First Ascent
by Jen See on Jul 10, 2008 10:40 AM EDT
in Live Races
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The Post-Race Show: Stage 6
Today brought the first climbing stage of the race, and while it did not cause any great separations among the favorites for the overall, it did deliver an exciting day of racing. As with the previous stages, an all-French breakaway, containing Benoit Vaugrenard, Freddy Bichot, and Sylvain Chavanel, rode the wind until the final climb. Bichot held out the longest, grabbing himself some quality television time until the bunch absorbed him. A flurry of attacks came out of the main field beginning around 5 km to go, including one from Team Garmen's Christian Vandevelde. Joined by Leonardo Peipoli, the Vandevelde move held until just short of the final kilometer. Chapeau!
Under the flamme rouge, Caisse d'Epargne led the shrunken group containing all the favorites for the overall. A touch of wheels saw Yellow Jersey Stefan Schumacher crash, putting an end to his run in Yellow. Schumacher's crash also delayed Andy Schleck, though Schleck did not go down. Up ahead, Ricco threw down, making the first move. And the last. He led the sprint all the way to line, with Alejandro Valverde and Cadel Evans on his wheel. Neither Valverde nor Evans could come around, and Ricco won his first ever Tour stage. Kim Kirchen finished just a few seconds behind the trio and now wears the Yellow Jersey of race leader. For his efforts in the break, Sylvain Chavanel took over as leader of the moutains classification. Thor Hushovd retains the Green of Points leader.
Here are today's stage results and the new general classification.
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You guys had over 400 comments in like 50 minutes.
My god – sweet job gang!
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
My god
doesn’t anyone here stop talking?
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris Fontecchio on Jul 10, 2008 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions
I'll be curious to see...
... the PdC usage statistics for July.
When Leipheimer is done mating with his Time Trialing bike... does he bite its head off and eat it?
Sitemeter
lower lower lower right
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris Fontecchio on Jul 11, 2008 1:03 AM EDT up reply actions
Short fast climb
not Cunego’s thing? Isn’t he an Ardennes ace? Best case: he’s aiming at a third-week peak.
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris Fontecchio on Jul 10, 2008 11:32 AM EDT reply actions
So
we’re absolutely sure Frank was nowhere near Schumacher when he crashed?
"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."
It was all his own fault
"I won! I won! I don't have to go to school anymore." -- Eddy Merckx, after winning his first bike race
They just showed a good slo-mo replay
Shoe just rode right into the right side of Shleck’s wheel while leaning to the left and down he went. Totally his own fault
Franks not ALWAYS the cause Mr.Drew. Where's the love?
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
Oh, I like him just fine
but I can’t get over how much he crashes. And until he changes that he’s always going to ribbed here ;-)
"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."
Although
Andy then rode into the back of Schumacher
Seriously?
You can’t make this stuff up.
"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."
from CN
17:30 CEST
Chavanel looks grim. But he is told he has the polka dot. And he is told he is allowed to smile now. He agrees!
181 & 165
GC...
Kirchen
Schumi
Evans??
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris Fontecchio on Jul 10, 2008 11:34 AM EDT reply actions
top ten, gc
1. KIRCHEN Kim 41 TEAM COLUMBIA 24h 30’ 41”
2. EVANS Cadel 1 SILENCE – LOTTO 24h 30’ 47” + 00’ 06”
3. SCHUMACHER Stefan 111 GEROLSTEINER 24h 30’ 57” + 00’ 16”
4. VANDEVELDE Christian 191 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 24h 31’ 25” + 00’ 44”
5. MILLAR David 198 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 24h 31’ 28” + 00’ 47”
6. LÖVKVIST Thomas 48 TEAM COLUMBIA 24h 31’ 35” + 00’ 54”
7. MENCHOV Denis 131 RABOBANK 24h 31’ 44” + 01’ 03”
8. VALVERDE Alejandro 31 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 24h 31’ 53” + 01’ 12”
9. DEVOLDER Stijn 91 QUICK STEP 24h 32’ 02” + 01’ 21”
10. PEREIRO SIO Oscar 37 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 24h 32’ 02” + 01’ 21”
Yay
Pereiro into the top ten. Ye of little faith watch out.
and interesting time for CVV saying that it was time to look out for himself, for
the overall.
I wonder how that sits with Millar.
Millar isn't that great of a climber
Put simply, he couldn’t hold Kirchen’s wheel. CVV was the plan if it got hard, which it did. So he went when he needed to.
Millar even said so...
The quote is along the lines of ”.. at the bottom the hill I just said I can’t do this..”
He’s going to snipe a stage if he can. Read Frischorns (Fresh Corn) entry today… funny stuff “grupetto!”.
by Christopher See on Jul 10, 2008 7:20 PM EDT up reply actions
I would assume he was working for Kirchen . . . .
. . . so he was used up a bit just before the end of the stage.
not sure i ever really saw them on the front
caisse did most of the work, and it looked like kirchen was always pretty comfy just sitting in that trano. so, i’m thinking lovkvist may well have been able to ride his own race today. and may not quite have the turn of speed for today’s finish. not sure though.
Lövkvist didn't lose time because of gregarioduty
He just can’t accelerate like the best did today.
Also, he looked like he had been run over by a dumptruck minutes after finishing. Great to see him so far up in the CG though.
After all the speculation
That everyone was gonna hit Evans with numbers, it just wasn’t to be. Like I said previously, all Evans has to do was follow the wheels and as it turned out, he was stronger than all but two. I think that everyone else needs to get to it or the Tour is lost for them. Evans was pretty impressive.
If I just had one more gear, I...
he'll have a bad moment too, no doubt
but he does look very good atm
by Bruce Suomi on Jul 10, 2008 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions
No doubt he'll have a bad day
But hopefully he’ll be able to limit his losses when that day comes. Right now, he looks stronger than everyone else. I expected Valverde to do well today but the fact that he couldn’t distance Evans was telling. He’s no threat for the overall. Ricco was never going to be a GC factor and Cunego should have done well today but he flopped. I think he’s probably done too. He’s a punchy little climber, so today should have been to his liking. He came off the back before the last little acceleration to the line.
If I just had one more gear, I...
At least Cavendish
got to enjoy his win yesterday for a little while this morning. (and enjoy the pic of himself)
missed him completely,
great ride from him, and a great yellow for him!
by Bruce Suomi on Jul 10, 2008 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions
who deserve the Kabbom gif today?
Schleck, Cunego, Di Gregori, Nibali?
by King of Doping on Jul 10, 2008 11:36 AM EDT reply actions
German TV is all over Gerolsteiner like...
...Vs. is all over Columbia and Garmin. Homers…
When Leipheimer is done mating with his Time Trialing bike... does he bite its head off and eat it?
Now a beautiful discussion ...
... of how fast they can press a new Yellow Jersey.
When Leipheimer is done mating with his Time Trialing bike... does he bite its head off and eat it?
Click on "Who's On"
and it shows locations and it is amazing where people are from who visit the site. All over the world.
Go Team Zoe!
Cavendish, Di Gregorio, Fothen, Kirchen
, Kreuziger, Lowe, Siutsou
, Ten Dam
, Y.Trofimov and Vandevelde
mee too Lyne. He's my main VDS guy.
and Cav.
Go Team Zoe!
Cavendish, Di Gregorio, Fothen, Kirchen
, Kreuziger, Lowe, Siutsou
, Ten Dam
, Y.Trofimov and Vandevelde
German TV all over Shoe's shit...
... saying he should have managed to retain the jersey.
When Leipheimer is done mating with his Time Trialing bike... does he bite its head off and eat it?
The replay is obvious...
... Shumacher totally screwed himself… he ran right into the wheel in front of him and then had another Gerol rider nearly split him in half from behind.
When Leipheimer is done mating with his Time Trialing bike... does he bite its head off and eat it?
I look at it differently
There was a big movement at the front towards the barriers and Schumacher, being poorly positioned, had no where to go. Kirchen got pinched himself and almost went down. Here are the key stills I put together and captioned:
Chapeau
That’s great to see (the image, not the falling). From the sounds of it, there was a lot of back and forth while the favourites waited for someone to commit to the sprint. Looks like the yellow jersey was the victim of this game playing.
Who was that?
Duenas?
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris Fontecchio on Jul 10, 2008 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions
No, that's Duenas in the left bottom...
I’m now certain it was, Mr. Bike Handler himself, Frank Schleck who was responsible for swerving the lead group into the barriers.
No, it's not VV
VandeVelde was passed at this point. I think was a bad coincidence that at the moment Valverde moved to the side at the front, it seemed many behind him had overlapping wheels causing a chain reaction of defensive moves until it ended with Schumucher on the deck.
Here was the chain reaction
Valverde was at the front and moved right which he is certainly allowed to do. But behind him, there was a line of right overlapping wheels and the chain reaction went like this:
Valverde -> Ricco -> Schleck -> Kirchen -> Schumacher … bang
The blame really can’t be put on anyone although I’d say Schleck moved over more than he needed to.
Yeah, well if Shume didn't go down . . .
. . . there was someone positioned on the grassy knoll to take him down.
Ha!
Rumor has it
that he was too busy trying to show a little cleavage in order to make the hotitude thread, and just lost his concentration.
Oh balls... I ain't adding him.
Not even after I fill the pain pills.
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
ricco interview …. having to deny that he is next Pantani
by cyclingchallenge on Jul 10, 2008 11:42 AM EDT reply actions
Good lord
It was a cat-2 climb. Can we not invoke the legends right yet?
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris Fontecchio on Jul 10, 2008 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions
he said something like the stage matched his qualities and that at 300 metres he attacked and kept his head
by cyclingchallenge on Jul 10, 2008 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions
Not what he said on RAI
Can you win the Tour without time-trialling? Well, everything’s possible. Pantani did it.
Paul
“paint all the streets of San Luis Obispo green and yellow”
Um… wouldn’t they have to do an environmental impact statement first?
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris Fontecchio on Jul 10, 2008 11:43 AM EDT reply actions
Meh
Give me 15 minutes and I can draw up a complaint that would stall the plan in litigation til after Kirchen retires.
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris Fontecchio on Jul 10, 2008 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions
I work for the guy that appts the Commissioners
I’ll have a talk with him (yeah right)
Go Team Zoe!
Cavendish, Di Gregorio, Fothen, Kirchen
, Kreuziger, Lowe, Siutsou
, Ten Dam
, Y.Trofimov and Vandevelde
Gerolsteiner team manager is saying...
... he’s going to file an official protest that since Shoe crashed in the last 3KM he should retain the jersey.
When Leipheimer is done mating with his Time Trialing bike... does he bite its head off and eat it?
that's lame
he caused himself to crash and there’s no 3km rule or whatever it is during sprints, right?
181 & 165
by callmecayce on Jul 10, 2008 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions
I don't know what the rule is...
... but I think it’s a BS protest.
When Leipheimer is done mating with his Time Trialing bike... does he bite its head off and eat it?
UCI:
Articles 2.6.027 and 2.6.028 shall not apply where the finish is at the top of a hill-climb, except if the incident occurs before the climb. Every discussion regarding the qualifications "at the top of a hill-climb" and "before the climb" will be decided by the commissaires panel.
2.6.027 is the 3 kilometer-rule, and 2.6.028 is the 1 kilometer rule in the TTT.
Bork, bork, bork!
by TheFigurehead on Jul 10, 2008 12:02 PM EDT up reply actions
but, wait, it's the french federation sanctioning the tdf...
do the rules then change?
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
Schlaueskind?
... but it’s probably all Schadenfreude on Kirchen’s part :)
When Leipheimer is done mating with his Time Trialing bike... does he bite its head off and eat it?
ok boys & girls time to go to work and see if I still have a job today
the upside would be wall to wall tour
btw
glad to see you’re back online!
181 & 165
by callmecayce on Jul 10, 2008 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions
Back home now too. So happy to be home. :-)
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
And a really bitchin' scar to go with it too I hope :)
When Leipheimer is done mating with his Time Trialing bike... does he bite its head off and eat it?
3 small cuts
but serious bruising everywhere. Between surgery and the IV and vampires for additinal tests – good god I look like a crack tramp who had to go after the top of the hands to shoot up.
Hey – now that your back do I get my photo from way back when? I’ll quietly wait until after the tour but then can I bug you?
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
i bet! glad you're doing okay
181 & 165
by callmecayce on Jul 10, 2008 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions
Hey you!
I replied to your email last night. :-)
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
haven't been there, yet!
cuz i got too many things open at once as it is :-)
and i’m not awake enough.
Oh I got one here if you don't have one.
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
well still have my (purple) stapler and my job
but 1000+ of my colleagues don’t. Going home now and opening up that bottle of wine and having pasta. screw the calories
Ooooooooooh
Lucky :-)
"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."
Cool deal
you going to be at the top (L’Alpe D’Huez), the bottom (Bourg D’Oisans) or somewhere in between? I’ll be there, too, in the village of Huez (about halfway up).
Somewhere in between.
Depends where there’s room to pitch a tent! I’ll be in Bourg d’Oisans the following morning too. Slightly exciting.
Didn't
The Muppets do a song about that once.
I will be at that stage
staying in Briancon
may watch up Galibier or possibly Alpe d’Huez
by cyclingchallenge on Jul 10, 2008 12:04 PM EDT up reply actions
If we don't see
‘Podium Cafe’ on the road on one of these climbs, someone is going to be in trouble.
"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."
Really?
All I’m getting is “A Day In The LIfe Of Shumacher”
When Leipheimer is done mating with his Time Trialing bike... does he bite its head off and eat it?
the rockclimbing stuff?
i dunno, i turned it off. schumi, blah.
i’ll wait for the post-race stuf on lequipe. it’ll be up quicky anyway.
Ahh... there it is...
... guess my feed is running behind yours. It’s a bit about a youth group in Saarbruecken… what’s with the “Werewolves of London” background music?
When Leipheimer is done mating with his Time Trialing bike... does he bite its head off and eat it?
chavanel:
“two goals either attack or get KOM points” ” a very hard stage” “staying away a mission impossible” “so KOM was goal”
about Ricco : “he is a pure climber”
by cyclingchallenge on Jul 10, 2008 11:48 AM EDT reply actions
aw, yay
I’m glad he got the KOM
181 & 165
by callmecayce on Jul 10, 2008 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions
Moreau
holding baby during interview
“said climb was hard”
by cyclingchallenge on Jul 10, 2008 11:50 AM EDT reply actions
and sorry my translation skills aren't better
by cyclingchallenge on Jul 10, 2008 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions
good enough, thanks :-)
live translation is really hard. we’ll take anything you can do. wish i had france 2 today :-(
yep
it’s very good. the commentary is good too – it always helps to have someone on the moto. they have more info that way. lol, that, and french is easier for me than german!
You may find
something working here. Don’t bother with “Village Depart” unless you want to know about the cheese and croissants particular to whichever town is hosting the day’s start.
didn't Mike Tyson try that...
... “get sympathy by holding a baby after blowing chunks in competition” bit?
When Leipheimer is done mating with his Time Trialing bike... does he bite its head off and eat it?
On Ricco.
“Pure Climber. Has been great in Italy. needs to show that he can be good in the Tour. “
by cyclingchallenge on Jul 10, 2008 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions
letour.fr
says he came in 8th
181 & 165
by callmecayce on Jul 10, 2008 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions
Ahhh... enough with the cycling...
... my German soaps are on now… Verbotene Liebe… what will happen between Rebecca and Sebastian today??!? Or between Tanja and Ansgar.
When Leipheimer is done mating with his Time Trialing bike... does he bite its head off and eat it?
Oh... My... God...
... the baby is Matthias’... not Sebastian’s!!!! Who would have seen THAT coming???
When Leipheimer is done mating with his Time Trialing bike... does he bite its head off and eat it?
Holy shit this show is WACKED!!!!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verbotene_Liebe
When Leipheimer is done mating with his Time Trialing bike... does he bite its head off and eat it?
Are you sure
the baby isn’t Ricco’s? Don’t you get the feeling he’d pull this kind of move?
Meanwhile, Rebecca…....grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."
But where
are the white sunglasses?
"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."
Oh it got even crazier as the episode progressed...
After a hard day of watching a Tour stage, I like to unwind with Verbotene Liebe
Now that I look at it... it's a little confusing...
... it’s a German show, German actors, produced, written and shot in Germany and broadcast on a German national TV station… so why does the box say “Fragile” and not “Zerbrechlich”? Wonder what other bizarre shit they have in that prop room.
After a hard day of watching a Tour stage, I like to unwind with Verbotene Liebe
If one were to consider the recent Saturday Night Live skit...
... I gotta say that Juergen there (or whatever his name is), has got one big box.
After a hard day of watching a Tour stage, I like to unwind with Verbotene Liebe
"Check out the size of my package"
is that what he was saying?
by Jimbo... on Jul 10, 2008 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
The Most Interesting Man In The World...
has something to say about that subject…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nxw0_Pxymyk
After a hard day of watching a Tour stage, I like to unwind with Verbotene Liebe
little transfer confirmation
Freire is now confirmed with Rabobank until 2010. It’s been in the works for a week or so now, but it’s now all signed and sealed.
Excellent!
Maybe he can start relaying Dekker’s comments to the team so the lawyers can get out of the middle.
"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."
I figure
they both speak enough English to get by.
Dekker – “Oscar, those guys are assholes”
Oscarito – “Si. I will tell them from you ‘good luck with Gesink’ “
Dekker – “You are money baby!”
"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."
I wouldn't mind seeing him
in argyle. That would cover them for all the April races.
"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."
that would be interesting
i’m not sure it fits. i’d more expect dekker to csc, than garmen. but really, i’m not sure what to expect with that story.
ricco post-stage
this is ricco’s post-stage italian comment:
To at the Tour is always been my dream. Today, I was in good from and I played the stage well. Peipoli did splendid work for me, and analyzed the road for me in an exceptiona manner. I came here in order to win a stage and I have done it, but I have no intention to stop with that. The classification? It remains open, because a day of crisis in the mountains could change everything. Today I have said that Peipoli and I would try to win, and I have done so. And perhaps the next time I will return the favor to Peipoli.
source, tuttobici
Schoey trying to shift the blame
from VN
"It’s like a bad movie for me," Schumacher said. "It’s not fair to give the jersey away like that. I don’t know why Kirchen moved into me. I felt really good. After that accident, I had no chance anymore."
Ok, this confims it
I’m back to disliking him.
"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."
I'm sure Hincapie was
thrilled with today’s outcome. Schumi had some bad Karma built up from taking George down in the Eneco Tour a couple of years ago. Poetic justice that is was the rear wheel of one of his mates that took Schumi out.
by The Team Chef on Jul 10, 2008 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions
I thought it was Kirchen's wheel he touched
His Gerolsteiner teammate then rolled over him.
by NE Observer on Jul 10, 2008 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh, sorry, K'berg
Got my him’s and his’s mixed up.
I thought when you said “one of his mates” you were talking about Schumacher
Ha, don't aplogize
I’m still referring to CdE as Illes Ballears!
Brooklyn Chewing Gum: Vlaanderens Mooiste
Poor form for Schumi to whine
but I’m still a fan. Shit happens. Schumi won Eneco fair and square. Kirchen won yellow today, fair and square.
It only works otherwise for Levi in California.
Brooklyn Chewing Gum: Vlaanderens Mooiste
fair and square?
He won it only because he hit GH down, accidently or not. Bad luck for GH for sure, but I wouldn’t call his victory fair and square!
I saw the finish
those are things that happen in racing. Unfortunate, but not DQ worthy. Plus, GH had no guarantee of beating Schumi by enough to win anyway. The fan caused the movement, not Schumi.
Brooklyn Chewing Gum: Vlaanderens Mooiste
Perhaps fair and square is the wrong cliche
but the judges did make the most just decision possible.
“It was a very difficult decision,” the chief of the race jury commented. “We decided like that after looking at the video many times. The decision, we think, was correct. The deviation was made after the hand from one person from the public. This is our final decision.”
Brooklyn Chewing Gum: Vlaanderens Mooiste
post-race interview, ricco
I am obviously very happy with this first stage win in the Tour de France. I came to the Tour to win, at least, a stage. I have done it! Even better, I have beaten a grand champion and my favorite for final victory in Paris, Alejandro Valverde. I have no stress, I will play it day by day. There are other possibilities in the Tour, and I will try as much as possible to win.
One knows of your admiration for Pantani. One talks already of you as his successor. What do you think of this?
Pantani is Pantani. All that is premature. Marco won the Giro and the Tour. Me, I have not won anything like that. For the Tour, I am this year in the phase of observation.. Next year, I will come back with other ambitions.
One has reproached you often for you frank speaking.
I say always what I think. But I am aware that sometimes it would be better to be silent.
source, l’equipe
more post-race
kim kirchen: It was not easy to attack in the final climb with the headwind, I thought to still make the difference in the last 500 meters, but when I wanted to begin my sprint, I came up short. (re the Yellow) There are many days still until Paris. I am in exceptional form and I am suprised with my level. I was very concentrated on the first stage that I wanted to win in order to take the Yellow Jersey, but I did not succeed. That said, I wore the Green jersey and now the Yellow, this is very special. I will see from day to day and I will try to remain with the best climbers in the Pyrennees. If that that is possible, then why not try to win? I am surprised to hear that Schumacher said that he crashed because of me, because I did not see him in the last two kilometers. I don’t know what to say to that… (that Shumi would have the jersey if he hadn’t crashed.)
At least he's aware
that he sometimes shoots his mouth off before thinking about what he’s saying. I have to admit to liking him, if only because he animates races before, during, and afterwards.
"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."
lol, yeah
actually, i do too. but enjoy a character.
he said during the giro also that he knows he has a bad temper and he’s trying to do something about it. lol, it doesn’t yet seem to be working.
good riding today, for sure.
He's a kid
He’ll mature eventually.
"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."
more
Schumacher: Kim Kirchen made a move and he touched my wheel… It is not fair to lose the jersey in this fashion. Otherwise, the team worked very well all day and I felt good, I had the legs in order to stays with the best until the end and to defend the jersey. It is really sad to lose like that. When I arrived in the bus, the team told me, “you have fallen in the final kilometer, you have kept the jersey,” then I returned to the finsih and it is there that they told me that it was no longer me.
Valverde I would like to ahve won the stage in order to thank my team-mates for their work. Nevertheless, if one considers the fact that I did not sleep more than two hours last night because of the scrapes I have all over my right side, I believe that I have plenty of reasons to be satisfied. When Ricco attacked, he quickly too several meters and they were not possible for me to recover.
sounds like
Gerolsteiner were thinking of the 3km rule that TheFigureHead showed does not apply.
Yup
On mountain stages, there are supposed to be gaps.
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris Fontecchio on Jul 10, 2008 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions
Could you imagine
if everyone just sat up at 3km to go in the mountain…so as to not get in the way of the hectic climbers sprint!?
heh
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris Fontecchio on Jul 10, 2008 5:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Schumi is high
he tried to ride around Kirchen but it was too late and he touched his wheel and down he went. Totally his own fault that he went down. And I saw Steephill’s still shots and they show exactly this. Schumi is just being a baby and whatever minuscule overall GC hopes the guy had are not adversely impacted by his fall. He went from having a snowballs chance in hell to half a snowballs chance in hell…
cycling 101
if you’re behind someone and you overlap wheels, the onus is on you. OK, the guy in front shouldn’t be swerving (unless necessary as appears it was here), but how can Schumi claim it wasn’t his fault? How, you wonder? Because he’s not the sharpest knife in the drawer.
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris Fontecchio on Jul 10, 2008 5:38 PM EDT up reply actions
The SF Examiner
which is just a free tabloidy thing these days, had the AP story from stage 3, which didn’t even mention Freshcorn’s name. That is just an amazing thing for a US paper not to mention the only US guy in the story. It actually kind of made me happy, no offense to Will. It was cool to see the guy in the mix, but his second place was not that important in the overall story of the race.
and a few more..
Cadel Evans In all, I am satisfied. I thought that Valverde would put in another acceleration at the end therefore I waited a little. In order to win the stage, I would have had ot make a decision very quickly. My main objective was not to lose any time, and what took place out there went well. (re the team) They were there, and did well on the road, but at the same time, they save themselves for the stages that are coming, and I hope that the team can hold the pace for the three weeks. What is important in relation to the Yellow Jersey is to have it in Paris, for now it is matters little.
Fränk Schleck It was more of a middle mountain than a mountain. It was a good day for me, in the sense that it was only a small appertif before the serious things, because I had all the same, bad legs. Kirchen has shown that he is a super rider, but all the same there remains still two weeks of racing and many mountains. We will see…
Carlos Sastre At the end, one waited a little to see who would take control and who could make the race hard, and we saw Caisse d’Épargne in force, making the race for Valverde. There was a bad headwind and that made things difficult. On my own level, I did not have bad sensations. I continue to be at the front without problems and I await now the stages more difficult and more decisive in the Pyrenees which match my qualities better.
source for all, l’equipe
I liked Oscar Pereiro's comment
“For me, the positive fact is that Alejandro does not suffer from after-effects of its fall. Personally, I confirmed today that I am very well, with excellent feelings. After what I did today again, one will not be able to associate the word “surprise” with my name any more.”
Also from l’equipe
lol, thanks!
it was on the same page as the others. don’t know how i missed posting it, thought i had them all!
I think
they must be adding others, because I see comments from Chavanel, Moreau, and Portal (who?) as well…
I was hoping to see
if they had any comment from Cunego, but not yet, anyway…
nor in italy, just yet.
i’ll check back lates, and maybe add a few from l’equipe and see if cunego has had anything to say
audio comments
in Italian. I have no idea what he said. Translate, anyone??
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris Fontecchio on Jul 10, 2008 5:43 PM EDT up reply actions
okay here's what i got..
it was hard. a tappe very insidioso – lol, my fave italian word – difficult. i tried to stay with the best.
i lost a little time, but i am calm. definitely, in the next week, it will be better for me. for the moment, it isn’t necessary to attack to win the overall.
the tempo was very high, very sustained, on the climb. i felt tired by the finale, ,it was hard to recover from the long stage yesterday. it was difficult to stay in a good position at the front in the last kilometers. says that ricco did a great acceleration in the final kilometer.
says bravo ricco for his first victory.
ack, i missed some in there, but that was the gist. basically, he’s not too concerned about the time loss today, is looking forward to the high mountains, said the pace was really high, and that yesterday’s long stage left a mark.
ack indeed
Tired from the previous day? That’s stage racing… doesn’t bode well. Imagine how he’ll feel after crossing back from Italy, only to have to do the Alpe d’Huez stage the following day.
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris Fontecchio on Jul 10, 2008 7:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Especially since everyone
who wasn’t involved in the hunt for the stagewin said Stage 5 was one of the most relaxed days ever in the Tour , in spite of the length of the stage.
Nicki Sörensen feeling better
He has pain in his knee after riding into a traffic-sign in the same crash that doodsmaked Angel GG. He was very concerned about his ability to stay in the Tour before todays hilly stage but sounded a lot more optimistic after the stage. He will keep going and hopefully the swelling will go down and he will be able to work for his teammates in a couple of days.
I knew someone hit that sign
I noticed that it was all bent, and there was one of those white and red plastic covered hay bales way off the side of the road on the right. I wonder if that was supposed to be covering the sign and someone moved it, or if Senor doodsmak hit the bale and knocked it clear off the road? Sounds like Sorensen will be fine.
Did anyone see that Kreuziger had a good ride today?
6th I think. That bodes well for the high mountains. Also, trophy mom had a good ride. Can’t wait to see what happens.
If I just had one more gear, I...
And...
did folks hear the Evans interview on Versus?
Q: Who are you main rivals here?
A: Menchov. Menchov…..and Kirchen.
I very much had the feeling that Kirchen was an afterthought.
So to me two of the main players for the GC, CSC and Menchov, basically twiddled their thumbs today watching CdE lead Evans around. They saw how strong CdE is and how weak *Lotto is. They watched Evans suck on Valverde’s wheels, playing the defensive game. They watched Columbia putting a lot of energy early into the three week tour. So did all the other darkhorses.
The game plans are clear now.
I was over enthusiastic yesterday
in my predictions of attacking on this stage. Clearly though CSC has ideas.
Andy S. is irritated:
“I couldn’t do anything when Schumi crashed in front of me. My chain fell off, very annoying. lt meant that I’m extra 40 secs behind now”
He is not happy.
Still can’t stand Ricco, but at least his legs are backing his talks.
cyclingfever comp
yahoo! can I just say I won today’s stage comp, how freakin crazy is that? well no one else in my life would care or even knows who Kim Kirchen or Ricco is, oh well ;) I’m sure it’s all because of the crazy amount of work and analysis the folks here put out. I’m loving le Tour so far.
Hey the 2009 Tour will start in Monaco
this was probably known but I missed it… Prince Albert was interviewed and he said the prologue (um) and the 1st stage would be held in Monaco next year.
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