmin's best finisher today was Slagter in 99th, nearly 15 minutes down.

I'd love to know what their tactical master plan was for the day.

frenchfighter

andyp wrote:

Garmin's best finisher today was Slagter in 99th, nearly 15 minutes down.

I'd love to know what their tactical master plan was for the day.

Bravado. They played a stupid card and a few riders mentioned about the tough pace they set earlier than expected. 100% they made it harder for Talansky to finish within the time cut. I mentioned Slagter as a potential winner but was annoyed to see him go 30km too soon which wasnt very clever.

frenchfighter

iainf72 wrote:

OPQS wrote:

iainf72 wrote:

OPQS burnt that bridge when they didn't want to hire him when he turned pro.

Times change. People change. Bridges can be rebuilt.

Yep - But then, OPQS have a new Boonen and he's a Belgie.

Kwiatek? He may have been there a few years but he is a proud Polish man.

Lanterne_Rogue

andyp wrote:

Garmin's best finisher today was Slagter in 99th, nearly 15 minutes down.

I'd love to know what their tactical master plan was for the day.

Throw a few hand grenades and see what's left when the chaos settles down, probably - that's generally how they race. We tend to notice the unlikely successes rather than the failed attempts, because when it does work it tends to spark off some terrific racing.

iainf72

frenchfighter wrote:

Kwiatek? He may have been there a few years but he is a proud Polish man.

Nah, Van Keirsbulck

The_Boy

underlayunderlay wrote:

andyp wrote:

Garmin's best finisher today was Slagter in 99th, nearly 15 minutes down.

I'd love to know what their tactical master plan was for the day.

Throw a few hand grenades and see what's left when the chaos settles down, probably - that's generally how they race. We tend to notice the unlikely successes rather than the failed attempts, because when it does work it tends to spark off some terrific racing.

This was my immediate thought watching this evening. They seemed to go to the front immediately that Talansky climbed off. Reckon there just thought "fuck it, let's see what happens".

frenchfighter

iainf72 wrote:

frenchfighter wrote:

Kwiatek? He may have been there a few years but he is a proud Polish man.

Nah, Van Keirsbulck

Really?! Been a pro since 2011...I had to google him. His palmares is non existant. What am I missing? Has he been riding the shadows and is going to suddenly be a domineering figure?

Paul 8v

I must admit I had to google him

DeadCalm

GSVBagpuss wrote:

Does Degenkolb always sprint like that or was he in the wrong gear?

I was wondering the same. Looked like he was sprinting in the small ring from the way he was bobbing all over the place. Bizarre!

Yellow Peril

frenchfighter wrote:

iainf72 wrote:

frenchfighter wrote:

Kwiatek? He may have been there a few years but he is a proud Polish man.

Nah, Van Keirsbulck

Really?! Been a pro since 2011...I had to google him. His palmares is non existant. What am I missing? Has he been riding the shadows and is going to suddenly be a domineering figure?

I agree with Iain, he's very good it's just a matter of a very big pecking order at OPQS.In the same way Little Pete is very good at Sky but you have to wait your turn (which is a bit of a shame for both riders)

disgruntledgoat

They go big on apprenticeships in that team. Bartoli taught Bettini who brought Paolini and Pippo along.

Boonen kind of fell in their lap, but they signed Museeuw and later Van Petegem to help him along.

dave milne

Backed Gallopin at 80-1. Was pretty excited when he attacked yesterday :-)