Tour de France Stage 19: Post-Stage Thread
by Chris Fontecchio on Jul 24, 2009 10:49 AM EDT
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Not much happening today, except for a late attack by the world champion, Alessandro Ballan, who chased down Laurent Lefevre and finally -- after missing much of the year -- showed the rainbow jersey to the world. Lefevre and Ballan dangled just off the front until the last km, when it turned into a bunch sprint, with the predictable result.
- Mark Cavendish, Columbia
- Thor Hushovd, Cervelo, s.t.
- Gerald Ciolek, Milram, s.t.
- Greg Van Avermaet, Silence, s.t.
- Oscar Freire, Rabobank, s.t.
Yukia Arashiro in the top ten! Not a day for GC changes... UPDATE! Lance gets 4 seconds!! Sneaky little bugger. There was a split after the first dozen riders.
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BAH BAH BAH
BAH!!!!....Cavendish?!
TLP 7.0 Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent
Cav didn't expect that win
I think. The interview was something you don’t normal see from him. Out of breath, and a little shocked by his own win.
In his own words - the post race interview in full
…. = pause/breath. (This was straight post race, his post podium interview v different)
“Tell you what, that will go down as the most memorable win of my career – Ever!. It wasn’t a stage for me….you could see rabobank…..full gas. They didn’t think I could get over that….they went full gas on the climb… I said to the guys just wait with me on the climb ok…and they were all with me…they all stayed with me..and we stayed at the front….I wasn’t in much problem…it was..it was sort of painful…you know hanging there,..hanging there, .. hanging there…it was so hard.
And then “the two” got away, and we had three guys chasing you know….Maxime George and Tony..and they were still there for the lead out….and they did a K there at the end…EACH…..and then Tony took me, took me, took me…and He’s dying, dying….and 250/300 metres, on that slightly uphill finish, it’s far too early for me to go…,but I had to go before the others got the jump….and I gave it everything,…everything for the line you know,….and you know..after the disapppointment of the last few weeks…it just made up for it…that was amazing, that was so so amazing. I’m so happy, so so happy."
(Whatever you think of Cav – he can describe a finish!)
On my highlights show this was then followed by Cav saying SORRY to Thor for the last few days and Thor accepting his apology. (They showed the 20 secs before it went live and Thor and Cav looked awkward – for body language analysts out there let’s just say afterwards Thor sat down first and invited Cav to sit with him!)
For many reasons – possibly my favourite stage of the whole tour!
Cavendish - "le Mozart du onze-dents" (the Mozart of the 11-tooth sprocket) – L’Equipe
by andrewp on Jul 24, 2009 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
+∞
Awesome, awesome, awesome story. Cav is winning my respect. Mind you I still think he’s an asshat and all, but I’m starting to like him anyway.
Brooklyn Chewing Gum: Vlaanderens Mooiste
Agree - I'm a massive fan, but he is asshat.
But the above is him post race – raw and complete.
If it goesbadly = asshat remark,
When it goes well his words are as good as his cycling.
(Read the book – there are three or four moments of sheer poetry that make your heart quicken, and all about finishes)
I understand anyone not liking him, but today you have to respect him. C’est incroyable!
Cavendish - "le Mozart du onze-dents" (the Mozart of the 11-tooth sprocket) – L’Equipe
He's just a kid
That interview demonstrates that… the enthusiasm, the passion, the direct brain-to-mouth connection. Sadly, he will learn how to be more diplomatic soon, he’s already doing it to a certain extent. Too bad.
thanks for posting that.
Recently i’d been coming around to the bah cav side. But how many public people in this sort of situation actually come out and apologize in public? Major props to the asshat!
Lance gained 4 secs
Staring at the swim team gets you killed by a gang of dancing ninja men who know how to twirl.
On pretty much everyone
12th on todays stage
Staring at the swim team gets you killed by a gang of dancing ninja men who know how to twirl.
by TheFigurehead on Jul 24, 2009 10:53 AM EDT up reply actions
Really, they kept those gaps?
seemed like all the gaps in between rider were filled by the finish.
Vamos Alberto!!!(Contador not Ricco)
I guess it's still provisional
Staring at the swim team gets you killed by a gang of dancing ninja men who know how to twirl.
by TheFigurehead on Jul 24, 2009 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions
Well that's more important than it seems with the fight for 3rd so close
Vamos Alberto!!!(Contador not Ricco)
The finish opened up that gap ...
… and there wasn’t an incident that created it, it was all down to the push to the line by the sprinters.
People do forget he use to be more sprinter than climber.
Mon coeur appartient aux les forçats de la route.
Le Mevel passed Astarloza
Staring at the swim team gets you killed by a gang of dancing ninja men who know how to twirl.
by TheFigurehead on Jul 24, 2009 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions
I didn't see any strange things in the last 3k
I think it was a normal gap. The question is if it was big enough, I don’t know.
Staring at the swim team gets you killed by a gang of dancing ninja men who know how to twirl.
by TheFigurehead on Jul 24, 2009 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions
Le geant
Will erase those seconds with extreme prejudice
ABRUZZIAM...uh oh
by Chris Fontecchio on Jul 24, 2009 11:51 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
le pauvre...
BAH!!!!....Cavendish?!
TLP 7.0 Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent
by bradBordeaux on Jul 24, 2009 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions
yes, very emotional after every win
thank team…sniff, sniff.. thank team….hold back tears.
Incroyable! Incroyable! Incroyable!
by bikepig on Jul 24, 2009 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
he should write a book about it
BAH!!!!....Cavendish?!
TLP 7.0 Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent
by bradBordeaux on Jul 24, 2009 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions
if we want to safe the rainforest
we can start banning crap like that
BAH!!!!....Cavendish?!
TLP 7.0 Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent
by bradBordeaux on Jul 24, 2009 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions
good point
BAH!!!!....Cavendish?!
TLP 7.0 Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent
by bradBordeaux on Jul 24, 2009 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions
with his constant victories
and probably more books, the forests are dead.
Incroyable! Incroyable! Incroyable!
They make books
From teak?
ABRUZZIAM...uh oh
by Chris Fontecchio on Jul 24, 2009 11:52 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Temperate rain forests ...
… they cut down a lot of the temperate rain forests of SE Oz for pulp. Lot of it goes to plywood for Japanese scaffolding, but some probably ends up in books destined for the remainder shelves.
So am I
… really bloody wanted that for Thor. Or Oscar. (Or, let’s face it…)
Oscar Freire
Phil Liggett, as they were heading toward the line: “…and Oscar Freire is right there…”
Great, I said. He’ll be able to see who wins.
YAWN
I better head out.....my colere is going to get the best of me...
BAH!!!!....Cavendish?!
TLP 7.0 Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent
Phenomenal sprint - Cavendish truly brilliant there
[moved the post onto here]
..can’t argue with that talent, though Thor & Ciolek pushed him hard.
So when was the last time a person won 5 possibly 6 stages and didn’t win the Green Jersey?
So wish Cav hadn’t lost those points – would have been "mano a mano" between Thor and Him. Such a tragedy for the TdF points competition and so pointless (no pun intended)
and my comment from other:
Pity Thor will have an astericks on jersey, IMO.
"…I saw bloody Cavendish coming, really fast…"
HH
And anyway...
… aside from the strong Point that Thor made the other day, any possible perceived asterisk would have to be waaaay smaller than the one that Cav would’ve had, if he hadn’t been relegated. IMO, of course.
in my view
an asterisk is for cases where someone either benefitted from an obviously bad ruling, or was found later to haved doped. This was not an obviously bad call by the judges. Like koppenberg said, cav is best sprinter, thor gets the green.
Oh, I agree
I’m just tryin’ not to start a war here ;-)
Hang on...
the 12 points he earned on his break away basically cancel out the 13 points Cav lost from being regulated. SO, if Thor has green by more than 1 point, Cav and his tifosi have absolutely nothing to cry into their beer about.
Cav has put on a phenominal show. Really, its one for the ages, but it does not appear that he is going to win the points competition. Not because of a judge’s decision to enforce the rules, but because he simply did not earn enough points.
He’s unbeatable right now in a sprint. This race had 3 former winners of the green jersey (Thor, Tommeke, Oscarito) and other folks who have been “best sprinter in the world” (Benna) at one point or another. Despite that, no one has beaten Cav head to head. That really should be enough, no need for further polemica. Cav = best sprinter. Thor = green jersey.
Brooklyn Chewing Gum: Vlaanderens Mooiste
The twelve points was intended to cancel the 13 points ...
… to ENSURE that he wins by more than 13. Any win by 13 or less will still leave Cav supporters crying in their bitter or stout.
Indeed
As Fabian Cancellara himself said after pointing out the motos motorpacing AC: “But I’ll drink my beer and I’ll be happy.”
Brooklyn Chewing Gum: Vlaanderens Mooiste
I'll buy the next round, Fabian.
Throughout the stage all I kept on thinking was: ‘don’t finish second, you can’t finish second again’.--Heinrich Haussler
Yes, but apparently...
… that was after a ‘multilingual tirade’ of profanity ;-).
Gotta say that others might learn from how he dealt with the situation… take yourself off, swearing to self in every language you know, have a beer, calm down, and get over it.
13? The relegation cost Cav 19 points
18 for losing his own placing and 1 for Thor moving one place up.
No
the 13 points that Thor got would have been Cav’s, plus the one Thor got from moving from 12-13 points on the stage
=14 points total.
"Never swing a small stick. " Andy Hampsten
So Cav breaks the rules, and Thor should get an asterisk for it?
sorry, that’s not how asterisks work.
Vamos Alberto!!!(Contador not Ricco)
Irrelevant now
No? After Thor got those intermediate points the other day?
yeah
It wasn’t so great that I’d want to see a jersey decided on it. I suspect Thor has the same opinion, and that was part of his hoovering up the intermediate points.
That's not the point
the point is Thor shouldn’t have an asterisk beside his name for doing NOTHING wrong, he probably would have won the green had Cav not been relegated anyway.
Vamos Alberto!!!(Contador not Ricco)
You are right
No way that call would have been made if Thor and Cervelo hadn’t issued a challenge. My view is that this is sort of like how young guys in the NBA can never get calls against veterans. Thor and Cervelo never would have challenged that particular instance if there wasn’t already friction between the teams.
Viewed independently of all other contexts, Cav’s move would never, on its own, been cause for a relegation. However, because another team had become fed up w/ a perceived lack of respect, they filed a formal complaint which, in turn, required the judges to strictly interpret the rules.
It’s a fine balance. I tend to believe these things work themselves out over time. Group sprinting requires some order and organization in the bunch and this is how it happens. I’m just glad this particular incident isn’t going to be significant in the points competition.
Brooklyn Chewing Gum: Vlaanderens Mooiste
wasn't the ruling before the Cervelo protest?
Personally (and I am clearly no expert on these matters), I thought it was pretty clear that Cav knew exactly where Thor was the entire finish and changed his line a couple of times to block.
Regardless, The Thor ride on stage 17 was for me one of the highlughts of the entire Tour.
sometimes life is a false flat
yes, i believe you are correct
The commissaires had already made the decision – in the main, because Cavendish looked behind him and lined himself up with Hushovd, blocking his line to the finish.
For me, no asterisks for anyone. Hushovd wins the Green Jersey on consistency, and by no making mistakes.
+many many
You always put these things so succinctly and clearly. I should just shut up and let you talk.
You see how calm Vaughters is? That’s because he’s really one giant seething ball of Evil inside. With like, extra Evil.
Thor called it
his best day ever on a bike. I have to say that it was one of the most enjoyable stages I’ve seen in quite some time.
"I had a cameraman filming me on the back of a bike, I rode up to him and
said: 'hey, this is a pretty shitty situation, why don't you just leave me alone with my misery? I was close to punching him off his bike … but I didn't, of course."" Jens!
I think it's hard to underestimate
the effort for him to get over Cormet de Roselend and Col des Saisies (+ Cote Araches) ahead of everyone. These are huge climbs.
sometimes life is a false flat
and I'm sure you're speaking from experience
without even a hint of smugness… It would be easier to hate you if you would gloat more.
"I had a cameraman filming me on the back of a bike, I rode up to him and
said: 'hey, this is a pretty shitty situation, why don't you just leave me alone with my misery? I was close to punching him off his bike … but I didn't, of course."" Jens!
Seriously!
Help us out here Will.
You see how calm Vaughters is? That’s because he’s really one giant seething ball of Evil inside. With like, extra Evil.
it looked like julian dean
but the versus results says it was maskaant
"Race radios in Cat 4?"
by gravel road on Jul 24, 2009 10:59 AM EDT up reply actions
Hindsight says
he should have taken one for the team and gone into the barriers. A crash would have negated the split and Lance’s 4 seconds.
(he says only half or 2/3 in jest)
Brooklyn Chewing Gum: Vlaanderens Mooiste
I'm going to start working on my handlebar mustaccio right now.
(practice twirling motion and evil laugh)
It’s about standards.
Brooklyn Chewing Gum: Vlaanderens Mooiste
Still not sure why people write Cav off for finishes like today after MSR earlier this year
And you know I’m not always screaming out love for him. Respect for the win, but muchos respect for Freire not crashing on that roundabout, jeesh!
"When he accelerates, he's like Superman emerging from the telephone booth!" La Gazzetta journo Paolo Condo talking about Edvald Boasson Hagen.
Also meant to add MEGA respect for Tony Martin there, he drilled that to the finish
"When he accelerates, he's like Superman emerging from the telephone booth!" La Gazzetta journo Paolo Condo talking about Edvald Boasson Hagen.
Tehe...
Milram no doubt will be even more aggressive in its attempt to acquire Tony Martin; if he accepts it would be another cute rider in cow spots.
Mon coeur appartient aux les forçats de la route.
Ooh don't tempt me with that idea!
"When he accelerates, he's like Superman emerging from the telephone booth!" La Gazzetta journo Paolo Condo talking about Edvald Boasson Hagen.
Yet it is not as mind-boggling as what gruppetto people are doing.
Mon coeur appartient aux les forçats de la route.
Which would be... :S
"When he accelerates, he's like Superman emerging from the telephone booth!" La Gazzetta journo Paolo Condo talking about Edvald Boasson Hagen.
Ohhh yes...that does seriously worry me.
Anything where family is concerned is a bit too weird for me!
"When he accelerates, he's like Superman emerging from the telephone booth!" La Gazzetta journo Paolo Condo talking about Edvald Boasson Hagen.
Egads!
You can bet what will be featured there today: Thor versus Cav.
Mon coeur appartient aux les forçats de la route.
There has already been some, all that tension etc seems to spur them on
"When he accelerates, he's like Superman emerging from the telephone booth!" La Gazzetta journo Paolo Condo talking about Edvald Boasson Hagen.
Enjoy the epic win Captain Cav!
Because when Theo Bos gets upgraded from Rabobank Continential then you may truly meet your match in another trackstar-turned-sprinter.
Mon coeur appartient aux les forçats de la route.
thanks for that.....hope is good
BAH!!!!....Cavendish?!
TLP 7.0 Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent
by bradBordeaux on Jul 24, 2009 10:57 AM EDT up reply actions
They'll all be sucking dust
when the Large Bomb takes off.
ABRUZZIAM...uh oh
by Chris Fontecchio on Jul 24, 2009 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions
and if he can't beat Cav
he’ll just drag him down like Impey :)
by robinhowlett on Jul 24, 2009 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions
Has he been that good this year?
I mean, I know he’s won some races, but wasn’t he just one among many in the sprint finishes in the Tour of Turkey? Maybe I’m wrong, I seem to remember this but don’t know why.
by plinytheelder on Jul 24, 2009 3:00 PM EDT up reply actions
Only 40 riders were in that front group
yet all the sprinters were, clearly many rider don’t give a fuck anymore…
Vamos Alberto!!!(Contador not Ricco)
Cav...and Hushovd sat next to one another...not fighting..
Just ignoring each other.. hm
"When he accelerates, he's like Superman emerging from the telephone booth!" La Gazzetta journo Paolo Condo talking about Edvald Boasson Hagen.
But
Norwegians are kind of quiet anyways.
ABRUZZIAM...uh oh
by Chris Fontecchio on Jul 24, 2009 11:57 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
This is where not having other teams with a leadout hurts
I feel like the pace was so slow (relatively speaking) in that last K that if Cervelo or Garmin or some other team had a lead out of more than one guy following cav’s wheel, the finish might be a little different.
But Garmin were probably trying to look after Wiggins
(trying being the operative word, since he’s finished 14th 4s behind Armstrong who finished 12th…). not lead out, er, Martijn Maskaant…
Aye, but on the other hand...
Driving Cav to 5 wins has pretty much nuked Columbia’s other ambitions. No white for Tony, no stages, no gc for Kim or Mick, no yellow for George, etc.
I think it was worth it for them to concentrate on Cav, but seeing that, can you blame Cervelo, Rabo, Liquigas, and Garmin for not following Columbia’s example?
Brooklyn Chewing Gum: Vlaanderens Mooiste
Tony was only ever keeping the white jersey warm for Schleck the Younger.
Do you honestly think he had a chance of beating him?
Throughout the stage all I kept on thinking was: ‘don’t finish second, you can’t finish second again’.--Heinrich Haussler
No,
but it is one thing to lose and another to not contest. Columbia used a full team to work every day on the flat and rolling stages when other teams had stage hunters and GC guys sitting in armchairs. (So to speak.) Team managers have to do a bit of economics and math when judging when they ask their riders to work. I just don’t think any other teams would consider taking effort away from other competitions to invest them in a sprint train to be a good deal.
Brooklyn Chewing Gum: Vlaanderens Mooiste
Columbia-HTC's Tour is nothing less than
an unqualified success
by robinhowlett on Jul 24, 2009 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions
I concur,
5 stages is worth the investment. On the other hand, the lack of other stage wins or GC presence or young rider performance, or yellow jerseys should quiet some of the “best team in the world” banter.
Brooklyn Chewing Gum: Vlaanderens Mooiste
Maybe they were being more xalculating
Maybe they knew they had slim hopes in those other comps.
ABRUZZIAM...uh oh
by Chris Fontecchio on Jul 24, 2009 11:59 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
AFter long, long, debates .... no
will probably regret, but long drive, saw dauphiné there in June, and will be riding there in Sept.
Plus terrified of the crowds ;) Beer and the TV will still be fun.
sometimes life is a false flat
smart move there
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
dark helmet: love him or hate him
he’s cagey – 4 seconds for being attentive
"Race radios in Cat 4?"
That's one way of looking at it...
While Contador lost a few but he stayed out of the chaos, kept very safe, so he was being attentive, just didn’t fancy messing around with the sprinters…I know there weren’t any crashes but you never know
"When he accelerates, he's like Superman emerging from the telephone booth!" La Gazzetta journo Paolo Condo talking about Edvald Boasson Hagen.
Ah, he's only 5:21 up on Lance now!!!!
JB will surely make dark helmet leader up Ventoux!(actually, seeing it’s JB, he probably will try to)
Vamos Alberto!!!(Contador not Ricco)
He should, I hope he and Lance are alone with 1km to go...
JB screeming in the radio to let LA win the stage he wants so much, then Bert takes the radio out and attacks to win the stage going on to yell, “I’m not on team radio shack bitches!”
Vamos Alberto!!!(Contador not Ricco)
Next year
No team cars but horse-drawn buggies.
Staring at the swim team gets you killed by a gang of dancing ninja men who know how to twirl.
by TheFigurehead on Jul 24, 2009 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions
No, it'll go 21st century ... no race radios in the team cars ...
… but race radios between the riders, and heads-up displays in sunglasses …
… and electric motorcycles, and electric team cars, and drones overhead instead of helicopters.
Well, OK, maybe not next year, but they need to think ahead how they’ll operate when gas hits $10/gallon.
oh, please, not's not abuse the horsies
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
don't even think about that... shame on you
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
Cue Elvis costello
ABRUZZIAM...uh oh
by Chris Fontecchio on Jul 24, 2009 12:00 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I blame it on those shiftless Menonites........
I do mind, the Dude minds. This will not stand, ya know, this aggression will not stand, man.
^ good point. contador weighs reward/risk and takes a pass.
dark helmet sees slight opportunity for seconds and goes for it. he’s not racing alberto at this point, he’s racing to secure a podium spot in paris by padding his gap on wreck schleck.
"Race radios in Cat 4?"
by gravel road on Jul 24, 2009 11:08 AM EDT up reply actions
I wasn't trying to start an argument either btw...
Just that attentive can work both ways in this scenario if you say what i mean, you can go for not losing like under 5 seconds OR stay safe and lose a few seconds, seemingly both worked today :S
"When he accelerates, he's like Superman emerging from the telephone booth!" La Gazzetta journo Paolo Condo talking about Edvald Boasson Hagen.
Have only seen top 10 thus far so not sure..
"When he accelerates, he's like Superman emerging from the telephone booth!" La Gazzetta journo Paolo Condo talking about Edvald Boasson Hagen.
yes, emoticons would come in very handy at times
especially the one for dripping sarcasm
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
Looking at some replays
At one point there’s Andy Schleck alone on his own in the gap, with some Milrams looking unconcerned as the gap goes.
Just a little bit later, it looks like Wiggins put in an effort to get across, before sitting up
Pretty inexcusable for Wiggins
to miss the split, given previous experiences.
For Frank Schleck, the 4 seconds are not likely to matter. he has to blow Armstrong up. But Wiggins isn’t going to blow Armstrong up.
Kloden is not going to be allowed to try and beat Armstrong anyway so it does not matter to him.
Contador obviously could not care less.
I still have this dream that Klodi attacks LA tomorrow and as he goes past says...
“You remember Jan? This is so for him, kiss my ass!” While laughing evilly with AC.
"When he accelerates, he's like Superman emerging from the telephone booth!" La Gazzetta journo Paolo Condo talking about Edvald Boasson Hagen.
Never happen
He’ll be pacing LA up the mountain.
unfortunately that's probably right.
Although if left to his own i think he could pass armstrong and wiggins in the standings. Not likely he could beat frank though. But then you never know who’s going to have a bad day.
A girl has to dream ;)
Just like I dream of someone, anyone not named Cavendish winning on Sunday
"When he accelerates, he's like Superman emerging from the telephone booth!" La Gazzetta journo Paolo Condo talking about Edvald Boasson Hagen.
It could happen ...
… if, f’rinstance, Mark Cavandish has his name legally changed between now and then. That’s be the most likely way for it to happen.
Using the Psych nickname generator
He will now be called: Holland Pedalpockets.
http://www.usanetwork.com/series/psych/games/nicknamegenerator/
Brooklyn Chewing Gum: Vlaanderens Mooiste
That's silly ... he's a pro ...
… it depends on which sponsor pays the most for the new name what the name would be.
Say, if Purina was high bidder, it might be “Kitten Chow Cavendish”. Something dignified and professional like that.
I hope Contador Bonks
And slides down the Ventoux on his ass while Jan runs up the mountain alongside Lance waving a Telekom banner with a catheter in his arm and blood bag flailing behind in the wind.
(I don’t really, but in the interests of balance…).
by kcbottom9th on Jul 24, 2009 11:20 AM EDT up reply actions
Jan is a crazy guy...
;-)
Apologies. My brand of snark isn’t very good.
by kcbottom9th on Jul 24, 2009 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions
I see no reason why this can't happen
ABRUZZIAM...uh oh
by Chris Fontecchio on Jul 24, 2009 12:02 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Fuckin' - A!!!!
That’s my kinda German! Do you see that pretzel in front of him? Glorious!
Respect the Shit List; it respects you.
Yeah, I like Jan a lot better after seeing that picture
than I did before
he's awesome
I’m so glad he’s out of cycling, for his sake.
ABRUZZIAM...uh oh
by Chris Fontecchio on Jul 24, 2009 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Jan
has a great cycling Touring book with maps etc of his favorite rides in the black forest region.
The maps have restaurants included!
sometimes life is a false flat
Amazone.de link to the book
I only speak Hogan Heroes German, but the beautiful maps are still very useful.
sometimes life is a false flat
Off topic but just VAGUELY related
in the Jean Bobet autobiography he talks about him and his brother doing Izoard in the Tour and waving to Coppi who one year was watching as a fan.
Can’t imagine many ex-legends these days wander up the big hills to watch without a helicopter/entourage.
sometimes life is a false flat
yeah and if I remember right Coppi says “c’est beau, n’est-ce pas?” How fucking awesome is that
by plinytheelder on Jul 24, 2009 3:06 PM EDT up reply actions
yes, it blew my mind
the section of the book was so understated but fascinating
sometimes life is a false flat
Apparently Indurain does
I remember reading that he usually turns up to at least one stage in the Pyrenees with his family.
+2
because I’m assuming he’s not the type to dress in wacky outfits and drunkenly race after the riders waving his yellow jerseys at them
Big Mig doesn't seem like the drunken, crazy fan type
although I can picture Hinault at the side of the road chasing them screaming “ATTACK!!!”
i thought he was quite reclusive
"The soul selects her own society then shuts the door" - wise words from Majope
can someone p-shop Hinault's mug
onto Didi’s devil outfit????
(with maybe some Garmin argyle to complete the horror?)
In other words
EVIL Garmin not EVIL enough it seems.
though in a way I think that's how W must have got left behind...
… without seeing it again. But yes, Armstrong’s wheel, Bradley!
though then again...
… you could argue that if he ain’t gonna blow Armstrong up, he’s no more likely to take back eleven seconds than he is fifteen, is he!
I think he could get
more than 11 seconds on him without blowing him up.
But to get 40, which is what Frank needs, he would need to blow Armstrong up.
He did it in Verbier
But Ventoux is of course a completly different mountain.
Staring at the swim team gets you killed by a gang of dancing ninja men who know how to twirl.
by TheFigurehead on Jul 24, 2009 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions
Cav could always win again tomorrow too...
Which would cause infinite hissy fits in many cycling forums.
Mon coeur appartient aux les forçats de la route.
Now that Kenny is done
somebody needs to pull an Eros Poli. Cav would certainly be something to talk about.
Brooklyn Chewing Gum: Vlaanderens Mooiste
Sure, if the other 155 riders get mugged...
Cavendish aged 20 years today getting over a Cat 2 while staying in the peloton; trying to lead at the top of Ventoux would put him into a coma.
That would be awesome. I can see him coming across the line screaming “I’m the best betches!” And then saying in the post-race interviews “It’s just like MSR!”
by plinytheelder on Jul 24, 2009 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions
sprinters need style and a sense of humour
on a nasty stage like tomorrow.
Remember R. Mcewan doing a wheelie crossing the line on the Alpe d’Huez time trial?
sometimes life is a false flat
I thought that he used to do one over every mountaintop
but there was never a camera there to see it.
Cavendish should raise his arms for 120th, 45 min. back!
I’d send him a love letter for that.
by plinytheelder on Jul 24, 2009 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Her number...her hotel room number? :P
"When he accelerates, he's like Superman emerging from the telephone booth!" La Gazzetta journo Paolo Condo talking about Edvald Boasson Hagen.
she was making sure his mom was there
to escort him off the podium. They don’t like children wandering around alone back stage.
That wasn't Arashiro in the top 10...
…that was Fumy Beppu – 7th place, and he’s not even a sprinter.
(Arashiro rolled in 55th @ about 2 mins)
https://twitter.com/KankiKnight
Ok ok
ABRUZZIAM...uh oh
by Chris Fontecchio on Jul 24, 2009 12:03 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Didn't you used to live in Japan?
I thought you were down with these sorts of things. Also, how was there no Sumo related power poll over the last three weeks?
Respect the Shit List; it respects you.
just for that
you’ll probably get a pic of fat Tourbecco in sailor-fuku
And sorry to be super picky but also...
…it’s Yukiya not Yukia
https://twitter.com/KankiKnight
Good luck fixing spelling here.
Throughout the stage all I kept on thinking was: ‘don’t finish second, you can’t finish second again’.--Heinrich Haussler
As a part of the Tokyo-based Podium contingent
I feel like I have to at least try to make sure the Japanese guys get their names spelt right
https://twitter.com/KankiKnight
by oldsprinter on Jul 24, 2009 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions
Good thinking
From now on it’s kanji only for Japanese riders – allez 別府史之!!
https://twitter.com/KankiKnight
by oldsprinter on Jul 24, 2009 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions
Guys' names
Always confuse me. With women you just look for the -ko on the end, much simpler.
[btw, I lived a year in Kyoto, a while back.]
ABRUZZIAM...uh oh
by Chris Fontecchio on Jul 24, 2009 12:05 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Anti-Bah Cav
Great Feckin sprint today. Great work by Thor and Ciolek, but Cav was just brilliant.
by Sabino on Jul 24, 2009 11:15 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Yeah, totally agree.
…i totally don’t get the anti-Cav sentiment on here. In the same way that Thor let his riding do the talking yesterday, Cav responded by letting his riding do the talking today. Both get massive PROPS from me for pushing out of their comfort zone and even moreso for both delivering.
And i stand by this assertion – it is a pity that the riders couldn’t have sorted the Green Jersey result out themselves [it certainly wasn’t cut and dry either way when the points were lost].
I’d have loved to see the two racing Cd’E – one knowing he has to win no matter what, the other knowing he has to take 2nd or 3rd no matter what.
My Guess is Thor would have managed that and taken the Green Jersey: but i feel deprived of the excitement of that.
by grim grimpeur on Jul 24, 2009 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions
Bah Cav = boredom
I can’t think of anyone who could win so often and not elicit some groans. I think it’s simply a matter of cycling fans having 25 different allegiances at any given time so we tend to want to change up the winners a lot more than typical sports fans.
Personally I’d like to see how many wins Cav can bag this year, but given his youth I’d probably get sick of this plot in another couple seasons.
ABRUZZIAM...uh oh
by Chris Fontecchio on Jul 24, 2009 2:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Wrong(for me at least)
I just don’t like him as a person at all, that’s my thing and I’m not forcing it on anyone, but to imply that I only dislike him for winning(and I know you aren’t singling anyone out) is wrong, I get bored by it but I don’t get mad at him, that’s his job and he does it damn well.
Vamos Alberto!!!(Contador not Ricco)
You know him as a person?
Cool, I sure don’t.
Staring at the swim team gets you killed by a gang of dancing ninja men who know how to twirl.
by TheFigurehead on Jul 24, 2009 2:57 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
No, but until he convinces me he's someone else than what he portrays in the media
then I assume that’s just who he is, and I don’t like it. So what?
Vamos Alberto!!!(Contador not Ricco)
You make it sound like the media portrayal is one-dimensional
From what I’ve seen of him in the media I would say that there are things about him I dislike, and there are things I like. So to me he’s just like anyone else.
Staring at the swim team gets you killed by a gang of dancing ninja men who know how to twirl.
by TheFigurehead on Jul 24, 2009 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions
OK, but I don't like him
I really don’t see why I have to defend my dislike for him, I believe it is my own right not to like him.
Vamos Alberto!!!(Contador not Ricco)
You have every right to dislike him
Just as it is my right to ask you why you do.
Staring at the swim team gets you killed by a gang of dancing ninja men who know how to twirl.
by TheFigurehead on Jul 24, 2009 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions
He's a self proclaimed asshole
call me crazy, but I don’t like assholes, there is more but I don’t feel like going into all the reason why I don’t like him because I’m done talking about him today, ventoux time baby!
Vamos Alberto!!!(Contador not Ricco)
but even there...
a self-proclaimed asshole is rather better than one who has to be told he/she is… ;-)
Indeed...
…self awareness and the ability to laugh at one’s foibles usually bodes well for someone’s potential to make progress and become a better person, as well as making them tolerable when they show themselves, as we all do, to be flawed.
You see how calm Vaughters is? That’s because he’s really one giant seething ball of Evil inside. With like, extra Evil.
i think you're correct
as fans we form opinions based on the evidence presented to us – that’s what fans do (strains of “that’s what fans are for” in the background). i can’t always justify or explain my dislike of certain riders, and i will defend riders i like against others’ poor opinions of them, but it’s in the nature of being a fan that these things don’t always make absolute sense. i don’t expect folks to be able to make sense of my likes and dislikes, though they are welcome to ask. by the same token, don’t give me a hard time if i can’t justify it but simply don’t like someone. sometimes people do absolutely nothing “wrong” and it’s still hard to like them.
+1
we all have our dislike’s and like’s, trying to change someone’s opinion about certain riders really won’t lead to anything, just accept they don’t like them(not saying you’re trying to change my opinion Figurehead, just sayin)
Vamos Alberto!!!(Contador not Ricco)
exactly
look how much you all have to put up with my like for Cadel while i have to put up with your like for Bert (and i realize i am seriously outnumbered here). i’d rather make peace as best i can and go ride my bike :)
oh i think you're probably right!
trust me, i have asked myself what it’s about on more than one occasion. i’m don’t even have being an Aussie as a justification!
:)
The soul selects her own society, then shuts the door
Throughout the stage all I kept on thinking was: ‘don’t finish second, you can’t finish second again’.--Heinrich Haussler
i like that quote!
i can be sanguine about it all at the moment as i am in a post-operative sedated haze. i like it in this place – everything is beautiful in it’s own way… :)
I'm starting to feel the first twinges
of post-Tour depression :-(
The field could be great though
Andy, Evans, Bert, Kloden, Basso, Gesink, Mosquera, and so on
Vamos Alberto!!!(Contador not Ricco)
Oh right of course!
in my defense, has he even ridden a race this year?
Vamos Alberto!!!(Contador not Ricco)
well there is having
a respectable point total, regardless of standing. Seems like at the start of the year people were talking about 10,000. With the tour and a good vuelta, i could get in the ball park there. Otherwise probably not.
Hahahhahahahahahhahahahaa...
breath
…ahahahaaahahhahahahahaa.
And that’s coming from a guy with a Tom Danielson poster on his wall at home, too.
Respect the Shit List; it respects you.
you okay there, dan?
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
he hasn't decided yet
of course, there’s that whole vino and kash to consider also… i mean, would astana be dis-invited at the last minute?
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
what Phil said up there about the field could be great
yes! i’m already there! Tour de Who? huh? movin on… :)
Don't think Bert will do it, but the rest I believe will(maybe not Andy)
but I also forgot(as I was reminded) Sammy and Valverde(maybe), plus a lot of rosters haven’t been finalized. Oh Valjavec deserves a mention after the TdS, he will be there too.
Vamos Alberto!!!(Contador not Ricco)
in some ways
i’d see it as alot more interesting without Bert and Andy. it’s kinda like the race for those who should have done well at the TdF and didn’t and those who didn’t make the cut but maybe should have. i like the Vuelta in so many ways – third chance, post-tour depression cure, it’s in Spain, it’s later in the season and most of the hype has settled down and it’s just a bike race.
I agree with that
I love Bert but I really would like to see what Kloden can do as team leader(first time in a while), so I guess it’s a win-win for me. I do want Andy there because he hasn’t won a GT yet and it be interesting to see how he handles the pressure of being the top favorite.
Vamos Alberto!!!(Contador not Ricco)
tho, would be cool if bert rode domestique for klodi
and, ya know, you can see him doing that….
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
Unless he realizes he doesn't have the legs after the Tour it won't happen
he’s too good to hold back, although maybe he can be co-leader with Klodi, not attack just counter and maybe they can go 1-2 like he and Levi last year.
Vamos Alberto!!!(Contador not Ricco)
he rode domestique for levi at cyl
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
Umm yeah, well the Vuelta>Castilla Leon
it’s a GT, not a late March warm-up race.
Vamos Alberto!!!(Contador not Ricco)
true...
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
let's remind ourselves of the route: 10 flat stages, 8 medium and high mountains 3 ITTs
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
4 tough mountain top finishes
plus that brutal, short climb just 3km from the finish. This course really suits Bert more than this year’s Tour, but that’s not going all so bad either.
Vamos Alberto!!!(Contador not Ricco)
would have loved to have seen conta ride this year's giro... blockhaus, vesuvio... sigh
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
Yeah, I keep imagining how foolish he would have made Di Luca look
but seeing how Menchov and Sastre have flatted since then, probably a good thing. I still have hopes he will be back to race it one year, he has said he would like to do it again.
Vamos Alberto!!!(Contador not Ricco)
would really be more fun,
at least for those of us that like the guy, if he’d ride the giro and vuelta every year. Tdf, being in the middle, makes it tough to ride a second gt.
Le Tour helps me get over my
post cobbles depression. Lombardia and the World Championships are coming!!!
*damn, I miss Bettini! sniff.
Brooklyn Chewing Gum: Vlaanderens Mooiste
nah, curling
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
You DIDN'T?!
You MUST!
Siiiiir Chriiiiiiiis HOOOOOOOOY! Ahem.
just wished they would move monte paschi eroica back to the fall
cobbles in the spring, stage racing in the summer, gravel roads in the fall!
"Race radios in Cat 4?"
by gravel road on Jul 24, 2009 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions
+10
I move into my new student house on the 1st of September and there’s threats that we may have no internet, I will be one very pissed off person if there isn’t. I heart me some Vuelta
"When he accelerates, he's like Superman emerging from the telephone booth!" La Gazzetta journo Paolo Condo talking about Edvald Boasson Hagen.
Tell me about it
When you used the computer you picked up your work from the computer building the next day!
Cavendish - "le Mozart du onze-dents" (the Mozart of the 11-tooth sprocket) – L’Equipe
Or looked in the bar for them......
Cavendish - "le Mozart du onze-dents" (the Mozart of the 11-tooth sprocket) – L’Equipe
oh, geez, the memories....
and my poor mom pestered by the other meal cooks in the co-op who need advice (i should never have let that first one have my mom’s phone number)
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
Fear not people we will have internet eventually...
BUT because we can’t get into the house before the 1st we can’t ring any companies up to get it connected so it could be a few days or up to a week and trust me no-one wants to deprive me of watching my Spanish boys!
"When he accelerates, he's like Superman emerging from the telephone booth!" La Gazzetta journo Paolo Condo talking about Edvald Boasson Hagen.
What you need is a south facing window
and something like this, which Lidl were selling a few weeks ago for £30.
Open de Suede!
Staring at the swim team gets you killed by a gang of dancing ninja men who know how to twirl.
by TheFigurehead on Jul 24, 2009 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions
1st, there's san sebastian
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
Have you seen the startlist?
best startlist of all the classics this year, will be a phenomenal race!
Vamos Alberto!!!(Contador not Ricco)
Methinks Armstrong will target getting the Most Aggressive Rider Award tomorrow.
Mon coeur appartient aux les forçats de la route.
+1
but he’s never won ventoux (is this correct?)
by Burgundy and Gold on Jul 24, 2009 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions
Splits inside last 3km also stand
if no irregularities. “Couldn’t follow the wheel” is not an irregularity :)
I never
presume to understand the decisions of the commisaires ;-)
I know the rule, but eh, I never really know how it’s going to be enforced on any particular day, you see.
Video
Here. A small gap opens up with 1 k to go (about 7.20 in the video), the gap behind Armstrong opens up on the finish strait.
Staring at the swim team gets you killed by a gang of dancing ninja men who know how to twirl.
by TheFigurehead on Jul 24, 2009 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions
Cadel Evans
“A 20-man breakaway shaped up in the early stages on Friday, notably featuring Australian Cadel Evans who was out to make up for his calamitous Tour so far.”
Cadel sets out to do a lot of things…
Cade's tweet on said topic:
Another day done at #tdf. Put myself in the break that ‘90% sure’ to go to finish. Rabobank decided otherwise, Cav did well to get there…
It's very rare to see Milram's team owner out watching at the side of the road like that...
Vamos Alberto!!!(Contador not Ricco)
Haven't seen this mentioned yet, but apologies if I missed it
Cav’s win today puts him ahead of his victory total for all of last season, 18 to 17.
Throughout the stage all I kept on thinking was: ‘don’t finish second, you can’t finish second again’.--Heinrich Haussler
Also broke British record for number of Tour stage victories
by grim grimpeur on Jul 24, 2009 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions
Man, this dude is going to have 6 wins,
most since the 70s I think? fucking awesome.
by plinytheelder on Jul 24, 2009 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Barry Hoban phoned to congratulate him
BH had told ITV to give him a bottle of bubbly (and they did, right there). As andrewp wrote further up, he said it was the most emotional victory of them all. Really?!? Is that MSR win eclipsed, already? Oh, the joy of youth ;-)
The reconciliatory chat btw Cav and Hushovd before the podium – I’m sure Cavendish walked over and said “sorry” (though it looked a genuine apology maybe it was for beating the Norweigan once again. I’m not sure). In the sprint it looked like Hushovd didn’t quite get the position he needed, was still tucked in behind Cavendish when Martin(?) peeled away, by which time it was too late.
Willj, you’ve got me hooked on finding a copy of the Bobet book. I have Geoff Thomas’s cancer-survival story from the library waiting to be picked up. Not in the same league of greatness, but should be interesting nonetheless. And good to see I’m not the only one who envies your good fortune (+1 to jasllee00’s " It would be easier to hate you if you would gloat more.").
good BBC interview with Cav
here (embedded towards top of page).
Sounds like that apology was genuine… he sounds (rightly) very embarrassed.
Good catch Civetta
Sounds like the post podium Boulting interview (my earlier transcript was the pre podium Boulting interview).
In all the debate over his status as an asshat one important thing overlooked today – namely
It wasn’t a stage for me….you could see rabobank…..full gas. They didn’t think I could get over that….they went full gas on the climb
At the start of the day I doubt there was one pundit on the planet that tipped Cav for the win. He did, and he had planned it in the morning! A potential classics stud was revealed today. 40 riders left – top 4 includes Thor, Maaskant, Van Avermaat. Freire a long way fifth after all his team’s work. This stage was for the hard men and Cav/Columbia won it.
Cavendish - "le Mozart du onze-dents" (the Mozart of the 11-tooth sprocket) – L’Equipe
Thanks for the link
great interview and I admire how blunt he was in his apology and his compliments of Thor and his riding during the Tour. He’s pretty unfiltered in his interviews, and that can get him in some trouble, but I like him.
CVV:
My Giro saved my life today. Wear your helmets. Concussed but ok.
sometimes life is a false flat
i think it was near the start of the streaming coverage
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
my trainer
is recovering from a recent crash in which his helmet split/cracked in five places. concussion for sure but also alive and recovering well to tell about it.
"The soul selects her own society then shuts the door" - wise words from Majope
yes, not trying to start
one of the classic cycling decisive topics … but personally I have two pretty good falls where banged head hard and glad to have helmet
sometimes life is a false flat
yeah, I crashed once and got a concussion with 6 stitches, and that was with my helmet on, which of course cracked. I think there’s a good chance I’d be a vegetable without that helmet. Mmm, eggplant.
Also for some reason I had this accident right in front of a hospital, I literally just got up, walked across the street and into the emergency room.
by plinytheelder on Jul 24, 2009 5:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Just saw the Eneco Tour has been confirmed on CTV
screw Ventoux, lets get some eneco Tour action!!!
Now if they would only get the Vuelta rights already.
Vamos Alberto!!!(Contador not Ricco)
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