Paris-Tours... LIVE!
by Chris Fontecchio on Oct 12, 2008 1:58 AM EDT
in Live Races
Email
PrintMan, talk about a war of attrition: 250km over some slightly rolling terrain, in mid-October. Obviously Paris-Tours is an important race, and the sprinters haven't had much fun in a while, save Paris-Brussels, so there will be some pretty keyed-up racing. If they can get to Tours intact, this race will come down to a bunch sprint for glory. But the conditions are ripe for a breakaway, and there's a pretty solid history of such tactics working. The result: about 30km or so of a really good chess match, with at least half the teams involved.
Teams desperate to maintain order: Liquigas (Bennati); Quick Step (Boonen, Allan Davis); Rabo (Freire); Silence (McEwen); Milram (force of habit).
Teams looking for a free ride from the teams in the first category: this category consists of teams who can win in a bunch sprint but probably won't feel overly compelled to do the work, if only because they KNOW the names of 4-5 teams who are sure to take over. Reason number 4,238 to love cycling: the way every team's strategy is in part a reaction to the strategies of at least five other teams. Anyway... Columbia is in here: with Eisel stepping in for Ciolek (ill), they can stick someone else on the front for a change. Garmin, I suppose I'd like to see them focus on getting Tyler Farrar in the final sprint, but like Columbia they won't have to chase down breaks for that chance. Euskaltel (Fernandez), AG2R (Usov), Cred Ag (Renshaw) and Gerolsteiner (Haussler) will be looking for an escort to the last km too.
Teams bent on madness: This is the list of teams which can and should be looking for the right escape: Cofidis (Nuyens), FdJeux (Gilbert!), Lampre (Ballan), CSC (pick a name); Tinkoff (Ignatiev?) and well, everyone else.
Should be fun. Video at Eurosport, probably other sources. Check Cyclingfans.com ASAP!
226 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I kinda love this race.
I just searched YouTube for some video of Dicky V winning in, what was it, 2001? I swear that moment lives for me right alongside the miracle 8 second thing on the Champs in ‘89 and I didn’t even get to see Dicky’s ride—just read about it on CN! Anyway, I didn’t find video of the 2001 race.
But this race proves that riders make races, and hills sometimes make riders afraid to race (unless your name contains an allusion to the color green)… Check the list of winners for Paris-Tours. There are a few chumps, and Eddy never quite got over, but the list is pretty. Riders like Tafi and Dekker, Sorenen, Museeuw, Durrand and Tchmil. The sprinter’s classic? Maybe, but also a race for the very hard.
I’ll be rooting for Senor Flecha.
Vive la Paris-Tours!
Never, ever, work with a sprinter.
by Put 'Em in the Gutter on Oct 12, 2008 4:05 AM EDT reply actions
oh ps
when I called Gilbert for Worlds I actually meant Paris-Tours ;)
by plinytheelder on Oct 12, 2008 7:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Five riders 10’05" up the road after seventy klicks. Lucas Euser and David Zabriskie (Garmin), Sebastien Delfosse (Landwouwkrediet), Cyril Lemoine (Credit Agricole) and Tom Veelers (Skil).
pounding along in three ratios like a sonata
like a Ritter with pommelled scrotum atra cura on the step
Botticelli from the fork down pestling the transmission
tires bleeding voiding zeep the highway
Race Poster - classy
pounding along in three ratios like a sonata
like a Ritter with pommelled scrotum atra cura on the step
Botticelli from the fork down pestling the transmission
tires bleeding voiding zeep the highway
live vid soon
alfa sport has a runner that says PT live after tennis
link?
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
live feed
anyone noticed that the tennis match on eurosport has just started….that’s not a good sign
real life pong
i was hoping KUN would win 3-0 or maybe one of them would concede out of boredom
a link (bad quality)
Cycling audio just started here on eurosport
pounding along in three ratios like a sonata
like a Ritter with pommelled scrotum atra cura on the step
Botticelli from the fork down pestling the transmission
tires bleeding voiding zeep the highway
and video here
pounding along in three ratios like a sonata
like a Ritter with pommelled scrotum atra cura on the step
Botticelli from the fork down pestling the transmission
tires bleeding voiding zeep the highway
Oscarito!!!!!!!!!!!!
"I won! I won! I don't have to go to school anymore." -- Eddy Merckx, after winning his first bike race
Hi, good morning, all. Thanks for the early updates.
Backstedt is commentating on ES and says that Dave Z is racing in his TT skinsuit today, laughing at his quirkiness.
in '96
this was first classic i ever saw on the old OLN…remains one of my favs
ad for vaca in mexico
must be real value for euros
Mornin all!
So, looks like we have a while to go still…
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris Fontecchio on Oct 12, 2008 9:40 AM EDT reply actions
Wow, beautiful scenery, sunshine, road furniture...
I want to enjoy this, as it’s going to be hard going cold turkey next weekend :-) I haven’t seen Ballan yet, was that him near the back? Too much pixellating on my link to see…
Hm
looks like the sprint teams aren’t taking too many chances today.
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris Fontecchio on Oct 12, 2008 10:04 AM EDT reply actions
Also
Justin.tv isn’t the smoothest operation on the planet is it?
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris Fontecchio on Oct 12, 2008 10:05 AM EDT reply actions
just - in
i’ve seen better coverage from them, may be their feed
There is a Paris-Tours Espoirs (179 km)
race that just finished – won by a French guy
by cyclingchallenge on Oct 12, 2008 10:13 AM EDT reply actions
Ha! We knew he was going to do that :-)
Looks like DZ has started growing his off-season facial hair again.
it looks like he is hoping
that just one or two will join and share
by cyclingchallenge on Oct 12, 2008 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions
BTW, off-topic, Bruce, but how wonderful to hear of
Martti Ahtisaari’s Nobel Prize! Congrats to him! Big news!
Thank you!
That was huge for him (and us)! :)
by Bruce Suomi on Oct 12, 2008 10:24 AM EDT up reply actions
minor names
Remember Pronk in Paris-Roubaix? Have not noticed him since.
Bert Roesems… finally healed, after endless injuries?
Makes me look forward to the spring.
Marc Madiot - manager de la Française des Jeux:
“la course n’a pas encore vraiment commencé.tout le monde est encore frais. La course va se débrider dans les kilomètres à venir.”
The race hasn’t tsrated yet. Everyone is still fresh. The race is going to “take-off”(?) in the next few kms
by cyclingchallenge on Oct 12, 2008 10:31 AM EDT reply actions
3 hills between 8 and 4 kms to go
could be interesting then
by cyclingchallenge on Oct 12, 2008 10:33 AM EDT up reply actions
yes but may take a little
out of QS at the next hills
by cyclingchallenge on Oct 12, 2008 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions
any sprinters miss?
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris Fontecchio on Oct 12, 2008 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions
i'd love
to ride this route. Looks positively lovely. I suppose the Loire Valley gets its rep for a reason.
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris Fontecchio on Oct 12, 2008 10:46 AM EDT reply actions
My coverage says "proudly a "cricket free" channel" on the
top of the screen. No Paulo allowed here? :-) Or is that some reference to some obscure techie think I don’t understand?
This is getting exciting now: very twisty, turny narrow roads with lots of road furniture.
QSI
they’re planning a full train, aren’t they?
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris Fontecchio on Oct 12, 2008 10:47 AM EDT reply actions
Loewik
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris Fontecchio on Oct 12, 2008 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions
Down goes Freire???
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris Fontecchio on Oct 12, 2008 10:48 AM EDT reply actions
go oscar!!!!
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
Ballan and gilbert
both patrolling the front. hmmm
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris Fontecchio on Oct 12, 2008 10:49 AM EDT reply actions
AG2R guy?
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris Fontecchio on Oct 12, 2008 10:50 AM EDT up reply actions
why for? did you expect michigan to win football games this year?
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
by umwolverine on Oct 12, 2008 10:53 AM EDT up reply actions
Gophers bringing home jug this year!
well I’ll still believe it when I see it but hey it looks possible
by plinytheelder on Oct 12, 2008 7:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Pretty well lined out
nuthin doin today
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris Fontecchio on Oct 12, 2008 10:51 AM EDT reply actions
kids playing independently
how can I be this lucky?
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris Fontecchio on Oct 12, 2008 10:52 AM EDT reply actions
uh oh
I’ve been discovered. Party’s over.
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris Fontecchio on Oct 12, 2008 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions
freire looked good there when
Gilbert tried to attack
by cyclingchallenge on Oct 12, 2008 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions
oscar a little frisky today
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
by umwolverine on Oct 12, 2008 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions
who was the fourth?
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
4km
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
gilbert looking good
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
suspense!!!
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris Fontecchio on Oct 12, 2008 10:56 AM EDT reply actions
freire gone?
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
Pippo away again???
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris Fontecchio on Oct 12, 2008 10:56 AM EDT reply actions
3km
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
Kuyckx leaking oil
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris Fontecchio on Oct 12, 2008 10:57 AM EDT reply actions
dang buffering
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
Nice tactics fdj
If Gilbert wins, the over/under on major publications calling him French is 4.
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris Fontecchio on Oct 12, 2008 10:58 AM EDT reply actions
back
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
2km
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
my guess
boonen
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris Fontecchio on Oct 12, 2008 10:58 AM EDT reply actions
1km
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
still a small gap
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
wide and straight
hard to hold off the pack
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris Fontecchio on Oct 12, 2008 10:59 AM EDT reply actions
500meters
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
the catch!!
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris Fontecchio on Oct 12, 2008 10:59 AM EDT reply actions
gonna be close
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
gilbert !!!
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
NOOO
no catch!!!
GILBERT!!!!!!
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris Fontecchio on Oct 12, 2008 11:00 AM EDT reply actions
lombardia on ctv on saturday
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
si
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris Fontecchio on Oct 12, 2008 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions
RAI
not to be missed, if that’s possible.
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris Fontecchio on Oct 12, 2008 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions
oh, thanks for that!
ES shows it too, at least I hope so..
by Bruce Suomi on Oct 12, 2008 11:06 AM EDT up reply actions
Kuyckx 2nd
Bweeg 3rd
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris Fontecchio on Oct 12, 2008 11:01 AM EDT reply actions
check versus paris-tours coverage later today
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
zabel 7th on his final paris-tours
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
now
I’m wishing they did catch the gruppetto. Ah well, good result either way.
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris Fontecchio on Oct 12, 2008 11:03 AM EDT up reply actions
Farrar 5th
wins the sprint of the sprints
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris Fontecchio on Oct 12, 2008 11:02 AM EDT reply actions
And the Frenchman
wins at home.
d’oh!
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris Fontecchio on Oct 12, 2008 11:03 AM EDT reply actions
me
just warming up.
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris Fontecchio on Oct 12, 2008 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions
Oh!
and onto table tennis now. Man, I could spend the whole day here. Shall we switch to the live ping pong open thread?
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris Fontecchio on Oct 12, 2008 11:06 AM EDT reply actions
yes both are on my
Virtual Pong team
by cyclingchallenge on Oct 12, 2008 11:07 AM EDT up reply actions
the cycling was cutting onto the Ping Pong
no podium photos
by cyclingchallenge on Oct 12, 2008 11:06 AM EDT reply actions
Thanks for the updates
Farrar 5:th!? How awesome is that! Big things next year……….
Carlos Sastre - Tour de France winner - Born From Jets
Worth noting how Delage buried himself on the last 2 kms
to help his teammate win
by cyclingchallenge on Oct 12, 2008 11:32 AM EDT reply actions
Not much of sprinters' classic recently. Humph.
Arrived home hoping for a Benna win, but hey, I like Gilbert too so congrats to him! Are you happy CycleGirl?! (stupid question!)
A very good prediction indeed
Was it a lucky shot or should one consider to bet money on her predictions?
Loved seeing Philippe win, and yes i'm so happy!! Doing the victory dance LOL
I just say bring on the Podium Photo’s, ohh we will get to see that smile…I’m excited,
Just watched today's Versus coverage of Paris-Tours via TiVo
I was pleasantly suprised that they did a 2 hour “as live” show considering Saturday they did a one hour Vuelta recap show. 3 weeks of racing in one hour! Eh? It was awful. Today’s P-T was quite enjoyable. Been awhile since I’ve seen same day as live cycling on my TV.
Good for Gilbert. He’s French right?
(just kidding. Belgian, I know.)
It was a nice show; I taped it and watched it last night.
The scenery was amazingly beautiful. I noticed that Ballan is quite recognizable in the overhead helicopter shots of the peloton – a much bigger target to spot than Bettini, that’s for sure :-)
Philippe is from Belgium, but he is a Wallonian.
Walloons (wŏlnz`), group of people living in S Belgium who traditionally spoke a dialect of French called Walloon, but who today for the most part speak standard French. The Walloons, numbering some 3.5 million, reside mostly in the provinces of Hainaut, Liège, Namur, Luxembourg, and Walloon Brabant, in contrast to the Dutch-speaking Flemings of the northern provinces
Just an interesting Philippe fact..
Which province
is PG from?
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris Fontecchio on Oct 14, 2008 5:19 PM EDT up reply actions
yeah I know it,
my grandma was a Walloon, so I have a special place in my heart for Ph.G. But hey, the Belgians are the Canadians of Europe, so I made him an honourary Canadian! ;)
by plinytheelder on Oct 15, 2008 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
Featured Stories
FanShots
Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.
Recommended FanShots
Recent FanShots
![This is funny on so many levels. [Html should open bigger]](http://cdn3.sbnation.com/fan_shot_images/239959/flagged_small.jpg)
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
