Solvang TT: Winners, Losers and DNFs
by PopUp Rolen on Feb 21, 2009 12:59 AM EST
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| 1 Levi Leipheimer | even |
| 2 David Zabriskie | plus 1 |
| 3 Michael Rogers | minus 1 |
| 4 Jens Voigt | plus 8 |
| 5 Thomas Lövkvist | plus 2 |
| 6 Lance Armstrong | minus 2 |
| 7 Robert Gesink | plus 3 |
| 8 Janez Brajkovic | minus 2 |
| 9 Christopher Horner | minus 4 |
| 10 Francisco Mancebo | plus 6 |
| 11 Vincenzo Nibali | minus 2 |
| 12 Thomas Danielson | plus 2 |
| 13 José Luis Rubiera | minus 5 |
| 14 Kevin Seeldraeyers | plus 1 |
| 15 Oscar Sevilla | minus 4 |
| DNF Basso: Boo Boo | :( |
The above table represents a brief snapshot of the winners and losers from today's Solvang Time Trial in terms of GC classification. I compared the GC results at the end of stage five vs. GC results at the end of stage 6. I'll keep the analysis short, because there are many more wiser minds than mine in this group. Regardless, a few thoughts on the table:
- Throw out all of the Astana results save Levi and Lance. I'm sure Johan told Jani, Chris and Chechu to save it for the weekend.
- Somebody already has said this, but if Levi does the Giro this year, it will be his best shot to win a Grand Tour. Not sure if he can hold form for that long and he probably is not as focused on the Giro as Le Tour, but I think with the course and competition, he could make a solid run at the top step of the podium. With the Stage 12, 61.7 km time trial, I can see him taking huge chunks of time out of everyone. Combined with a strong team that can limit his losses in the mountains, and I think he could win the race.
- Jens! was a huge winner with this time trial effort, jumping eight places in GC. Can you imagine the potential fireworks if either of the Schlecks would have made the split on Stage One?
- Lance. Meh. Actually, I am a bit surprised he's doing this well. He looks old and too muscular. However, if spectators standing 10 deep is what we get with Lance, then I welcome him back to the peloton. The crowds have been unreal in Cali.
- Excellent ride by Gesink. Hopped two spots on the GC and at such a ripe age, is showing impressive skills in the mountains and on the time trial bike. Is he a Shoo-in for Young Rider jersey at Le Tour?
- Disappointed in Nibali's ride. Thought he would put up a better showing.
- Glad to see Tommy D putting together a solid week-long plus tour. He could be a huge help to CVV in July if he can keep things together.
- Basso. I don't get it. Don't get the hype. Don't get the fanfare. I guess I'm too new to cycling, and I don't remember the "days of yore," but to me he's an ex doper that has yet to prove he can ride clean.
We still have two more days, but I can't see things on the GC moving much. If Saxo had another rider in contention, I think it could have been interesting. You would have three teams (Saxo, Garmin and Columbia) with two riders each in contention. Could have been major fireworks attacking the remaining two stages. Alas.
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Excellent summary!
Jens- This is his second killer TT here in three years.
Gesink- I was also surprised. Maybe to temper that enthusiasm the two guys he jumped over in the overall were Astanii, who you correctly said were saving things for the next two days.
Nibali- yeah I was surprised at the lack of result too.
TD- Can he hold it this year? If so this TT- and this whole race- could be quite indicative. Garmin and CVV could really use him.
Lance- In agreement with ya there.
Basso? I think he’s just not caring to compete this week. Like Sastre this is not the place for him to begin showing his cards.
Levi- Yeah it will be an interesting Giro. He’s better than Lance, and I think last year showed that given a clear goal and enough prep time he can do wonders. My guess on his itinery: Cali to Paris-Nice then slow down and do a gradual buildup to the Giro- not Romandie, but more likely Pais Vasco then time checking out the Giro stages.
Basso
agreed, he’s just messing around. He’s accustomed to doing nothing before April, so nothing new there.
CQRanking.com, you complete me.
by Chris Fontecchio on Feb 21, 2009 1:03 AM EST up reply actions
yes, levi's schedule is pn then pais then a break...
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
Nice work.
Welcome to the sport if you didn’t see Basso in the day, because it was awesome. Doper? Yeah. But who wasn’t? Maybe Gibo and Lil Prince. Although I’m not too sure about those Saeco days.
And as Chris mentioned, the ToC is territory for those who have something to prove early. Basso is looking at the Giro. And maybe the Tour. I think mostly the Giro though.
And this year it will beautiful.
Racing for Victory and Free Beer!
I got to see/talk/listen to Horner and Danielson
after the stage. Chris did not appear to not give it a full effort all when I saw him. I mentioned it being good to see him not having the broken collar bone and he agreed but commented on his knee this week. I liked listening to Tom talk about leaving it out there or working on GC. Do you puke or do you fight enough for the overall. He mentioned he really wants/needs more work on the TT but he seemed pretty happy with this week. :-)
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
Well done
Nice analysis. I’m too drunk to add much.
CQRanking.com, you complete me.
by Chris Fontecchio on Feb 21, 2009 1:04 AM EST reply actions
Jeezus!
THose thighs look like a flotation device.
CQRanking.com, you complete me.
by Chris Fontecchio on Feb 21, 2009 10:24 AM EST up reply actions
Winners!!! PdC Gang...
"...The mind has to rule the body and tell the body, shut up and do what I tell you to do..." Jens!
And For Dan...
"...The mind has to rule the body and tell the body, shut up and do what I tell you to do..." Jens!
Am I the only one wondering
just what her hair is doing on the other side of her face.
Even Emilia need help with hair
She needs a GHD, and her hair would look so much better, instead of fluffing it up… sorry may be Helmet hair to, I’m still trying to work on that myself.
We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.
George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950
This is why no one likes Levi
He’s so dull. Look at Popup’s list. Everyone is doing something +1, +3, -2, +8 etc. And Levi? “Even” He’s just sitting there. No movement whatsoever.
We noticed your absence
If you’re quick you can catch the finish of Haut var day 1 . Link in the Valverde/Haut Var fanpost.
hmmm
maybe that’s it. i just can’t connect with the guy – i feel like i should because i like other less-than-popular riders like Cadel, but i also all but completely tuned-out his TT ride. maybe it’s that there’s a tedious certainty about what he does – it all seems so calculated…
Ha! If anyone is interested in Volta ao Algarve time trial...
I found two live tickers. Not sure how good they are, but it’s something to pass time while I work.
by PopUp Rolen on Feb 21, 2009 10:22 AM EST up reply actions
He's trying to be cooler
by flashing those gang signs.
CQRanking.com, you complete me.
by Chris Fontecchio on Feb 21, 2009 10:23 AM EST up reply actions
Comparisons to last year, and two years ago
Just for fun- as opposed to deadly serious business:
Levi was 6 seconds faster this year than last year but exactly one minute slower than he was in 07. His 07 time (29:40) is the course record and only one of two times ever to go below 30’ flat.
Jens! was that other time below 30’ with a 29:58 in 07. In 08, Jens! took a day off I guess as he rode a 34:25. What a slacker. This year of coruse was more like Jens! 31:10. Still way off his PR here.
Larsson last year rode a 31:44 so he improved by 47 seconds.
Zabriskie improved by 1:13 from 08,
Rogers didn’t race last year but he did in 07. He was just 7 seconds slower in 07 compared to this year. That he had only the 11th best time in 07 is another little nugget of into that showed that of the three years, 07 had the fastest times.
The course...
The course was different in 2007 – so it technically should be a different course record for 2008. This year and last year were the same.
by Chief Commissaire on Feb 21, 2009 10:54 PM EST up reply actions
Winners today
Haut Var Stage 1: Francisco Perez Sanchez
Laigueglia: Francesco Ginanni
One of them is on my VDS
Chris, can I make a sustitution?
Just kidding, besides Ursula is probably only 50% sure it’s the same guy.
Am I the only one who calls LLS "Lulu"?
Probably
Bork, bork, bork!
by TheFigurehead on Feb 21, 2009 11:00 AM EST up reply actions
That's why I hate it when they cut coverage before the podium
because the commentators said it was Francisco Perez Sanchez.
Google is my domestique.
Hmm. The press is split on who won.
L’Equipe has LLS, but Sportweek says Perez. Official site doesn’t have results up yet.
Google is my domestique.
I also think Veikkanen was on the podium but I don't want to say definately
(I don’t want Bruce to have a fit if I’m wrong)
This is what cyclingnews has:
1 Francisco Pérez (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne
2 Jussi Veikkanen (Fin) Française des Jeux
3 Mathieu Ladagnous (Fra) Française des Jeux
But I’m waiting for the official site to confirm.
Google is my domestique.
But Fransisco how puts on such a performance?
Nah neither.. Pretty confident..
1. SANCHEZ GIL Luis Leon GCE 20
2. VEIKKANEN Jussi FDJ 10
3. LADAGNOUS Matthieu FDJ 5
4. VOECKLER Thomas BBO 3
5. PINEAU Jérôme QST 0
6. SIMON Julien BCS 0
7. DUMOULIN Samuel COF 0
Not official..
Some say the best things in life, are one the inside.
Mathieu Ladagnous
may well be the biggest VDS omission
Had he been able to on the inside
of the turn in the uphill sprint he could have won. He was positioned perfectly but LLS put in an attack and the others had to come round him on the outside. Jussi looked to have great speed but having to come round made it just too hard. Great ride though and there is a day tomorrow too.
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