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I wonder how Wiggy would have got on?
He's injured not dead! Jeez!
Cadel earlier:
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It's a shame Wiggins isn't around any more really. He was such a good rider.
It was an excellent stage. Nice win for Thor and a good effort by Evans. I've been waiting for Contador to get out the saddle and do something special - and today did the trick 🙂
Not sure what happened to the Shrek tag-team - it wasn't a real mountain stage afterall?
I'm off every afternoon for the rest of the week - I hope the heads of state keep digging into their suitcases of courage and keep it going now . . . .
oh and RIP BW 🙁
Who?
Does anyone know how Cav managed to finish so well? Did his team carry him up the hill again and he out-descended them?
today was a "relatively" easy stage so not to surprised to see Cav up there. Be more interested about the next three days.
waa waaa its not fair
(A schleck earlier)
maybe Andy does have a point?
i believe this is the same decent as today.
A finish like this should not be allowed...
MTFU Schleck, you whining tw@monkey.
Yeah god forbid a bike race shouldn't be all about the climbers & allow people who actually have some bike handling skills to come to the fore as well....
we want more uphill. If i wanted to watch DH racing, i would put Ski Sunday on
Poor Andy didn't do himself any favours in that interview.
Andy schleck is going to have to hope the weather stays fine for the next few days, if it rains again the others now know he's scared and they are going to be all over him.
oh dear andy rain forecast for alp-d'huez thursday.
I notice Schleck didn't say anything about being dropped on the ascent...
Guess it's not surprising that he's lobbing the toys out of the pram when he's starting to face the prospect of an entire season disappear down the pan because you've focused on one race, and begun the tour trumpeting your own form. Might have done himself a favour to stick with Bjarne.
Can I say I am hugely suspicious of Thor Hushovd
I notice Schleck didn't say anything about being dropped on the ascent
That was the significant point of today IMO - Cadel and Alberto will have taken a lot of confidence from that.
Andy came across as whining cock bag at the end - perhaps he should join our forum 😀
Thanks Nick - I've been wondering for years who Evans reminded me of!
I think I'm in love - Thor is indeed a God. If I was into man juice, I'd be wanting a dollop of big Thor's! As a bigger fella myself, watching a big unit like Thor do so well is awesome. In the same tour he has been swapping sun cream with Cavendish in an early sprint, marshalling a team time trail win, holding on to yellow for 7 days and now winning two stages with sodding big lumps in the middle. And all with the world champ's hoops on. That's cool.
edit - anagallis_arvensis - wash your mouth out!
I think I'm in love - Thor is indeed a God. If I was into man juice, I'd be wanting a dollop of big Thor's! As a bigger fella myself, watching a bigger fella do so well is awesome. In the same tour he was swapping sun cream with Cavendish in an early sprint, marshalling a team time trail win, holding on to yellow for 7 days and now winning two stages with sodding big lumps in the middle. And all with the world champ's hoops on. That's [s]cool[/s] [b]suspicious.[/b]
la la la, not listening
I dont quite get how he's doing it if he's not cheating.
As a bigger fella myself, watching a big unit like Thor do so well is awesome
I doubt he weighs more than 13 stone. hardly massive!
When I was racing I was 12st 6lbs (with body fat of 5%) and I was considered a big boy in cycling parlance. When I said big I didn't say fat! It's all comparative.
I doubt he weighs more than 13 stone. hardly massive!
Wikipedia gives 83kg, two weeks into the tour i would strongly suggest he has lost some weight. Add to that he did say he couldn't compete with Cav as a sprinter so had been working at his climbing. And i have seen something that says he has/had a peak power output of 1600watts,
20 kg more than Contador 😯
As Andy Schleck says, they have families at home to think of, a finish like that shouldn't be allowed...
that's what kids want, a big scaredy fannypants for a Dad!
i'd like to see voeckler, evans, contador 1,2,3, in paris. i think they could be on the podium but in a different order. sanchez on there if voeckler blows in a spectacular way.
Thursday's stage up to Serre Che is the key, IMO.
As Andy Schleck says, they have families at home to think of, a finish like that shouldn't be allowed...
that's what kids want, a big scaredy fannypants for a Dad!
As a defence for Shleck, Beloki crashed on that decent and his career was over. And also consider that Leopard Trek's wouter weylandt was killed in the Giro on a decent. I guess you don't ever forget those things. Yes it is part of the job, but how many jobs result in people dying?
Quite a lot if you work in construction. Full o' men, though, construction.
As a defence for Shleck, Beloki crashed on that decent and his career was over. And also consider that Leopard Trek's wouter weylandt was killed in the Giro on a decent
So we should Cancel downhill finishes? He needs to think before he speaks. racing is racing, if you cant hack it, don't do it. Unlike the Schlecks Contador was at the Giro and he attacked the descent today.
yes racing is racing, but by the same token there has to be a limit. it is a race not an attempt to kill riders. The question is where to draw the line. The Beloki point is that that descent has form, it is known to be difficult and it has claimed a riders career before.
I doubt Shleck was the only person questioning that descent, i know there was talk of dropping the whole section if the weather was bad.
And yes there will always be differences in ability, some riders can fly downhill, some can't
Hmmm missed todays racing, but didn't the Schlecks get Cancellara to stop the race again like last year.
It sort of backs up what I said on my post a few days back. That their attitude is almost an insult to the race. I mean don't get me wrong they're obviously highly talented athletes, and they're trying to put their own stamp on the Tour. But Big Mig did the strong silent type, and did it well.
It is after all the Tour Of France. And the Schlecks version of the Tour wouldn't accomodate the likes of Cav, Thor, Gilbert and every other plucky ****er that's raced to win since day one, and not raced to not loose.
He was grumpy 'cos he lost. Watch him cheer up if he puts a few seconds/minutes/hours into Contador/Evans/Sanchez/Liddle Tommy.
Isn't it the case that Contador can do short climbs far better than Schleck, but it starts to even out on long climbs? Both Evans (with the team driving the pace to the climb) and Contador (three attacks, four?) had clearly targeted that stage, and I suspect they might know Schleck's weaknesses better than me.
Anyway the best post race interview was Tommy V pulling the little sad Frenchman face - fantastic. I'd love him to win, but I suspect not.
Anyone take a quid on big brother Frank?
Tommy simpson died on the climb of Ventoux. Never go up that if the temp goes over a certain limit?
I'm sorry but you have to draw the line somewhere. 1 person fell off on the descent today, at low speed. how many people fell on the straight flat stages in the first week? how many broken bones? people crash when racing bikes, it happens. what happened in the giro was a total tragedy, but it was a freak accident, nothing more.
Tommy simpson died on the climb of Ventoux. Never go up that if the temp goes over a certain limit?
No simpson was wrecked on speed
I know that, but the point is these things happen, but the tour shouldn't change because of it. and anyway what actually happened on the descent today? nothing, the only problem was schleck went down it like a pussy and everyone else put time into him
It is nothing to do with dodgy descents Schleck is miffed he got beaten fair and square. One crash for Beloki doesn't necessarily mean whole descent is dangerous. Are you going to scrap others where there were nasty crashes. that is twaddle sorry Schleck is a bad loser and mad himself look like a complete jessy today.
Exciting to watch yesterday, really hope Voekler and Thor are clean, I do wonder how come Bertie appears in significantly better condition after a rest day (again) though.
Never been a Cadel fan but am starting to hope he finishes ahead of Shlecks & Contador after yesterday though.
Oh note that Geraint has been signed up for another 3 years by Sky - I imagine they needed to get that deal done pretty fast 🙂
Ah yeah rain in the mopuntains, hardly ever happens that.. whining BGB. How many times have you rattled down a decent in the rain? Moi, plenty thanks.
I hate pickled jellied Fish, puke. Even my OH is getting into the spirit. Each time a rider wins we opt to eat a traditional dish of that country for supper, RollMops are getting on my nerves... ewe.
I have to say I'm not a huge fan of Thor. Last year I kinda was, when he rattled the Green Jersey at Cav, proper battle stuff, but I dunno, it's a bit rude of me tosay he looks ungainly on a bike, but he does.
But back tot he Frank and Andy show. I'm seriously going to have to re-evaluate my predictions now. I'm pretty sure that they'll do well in the next couple of days, but won't have enough kick to recover the time loss.
I'm so hoping Tommy can take this Jersey to the finish, he's still fighting to be up there, in Tours past he'da just gone for a stage or two then bob'ed off the back, but now he's got real passion in his eyes which is inspiring.
Evans did well though, shame he couldn't keep the break he made stick, but when Sammy and Bertie got together it was inevitable that they'd chase him down.
Cav pretty well nailed that stage, well for him anyways. To come in only a minuite down was pretty darn good for him.
So, whats today like then chaps??
hope Sky still keep putting the money after last weeks news. Lost Eurosport reception yesterday and had to watch the end on ITV, Andy S is out of favour now after whinging about the downhill. I thought it was a great stage
Munqe-chick - Member
It is nothing to do with dodgy descents Schleck is miffed he got beaten fair and square. One crash for Beloki doesn't necessarily mean whole descent is dangerous. Are you going to scrap others where there were nasty crashes. that is twaddle sorry Schleck is a bad loser and mad himself look like a complete jessy today.
^^^^^
The Beloki crash happened in blistering sun when the tarmac melted and pulled the tyre off the rim. Hardly comparable to the conditions we saw yesterday.
It's not as if there were multiple incidents or close calls either and alot of riders were absolutely bombing down it.
I have seen Andy Schleck led down numerous mountains by Fabian Cancellara, because he can't descend. If he could he would have caught Contador (who's no stone himself) after chaingate last year. It probably confirms what Thor Hushovd has always said, 'the sprinters are the best descenders'.
Schleck came across really badly in that interview yesterday. Toys/pram moment, just a whiny kid. He didn't win and it's not cos he's not capable, it the fault of the organisers. 🙄
However while we're talking about descending, it's an opportunity to post [url=
video[/url] of Fabian Cancellara. Watch this then realise that anyone who says roadies have no technique or skill is talking utter bollocks. 😉
i want cadel to win the tour (as bradley is now out).shleck did come across as a complete a**e in the interview.am not a great fan of contador either.also cadel used to race mtb's 😉
For those of you suspecting Hushovd for his 'unexpected good form' - I would be very surprised. Its not like this sort of win is something new for him is it? The guys not just a sprinter, never has been. He makes the most of his abilities and takes his chances. Simple as.
Thor did say, in one of his interviews at the beginning of the Tour, that he realised he could not beat Cav so had been concentrating on climbing - hopefully that is the answer. Until proven otherwise I chose to believe it.
just came across this on youtube.thought some of you might like it
I always liked that tune. Especially the nod to "Frère Jacques" at the end 😉
That made me feel 16 all over again, coming in from a training ride and watching the tour with my marmite and toast and getting told off for leaving sweat patches on the sofa from my manky lycra!
i reckon thor is a bit like the fabien barel of the road, minus the injury setbacks. really good at identifying what he needs to focus on and then bloody good at achieving it