| Archive for justcycling.myfastforum.org Just Cycling |
| maffy |
TdF Stage 13 - Friday 17th July - Vittel-Colmar 200km
clicky big mappy bonjour. guest appearance - trying to spot me dad on one of the hills. it's all somewhat underwhelming so far, n'est-ce pas? enjoyed spartacus' piddle descent. stayed for a week near gerardmer on the way to 1983 world champs when i was v small. nice lakes. and hills. it was the cafes at the top of the hills that first had me linking cycling sponsorship to real world products. mini miko ice creams. i quite liked the gis gelato cone kit too. always wondered why lyons maid didn't sponsor an exotic team. there was a nice bike shop in gerardmer. think i had a pearl peugeot at the time. colmar's nice too. the coverage on france tv that i've has been much less armstrongy than rai was in the giro. well, apart from the first day. itv4 highlights substantially more tue-centric. don't really get the point of the village depart show. the l'apres tour is easily the best highlights for a daily record. es haven't watched it since the dauphine, and before that la doyenne. there is a itv4 red button feed without adverts that i've got the non-sky tuning details for somewhere (not the same as last year) but the picture's a shoddy bitrate compared to france tv. i stayed at home because i need a new load-hauling bike. my dad went back anyway. he's always on the telly when he spectates. you'll spot him because he'll be standing at the side of the road clapping or waving. --- ...lumpy, but with radiograms... |
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| Jackov |
Looks like an easy run-in for Cav. | ||||
| MAILLOT JAUNE |
Re: TdF Stage 13 - Friday 17th July - Vittel-Colmar 200km
Does he have a grey beard, horns and wear red lycra???? 
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| inputjoe |
Should be a good one ...perhaps more interesting than Verbier. | ||||
| Fontfroide |
Thing I like about this stage is that I can't tell if nothing is going to happen or quite a bit. I think I might watch as much of it as I can. | ||||
| ventoux |
On the basis of what we've seen so far, my money is on "nothing is going to happen..." 
Prove me wrong..... PLEASE 
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| mayofan |
surely the non astanas must have a go here?
otherise, ill wager well see the pellizzotti and martinez show again! |
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| Bartali |
It's made for an attack, but I doubt it will come from a GC man. I'm surprised Pelizotti went today as this would have suited him. maybe he's needed tomorrow to help out with something from Nibs or RK. | ||||
| mayofan |
be good to see FP go up the road under the guise of KOTM, and kreuziger or nibali attack to bridge up..pellizotti is strong!
could work? |
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| kathy |
Pellizotti does tend to ride himself into a GT - he's done it in the Giro for the last two years. I might reconsider my FP again..... | ||||
| Jackov |
whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat, I Just changed from pellizotti liking your theory he would be tired today |
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| Ralphnorman |
It's gonna be a breakaway of 5-8 guys who are well down, get several minutes, attack each other on the final climb and hold off the bunch by 2 mins (ish), with just a whittling down process in the peloton with only 1 casualty (don't know who yet) | ||||
| smarauder68 |
I reckon no changes in the top 15 today...they'll cross together, but a break consisting of KOM chasers will stay away and gain 2 or 3 minutes on the leaders.
Pellizotti has gained over 6 minutes on Yellow since last week and now in 48th at 11 minutes down...If he could take another 4 or 5 minutes today, he could work his way into the top 10 before its over. |
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| HuwB |
It will be persistently raining and the decent from the Firstplan, if they use the right road, it very technical....
Nothing to be done with the Colmar run in, it's a pretty flat city, the gateway to the Rhine basin. At least the Plaztzerwasel has never been climbed on this road. Surely, somebody will remember what happened to the Distana train, on the Col de la Schlucht, in 2005 and hit them hard? I'd be surprised if this stage didn't serve up more excitment than the Verbier one. |
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| HuwB |
Scott, there's already been a change. Breaking news is Levi is out of the Tour with a broken wrist. |
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| smarauder68 |
He said it wasn't anything bad....didnt seem like his heart was really in this tour.... |
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| Jackov |
ohhhhh why didn't I FP Jens? Of course he's in the break today! Haussler has had a quiet tour. |
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| Nolte |
personally i'd let this breakaway away and not waste any energy chasing it down
hey doesn't someone have rigoberto uran? |
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| HuwB |
7 man break at 40", after 30kms.
Haussler, Garate, Chavanel, Moreau, Perez and two others Liquigas/Lampre chasing.... |
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| smarauder68 |
Liquigas chasing so Pellizotti can chase KOM pts...He could be in the polkadot jersey today if all goes well. |
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| HuwB |
Ruben Pérez, Jens Voigt en Rigoberto Urán are the others.
Pictures from the start- it's wet! |
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| Nolte |
[wrong thread] | ||||
| Ralphnorman |
Good thing I changed my fp to Garate 
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| Nolte |
3.
13:49 CEST As always, it's a case of the peloton being satisfied with the composition of the breakaway. It's likely that with just three riders ahead they'll be content to let Haussler, Chavanel and Perez exhaust enjoy a day out in front of the race. 4. 13:51 CEST (134km remaining from 200km) Looks like the peloton has given the three leaders a green light for now. The gap has pushed out to 1:00. 5. 13:57 CEST (129km remaining from 200km) The leaders have pushed 2:00 ahead of the peloton. They've covered 72km so far today. 6. 14:01 CEST Of the breakaways, Chavanel is the best placed in the overall classification. The Frenchman is in 45th place, 12:00 down on Rinaldo Nocentini (AG2R). Perez is 102nd at 52:49 and Haussler 105th at 55:24. Situation Heinrich Haussler (Cervelo), Reuben Perez (Euskatel-Euskadi) and Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step). Peloton at 3:50 |
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| smarauder68 |
gap up to 5:50....amazing how fast the gaps can grown when the peleton realizes nobody worth chasing is up the road....
I believe its a radio-free day....might make it more interesting if someone attacks on the descents when team cars cant communicate gaps.... |
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| smarauder68 |
Gap up to 7:30 now....the peleton must be taking a mass dump on the side of the road... | ||||
| Jackov |
Radios allowed today, Scott. It was part of the negotiations. | ||||
| Jackov |
Today will probably be a dud, but there is potential in this profile if somebody wants to be aggressive. | ||||
| HuwB |
Col de la Schlucht and Pellizotti's on the charge again! 
The suffering has already started. More asscam shots of Armstong asking Bruyneel to ask Pat to get the stage neutralised. 
Au contraire. Big attack, riders everywhere on the first big climb of the day!
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| 70kmph |
Whoa Lampy is gone home today 
Forget about Cav, its raining |
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| Jackov |
You see cleverly I managed not to jinx it. |
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| Jackov |
Situation
Heinrich Haussler (Cervelo TestTeam), Reuben Perez Moreno (Euskatel-Euskadi) and Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step). 13 man chase group - Egoi Martinez, Sergio Paulinho, Fabien Cancellara, Amets Txurruka, Maxime Monfort, Franco Pellizotti, Christophe Kern, Allessandro Ballan, Carlos Barredo, Brice Felliu and Linus Gerdeman |
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| Jackov |
15:08 CEST (85km remaining from 200km)
The peloton has pulled the chase group back towards the top of the Col de la Schlucht. There are still three leaders (Haussler, Chavanel and Perez) who have a 5:55 advantage. They had almost nine minutes at the start of the climb |
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| HuwB |
So, on to the Platzerwastel or whatever. A climb into the unknown, for most in the peloton.
Let battle commence..............pretty please! |
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| Bartali |
Well if someone is going to do something .... now is the time to do it! | ||||
| 70kmph |
"The climb up Col du Platzerwasel is difficult, it is a long way. It is a longer day and anything can happen. I know the area, but not that particular climb," Armstrong added.
Luxembourg's Andy Schleck visited the spot twice before the Tour and singled out the stage as one to take into account. "The Vosges are usually easy but it's not the case this time. The Platzerwasel is a really hard climb," he said. |
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| Jackov |
Phil and Paul are really building up the Platzerwasel. | ||||
| Jackov |
ok, phil said "expect Andy Schleck to go" | ||||
| 70kmph |
Haa that is a mouthful... der Platzerwasel
Yes Phil + Paul in love with Astaner, Lance |
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| Jackov |
Platzerwasel, Platzerwasel make me a platz | ||||
| Jackov |
Phil playing up wiggins chance for a podium | ||||
| Jackov |
they said menchov dropped | ||||
| CapeRoadie |
Menchov dropped
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| 70kmph |
attack by sexybank | ||||
| Jackov |
my fp, popo, fades away | ||||
| Mrs John Murphy |
Does anyone have the link to French TV coverage? | ||||
| cyclingtv |
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| HuwB |
Over the Col de Platzersnoozal, with no attacks.
Armstrong looking mean and tough on the front. If I didn't know any better, I'd say he was working for Bertie.
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| kathy |
Saxo's little attack shed a few Astana's . | ||||
| Hommedesbois |
Or
http://tour-de-france.france2.fr/?page=direct |
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| 70kmph |
peasouper
Haussler opening his suitcase of courage... |
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| Jackov |
Haussler's going to do it. | ||||
| HuwB |
Sorry to interrupt, but, breaking news....
Becky James wins Gold in the Junior 500m Time Trial in a time of 35.286, second was O.Mountauban of France in 35.671 Make that double European champion! 
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| Bartali |
SPLENDID!!! Great news Huw! Chapeau Becky!! | ||||
| SlowRower |
I'll cover that and raise a metaphorical class of something fizzy at my desk.
Great work! |
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| Slapshot 3 |
Brilliant news Huw | ||||
| Bartali |
Over the last climb and no GC attacks ....? | ||||
| J1A2P3A4 |
Now this has been a boring stage so far. | ||||
| Jackov |
oh well | ||||
| kathy |
Huw, that is fantastic news
Will someone please teach Harmon how to do sums??? |
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| Mrs John Murphy |
What a load of fucking rubbish.
Without doubt Saxo are the most gutless team in the peloton. |
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| HuwB |
The peloton pretender contenders lay another stage turd, on ths tour of tedium.
The sooner this race dries up and blows away in the wind, the better. At least Mike Smith is a bit of a fanboy. Me? I've knocked it off to concentrate on more exciting things! |
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| 70kmph |
good win for cervelo
Thor with the pack picked up 15pts |
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| CapeRoadie |
That's great news! 
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| Mysterion |
Unless a TV cameraman is involved. Riis yelled at a cameraman yesterday for interfering with a wheel change and then a Saxo mechanic punched the camera guy in the stomach. |
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| Bartali |
Good riding for FP. I think Leakygas might settle for that jersey! | ||||
| cadence |
I’m starting to agree with the majority of posters here, this has been one of the least competitive tours I can remember, the only people attacking are those who have no chance for the podium, it’s almost like it was planned as such.
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| CapeRoadie |
The Bore de France! | ||||
| Mysterion |
It was planned to keep it suspenseful, hopefully until Ventoux. The other idea was to tame the early mountain stages in hopes that doping would be muted. I don't think that breeds less doping, if they are planning to dope they aren't going be discouraged just because the HC climb is 50km from the finish but that was the theory by the ASO. |
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| headwind |
I mean do we need three weeks to sort this rubbish out. The parcours committee needs to be flogged for this tragedy.
Its why the Dauphine is the best stage race of the year! |
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| cadence |
So it’s like an NBA game, only watch the last two minutes…Keeping the times close until the end only makes it contrived and boring. I bet Contador is poking pins in a Lance Armstrong voodoo doll after all this, if it’s over in the first week at least it’s real and not staged, no pun intended. |
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| Fontfroide |
You must be bursting with fatherly pride. If you haven't done it, I would not mind a thread where you tell a story or two about her racing life. |
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| Bartali |
I'm afraid it was over on stage 1 when Contador blitzed the ITT!
I don't buy the keeping it tight for the Ventoux argument. Just how did they (or anyone else) expect a Schleck or a Sastre etc supposed to be competitive on Ventoux when it is preceded by two ITTs and aTTT? |
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| Bartali |
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| Boogerd_Fan |
+1 bartali...
by end of TTT astana were out of sight... altho i'm expecting a few fireworks still now we're finally entering the 3rd week |
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| Fontfroide |
I watched some of the stage, and found it very disappointing in terms of GC racing. Still enjoyed the escape. the chase was not that cool. Happy to see Haussler winning. What weather. When are they going to attack. I mean I will keep waiting,but I assume that if there is not some GC racing on Sunday then there will be nearly universal muttering. Plenty of journalists and riders are muttering. We are muttering. I will record the Ventoux stage, even as I watch it. I hope something happens there.
Meanwhile I shall enjoy the rest of the tour other than the GC racing. Like the green, the spotted, the stage etc. |
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| HuwB |
There is a thread over in general, FF.
I can always bore you with more! Talking of a bore. I hope everyone realises, that, apart from the "syncronised pedalling, let's have a crash" stage, the riders have now covered over 2000kms, during which, those who are laughably described as "contenders", have slugged it out, toe to toe, for a whopping 2000 metres! How shit is that!? The fix is in with Pat Corleone.
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| Mrs John Murphy |
What I think has annoyed people is that the likes of AS have talked up about how they are going to attack and then done fuck up when it comes to it.
It is all well and good saying it will be decided at Ventoux but it won't because there is another ITT which will further help the TTs. We would expect something from AS especially before the final TT, the same for Sastre but they appear completely unwilling to take the initiative. They seem determined to try to run last years race again and put all of their eggs in one basket. The course should be blamed without a doubt but the likes of Riis should also be blamed for their tactics. |
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| Biosphere |
I'm surprised that none of the other teams have tried to get Contador into yellow by having an attack that Astana have to respond to and drop Nocentini in the process. I've wondered if that was an explanation for Schleck's and Evan's behaviour last Saturday. The sprinter's teams would have kept him in yellow for most of the week.
Astana's openly stated game plan was to let ALM keep yellow this week. Why let them execute their plan unchallenged? Get Contador in yellow and and let the resulting tension in Astana do some work for you. Put extra media and drug testing pressures on the team. Try something. Anything. |
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| Boogerd_Fan |
wiating isn't such a bad tactic, considering how Contador went on Paris Nice in 1 day..... however its a mighty big assumption that a dig on ventoux is going to be as rewarding (especially as they're all going to be 3 mins back by then)...
Got to hope for the Verbier to create at least some selection! |
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| Hommedesbois |
CN think today was the Alps according to the heading of their report! | ||||
| kathy |
I think I heard someone else say it was the Alps today as well, possibly Mike Smith (yes, we have lost Carlton!), at the start of the IES coverage.
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| Bartali |
Point taken MJM, but in all fairness, the parcours hasn't helped the climbers. One mtf and that was very shallow. No point in attacking on (say) the Tourmalet - gaining a minute or two then trying to hold it against the blue train for 70km. It ain't going to happen. Wait until the alps - I think we'll se some attacks ... but still not enough opportunity for the climbers ... | ||||
| Biosphere |
It's short, the surface is good, the gradient is pretty uniform and there are no difficult sections. Of the 3 MTFs it's by far the easiest and they get a rest the next day. I'm fearing the worst on this one and I would dearly love to be wrong. |
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| Mysterion |
It might have been a little muscle flexing by Dark Helmet that Contador felt obliged to match. |
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| Fontfroide |
They say Verbier is a bit like Aspin. One of the few cols I have climbed that are famous, and it turned out to be not that hard, with luggage. the only thing that could make it hard is if someone attacks hard at the bottom. And various others keep attacking. We shall see. | ||||
| Bartali |
If that's true FF ... then it's a disappointment. Aspin is a beautiful climb, but pretty easy in the grand scheme of things. | ||||
| headwind |
In reflection, the entire tour will boil down to the TTs. I cant really see any stage imposing that much more pain on the GC. Ventoux? maybe. the reality is the conservative riding in the face of astana tempo riding has dulled this race to the point of pain.
another big ITT...and that will determine the race...well, actually the race is already determined. Its time to shake this dog up and do something interesting for a change. |
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| Jackov |
I hadn't thought of that, and I think it would have been a good tactic and I'm suprised it wasn't done. |
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| kathy |
You think those thick DS's are clever enough to work that one out?
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| Biosphere |
Not sure if the rolling eyes are for me or the DSs. When Nocentini was gapped last Saturday, it might have been possible. We'll never know. That said, Nocentini's quite impressed me this week - more tenacious than I expected him to be. |
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| kathy |
They're for the DS's, Bio.
I was very impressed with Nocentini as well, And he really seemed to enjoy himself in the yellow jersey. I think that's something we've seen a bit of in this Tour. The delight on riders' faces, Nocentini, Voeckler, Feillu, Haussler, Fedrigo. |
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