July 19, Stage 16: Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux - Gap 163km

damoz

Will Peraud now be the GC contender for AG2R - hes 11th, and let Nico try to regroup and go for a stage win. He doesnt have many opportunities left - as hes not climbing the HCs at all well.

bcmf

Also JJ Rojas was in the break as well with the Inter Sprint looming on the horizon so HTC chased him down.

Andy S showed, as Boardman pointed out, his bad loser/sportsmanship, by blaming the course and what a bad finish it was. As Boardman 'implied' 'Does he want all finishes on a mountain top'. I reckon Cuddles and Conty knew he was a **** descender and attacked him. Dropping him on the climb waas a bonus. With a similar finish tomorrow and a bit of wet weather......

John.Icy

I wouldn't flatter Roche so much, Jeannesson was in the group too, he was more of a threat than Roche.

.

kmart6

damoz wrote: »

Will Peraud now be the GC contender for AG2R - hes 11th, and let Nico try to regroup and go for a stage win. He doesnt have many opportunities left - as hes not climbing the HCs at all well.

He was the main man for AG2R for the GC before they even started today! Everything you;ve said there has been the plan since Sunday!

kmart6

Went to quote you John.Icy but you edited your post.

I think a few people need to catch up on the Roche situation before today even began.

From Nico's diary in the Indo today:

With one week to go in this Tour, I was expecting to be in or about the top 10. Instead I'm 18th overall. I'm very disappointed but there is not much I can do about it. At the start of this Tour, Jean-Christophe Peraud was our back-up plan, the second leader of the team.

After my demise on Plateau de Beille on Saturday, the roles have been reversed, but I am still a protected rider. Hubert Dupont will look after me in the mountains, while most of the other guys will look after Jean-Christophe.

Jean-Christophe is pretty happy with his 12th place overall. He is a good time triallist and hopefully he can hold onto it in the Alps and maybe even move up a place or two. We all have to keep an eye on him, though.

John.Icy

kmart6 wrote: »

Went to quote you John.Icy but you edited your post.

I think a few people need to catch up on the Roche situation before today even began.

From Nico's diary in the Indo today:

Ha sorry, I sometimes edit posts after I see I rambled on abit too much

We'll wait and see if he still is protected, it could just be a case of Roche telling whoever did wait to go on without him today :P

I'm just bemused what happened to Roche from the Tourmalet stage where he was solid, to losing two minutes on Mark Cavendish in a stage where Mark is usually at the back. I still think he can do well if he still want to move up the GC. He gave up on it a bit which is bad mentality. He finshed 1:45 ahead of Peraud on the first High mountain day, so he is able to finish higher than Peraud if he's doing well, so I hope if he get's the chance he's given the freedom to do so.

damoz

kmart6 wrote: »

He was the main man for AG2R for the GC before they even started today! Everything you;ve said there has been the plan since Sunday!

Cheers - i was off the planet for the weekend, but up to speed now. So what has he - one chance left of stage win - tomorrow?

dedon

Day after the infamous rest day and contador turns his for. Around totally. This sport is gone beyond a joke .

Lumen

dedon wrote: »

Day after the infamous rest day and contador turns his for. Around totally. This sport is gone beyond a joke .

I'm sorry for you. I’m sorry that you can’t dream big. I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles.

John.Icy

dedon wrote: »

Day after the infamous rest day and contador turns his for. Around totally. This sport is gone beyond a joke .

You mean Contador took it easy for most of the Tour and stepped it up a gear in the Alps where it really matters?

Chips Lovell

dedon banned for the rest of the Tour for doping speculation despite being warned about this already.

kmart6

el tonto wrote: »

dedon banned for the rest of the Tour for doping speculation despite being warned about this already.

Nice to nip that crap in the bud straight away!!

jiffybag

Lumen wrote: »

I'm sorry for you. I’m sorry that you can’t dream big. I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles.

:rolleyes:

JacksonHeightsOwn

el tonto wrote: »

dedon banned for the rest of the Tour for doping speculation despite being warned about this already.

ha ha ha, fine work Tonto

AG2R

chrisbonnie wrote: »

ha ha ha, fine work Tonto

EPIC :L
But I agree.

NickDrake

Great stage. Contador looked like a different man and tommy v is still pulling it out of the bag.

It a great tour and continues to surprise.

Really is amazing what contador managed to do today considering his form.

RobFowl

Great stage.

Evans putting time into all the favourites.
Contador attacking but nowhere near the rider he was in previous tours and the Schreks proving that they are woeful descenders as well as tacticians.

Roll on tomorrow :-)

ROK ON

What a stage. This has been a great tour. FairPlay to Bertie, that's how you do it. It's between him and Evans now.
Hushovd is a beast. Chapeau to him after a quiet H1 to the season.

The more is see of Roche the less I like. He won't finish this tour. Mark my words.

ednwireland

bcmf wrote: »

Andy S showed, as Boardman pointed out, his bad loser/sportsmanship, by blaming the course and what a bad finish it was. As Boardman 'implied' 'Does he want all finishes on a mountain top'. I reckon Cuddles and Conty knew he was a **** descender and attacked him. Dropping him on the climb waas a bonus. With a similar finish tomorrow and a bit of wet weather......

andy schleck what a pussy

its the parcours, people dont want to see th race decided on the downhill

wtf, we want to see racing and cadel and bert have shown more cajones than the schelcks will ever manage (i hope this wakes them up tomorrow but i seriously doubt it)

niceonetom

ROK ON wrote: »

The more is see of Roche the less I like. He won't finish this tour. Mark my words.

Nonsense! He'll be in the break tomorrow!

ROK ON

niceonetom wrote: »

Nonsense! He'll be in the break tomorrow!

I love your optimism.

Just saw Schleck interview on itv4.
In Limerick he would be known as a gowl.

NickDrake

I am very surprised to see such support for contador on here and disappointed as well.

What he did today was pretty amazing considering the way he was riding before the rest day.

I like to see racing like anyone else but i am surprised to see such support for him.

Surely Evans deserves our support.

And tommy v . How he he has totally changed the way he rides is incredible.

Lumen

That was a lot of effort from Cadel for four seconds on Contador, who managed to wheelsuck the gap back down on the coattails of his countryman. I hope it doesn't hurt Cadel in the days ahead.

I'm not counting my 5/1 chickens yet.

ednwireland

NickDrake wrote: »

I am very surprised to see such support for contador on here and disappointed as well.

What he did today was pretty amazing considering the way he was riding before the rest day.

I like to see racing like anyone else but i am surprised to see such support for him.

Surely Evans deserves our support.

And tommy v . How he he has totally changed the way he rides is incredible.

what the schlecks not been able to drop an obviously worried contador (about his knee) on luz ardiden, and an obviously better contador on plateau biele
you're watching a different race to me

and yes go evans ( a really much better rider since he won the world championship) but it s bert who lit up the race today

TheBlaaMan

ednwireland wrote: »

andy schleck what a pussy

its the parcours, people dont want to see th race decided on the downhill

wtf, we want to see racing and cadel and bert have shown more cajones than the schelcks will ever manage (i hope this wakes them up tomorrow but i seriously doubt it)

God, what a whinger.........did anyone tell Andy that the TdF was a RACE?

Have a read of this if want to hear a moaner in full flight. http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/video-schlecks-defiant-despite-bad-day-in-the-rain

corny

TheBlaaMan wrote: »

God, what a whinger.........did anyone tell Andy that the TdF was a RACE?

Have a read of this if want to hear a moaner in full flight. http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/video-schlecks-defiant-despite-bad-day-in-the-rain

I've said it already and i'll say it again i hope he never wins the tour. I'd prefer Berto, dodgy steak and all, to either Schleck.

JacksonHeightsOwn

corny wrote: »

I've said it already and i'll say it again i hope he never wins the tour. I'd prefer Berto, dodgy steak and all, to either Schleck.

i dont mind Frank, but Andy is an out and out coward. if he stays with this negative approach, he will NEVER WIN A GRAND TOUR,

as they say in Russia, tuffski, shi*ski

NickDrake

corny wrote: »

I've said it already and i'll say it again i hope he never wins the tour. I'd prefer Berto, dodgy steak and all, to either Schleck.

There is a lot more to contador's past that that steak incident.

I cannot understand how people could support him on here. If you have any love this sport then you shouldn't support him. To be honest I am surprised by some of the posters above who I thought had a lot of respect for this sport.

Evans set the stage alight today and at least he doesn't have a positive test and a very dodgy past hanging over him.

Well done cadel

kennyb3

Year after year andy waits all tour for what he perceives to be the big stage (or two) and loses time at various stages in between. On this stage he generally attacks but everybody is waiting for it and can follow. He seriously needs to engage his brain a bit.

Why he has left it until thurs and fri to try attack evans (who was ahead of him and will slaughter him in the TT) is beyond belief. Way too concerned with Bertie imho.

A big girl is all.

Once again shows you have to be a bit more rounded to win the tour. Both bertie and Cadel can TT and descend better than him never mind being more attacking and tactically aware

JacksonHeightsOwn

ROK ON wrote: »

What a stage. This has been a great tour. FairPlay to Bertie, that's how you do it. It's between him and Evans now.
Hushovd is a beast. Chapeau to him after a quiet H1 to the season.

The more is see of Roche the less I like. He won't finish this tour. Mark my words.

thats good old fashioned irish begrudgery at its finest there

AstraMonti

TheBlaaMan wrote: »

God, what a whinger.........did anyone tell Andy that the TdF was a RACE?

Have a read of this if want to hear a moaner in full flight. http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/video-schlecks-defiant-despite-bad-day-in-the-rain

"Oh we don't like rain"
"Oh we don't like descends"
"Oh i forgot my tampons home"

FFS, don't they understand that this is the biggest race they ever going to have?

chrisbonnie wrote: »

thats good old fashioned irish begrudgery at its finest there

Irish or not, he is a big disappointment so far.

NickDrake

AstraMonti wrote: »

"Oh we don't like rain"
"Oh we don't like descends"
"Oh i forgot my tampons home"

FFS, don't they understand that this is the biggest race they ever going to have?




Irish or not, he is a big disappointment so far.

Also re: Roche = He would have been even further back considering how many top 10 riders crashed out.

What worried me this tour was his interviews where he discussed his diet. It sounded a shambles compared to what sky's nutrition is like and what I have read about other top pros.

Lumen

Well I have to say, hats off to Contador.

He's come into this tour with the right to ride after months of snide attacks and unproven insinuations, carrying fatigue from an amazing performance in the Giro and he's slowly clawing his way into the race.

Bravo that man.

Captain Havoc

chrisbonnie wrote: »

thats good old fashioned irish begrudgery at its finest there

I don't see it as begrudging, Roche isn't having the best of TdFs to be fair and I doubt Roche has said in any of his Indo reports that he's satisfied. I think a lot of people were optimistic at the start of the year that Roche could break into the top 10 this year but he hasn't been at 100%, simple as. I think everyone here hopes he is fit for next years tour to see what he's capable of at the TdF. If he continues to struggle then he may have to bow out.

JacksonHeightsOwn

AstraMonti wrote: »

"Oh we don't like rain"
"Oh we don't like descends"
"Oh i forgot my tampons home"

FFS, don't they understand that this is the biggest race they ever going to have?




Irish or not, he is a big disappointment so far.

oh i agree, but id love to see Cadel Evans, Alberto Contador or either Schleck sisters fall off their bike at 80kmh 5 weeks ago, not be able to walk for a week, and have an operation on their elbow, then compete to their fullest capacity 5 weeks later.

im not saying he's ever going to win the tour, but you have to take some into account.

besides, look at both Lance Armstrong and Bradley Wiggins last year, both finished 3rd and 4th the year before, and both did what last year????

it is possible to just have a few off days you know,

would it not be better to just get behind Nico, isnt that what "support" is all about?

Chips Lovell

Wow. Just finished watching the stage there. Love those ones when you're expecting no action from the big guns and then it all kicks off.

I'd a feeling Contador knew he was beginning to come good when he started goading the Schlecks last week about their needing to attack in the Pyrenees. He really turned them over today in those conditions and it's nice to see a favourite who isn't afraid to cut loose when he senses the opportunity. Leopard-Trek have done a lot of work in this Tour and are coming away with nothing so far.

Evans was very impressive. Great bike handler. And Contador may have to find a bit more to shake him this week. On their current respective levels of form I can't see him losing 2 minutes to Contador in the TT.

NickDrake

Lumen wrote: »

Well I have to say, hats off to Contador.

He's come into this tour with the right to ride after months of snide attacks and unproven insinuations, carrying fatigue from an amazing performance in the Giro and he's slowly clawing his way into the race.

Bravo that man.

How the mighty have fallen

manwithaplan

Lumen wrote: »

I'm sorry for you. I’m sorry that you can’t dream big. I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles.

Lumen wrote:

Well I have to say, hats off to Contador.

He's come into this tour with the right to ride after months of snide attacks and unproven insinuations, carrying fatigue from an amazing performance in the Giro and he's slowly clawing his way into the race.

Bravo that man.

That's the spirit. The man is a true American hero.

manwithaplan

NickDrake wrote: »

How the mighty have fallen

It was great descending alright. Good to see you are coming around.

ednwireland

Frank views on the stage:

“We were a bit surprised that Contador went on the climb,” said Fränk Schleck. “We didn’t count out the possibility. of course. We know that he is a rider that attacks when he has good legs, but we had anticipated he would wait for the Alps.”

“Contador knows all too well that the Schlecks don’t perform at their best in the cold and rainy conditions,” Fränk said. “It’s all part of the game -- knowing your opponents and knowing their weaknesses. He knows the conditions today, coupled with the dangerous descent, were not our strong point.”

Source: http://www.leopardtrek.lu/news/schlecks-lose-time-rainy-day-gap

At least frank knows the score

NickDrake

manwithaplan wrote: »

It was great descending alright. Good to see you are coming around.

From Evans??

TheBlaaMan

Nick

I know where you are coming from (and your history of 'Contador persecution', if thats not too strong a term) and broadly, I agree with you. Like most folks here (I think) I'm rooting for Evans to win.

The thing is, Contador lights up a race - end of story, and in a way that the Schlecks and few others can. Because of that, he IS exciting to watch and you cannot but admire the gutsy way he went off today in those weather conditions - which would not have favoured him. I get the same enjoyment watching Thor, Cancellara or Gilbert impose themselves on a race finale and win.

Contador's potted history is far from restricted to a dodgy steak incident last year - most folk on here are aware of the past with virtually all his previous teams/team-mates and accept that there's just too many contacts with doping that he cannot worm out of all of them. Yes, he should have come clean before , served a ban and come back a-la Miller, but he didn't, and that stain will never leave him now, I suspect.

Anyway, lets hope (!) he's clean now - he's certainly been suffering a lot on climbs he would have skipped away on in previous years - and he's contributing positively to the tour; that much I'll not deny him. Same with Vino in a way, though I have even less time for him. :rolleyes:

I was a huge fan of Pantani, and having just finished Matt Rendells book, realise just how flawed he was. Would he still have been as amazing a climber without the assistance of EPO, if all his contemporaries were also not on the sauce? I suspect not, as doping seems to effect people to different extents. We'll never know. The same applies to Contador, I guess, would a clean Contador be more 'normal' compared to his peers? I think we may be seeing the answer in this tour - I hope so.

patrick151

anyone got a link to the highlights? i was in work and missed all the fun

ROK ON

All these guys with dodgy pasts really liven up a race IMHO.
Gwan Bertie ya big bollix ya.

Seriously. Some guys in this race just don't ever give up or give in - Evans, Contador, Voeckler, Sanchez, Hushovd, Voeckler,Gilbert, Cav Etc.

These guys are all fantastic champions. No fear of failure for these guys. They train, plan to attack, attack to win or die trying.
Bravo.

I love this sport for those reasons.
@chrisbonnie - why does Nico deserve my support? Is it because of nationality? Should I not support those who do not share my nationality?
Bizarre IMHO.
I'm from Limerick and detest 4/5ths of the main rugby teams there. Should I support them because I'm from the same place.

BQQ

NickDrake wrote: »

There is a lot more to contador's past that that steak incident.

I cannot understand how people could support him on here. If you have any love this sport then you shouldn't support him. To be honest I am surprised by some of the posters above who I thought had a lot of respect for this sport.

Evans set the stage alight today and at least he doesn't have a positive test and a very dodgy past hanging over him.

Well done cadel

I'm no fan of Contador, but i can't understand how people could condemn him and support Evans at the same time.
According to the UCI suspicious riders list he is on a par with Lance :rolleyes: with a rating of 4.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ucis-suspicious-list-leaked-from-2010-tour-de-france

As explained by the newspaper, only the scores of zero and one meant that the riders had a very clean record. Ratings from two to four were based on stable passports which nevertheless showed a rare abnormality at a precise time. From five upwards, the comments associated to the rider files started to become much more precise, "even affirmative" according to L'Equipe.

As far as i'm concerned, most of the main GC guys have a cloud of suspicion over them, so they are on an equal footing.

John.Icy

Nick, this hate for Contador is becoming pety and annoying to see.

Love him or loathe him, he made today very entertaining along with Evans and Sanchez, took risks and attacked.

An unrelated note, I had better hopes for Roche in the coming days, but reading his indo article today, and reading that on the rest day in a easy training cycle, that his legs felt terrible, kinda makes me feel he needs to step away from the bike ad take time to launch a fully fit attack on the Vuelta, which if he gets near 2010 form, he can get a top 5.

ednwireland

the gap between contador and andy schleck is 39 seconds

Slideshowbob

Anyone got a link to any interviews by Andy Schleck after today's stage?

I'd love to hear what the douchebag had to say about the race today!!

bcmf

NickDrake wrote: »

I cannot understand how people could support him on here. If you have any love this sport then you shouldn't support him. To be honest I am surprised by some of the posters above who I thought had a lot of respect for this sport.

I Think Bertie is fooking great. I honestly was dreading this TdF because I thought someone from Schlek land was gonna walk it. We could easily look back and think this could be one of the better tours. From the Lance era to the Contador era it was almost a given from the early mountain stages who was gonna win.
Now we have a tour where the winner will truly have to a set of balls to take it.
From the legend that is Thor to Tommy who will just not let go of that yellow jumper to the emerging battle between Evans,Tommy,Bertie,Shleck world,Basso still in there its gonna be a great few days.
When was the last time there we genuinley hit the last few days not knowing who the winner will be?

petethedrummer

NickDrake wrote: »

I cannot understand how people could support him on here. If you have any love this sport then you shouldn't support him. To be honest I am surprised by some of the posters above who I thought had a lot of respect for this sport.

You're like a broken record. We're all well aware of Contador's history, you go on about it enough in every bloody thread. We're suspending our disbelief for the duration of the tour, well I am anyway.