Sprintin' in the Rain
by gavia
on Jul 12, 2008 10:40 AM EDT
in Live Races
101 comments
Post-Race Show: Stage 8
Four riders made the break today, an escape that lasted until the final kilometers of the race. Laurent Lefèvre and Jérôme Pineau of Bouygues Télécom, Amets Txurruka, and Christophe Riblon of AG2R spent a hard day together in the rain. Laurent Lefèvre took an especially active role in the break, scooping up sprint and mountain points along the way. Nothing better to do on a rainy day in the break. At its maximum, the escape held just over five minutes in hand over the main field, but soon enough the teams of the sprinters began to work. Team Columbia, as has been their pattern of the past stages, made a huge contribution to the chase. They were joined by Team Liquigas and Credit Agricole both of whom spend significant time in the wind. The wet roads and head wind made for a difficult run-in, but inexorably the teams brought down the gap.
Inside 10 km to go, Nikki Terpstra took a flyer, in an effort to bridge to the break, but the bunch quickly ended his hopes. Inside 5 km to go, the teams of the sprinters turned the screws, lining out the field single-file. In the end, it was all about Team Columbia, who controlled the field and delivered their speed demon Mark Cavendish to the line. Team Columbia's Gerald Ciolek finished second, followed by Jimmy Caspar of Agritubel, Oscar Freire of Rabobank, and Robert Förster of Gerolsteiner. Kim Kirchen of Team Columbia retains the Yellow Jersey of race leader, while Oscar Freire's fourth place finish on the stage ties him with Kirchen in the Points classification. David de la Fuente leads the King of the Mountains, while Thomas Lövkvist continues as Best Young Rider.
Look for the classifications to upend tomorrow, as the race hits the difficult slopes of the Pyrenees.
Here are today's stage results and the current (unchanged) general classification.
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He may not win the green but
Cavendish and Columbia own the sprints in this race.
by ursula on
Jul 12, 2008 11:16 AM EDT
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Cavendish is a helluva lot of fun to watch...
... he must be incredible to watch on a track.
After a hard day of watching a Tour stage, I like to unwind with Verbotene Liebe
by crashdan on
Jul 12, 2008 11:17 AM EDT
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Very fun, even when on tv versus watching live.
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
by nikki on
Jul 12, 2008 11:21 AM EDT
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No stopping the Columbia train
Fun to watch all that firepower go off over the last 5 km.
by KevinK on
Jul 12, 2008 11:18 AM EDT
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Well, Cav's kinda killing my
VDS hopes . . .
by Sui Juris on
Jul 12, 2008 11:20 AM EDT
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Ahh... but raising mine...
I might even break the top 80 thanks to that!
After a hard day of watching a Tour stage, I like to unwind with Verbotene Liebe
by crashdan on
Jul 12, 2008 11:21 AM EDT
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How many points did he cost?
Good pick. Luck or instinct?
by dheadrick on
Jul 13, 2008 1:11 AM EDT
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He wasn't cheap
he had some pretty good results last year too.
by Monty. on
Jul 13, 2008 9:54 AM EDT
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"Cav fastest man in the peloton"...
... and all the talk about Benna and Boonen not being in the Tour. It’s sad that no one even thinks of Ale-jet anymore.
After a hard day of watching a Tour stage, I like to unwind with Verbotene Liebe
by crashdan on
Jul 12, 2008 11:21 AM EDT
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true, forgot him completely,
very good point!
Hope we get to see at least in one GT all the best sprinters fighting it out against each others…
by Bruce Suomi on
Jul 12, 2008 11:50 AM EDT
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These conversations are a bit depressing.
“He’s the fastest sprinter, except for the guys who use athsma inhalers and peruvian marching powder.”
Or:
“He’s the best GC rider, except for last year’s champ, who wasn’t invited, and the year before that’s champ who was banned, and the guys who made all of those guys into also-rans before their names showed up on the wrong doctors paperwork, and that guy who failed a test in the Vuelta, and that guy who was beating last year’s champ when his travel docs betrayed him, and that guy who got nicked in Turkey, and those guys who ride for team who three of the guys listed here used to ride for before the organizers got fed up with them, etc. etc. etc.”
I find it best just to stick to the guys actually racing.
Brooklyn Chewing Gum: Vlaanderens Mooiste
by Koppenberg on
Jul 12, 2008 12:43 PM EDT
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There are too many variables to completely disregard "what could have happened."
1. The riders in the race have variable fitness due to training, injury, age, health, etc.
2. The teams in the race may or may not support a particular riders strengths (for example, McEwen).
3. Attendence by invitation necessarily implies that a team with chances of success may be left out.
With a blog of this scope, it’s sort of a given that people will discuss what a rider could have done with better fitness, a better team, or even inclusion in the race.
by dheadrick on
Jul 13, 2008 1:24 AM EDT
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Steegmans
I’m wondering if Tinkoff are having any second thoughts over signing Gert.
by ursula on
Jul 12, 2008 11:22 AM EDT
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Cavendish blasted right by Ciolek...
... makes me wonder if Ciolek even knew he was there :)
After a hard day of watching a Tour stage, I like to unwind with Verbotene Liebe
by crashdan on
Jul 12, 2008 11:22 AM EDT
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he got old
After a hard day of watching a Tour stage, I like to unwind with Verbotene Liebe
by crashdan on
Jul 12, 2008 11:23 AM EDT
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Quick point...
... no one crashed in that last two km… whew
After a hard day of watching a Tour stage, I like to unwind with Verbotene Liebe
by crashdan on
Jul 12, 2008 11:23 AM EDT
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Team Columbia takes also 1-2-3 at Austria TT!!!
What a day for the team!!
by Bruce Suomi on
Jul 12, 2008 11:23 AM EDT
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Oestrich TT must have finished...
about 25 seconds ago :)
After a hard day of watching a Tour stage, I like to unwind with Verbotene Liebe
by crashdan on
Jul 12, 2008 11:24 AM EDT
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Robbie is done.
He finished eighteenth.
by Hammerhed on
Jul 12, 2008 11:24 AM EDT
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Cav says "We got help from the other sprint teams at the finish"...
... I’m thinking “help” isn’t quite what they would call it :)
After a hard day of watching a Tour stage, I like to unwind with Verbotene Liebe
by crashdan on
Jul 12, 2008 11:26 AM EDT
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beginning of day on Cat3 climb Cavendish went out the back and team brought him back
nice
by cyclingchallenge on
Jul 12, 2008 11:27 AM EDT
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Now if he can just learn how to ride a hill
Cab will be really something.
by ursula on
Jul 12, 2008 11:27 AM EDT
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I'm liking Cav's praise on his team as his best protection. Good boy!
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
by nikki on
Jul 12, 2008 11:28 AM EDT
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Cavendish translation guide...
u = oo —“up” = “oop”
th = f -- “think” = “fink”
ing = en - “amazing” = “amazen”
After a hard day of watching a Tour stage, I like to unwind with Verbotene Liebe
by crashdan on
Jul 12, 2008 11:29 AM EDT
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His accent is nothing like the eastenders!
It’s bruver instead of brother and then there is the fink instead of think and free instead of three. And people say Americans don’t know how to speak English. Go to the east end and you’ll wonder how they can even call what they speak English.
If I just had one more gear, I...
by SpunOut on
Jul 12, 2008 11:32 AM EDT
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Did Cav just say
“I was brilliant , you know, once again” – I love his interviews!
But he gives his team a lot of credit in the interview.
by Katiek on
Jul 12, 2008 11:29 AM EDT
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Somehow I just don't find him as grating...
... as Ricco.
After a hard day of watching a Tour stage, I like to unwind with Verbotene Liebe
by crashdan on
Jul 12, 2008 11:29 AM EDT
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I thought I misheard that... I guess not.
Funny stuff. :) Still happy he praises his team.
Great ride from him today. :)
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
by nikki on
Jul 12, 2008 11:30 AM EDT
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Just replayed that interview...
and I think his accent was a little thick there… i think he said “that was brilliant” not “I was brilliant”... but with his accent it came out as “aaht was briiyan”
After a hard day of watching a Tour stage, I like to unwind with Verbotene Liebe
by crashdan on
Jul 12, 2008 11:33 AM EDT
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Actually it's...
“Yeaahhhh… ahht was briyan”
After a hard day of watching a Tour stage, I like to unwind with Verbotene Liebe
by crashdan on
Jul 12, 2008 11:34 AM EDT
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Goody. I thought that was possible but I'm still working at getting up to speed today.
He can say what he wants when he backs it up and sticks to being brash with out going after others. :-)
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
by nikki on
Jul 12, 2008 11:35 AM EDT
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Well... you can't really bitch about someone saying "I kick ass with a steam powered leg"...
... when they are kicking everyone’s ass with a steam powered leg.
After a hard day of watching a Tour stage, I like to unwind with Verbotene Liebe
by crashdan on
Jul 12, 2008 11:36 AM EDT
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Agreed :-)
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
by nikki on
Jul 12, 2008 11:37 AM EDT
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It ain't braggin' if it's true
Mohammed Ali said that, back when he was Cassius Clay
(bonus points if you can name the song the lyrics are from)
Brooklyn Chewing Gum: Vlaanderens Mooiste
by Koppenberg on
Jul 12, 2008 12:45 PM EDT
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Tiger Woods by Dan Bern?
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
by nikki on
Jul 13, 2008 12:55 AM EDT
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I didn't like Cav at first.
I thought he was another loud brat, but he’s turned out to be pretty cool. He never stops praising the team, and he doesn’t talk crap about the other riders…
by Hammerhed on
Jul 12, 2008 11:30 AM EDT
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My thinking too
I’m liking Cav more and more these days. He’s letting his legs do the talking.
by Veloki on
Jul 12, 2008 11:32 AM EDT
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He started to grow on me
in the Giro, when he complimented Benna for not blocking him in the sprint, and then said he probably wouldn’t have done the same thing. I have to admire such an honest self-assesment.
by Katiek on
Jul 12, 2008 11:41 AM EDT
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He's growing on me too.
I still prefer Benna ;-) but well done to Cav. He is as people have said, very generous in his praise for his team as well as being a very deserving winner.
by Albertina on
Jul 12, 2008 7:14 PM EDT
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He's growing on me these days.
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
by nikki on
Jul 12, 2008 11:32 AM EDT
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What can one do with so many lions?
by Albertina on
Jul 12, 2008 7:14 PM EDT
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One word...
“stew”
After a hard day of watching a Tour stage, I like to unwind with Verbotene Liebe
by crashdan on
Jul 12, 2008 8:06 PM EDT
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Keep one. Give the rest to the kids in the family.
Hmm. Guess I’m fully in parent mode these days.
by dheadrick on
Jul 13, 2008 1:29 AM EDT
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Okay are you just popping in for cameo's these days or what?
I hope works not taking up all of your time. :-)
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
by nikki on
Jul 13, 2008 1:31 AM EDT
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Thanks for noticing.
I still read this blog regularly, even when I don’t have time to post. This seems like a good time to say that I’m very thankful for all of the regulars that I consider to be my online friends.
ADVERTISEMENT: This cameo was brought to you by Amgen, makers of EPO.
by dheadrick on
Jul 13, 2008 2:00 AM EDT
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I'm glad you're still reading even if you can't write. :-)
I think a few of us miss each other from time to time when we chat here all the time. I 2nd your thanks to the group as I love it and actually worry when some go quiet for a day or two. Not normal. :-) Such a fun family.
I hope work backs off a little so you can enjoy the mountains with us. :-)
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
by nikki on
Jul 13, 2008 2:15 AM EDT
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Apparently
the teams stack all these cuddly toys up in the front window of the team coach. If you’ve got it ..
by Monty. on
Jul 13, 2008 9:56 AM EDT
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Inaki Isasi for Euskatel...
... sounds like a Japanese Mushroom.
After a hard day of watching a Tour stage, I like to unwind with Verbotene Liebe
by crashdan on
Jul 12, 2008 11:31 AM EDT
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Gonna go put my Stage 9 preview together...
... see y’all in a bit.
After a hard day of watching a Tour stage, I like to unwind with Verbotene Liebe
by crashdan on
Jul 12, 2008 11:31 AM EDT
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coooool.... :-)
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
by nikki on
Jul 12, 2008 11:32 AM EDT
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tied with kirchen :-)
impressive sprinting from kirchen today..
by gavia on
Jul 12, 2008 11:48 AM EDT
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correction...
i was looking at the wrong stage results… kirchen didn’t sprint. d’oh.
by gavia on
Jul 12, 2008 12:07 PM EDT
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The race judges screwed that one up
They saw the green jersey, looked at who was leading the compo, then stuck Kirchen at 4th in the stage results. They should be OK tomorrow because Oscar has it for real – something to do with results in the intermediate sprints.
by Monty. on
Jul 12, 2008 12:10 PM EDT
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P and P
are writing off Devolder for tomorrow. I don’t see that.
by Hammerhed on
Jul 12, 2008 11:32 AM EDT
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Yeah- that seems premature
Devo will probably explode on a stage but I doubt this one.
by ursula on
Jul 12, 2008 11:34 AM EDT
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It seems like so far it has been the pace
Not so much the terrain that has caught people out. Cunego being caught out on what amounts to an ant hill for the big tour riders was a shock. However I think it was the pace more than anything that was a shock to his system. Like everyone has said before, the Tour is a different ball of wax than the Giro. Whilst some little guys go well on the steep mountains of the Giro, many explode on the long mid grade mountains of the Tour. So if Stain gets caught out, it wouldn’t be a shock.
If I just had one more gear, I...
by SpunOut on
Jul 12, 2008 11:39 AM EDT
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Yeah I think that is a new trend.
Yes the classics-like fast windy hilly (not mountain) stages are killers for some of the mountain guys. It is pace I think but pace on that kind of road. Look at the last sprint stage – it was flat and super fast and everyone kept up easily. DiLuca won his Giro because of stages like that – it got Cunego and Simoni and such then too. I think there will be more of that kind in future Tours. They have to work with geography, but I think it makes for a more interesting race.
It wouldn’t hurt Cavendish to get a little better on slopes – his team pulled him back today. I think the Zabel/Freire/Boonen like guys as opposed to the Cippolini/Petacchi sprinters might be the near future. That is, able to get over some hills and survive some echelons. Well it looks like Cavendish is the near future… but I’m saying.
by Markk on
Jul 12, 2008 12:13 PM EDT
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Like Ciolek
He can win on lumpy stages with a tough finish. But to what you were saying about the hilly/not quite mountain stages. Some riders handle those stages well and can handle the high mountains too. Cadel can handle both but has to pull himself back during some of the really tough mountains. Luckily for him, he’s got a huge engine that enables him to do so. I think we will be seeing shortly if Valverde is on his way out of GC contention starting tomorrow. I hope not, that would make for a rather boring one sided GC picture. Hopefully Mencho starts to show us something. Tomorrow is going to rock!
If I just had one more gear, I...
by SpunOut on
Jul 12, 2008 12:22 PM EDT
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The Tour has always been a lot faster than the Giro
I remember Armstrong saying something similar many years ago, about how so many riders get caught out after riding in Italy where the average speed is in the low thirties, then coming to France and struggling to keep up with an average of around 40kph. Of course you have to factor in that the Tour is the highlight of the season and most riders prepare to be at their peak in July. And that the Giro can have a lot of nastier climbs so the riders try not to go flat out all day.
by Monty. on
Jul 12, 2008 12:24 PM EDT
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Yeah I've heard that too
As far as the peaking goes, Cunego has been targeting the Tour this year, so you would think his peak would be now and that he’d be able to handle the climbs a little better. Couple that with extremely bad luck and I’m sure his morale is in the crapper.
If I just had one more gear, I...
by SpunOut on
Jul 12, 2008 12:27 PM EDT
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He hung in the mtns
at the Vuelta for a while last year.
by Hammerhed on
Jul 12, 2008 11:35 AM EDT
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Anyone willing to bet that
Kirchen loses yellow tomorrow and that Evans ensures that he stays just behind whomever picks it up. If I were Evans, I would have a little talk with CVV about taking yellow prior to tomorrow’s stage and work with them to that end. This could put a little time into Kirchen and ensure that yellow would still be within reach without Lotto having to do the heavy lifting. Just a what if.
If I just had one more gear, I...
by SpunOut on
Jul 12, 2008 11:52 AM EDT
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And no one speculates as to new signings... :-)
I hope C connects up with someone and can finish with the leaders. I’m curious to see what Trent does tomorrow.
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
by nikki on
Jul 12, 2008 11:58 AM EDT
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Do you have any news you would like to share?
If I just had one more gear, I...
by SpunOut on
Jul 12, 2008 12:23 PM EDT
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I am only allowed to comment on things I can pull from other sources.
Any other goodies I get I do my best to honor the friendships and watch unfold.
This particular one is from the comments the other night after the JV interview when the initials CE were tossed out. I think it was during one of the primtime interviews. I think I have a link. I’ll look.
He said early August for news but I would bet news would be out in before the tour ends just like last year. ;-)
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
by nikki on
Jul 13, 2008 1:01 AM EDT
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I think it was right after this interview on tv
that the intitials were mentioned but I can’t find it in the video clips.
Versus interview.
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
by nikki on
Jul 13, 2008 1:16 AM EDT
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friends with trent lowe
and english-speaking. an obvious choice, really.
by gavia on
Jul 13, 2008 12:03 PM EDT
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lol, yesss, that is a problem
and he’ll never win the hottitude classification, that’s for sure
by gavia on
Jul 13, 2008 9:20 PM EDT
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only so many hours in the day...
you know where the post button is ;-)
by gavia on
Jul 12, 2008 12:25 PM EDT
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Lowe
lost 4+ minutes today—hope he’s ok.
by R Mc on
Jul 12, 2008 2:17 PM EDT
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Probably just conserving energy
For an attack! That seems to make the most sense to me.That or saving himself to help CVV in the mountains, that would make sense too.
If I just had one more gear, I...
by SpunOut on
Jul 12, 2008 2:54 PM EDT
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I'm thinking tomorrow
will not be very decisive. or to say it another way one or more of the GC guys may lose tomorrow but no one will win.
by ursula on
Jul 12, 2008 8:52 PM EDT
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I'm hoping it is just an energy saver.
I had thought maybe he would try a breakaway but I’m thinking maybe he’ll stay with C for support later in the stage.
Ursula – I agree with you below. I’m not so sure tomorrow will win anything for anyone but could put some time on those not quite ready yet for the mountains. I’m thinking the bigger names will all be close together.
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
by nikki on
Jul 13, 2008 1:04 AM EDT
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Ricco
fell heavily on his wrist. No more news.
by Monty. on
Jul 12, 2008 11:53 AM EDT
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looked like it took him a while to get back
well, he has his stage win, anyway.
by gavia on
Jul 12, 2008 12:09 PM EDT
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exactly
he can go home happy now and not have to suffer on the cols
Brooklyn Chewing Gum: Vlaanderens Mooiste
by Koppenberg on
Jul 12, 2008 12:46 PM EDT
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Liked this from PEZ
about Ricco after the crash:
“three team mates come back to try to pace him back up. As they get amongst the team cars there seems to be quite a few gaps between the cars”
Everyone loves the Cobra and want to help him as much as humanly possible. :-)
by Jens on
Jul 12, 2008 4:19 PM EDT
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If he's having wrist problems
He might suffer the same fate as Soler once the mountains start. I guess we’ll see. Even if he has to abandon, it’s been successful for SdV already.
If I just had one more gear, I...
by SpunOut on
Jul 12, 2008 12:25 PM EDT
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funny bit
the kids over at the french site, cyclismag.fr are a funny bunch, in general.
apparently, in an interview in the french press, vaughters said that the rides no long talk about doping. this was the day before the beltran story broke. now, writes cyclismag, all anyone talks about is doping. good thing vaughters doesn’t do the weather report on television, they conclude.
by gavia on
Jul 12, 2008 12:48 PM EDT
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Speaking of Ciolek
velo-club states that Milram is going after Ciolek & Gerdeman
by lyne on
Jul 12, 2008 5:34 PM EDT
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Makes total sense.
A German team with German riders. Ciolek is the natural successor to Zabel.
by ursula on
Jul 12, 2008 8:54 PM EDT
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From today's AP report:
SORRY, OFFICER: Tour de France favorite Cadel Evans invited police officers onto his team bus to apologize for shoving an officer on a motorbike during Thursday’s sixth stage.The incident happened during Thursday’s eighth stage when the police bike rider braked suddenly in front of Evans, who was trying to rejoin the main field after a puncture.
The following morning, Evans chatted to the officer on his Silence-Lotto team bus and said sorry. He has also promised a team jersey to the officer at the end of the July 5-27 race, sports daily L’Equipe said.
Full report is here.
One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor. - George Carlin
by Ruthann on
Jul 12, 2008 8:50 PM EDT
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From what I've seen
The biker braked sharply in front of a team car which Cadel was following and he clearly thought that he came close to going through the back window.
by Monty. on
Jul 13, 2008 9:59 AM EDT
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I think just prior to that the biker was in and out of traffic in front of him as well.
I think it was more of the driver just not realizing Cadel was coming up behind them. I don’t think Cadel was in the wrong and I don’t think it was nearly as big of deal as it was made out to be. More of a – hey dude, watch for us boys on the bicycles, would ya. I just don’t see what the huge deal was. The driver gets a jersey though and met with him on the bus so all should be good. :-)
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
by nikki on
Jul 13, 2008 12:41 PM EDT
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