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Around SBN: Are The Orioles Bad Or Unlucky With Their Young Pitching?

The boy and his golden pedal. Or, Farrar Wins Today's Vuelta Stage

There was once a boy.. Who met a stranger. Boy he said.. I have a secret follow me. Hours and hours they walked through the desert. Halfway he asked.. "What is the purpose?" "Just wait my friend.. You are the chosen" Said the stranger. And hours and hours they walked. At the moment the sun hit the horizon the stranger froze. 

He took his carpet and prayed.. "Dear father. The man who can overtake everyone is here" And there it went. With type cracks, storm and wind there came a giant Sphynx out of the ground. "Go in my son. Don't take anything except the pedal in the middle of the 4th room" 

And in he went. The first room he entered was crowded with giant misses. Wherever he looked. All around him. But he continued and walked in Room number 2. Here he saw all giant bikes. No not Giant bikes.. He hesitated but continued. In to the 3th room.. He saw money. Wherever he looked., It was filled with money. He took a sit and waited. Should I take this.. or not.. He stood up.. and walked further.

In room 4. The boy saw cars. Giant cars.. Race cars. With turbo speed and horses on them. But in the middle.. The golden pedal. Before he would change his mind he sprinted to the pedal. A voice bellowed: " You are now the greatest sprinter in the world"

Star-divide

And there he was back again. In his hometown. On the Island of Manx. Mom he said. I'm going to be a sprinter. and back he was. And o what has he a joy with his golden pedal.  Tour after Tour he dominated. Every time he beated everyone. 

But he wanted more.. 28 August 2010 he went back to the stranger. " I want more" he said. And off they went. When they arrived the stranger got on his knees again and the Sphynx appeared again. Cavendish sprinted inside. Propsed a girl in room 1, took a giant bike in 2, Grabbed loots of money in room 3 and when he entered his new car with the horse on it and his woman + his bike the Sphynx screamed. You fool! It's enough now. He kicked him outside and the pedal was gone. 

29 August.. Somewhere in Spain an American has strange dreams.. Suddenly he is in the desert with the stranger. Tyler he said.. It's going to be your day and of in the desert he went..

 

This.. my readers.. is today's stage in a nutshell. Cavendish is beaten 2 times in a row. 

1. FARRAR Tyler GRM 05:03:36
2. FERNANDEZ DE LARREA Koldo EUS 00:00:00
3. CAVENDISH Mark THR 00:00:00
4. WEYLANDT Wouter QST 00:00:00
5. PETACCHI Alessandro LAM 00:00:00
6. CHAVANEL Sébastien FDJ 00:00:00
7. FÖRSTER Robert MRM 00:00:00
8. GALIMZYANOV Denis KAT 00:00:00
9. BOS Theo CTT 00:00:00
10. VAN AVERMAET Greg OLO 00:00:00

 

Where was Cavendish his team? Was it too heavy this season? Are they missing Hincapie yet? Chapeau to our new sprinter.. Farrar. It was an wonderful sprint. But can we get back to the mountains please? me <------ I don't like Sprints

See sprint

VaE Et. 5 (via CanalF10)


 

Oh.. And yeah.. You can find similarities with a particular story 

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Love this.

"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'

by Seahorse on Sep 1, 2010 12:45 PM EDT reply actions  

That sprint was aweful, Cav started way too soon.

Maybe he’s hoping Sky will buy out his contract now.

Great recap, Frinking.

by tgsgirl on Sep 1, 2010 12:59 PM EDT reply actions  

How early did he start?

Was it at 400 meters or so?

Jens! doesn’t have a shadow because he dropped it repeatedly until it retired, climbing into the CSC team car and claiming a stomach ailment.

by dees ees en drama on Sep 1, 2010 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions  

Yep, that's way too early for Cav

he goes 200 or 250.

Jens! doesn’t have a shadow because he dropped it repeatedly until it retired, climbing into the CSC team car and claiming a stomach ailment.

by dees ees en drama on Sep 1, 2010 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions  

nice work Frinking

"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."

by ant1 on Sep 1, 2010 1:04 PM EDT reply actions  

YAY!

Any video recaps?? Probably too early. Checking Sporza now…

"Good thing I never said out loud that I was pulling for France, before this all started." -Mark Blacknell

by Chris Fontecchio on Sep 1, 2010 1:06 PM EDT reply actions  

Great story Frinking

but now I need to know if I am really one month behind, my calender says 1 september, but is that true?
For some time I have had indications that I am one month behind, and since I am old and easyly get confused I really need to know what date it is to day ;)

by LittleOldLady on Sep 1, 2010 1:07 PM EDT reply actions  

Video:

http://www.universalsports.com/video/assetid=e3f3eb7b-d519-40df-9f50-48f54540f4bf.html#farrar+faster+than+rest

"Good thing I never said out loud that I was pulling for France, before this all started." -Mark Blacknell

by Chris Fontecchio on Sep 1, 2010 1:16 PM EDT reply actions  

From that it looks like he had no choice to go early

He was on Allan Davis’ wheel and he started to lose ground, so it was jump now (which I think was 350m) and go early or get swamped and sprint for 8th. Basically, he chose the wrong wheel to follow and paid the price. I’m a bit surprised myself that he didn’t try to follow Petacchi – Hondo was by far the best leadout guy still there and has proven that he’ll make sure Petacchi has a good run at the line.

by Douglas Ansel on Sep 1, 2010 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions  

Yeah, I think Cav knows enough not to sprint 500m if he can help it

Jens! doesn’t have a shadow because he dropped it repeatedly until it retired, climbing into the CSC team car and claiming a stomach ailment.

by dees ees en drama on Sep 1, 2010 2:23 PM EDT up reply actions  

Yeah.

It looked like Cav got stuck without much support and got stuck in a “now or never” moment. Bravo for recgonizing it and trying to pull it off. If could have waiting another 20-30 meters he probably would have hung on to win. But Chapeau to Tyler, he capitalized on his chance.

"It was getting colder and colder as we went up. About halfway up, I started to go a little backwards and as I passed Thor he looked at me and said, "If you lose my wheel I will smash you." I took his wheel and found an extra gear." João Correia

by jsallee00 on Sep 1, 2010 2:37 PM EDT up reply actions  

Same as when Huta won

Stuck with only bad choices. I still like the fact that he goes for broke instead of sitting still and hoping for the best. Nearly worked today too, he’s that strong. That was a loooong sprint.

by Jens on Sep 1, 2010 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions  

Yeah

Cav did really, really well to stay in front for as long as he did.

by ursula on Sep 1, 2010 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions  

I'll second that

When I saw him jump I thought two things.

1) Holy crap he is faaaaast
2) Holy crap, that’s a long way. I’m guessing 5th or 6th at the end if not worse?

by Douglas Ansel on Sep 1, 2010 5:06 PM EDT up reply actions  

What's also impressive

Is that he jumped from 3-4 lengths behind the Petacchi train too. Boy is fast.

Now, Farrar did one hell of an impressive job as well too – I’m not completely on the Cav Kool-Aid…

by Douglas Ansel on Sep 1, 2010 5:13 PM EDT up reply actions  

Does Cav even know how to find a wheel?

    Tyler was without help for 5 km. Cav didn’t know what to do so he just took off and found out what a 400m sprint does to your speed. Tyler covered him as soon as he moved and beat him, he’s that good.

by flying dog on Sep 1, 2010 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions  

Perhaps the downside of having a guy like Renshaw?

Cav is not used to having to do that kind of stuff anymore.
Also he had the same issues early on too I seem to recall? The Gent-Wevelgem he targeted and missed wasn’t that because he completely lost position?

by Jens on Sep 1, 2010 2:56 PM EDT up reply actions  

Agreed

"Have you ever played?" "Yes, I was a goalie"

by MikeyGreen on Sep 1, 2010 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions  

The importance of a leadout train for Cav

It’s underrated when he’s winning.
It’s overrated when he’s getting beat.

Cav is a sprinter. A leadout is helpful, no matter the recent results.

Jens! doesn’t have a shadow because he dropped it repeatedly until it retired, climbing into the CSC team car and claiming a stomach ailment.

by dees ees en drama on Sep 1, 2010 3:38 PM EDT up reply actions  

I didn't say need

But his winrate seems to drop from 90% to 25% , still impressive but the playingfield gets a little more level.

by Jens on Sep 1, 2010 4:08 PM EDT up reply actions  

Well, he used to get by without one

That 1st TdF he started winning, he did a lot of train hopping

by Sarah Connolly on Sep 1, 2010 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions  

indeed so... the stage into Nîmes for one...

"I was just trying to keep warm" - Ian Stannard on finishing third in KBK

by civetta on Sep 1, 2010 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions  

O/T - greatest city in the world

"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."

by ant1 on Sep 1, 2010 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions  

I can't be too hard on him

He was on Farrar’s wheel until 600m to go. They went around that sweeping right hand turn and Tyler moved left through a hole Cav probably couldn’t, leaving him stuck behind a slow Davis.

by Douglas Ansel on Sep 1, 2010 5:12 PM EDT up reply actions  

watching the vid again

tyler times it really well and follows cav’s burst all while not giving up the center…. well played sir!

"Race radios in Cat 4?"

by gravel road on Sep 1, 2010 2:27 PM EDT reply actions  

Tyler won this sprint when at 350m he was able to hook onto cav when cav was in full sprint mode. Not easy to do.

"Have you ever played?" "Yes, I was a goalie"

by MikeyGreen on Sep 1, 2010 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions  

Taxi for the monkey that used to be on Tyler's back

Well done sir. Strange but entertaining sprint all round, but not sure ultimately that informative.

by andrewp on Sep 1, 2010 3:47 PM EDT reply actions  

wow

I’m confused, did the sphinx win the stage or what?

"You know if there's any contact at all Cristiano Ronaldo's gonna go down...maybe even just a puff of wind"

by agl on Sep 1, 2010 3:48 PM EDT reply actions  

I was assuming that was the point

"You know if there's any contact at all Cristiano Ronaldo's gonna go down...maybe even just a puff of wind"

by agl on Sep 1, 2010 5:45 PM EDT up reply actions  

The point is to not go into the 3th room.

By the way, what is a 3th room anyway?

Yes, I will have an Ultra Liberal MoCo Latte please.

by JustJoshinYa on Sep 1, 2010 6:51 PM EDT up reply actions  

Yes

I’m pretty sure teleporting to the 4th is the proper procedure.

by Douglas Ansel on Sep 1, 2010 11:18 PM EDT up reply actions  

In even bigger news today...

The crap Chavanel (Sebastian) almost managed to remove his VDS doughnut today!

One place higher in that sprint finish and he’d have scored. Why couldn’t Cavendish have sat up sooner?

Bunch of slack-jawed faggots around here. This stuff will make you a god damned sexual Tyrannosaurus, just like me - Jens! Voigt, Predator (1987)

by tenchu on Sep 1, 2010 5:14 PM EDT reply actions  

Kudos to Tyler for an intelligent finale

Neither Farrar nor Cav had a train, and both were playing lone hands; I tend to think of Cav as the one with the “race intuition” in such circumstances – perhaps the absence of Bernie Eisel as road captain affected his run-up. There’s no doubt, though, that Tyler rode this one perfectly!

by GreylockGrinder on Sep 1, 2010 5:48 PM EDT reply actions  

So it was Weylandt, not Tosatto in 4th?

I need to fix the VDS points. Ted, if they go all wonky, you’ll have to put on the tights.

I really do not understand the truth.--Riccardo Ricco (per Google Translate)

by majope on Sep 1, 2010 7:19 PM EDT reply actions  

That was lovely Frinkles

"Until you shoot me off my bike I'll keep looking for a contract" - Jens!
Quitter's People United member # 42

by Phil H. on Sep 1, 2010 8:08 PM EDT reply actions  

Tyler looked like such a noobee crossing the line

He so couldn’t believe he was going to win that he was still in bike throw mode well passed the finish line. Goober. No, I will not be able to get behind this guy.

"It's a lovely thing, feeling that momentum. If you're lucky, it's also about grace." Tim Winton

by sminer on Sep 1, 2010 8:58 PM EDT reply actions  

Speaking of VDS, Farrar now has 1700 points.

Right now he’s 2nd-highest scorer…and has 12 more points than Cav earned for all of last year.

I really do not understand the truth.--Riccardo Ricco (per Google Translate)

by majope on Sep 1, 2010 9:21 PM EDT reply actions  

Amazing how many points 2nds & 3rds can stack up huh?

by Ryan_Liles on Sep 2, 2010 9:24 AM EDT up reply actions  

7 VDS wins, just 2 less than Cav

Wins
1. Mark Cavendish 9
2. Alberto Contador Velasco 8
3. Tyler Farrar 7
André Greipel 7
5. Fabian Cancellara 6
Peter Sagan 6
7. Matthew Goss 5
Alejandro Valverde Belmonte 5
Tony Martin 5
Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez 5

http://www.podiumcafevds.com/ranking.php

Ceci n'est pas une signature.

by tedvdw on Sep 2, 2010 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions  

How many of those were done at the Tour, or any sprint classics?
Let’s not forget that winning is not everything, it is also what races you won that matters as well.

by Ryan_Liles on Sep 2, 2010 6:37 PM EDT up reply actions  

Using your standards I guess Andy Scleck is a shit bike rider.

    Could use a little tweaking if you asked just about . . . . anybody.

by flying dog on Sep 2, 2010 10:10 PM EDT up reply actions  

He’s coming into his prime, and his new teammates could be exactly what’s needed for him to turn the corner to really make a huge impact next year.

I feel Flanders this year was a good indicator of what may possibly come; and to ride in the Tour with a broken wrist is totally hardcore.

Just don’t confuse a few stages at the Giro and Vuelta as equal to one win in the Tour;
and don’t equate Scheldeprijs to Flanders.
Perhaps a little less Kool-Aid might help with that.

by Ryan_Liles on Sep 3, 2010 12:16 AM EDT up reply actions  

They don't award the green jersey to the guy with the most wins.

    But the one with the most consistently high finishes. It’s a worthy goal, and not a sham to note Farrar’s consistency near the front of the pack during this entire season.

by flying dog on Sep 3, 2010 4:52 PM EDT up reply actions  

At no time in his career has Tyler Farrar won the Points Jersey in for any Grand Tour!
I can’t remember if he’s held the jersey during the race for a few stages, but he’s never finished with it.

So don’t go talking about how consistent he is by referencing an award he has never attained.

Again, I like the guy, but right now he’s not what you guys keep saying he is.
Oh, and as for his chances in the WC RR – Stage 6 pretty much is a good indicator to where he’ll probably end up.

by Ryan_Liles on Sep 3, 2010 11:50 PM EDT up reply actions  

"Stage 6 pretty much is a good indicator to where he’ll probably end up."

With a puncture at a crucial moment?

Badger, badger, badger, badger, badger, badger...

by TheFigurehead on Sep 4, 2010 4:41 AM EDT up reply actions  

Best stage recap I can recall

Well done Frinks!

I don't know if there's wisdom to be found at the bottom of a bottle, but I'm checking just in case...

by omnevelnihil on Sep 1, 2010 11:10 PM EDT reply actions  

i read this sprint way differently.

I think Cav’s here at this Shit Race to train for the WC and almost holding a 500m sprint to the line is a good way to do that.

You all are aware he’s got damn near nobody to help him in Oz, right?
I think he’s getting ready for that.

by Ryan_Liles on Sep 2, 2010 9:42 AM EDT reply actions  

Goss punctured 5ks from the end, so i don't think he had much choice..

"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'

by Seahorse on Sep 2, 2010 9:54 AM EDT up reply actions  

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