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Paris-Tours... LIVE!

Tourbecco_tiny by Chris... on in Live Races Comment 226 comments

Man, 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!

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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 reply actions actions   0 recs

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

by fmk on Oct 12, 2008 7:22 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

who’s riding

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

by fmk on Oct 12, 2008 7:24 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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

by fmk on Oct 12, 2008 8:07 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

man . ..

I hate it when those UT riders send a break up the road—

I don’t think that K-State rider will be able to counter.

Oh, it’s not collegiate cycling?

Never mind . . .

by R Mc on Oct 12, 2008 9:42 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

live vid soon

alfa sport has a runner that says PT live after tennis

by Choo Choo on Oct 12, 2008 9:05 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

link?

"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 9:09 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

live feed

anyone noticed that the tennis match on eurosport has just started….that’s not a good sign

by bradBordeaux on Oct 12, 2008 9:12 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

real life pong

i was hoping KUN would win 3-0 or maybe one of them would concede out of boredom

by Choo Choo on Oct 12, 2008 9:18 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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

by fmk on Oct 12, 2008 9:22 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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

by fmk on Oct 12, 2008 9:23 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Oscarito!!!!!!!!!!!!

"I won! I won! I don't have to go to school anymore." -- Eddy Merckx, after winning his first bike race

by ELVISGOAT on Oct 12, 2008 9:27 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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.

by Ruthann on Oct 12, 2008 9:29 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Skinsuit worked for Nicole Cooke at the Olympics

by William H on Oct 12, 2008 9:40 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

in '96

this was first classic i ever saw on the old OLN…remains one of my favs

by Choo Choo on Oct 12, 2008 9:30 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

ad for vaca in mexico

must be real value for euros

by Choo Choo on Oct 12, 2008 9:38 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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... on Oct 12, 2008 9:40 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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…

by Ruthann on Oct 12, 2008 9:48 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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... on Oct 12, 2008 10:04 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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... on Oct 12, 2008 10:05 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

just - in

i’ve seen better coverage from them, may be their feed

by Choo Choo on Oct 12, 2008 10:06 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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 reply actions actions   0 recs

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.

by JFS_PGH on Oct 12, 2008 10:27 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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 reply actions actions   0 recs

Tjallinghi and Tommy V

trying to bridge up to LeMoine.

by Ruthann on Oct 12, 2008 10:32 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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... on Oct 12, 2008 10:46 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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.

by Ruthann on Oct 12, 2008 10:47 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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... on Oct 12, 2008 10:47 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Loewik

"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."

by Chris... on Oct 12, 2008 10:48 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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

by umwolverine on Oct 12, 2008 10:49 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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... on Oct 12, 2008 10:49 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

AG2R guy?

"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."

by Chris... on Oct 12, 2008 10:50 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

um wolv

i pass along my condolences

by Choo Choo on Oct 12, 2008 10:51 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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 to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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 to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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... on Oct 12, 2008 10:51 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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... on Oct 12, 2008 10:52 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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... on Oct 12, 2008 10:54 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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 to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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

by umwolverine on Oct 12, 2008 10:54 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

4km

"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 reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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

by umwolverine on Oct 12, 2008 10:56 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

suspense!!!

"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."

by Chris... on Oct 12, 2008 10:56 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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

by umwolverine on Oct 12, 2008 10:56 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Pippo away again???

"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."

by Chris... on Oct 12, 2008 10:56 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

3km

"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 10:57 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Kuyckx leaking oil

"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."

by Chris... on Oct 12, 2008 10:57 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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

by umwolverine on Oct 12, 2008 10:57 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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... on Oct 12, 2008 10:58 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

back

"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 10:58 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

2km

"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 10:58 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

my guess

boonen

"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."

by Chris... on Oct 12, 2008 10:58 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

1km

"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 10:58 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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

by umwolverine on Oct 12, 2008 10:59 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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... on Oct 12, 2008 10:59 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

500meters

"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 10:59 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

the catch!!

"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."

by Chris... on Oct 12, 2008 10:59 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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

by umwolverine on Oct 12, 2008 10:59 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

gilbert !!!

"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 11:00 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

NOOO

no catch!!!

GILBERT!!!!!!

"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."

by Chris... on Oct 12, 2008 11:00 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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

by umwolverine on Oct 12, 2008 11:00 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

si

"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."

by Chris... on Oct 12, 2008 11:01 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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... on Oct 12, 2008 11:05 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

oh, thanks for that!

ES shows it too, at least I hope so..

by Bruce Suomi on Oct 12, 2008 11:06 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Kuyckx 2nd

Bweeg 3rd

"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."

by Chris... on Oct 12, 2008 11:01 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

lovely, lovely, lovely!

And kuyckx must have been shamming the oil leak.

by JFS_PGH on Oct 12, 2008 11:01 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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

by umwolverine on Oct 12, 2008 11:01 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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

by umwolverine on Oct 12, 2008 11:02 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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... on Oct 12, 2008 11:03 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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... on Oct 12, 2008 11:02 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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... on Oct 12, 2008 11:03 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

me

just warming up.

"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."

by Chris... on Oct 12, 2008 11:05 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

He is Belgian :D

The discount version of French

by OctaBech on Oct 12, 2008 11:28 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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... on Oct 12, 2008 11:06 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

What an exciting finish!

What a great win for Gilbert! He’s going to *Lotto next year, isn’t he?

by Ruthann on Oct 12, 2008 11:08 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Thanks for the updates

Farrar 5:th!? How awesome is that! Big things next year……….

Carlos Sastre - Tour de France winner - Born From Jets

by Jens on Oct 12, 2008 11:15 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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!)

by Albertina on Oct 12, 2008 1:12 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

A very good prediction indeed

Was it a lucky shot or should one consider to bet money on her predictions?

by OctaBech on Oct 12, 2008 1:19 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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.)

by ZoeRochelle on Oct 12, 2008 11:12 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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 :-)

by Ruthann on Oct 13, 2008 12:20 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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..

by CycleGirl on Oct 14, 2008 6:54 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Which province

is PG from?

"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."

by Chris... on Oct 14, 2008 5:19 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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 to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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