Posted on 07/01/2011 7:58:26 PM PDT by Ready4Freddy
All true and good points. There hasn’t been that much discussion of the Giro on the coverage as a reason AC is back but they think he still has a shot at the podium so I guess those comments are reserved for the ITT when he doesn’t make up all his lost time. Then there will be all sorts of opinions as to why he didn’t succeed this year the way he has in the past. I personally think the Giro is most definitely a factor. They have been talking about how Cadel didn’t wear himself out this spring and is such in much better form.
You are also correct that it was lack of attention that caused the loss of time the first day. What AC was doing hanging out in the middle/ back of the peloton on the first day (when all the riders were “twitchy”) is anyone’s guess. His team and his manager should have been all over him since he didn’t have enough sense himself to get up front.
p.s. The UCI has not yet come out with their ruling on AC’s appeal. This entire discussion could become moot if they rule against him b/c he’d have to vacate last year’s TdF and the Giro.
Also neither of the Schleck brothers rode the Giro further enforcing the rationale behind skipping it to stay strong.
Stage 16 - Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux > > > Gap - 162.5 km
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Km 151.0 - Col de Manse - 9.5 km climb to 5.2 % - Category 2
Stage 16 - Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux > > > Gap - 162.5 km
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Medium Mountains - A sporting perspective
JEAN-FRANÇOIS PESCHEUX’S ANALYSIS: Ideal for a wily campaigner
“It’s the start of the final week. The race heads into Gap, crosses the Col de Manse, then drops down again into the finish after completing a small circuit. As we’re heading towards the Alps, this stage is not flat, which is what you would expect, but it isn’t too hard either as it just rises steadily throughout. It will suit a rider in the mould of Flecha or Garcia Acosta, that is to say one of the wily old campaigners who can cope with the climbs pretty well. Be aware also that something often happens after the second rest day, and it may be something completely unexpected. In 2003, for example, in order to avoid crashing into the prone figure of Joseba Beloki, Lance Armstrong opted, on pure instinct, to indulge in a bit of cyclo-cross over an Alpine meadow. That stage ended up making the headlines without any previously expecting it to.”
Vision, I hope you took another day off for Thursday! ;)
Gonna be a great week!!
No Flamme Rouge today because of the high winds (the big red kite.) Gilbert leads attack in final kilometers followed by Thos.. Vacente, Antony Roux. Pace set by Lampre, Cavendish totally hammering up the outside, Bosenhagen Renshaw and Cav sprinting... And Cavendish takes the finish by half a bike length! 2 - Ferrar, 3 - Petaki. Terrific ride. Voeckler, Schleck and Evans are the overall TdF leaders.
Finally! Maybe we will see some action and real racing on Thursday. So far this tour has been one of the least exciting in the past few years. Let’s hope that all changes in the Alps!
Escape group is now ~6’ ahead of peleton, best rider in the escape is Hesjedal @ 32nd in GC, 25’18” behind yellow jersey.
So far this tour has been one of the least exciting in the past few years.
Not for lack of a great course that could have presented opportunities for someone to step forward.
A friend of mine summarized it as "no Patron". Methinks the peleton is unwilling to give Contador that role, and many think he is incapable of donning that mantle.
Well, I’d say Thor did very well today - as well as Garmin.
And looky there Cav had a very respectable finish as well.
I found today’s stage to be far from unexciting. It would be cool to have a general analysis from Bay or Ready or someone. One of the questions on my mind is, I understand there is a reasonable gap, but could Cadel Evans win the tour? Is BMC strong enough to support him for an overall win?
I thought that Saturday’s stage was riveting, despite being a “no result” for all intents and purposes. Everything was set up for a major attack on the final climb, but Voekler answered every attempt.
I think it's really been a pretty exciting tour. I like tactical racing and team interplay. That's the heart of the sport. It is somewhat like baseball where most fans would like to see a lot of hits and booming home runs and a pitcher's duel seems boring. But if it goes beyond 7 innings with two pitchers battling it our the tension over what team might break the game open becomes the entertainment.
Who would have thought Andy would break on a Cat2 climb and lose time to the leaders? And who would have thought Voekler could protect yellow as he has done repeatedly in the hills over the last three climbing stages?
Nut now it looks like a battle between Cadel Evens and Frank Schelck unless something dramatic develops in the final mountains.
Maybe it will all come down to a classic duel on L’Alpe d’Huez. Or what about the clock deciding the race in the Grenoble TT on Saturday?
I think this is good stuff!
(On the subject of strategy and tactics: I've always wondered what might happen to the GC if the tour ever started out with some climbing days, then went to the long flat windy routes to force the teams to work.)
Plus it looks like Alberto's strategy of keeping his powder dry to allow his banged up knee time to heal may be paying off - it seems to have recovered enough to have let him make up some of his lost time today.
And if he didn't overdo it on this stage, maybe he can rouse a couple of members of the snoozing Schleck clan from their family naptime & stage a rootin-tootin' shoot-out up the Galabier & L'Alpe d'Huez.
(Or maybe that wascally SINO Thor can steal it away from the lot of them when no one's looking! Heh-heh.)
“They’ve lit the touch paper and everyone’s thrown their hat in the ring!”
i am finding the tour intersting this year, since it isnt really clear who the leader is at this point. it really is a race.
i was thinking schlecks, then maybe even voelckler.
but today, schelcks faded badly, i think they arein trouble. cadel is looking strong, and so surprisingly is contador whom i absolutely hope doesnt win.
if i had to call it today: cadel evans
Evans and Sanchez didn't seem to have any problem staying with Contador today. Evans is Contador's biggest problem, I would say, and I think Evans is a strong TT rider.
Frank probably hung with Andy too long today.
Voeckler doesn't have any team help so he has to get in a strong group and take whatever the groups gives him. He's earned my respect, BTW, that's for sure.
They were talking snow on the Galibier today. Maybe a route change coming up. Lots of question marks weather wise. I think Contador is one of the better technical riders. If so, he may try to pick up time near the summits knowing he can hold it on the descents.
It will be an interesting few days.
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