Le Tour!

Today was lame. Aside from Basso and Voekler, who are just awesome to watch out there. At this pace, they'll be checking each other all the way to Paris while Voekler takes the yellow home.

Contador sure looked a lot better today than previous days. Not sure he's out of it yet.
 
Norm said:
Today was lame. Aside from Basso and Voekler, who are just awesome to watch out there. At this pace, they'll be checking each other all the way to Paris while Voekler takes the yellow home.

Contador sure looked a lot better today than previous days. Not sure he's out of it yet.
Click to expand...

It was nice to see Evans try something, though. I expected the Schlecks to work together all day, but when Evans took off that one time I was actually hoping he'd succeed. I'm not a big Evans fan (I think he's an emotional nutjob) but he always seems to be suffering and still pushing through, and I respect that. But overall, I mostly agree with you -- I think Voekler is the t only reason to watch right now. Basso -- well, he makes me kind of sad: every time he attacks, I just know he'll be run down. He has the guts to make the effort, but not the legs to keep himself away at this point. Voekler is the same, but he never had any business being there in the first place, so he just seems gloriously insane to keep up his efforts. I hope he keeps the yellow! (Never going to happen though because he'd have to have the TT of a lifetime to win it, and that's not in the cards.)
 
I've never been an Andy Schleck fan. He annoyed me today. He put in a bunch of digs that didn't last. Then he starts waving his arms in frustration because others aren't contributing to the pace-making. Duh! They are not going to work for you. What do you expect? A champ doesn't do that. A champion talks with his legs. :getsome:

BTW, I love Jens Voigt. A true cycling hardman, ride all day at the front, crash twice, climb in anger and punish everyone. Then he speaks his mind after the race.
 
Norm said:
Today was lame. Aside from Basso and Voekler, who are just awesome to watch out there. At this pace, they'll be checking each other all the way to Paris while Voekler takes the yellow home.

Contador sure looked a lot better today than previous days. Not sure he's out of it yet.
Click to expand...

plus one
 
BiknBen said:
I've never been an Andy Schleck fan. He annoyed me today. He put in a bunch of digs that didn't last. Then he starts waving his arms in frustration because others aren't contributing to the pace-making. Duh! They are not going to work for you. What do you expect? A champ doesn't do that. A champion talks with his legs. :getsome:

BTW, I love Jens Voigt. A true cycling hardman, ride all day at the front, crash twice, climb in anger and punish everyone. Then he speaks his mind after the race.
Click to expand...

that 2nd crash was a slam. very tough
 
Not that surprising this race will be decided in the alps. Jans viogt awesome, basso awesome, still rooting for Andy schleck.
 
Its's going to be very interesting in the alps. I dunno. These big guns are really giving it all. Even if it is just checking each other. And you can really never tell hows one performance is just by face. It's like judging a book by it's cover. But yea I'm kinda worried the frenchy will be yellow all the way eventhough he's not known to last that long but the man's gonna give it all he's got to hold on. He's got a big heart. You never know. As for Andy I think he needs to run away very soon. The days of the tour is numbered and he looked very fustrated today cause his attacks deemed useless.

This tour is actually quite interesting with all the contenders. I feel like it can really go to any of the top dogs. You never know what is going to happen. Ctash, bonk, roided up more, etc
 
The Schlecks have no balls. I think they hold each others junk when they take a piss. Stop looking for your brother and go!
#1 - Give Contador too much time and he'll crush you. He doesn't have the pop right now but he keeps draggin himself up which will play into his hands in the Alps.
#2 - They need to put at least 1.30 on Evans or he'll blow them away in the TT (a' la Levi in the Tour De Swiss).
#3 - Voekler is smarter, stronger and faster than he was 7 years ago and simply more passionate than either of those 2. At this point I would too see him keep the MJ and the schmucks get 2 & 3. That would make "the anger in in (their) stomaches overflow" (ref. to interview after douche #1 lost his chain last year - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDJzbJnDzCc&feature=related )

The Schlecks are simply making it easier for me to digest Contador.
 
Last edited:
Andy's attacks were useless because, oh I don't know, he stopped after 10 seconds. Ben is right, dude has to drive it home if he wants it to stick.

Bummed that Horner is not in this mix.

It's interesting that so many are in it. But these aren't real attacks. The only attack we saw in the mountains was Frank Schleck 3 days ago. Evans did yesterday, and I thought it was well-timed, but he just doesn't have that extra juice to shake the other guys. As Phil said at one point, he was throwing down like it was a finish line sprint to stay with one of Andy's attacks. I think he's holding, but on the edge.
 
Norm said:
This is absolutely what I thought yesterday. Right now I'd rather have him win than either of those 2.
Click to expand...

Leopard likely has a game plan that they are sticking too unless they needed to make a drastic change, so all of this stuff is still just cat and mouse. Andy is still far enough above Contador that ge can beat him, which is his main objective. I think they are under estimating Evans though and maybe even basso. But still, three big mountain days with two mountain top finishes is a done of time. The alp d hues stage should be amazing if all of these guys are still in it. All I know is that there is no way I would rather see Contador take it.
 
I want to also engage in a bit of Schleck bashing, and I wish there was more of a spirit but...

1. The Tour is sanitized now. It's down to a science. The director says go or no go. Those days where you have a brawl on the slopes are mostly gone, I'm afraid. Luckily we still have guys like Thor to surprise us.

Or maybe it's because no GC contender is doping anymore, so no one rolls away from the pack in a superhuman effort. At least it's clear Contador isn't eating tainted meat anymore.

2. Those attacks on the climbs are brutal tough to hold. If you think drafting isn't a factor on an 8% grade, that is incorrect. They go like ~18mph...

3. Voeckler is strong and passionate. He earned the jersey after yesterday, even though initially it was gift he didn't really earn. His domestique did pretty good too.

4. Voigt crashed for no real reason, twice. While I like his resiliency, he needs to stop falling and going off road. Or at least don't yell at the camera when you do.
 
I love Voigt but I think he has some mental lapses.... witnesseth 2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7p1-gCNldUc

Leopard (pronounced Lay o pard - but everyone already knows that) strategy - I dont know if its Nygaard or Anderson calling the shots but I suspect they are both smoking hash while their cook is making them seared Tuna in theri super tricked out kitchenbusdiningroom. They are over estimating the Schlecks abilities to drop these guys in the Alps or underestimating everyone elses ability to hang. Remember the Alp stages are not nearly as demonic in steepness. Stage 16 and 17 will be a good place for some of the lower placed contenders to make a go. 18 - Galibier is long but there are only 2 steep pitches - I think the avg is around 5%. L'Alpe Duez is going to be the fireworks stage for sure since the 2 drips are just going to mark Contador. Voekler has a shot - don't underestimate the power of the yellow in the time trial. I remember when Rasmussen only lost like 30 seconds in a TT - oh wait he was on drugs.
 
Last edited:
Sure seems to me the only difference between Farrar and Cavendish is a guy named Crenshaw. You put Crenshaw in front of Farrar and I think he wins today's stage. Farrar is on his own much longer than Cavendish in all of these sprints and does an admirable job.

Ilya's point #1 is particularly accurate IMO. I think that's why you don't see as many attacks, because the numbers probably don't support it. With information comes less insanity.

Still love Gilbert out there. Gilbert, Basso, Voekler, and Thor for that matter. These are the guys I enjoy watching every day.

Bill - I agree that they're far overestimating Andy's ability to drop the hammer.
 
The prime time race coverage ended early this evening and the Phil, Paul, Bobke, etc. filled about 20 minutes with Tyler's post-race rampage. He is a mommas boy. Throws little hissy fits and cries when he doesn't win. Over the years he has said, "If it wasn't for this, that, and the other thing...I would have won." a few too many times.

...and I can't take him seriously with that hair. It's like a 21st century mohawk.
 
I can't defend that interview, he sure looked like he was about to cry. Not sure what he was so whiny about. He didn't call out anything, other than the fact that Cav was struggling the day before and money yesterday. But he came off like he was expecting to win the stage. Not sure what the deal is there.
 
I saw a short blip in the live coverage and Farrar said he was disappointed he didn't win the stage and he really wanted it.

WHAAAAAAAA, not shit you really wanted it. Maybe you would have won some more stages if you weren't 20 wheels back when the sprint started. In this sprint he wasn't even second so stop whinning.

They are making such a big deal about cavendish needing his team to win. Yes, in many cases they are a huge part, but as we saw in his second win in this years tour (when he won from 9th wheel) and after Renshaw was booted out last year, that he can sprint with out his team and win. I would like to see him keep the green jersey.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom