Stage 13 spoiler - deal?

Ray · #1 07-15-2006, 11:05 AM

OK, clearly Phonak decided to let the jersey go. Nobody in that break was a threat for the overall, although Pereiro is the strongest climber of the five. In addition to letting it go, though, do you think Phonak and IB have a deal for Pereiro's team to help Floyd in the Alps in exchange for spending a couple of days in yellow? Oscar was there to help Valverde but that gig's up. Floyd and Oscar were teammates last year - any relevance at all?

-Ray

saab2000 · #2 07-15-2006, 11:07 AM

yup

good move by phonak

saab2000 · #3 07-15-2006, 11:09 AM

Very smart of Phonak not to expend too much energy today. It was a long, hot stage. They are clearly believing that Landis can win it all.

obtuse · #4 07-15-2006, 11:49 AM

bad move by phonak. pereiro has placed in the top ten of the tour before and with the support of his team he could be trouble. he can climb; he can attack and he's not someone a team who could actually control things would have let get away.

obtuse

Fixed · #5 07-15-2006, 12:08 PM

alls fair in love and war....not a good move
cheers

saab2000 · #6 07-15-2006, 12:19 PM

Obtuse and I disagree. But it is a gamble by Phonak. I still think letting Popovych gain that time yesterday was a worse mistake.

Ray · #7 07-15-2006, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by obtuse

bad move by phonak. pereiro has placed in the top ten of the tour before and with the support of his team he could be trouble. he can climb; he can attack and he's not someone a team who could actually control things would have let get away.

obtuse

He finished pretty high last year, but he was well down until he was allowed to go on that long break on the mountain stage Hincapie won and then in another break a couple days later that he won. I seriously doubt he's a danger. But of all the guys in today's break, he's clearly the one with the best chance to hang in the Alps, so I'd be surprised they let him go without some kind of agreement.

-Ray

#8 07-15-2006, 02:06 PM

After today's half-hour difference between the lead guys and the peloton, I think at this stage it is all up grabs, atmo. The first 24 riders, up to Axel Merckx are only 10 minutes away from Pereiro. Just saying...

Elefantino · #9 07-15-2006, 02:14 PM

Did you catch what Moreau was saying to the camera today?

"Merci, Phonak. Merci pour tout."

Which either means:

a) Everyone knew Phonak was going to give it up today, and Moreau was thankful for the day of relative rest, or
b) He was ticked at Phonak for not chasing.

I'm betting the former. The fix was in. Now Landis can ride with abandon in the Alps.

Ray · #10 07-15-2006, 02:27 PM

Yeah, just saw Floyd's post-stage interview on VeloNews. He seemed profoundly un-concerned about giving up the jersey and pleased that his old team-mate was the one who got it. I think its a sweetheart deal. Oscar's team had nothing happening in this tour once Valverde went out. Now they get a couple of days in yellow, which they'd have never expected and their sponsor has got to be very happy with. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see IB riders working with Phonak in the Alps. If Oscar does really well the first day in the Alps and it looks like he has a real chance to win, I take it all back, but otherwise...

IIRC, there was a potentially touchy situation between Floyd and Oscar on Phonak last year that they handled very well. They were co-leaders, along with Botero. Floyd and Oscar finished 9-10 on GC but their positions flipped a few times in the last week with Pereiro going in breaks and then Floyd coming back on top in the final TT. I remember thinking there should be some real sniping back and forth between the two of them, but there never was and they seemed to work it together pretty well and encourage each other for the sake of the team. They probably have a lot of respect for each other and are happy to form an alliance that's in both of their interests anyway.

-Ray

Climb01742 · #11 07-15-2006, 04:00 PM

silly question: wonder if IB has a yellow paris carbon (like floyd's yellow BMC)? bet IB had one for valverde. wonder if pereiro and valverde ride the same size bike?

serious Q: can pereiro TT? no, right?

serious shoutout: way to go jens!! studly. though i think pereiro_sorta_had his eye on yellow, not the stage. still, jens rocked.

manet · #12 07-15-2006, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Climb01742

still, jens rocked.

jenstrong*

*atmo 4 cool

cs124 · #13 07-15-2006, 09:09 PM

phonak just pulled the second stupidest move of the tour...

...the stupidest, of course, being mcewen burning Davitamon matches chasing the previous day's break because oscar was within, what, 300 points of the green jersey...

Grant McLean · #14 07-15-2006, 10:11 PM

Anyone hear why Robbie Hunter and Nic Jalabert finished a couple of minutes
behind the main field today?
Couldn't they get eliminated for being outside the time cut?
That'd be something for phonak!

g

Marcusaurelius · #15 07-15-2006, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray

OK, clearly Phonak decided to let the jersey go. Nobody in that break was a threat for the overall, although Pereiro is the strongest climber of the five. In addition to letting it go, though, do you think Phonak and IB have a deal for Pereiro's team to help Floyd in the Alps in exchange for spending a couple of days in yellow? Oscar was there to help Valverde but that gig's up. Floyd and Oscar were teammates last year - any relevance at all?

-Ray

I believe Pereiro lost 28 minutes in the last mountain stages so he's not much of a threat to win the tour. I don't see much point in killing your team on a brutally hot to please your vanity with the yellow jersey. It was a smart move by Phonak.