Stage 15 - Monday, July 19 2010, Pamiers - Bagnères-de-Luchon, 187 km

ednwireland

Pyrenean celebration

The Tour's Pyrenean centenary is very much in mind today on a stage that features the Portet d'Aspet and Ares passes 100 years on from their appearance in the race's first ever high mountains day.

Complementing these Tour stalwarts is the Port de Balès, a pass first opened up primarily for the race’s use in 2007. Sections of 11 per cent are certain to thin out the yellow jersey group and some of those riders dropped might find it hard to get back up to the contenders on the high-speed descent into Bagnères-de-Luchon.
Stage map

joker77

Just tuning in now

ednwireland

pimp my peloton probikekit blog

When a rider gains the yellow jersey for the day, come podium time he somehow miraculously manages to become bathed in yellow clothing, with a yellow jersey, helmet and shoes. What is more impressive though, is that the next day his trusty steed has also been given a make over and he gains a yellow bike overnight. This is not just some off the shelf piece either, but it is exactly suited for him, his size, his stem and bar combo and often a special saddle. Just how does this happen? When we try and order a custom colour from our suppliers, we can often wait up to 10 weeks!

http://www.pbkblog.com/?p=6959

just saw this

16. Thomas Lovkvist (Swe/ Sky) +09'46"
18. Bradley Wiggins (GB / Sky) +11'30

thats gotta hurt

NickDrake

Hard to call this one. Massive climb but an deadly decent too. Sanchez may be the man but will Contador put the boot in?

DirkVoodoo

110 kph "hairy" descent according to Phil Liggett.

Once again I wish this were a mountain top finish, would I be right in saying we won't see too much GC action? Could Roche try and get away and claw back some more time? Team motivation should be high after yesterday.

Dodge

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

Could Roche try and get away and claw back some more time?

Can't see it on a HC climb.

Sanchez and is the man if it comes to a mad descent. Can see that 20k climb sorting them out though. Will Contador jut mark Shleck again?

Liamo08

Anyone got a working link for todays stage, the usual suspects aren't working for me?

DirkVoodoo

What about Leipheimer? Do you think Radioshack might try and help him do something today?

joker77

Liamo08 wrote: »

Anyone got a working link for todays stage, the usual suspects aren't working for me?

this one's working for me - http://www.fromsport.com/v-0/0/148/v-14923.html

Dodge

Strange start to the day. Husovd and Petacchi sprinting for a cat 4 climb. Then not sprinting for the green points Intermediate sprint. Took 100k for a group to get away, and then they get 7 minutes up on half a climb

weird, almost as if the Sprinters teams got it wrong...

Liamo08

joker77 wrote: »

this one's working for me - http://www.fromsport.com/v-0/0/148/v-14923.html

Thanks, can't get that one to work for me today though, I'll have to stick to the commentary.

DirkVoodoo

Do you guys think the time trials take away from the stage races? Listening to Sanchez and it seems most of the GC guys don't want to take too many risks on the stages because the tour is won or lost in the TT.

As much as I admire the TT-ing, it's not the most exciting racing to watch. I wonder if a tour without time trials could be a more exciting race overall.

Just a thought, I'm still hopeful there will be some excitement today from some of the big guns.

IM0

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

Do you guys think the time trials take away from the stage races? ........
As much as I admire the TT-ing, it's not the most exciting racing to watch. I wonder if a tour without time trials could be a more exciting race overall..

Its pretty much always* been a part of stage racing, it would be like saying taking the cobbles out of the cobbled classics like roubaix or flanders :pac:

glanman

anyone think the peleton can claw back the breakaway? Saxobank have been driving strongly... They have taken 2 and a half mins out of them in last 3k, down to 7.30 from 10.... 33 k to go, and a good bit of the climb to go still...

Dodge

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

Do you guys think the time trials take away from the stage races? Listening to Sanchez and it seems most of the GC guys don't want to take too many risks on the stages because the tour is won or lost in the TT

Well the tour is a timed race, and you can't get any purer than the TT.

The only stage I hate (and I mean despise) is the Team Time Trial

ednwireland

roche puncture damn

niceonetom

Nico just had to take a wheel from neutral service. It looked to be an R-sys. Careful Nico!

That parachute of a wheel is not ideal for a fast down hill finish either, It probably scrubs 5km of his terminal velocity.

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

Do you guys think the time trials take away from the stage races? Listening to Sanchez and it seems most of the GC guys don't want to take too many risks on the stages because the tour is won or lost in the TT.

As much as I admire the TT-ing, it's not the most exciting racing to watch. I wonder if a tour without time trials could be a more exciting race overall.

Just a thought, I'm still hopeful there will be some excitement today from some of the big guns.

TT is, to me anyway, a necessary balance to mountaintop finishes. A tour needs both, but very few men can do both.

dastardly00

Has Nico caught back up to the main bunch after the puncture??

glanman

dastardly00 wrote: »

Has Nico caught back up to the main bunch after the puncture??

havent seen him yet but it has been said that he is working his way back...

niceonetom

dastardly00 wrote: »

Has Nico caught back up to the main bunch after the puncture??

Saxo are drilling it and the group is getting smaller. Getting back on at all is not a given.

corkandproud

What are the time gaps now

Dodge

corkandproud wrote: »

What are the time gaps now

All over the place. Shleck powered on and only about 5 stazyed with him (inc AC, Menchov etc)

Caroline_ie

Does Contador thinks he can just beat Andy at the TT? Seems that he's just not bothered attacking...

Dodge

Caroline_ie wrote: »

Does Contador thinks he can just beat Andy at the TT?

Yes, and in fairness. He should beat him by a couple of minutes

corkandproud

Ta, giving blood and watching it but can't see the graphics or hear it

bbosco

What's Gadret at? His team leader is behind him and probably needs a hand....

DirkVoodoo

niceonetom wrote: »

TT is, to me anyway, a necessary balance to mountaintop finishes. A tour needs both, but very few men can do both.

Yeah I guess. As usual you are right

Do you fancy Menchov and Sastre to try and get some more time from Schleck/Contador today or do you think they are just going to fight it out for 3rd place? I really want to see someone try and attack, come on Vino, go mad!

niceonetom

Caroline_ie wrote: »

Does Contador thinks he can just beat Andy at the TT? Seems that he's just not bothered attacking...

Basically, yeah, he does.

What I find harder to understand is why Andy stops everytime Al is in his wheel. Yes, there is a danger of getting jumped that way, but he has to be more aggressive in the montainns to get some time.

ednwireland

corkandproud wrote: »

What are the time gaps now

voeckler leading ballan by over a min
main group 5 min 30s down

DirkVoodoo

Spoke too soon.

Oh no, chain drop!!!

niceonetom

niceonetom wrote: »

Basically, yeah, he does.

What I find harder to understand is why Andy stops everytime Al is in his wheel. Yes, there is a danger of getting jumped that way, but he has to be more aggressive in the montainns to get some time.

^^^

worst timed post ever.

bbosco

Oh my feckin god......this will be talked about for a long time to come I think!

Caroline_ie

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!! FFS ANDY!!!!!!!!!!!

DirkVoodoo

Come on Andy! Use that adrenaline, go go go!

ednwireland

f***pping specializeds

schleck attacks followed by vino schleck dropped chain contador attacked him

anyone doing any work now >

barrabus

dastardly00 wrote: »

Has Nico caught back up to the main bunch after the puncture??

According to letour.fr he is in group with basso evans , vino, kloden , kreuziger

joker77

Schleck working very hard now to get back, prob will as well, AC sitting up

joker77

nope, spoke to soon, AC going for it again

nerraw1111

Hmmmmm, dubious ethics by Contador.

damoz

joker77 wrote: »

Schleck working very hard now to get back, prob will as well, AC sitting up

standing pumping the pedals !!

corkandproud

What's the gap to Conta now

niceonetom

If Alberto takes time today, and that time proves decisive at the end this move will taint the victory.

damoz

corkandproud wrote: »

What's the gap to Conta now

should be some descent !! hairy to say the least

gap is 12 sec

TinyExplosions

niceonetom wrote: »

If Alberto takes time today, and that time proves decisive at the end this move will taint the victory.

Sure it will....

Gutted for Andy *yawn* Schelck

glanman

why?? it was shleck attacking him, its not as if it was on a flat stage in the middle of peleton... shleck will make it back anyway

DirkVoodoo

niceonetom wrote: »

If Alberto takes time today, and that time proves decisive at the end this move will taint the victory.

Really? Mechanical doping because his chain stayed on

Surely if the yellow jersey attacks and suffers a mechanical it's fair game? He didn't attack him after he dropped the chain, he was responding to the initial attack.

I admire Andy though, great fight. But Alberto is my man!

EDIT: what glanman said, jeez this is a busy thread!

on_the_nickel

corkandproud wrote: »

What's the gap to Conta now

12 seconds at the summit.

Caroline_ie

Sh!t, I love cycling!

jwshooter

this is what wet days are made for .go schleck .

Dodge

nerraw1111 wrote: »

Hmmmmm, dubious ethics by Contador.

Me balls. Any high ground was lost by Saxobank when Cancellera (effectively) cancelled the stage in Belgium

Crashes and mechanical issues happen all the time. Deal with it and move on

Sport101

Caroline_ie wrote: »

Sh!t, I love cycling!

Best tour in a long while.