I believe he dropped OTB on that last cat 4 climb.
Le Tour!
- Thread starter NJ-XC-Justin
- Start date
I believe he dropped OTB on that last cat 4 climb.
Seems like Farrar doesn't favor the hilly run-ins. Also, Garmin's got nowhere near the train that HTC or even Omega does, so the last couple of hard turns would shell him/them. Fantastic stage. Nice to see all those pretty colors fighting rather than staying safe.
ArmyOfNone
Well-Known Member
That was impressive work by those omega boys today.
A stage like today makes me wonder if the Manx Missile could evolve into more of a classics rider. I'm sure the ability is there, but would he want to sacrifice some of his finishing pace to be a better all-rounder.
Thor is doing it. Or was he always like this? If Cav ends up at Sky, he may have to change the way he does things. They've got too many talented riders to sacrifice GC for stage victories by stacking the train at the expense of the mountains. If Tony Martin, who's in 5th on the GC, had pulled today, that break might have made it. Instead he worked for Cav. But when Wiggo's the man, Cav might have to become more like Petacchi and leech off of other trains. Which he's done. He'll still be a brilliant pain-in-the-ass no matter which way he rides.
Thor is doing it. Or was he always like this? If Cav ends up at Sky, he may have to change the way he does things. They've got too many talented riders to sacrifice GC for stage victories by stacking the train at the expense of the mountains. If Tony Martin, who's in 5th on the GC, had pulled today, that break might have made it. Instead he worked for Cav. But when Wiggo's the man, Cav might have to become more like Petacchi and leech off of other trains. Which he's done. He'll still be a brilliant pain-in-the-ass no matter which way he rides.
BiknBen
Well-Known Member
I'm avoiding this thread until I know what happens in the day's stage. Too many spoilers or threat of spoilers.
The breaks go off as soon as the start flag drops. The first hour and last hour are by far the fastest of the day. The first hour is spent organizing the breakaway. The last hour is reeling it in and keeping another from forming.
The lesser teams will simply relay attack and form breaks. The directors check the time gaps and decide to let guys go or not. By the time the TV coverage begins, the fireworks are over and things have settled down. The directors have said, "Ok, none of these guys are a threat. Let them go!"
Before the stage begins, riders are talking to each other and forming alliances. They share their breakaway plans in hope of getting help from companions in a break or teams in the peloton. Directors have sheets of race numbers of riders that they will not let get away at all. The break that survives often consists of random domestiques on relatively quiet teams hoping to score air time for their sponsors.
The gaps that the break is allowed is often based on the placing of the highest rider in the break. If he is ten minutes down on GC, the team of the yellow jersey will decide that it is ok for him to get 8 minutes (or some other number) up the road. Any more than that and they will go to the front of the field to limit the gap.
The team of the yellow jersey is often responsible for keeping the break in check. At some point, the teams with sprint ambitions will come to the front and help. They want the stage win. At that point the yellow jersey team can sit up and just stay out of trouble.
This will change as we get to the mountains. The sprinter's teams disappear and are replaced by the teams with climbers.
After watching tours for decades, I love the intricate battles that go on inside the peloton. Beside the common jersey competitions, there is a team competition, most aggressive rider, and honor that influences the strategy. Teams often get pissy with each other and you see interesting things develop. There is often much much more going on than you see or hear commented on. Lots of fun when you understand it all. When one competition appears decided, there are still many reasons to keep watching.
Vohkler is a French pride and joy. Because he is in yellow, the crowds come alive. He gained yellow in 2002 (?) after a long breakaway. He held it for ten days and turned himself inside out to hold on to it. That is why he is so popular with the press. Thor did similar things this year but Vohkler was even more impressive.
FWIW, I am a huge Chris Horner fan. Really disappointed to see him out. His post-race interviews are hilarious and insightful. I miss him already. I suspect he will one day take over for Bobke as the retired clown of the media.
THATmanMANNY
Well-Known Member
Did that one guy part of the 5 man break actually try to wrangle the frenchman because he wasn't doing any work? Reminds me of Road Rash
Vohkler gained yellow in 04. I loved watching this kid give his all on a fatbike. This from Wiki.
In 2004 suddenly came to international prominence in the world of cycling. After seizing the French championship, the lightly regarded Voeckler entered the 2004 Tour de France. After escaping with five other riders during the fifth stage, Voeckler gained significant time against the peloton, and earned the maillot jaune. Remarkably, he defended his jersey for ten days, even on stages not well suited to his strengths. With the maillot jaune on his shoulders, and intense media attention all around him, Voeckler only rode stronger. He survived the dreaded Pyreneean climbs, seconds ahead of the eventual winner, Lance Armstrong. Voeckler finally surrendered the jersey to Armstrong on stage 15 in the French Alps. Voeckler then also lost the white jersey (le maillot blanc, held by the best rider under 25) to Vladimir Karpets. But by then Voeckler was already a national hero.
If you are talking about the same break towards the end, Voeckler was pissed no one was doing work and waved the guys foward and pulled off to the side. Tony Martin tried to tell him to get back in line and Voeckler shrugged him off.
Tony Martin should be interesting to watch in the mountains. If he can hold on, he can murder bitches in the face in the time trial.
THATmanMANNY
Well-Known Member
nah it wasn't a shrug. Voeckler litrally ducked from an arm and hand that came at him.
Watched the actual finish of yesterday's stage last night. Damn that was fun to watch. I really like Gilbert. Like Ben, I am a big Horner fan (he's easy to be a fan of, I know). But Gilbert sure is easy to like.
Heard and interview with Voekler, who says he's under no delusions.
Random observation from yesterday - as the stage was ending and the peleton was climbing up that last cat 4 climb, the camera panned on the leaders. Contador looked pretty damn comfortable to me. A few riders over, Evans looked like he was working a lot harder to keep the pace in the front of that train. It's a random observation, maybe totally inaccurate, but I'm sure interested in how tomorrow goes.
Smart money is on Cav today?
Heard and interview with Voekler, who says he's under no delusions.
Random observation from yesterday - as the stage was ending and the peleton was climbing up that last cat 4 climb, the camera panned on the leaders. Contador looked pretty damn comfortable to me. A few riders over, Evans looked like he was working a lot harder to keep the pace in the front of that train. It's a random observation, maybe totally inaccurate, but I'm sure interested in how tomorrow goes.
Smart money is on Cav today?
Probably.
From watching contador over the years, it takes alot for him to show he is hurting. Evans is about the exact opposite and always looks like he is in a ton of pain, always.
I finally got to watch the end of stage 10 this morning. As norm mentioned, pretty exciting. Im guessing since cavendish didnt have his usual lead out group, he suffered in the final sprint? I also loved how Thor pops his shoe off for a 1/2 mile or so to have the have his mechanic tighten the cleat.
I did notice that, even in some of his interviews.
I do like the guy. Have to say that I'm pulling for him at this point.
+1 on Evans. During his "step on my dog and I'll cut your throat" period he was less fun to watch (when he lost the tour in the ITT to Sastre - wtf), but his year as World Champion was incredible. Apparently he's a lot of work for his domestiques. Constantly wanting to be piloted to this or that wheel.
dualfisted
Member
I think Greipel (sp?) took that stage because of the corner right before the finish line, it seemed like he just muscled the fatbike for the win. I also think that's why it went *****SPOILER ALERT***** the opposite way today.
Also, I loved today's stage, while I really watch this race for the big mountain top finishes, I loved watching the teams of the sprinters about poop their pants and all jump on the front of the peleton when the breakaway still had a minute and a half inside of 10k to go!!!
Tomorrow is going to be AWESOME!!!!!
Also, I loved today's stage, while I really watch this race for the big mountain top finishes, I loved watching the teams of the sprinters about poop their pants and all jump on the front of the peleton when the breakaway still had a minute and a half inside of 10k to go!!!
Tomorrow is going to be AWESOME!!!!!
ArmyOfNone
Well-Known Member
Ha! I was thinking the same thing after the last two stages. He looks like he is getting ready to inhale the final meters of the course.