Stage 16 spoiler: Has it come to pass?

[William]

The C-man is trying his luck right now!!!


William

[William]

Thor!!!! :banana:



William

[William]

Schlecks caught sleeping.

Hats off to Cadel and Contador for mixing it up.



William

[crownjewelwl]

that the schlecks are little b!tches

[AngryScientist]

exciting finish. good stuff. i like the mix up. looks like contador is still alive.

evans is a hero!

[noflysonme]

Way to go THOR!!!

I guess it's a 2 man race now, Cadel and Contador.

Schlecks surprisingly couldn't stay with the big boys.

TV did as expected.

[William]

Good on Thor! Hagen looked, and when he turned his head back Thor took off. Sprinting 101 at it's best. :)




William

[JMerring]

great stage:

thor is the "man of the tournament" - they need a new jersey for this.

cuddles is looking good but he's burning too many matches. he will get dropped and lose big time over the course of coming three days.

it was fun watching the shlecks get shellacked. i look forward to it happening some more.

i'm rethinking my voeckler prediction. a little. he's still in it. but...

...alberto looked great. he will win at least 1 stage in the alps. overall? time will tell but after nearly 2.5 weeks, the tour has begun.

[gasman]

Great stage
Go Thor !!

[toaster]

Go A.C.! Make it a race. Time to slaughter them Schleks so Evans and Sanchez can contest a real Tour now.

[tv_vt]

What did Leopard's DS say yesterday? "I think it would be good if Alberto could attack, because we can go with him." Oh, really?

Funny, last year I was rooting for ASchleck. This year, not at all. Go Evans! He put it on the line today. As did AC - nice to see the fire in him coming back. And ditto for Sammy Sanchez. He's not holding anything back.

These guys are riding to win it. Along with Tommy V.

[leooooo]

Lol @ Schleck saying descents shouldn't be included.

Would be like cavendish saying climbs shouldn't be included.

[indyrider]

that the schlecks are little b!tches

I concur

[e-RICHIE]

Lol @ Schleck saying descents shouldn't be included.


where was this said atmo?

ps

arrange disorder

:eek: :eek: :eek:
:eek: :( :o
:D ;) :cool:

[rustychain]

Så bra Norge!

Contador will not win this tour

[TAW]

Not sure what the next few days will hold, but Cadel seems to be a little better at responding to attacks. Of course the steep mountains and more fierce attacks are yet to come.

[William]

So, was Contador playing possum, or is he just coming into some semblance of form?





William

[oldguy00]

Have the Schlecks called a press conference yet to discuss why it is someone elses fault they got dropped today?? ;)

I agree that AC won't win, don't think he can beat Cadel.

[CPP]

So, was Contador playing possum, or is he just coming into some semblance of form?





William


I think, if he attacked, he is coming into form. I think it comes down to if Evans has a bad day. (which in a long tour, he is prone to)

I'm not sure what kind of time trialer he is but Sanchez is looking promising. I also think that the Brothers should start worrying about a place on the podium

[thwart]

Fascinating tour for anyone with an interest in cycling.

Crashes and more crashes, Hushovd's 3 stage wins, Voeckler holding the yellow (almost?) forever, Cavendish's dominance in the sprints and, of course, the attendant controversy.

And now several closely matched GC contenders in the last week to duke it out.

Great, great stuff.

[jpw]

Cancellara to quite Leopard?

[MattTuck]

Yep. I have to say, the US based teams are rippin' it up.

I liked Garmin when they first came out, then I was not a big fan because JV's tactics and strategy seemed dubious.

They seem to be firing on all cylinders now though. I wonder if they needed the whole Cervelo team or if just Thor would have been enough...

:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[oldguy00]

Cancellara to quite Leopard?

Where did you read that?

[Straz]

Cancellara to quite Leopard?

I have been wondering that myself. Especially when Cancellara, O'Grady and Voigt have put huge efforts on the front end of the field only to have their team "leaders" dabble in the GC over the last week.

[harlond]

So, was Contador playing possum, or is he just coming into some semblance of form?He crashed 5 times in the first part of the Tour. I don't think he was playing possum.

[soulspinner]

Good on Thor! Hagen looked, and when he turned his head back Thor took off. Sprinting 101 at it's best. :)




William


Exactly, you pay for napping :beer:

[thwart]

Cancellara quitting Leopard? It'd be a surprise to Nygaard...

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/8993/Leopard-Trek-out-to-recruit-a-Classics-team-for-Fabian-Cancellara.aspx

[Karin Kirk]

I started this tour as a fan of the Schlecks, but they lost me over the past few days. Andy's motions for people to pull through or form a rotating paceline (which he seemed to be indicating today) seem misplaced and amateur.

Cadel rode mightily today. I too was hoping he wasn't burning too many matches, but he gained 3 seconds over AC so that was wise, I think. I will be rooting for Cadel over the Alps because I agree that he could be vulnerable to lose time to AC should he put in a serious attack.

And the real heroes of the tour continue to be Thor and Thomas Voekler. Those guys have serious depth and are really fun to watch.

Great racing today! :banana:

[leooooo]

where was this said atmo?

ps

arrange disorder

:eek: :eek: :eek:
:eek: :( :o
:D ;) :cool:


http://www.itv.com/tourdefrance/2011/news/andy-schleck-complains-about-descent-into-gap-on-stage-16/

New interviews has Andy's OWN DS coming out saying descents are part of the sport, looooollll. I was actually rooting for this guy last year. He kinda lost me this year.

So if descents shouldn't be allowed. And soft climbs teh suck according to Frank's complaints. I guess TdF should only be about 15% climbs and TTT so Spartacus can pull all day?

[sc53]

http://www.itv.com/tourdefrance/2011/news/andy-schleck-complains-about-descent-into-gap-on-stage-16/
This video can only be viewed in the UK? What??

[bicycletricycle]

AC could double and that would be pretty cool. I hope there is a lot more racing like today through the alps. Today was awesome. AC looked strong and Cadel jumping with him was unexpected.

brothers are looking like they might not make it to the podium.

[crownjewelwl]

Cancellara to quite Leopard?

Didnt you hear? They're changing the team name to Trek-Leotard

[jvp]

This artical has AS complaining about downhill finishes:
AS not happy (http://eurosport.yahoo.com/19072011/58/tour-de-france-schleck-unhappy-organisers.html)

[soulspinner]

Without a lot of help from a very good Sanchez, Contador would have lost more time. Whats with Andy Schleck motioning people to pull through, last stage he motions the yellow jersey through to take a pull when he doesnt need to, really? TV just supposed to pull for you when he has time on ya? :confused:

[firerescuefin]

Great to see Cadel, AC, and Sanchez lay it out there today. :beer:

I have been a huge critic of Vaughters. His tactics today were beyond reproach....and his riders pulled them off

Agreed, AS is the new synonym for "little bit*h"....nothing wrong with getting beaten or losing time, but his act is pathetic.

[e-RICHIE]

http://www.itv.com/tourdefrance/2011/news/andy-schleck-complains-about-descent-into-gap-on-stage-16/

New interviews has Andy's OWN DS coming out saying descents are part of the sport, looooollll. I was actually rooting for this guy last year. He kinda lost me this year.

So if descents shouldn't be allowed. And soft climbs teh suck according to Frank's complaints. I guess TdF should only be about 15% climbs and TTT so Spartacus can pull all day?

there's a new rule still in beta testing - you can't start the race without an older brother atmo.

ps

arrange disorder
:cool: :cool: :cool:
:cool: :cool: ;)
:cool: :cool: ;)

[FlashUNC]

Great to see Cadel, AC, and Sanchez lay it out there today. :beer:

I have been a huge critic of Vaughters. His tactics today were beyond reproach....and his riders pulled them off

Agreed, AS is the new synonym for "little bit*h"....nothing wrong with getting beaten or losing time, but his act is pathetic.

I'd argue aside from the Tour of Flanders, Garmin-Cervelo's entire season has been a vindication of Vaughters.

[firerescuefin]

I'd argue aside from the Tour of Flanders, Garmin-Cervelo's entire season has been a vindication of Vaughters.


Agreed regarding Flanders, and I thought he kind of fell into Roubaix....but as you said, success speaks for itself. Kudos to him and his team.

Let's just say, I probably shouldn't quit my day job. :cool:

[patrick8037]

Maybe time trials also shouldn't be part of the Tour...

[jr59]

Maybe they should go back to having much longer Time Trails.

They have made the tour, where unless you are a WORLD class climber, there is no way you can win. They have taken the sprinters out of GC.

[soulspinner]

Maybe they should go back to having much longer Time Trails.

They have made the tour, where unless you are a WORLD class climber, there is no way you can win. They have taken the sprinters out of GC.


+1-Was thinking the same way......

[firerescuefin]

They have taken the sprinters out of GC.

Not against longer time trials, but sprinters have never been GC contenders :confused:

[Wilkinson4]

I was watching the text updates and can't wait to watch tonight. This is exactly the type of racing I want to see. Guys go all in. I think AC is going to lay down a huge attack on the last few days in the Alps and he may take the time out of Evans, but with the TT I just don't think AC can do it.

And again, hats off to the man in yellow. He is truly doing that jersey proud!!!

mIKE

[Olmo]

Lol @ Schleck saying descents shouldn't be included.

Would be like cavendish saying climbs shouldn't be included.

Miguel Indurain used to win by dominating the field with wattage and time trialing. Boring, but no doubt he was a champion.

We've seen the race evolve with the pharmacology so that now the GC guys are simultaneously the best time trialists and the best climbers.

I'd like to see a Tour that focuses on the great lost art of descending. When you have to go faster than your fear allows, that's racing, not just pedaling.

Not that I could do it either, but Schleck reminds me of those 90s era Europe mountain bike racers that said that mountain bike races shouldn't be held in US Mountains (too high).

I like that Schleck couldn't handle the rain or the descents, it makes them more human. I'm very very impressed with Voeckler outpacing some great cyclists today. More impressed than I've been with any cyclist since maybe pre-Armstrong. I'm thinking Bobby Julich, here.

[firerescuefin]

I'd like to see a Tour that focuses on the great lost art of descending. When you have to go faster than your fear allows, that's racing, not just pedaling.

Umm...there are plenty of great descenders....and what goes up, must come down. A great descender does not make a grand tour champion....although Salvodelli was pretty awesome and Cadel knows what he is doing in that arena.

I don't need to see promoters setting up one off trick/deadly descents like they attempted to in the Giro and call that bike racing. Perhaps the X games or downhill MTBing would better suit your needs.

[jvp]

How good or bad is Sanchez at time trials? He is one to watch...

[Fixed]

2011 Spanish time trial champion Luis León Sánchez
cheers

[firerescuefin]

2011 Spanish time trial champion Luis León Sánchez
cheers

Not Sammy...Your Sanchez is OK in the time trial but did not even take part in this years Spanish TT. Agree regarding entertainment/cajones.

[ultraman6970]

The bros, specially andy just need a nanny or something to stop crying like a little baby. It is too hot, it is too cold, it is too steep, it is not steep... always some sh...t to say, today was so simple as... "we felt bad, thats all," Even TV that is not even a climber was able to stay and take time from them, so why for them specially for andy the climb was a problem and not for TV???

Sincerely hope that tomorrow Contador, Evans and Sanchez are able to just shut the f... up to AS with a definitely blown to his 2011 tour by taking all of them 3 minutes from him. I even wish TV could take 1 or 2 minutes to him now (have a lot of faith in the guy).

Big brother needs to concentrate in his own race and not in his wuzzy brother no more or he will lose even more time in the next 2 days.

[flydhest]

Andy sure does not seem to be comfortable descending, does he?

Cuddles looked very sharp.

Contador was relentless with the attacks. Very well done.

[Wilkinson4]

That was great! Hey, just looking at overall standings and the points comp and noticed that two riders have negative points. What gives?

116 Andrey Amador Bakkazakova (CRc) Movistar Team -5
117 Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) Team RadioShack -10

mIKE

[harlond]

We've seen the race evolve with the pharmacology so that now the GC guys are simultaneously the best time trialists and the best climbers.
Are you saying Hinault and Lemond were dopers?

[bluekudu]

Today was a foothill. Bigger days ahead. I think it will/hope it gets more interesting. Thanks Thor, Cadel.

[jbrainin]

Are you saying Hinault and Lemond were dopers?

And Indurain, too.

[Karin Kirk]

That was great! Hey, just looking at overall standings and the points comp and noticed that two riders have negative points. What gives?

116 Andrey Amador Bakkazakova (CRc) Movistar Team -5
117 Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) Team RadioShack -10
Riders can get docked points and/or time for breaking the rules like holding onto the team car. So I guess if you haven't earned any points to begin with, then you get penalized and they deduct points, you end up in negative-land, kind of like the US economy.

(No, I'm not trying to start a fight about the economy. Just a little levity, that's all.)

[Olmo]

Maybe time trials also shouldn't be part of the Tour...

This is funny because this year the TT is a non-factor. Miguel Indurain couldn't win this tour. I like a balanced Tour, giving attackers with panache, climbers, and TT specialists even footing.

I love the cyclist Vaughters has helped Thor become. I love the heart Voelcker has shown.

[thinpin]

I love the cyclist Vaughters has helped Thor become. I love the heart Voelcker has shown.
This has happened before. I remember Sean Kelly remade himself in the mid to late 80s. There are others too.

[Richard]

I wouldn't say the tt is a non-factor...Cadel's strategy at this point would be to limit Contador's gains in the mountains that are coming so that he can hold on to yellow in the tt. The Sclecks will lose big time in the tt so they have to be far ahead by then. Cadel and Contador will tt at reletively similar times and I think Cadel knows that if he can be a few seconds ahead of Alberto going into that stage, he wins. If he allows Alberto to get ahead before the tt, he loses. At this point, unless the Schlecks unleash something they haven't shown, the tt is the race (IMO).

[thinpin]

I wouldn't say the tt is a non-factor...Cadel's strategy at this point would be to limit Contador's gains in the mountains that are coming so that he can hold on to yellow in the tt. The Sclecks will lose big time in the tt so they have to be far ahead by then. Cadel and Contador will tt at reletively similar times and I think Cadel knows that if he can be a few seconds ahead of Alberto going into that stage, he wins. If he allows Alberto to get ahead before the tt, he loses. At this point, unless the Schlecks unleash something they haven't shown, the tt is the race (IMO).
But AC needs some time on CE to make the TT the race - so the hills are the race too.