Paris-Nice Post-Stage Thread
by Chris... on Mar 11, 2009 11:14 AM EDT
in News
86 comments
Sounds like I picked the wrong day to watch RAI...
[And thanks to whoever posted the following summary; it wasn't me!]
As is often the pattern, an early move of seven riders escaped the bunch and by kilometer 67, they held a gap of 25 seconds. The group included: Nicolas Roche of AG2R-La Mondiale, Christian Vandevelde of Team Garmin, Daniel Moreno Fernandez of Caisse d’Épargne, Aleksandr Kolobnev of Saxo Bank, Tony Martin of Columbia-High Road, the wee Samuel Dumoulin of Cofidis, and Xavier Florencio of Cervélo TestTeam. Cooperation ruled the day, and the group steadily built up its advantage. Lampre and Liquigas patrolled the front with an eye for the sprint, but the bumpy finale did not inspire great things from the teams of the sprinters.
With 20 kilometers to go, Christian Vandevelde decided he'd had enough of his breakaway partners. See ya guys. Vandevelde attacked from the break, and none could follow. It proved a race-winning move, though it required 20 kilometers of solitary riding to reach the finish. Despite a close encounter with a flying Alberto Contador, Vandevelde held off the chase and won the stage for his first victory of the season.
The Empire strikes back. Behind Vandevelde, a battle for the general classification ensued. With six kilometers to ride, Alberto Contador attacked hard on the category 3 côte de Rochetaillée. The move should have come as no surprise to anyone. On the descent, a group of six riders including Juan Manuel Garate (2nd on the general) of Rabobank, Jens Voigt of Saxo Bank, Amaël Moinard of Cofidis, Maxime Monfort of Columbia-High Road, Frank Schleck of Saxo Bank, Roman Kreuziger of Team Liquigas caught the Spanish champion. By the finish, the group had swelled to some twenty riders.
Current race leader Sylvain Chavanel missed the train, however, and conceded 26 seconds from his overall lead to Alberto Contador. Chavanel remains the race leader by 6 seconds ahead of Juan Manuel Garate, while Alberto Contador lurks menacingly 36 seconds behind. Pre-race favorite Luis Leon Sanchez flatted today in the closing kilometers and came in a minute behind the Contador group. Because the mechanical occured inside the final 3 km, though, Sanchez received same time with the Contador group. Phew. Sanchez now sits in sixth on the general classification at 45 seconds. He is certainly not out of the game just yet with several hilly stages yet to ride. Frank Schleck of Saxo Bank is 1.12 down on Chavanel, and with a climbing finish on Friday, may prove able to better his position.
Here are today's stage results and the current general classification.
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First?
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
by nikki on Mar 11, 2009 11:15 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Ha ha! I'm channeling him then!
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
by nikki on Mar 11, 2009 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Way to go C!!!
Can’t even begin to share my smiles this morning! Great ride and awesome way to get his year going. :-)
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
by nikki on Mar 11, 2009 11:16 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Thanks
to all who provided updates in the race thread. Between that and the live ticker, I was able to follow the action.
by pigilito on Mar 11, 2009 11:21 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
o points for me today
I have to start to get used to this.
by semprenaroda on Mar 11, 2009 11:23 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Stage results
1. Christian Vandevelde Garmin – Slipstream in 4:01:31
2. Jonathan Hivert Skil-Shimano in 4:01:45
3. Mirco Lorenzetto Lampre – N.g.c in 4:01:45 at 00:14
4. Christophe Moreau Agritubel in 4:01:45 at 00:14
5. Jens Voigt Team Saxo Bank in 4:01:45 at 00:14
6. Amaël Moinard Cofidis Le Credit En Ligne in 4:01:45 at 00:14
7. Jakob Fuglsang Team Saxo Bank in 4:01:45 at 00:14
8. Maxime Monfort Team Columbia – High Road in 4:01:45 at 00:14
9. Frank Schleck Team Saxo Bank in 4:01:45 at 00:14
10. Manuel Garate Juan Rabobank in 4:01:45 at 00:14
11. Antonio Colom Team Katusha in 4:01:45 at 00:14
12. Alberto Contador Astana in 4:01:45 at 00:14
13. David Millar Garmin – Slipstream in 4:01:45 at 00:14
14. David Lopez Garcia Caisse D’epargne in 4:01:45 at 00:14
15. Roman Kreuziger Liquigas in 4:01:45 at 00:14
16. Reine Taaramae Cofidis Le Credit En Ligne in 4:01:45 at 00:14
17. Rinaldo Nocentini Ag2r-La Mondiale in 4:01:45 at 00:14
18. Broeck Jurgen Van Den Silence – Lotto in 4:01:45 at 00:14
19. Samuel Sanchez Euskaltel – Euskadi in 4:01:45 at 00:14
20. Yury Trofimov Bbox Bouygues Telecom in 4:01:45 at 00:14
21. Vladimir Karpets Team Katusha in 4:01:45 at 00:14
22. David Moncoutie Cofidis Le Credit En Ligne in 4:01:45 at 00:14
23. Simon Spilak Lampre – N.g.c in 4:01:53 at 00:22
24. Kevin Seeldrayers Quick Step in 4:02:12 at 00:41
25. Maxime Bouet Agritubel in 4:02:12 at 00:41
26. Heinrich Haussler Cervelo Test Team in 4:02:12 at 00:41
27. Thomas Rohregger Team Milram in 4:02:12 at 00:41
28. Yaroslav Popovych Astana in 4:02:12 at 00:41
29. Sylvain Chavanel Quick Step in 4:02:12 at 00:41
30. Antonio Flecha Juan Rabobank in 4:02:12 at 00:41
31. Geoffroy Lequatre Agritubel in 4:02:12 at 00:41
32. Hubert Dupont Ag2r-La Mondiale in 4:02:12 at 00:41
33. Christophe Le Mevel Francaise Des Jeux in 4:02:12 at 00:41
34. José Oroz Juan Euskaltel – Euskadi in 4:02:12 at 00:41
35. Bram Tankink Rabobank in 4:02:12 at 00:41
36. Markus Fothen Team Milram in 4:02:12 at 00:41
37. Mathieu Perget Caisse D’epargne in 4:02:12 at 00:41
38. Sandy Casar Francaise Des Jeux in 4:02:12 at 00:41
by ursula on Mar 11, 2009 11:25 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
GC
GC after stage 4
1. Sylvain Chavanel Quick Step in 13:31:36
2. Manuel Garate Juan Rabobank in 13:31:42
3. Antonio Flecha Juan Rabobank in 13:32:12 at 00:36
4. Alberto Contador Astana in 13:32:12 at 00:36
5. Kevin Seeldrayers Quick Step in 13:32:13 at 00:37
6. David Millar Garmin – Slipstream in 13:32:26 at 00:50
7. Antonio Colom Team Katusha in 13:32:31 at 00:55
8. Vladimir Karpets Team Katusha in 13:32:33 at 00:57
9. Jens Voigt Team Saxo Bank in 13:32:39 at 01:03
10. Maxime Monfort Team Columbia – High Road in 13:32:44 at 01:08
11. Samuel Sanchez Euskaltel – Euskadi in 13:32:45 at 01:09
12. Rinaldo Nocentini Ag2r-La Mondiale in 13:32:46 at 01:10
13. Frank Schleck Team Saxo Bank in 13:32:48 at 01:12
by ursula on Mar 11, 2009 11:26 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
So basically all the pre-race GC guys followed Bert and
took time out of Chavanel on that last cat 3 climb.
by ursula on Mar 11, 2009 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Except Lulu
He finished waaaay back at 2:34 on the day.
Question: On the decent we saw a C d’E rider practically Schlecking- what that Lulu or was that David Lopez- who did finish in that Contador group?
by ursula on Mar 11, 2009 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
not sure whom that was but
Lulu flatted just before the finish
by Bruce Suomi on Mar 11, 2009 11:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Conflicting results for Lulu?
Chris’ linky at the top of this post to GC standings and Cycling News GC standings show Lulu in 6th place AFTER today’s stage. Even though his name appears way down in the list of stage finishers, it shows him as finishing only 14 seconds behind CVV. What’s up?!
by Merry Crankster on Mar 11, 2009 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
ASO has him sixth in GC
He may have flatted within the last 3 km and received st as the group he was with at the time.
by gavia on Mar 11, 2009 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Mechanical within the final 3km
just like a crash, means he gets the same time as the group he was in.
I don't know if you knew this, CTV is run by Bernard Madoff
by Phil H. on Mar 11, 2009 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is why the great David Millar bike toss of last year...
…wasn’t a DNF. His chain broke.
by Ed K on Mar 11, 2009 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ah
Well it looked liked he flatted right before the finish, as Bruce says above. Possibly they will give him the inside the last 3km benefit. I would like that.
by ursula on Mar 11, 2009 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That explains it then
I didn’t know the 3km rule applied to mechanicals as well as crashes. Thanks for the info!
by Merry Crankster on Mar 11, 2009 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
+1.. Didn't know that too..
Crashdan: "Veni Vidi Vici beats Wing Kong Exchange... … and I’ll change my signature to a backwards smile for a month."
Franzoi wins Parijs-Roubaix and I win a date with the VDS of Team Txirrindulariak..
by Frinking on Mar 11, 2009 7:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That was Lulu
I remember the yellow bootees
by Monty. on Mar 11, 2009 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He kept coming unclipped...
Something was wildly wrong there.
by Ed K on Mar 11, 2009 4:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
To all of those in the Private VDS who stole the bigshots and made CVV the captain of The Crazy 68
Schuck on it Trebek!
Did your favourite rider just win Montepaschi Strade Bianch Eroica Toscana? OK then.
by Jens on Mar 11, 2009 11:31 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Ah. Your day in the sun
Enjoy it. Like a Swedish summer, it will be fleeting.
by ursula on Mar 11, 2009 11:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Fuck, don't I know it
why do you think I’m trying to squeeze an inkling of smack out of a P-N stagewin?
Did your favourite rider just win Montepaschi Strade Bianch Eroica Toscana? OK then.
by Jens on Mar 11, 2009 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Did your only rider with any hope of points just win a P-N stage? Ok then.
Dude... why WOULDN'T Thor ride the chicken?
by crashdan on Mar 11, 2009 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Goooooooooooooooooooose
Did your favourite rider just win Montepaschi Strade Bianch Eroica Toscana? OK then.
by Jens on Mar 11, 2009 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Damn! Beat me to that, Jens.
I other news, Lance beat cancer today giving Dan… 0 points.
by ursula on Mar 11, 2009 11:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well played... both of you :)
Dude... why WOULDN'T Thor ride the chicken?
by crashdan on Mar 11, 2009 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
CVV interview on C-TV (for you Nikki)
Was not planning on the win today or anything
mainly here to support Millar
Feels good with his fitness at this time
Was doing a rocking baby motion at the finish. His new daughter is one month old now and he has only seen her for four days. He will now get to see her as his family will be coming to Spain this week.
CVV is a cool guy – big smiles on his face today
by roadside on Mar 11, 2009 11:46 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I saw that! I am still smiling.
I ran to the gym right after the stage but I made sure to watch him up on the podium first. :-)
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
by nikki on Mar 11, 2009 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
"Was doing a rocking baby motion at the finish"
that’s very Euro.
by itswells on Mar 11, 2009 11:56 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
listening to French coverage...
Now, my French isn’t that good, but I swear that I heard the following as Christian was making great progress with his flyer:
“Vandevelde is really more Belgian than American, his Belgian grandfather having emigrated to the U.S…”
Again, I could be off on my translation on this, so take it with a grain of salt, but what I thought I heard made me laugh. :)
-Greg
by gregm on Mar 11, 2009 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's an odd way to say things.
C is ours and Belgium can’t have him. LOL! The family is from there though so thier history tid bit wasn’t wrong.
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
by nikki on Mar 11, 2009 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He stole it from Jonathan Page,
who did it at US Cross nationals in 2004.
But good on Christian, very excited for him. Good harbinger for the future.
"I didn't look for him and I didn't see him. If you base your race on another rider, most of the time you lose."
Tom Boonen
by Drew... on Mar 11, 2009 6:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He stole it from Jonathan Page...........who stole it from Bebeto, World Cup 1994.........
Did your favourite rider just win Montepaschi Strade Bianch Eroica Toscana? OK then.
by Jens on Mar 11, 2009 6:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Didn't Sastre do it too, or was that just a dummy?
by Albertina on Mar 11, 2009 7:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No sastre was celebrating a baby too I believe.
by ursula on Mar 11, 2009 8:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Basso and Sanchez have also celebrated births by holding up pictures and rocking the arms
I’m just waiting for a rider to have his wife come out and hand him the baby, then hold it up in glory, it will happen eventually.
I don't know if you knew this, CTV is run by Bernard Madoff
by Phil H. on Mar 11, 2009 8:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I thought it was damn cute. :-)
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
by nikki on Mar 11, 2009 9:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Vino did it at one point awhile back.
by NE Observer on Mar 11, 2009 7:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
2003 tdf stage into gap (beloki's crash stage 9)
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
by umwolverine on Mar 12, 2009 8:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This P-N is quite exciting
Hate that I’m missing the live action. AC looks serious to come back from the lack of heads-up the other day. Off to read the gavia gossip and catch up on other events.
by sminer on Mar 11, 2009 11:56 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
What a great day for CVV! :-)
Missed it live today, will watch replays later.
by Veloki on Mar 11, 2009 12:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Wow, have been in meetings this morning, and didn't even get a chance
to check in on the race. What a fantastic result; I will be racing home at 4:30 myself, to watch the race ‘as live.’ Holy moly, Nikki, have your feet touched the ground yet?
"It's official. For the next four years, it will be pronounced 'nuclear' " --Seth Meyers
by Ruthann on Mar 11, 2009 12:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I went to the gym to try and help calm down my smile.
The gym hurt big time but no help in reducing the smiles. :-D
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
by nikki on Mar 11, 2009 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
What's with you an CVV...
Is it your men? Feyonce, you don’t spell it that way, secret love, secret?!?, or what?
Crashdan: "Veni Vidi Vici beats Wing Kong Exchange... … and I’ll change my signature to a backwards smile for a month."
Franzoi wins Parijs-Roubaix and I win a date with the VDS of Team Txirrindulariak..
by Frinking on Mar 11, 2009 7:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You've got some mail. :-)
Absolutely nothing more than a friendly fanship. I’ve been a fan for a long time so seeing him doing so well, well, it makes me super happy. Great guy who deserves what he’s worked so hard for. :-)
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
by nikki on Mar 11, 2009 9:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Great race, great win for C
and Bert is awesome, like him or not you have to find it exciting when he races, he always go’s for it, he made today much more exciting. Not looking good for Chav though, if he can’t hold on today then he has no chance on Friday,
I don't know if you knew this, CTV is run by Bernard Madoff
by Phil H. on Mar 11, 2009 12:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Don't follow Contador
Chavanel is not the best climber and when Contador attacked, he did the right thing not to follow immediately. Few can follow Contador’s accelerations, those that race against him say his ability to accelerate scares them! The trick is not to panic, to pick up the pace in your own time. But it only showed Contador’s form and his determination to win this race.
by TheInnerRing on Mar 11, 2009 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Right thing to do?
well if he could have the right thing to do would have been get into the first chase group, but he didn’t have the energy. He was in the second group and lost 27 seconds. I don’t expect him to follow Contador after an acceleration but he couldn’t even get into the group of 20 that finished with Contador at the finish.
I don't know if you knew this, CTV is run by Bernard Madoff
by Phil H. on Mar 11, 2009 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Chavanel did ok on the decent
It looks like he actually made up some time. That youtube video of the last several kms makes it look like he was reeling people in pretty well. He just got dropped very badly on the last climb.
by jmgorman on Mar 12, 2009 1:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
YouTube
I was thinking Nikki must be over the Moon. But hey, I’m over the moon, she must be out past Saturn by now! :-)
by Veloki on Mar 11, 2009 12:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
None of the coverage is mentioning Jens!
who is consistently finishing near the top.
by NE Observer on Mar 11, 2009 1:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
In honesty - I swear...
I noticed that today when I looked at results. C truly trumped my viewing today but I saw Jens! in a couple of the camera shots and my thought was oh boy…. :-)
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
by nikki on Mar 11, 2009 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Jens! Is going to get a win soon!
He has finished near the top in every race so far!
Oh it will be good for my VDS, the winner of today and anothes 3! My hotties are doing good!
We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.
George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950
by CycleGirl on Mar 11, 2009 5:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Missed the Race today
but you gave an excellent synopsis of what sounds like another good day of racing. I am secretly willing Jens to finish on the podium……..
by bbnaz on Mar 11, 2009 1:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
What a great day of cycling
American wins a stage of a very exciting P-N, and T-A kicks off. And what’s the cycling headline on Yahoo News? Armstrong begins Giro Reconnaissance
by Katiek on Mar 11, 2009 1:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Wow... an article based on his twitter entry...
… modern journalism folks…
Dude... why WOULDN'T Thor ride the chicken?
by crashdan on Mar 11, 2009 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
where is the one from
just after that about the booty tweet?
Skipper: He's one of us, men. You all know the Penguin Credo.
Kowalski: Never bathe in hot oil and Bisquick?
by Clydesdale on Mar 11, 2009 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The bigger news is
why isn’t Lance winning P-N and T-A at this moment. Two other people, apparently also cyclists are leading the races, this just can’t be.
I don't know if you knew this, CTV is run by Bernard Madoff
by Phil H. on Mar 11, 2009 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Why isn't he winning them
BOTH !???
Come on, man. I had a rough night and I hate the fuckin' Eagles, man!
by ELVISGOAT on Mar 11, 2009 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah that's what I'm saying
he should be winning both races simultaneously right now, he must be sick or something, that’s the only explanation.
I don't know if you knew this, CTV is run by Bernard Madoff
by Phil H. on Mar 11, 2009 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Since he isn't
it’s obvious that they don’t exist. Problem solved.
by jsallee00 on Mar 11, 2009 2:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No, actually he is winning both of them...
…why do you love cancer?
by Ed K on Mar 11, 2009 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Gee
what happened to the T-A live thread? I know the race is over but I don’t even see it anymore. Wha’ happened?
by Le Comte on Mar 11, 2009 2:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
That is weird. I don't see it either.
He has no charisma--Thomas Dekker, on Cadel Evans
by majope on Mar 11, 2009 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Though I find it does show up in the archives.
by Le Comte on Mar 11, 2009 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Restored
somehow it got hidden, not sure how. Actually, I live in partial fear of having left the Cafe open on my laptop at home, where small hands can go exploring. I shudder to think of the editorial tools in the possession of DS Little Bear.
CQRanking.com, you complete me.
by Chris... on Mar 11, 2009 4:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Simple reason really
Our objective is to deliver the best experience possible for our customers around Paris-Nice, and avoid any conflict with the live coverage, and video on demand live thread. Tirreno-Adriatico has been a race ‘to be confirmed’ for some time, but we wanted to flag up our decision to focus solely on P-N in the best interests of our customers. We hope you understand and agree with this this decision. Thank you Cycling TV Podium Cafe
I don't know if you knew this, CTV is run by Bernard Madoff
by Phil H. on Mar 11, 2009 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
focus soley on P-N in the best interests of our customers
And by this you mean so that I can gloat about C’s stage win today for a full 24 hours before being reminded that there is a kick butt other race happening too, right? LOL :-)
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
by nikki on Mar 11, 2009 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That is what I mean
so keep on gloating.
I don't know if you knew this, CTV is run by Bernard Madoff
by Phil H. on Mar 11, 2009 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I might be harsh in saying I'm gloating, but I am most certainly smiling ear to ear. :-D
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
by nikki on Mar 11, 2009 4:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No way Lance can Beat Contador
Every time you watch Contador, the more I think that Lance stands a chance in the Tour. I haven’t seen enough of Lance yet, but contador is just so strong right now, compared to ever other racer out there. Today is a perfect example.
by profgubler on Mar 11, 2009 4:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Contador got caught...
He can accelerate…and that obviously makes him a nightmare in 9k time trials, who knew? But he neither dropped the whole field, nor rode past CVV on that climb, or a number of other things I’d think he’d have to do before I’d be willing to say he’s unbeatable.
He’s very strong, yes. Invincible. I’m not sure I’m going there yet.
Likely to beat LA, I do agree there. LA is strong, but I’m not seeing him beating AC.
by Ed K on Mar 11, 2009 5:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well now, first of all that climb wasn't very steep and short
not surprising he didn’t catch CVV but he did probably gain 40 seconds in 2.5 km….impressive. Him getting caught on a downhill isn’t surprising, and he won’t be looking to gain time in the Tour on those stages were there is a lot of road left after the climb, but he surely won’t lose time. Then there are the mountain finishes, which is were he will look to gain time, had the finish been on top of the hill today he would have gained time on the rest of the field, about 20 seconds or so. Again this was just a little hill, if he can pull out that amount of time on a 4% hill imagine what he can do on Mount Ventoux. Friday will be more telling about his form at moment, he may get even better by July, but he does look pretty unbeatable right now.
I don't know if you knew this, CTV is run by Bernard Madoff
by Phil H. on Mar 11, 2009 5:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
that's what I was thinking
it was only a cat 3, not exactly what we tend to think of as a decisive climb in the Tour de France.
Though, perhaps AC is peaking too early? Time will tell…
by Le Comte on Mar 11, 2009 5:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Interesting
I see the strengths of Contador now as being:
1) He can now TT basically as well as anybody, meaning that the great chronomen can beat him- sometimes, but you can’t expect to.
2) He can climb better than anyone meaning he has both the best initial burst and can maintain his climb longer on the truly big mountains.
3) He has the confidence in his climbing abilities to try shit and test the rest like he did today.
Bert’s climbing abilities are similar to Cavendish’s sprinting abilities: they are both the fastest in their respective domains and everyone without exception is aware of them and thus reacts to them. So today on that last climb, on Contador had the confidence to test Chavanel and the rest of the field and it took Bert’s separation from the field before the pother GC guys had the confidence to try it for themselves- and to keep reasonably close to him.
Contador is not good at sprinting- he’s been beaten at the line several times the last couple of years- and his decending is good, not great. So this cat 3 hill was not quite enough for him to stay away. Contrast his performance today with Levi’s break on Bonny Doone Road in California- a bigger climb that allowed Levi more of a lead before the downhill part plus Levi’s competitors were not in as good a shape as Contador’s were today.
The big test for the field is if they can stay with Contador on Friday’s uphill finish.
by ursula on Mar 11, 2009 5:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm not ready yet
to say he can TT as well as anybody based on a 9k TT. I’ll want to see him do it in longer TTs before I’m willing to go that far. Plus, Cance wasn’t in the race on Sunday, either. Still it does suggest you can’t lose more than even a little amount of time to him in the mountains if you have hopes of catching him in a TT. Of course, this year in Le Tour, even if you do catch him in the final TT, he’ll have another crack at you on Ventoux.
by Le Comte on Mar 11, 2009 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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