Posted on 07/02/2014 12:26:29 PM PDT by Baynative
While the media tries to make soccer into a real sport we are only three days away from the 2014 Tour de France a genuine test of men against men, men against nature, men against elements and men testing their own hearts and will.
(Excerpt) Read more at letour.com ...
Blel Kadri won the stage. Contador 2nd over 2 minutes behind. Nibali 3rd a few seconds behind Contador.
Kadri takes over the lead in the Polka Dot Jersey for King of the Mountains. He was in a breakaway of 5 that had a lead of up to 11 minutes.
The only thing that would probably alter that plan would be some trouble coming at them from elsewhere. But, who is still healthy enough to bring it? Maybe the next two days will tell.
Today my "Silver Sprocket" award for gutsy performance was going to go to Chris Horner. To think that he was almost killed in April when he was hit by a car in a dark tunnel and left lying in the road amazes me. I once broke some ribs in a road race pile up and the pain and discomfort lasted for months. Horner is tough as nails.
That said, I have to share his award with Tejay Vangarderen and Andrew Talansky. These guys have bounced off the asphalt so many times in the last week, I don't know what gets them out of bed.
It can happen; after all, who heard of Blel Kadri before today?
I don’t have anything against Niboli but I certainly hope we don’t have him in yellow all the way to the end. That would make for a very boring Tour in my opinion despite all the recent fireworks. My guess is that Contador will be in yellow at some point. He may not in Paris but I think he will attack and get the jersey in a mountain stage. Niboli is also apparently a terrible time trial rider so will need a big cushion if it comes down that the ITT at the end.
I would love to see Talansky or Van Garteren at least on the podium but after the past 2 days, I suspect that is wishful thinking. They have both taken some very tough falls that have got to take a lot out of their ability to compete.
Who was stung by a bee? Did we see it?
Nice interview with Horner yesterday.
He spelled out the reality of the first day of climbing doesn’t show what will happen later .
Contador did seem to be more relaxed coming to the line so we shall see if he does launch an attack that he feels can break the leader and regain a major part of his time gap, putting him into better position for the TT where he should have an advantage.
I am going on record to say that I think “giving” the yellow jersey away intentionally is a big mistake. If Nibali’s team, Astana, doesn’t think they can hold it at the end, that’s one thing, but to give it away with the assumption that they can get it back whenever they want is a mistake, in my opinion. This is the TdF. Everyone is turning themselves inside out to get the yellow jersey. Getting it is extremely difficult and getting it back for Astana is not at all guaranteed. I may be completely wrong but it always seems like when people get “cute” in the Tour, things don’t turn out the way they expect.
Lost - or given - time is forever lost.
Whatever you can make up - the guy ahead of you can make up also.
Totally agree!
Although I’ve heard it before, I still don’t understand the assumption that it is easier for a team to ride if they are not carrying the leader’s jersey.
I is going to change a lot of team strategies going into the next mountain series after the break.
Considered bad form to let the Jersey go. The Jersey team is supposed to keep the breakaway at a reasonable time so the team keeps the Jersey.
If it’s a sprint finish the sprinter’s teams will assist so they can catch the breakaway just before the finish.
It also depends on the mix of the breakaway.
A team does not have to ride down the breakaway if they have a rider in it.
Then in the breakaway if there is a rider there only because he’s there to assist his main rider back in the main field don’t look for him to assist the breakaway.
Lots of tactics within tactics in each day’s stage.
I jumped into today’s coverage after he dropped out.
Took a while for them to show a clip of him on the side of the road. He did look a little banged up.
Nibali is up on Richie Porte by 2’33’.
Nibali only needs to hold them off in the mountains and 2”33” should be good for the ITT - maybe....
I think Nibali showed he’s got the stuff. I still have big ‘attaboys’ for Tejay and Chris Horner.
I still have big ‘attaboys’ for Tejay and Chris Horner.
Now pulling for TeJay to make podium...
That would be a successful tour for me.
To be on the podium he needs to find 1’9” to move himself from 7th to 3rd.
Possible - so I’m pulling for him to be on the podium also.
A little old news but explains where Cadel Evans went to
http://velonews.competitor.com/2014/06/news/disappointed-giro-cadel-evans-ponders-future_330438
For a rider who is 42, Horner’s ride has been remarkable (17th after Monday). Van Garderen is still very much in the hunt for a podium finish. Talansky did not race smart, crashed often, and has blown his top-ten chances. He will learn.
Did you notice the body language of his teammates that were shepherding him as they dropped off? They were spent.
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