Horton's halftime iceberg
Blooming Marvellous
- Thread starter
- #21
Here goes Andy
L'Alpe-d'Huez, anyone else watching
- Thread starter Horton's halftime iceberg
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Horton's halftime iceberg
Blooming Marvellous
- Thread starter
- #22
Well done that man, enjoy it if you are watching the highlights later.
There is the most scary down hill mountain bike course back down if any of them fancy it...
There is the most scary down hill mountain bike course back down if any of them fancy it...
Woodchip
It's all about the bikes
Well done that's a good ride.
Woodchip
It's all about the bikes
Photo finish for second!!!
Horton's halftime iceberg
Blooming Marvellous
- Thread starter
- #25
Just watched the highlights and Sammy Sanchez got second, all down to the time trial on Saturday.
I think Cadel was brave and should get enough time to be the first Aussie to win the tour.
ATFC Seagull
Aberystwyth Town FC
Just watched the highlights and Sammy Sanchez got second, all down to the time trial on Saturday.
I think Cadel was brave and should get enough time to be the first Aussie to win the tour.
Hope so.
However last year Evans had "done enough" to beat climber Alberto Contador in the time trial!
1066familyman
Radio User
- Jan 15, 2008
- 15,234
Just finished watching 7pm highlights and then Imlach's greatest 20 moments.
Absolutely superb stuff today as ever on this legendary climb. CSC a really strong team and Fabio Cantelara immense again today, putting it in to make sure Evans didn't have a moments rest. It's basically Evans v CSC as Popoyvich (sp) is certainly no match for the Schleck brothers & Cantelara.
This could be as close as the famous LeMond/Fignon TT battle on the Champs Elysesse all those years ago. 1'34" means it's definately game on on Saturday ! :yahoo:
Sastre will obviously ride the time trial of his life, and I'm even wondering if CSC have any tricks up their sleeves to put a few more seconds into Evans before then ?. It will be difficult, but with such a strong CSC team , anything could happen.
I hope Sastre wins this year as I'm not a great Cadel Evans fan, but I do take my hat off to Evans for basically having to fight on his own against team CSC. This has got to be one of the best Tours in years
Absolutely superb stuff today as ever on this legendary climb. CSC a really strong team and Fabio Cantelara immense again today, putting it in to make sure Evans didn't have a moments rest. It's basically Evans v CSC as Popoyvich (sp) is certainly no match for the Schleck brothers & Cantelara.
This could be as close as the famous LeMond/Fignon TT battle on the Champs Elysesse all those years ago. 1'34" means it's definately game on on Saturday ! :yahoo:
Sastre will obviously ride the time trial of his life, and I'm even wondering if CSC have any tricks up their sleeves to put a few more seconds into Evans before then ?. It will be difficult, but with such a strong CSC team , anything could happen.
I hope Sastre wins this year as I'm not a great Cadel Evans fan, but I do take my hat off to Evans for basically having to fight on his own against team CSC. This has got to be one of the best Tours in years
It's going to be close.
It does amaze me the way the Tour pushes the team ethos to the limit.
I think either Schleck could have won, what is the biggest cycling stage of the year. But instead they spent over 6 hours slogging their guts out, just so someone else could win.
It does amaze me the way the Tour pushes the team ethos to the limit.
I think either Schleck could have won, what is the biggest cycling stage of the year. But instead they spent over 6 hours slogging their guts out, just so someone else could win.
1234andcounting
Well-known member
- Mar 31, 2008
- 1,609
One of the great stages of all time, in terms of both the route itself (three fantastic climbs) and the overall level of competition between the riders. I hope Evans doesn't win; never been a great fan of the metronomic riders who never attack. Sastre deserves to win for his attack on the Alpe today. Can see Andy Schleck winning for several years from next year, or the year after, if his form on this tour is anything to go by.
Tooting Gull
Well-known member
- Jul 5, 2003
- 11,033
Incredible stage yesterday, not only for the cycling/race situation but showed the area in all its glory. We were there camping about a month ago just near Bourg, and they cycled right past it - we'd walked up to and all around that lake at Allemont. Beautiful part of the world, and couldn't recommend it highly enough. The famous 21 hairpin cliumb even took a toll on our Peugeot, the engine hasn't been the same since...
Horton's halftime iceberg
Blooming Marvellous
- Thread starter
- #31
It is possible Cadel could win the tour without winning a stage. He is a gutsy rider without much flair so most people want the exciting riders, Schlecks, Valverdes & Cunegos to come to the fore.
Not many people like the grafter and myself included will grumble a bit if he wins as he is a very safe and conservative rider. However it must be considered he has just taken on the might of the CSC team (3 worldclass climers) and Rabobank almost single handed (Popovich doing his own thing at times) and the best they have managed is 1 minute 35 to Sastre.
I think in the short time trail Cadel took over 70 odd seconds off Sastre so he will need to have the best ride of his life to win yellow. It will be interesting to see if CSC can take any seconds off Cadel.
Not many people like the grafter and myself included will grumble a bit if he wins as he is a very safe and conservative rider. However it must be considered he has just taken on the might of the CSC team (3 worldclass climers) and Rabobank almost single handed (Popovich doing his own thing at times) and the best they have managed is 1 minute 35 to Sastre.
I think in the short time trail Cadel took over 70 odd seconds off Sastre so he will need to have the best ride of his life to win yellow. It will be interesting to see if CSC can take any seconds off Cadel.
1234andcounting
Well-known member
- Mar 31, 2008
- 1,609
I agree that Evans hasn't got the same level of team support that Sastre and the Schleck brothers have had through CSC, who must be one of the strongest ever teams. However, I just can't warm to him; his approach is almost like riding time trials on every stage. The great riders have always stamped their psychological superiority over their rivals, as well as their physical superiority.
Woodchip
It's all about the bikes
Evans has been one of the most consistant rider of the tour, and the way the tour works (cumulative times) means that he is (and deserves to be) in the running for the yellow. If it went to the most stage wins then you'd end up with a sprinter winning most of the time, but as it is you need to be good in flat, mountainous and short stages.
I'm not a huge Evans fan either, but if he wins the tour then he has clearly trained hard to achieve this, so deserves admiration for that alone.
I'm not a huge Evans fan either, but if he wins the tour then he has clearly trained hard to achieve this, so deserves admiration for that alone.
Exmouth Seagull
New member
Watched it all live on Eurosport HD. Awesome, the racing and the scenery.
All set up nicely for the timetrial on Saturday, I have got a feeling its going to be damn close between Evans and Sastre. If Evans gets it then fair enough, but with no stage wins he will have grinded it out the boring way, I wouldnt mind seeing Sastre holding on, at least he had the guts to attack yesterday, something Evans hasn't done all tour.
All set up nicely for the timetrial on Saturday, I have got a feeling its going to be damn close between Evans and Sastre. If Evans gets it then fair enough, but with no stage wins he will have grinded it out the boring way, I wouldnt mind seeing Sastre holding on, at least he had the guts to attack yesterday, something Evans hasn't done all tour.
Schleck Snr (Johnny I think), has had his car stopped by French customs, and it will be searched.
For the sake of Le Tour, I hope it's just routine.
For the sake of Le Tour, I hope it's just routine.
Woodchip
It's all about the bikes
Nothing else has come on the commentary about Daddy Schleck, so I presume nothing has been found. Very fast pace being run today. 55.7 km/h for the first hour!!!
Fingers crossed.
5 live man just said, Daddy drove off following the border police car, to a different location. No time frame.
5 live man just said, Daddy drove off following the border police car, to a different location. No time frame.
Woodchip
It's all about the bikes
Eurosport Commentary have just said that there is no news on him yet. I hate all this suspicion.
One question that entered my head yesterday is can a team owner sue a rider that is found quilty of doping for loss of earnings. For example, Saunier Duval have withdrawn sponsorship due to the actions of Piepoli and Ricco (twat!!), therefore could the owner sue those two for the amount that Saunier Duval would have given them next year?
One question that entered my head yesterday is can a team owner sue a rider that is found quilty of doping for loss of earnings. For example, Saunier Duval have withdrawn sponsorship due to the actions of Piepoli and Ricco (twat!!), therefore could the owner sue those two for the amount that Saunier Duval would have given them next year?
That would be interesting, my instant thought would be no, as all Ricco would have to say is 'well you knew I was doing it'.
Woodchip
It's all about the bikes
I think Cunego is stuffed.