Vino/Klöden Withdrawal Watch

Draw a deep breath with Andreas Klöden: Despite its fall on the fifth stage of the route de France von Chablis after Autun on Thursday the route with favorite can do the "large one Loop " probably continue. Mario grief, director of sport of the Astana team, confirmed news service to the sport on thursday evening (sid): "It does not see completely in such a way dramatically from as first accepted. He will probably be able to drive on. "

-Greg

More google translations...

Mitfavorit Andreas Klöden can probably continue the route de France after its fall on Thursday at the fifth stage from Chablis to Autun. Seriously endangered against it the further participation of Klödens Astana Teamkollegen Alexander Winokurow, which likewise fell and carried heavy grazes off at both knees, is obvious. Klöden, last year route second, suffered a hair-crack in the steissbein, not as only fears a break. "It does not look dramatic as completely as first accepted. He will probably drive on können', said Mario grief, director of sport of the Astana team. Team head Marc Biver added however: "The problem are the pain. Whether in the mountains well goes, is questionably. "With Winokurow see it according to Biver "more badly out". It has "open wounds at both knees to down to the muscle, which had to be sewn". That is to the wheel drives "very bad".

That is two podium places that just opened up for riders who didn't have a chance previously.

Veddy interesting. P'raps fewer riders will sandbag the first mountain stage in order to lose time so they will be allowed to hunt stages later. This lowers the overall quality of the leaders, but opens the racing up tremendously.

and Kloden, but the Paceline is reporting that Benjamin Noval went through the back windshield of a  Bouygues Telecom car on the last downhill. Noval needed stiches in his chin and arm and is questionable for starting tomorrow. If true, Disco's lost a 2nd domestique.

Bruyneel laments that it was a Bouyges Telecom car, in which the driver was having a live TV conversation while driving.  "Seeing certain directors trying to be the star of the show and wanting to entertain the TV while they have to drive and think about the safety of the riders. It's definitely very dangerous. That's why we never have TV cameras in the car, or at least if we do we pretend that they are not there. I don't think we can say the same of everybody."  Mmm.

At least Phil and Paul mentioned a few times that the race organizers had planned the stage w/ the early climbs to thin the group out. They did not intend for 150 to race full throttle down the final descent into town.

But can I say that German has to be the funniest google translation language ever?  Auto-translators freak on the wacky word order.

'kay, back on topic.

Black Day for Astana for sure.  Not one, but both team leaders injured?  Yoiks.  GC looks quite different than it did this morning.

Pronounced:  Kuh-nee. (one sylable, smash it together.)  I don't know what the heck a "Kien" is.  

I cannot wait to get home tonight and watch the morning race w/P&P.  Thanks to all of you today for the coverage, opinions, analyses, witticisms, and smart-ass remarks!  We are going to have a fantastic weekend of racing, boys and girls.  Vive le Tour!

I just can't see Klodi being a factor now.

Vino?  If its really as bad as Klodi's then I can't see him either.  But I have more hope for Vino.  Still in two days time when the attacks come having a bum knee or a bum ass will be lethal.

That's how bad Vino is? If it went that far in, he's done, unless he's some kind of Jens-ian superhuman rider.

I think he wants this win worse than any of them. He won't quit.

but the knees are used with every revolution. Riders with injuries to the ribs, collarbone, elbows, etc. can sometimes through super-human effort ignore the pain, but if the mechanics of the pedal-stroke and/or power-delivery are f#$%ed, then the rider is f@#$ed.

If it is a question of toughness, suffering, or will I believe in Vino. If the ligaments and tendons in his knees have been damaged and can't transfer power from his thighs to the pedals, he's cooked.

I love Vino and I see others here do too, but he's not made f different stuff than the other riders, nor is he tougher.  If the injury is as bad as its said then I expect him to start but he won't be the old attacking Vino.  Even if its less he'll really struggle.

Klodi too.  What an awful day for Astana.  I wonder how soon they transfer their hopes to Kash.