| Archive for justcycling.myfastforum.org Just Cycling |
| kathy |
TdF stage 14- Colmar-Besançon, 18th July
Last 5km 
I think Cav will want to have a go at this one after Hushovd's exploits today. |
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| CapeRoadie |
Cavendish had his rest day, so he'd better bring it. | ||||
| headwind |
and the snooze fest rolls on yet another day. i mean really, this 3 weeks race will come down to 4 or 5 stages...why race the others? | ||||
| cadence |
If Lance gets his ass dropped on Sunday we'll know why, I hope thats not the case. |
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| headwind |
sure...4 or 5 stages with any meaning...
why race the others? Sunday? no chance...there very little chance sunday will add up to much. sure its a MTF, but on a class 1, with minor leg softening in advance. a break will take this too. and dont expect much a gc shake up, especially at the top of the table. |
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| Fontfroide |
If all the Tour de France was is a race for GC, then you are right, this one could have been done in ten days at the outside. But it more than that, and you have to leave room for French guys to win stages, unknowns to emerge, and time for us to cast aspersions on the creeps that ride along in the bunch, doing very little to entertain us,plus gossip to unfold and all of us French residents and foreign tourists to get by the roadside and watch. The tour is way more than the GC. Way more than a race. Pretty hard to get wildly excited this year though. |
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| Mrs John Murphy |
The tour is a perfect cure for insomnia. This stage is a classic - go out do some shopping and tune into the results at 4.30 and see how much of a twat Frodo has been stage. |
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| Geraint |
There are two reason why Im put off watching much of each stage apart from the last few kms, the repetitiveness of the action and the repetitiveness of the Paul/Phil show (do they keep repeating the same stock phrases to piss people off or do they really assume that most of their viewers have never seen cycling before). If its a bunch sprint, Cav and his leadout train are going to dominate it, if its a mountain stage the GC contenders will finish in a bunch. Sure this tour will probably be decided by small time margins of less than a minute, but that doesnt mean it will have been exciting. The second week stages could have been interesting if this were the Giro and there were more riders willing to make an attack.
The last three tours were interesting because there was no dominant team to dictate the tempo. Last year, Evans was whining about CSC controlling it, but we could never be sure if Sastre had the ability to rise up and take the lead. This year, I hope something interesting happens in the Alps, but its not looking promising. Armstrong is better than expected and if he doesnt edge out Contraband in the TT, he will do enough to finish second overall. He does not have the old superhuman acceleration but I can see him hanging with the others on Ventoux with maybe Contraband getting away for a few seconds gain right at the end. Yawwwwn |
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| Geraint |
I like how Sherwin explains to the audience how he finds every stage fascinating and he eagerly anticipates every stage sprint finish. He should be in Afghanistan selling Western-style democracy to the locals. Its a good thing the Ashes are on so I have something more interesting to watch at the same time. |
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| Bartali |
He used his brain on a flat stage to gain 40 seconds by following Columbia's wheels - that was clever ... and unexpected. But other than that, what did we expect? Back to the same old issue of two weeks racing with only two (weak) opportunities for individuals to affect CG - short ITT and shallow Arcalis. |
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| Slapshot 3 |
I think that's part of the problem there's been no real test for any of them yet. Armstrong's no better than 5th or 6th on GC in my opinion and on the odd occasion the GC boys are going to have to make matters count I think we'll see that.
Let's be honest it's pretty much been a drag till now, tomorrow might bring some fun to the proceedings but I can still see a grinding drag up to Verbier with the top 10 on GC finishing together though I don't see Nocentini holding yellow.....It's not been a good tour |
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| 70kmph |
Jens is having a meltdown
George in virtual yello |
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| MAILLOT JAUNE |
From what I've heard, Voigt punctured and had to get a spare from Mavic, there appeared to be a problem with it and he was waiting for the team car but it couldn't get through or was up with the break, so he's been forced to fall back into the peloton. | ||||
| Slapshot 3 |
What a great afternoon.
Stuck in work, the rest of the boys are watching some golfing thing or other. I've done the crosswords in all the papers, can't see that stage online because the filters won't let me..... maybe the only positive in this boring tour.... 
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| Mrs John Murphy |
A day in Yellow as a long service medal to the Uniballer? Thanks for tipping Liestrong off about the Columbia attack which enabled Liestrong to inflate his GC position? Still SM'll be pleased if Hincrapie has a day in Yellow. Harmon's mancrush on fat george means he'll be getting through multiple boxes of kleenex today. I wonder if he gets a bulk buy discount? |
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| chardon |
George Hincapie is now virtually in yellow!!!!!!!! Yeeeeeeees! 
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| 70kmph |
Hi Chardon 
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| Slapshot 3 |
Wahay...someone brought the times in....new crossword | ||||
| CapeRoadie |
Astana controlling the field for Hincapie and staying slow for the payback later? George fills in for Levi in the hills. Old alliances stronger than the jersey colors.
As for me, when Moreau stopped to kiss his lovely daughter and wife and then daughter again and again, that was the highlight of this stage. All smiles. Glad the French cameramen/women are on top of the race. The coverage is always excellent, with the sweeping panoramas (which unlike MS, I love), the coverage of all the action, crashes, breakaways, etc., and even "art" shots like the one of the escargot, or the sunflowers, etc. The racing could be bad but I'll always watch for the camerawork. Spectacular! |
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| chardon |
Hi 70mph. Missed your comments on Wimbly, so I no longer bothered the tennis thread.
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| CapeRoadie |
Peloton losing ground, as predicted. Either way, Columbia wins the stage (if George still has a sprint). | ||||
| Slapshot 3 |
bugger...bored again that only lasted 20 mins |
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| kit |
The Chicken! Rass is back! 
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| MAILLOT JAUNE |
Welcome back kit. Nice to see your avitar again! | ||||
| CapeRoadie |
The Chicken Man had his vanishing twin with him and also pulled a rabbit out of his hat.
Bertie isn't riding with his team. |
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| MAILLOT JAUNE |
Just caught this news on the BBC:
Tour de France spectator killed One person has died in an accident involving a police motorcycle on the 14th stage of the Tour de France, organisers say. Reports say two other people - also spectators - were also injured. |
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| CapeRoadie |
They'd better get control of their race. Tragic. BB gun shots and now this! | ||||
| kathy |
I don't know why the commentators keep expecting Columbia to help the chase - at this rate Hincapie will get the yellow jersey. | ||||
| 70kmph |
omg will never hear the end of it from SM68 | ||||
| HuwB |
Gap up to 12 minutes. George "Pereiro" Hincapie to win the Tour! 
Very sad news from the start. 
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| cyclingtv |
computer error?? gap about 8'30" 51 km to go.. | ||||
| HuwB |
Oooops, my bad.  Timing error. Still, I reckon Lance is trying to ease Big George into the jersey, for all those years of service.
Yeah, I like Kit's smiley avatar too. Too bad, he tells me it was a slip up. I managed to tease a post out of him, but thats it. 
Maybe, I can lull him into another mistake...... Still, I'm glad to see that "old gal" Chardon has been enticed out of her self imposed early retirement!
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| chardon |
Hey thanks Huw. That's sweet.  Happens it's the weekend, and can't really resist the Tour can I?
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| headwind |
for sure. goeorge in yellow as payback, and for services to be rendered next week.
in the columbia break in the wind, george took the wind for lance. i bet he has the ok to do so if no one for columbia is in the daily mix. awesome.... NOT |
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| cyclingtv |
it's all turning into a soap opera.. thought this was a race.. | ||||
| Bartali |
I always thought Big George could win the Tour! | ||||
| Bartali |
Pleaseeeeeeeee can Bennati win this to give me some joy after two weeks watching this excuse for a TdF.
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| mayofan |
irish eyes are smiling bart! will nick roche suffice?
sadly the smart moneys on ciolek. saxo bank should chase just to piss off astana. |
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| headwind |
hahahahahahahaahahahahahahahhaahahahah i think im gonna start tracking the lanterne rouge competition. is Vim riding this year?! |
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| kathy |
Vim has retired. Kenny Robert van Hummel of Skil shimano has a very big lead in the Lanterne Rouge competition. | ||||
| headwind |
booo....wish it were closer... | ||||
| CapeRoadie |
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| mr shifter |
The TDF is a Bloody great Carnival Procession that travels around France making money. ! ! Your back to the footnote at the bottom of this post. Not as good as in the 60's with the Michelin Men on motorbikes, doing their Stunts. Not much good for TV viewing when all the "Lead Camera's" can do is show riders heads or bottom brackets. What the dim twits should do, is stay behind the riders for us to see the "Body Language" and the passing Atmosphere. It's the camera work that makes it boring (and on eurosport harmon as well) zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz (harmon was a channel 4 M/B Cameraman) Be Lucky .....enjoy the "Fair" |
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| SAP |
Go Big George.... 
30km to go. I hope George can hold on for yellow, but AG2R coming to the front to pick up the pace. |
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| kathy |
AG2R seem to have played this stage quite cleverly. They let Astana do lots of work on the front, and now seem intent on just pulling the break back enough to keep Nocentini in yellow. | ||||
| Bartali |
Oh no ... looks like George isn't going to win the TdF after all.
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| cyclingtv |
why would astana want a Columbia rider ahead of them and
getting a sizable lead with martin and monfort so close in gc.. martin did beat LA in the ITT.. don't know how well he can climb.. for one sets up sending monfort up the road.. make astana chase.. |
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| Slapshot 3 |
I sense big brown envelopes again | ||||
| Bartali |
I thought Ivanov (?) had got done for PEDs. | ||||
| Bartali |
Panther didn't even sprint
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| 70kmph |
whew !! | ||||
| Bartali |
Nocentini!!!! | ||||
| SAP |
Darn. George back by 6 seconds. | ||||
| mayofan |
roche gets another 2nd
on the plus side he looks strong..promising for the alps |
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| headwind |
another brides maid date for poor big george...
well, theres aways PR and RVV in the spring where he remains a perennial threat for the top step! NOT! |
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| SAP |
George more than a little pissed at Astana and Garmin in his interview on versus just now. | ||||
| headwind |
interesting interview with hincapie here in the states. he expressed hes super pissed at astana for being part of the chase. | ||||
| cyclingtv |
george seems really pissed at astana et al..
being in yellow was his dream of a lifetime.. |
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| HuwB |
Yep, that was a bit of a nail biter, counting down that clock.
Poor old George. Once again so near, but yet so far. Still, instead of farting around, sitting on wheels, after Ivanov was long gone... He should have said, "gosh darn" and stuck his head down, train style. I'm sure he had 5 seconds in the tank. The ES pros seem to agree with this Columbia gave Big Thor the second opportunity to have a "moan", at somebody at the finish. Nice boxing, Cav!
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| HuwB |
Really? It's hard to tell whether Astana were aiding and abetting in his yellow quest, or not. Maybe, when he gets over his disappointment, he may review Astana's efforts. However, Garmin, on the other hand...... |
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| Bartali |
FIGHT FIGHT!
Nice push Hinault! |
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| Nolte |
well columbia certainly did their best to slow things down. i';m just surprised they didn''t have their riders top across the road so no one could pass
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| cyclingtv |
cav demoted to 154th..
that does mess up things for him
he's 18 points behind thor at this point.. wow.. I smell appeal.. just the fun of it all.. |
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| SAP |
Yea, Armstrong tried to play down Astana's role, saying he wanted George to get yellow. Big rivalry between Garmin and Columbia probably why Garmin rode like they did. In hindsight, of course, George had another 6 seconds in him, but......
Cav relegated because he didn't stay on his line in the sprint, so Thor has a bigger lead now. Good. |
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| HuwB |
That it truly harsh.
I've watched it in slow mo, several times and he hardly changes his line at all. On the contrary, there does appear to be a slight bow in the barrier alignment, then, it opens out, around the curve. So, if the French want to play the overly officious bureaucrats that they are known to be, that's up to them. If I were Cav and they don't reverse this decision, I think I'd pull out, now, rather than slog over the Alps for a week, with the Green Jersey gone and only victory on the Champs to play for. Leave them with a week's worth of egg on their faces, with another no contest competition. Cap off this shit tour. Have a couple of Vuelta weeks, instead. |
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| 70kmph |
Hushovd claims Cav try to push him into the barriers
http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/u...5127641&cl=14578557&lang= |
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| cyclingtv |
sorry huw.. but it did look like cav swung into thor's lane during that last bit...
http://www.steephill.tv/players/t...4-cavendish-finish&id=33c11z5 cav looks left.. then looks right.. sees thor's there and then pinched off thor's line.. |
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| Fontfroide |
I keep saying it, it is a race, but the race is only a small part of the spectacle. they go together and you can't have one without the other. I hate to say it, but the Giro is the same, just the racing is better. |
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| Fontfroide |
Goodness, what a surprise, you think the Tour de France is a business, trying to make a profit for the shareholders? Its all a business, the whole cycling racing thing is a business, at least at the top levels. You think maybe the Ardechoise is not a business? L'Etape du Tour is not a business? The thing is, you don't like the product. Fair enough. I am afraid I would dispute with you forever, although perhaps we should spare others, that the camera work is poor. I think it is the best there is. Belgians and Italians are good too. They have experience. I didn't realise how good they were until I watched the Tour of California and the Tour of Turkey this year for the first time on the computer. Even if sometimes they show bottom brackets, mostly they show scenery, riders, breaks, chatting, replay accidents, and generally give us a very good idea what is going on. If the racing is bad, don't start having a go at the cameramen in the helis and on the motos. |
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| Fontfroide |
I agree with Huw. when Astana was in front, I don't think the gap went down. I think they were helping George. But no doubt all that will run and run. Should be possible to look at some live account and figure it out. Not that I am going to do it. No one has mentioned the story of how Lavenu left it to his riders to decide if they would pull for Rinaldo. Rinaldo asked them and they decided to pull. Hey, you gotta love it. Surely tomorrow we will have someone else in yellow or I am going to heave. I am not sure if George will find that Columbia itself did a bit of work at the end for Cav, and it might actually be them who mulled back the crucial seconds. |
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| cyclingtv |
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| Fontfroide |
First I think it would be huge mistake for Cav to quit now. For every reason you can think of. Second, I watched the replay too, and it is not obvious at all. For my part, I think he simply and clearly moved over and cut off Thor. at first I thought it was the automatic effect of him looking over his left shoulder, a move to the right. But he never moved until he saw Hushovd coming up on his right, then he moved to cut him off. but who knows what the commissaires will say in the end. The Rules of Sprinting are not relaly that detailed and often open to a bit of discussion.
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| Superbagneres |
While we're at it does anyone know why Hushovd appeared to give Peter Velits an earful as he crossed the line ahead of him yesterday? | ||||
| cyclingtv |
roid rage?? | ||||
| HuwB |
Yes....Thor has done his fair share of winging, over these past two stages. Whatever. A minimal infraction at best. Robbie Mc thinks total DQ is extremely harsh, that, at the very most, a reversal of placings is the order of the day. Judging these sprints is so subjective. Theo Bos actually kept his placing, after his brush with Daryl Impey. 
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| mayofan |
cav demoted? what a load of bollocks.
big george not happy with astana? think he should watch the video... what were garmin up to though? |
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| Superbagneres |
The situation in that sprint reminds me very much of the stage in the 2008 Giro (I was trying unsuccessfully to find it on yutube) where Bennati, who I think was in a very similar position to where Cav was today, did move off his line and allow Cav (in a similar position to where Hushovd was today) space to keep going. Bennati was praised by Cav and many others for his gentlemanly conduct in doing so, but the point was made that he wasn't obliged to do what he did. Cav acknowledged this and did say that he wouldn't necessarily have done the same. It would be quite interesting to see that again as a comparison - does anyone know where there might be a link to it?
Anyway, whether the decision was right or not , it has undoubtedly squeezed any life out of the green jersey competition. But pulling out would certainly be the wrong thing to do Huw (and he would face quite a stroppy reception from the Manxies who have booked their tickets to Paris next weekend), and I suspect he won't see it this way but it sort of relieves the pressure. He can now ignore intermediary sprints etc and just get round the next week in the autobus and go for one final sprint next Sunday. |
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| Bartali |
That same stage crossed my mind too SB.
I need to watch it all again, but my first thought was that it was a bit of sharp practice by Cavendish, but nothing that would cause a DQ. |
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| SAP |
Ironic that Columbia rode in the end for Cav, maybe keeping the yellow from Hincapie, and then it's all for nothing becasue Cav fucks up his line, losing all points. That's the breaks, I guess. | ||||
| Superbagneres |
I think that part of the problem both with Hincapie's situation and the sprint was that Columbia were trying to do two things at once; slow down the peloton while still trying to give Cav a lead out and also possibly trying to get other riders between Hushovd and Cav. | ||||
| Nolte |
protecting bradley wiggins and chritian vandevalde Wiggins did nearly lose 15 seconds earlier this week but was saved by nikolai trussov's crash |
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| kathy |
I think Cav did deviate, but not enough to warrant losing all the points - I've seen McEwen get away with much worse. Perhaps swapping Cav and Thor's postions in the stage would be fairer. | ||||
| mr shifter |
I think it is Hilarious that Columbia did a Feck Up and have come away with Nothing.
They planned to have Green and Yellow Tonight and have finished with Nowt after their Clumsy handling of Thor. I thought Astana were helping George by riding on the front and while they were there the Time Gap got bigger. ???? (up to 8 mins I think) The Helicopter shots this year and last year are Fantastic and are achieved by people with a bit of Imagination and like Graham Watson they pick a spot before the race arrives to get some great shots. They too have to do the Hum Drum work and every now and then, seem able to catch the Atmosphere and the Race together. The motorbike at the rear seems more race knowledgeable than those on No1 & No2 where my problem lay's. |
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| Me, a fan? |
Thor simply wanted the points, they didn't mean anything to Peter. I think maybe he snuck up on Thor a little bit, otherwise it shouldn't have been a problem outkicking him for them. The "unwritten rules" of cycling sure make for some funny drama sometimes. |
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| Me, a fan? |
I agree, actually thought it was quite comical. Looked to me like Columbia did a good job of staying on the front slowing things down while still giving Cav a lead out to make sure he got the points (it didn't go as planned obviously). I've never seen a leadout train turning around and looking back so much! Funny!
Columbia's major screw up: THey forgot all the other stages (except maybe 1) when all the other sprinter's teams didn't do any work at all. They could have gotten on the front with about 5k and soft-pedalled all the way in, give George a minute and a half lead in Yellow. Everyone else would have sat there and stared at Cav like they always do. |
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| SAP |
This would have been a good stage to go without radios  
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| Superbagneres |
I guess my question was partly rhetorical, partly wanting to know if there was anything more to it than that. If it is an unwritten rule that you need the blessing of a green jersey contender as to when you go over the line it is pretty absurd. I feel the same way about Hincapie launching a retributive enquiry as to why Garmin and Astana were riding hard at the front of the peloton. It's a bike race, for christ's sake, they don't need your permission to do it or tell you what their motivation is. And as mr shifter points out, for most of the afternoon when Astana were at the front the commentators were speculating that it was to slow down the peloton, possibly as a favour from the Armstrong to Hincapie. All nonsense, we need some proper action to entertain us. |
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| MAILLOT JAUNE |
Yeah, I don't hear Martinez complaining that Pelozotti was gunning for the KoM and would sprint to gain the points on him! | ||||
| mayofan |
garmin taking flak from all angles tonight!
fact of it is, if ag2r hadnt hit the front when they did, and as hard as they did, GH would have been in yellow by 30 seconds at least. They did, because they wanted the freakin yellow jersey for another day. If hincapie wants to blame someone he should blame himself for not reacting to the fact that the gap was coming down. Hincapie is on course to be primadonna of the tour. First his ridiculous criticism of evans for being in a breakaway that he actually started and now attacking people because he wasnt gifted the maillot jaune. I thought he was a classy guy, hes going a long way to disprove it this tdf. If he wants a yellow jersey he should go get himself in the breakaway tomorrow and earn the freaking thing or shut the hell up! mostly he should shut the hell up. |
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| SAP |
I think George is a classy guy. When Versus interviewed him right after the finish, he did say he was disappointed (a natural reaction), that he didn't know why Astana and Garmin did what they did, and that it was over, he lost out and he wouldn't bring it up to anyone in the peloton tomorrow (in response to the interviewer's question). He hauls ass for Cav every sprint and is integral to Cav's success, he hauled ass for Armstrong for all his TdF victories, he was THIS close to getting the mj and was reacting just after the finish. He was suprisingly serene about it--more than I would be I'd guess.
Who knows what he was being told in his earpiece about what was going on behind him with regard to Astana and Garmin. Anyone coming that close is bound to be disappointed. And as I have learned on this forum, it's not unusual for teams to work together to get a result they want, beneficial to them. He was obviously thinking, and maybe even being told, that his friends and teammates, past and present, would have his back, so to speak. I hope he comes out tomorrow with a good ride. |
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| SAP |
Really? Ahead of Cav? Or Thor? |
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| Me, a fan? |
George was understandably disappointed. But I'll bet not near as much as Oscar Periero in 2005 on Stage 15:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zu...p;p=E49A504BCD0F08B0&index=44 (6 minutes in) He said it was the dream of a lifetime, but wasn't he in yellow a coouple years ago? |
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| Mysterion |
That was the stage where Hincapie said he couldn't come around Pereiro to do any work because the mass of spectators on the side of the road blocked him. What a crock. Pereiro had his revenge on the next stage and that day Cadel did something Hincapie didn't or couldn't do today. Cadel buried himself in the final few kms to gain as much time as possible for the GC. The situation today was a little different but George just didn't have enough gas left in the last 10kms to go to the front and give himself the best chance for yellow. |
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| Jackov |
I thought so too. I thought after an early TT?? he was 2nd place, just seconds behind and the took some intermediate sprint points to get yellow? Have to research that one. 2006? |
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| Jackov |
simple enough:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_Tour_de_France#Jersey_progress held it after stage 1 a wiki quote:
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| chardon |
Mayofan, I was delighted yesterday when I thought Hincapie would get the yellow. I was not disappointed when he didn't, because like you stated above, I thought he could have done something when he knew the gap was coming down. AG2R deserve the yellow for working for it. I was frustrated that Niko couldn't do anything in the escape group because of his ties to the yellow jersey, but I'm happy he came second!!
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| chardon |
It was a plan gone wrong when AG2R changed their mind. According to Armstrong: Lance Armstrong (USA/Astana): "La situation avec Hincapie a semble-t-il été un peu confuse... Personne, je dis bien personne, ne souhaitait plus que moi de voir George en jaune. Notre équipe a roulé sur un rythme modéré pour lui permettre de prendre le maillot avec au moins deux minutes d'avance. AG2R avait dit qu'il ne défendrait pas le maillot, mais finalement ils l'ont fait. Jusqu'à 10 km de l'arrivée, George était solidement en jaune, jusqu'à ce que Garmin mette les gaz pour être bien sûr que ça ne se produise pas." It's a competition. Every man for himself. Yes, let's see more action. |
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| chardon |
Garmin:
Rinaldo Nocentini (ITA/AG2R, maillot jaune): "Je veux dire merci à l'équipe qui a fait encore un grand travail. A 25 km de l'arrivée, il s'est passé un moment difficile, tous ensemble, on a pris la décision de continuer à rouler. Je garde le maillot pour une poignée de secondes. On a parlé avec les Garmin pour qu'ils viennent rouler avec nous, ils ont mis trois coureurs dans les 10, 15 derniers kilomètres, pour nous c'était mieux comme ça. On a passé encore une journée difficile. Demain, ce sera très difficile d'arriver au sommet de Verbier avec le maillot, mais je vais faire de mon mieux." |
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| chardon |
Nicolas Roche, paddling two canoes upstream
Nicolas Roche (IRL/AG2R, deuxième de l'étape): "J'étais assis entre deux chaises dans cette échappée. D'un côté je devais chercher à gagner l'étape, de l'autre je devais protéger le maillot jaune de Nocentini. J'ai tenté plusieurs fois d'attaquer, mais c'était compliqué, parce qu'il fallait que j'arrive à sortir sans emmener Hincapie ou Le Mével avec moi, qui étaient trop près de Rinaldo (Nocentini) au général. Mon échappée d'aujourd'hui, c'est le résultat d'un travail d'équipe. On voulait avoir quelqu'un dans l'échappée, on savait qu'il fallait aller dans ce genre de coup, parce qu'on avait peur de ce scénario, avec un gars qui nous prenne le maillot jaune. Depuis huit jours, on a donné 200% pour défendre ce maillot jaune, en mettant de côté nos ambitions personnelles, mais AG2R n'a pas encore gagné cette année, et il fallait jouer aussi la victoire d'étape." |
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| chardon |
Jeepers! I din't know the race is all about Hincapie and everyone should go round his wheel.
Columbia attacks Garmin's stage 14 tactics Columbia-HTC’s Bob Stapleton couldn’t hide his anger at the stage finish. "I’m really disappointed and at the right time I’ll talk to Jonathon [Vaughters]. The fact is we’ve won nearly 60 races this year and they’ve won less than 10 so they’re probably tired of seeing our guys in jerseys and I understand that. But to hurt George Hincapie in that way just doesn’t seem right to me. He’s the most liked cyclist in America and the second most known," Stapleton said. Stapleton wasn’t finished and went further still, adding that he’d possibly seek a conversation with Vaughters’ boss, Doug Ellis: "Maybe I’ll talk to his boss. He seems a little more forward thinking. If I was in their shoes why would I chase? You tell me why we’d waste our team energy for no reason. Their tactics were obvious and disappointing. It was a big effort to pull the jersey off his back." One reporter then asked Stapleton if he’d try and seek revenge throughout the rest of the Tour. "We’ve had our revenge. In the scoreboard it’s not a contest and if you look at the Tour it’s no contest but I don’t know why you’d do that with George. That would have been a victory for everyone and would have got attention all over the US. An American in yellow would magnify the sport incredibly. How many more chances is he ever going to have? It’s something every athlete would aspire to." Vaughters, who wasn’t at the race today and followed the final kilometres of the stage, countered: "I was assuming that we were working to keep Wiggo [Bradley Wiggins] and Christian [Vande Velde] out of trouble. From what I saw from the television some of our guys were just on rotation at the front. that’s pretty normal if you’re trying to keep out of trouble. "Bob is always negative about our team and he has been for months now. I really don’t know why but it seemed to start a long time ago. Obviously Cavendish was upset with us at the Giro and I don’t know what brought that about and Bob has been consistently upset, yes they win a lot more than us but I don’t why they’re upset." Vaughters later posted on Twitter: "That had nothing to do with George or Columbia. Wiggo almost lost 15 seconds the other day due to a split. We can't have that happen again." Garmin-Slipstream's war of words with Columbia-HTC blew up at this year’s Giro d’Italia when Mark Cavendish called their bid to focus on the team time trial disrespectful. Since then the two teams have had several spats in the media, with Cavendish also questioning Garmin’s tactics in his book, Boy Racer. |
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