Paris-Nice Stage 6: Post-Race
by Jen See on Mar 13, 2009 11:53 AM EDT
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An unsurprising result today in a race that has held its share of surprises. Alberto Contador celebrated a solo victory on the summit of the Montagne de Lure. The Spanish grand tour winner took his second stage win of this Paris-Nice and secured the leader's jersey. With 1.13 in hand over second-placed Luis Leon Sanchez of Caisse d'Épargne, Contador faces few obstacles to overall victory in Nice.
A break of seven riders enlivened the early kilometers. Javier Aramendia of Euskaldi-Euskaltel, Romain Feillu of Agritubel, Niki Terspra of Milram, Cyril Lemoine Skil-Shimano, Christophe Riblon of AG2R-La Mondiale, Alan Perez of Euskaldi-Euskaltel, and Sebastien Turgot of BBox Bouygues Telecom decided to give their legs a stretch. Yesterday's stage winnner Jeremy Roy of Française des Jeux soon joined them. Nobody likes to be left out. Kilometers passed.
With just over 13 kilometers to ride, the road turned up and the real race began. Sebastian Joly of Française des Jeux and Jens Voigt of Saxo Bank went early. Voigt no doubt hoped to set up his team-mate Frank Schleck, riding high in the general. Eight kilometers from the finish, Contador made his winning move. Only Frank Schleck of Saxo Bank and Antonio Colom of Katyusha could follow. Their defiance did not last, and less than two kilometers later Contador dispatched them with another sharp acceleration. The Spanish climber crossed the line alone. In the final six kilometers, Contador extracted 58 seconds from Frank Schleck, who finished second, followed by Luis Leon Sanchez, who finished on same time with Schleck. Contador said later, "I suffered in the last four kilometres and gave it my all because I knew there were two dangerous riders behind me. But eventually I managed to make the difference." Indeed.
Behind the flying Contador, Sylvain Chavanel, who began the day as race leader, could not follow the violent accelerations of the climbers, but nonetheless, tapped out a steady rhythm. Though Chavanel could not defend his lead against Contador, he succeeded in holding third place overall and kept alive his chances of a podium finish in Nice. Despite losing the leader's jersey, Chavanel rated his Paris-Nice "more than successful." The French rider won a stage, wore the leader's jersey for three days, and remains well-placed in the overall. French climber David Moncoutié, who won on Mont Faron at the Tour de Med, also showed his good form today, finishing fifth on the stage.
Alberto Contador leads the general classification by 1.13 over Luis Leon Sanchez of Caisse d'Épargne and 1.24 over former race leader Sylvain Chavanel. Frank Schleck of Saxo Bank sits fourth at 1.38, and could still climb on the podium in the race's final stages.
It was an unfortunate day for French rider Thomas Voeckler of Bbox Bouygues-Telecom, who suffered a crash early in the stage. Voeckler has animated the race and was on screaming form after winning Étoile des Bessèges and Tour du Haut Var. After today's crash, he will undergo surgery for a broken shoulder. No word yet on how long he will be out of action. We wish him a speedy recovery!
Here are today's stage results and the current general classification.
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Whew!
CQRanking.com, you complete me.
by Chris Fontecchio on Mar 13, 2009 11:56 AM EDT reply actions
I'm happy you all can keep everything in order
It’s so confooosing this early in the am. ;-)
I’m still getting used to getting up early for the race season….
Bert:
It was a very hard climb. But the team is good and stuck to the plan. We controlled the race well. I suffered in the last four kilometres and gave it my all because I knew there were two dangerous riders behind me. But eventually I managed to make the difference.
The last two days are going to be very hard and we must be on our guard because I’m tired like everybody else. For now I’m only happy to have taken the yellow jersey back. Tomorrow is another day.
Must be nice to suffer and still be able to gain a bunch of time
I’m guessing that he probably suffered less than the chasers.
I don't know if you knew this, CTV is run by Bernard Madoff
lol, yeah.
He did look rough in the end, but so did everyone else
by Bruce Suomi on Mar 13, 2009 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah it was tough
but although he was grimacing he still looked like he was flying, he shows his pain a lot on his face and that’s why it looks like he’s cracking….but then you see the time gaps and he is gaining time. Then you have Moncoutie who looked like he was about to fall asleep, I just don’t get that man.
I don't know if you knew this, CTV is run by Bernard Madoff
Pain can be almost hypnotic...
…especially if you’re someone who grinds right at your threshhold rather than working in bursts like AC
I think the suffering he was speaking of was the overwhelming burning sensation of lactic acid
He could have turned off the gas some and not suffered so much, so the chasers maybe didn’t suffer as much. Or as we probably know, AC is climbing in a league of his own now.
So we might as well hand Bert the Tour and Vuelta win
and the new World Calender championship. Well maybe it’s too early to say that but it would be a shock if he doesn’t win those. The only question is if he can challenge up the Mur and maybe even add a classics win to resume.
I don't know if you knew this, CTV is run by Bernard Madoff
Nah, he can't sprint
but he sure can climb up a steep gradient. La Fleche is the only classic I see him winning, just because of the finish and his acceleration. He may be able to go solo at Lombardia but I doubt he would be able to drop riders like Cunego and Di Luca.
I don't know if you knew this, CTV is run by Bernard Madoff
I still don't think it's his type of race
too many short punchy climbs before the finish, not his terrain. The reason I am thinking Fleche is because there isn’t as much difficulty until the final climb up the Mur, not easy but compared to the other Ardennes far less bumpy. Then it is the only classic to finish up a tough climb like the Mur, the Cauberg doesn’t suit him that much, but I think he has better chance winning Amstel then L-B-L. I think at best he gets into the top group and L-B-L and then gets out sprinted, as Frank Schleck always does. But he could transform himself into a stage racer who can ride the classics and who knows, he has apparently become a great TTist in 2 years so it could happen.
I don't know if you knew this, CTV is run by Bernard Madoff
Actually, come to that
is he riding any of the classics this year? Be pretty tough to win any of these races if you’re not even in them…
He is riding La Fleche
I think that’s is certain, and he is thinking about L-B-L but hasn’t decided yet if he will.
I don't know if you knew this, CTV is run by Bernard Madoff
Nope but we are all assuming he will
why not, the race is perfect for him this year. Plus he aslways has said that he likes the profile and that he is a bit worried about the first stages because they don’t suit him. He wouldn’t be so worried if he didn’t plan on riding them. If he wins the Tour he will look to win 2 GT’s for the 2nd year in a row and show how great he is, and if he loses the Tour he will be angry and try to salvage his year. Really unless he’s hurt I don’t see how he wont ride it.
I don't know if you knew this, CTV is run by Bernard Madoff
Levi, Horner and Vaitkus
were supposed to race this one, their injuries made much weaker team for Bert.
by Bruce Suomi on Mar 13, 2009 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions
I've enough of "Bert" already
This guy and his ridiculous gun celebration are just to much. How about just crossing the line with your arms in the air???
Bike: Colnago Dream B-Stay
Meh
We always hate the best don’t we? We hate em when they have personality/flash and we hate em when they don’t. Because we cycling fans have never ever understood what is good for us. Bwahrgh.
"....Up Sestriere on a rental clunker in jeans and loafers? Brother, lemme buy you a beer."
by Rolls on Mar 13, 2009 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions
I will always hate the yankees, it isn't changing :)
I don't know if you knew this, CTV is run by Bernard Madoff
Heh.
Some really good reasons for that. I can’t get with their program either! Then again I’ve been bored with baseball in general for about 10 years. Too many games, that don’t mean anything! No passion.
"....Up Sestriere on a rental clunker in jeans and loafers? Brother, lemme buy you a beer."
by Rolls on Mar 13, 2009 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Why do you love cancer Phil?
Oh wait… sorry… wrong bunch of blowhards…
Dude... why WOULDN'T Thor ride the chicken?
Congratulations!
That’s earned you a free 1,000 VDS points.
CQRanking.com, you complete me.
by Chris Fontecchio on Mar 13, 2009 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions
+10
but a question:
are we talking about baseball or northerners?
formerly known as cyclingchallenge
I think
Chris is from Boston, so I’d guess it’s just baseball.
Why do americans love boboll?
Did your favourite rider just win Montepaschi Strade Bianch Eroica Toscana? OK then.
GO Red Sox!
Just being positive – so many extra do I get for Yankee hating?
Just spinning the pedals in the hills of Western Maryland
So obvious
Phil was the only one to say so spontaneously.
CQRanking.com, you complete me.
by Chris Fontecchio on Mar 13, 2009 6:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Give me at least a little credit
for being a a Sox fan since I was a kid growing up in Somerville. I now have to suffer through either the Baltimore or Pittsburgh Pirates (AAA) games if I want to listen to a game locally.
Just spinning the pedals in the hills of Western Maryland
Umm does it matter?
so you have had enough of him because of what he did for 3 seconds out of the whole stage? It is his own unique celebration and too me I rather see riders doing something unique than just the same old arms in the air. Many riders who don’t win as much will just throw their arms up as a reaction, but when you win as much as he you think of your own celebration. I personally like it because I see it as a way of saying that he just shot down his competition. But i like watching because of his racing and not his victory salute.
I don't know if you knew this, CTV is run by Bernard Madoff
Oh Bruce you are being so generous to me today :)
I don't know if you knew this, CTV is run by Bernard Madoff
Until the Spanish Courts Release the Puerto Files
He (and Valverde) should feel lucky that the Spanish courts are dragging their feet on this.
Where there is smoke there is fire, maybe not today, but someday….
Bike: Colnago Dream B-Stay
by someday you mean after they retire right?
Or at least after they are no longer the darling of the Spanish cycling world.
Just spinning the pedals in the hills of Western Maryland
There is a difference of not liking someone because of doping and something as silly as a celebration
I don’t care if you don’t like him because of Puerto, but it seemed silly to me that you don’t like him on the sole fact that he had a winning celebration you didn’t like, by all means, keep disliking him if it’s because of Puerto and his potential involvement, that’s a reasonable reason not to like him.
I don't know if you knew this, CTV is run by Bernard Madoff
It's the difference between personal and professional
His accomplishments on the bike are phenominal. How he chooses to celebrate said accomplishments says something about him as a person. Granted, I don’t “know” him, but the persona he chooses to use in representing himself with such celebrations is not one I can respect or appreciate.
I wouldn't go as far as to judge someone on how they act in competition
judging somenone solely on whom they are on the playing field will almost always lead to misinterpretation of who they really are in everyday life. You don’t have to like it but I don’t think you should say his victory celebration portrays who he really is. From interviews I’ve heard from him he seems to be an ass at times and other time real nice and also seems to be more modest than Cavendish,
I don't know if you knew this, CTV is run by Bernard Madoff
judging seems rather more than what it is.
this is just based on my reaction that I feel when I see him do his gun thing- or wearing his gun hat. It’s not really an issue of modesty for me. I like Cav, and thought him pointing to his package in Cali was hilarious. Probably an interesting psychology experiment, figuring out what it is that triggers reactions to individuals/ their actions.
Hehe, It would be an interesting experiment
I myself really thought Cav’s reaction was inappropriate and childish, and I like Bert’s salute. Just sort of funny, ah well, I think both celebrations are harmless but trigger two different reactions on either scale,love it or hate it, I don’t think there is a middle point.
I don't know if you knew this, CTV is run by Bernard Madoff
Oh, I don't know
neither’s celebrations bother me one way or the other, and I can take them or leave them. I dunno if that counts as a “middle point” or not, but there you go.
Ok, there is a middle point
but I’m thinking more for those who have an opinion on it, they either hate it or love it, there isn’t a “oh it sort of bothers me”, or “it could be more tasteful but I kinda like it.” Maybe, or maybe I don’t know what I’m talking about…most likely reason.
I don't know if you knew this, CTV is run by Bernard Madoff
I'll raise my glass to that
and be thankful that world hasn’t become so dull to not offer things which evoke any such response.
who where did this come from?
Because I dislike a rider’s victory salute does not mean that I dislike a rider, his team or even his team’s fans. sheesh.
Huh, I wasn't talking too you
I was responding to ONE person who had posted above, it wasn’t a generalization.
I don't know if you knew this, CTV is run by Bernard Madoff
Gangsta diet
way too many empty calories.
CQRanking.com, you complete me.
by Chris Fontecchio on Mar 13, 2009 6:45 PM EDT up reply actions
Bert VDS watch
So for all 1 million of us who have Contador it looks like- if he wins- he’ll nab 350+ points at Paris-Nice. The question then is, will he have 1000 points before the Dauphine even starts?
- 350+ Paris-Nice
- 200+ Castile y Leon
- 350+ Pais Vasco
—————————————
900 points+ from these three races and that might be conservative. C&L has two mountain top finishes and a TT. Last year at Pais Vasco he scored 405 points I believe. I am also giving him no points for Fleche, and I agree with Phil, that’s the most likely Ardennes race that he could win. I don’t think he will, but a 10th place finish and another 70 points is there for him. Again, this is all before the Dauphine and the Tour and Vuelta. If he cracks 3000 points I’ll be talking to Chris this winter about upping his price over 25 points. Picking him is like picking low hanging fruit.
Then how much will he win at the Tour and Vuelta
first of all the Dauphine finishes on Ventoux=stage win, then the 3 mountain top finishes at the Tour and 5 at the Vuelta, if all goes his way then that’s 9 stage wins, unlikely but he is that good. His DS said he wants him to win P-N and then lay low until the Tour, but I don’t see Bert not attacking when he can, too fun for him, and he loves to win as much as he can unlike some like Alejandro “it’s all about the Tour I won’t be able to ride in anyway” Valverde.
I don't know if you knew this, CTV is run by Bernard Madoff
2000+ at Tour and Vuelta I think
Just looking at a bunch of past Grand Tours, 1000 points is easily in reach of the winner, provided they win a stage or two. Last year only Contador’s Vuetla win was dominant like that- and more as he won 1400 points there. That was dominant. On the non-dominant side was last year’s Giro and Tour wins with Sastre and Contador getting only 800 each for their wins. 1000 points for a win is fairly average for a convincing GT win.
As to what Contador’s DS is saying, Contador has been saying all along that he was focusing on Pais Vasco, not Paris-Nice. He only started talking up P-N after his ‘encouraging’ win at Algarve. Myself, I want to see him against Menchov at Castile & Leon.
Yeah, Bert always plays down his chances
I remeber him saying his first big goal is Pais Vasco, and yet he will go into the race with three overall wins most likely, at least 2 for sure. The Dauphine is the one race he may not go full out except a stage(Ventoux) but the other 2 races until then he will go for wins, being the defending champ at Castilla Leon and Pais Vasco kinda makes him have to go for it.
I don't know if you knew this, CTV is run by Bernard Madoff
A little ahead of ourselves I think
It is a long season with a lot of goals for him. It has been said many times before, any rider only has a limited number of efforts in them for any given season. I do not care who you are. For some, sure the well goes deeper then others. But to keep form over the whole season is a little unrealistic I think. He is a great rider no question and on one of the strongest teams for stage race for sure but he is only human and if he goes to hot to fast now what is left at the end I wounder.
He doesn't have to do much more than last year
last year he won in March and kept winning though the Vuelta. Same this year, again he doesn’t have that many races, just 3 more after P-N until the Tour, and less than 20 race days. Than he won’t ride until the Vuelta most likely. Plus there have been several riders in the past who have kept form throughout a whole year, I’d like to think we aren’t in a time were no one will ever be able to keep there form through a whole year.
I don't know if you knew this, CTV is run by Bernard Madoff
I dunno...
he won Castilla y Leon & Pais Vasco last year, then won the Giro after not thinking he was even going to be in it until fairly shortly before it started. Given his past performance, I don’t see this as especially unlikely. Also, what are his racing plans in May-June? He’s not racing the Giro this year, right? I assume he’ll be at the Dauphine as a tune up to set up his Tour and Vuelta, but otherwise, he won’t have to be “hot” for two months before gearing up for July.
Nothing in May, he's previewing some Tour stages
then the Dauphine in June. But that’s if fot those two months.
I don't know if you knew this, CTV is run by Bernard Madoff
Yeah, though, to be fair, he had "help"
not saying AC necessarily doesn’t, but…
Ivan claims to only having considered it ^^
I wonder if Lance could have done the same without risking his record as 7 times TdF winner?
Probably only if someone cracks.
It’s possible since it is early in the season.
Oh- also Chavanel might not make it. There are a bunch of big hills left and without the yellow jersey he might lose that little bit extra.
No change
methinks. Today was the race of truth. You either cracked already or you probably won’t. Tomorrow isn’t a big uphill finish either. Plus, the margins in the top 10 are usually pretty close. That last stage Sunday won’t make a difference, barring the usual caution about accidents.
CQRanking.com, you complete me.
by Chris Fontecchio on Mar 13, 2009 6:47 PM EDT up reply actions
Video from today
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDSD17gz6q8
CQRanking.com, you complete me.
by Chris Fontecchio on Mar 13, 2009 2:40 PM EDT reply actions
Does Bert have enough teammates for tomorrow?
Looking over the finish list:
Astana a total of 5 (four to help Bert, only Popo really strong enough?)
Saxo Bank a total of 8 (and they look like a strong group)
Cofidis a total of 8 (including some guys who are tough experienced domestiques)
So, I’m wondering … if a break gets away, will Astana be able to control the gap? I’m guessing it could be difficult, especially as both QuickStep and SaxoBank have two riders within 2 minutes of the lead. They could make things very difficult for Astana. Even Caisse with a total of 8 (again, a number of proven riders here) and Euskaltel look to be able to win the numbers game.
It seems to me that if he wins this, Contador will deserve it, as he’s going to have to do some of the chasing and pace-making himself.
by GreylockGrinder on Mar 13, 2009 3:39 PM EDT reply actions
"Looking over the finish list"
Not sure I understand this. The Astana team is plenty strong. If you have a GC leader ripping it up the final climb of the day. Then it’s chill out in the smoking section on the climb for the teammates and save it for the next day to control and defend.
Agree and disagree
Contador’s probably driving Bruyneel and Gallopain nuts with unplanned moves like the one of a couple of days ago. I’m not sure that Contador NEEDS a team to surround him at this point.
Who in Paris-Nice (within 5 minutes on gc) has shown the ability to put in an attack that even causes Contador to stress out even slightly?
Jens! and Frank Schleck
IS there anyone else that matters?
Just spinning the pedals in the hills of Western Maryland
Jens in a breakaway tomorrow pulled by the Rabo boys while Contador focus on Fränk
Can’t really come up with other plausible ways to challenge Contador in this race.
Yeah I can't think of anything either other than Contador crashing.
The remaining Astanii are all game for the hills to come.
They would need to isolate Contador someway, but I just dont see that happening. Especially with a one minute lead over Lulu. I would love to see Jens in a break but he is too close to GC.
Some team needs to really tear up the course right from the beginning to make it hard.
+1
All the rabos or FDJs in the world on the front aren’t going to put him in difficulty.
CQRanking.com, you complete me.
by Chris Fontecchio on Mar 13, 2009 6:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, maybe with their A team
The problem is even with the full Saxo power unleashed on Bert, he’s still a better climber than they are. I mean what we saw here today was not like the Tour in 08 where Saxo was trying to crack Evans. Contador showed today he’s a class above Schleck and a couple steps above Jens! and the rest. maybe if Andy was here… Plus the Astanii here in support who are left.. all of them are at home in the mountains and all they have to do is keep it close.
yeah
I think if Sastre had tried to pull away from AC last year instead of Evans, things would’ve turned out very, very differently.
I'm thinking Astana being left out is a good thing right now
you can’t go back and change it anyway, but now the excitement for the Tour is even higher, because everyone is asking themselves “what will happen now that Bert is in it” had Bert won last year the suspense and excitement would not have been as high me thinks.
I don't know if you knew this, CTV is run by Bernard Madoff
Personally
even though I have AC on my VDS team, I’m hoping that Basso, Armstrong, or both prove to be tough challenges. My dream is that Armstrong is able (and willing) to try to pull a Hinault AND Basso (or somebody) is also able to be right there in the mix. I’d love it if we had three or more guys within 30 seconds of each other the morning of Saturday, July 25.
Basso will only be a challenge at the Vuelta
he’s not doing the Tour.
I don't know if you knew this, CTV is run by Bernard Madoff
He's not
hm, must have missed that. So much for that idea.
Giro-Vuelta double
he thinks it’s best not to mess with the ASO in his first year back, probably a wise choice, he should be doing the Tour in 2010 though.
I don't know if you knew this, CTV is run by Bernard Madoff
Rabobank review
So where does Garates jour sans leave Rabobank in this stage race? They impressed with their echelon trick in the third stage. It was very cool to watch but it brought them only a 2nd and a 3rd place. And Garate at 6 seconds from the yellow jersey. But after today that doesn’t mean anything anymore.
It is not surprising since they are in P-N with their classics squad (and took a bit hit after Posthuma’s withdrawal). But doesn’t that mean they should have gone for the stage victory? Let Chavanel do the work to gain the yellow and take the stage for yourself? Sure, I have the benefit of hindsight but the displayed strategy does seem like betting on two horses. With neither of them winning…
Same ol Rabo?
It’s not the riders’ fault, the team didn’t send any finishers other than maybe Posthuma. Maybe they’ll get some value for having Gesink in the Montelupone stage?
CQRanking.com, you complete me.
by Chris Fontecchio on Mar 13, 2009 6:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Stage win
Well, I do think they wanted that stage win, and Chavanel simply out-rode/out-played them for it. I also don’t think they expected Garate to go out the back so badly. He’s usually pretty decent in the climbs, and I would have thought he could hold a podium placing, which would not have been a bad result at all.
Me, I like that they made the race and tried to win something. It doesn’t always work out, natch, but I like to see a team go at it the way they’ve been doing. I think this year will be a year of near-misses for Rabo, in the main. They have oodles of talent, but much of it is young and not totally dialed in the experience department. I’d expect more actual wins next season from those kids. Gah, the wealth of talent there is quite astonishing. It would be great to see them find a finisher – but eh, they don’t exactly grow on trees and stuff.
Roy
I like the guy. A fan is born.
The ultimate underdog. Can’t sprint very well, can’t climb very well, can’t TT very well. So he has to use his brains to win. Him being an academic makes it very interesting.
For starters
He doesn’t win much. If he was an American that would leave him a very tiny shiver of love I guess.
"He doesn't win much"
Man, and people call me harsh. I don’t like using cheesy feel good sayings, but… it’s not all about winning, right?. Or do people come up with these sayings that become so popular but no one really believes them?
gavin
mentions how contador launched his final attack in the last 6km. I drove over there and rode the climb today before hanging out and watching them come in. That climb is pretty soft (4-5% most of the time) until those last 6km (7-8% most of the time)- that’s where it gets hard – sure enough, that’s where he took advantage.
Some really beautiful roads for cycling – or driving – around there, as you’d expect i guess. I talked to some locals though and yes – they got some wind around there quite often.
Wonderful ambience i have to say amoung the spectators leading up to the riders arrival. True there were no guys in funny sumo outfits running alongside. Just plain ol people who like cycling – mostly shouting encouragement and applauding the riders.
Pssst Gav...
3rd paragraph above… Colum = Team Katusha, not the sexy team. :-)
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
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