Contador Warns Rivals; Rodriguez Wins; Hushovd Green Again
by Chris Fontecchio on Jul 16, 2010 11:27 AM EDT
in Tour de France
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Post-Stage Chat
Today was another nod to the Classics, as the Tour ended in Mende with an exciting few kilometers where the top climbers separated themselves once again. Alberto Contador was the main story, managing to distance Andy Schleck on a climb for the first time in this year's Tour, while countryman Joaquim Rodriguez of Katusha went with the defending champ and took the sprint for the win. Contador's effort overcame his own teammate Alexandre Vinokourov in the final kilometer, after Vino separated from the remnants of the day's breakaway on the Mende ascent.
Schleck remains in yellow, but must have some doubts in his mind, as he gave back ten seconds in a phase of the Tour where he needs to be padding his lead. Meanwhile,
Thor Hushovd used a few intermediate sprints to retake the green jersey, and Anthony Charteau overtook Jerome Pineau once again in their two-man battle for the KOM.
The day's other big news is that Tyler Farrar dropped out of the Tour. Still waiting for an answer as to whether something went wrong today or if it's just the whole broken wrist thing. There are only two sprint stages remaining amongst a week's worth of climbing, so maybe the cost-benefit thing caught up with him. [UPDATE] It's the wrist. Matt White: “Today was the hardest day of the race yet and the kind of climbing and descending these guys did is incredibly painful for an injury like Tyler’s. Having to break on the descents is probably the most painful thing to do with a broken wrist. We’re obviously sad to see him go but at the end of the day, his health comes first. Tyler won’t be able to heal until he goes home and rests and that’s what he’ll do from here. To make it all the way to Stage 12 with the injuries he’s had is something special."
Results:
- Joaquim Rodriguez, Katusha
- Alberto Contador, Astana, s.t.
- Alexandre Vinojourov, Astana, at 0.04
- Jurgen Ven den Broeck, Omega Pharma, at 0.10
- Schleck, Menchov, Sanchez, Kloden, s.t.
- Gesink, Kreuziger, others at 0.15
Overall:
- Schleck
- Contador, at 0.31
- Sanchez, at 0.45
Green:
- Thor Hushovd, Cervelo, 167 pts
- Alessandro Petacchi, Lampre, 161
- Robbie McEwen, Katusha, 138
KOM
- Anthony Charteau, Bbox, 107 points
- Jerome Pineau, Quick Step, 92
Photos: Getty
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Comments
Good to see Euskatel guy in top three with a real shot
They actually have podium hopes this year. Can’t remember when they challenged before – Mayo maybe?
2003
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
Well Samu tried in 2008, he finished 7th
Zubeldia was 5th in 2007 and 2003, Mayo only managed 6th ;)
Venga Caisse d'Epargne!
Yeah but Zubeldia was really podium threat
that I remember, never really was going to get there, but Sammy could. Will be tough and Menchov and co will have there say, but he is a lot more of a threat than Zubes was.
Haimar could follow the strongest guys
but seemed to lack the ability to separate.
Iban could, on any given Sunday, be the best climber in the world, but he was prone to bad days in between.
Vlaanderens Mooiste
Hmm, maybe, but I can hope. He did beat Menchov in the ITT in the Vuelta in 2007...
Venga Caisse d'Epargne!
Probably
But, Menchov has the 3rd-week complex. Even when he seems to be over it, he may ride a last ITT like in the 2008 Tour
by Forstoppelse on Jul 16, 2010 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions
Well this suck
I wanted Vino to win this stage, but at the same time I were hoping for the favourites to attack(especially Contador, instead of him staying passive till the iTT).
Oh well, can’t have one’s cake and eat it. :(
If he wants a real safety net 3.5 minutes IMO
Gives him more room just in case anything went horribly wrong in the TT
Venga Caisse d'Epargne!
I'm thinking about 1:30.
If he get’s more his chances go up. Less they go down.
by tamburlaine on Jul 16, 2010 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions
unfortunately contador already has a jet engine
by whistlingmountain on Jul 16, 2010 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions
did that already (stage 3)
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
I think two
He’ll get some kind of performance bump from leading.
by kcbottom9th on Jul 16, 2010 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions
My over/under is 2:15
He goes in with that much, then it’s a tossup.
More, it’s advantage Schleck. Less, advantage Contador.
One things for sure, if the gap doesn’t grow before the ITT, then The Accountant will be cashing in like it’s tax season.
http://www.bah.net/
by dees ees en drama on Jul 16, 2010 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions
I'm surprised with Ven den Broeck so far
Great in the hills so far + Junior (U23) World Champion in time trialing. hmmm…. I wonder what’s next?
yeah he's having a great race
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on Jul 16, 2010 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions
Another one I keep watching is Basso
Doesn’t seem to draw a lot of coverage. But he was right in there with Evans and Wiggins today. Not saying he’s gonna win or even place, but hanging in there
by RoadRash911 on Jul 16, 2010 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions
he could still get 3rd I think
along with a bunch of other guys, the gaps will be big over the next few days I think. But these climbs may suit Basso quite well.
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on Jul 16, 2010 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions
I count 8 guys with ~ 3 min of third place
Still a big race on. Love it!
by RoadRash911 on Jul 16, 2010 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions
I'm watching him too,
He dropped a place after today, his teammate Roman leapfrogged him.
I think Basso is more of a threat, but he wasn’t the top Liqui boy today.
Vlaanderens Mooiste
Pretty tiring...
Two grand tour back to back. Not sure I could do that…but Sastre did well today too
by RoadRash911 on Jul 16, 2010 12:28 PM EDT up reply actions
More impressed when he's usually all by himself as well
Not so surprised though, he showed glimpses he could getting 15th last year
Venga Caisse d'Epargne!
Especially being in the 2nd group on the climb today
And leading (with a gap!) up part of it. Boy is starting to get on fire.
by Douglas Ansel on Jul 16, 2010 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions
Go back and look at when Contador took off
Right before he and J-Rod were next to each other talking. They and the other leaders were on the left side of the road.
Next, J-Rod, veers hard right and steps on the gas. VDB chases, also up the right.
The other leaders, including Andy, go right, but more slowly as Andy doesn’t need to cover J-Rod so much. But…
Just when Andy goes slowly to the right, Contador stays on tje left and goes to the left of a Liquigas rider (Basso? Kreuz?) All the while Bert is looking at Andy to see if Andy sees him making his move.
Andy doesn’t see Bert’s move right away and Bert then moves towards the right, goes past VDB and gets on J-Rod’s wheel.
Remember the Giro which Bert won? The next to the last stage when Ricco was so close to Bert in time still and could leapfrog Bert of he placed 2nd on the day? (This is the banana stage I am talking about.) Bert made a deal with J-=Rod then to steel the bonus seconds for him. Seeing today’s stage I definitely believe they made a deal again.
interesting
smart by Contador if true
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on Jul 16, 2010 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions
Ah those Spaniards, always working together :D
S’happened in the Vuelta before as well. In 2008 him, J-Rod and AV had some chats on Angrilu
Venga Caisse d'Epargne!
Did those two plus LL have chats at Paris-Nice this year as well if I remember..
Venga Caisse d'Epargne!
Contador to Katusha!
Hey, they can afford him.
"Good thing I never said out loud that I was pulling for France, before this all started." -Mark Blacknell
by Chris Fontecchio on Jul 16, 2010 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions
agreed
that mullet was all he had going for him (and by that i mean was all i really knew about him)
"Ants don’t worry, they operate like a fantastic team, they accept obstacles and deal with them in a positive manner, they don’t complain and remain positive. An ant doesn’t work on emotion, is proactive and always chooses the ant role."
Probably more out of races now though :/
In race, he’s usually being stalked by Luis!
Venga Caisse d'Epargne!
if that's the case
why did contador keep looking back? if the deal was time for stage win, wouldn’t just keep his head down and plow through finish?
by whistlingmountain on Jul 16, 2010 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions
he's an awesome actor...
learned it from watching armstrong “the look” footage
now sock-less and carefree.
by JustJoshinYa on Jul 16, 2010 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions
but at that point of the race, the last 100m why would he care
if he was only going for time he wouldn’t have looked back at that point, he’d just go.
if he was going for the stage win, he’d look back to check jrod for an attempt at the sprint.
by whistlingmountain on Jul 16, 2010 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions
no, I think if he’s going for the stage win he wouldn’t look back – they already had plenty of time
if he’s just going for time, which I think he was, he looks back to make sure he is indeed getting some time
could also be concerned about team dynamics with Vinokourov – looks back, and if Vinokourov is right there maybe he gives him his wheel
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on Jul 16, 2010 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions
Checking for Schleck 500 times does nothing to put any more time into Schleck...
He was looking back to see when J-Rod would start his sprint, I think.
http://www.bah.net/
by dees ees en drama on Jul 16, 2010 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions
If Schleck catches, go goes off the gas.
No Schleck, full gas the the way to the line.
Vlaanderens Mooiste
This can be accomplished by checking for Schleck once. ;)
http://www.bah.net/
by dees ees en drama on Jul 16, 2010 1:13 PM EDT up reply actions
wait a minute
I was thinking Contador was behind Rodriguez at this point, but he wasn’t. You’re right, my bad.
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on Jul 16, 2010 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions
seems to me conta cares for a stage win too.
chat with jrod may have had more to do with “are you going” then “hey, let’s make a deal”
now sock-less and carefree.
by JustJoshinYa on Jul 16, 2010 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions
Well, even if there wasn't a deal per se...
I doubt AC was overly concerned with winning the stage. J-Rod obviously was.
Cazzo, it's going to be a bloodbath! The Mortirolo is a horror, absolutely interminable. -- Michele Scarponi
he wants to get one eventually...but might be right. Might not have this one picked particularily.
I agree about jrod though…I picked him for this in phil’s game. seemed to fit him
now sock-less and carefree.
by JustJoshinYa on Jul 16, 2010 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, fit him to a T.
I’ll be curious to see how he goes in the Pyrenees. He wasn’t super in the Alps, but I think he was a little overaggressive on stage 8, going early to try and get the win. Maybe he can be more patient now with a win under his belt.
Cazzo, it's going to be a bloodbath! The Mortirolo is a horror, absolutely interminable. -- Michele Scarponi
depends if his team leader (conta) let's him loose
(hah…just being snarky)
now sock-less and carefree.
by JustJoshinYa on Jul 16, 2010 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions
yup
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on Jul 16, 2010 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions
No no no..
Watch when J-Rod and Bert go under the 1k to go banner. J-Rod says something and Bert emphatically shakes his head NO! I’m guessing that it was whether Bert was giving him the win. Bert responded with “No Gifts”. Especially after Bert took the win from his teammate Vino. Bert had to go for the win at that point. You see Vino karate chop his handlebars after Bert gets 2nd place.
Good point regarding the no gifts
Vino would have ripped out Contador’s pineal gland and started chewing on it right on the finish line if Alberto had gifted the stage win to J-Rod for a few seconds over Shleck which are going to mean nothing when they get to Paris.
"Do you think we are a bunch a girls?...Go and ride some cobbles and you’ll definately know that we don’t discuss perfume and shaving cream." - Dom
haha!
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on Jul 16, 2010 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions
At least I don't root for a random country
because their players are good looking.
Vamos Alberto!
Quitter's People United member # 42
za-zing!
though some of your comments about Schweinsteiger did seem a little…passionate…
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on Jul 16, 2010 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Stupid Spanish and their great summer....
Wimbledon, World Cup, Tour de France (?)…
2008: giro, tdf, olympics road race, vuelta, etc
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
hmmm, shades of the 2008 giro stage 19 (?)
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
ignore this last comment (would help if i had finished reading ursula's comment first)
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
Beautifully done by J-Rod
He’s looking very fresh, might keep moving up the standings.
Cazzo, it's going to be a bloodbath! The Mortirolo is a horror, absolutely interminable. -- Michele Scarponi
err
Chris, Samu is 2:45 down on GC not 0:45
by xrondead on Jul 16, 2010 11:38 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
that’s funnier than Conta & St. Bernard dog
by xrondead on Jul 16, 2010 11:53 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
now I'm sure he's Jesus
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on Jul 16, 2010 8:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Radioshack have stolen best team by 21 seconds if anyone cares
Party at theirs tonight..
Venga Caisse d'Epargne!
I feel like saying something snarky about Lance
but maybe I won’t, at least for now…
by RoadRash911 on Jul 16, 2010 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions
I care. But it's only 21 seconds
I thought Cd’E might have hung on because Muravyev finished over 5 minutes back on the last two of my boys but alas it wasn’t quite enough. They’ll take it back, don’t worry. Feeling a breakaway will pull off for them tomorrow ;)
Venga Caisse d'Epargne!
Who said Vino looks pissed! He is not! Just a normal look of the guy who just lost a few hundred thousand dollars.
Life is not fair! Need proof? Did you see any Vacansoleil Jersey in this year’s TDF?
.
People who say the officials stole the green from Cav
should look at today and see why Cav is not winning the green jersey. Great move by Thor again, should be a great battle with Ale-Jet all the way to Paris.
Vamos Alberto!
Quitter's People United member # 42
cough cough (last year too) cough cough
now sock-less and carefree.
by JustJoshinYa on Jul 16, 2010 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions
Um ok
but last year the officials stole the green from cav.
"Good thing I never said out loud that I was pulling for France, before this all started." -Mark Blacknell
by Chris Fontecchio on Jul 16, 2010 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions
Did someone really say that the officials are stealing green from Cav?
I mean they took Renshaw, but Cav has to actually get beaten in a bunch sprint w/o Renshaw before we start speculating on whether that matters.
In any case I think the officials has gotten it right two years in a row. If they did nothing they would have stolen green from Thor.
http://www.bah.net/
by dees ees en drama on Jul 16, 2010 11:50 AM EDT up reply actions
Yes read yesterdays thread
also said the green battle would now be boring. Blinded by bias if you ask me.
Vamos Alberto!
Quitter's People United member # 42
Generally speaking, blaming the officials is a weak move
I’m afraid this is no exception.
http://www.bah.net/
by dees ees en drama on Jul 16, 2010 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions
I actually think they were placing the blame on Garmin
never mind that Garmin had yet to file the complaints…but whatever…it’s all fubar for this discussion.
Thor wants green and is attacking and scoring points. Good for him.
now sock-less and carefree.
by JustJoshinYa on Jul 16, 2010 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions
Wait wait wait
Are we ret-conning this already?
HTC gave up on Green stages back. Just looking for stage wins now. This is why you don’t see HTC worker bees in breaks trying to disrupt Thor’s minor points.
Vlaanderens Mooiste
I'd respond
that Cavendish should know that he can’t win green only through sprint wins.
Vlaanderens Mooiste
He totally can, he was ten points away from doing it last year
http://www.bah.net/
by dees ees en drama on Jul 17, 2010 2:05 AM EDT up reply actions
Imagine
awarding the sprint jersey for actual sprinting…I never understood the placing of sprint stages in mountain climbs.
How likely would Thor wearing the Green jersey if it was solely determined on flat stage sprints?
well, remember it's the points jersey
not the sprint jersey. Supposed to reward consistent high placings regardless of terrain.
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on Jul 16, 2010 10:20 PM EDT up reply actions
it's points for finishes & sprints
and the sprints are the mid-stage points
So does that mean it rewards the most aggressive racing, whether for breakaways or chasers? It’s like an anti-GC jersey, deliberately put in place to make the podium contenders bitter and nervous.
Man...
With Tyler gone, how many riders are left? Are we down to just Dave Z yet? Sigh.
you foget Ryder so soon
he’s doing great
"You know if there's any contact at all Cristiano Ronaldo's gonna go down...maybe even just a puff of wind"
Wiggins was better than I expected.
Didn’t seem like his sort of climb at all, but he came in with Evans, Basso, Horner. Why was Cunego pulling them? Pft, who knows.
Anyone else think he might improve later in the race (Wiggins)? You don’t spend the whole year focusing on the one race and then peak early for it, one would think.
has cunego found himself a new team for next year?
(motivation #1 perhaps?)
now sock-less and carefree.
by JustJoshinYa on Jul 16, 2010 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions
He was actually helping Luis?
Every other stage he’s just carried on if he’s had the legs!
Venga Caisse d'Epargne!
TBH when I saw it on TV I thought it was Cunego in front.
I know doughnut about Reuben Plaza and his role at Caisse, I’m afraid. I just looked at the finishing times.
Ahh ok, I thought you meant you saw him pulling. Sorry
Well Luis got dropped first, then Ruben shortly after. But Ruben’s role is just to do as well as possible and show himself. As is Luis’, just sometimes I wish they’d work together more successfully :P
Venga Caisse d'Epargne!
and Garmin
and Liquigas ;-)
"I was just trying to keep warm" - Ian Stannard on finishing third in KBK
funny Lampre aren't getting much of a mention
but I guess they’re too busy trying to assemble a squad entirely made up of riders who’ve served doping bans
"I was just trying to keep warm" - Ian Stannard on finishing third in KBK
or riders who the jury is still out on
"You know if there's any contact at all Cristiano Ronaldo's gonna go down...maybe even just a puff of wind"
even for Lampre
Scarponi & Di Luca is quite a lot ot be getting on with
"I was just trying to keep warm" - Ian Stannard on finishing third in KBK
when's DiLuca's ban up?
is he going to Lampre
"You know if there's any contact at all Cristiano Ronaldo's gonna go down...maybe even just a puff of wind"
I wonder if Cunego wants to say something (more) about that
"I was just trying to keep warm" - Ian Stannard on finishing third in KBK
Disagree
He lost 31 seconds on a short climb.
Oh wait . . . you were surprised he was that close. True enough..
But still, I’d almost be willing to bet that Evans finishes ahead of him on gc by Paris.
Its only 0:29 and Cadel says he's feeling better ...
… 2:52 to get back into the top 10 is not impossible if he can finish near the GC contenders in the Pyrenees.
Well! Fun Fun Fun! Today stage was more interesting that I thought it would be! See you all later!
Life is not fair! Need proof? Did you see any Vacansoleil Jersey in this year’s TDF?
.
I'm just not sold on the tactics there.
J-Rod attacks first, and contador sees fit to go with him. He catches his teammate so close to the end, and seems not to acknowledge him, and once he gets to the flat, he lets all the time gain leave pulling up short at the end and pretending to position for a sprint he clearly doesn’t care about. He lets katusha get all the love (the oppressors of the Kazakhs for some years there) instead of winning for the Glorious nation, and in my mind, proves once again he’d rather help a countrymen then win for his team or give a teammate some love. i would’ve been so happy for Vino, he should’ve helped him out there instead of helping J-Rod. if he cares about the time gap, why does he let it slip away, its obvious he wasn’t going for too much time. I’m disheartened by what happened today, but i think theres alot of racing left, and this was just one small batlle that Contador won. Andy is mentally stronger than people give him credit for, im sure he was caught off guard today, and he most certainly won’t let contador surprise him on the big mountains. Contador is strong, ill give him that, and i get that he has to work for his own gain, but I better hear him credit Vino’s hard work after the race.
"You know if there's any contact at all Cristiano Ronaldo's gonna go down...maybe even just a puff of wind"
Just like in LBL
man did he help out the Spanish get Vino there. Stop making up drama, last year was enough.
Vamos Alberto!
Quitter's People United member # 42
fine
but i gonna call it like i see it, even if it sounds stupid to everyone
"You know if there's any contact at all Cristiano Ronaldo's gonna go down...maybe even just a puff of wind"
FIne as well
and I shall counter call it like I see it…deal?
Vamos Alberto!
Quitter's People United member # 42
wouldn't have it any other way
"You know if there's any contact at all Cristiano Ronaldo's gonna go down...maybe even just a puff of wind"
im always down for a round of kumbaya
"You know if there's any contact at all Cristiano Ronaldo's gonna go down...maybe even just a puff of wind"
You're right, Contador doesn't care about putting time into his biggest GC rival
http://www.bah.net/
by dees ees en drama on Jul 16, 2010 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions
sending a message.
That’s all today was.
If your Riis and Schleck, you are not happy tonight, and you’re wondering why you’re stuck with yellow.
That 10 second gap will be 2 minutes on a longer climb.
10 sec = 10 sec
It all adds up, and you never know what’s going to happen next
by RoadRash911 on Jul 16, 2010 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions
But by that token
you should just get into yellow at the earliest stage possible & stay there. It’s to Contador’s advantage that Andy’s still in yellow, I think.
"I was just trying to keep warm" - Ian Stannard on finishing third in KBK
Definitely ... SaxoBank is working hard ...
… they will be dropping more and earlier in the Pyranees than they would like, and the Accountant is far more likely to have help on some critical last climb.
good point
you’re right about that
"You know if there's any contact at all Cristiano Ronaldo's gonna go down...maybe even just a puff of wind"
I thought that Andy took Yellow too early....
AC is forcing Andy to use his men every day to shut down breaks and attacks to defend the MJ…As I was informed last week, while LA has defended the Jeysey over both the Alps and Pryneenees, and it CAN be done…I see a lot of tired Saxo cats working on each stage and I see a bunch of fresh Kazakh daises riding just behind…
(I also the Saxo boys shake their heads with the understanding that the pain will get much worse if a certain M Navarro gets to the front and decides to unzip his jersey, or if a certain Kazak gets in the break)
This ain’t tactical neurosurgery- The Astana tactics here are clear.
Try like hell to place a strong cat (like maybe Vino?) in the break again. If not Vino, then maybe Navarro to allow hims some glory as recompense for his hard work in the Alps and as a nice pace wheel for AC. Either way, with Astana in the break, then cats like Ryder, Gesink, ANY of the Katusha boys, maybe LuLu or any of the dozen or so other elite cats with some motivation to gain time or snatch a stage will be more likely to join in…
If no baby blue in the break, then no problem….Force Saxo to chase, then ride the Cancellara/Fugelsang/Jens!/Sorenson train to a place where AC can attack at a time and place of his choosing- Just like yesterday…
Fabulous racing, but I think that its clear that it would have been better for Andy if Cadel did not break his elbow…The only team motivated to help with chasing are the MV hopefuls- Given that the other GC cats are soooo far behind they are all quite content to let Saxo sweat it out every day, especially since Saxo is one important Mountain domestique down (FSchleck)
By being prematurely aggressive, Andy has sown the seeds of possible defeat in a 3 week GT. Andy’s Options?
Well, he could go on a Merkxian/Hinaultian type of all out solo attack, but this has not really been his M.O. and of course Astana will shut down any such adventures (as would the entire Peloton) immediately.
He could hold his team back, and force Rabo, Caisse, Euskatel, Katusha etc to work, but that of course would depend on the composition of the break. At this stage the only cats making the breaks are men of definite quality, and this obviously risks the MJ going on down the road, given the poor motivation of other teams to work to defend a jersey they don’t have…
He could use his team to set up an attack that he uses to ride AC off his wheel…Andy is one of the best riders in the world, but- uhhh- so is AC….High rick-reward in that tactic
on the shorter, steeper slopes that don’t seem to suit him…
He can limit losses to any concerted AC attacks in his fevoured terrain, and then pull out the TT of his life to hold the MJ through to Paris….
Well, it COULD happen….right?
Hope that he gets his team a nice gift after the TdF…Looks like another long, hot slog through the hills today for the boys….
On to today!
he is a sitting duck
all the work to defend yellow and no real time gap. maybe somebody gets the time tomorrow, i just hope it isn’t Contador, because that’ll be game over.
"You know if there's any contact at all Cristiano Ronaldo's gonna go down...maybe even just a puff of wind"
But what Contador should of done? Vino was spent already!
Life is not fair! Need proof? Did you see any Vacansoleil Jersey in this year’s TDF?
.
yeah I gotta disagree
what would “acknowledging his teammate” mean here? These guys are all at the limit. Or “helping out Vino” – there’s no pushing him up a hill (different if it’s on the flat maybe). If Vino could have won he would have, Contador and Rodriguez were clearly fresher.
Schleck is bloody good, Contador needs all the time he can get. He paid his dues to Vinokourov in LBL, which (in my view) V wouldn’t have won without him.
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on Jul 16, 2010 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions
If he wanted time he should have pushed a little harder at the end
maybe that was on the bunch behind for closing the gap well, i didn’t quite think of that before.
"You know if there's any contact at all Cristiano Ronaldo's gonna go down...maybe even just a puff of wind"
Are you suggesting AC was soft pedaling?
He looked like he was going hard all the way to the end in an attempt to salvage a stage win AND gain time on his rival.
ill admit im gonna have to watch the finale again
but upon first glance, i think he was always gonna give JRod the win. The idea of him shaking his head might have been a decoy (oh i shouldnt say that, i know). But the group didnt help Andy much and he stilled pulled back maybe 15-20 seconds in the last km.
"You know if there's any contact at all Cristiano Ronaldo's gonna go down...maybe even just a puff of wind"
Versus just showed it
one thing that interested me was that J-Rod was about to pull when Bert shook his head, he then immediately sat up and got behind Bert once the shake happened. Seemed to think he could strike a deal but found out otherwise and went to back to being in the best tactical position.
Vamos Alberto!
Quitter's People United member # 42
well that kinda throws a wrench in my elaborate conspiracy theory
Contador didnt have a chance sitting first wheel, whether he intended to win or give it away. i think he knew it wouldn’t look great if he gave a win away, his team wouldn’t appreciate that. But im sure his team will appreciate his time gain.
"You know if there's any contact at all Cristiano Ronaldo's gonna go down...maybe even just a puff of wind"
I found quite strange also
Stealing a certain victory for 10 sec….well you could always argue that J-Rod would get past Vino anyway. Bt if so, let him do the work and after they both pass Vino attack.
Would Vino be pissed at the dinners table today?
"If I'd attacked one more time I'd have dropped myself." Schleck Jr
Anybody want take a poll?
It looks like we have two races: one for fist (AS + AC), and one for third (with about eight guys within three minutes of each other. Pretty close competition. Who’s gonna win????
Then we have the green and polka dot jerseys too!
I’m gonna say Contador for 1st, and agree with you on Basso for 3rd, with van den Broeck a possibility.
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on Jul 16, 2010 12:07 PM EDT up reply actions
I'd have to say Levi
has a realistic shot at third too.
by RoadRash911 on Jul 16, 2010 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Basso?
the guy already behind far superior TTists like Leipheimer and Menchov? Hmm…
Vamos Alberto!
Quitter's People United member # 42
My biggest hit on Basso
is that I don’t think I’ve seen that SMILE once during this race. Not quite the Ivan the Terrible we have seen else where
he looked like Cadel on the Madelaine
with no teammates and a long tail of indifference and inferiority behind him. I hope he does better in the Pyrenees, but I don’t know how the Spanish and Rabobank riders will do.
Contador for yellow
SamSan for third (impressed by the way he almost held Contador/Schleck’s whlle on that series of Schleck attacks)
Ale-Jet for green
Charteau for the polka dots
http://www.bah.net/
by dees ees en drama on Jul 16, 2010 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Charteau's not gonna hold polka dots
there will be some big mountains towards the end, that i think some Gc guys will grab. I think the mountain jersey winners gonna end up coming from the top ten.
"You know if there's any contact at all Cristiano Ronaldo's gonna go down...maybe even just a puff of wind"
After his chase on that stage Sandy Casar won, I'd say Samuel Sanchez is looking best for third at the momnt,
but the less than thrilling “hang on for the TT” style of Menchov or Leipheimer might be the more effective in the end. Sanchez though.
Five very hard mountain stages
plus a killer time trial. My guess is that the mountains will be decisive.
by RoadRash911 on Jul 16, 2010 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions
So far, it looks like we have
van den Broeck, Sánchez, Menchov, Leipheimer, Basso, all with a realistic chance at third one way or another, barring unforeseen circumstances….
by RoadRash911 on Jul 16, 2010 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions
Not sure Basso has much of a chance
Not more than J-Rod and Gesink anyhow.
Cazzo, it's going to be a bloodbath! The Mortirolo is a horror, absolutely interminable. -- Michele Scarponi
+1
That would round things out. Plus they are #’s 2 & 3 in the young rider classification after AS. So that makes 8 guys all within ~ 3 min of 3rd place heading into the Pyrenees.
Pretty had to handicap this one :-). Makes for a great race!
something’s telling me he’s going to pick up a bunch of time in the Pyrenees.
that same thing once told me to put big money on the Buffalo Bills
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
ops
to Phil H
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on Jul 16, 2010 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions
So he will be oh so close for 4 stages in a row
only to fall short on each.
Vamos Alberto!
Quitter's People United member # 42
did well in the giro this year...
especially towards the end. could be a plus or minus
by RoadRash911 on Jul 16, 2010 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions
assuming he's not bone tired by then
the Pyrenees could suit him well. hard to say…
by RoadRash911 on Jul 16, 2010 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions
I just passed out...
need a rest day…
now sock-less and carefree.
by JustJoshinYa on Jul 16, 2010 12:59 PM EDT up reply actions
You can thank me later
my bad mouthing of the Tour clearly got the route all angry :)
Vamos Alberto!
Quitter's People United member # 42
That vino shot is awesome
now sock-less and carefree.
by JustJoshinYa on Jul 16, 2010 12:58 PM EDT up reply actions
great shots
as usual
"Ants don’t worry, they operate like a fantastic team, they accept obstacles and deal with them in a positive manner, they don’t complain and remain positive. An ant doesn’t work on emotion, is proactive and always chooses the ant role."
I just read on CN that Lance calls his "special team car Air Force One"
can I just mention how incredibly silly it is naming a car “air force” anything.
Vamos Alberto!
Quitter's People United member # 42
how bout hot air force 1?
"Ants don’t worry, they operate like a fantastic team, they accept obstacles and deal with them in a positive manner, they don’t complain and remain positive. An ant doesn’t work on emotion, is proactive and always chooses the ant role."
Heh well that actually works quite well
maybe you should be his PR man
Vamos Alberto!
Quitter's People United member # 42
as long as he believes that all publicity is good publicity
as you may or may not know, i rock a dopestrong jersey 90% of the time i ride.
"Ants don’t worry, they operate like a fantastic team, they accept obstacles and deal with them in a positive manner, they don’t complain and remain positive. An ant doesn’t work on emotion, is proactive and always chooses the ant role."
Sshh he won't notice
I am quite shocked he is talking to Andreau on the VS interviews though.
Vamos Alberto!
Quitter's People United member # 42
anyone know what Contador means on his twitter feed
says there was confusion on the road due to the radio? what was radio problem?
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
I believe as revenge for the Renshaw DQ
Rolf Aldag sang tralalalalalalalalala etc. for the entire stage on every teams radio. Surely a distressing thing to hear.
Vamos Alberto!
Quitter's People United member # 42
lolz
ps STFU LOSER
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on Jul 17, 2010 1:14 AM EDT up reply actions
Probably couldn't hear anything because of the noise from the road side
That’s what Vinokourov said, anyway.
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