Paris-Tours: SECOND Live Thread

1. Philippe Gilbert 250
2. Tom Boonen 200
3. Borut Bozic 180
4. Filippo Pozzato 160
5. Oscar Freire 140
6. Francesco Gavazzi 120
7. Gerben Lowik 100
8. Pablo Lastras 90
9. Martin Reimer 80
10. Yauheni Hutarovich 70
11. Jonathan Hivert 60
12. Arnaud Gerard 50
13. Johnny Hoogerland 40
14. Greg Van Avermaet 30
15. Serguei Ivanov 15

by majope on Oct 11, 2009 10:58 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Johnny Hoogerland wants to be on every body's VDS, he's not quitting until he reaches that goal.

by flying dog on Oct 11, 2009 8:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Anyone watching the SuperPrestige 'cross coverage?

They have a guy with several cameras on his bike previewing the course. Ted’s link to the race is HERE.

by Ruthann on Oct 11, 2009 11:03 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

really stuttering for me unfortunately

by Jens on Oct 11, 2009 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good for me.

Belgian commercials…

by Ed K on Oct 11, 2009 11:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah...Eddy Murphy and Lost previews

by Vlaanderen90 on Oct 11, 2009 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dissapointing how much of it is...

…same shit, different language.

by Ed K on Oct 11, 2009 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh yes...

by Vlaanderen90 on Oct 11, 2009 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

link doesn't work with chrome

IE works

by Bruce Suomi on Oct 11, 2009 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm nominating myself as "ass of the day"

Just noticed I could have watched the race live on danish tv.

by Jens on Oct 11, 2009 11:04 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

You mean the Paris-Tours?

"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'

by Seahorse on Oct 11, 2009 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yup

by Jens on Oct 11, 2009 11:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ooh, bugger!

I think Chris was prescient about moving Greipel and Farrar off the front page ;)

"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'

by Seahorse on Oct 11, 2009 11:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Don't forget on Thursday is the Lombardia warm-up

Giro del Piemonte on Thursday, Oct 15

by peterfish on Oct 11, 2009 11:09 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Cross is now starting...the sprint out of the blocks

by Vlaanderen90 on Oct 11, 2009 11:14 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

And Albert all ready has a gap...followed by Vantournout

by Vlaanderen90 on Oct 11, 2009 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

ROFL

Head-on shot over the rollers.

by fancan on Oct 11, 2009 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That is one crazy camera shot, over the three bumps in a row,

cyclists popping up and down, up and down! Excellent.

by Ruthann on Oct 11, 2009 11:18 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

No champs jerseys

because Superprestige is not UCI races?

by Jens on Oct 11, 2009 11:19 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I was wondering about that, too.

by Ruthann on Oct 11, 2009 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

They must have had their regular jackets on during the pre-race interviews.

by Ruthann on Oct 11, 2009 11:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh they are there...Nys has Belgian jersey

Albert is wearing the world stripes, Heule is in the swiss jersey

by Vlaanderen90 on Oct 11, 2009 11:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

saw that now

my bad

by Jens on Oct 11, 2009 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I see rainbow and Belgian champs.

by fancan on Oct 11, 2009 11:20 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Ah, Flanders fields ...

by tedvdw on Oct 11, 2009 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well this race is just about over...Albert has about a 10 second gap all ready

by Vlaanderen90 on Oct 11, 2009 11:21 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It is the same few guys in the top 4 now...Albert then Vantournout, Stybar and Nys

by Vlaanderen90 on Oct 11, 2009 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nys still a long ways back, no?

He has very little UCI points so was almost on the back row at the start.

by tedvdw on Oct 11, 2009 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh good grief

yes, he’s already there!

by tedvdw on Oct 11, 2009 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He is up to 4th and almost up to Vantournout and Stybar

by Vlaanderen90 on Oct 11, 2009 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yep sorry, was not giving it my full attention.

by tedvdw on Oct 11, 2009 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Go Stybar!!!!

by Ruthann on Oct 11, 2009 11:21 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I just realized cyclocross

is what me and my friends competed in all the time when we were kids. We just didn’’t know it.

by Jens on Oct 11, 2009 11:26 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yes. On the dirtpiles in the corner church lot, in my case. I have brothers. :-)

by Ruthann on Oct 11, 2009 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

there's something slightly junior-school-sports-day-on-bikes about cross that puts me off a little bit

With added me lugging my bike upstairs to my flat.

(I assume it’s like olives & avocados & that I’ll get there eventually)

by civetta on Oct 11, 2009 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well Nys is now into second and chasing after a speeding Albert

by Vlaanderen90 on Oct 11, 2009 11:26 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Never watched cross before.

Looks like fun.

by majope on Oct 11, 2009 11:27 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Very fun

by Vlaanderen90 on Oct 11, 2009 11:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Umbrellas out...

Will this get muddy (I hope)

by fancan on Oct 11, 2009 11:28 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Nys should catch Albert in the next lap or 2

by Vlaanderen90 on Oct 11, 2009 11:29 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Or as Wellens put it: has to

by tedvdw on Oct 11, 2009 11:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And compared to the course yesterday in Namur...this seems like a piece of cake

by Vlaanderen90 on Oct 11, 2009 11:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Lots more accelerating out of corners, tho

by tedvdw on Oct 11, 2009 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

True...

but after the “hardest course he has ever race” according to Albert, it should be a lot closer than it was yesterday

by Vlaanderen90 on Oct 11, 2009 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yep

“Horses for courses” but Namur was the same top 3 as Treviso, w/ Nys thrown in for good measure, and today already looks about the same.

by tedvdw on Oct 11, 2009 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jonathan Page is the guy in red, about 8 or so back. Planet Bike.

by Ruthann on Oct 11, 2009 11:30 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Hopefully he gets top 10 today...that would surely boost his confidence

by Vlaanderen90 on Oct 11, 2009 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Here's the catch...

by Ed K on Oct 11, 2009 11:35 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

What was Albert shouting at?

by Jens on Oct 11, 2009 11:36 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

There are always hecklers around the course, and a lot of Nys supporters. Wellens just said the Albert is (too) sensitive to that.

by tedvdw on Oct 11, 2009 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

(that Albert)

by tedvdw on Oct 11, 2009 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Albert is showing a chink in the armor on the climbs...

by Vlaanderen90 on Oct 11, 2009 11:39 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Why did Albert just change his bike?

by Bruce Suomi on Oct 11, 2009 11:40 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

mud and dirt

by Jens on Oct 11, 2009 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

They just do it from time to time...especially if they just had a shifting problem or whatnot

or if they get mudded up, which isn’t the case today

by Vlaanderen90 on Oct 11, 2009 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yet

by fancan on Oct 11, 2009 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hopefully...nothing like muddy cross

by Vlaanderen90 on Oct 11, 2009 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh yes, or that obviously

There are always 1 or 2 pits along the course, riders may change bikes whenever they want. The old bike gets quickly cleaned up by his staff and he can get a fresh one on the next lap.

by tedvdw on Oct 11, 2009 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

tyre preference

it is or it isn’t raining, wants to try a different thread pattern

by tedvdw on Oct 11, 2009 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

from the pictures they showed at the start, most of them were running file tread but that might change

by Vlaanderen90 on Oct 11, 2009 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

thanks all

by Bruce Suomi on Oct 11, 2009 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

How critical/tactical do pit stops become?

by fancan on Oct 11, 2009 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If they don't get a good change then...yeah

by Vlaanderen90 on Oct 11, 2009 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Never as critical as F1 for example

Most of the time everyone changes at the same time, or if they don’t they only lose a little ground. Sometimes the pit lane is even faster.

by tedvdw on Oct 11, 2009 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yo Albert it's a helmet, not a kippah

by Jens on Oct 11, 2009 11:43 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Ok, this may not sound like an important question to you, but I've always

wondered: do you get to carry your beer out to the course, or do you have to stay in/near the beer tent?

by Ruthann on Oct 11, 2009 11:48 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Free to wander

They only use plastic “glasses”

by tedvdw on Oct 11, 2009 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This ain't 'merica

my bet is you go where you want with it. Culture and all that.

"…I saw bloody Cavendish coming, really fast…"
HH

by ELVISGOAT on Oct 11, 2009 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

TY

by Ruthann on Oct 11, 2009 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nys and Albert off the front?

Sorry recognition not as good as road racers.

"…I saw bloody Cavendish coming, really fast…"
HH

by ELVISGOAT on Oct 11, 2009 11:48 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yes...Stybar and Vantournout are chasing about 1 minute back

by Vlaanderen90 on Oct 11, 2009 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Niels Albert, world champion

Sven Nys, Belgian champion

by tedvdw on Oct 11, 2009 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nys seems to be opening up a little gap

by Vlaanderen90 on Oct 11, 2009 11:51 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think Albert is more or less taking the day off

Good for the crowd & media interest if the races are closer.

by tedvdw on Oct 11, 2009 11:51 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

For taking the day off, ALbert is making some good faces

by Vlaanderen90 on Oct 11, 2009 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I thought Albert looked a little cooked at the end yesterday compared to Nys.

by fancan on Oct 11, 2009 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah on the run up yesterday, he was putting his hand on the knee to get up near the top

by Vlaanderen90 on Oct 11, 2009 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The race is an hour?

Plus a lap or what?

by fancan on Oct 11, 2009 11:55 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Exactly

1h + finish the current lap

by tedvdw on Oct 11, 2009 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nys opening up

the proverbial can of whup-ass now.

"…I saw bloody Cavendish coming, really fast…"
HH

by ELVISGOAT on Oct 11, 2009 12:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

These are the kind of barriers that they need to put up for sprints in RR.

by Ruthann on Oct 11, 2009 12:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The ones without the feet sticking out, I mean.

by Ruthann on Oct 11, 2009 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Leaning outward too

means less chance of audience-contact

by Jens on Oct 11, 2009 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ha! They're just talking about that

New investment by the barrier renting company.

by tedvdw on Oct 11, 2009 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is the best feed I've had to any race!

"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'

by Seahorse on Oct 11, 2009 12:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Very good for me, too.

Best of the year might be the Gazzetta feed for TA, if I’m remembering correctly.

by majope on Oct 11, 2009 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good crowd turnout

by tedvdw on Oct 11, 2009 12:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

LOL

by majope on Oct 11, 2009 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Where's their beer in plastic cups?

"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'

by Seahorse on Oct 11, 2009 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

OK I'm convinced. Cyclocross is a wonderful sport.

by fancan on Oct 11, 2009 12:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Having so little experience with 'cross, tell me: what is hardest? Sand, ramps,

hills, barriers you jump over, or stairs? I would think the stairs would be the killers…

by Ruthann on Oct 11, 2009 12:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Different skills

Stairs killing the legs, need to be very experienced to get through the sand, jumping or hopping barriers takes practice and you need to re-accelerate.

by tedvdw on Oct 11, 2009 12:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks, that makes sense.

by Ruthann on Oct 11, 2009 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Must need crazy bike handling skills for those tight corners on such a narrow track..

by majope on Oct 11, 2009 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Depends on the rider...Though if there is a muddy hill that needs to be ran-up that is always nice to watch

by Vlaanderen90 on Oct 11, 2009 12:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Is today a very 'clean' day?

"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'

by Seahorse on Oct 11, 2009 12:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

yep

by Ed K on Oct 11, 2009 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rain arrived late.

by fancan on Oct 11, 2009 12:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Can't all be like this

by majope on Oct 11, 2009 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

They must have very good skin..

"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'

by Seahorse on Oct 11, 2009 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

When you can see it.

by majope on Oct 11, 2009 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bell lap!

by Ruthann on Oct 11, 2009 12:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Nys has already won

200 CX races as a professional, of which 48!! from the Superprestige series (8 per season). Today will be 201 and 49.

by tedvdw on Oct 11, 2009 12:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I wish they'd show more of the race for 3-4

Ah there we go :)

by tedvdw on Oct 11, 2009 12:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

So Nys is pronounced Ness?

by majope on Oct 11, 2009 12:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Something like that

The Belgian pronunciation of the y/ij is more like the Italian è. Received pronunciation is a vowel sound not present in English: wiki

by tedvdw on Oct 11, 2009 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks!

They seem to run the name together, too—something like Sveness.

by majope on Oct 11, 2009 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Right,

two distinct N-sounds w/ a slight pause is quite difficult :)

by tedvdw on Oct 11, 2009 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

So can we start calling him "His Svenness"?

by flying dog on Oct 11, 2009 8:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

as ever, depends which English

northerners generally have something very close to è

by civetta on Oct 12, 2009 5:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Right :)

But the reeeeeal (common Dutch, not Flemish) ij/y sound is not like the è. It’s in between the è and German ei, I think.

by tedvdw on Oct 12, 2009 6:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I had a really good French teacher at school (a Scot) who said we were lucky to have excellent vowels for German & Italian & not bad ones for French. This seems to have been true to me (though as a Scot he had the advantage on us with the unpronounceable – to us – German “ch”). Alas, he never let us know his opinion on Dutch, & he sodded off to the FE college after I’d done my GCSEs, else I might’ve actually been able to speak French!

by civetta on Oct 12, 2009 3:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

How much of this will we be able to see this winter?

by fancan on Oct 11, 2009 12:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

There are 8 races in each series

Superprestige series is the only one to have webcast each time for sure, GVA Trofee maybe, World Cup probably not or maybe on CTV/US.

by tedvdw on Oct 11, 2009 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

About a 100?

by tedvdw on Oct 11, 2009 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Like Treviso world cup last week

smaller races definitely less, like today maybe 50 or 60

by tedvdw on Oct 11, 2009 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Many abandons then?

Are they allowed to continue when lapped?

by Bruce Suomi on Oct 11, 2009 12:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Lapped = pull out at next finish line crossing

by tedvdw on Oct 11, 2009 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

thanks!

by Bruce Suomi on Oct 11, 2009 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

around 40?

I have no clue, just a wild guess

by Bruce Suomi on Oct 11, 2009 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It looked like about 40 finishing in dribs and drabs.

"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'

by Seahorse on Oct 11, 2009 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No, I rather overestimated

From this year’s results http://www.cyclingnews.com/cyclo-cross

Treviso: 53
Namur: 35
Ruddervoorde: not up yet

by tedvdw on Oct 11, 2009 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

American crosses definitely have bigger fields

but the top 5 or 10 of the Belgian elite are so much faster that allowing more than they do today, is inviting mayhem. (because of all the lapped riders very soon in the race)

by tedvdw on Oct 11, 2009 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

by tedvdw on Oct 11, 2009 12:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Thanks tedvdw.

You are making a lot of new fans for ’cross.

by fancan on Oct 11, 2009 12:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yea, when Drew was preaching we all sort of assumed it was for loonies

by Jens on Oct 11, 2009 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Really interesting and great feed. Thanks.

"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'

by Seahorse on Oct 11, 2009 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

by majope on Oct 11, 2009 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That may still be true

but it’s exciting. I can’t ever imagine doing it though…cold, wet, muddy =(

"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'

by Seahorse on Oct 11, 2009 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think it would be a blast.

This course, at least, seemed to have all the best bits from our local single-track mountain bike course, only without the nasty tree roots and steep fall to the river if you miss a turn.

by majope on Oct 11, 2009 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The course yesterday was new and it was awesome, with a very steep and run up and some technical descending

in which Nys did a face plant coming down it…

I can’t wait until the rain or snow comes

by Vlaanderen90 on Oct 11, 2009 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Can be fun, too. From Lyne

http://www.lynelamoureux.com/photos/675737225_CKZr3-X1.jpg
More: http://www.podiuminsight.com/2009/10/09/heres-mud-in-your-eye-for-compton-and-powers/

by tedvdw on Oct 11, 2009 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Page finished 18th. 13th yesterday. Go Jonathan!!

by Ruthann on Oct 11, 2009 12:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

More points for me!!!! Hee hee.

But what’s this all about Niels?! You lost?! Bah Sven Nys!

"If I were World Road Race Champion, I would wear black shorts. That probably has more to do with me being on the wiser side of 30 and understanding better that the decisions I make now never really go away. White shorts would not be something I'd be proud of...." - David Millar, in Rouleur.

by Albertina on Oct 11, 2009 1:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Highlight of post race interview w Gilbert

Courtesy of CN:

“To win this race, strategy is needed prior to the start,” he explained. "I looked closely at the weather forecast yesterday and there was a big chance of a tailwind on the avenue de Grammont.

“Therefore I put a 54 ring instead of the 53. I knew I had a bigger gear than my adversaries in the end. I was able to reach a higher speed than them. With 500 metres to go, I had in mind to start my sprint at the 250 metres mark but I chose to go at 300. I moved away from Tom Boonen to surprise him and avoid him sitting on my wheel.”

And VN:

“I knew right from the off that I had a big sprint in me if I found myself in the mix to win it. I have always said I fear no one in the sprint when it comes down to a tough race."

"It looks like talking, but it’s just words that comes out"
~ Andy Schleck

by Hons on Oct 11, 2009 2:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs