St. Pauli flag on the slopes of the Tourmalet. Commentators thought it was a tribute to Il Pirata, Marco Pantani.
Tour de France - 2011
- Thread starter The Taurean
- Start date
Well, the real race started today. Great day for the Schleks, things looking good for Andy. Contador losing time in the mountains is a suprise. Maybe his condition is not great after the Giro proving once again you can't win the Giro & Tour in the same season.
Roy was clocked at 86 km/h going down the tourmalet.
Incredible.
Incredible.
Paul Sherwin always tells the story about Sean Yates being clocked at 100 km/h down from the Tourmalet. Now that's insane.
Happy to see Contador is losing time on the Schelcks and Evans. This is the just the first of many stages to come in the mountains. This is what is going to make or break the top riders.
Contador nearly 2 minutes behind the Schleck boys and Evans. Unless he can pull a Floyd Landis stage out his arse, I don't see him winning.
Good day for the Schleck's and Evans. It wouldn't be a shock if one of those three won overall.
That's where my money is at least. I think one of them will win. We might see both Schleck's on the podium in Paris. Frank seems to have better legs at this stage but Andy might peak over the Alps. That will be something. Evans is riding as good as I've seen him riding. He's in with a genuine shot this year, especially with Contador looking suspect.
And I can't wait for the climb up to Plateau de Beille. It is going to be epic.
What a day!!! Thor Hushovd, what a machine!!!!
Will only get to see highlights, but a sprinter winning a mountain stage? Kinell
God of THUNDERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
na na nanana naaaaaaaaaaaaa
na na nanana naaaaaaaaaaaaa
Thor is the rider of the Tour so far.
Riding in the WC jersey, has had the polka dot on the second stage, and seven days in yellow - defending the jersey longer than anyone would have thought.
Such an athlete, he has transformed himself from being a sprinter to being a more complete rider who can win stages with difficult climbs as well. He defended the yellow in mountains where A. Schleck had to let go even.
Such a technical rider as well. Fantastic going downhill, fantastic riding on cobblestone (is that the right word?). Just a fantastic, and clean, rider who is a great ambassador for the sport.
Riding in the WC jersey, has had the polka dot on the second stage, and seven days in yellow - defending the jersey longer than anyone would have thought.
Such an athlete, he has transformed himself from being a sprinter to being a more complete rider who can win stages with difficult climbs as well. He defended the yellow in mountains where A. Schleck had to let go even.
Such a technical rider as well. Fantastic going downhill, fantastic riding on cobblestone (is that the right word?). Just a fantastic, and clean, rider who is a great ambassador for the sport.
Well put, Dyslexic! Agree with everything you said.
After the stage he said he doesn't consider himself as a true sprinter anymore because he can't keep up with the best anymore.He said he lost some weight and tried to improve on the game.
He was truly fantastic, a tactical lesson
Unreal effort by Voeckler. What exactly is he on?*
*Meant in the most sincerest of ways.
*Meant in the most sincerest of ways.
Cycling is not interesting any more...
Voeckler is the only positive so far.
Voeckler is the only positive so far.
Thomas Voeckler must be a real contender now. And I recall when he broke away I thought the heads of state should have reacted which they didn't. He's looking really strong. This could be Oscar Pereiro all over again. Evans is looking more and more like the man to beat as he's strong in the mountains and possibly the best ITT out of the lot. Stage 18 & 19 have now become make or break for the Schleck boys and Contador.
Maciek, how you can say it is not interesting any more I don't know. There's about 6-7 riders that can win this and that's without Wiggins, Van den Broeck etc.
Maciek, how you can say it is not interesting any more I don't know. There's about 6-7 riders that can win this and that's without Wiggins, Van den Broeck etc.
This has to be one of the most interesting TdF's in years, and the fact that they're not going as fast up the mountains as they've done earlier years might indicate that it's cleaner than it's been in a long time.
Right now I'd say Marchi got it spot on when he called out Evans as the favourite. I really think it's his to lose, given how strong he's looked in the Pyrenees. Sanchez is pretty strong in the ITT's as well, isn't he? I find it odd that he's not talked about more, considering he got away in both of the hardest stages so far.
And today I heard the Norwegian commentators talking about Thor being clocked in at 108 km/h on his way down the mountain during the stage he won. Was that correct? It's absolutely insane, if so.
Right now I'd say Marchi got it spot on when he called out Evans as the favourite. I really think it's his to lose, given how strong he's looked in the Pyrenees. Sanchez is pretty strong in the ITT's as well, isn't he? I find it odd that he's not talked about more, considering he got away in both of the hardest stages so far.
And today I heard the Norwegian commentators talking about Thor being clocked in at 108 km/h on his way down the mountain during the stage he won. Was that correct? It's absolutely insane, if so.
Obviously Evans is now the favourite, however I can't help but feel the Schlecks have what it takes to put him down in the Alps. Andy has been utterly disappointing, which is not a surprise considering how shaky he looked at the Tour de Suisse. Besides whenever his brother is in a bad shape he seems to refuse attacking him, which would have been the case yesterday as Frank looked on the ropes most of the time and unable to cope with potential attacks.
He has what it takes to put Evans behind him in the Alps and use that leeway fruitfully in the time trial. Contador on the other hand is visibly tired, because mostly of his unusual participation in the Giro d'Italia as well as all the rumours surrounding his alleged doping which hindered his build-up to the Tour.
Basically I can see Andy Schleck making up his deficit toward Evans, the latter finishing second again, and Contador third because he has a week rest before the Alps where he might go for it at least once.
1. A. Schleck
2. Evans
3. Contador
4. Voeckler
5. F. Schleck
thus it bees
He has what it takes to put Evans behind him in the Alps and use that leeway fruitfully in the time trial. Contador on the other hand is visibly tired, because mostly of his unusual participation in the Giro d'Italia as well as all the rumours surrounding his alleged doping which hindered his build-up to the Tour.
Basically I can see Andy Schleck making up his deficit toward Evans, the latter finishing second again, and Contador third because he has a week rest before the Alps where he might go for it at least once.
1. A. Schleck
2. Evans
3. Contador
4. Voeckler
5. F. Schleck
thus it bees
Obviously Evans is now the favourite, however I can't help but feel the Schlecks have what it takes to put him down in the Alps. Andy has been utterly disappointing, which is not a surprise considering how shaky he looked at the Tour de Suisse. Besides whenever his brother is in a bad shape he seems to refuse attacking him, which would have been the case yesterday as Frank looked on the ropes most of the time and unable to cope with potential attacks.
He has what it takes to put Evans behind him in the Alps and use that leeway fruitfully in the time trial. Contador on the other hand is visibly tired, because mostly of his unusual participation in the Giro d'Italia as well as all the rumours surrounding his alleged doping which hindered his build-up to the Tour.
Basically I can see Andy Schleck making up his deficit toward Evans, the latter finishing second again, and Contador third because he has a week rest before the Alps where he might go for it at least once.
1. A. Schleck
2. Evans
3. Contador
4. Voeckler
5. F. Schleck
thus it bees
There are only two big stages in the Alps. Andy will have to attack on both those slops and depend on Frank to wear the them down with consecutive attacks. Essentially, one of the Schlecks will have to sacrifice himself for the other. So if Andy manages to get away in both the big Alpine stages then I can see him winning. Cadel still remains favourite though because of his TT skills and Voeckler is the dark horse among them. The Maillot Jaune brings something special out of riders, especially if he's French in the Tour de France!
Irelands Stephen Roche won both in 1987, and finished off the year winning the Triple Crown - Giro, Tour & World Road Race Championship...
And Mercyx(4 times), and Indurain(did it back to back), and Hinault(3 times) and Pandani.
Yeah....
Yeah....
The Schlecks will need to find more in the Alps than they have shown so far unless there is a surprise in the TT. That said it is the most open and interesting tour for a while IMO.
As people already have said Evans looks to be the best bet at the moment. If he doesn't lose time to either Schleck brother he'll win it on the time trial. I wouldn't write Contador off yet though. If it's true that he's had trouble with his knee after the early crashes, and if it's true that it's improving by the day, he could shake things up on the two stages in the Alps. He managed to stay with Evans and Andy (apart from the last few hundred meters on one stage) so far, so if it's true he hasn't been 100% yet he could break away from them in the Alps I think.
His main problem will be Evans though. I think they're quite equal on the time trial, so he'll need to gain two minutes on him on two stages. Andy improved his time trial a lot since last year, so we'll have to see how well he does. I'm really looking forward to the Alps now because that big gap means that Contador will have to gamble if he wants a chance to win it. He has to launch his attack quite early, so it'll be interesting to see how good they all are. The Schlecks also need some time on Evans if they want to win it, so they'll have to do something as well. Really looking forward to two exciting stages - hope I won't be disappointed.
Edit: Voeckler shouldn't be written off yet of course, but although he did extremely well so far I simply don't think he'll be able to stay with the favourites in the Alps when they have to gamble.
His main problem will be Evans though. I think they're quite equal on the time trial, so he'll need to gain two minutes on him on two stages. Andy improved his time trial a lot since last year, so we'll have to see how well he does. I'm really looking forward to the Alps now because that big gap means that Contador will have to gamble if he wants a chance to win it. He has to launch his attack quite early, so it'll be interesting to see how good they all are. The Schlecks also need some time on Evans if they want to win it, so they'll have to do something as well. Really looking forward to two exciting stages - hope I won't be disappointed.
Edit: Voeckler shouldn't be written off yet of course, but although he did extremely well so far I simply don't think he'll be able to stay with the favourites in the Alps when they have to gamble.
That was then, since the Armstrong era things have changed. Armstrong was the first to dedicate his whole season to the Tour. Since then things have changed and most experts/pundits, who know a lot more about cycling than me, claim it is now almost impossible. Almost...
What a day to be Norwegian. Thor and Eddy both making us proud!!
Schlecks need a couple of big stages.
In regards to the GC, I'd say we got a few answers today as well. Cadel Evans looked as strong as ever, and has only strengthened his position as the favourite. Contador was the one that broke it all up and probably has more to give in the coming days. Sanchez is a serious candidate the podium.
My favourites, the Schlecks? It's early to write them off yet, and traditionally some riders struggle after the day off, but I'll be surprised if they manage to get the necessary time on Evans, and even keep up with Contador in the two hardest stages now.
Edit: Mark Cavendish came in a minute behind Andy Schleck, about the same as Andy lost to Contador and Evans. Signs of weakness.
Yeah. It's just insane! Both are top, top riders though, as today proved beyond any doubt!
My favourites, the Schlecks? It's early to write them off yet, and traditionally some riders struggle after the day off, but I'll be surprised if they manage to get the necessary time on Evans, and even keep up with Contador in the two hardest stages now.
Edit: Mark Cavendish came in a minute behind Andy Schleck, about the same as Andy lost to Contador and Evans. Signs of weakness.
Yeah. It's just insane! Both are top, top riders though, as today proved beyond any doubt!
It's gonna be between Evans & Contador I think (hope). Contador is only gonna better his days in the Pyrenees. And Evans is just solid as ever
Contador may still have too much to do, price of that first disastrous stage. This is Evans's to lose. At least the Tour has woken up today. Been a bit stale in terms of the GC battle.
Speeds of more than 100 km/h are not uncommon during descents so it's probably correct. It's crazy though. My personal record on a bike is 72 km/h and I was shaking like a leaf. Just one little stone on the road or one animal crossing the street is enough to get yourself killed.
Rams has a point though. Times have changed. You should check what Merckx used to win every year. He competed between februari and november and won during the whole year.
But now that has become impossible because riders focus more to one or two moments in the year where they want to be top.
What the Giro and the Tour are concerned, I don't think it's impossible to win both (and Contador is at the moment probably the only one who could) but it's extremely difficult.
Giro and Vuelta might be better combinable.
Another good day for Evans. His to lose now in many ways.
Yup. Hard to look past him now. Best I've seen Cadel go in ages. Schleck boys really suffered yesterday but they could still turn it around with some mountain top finishes. Though I highly doubt they can win the tour, one of them can make the podium. Sanchez is looking strong too for a podium. For me personally, I'm a Schleck supporter but if Cadel wins I'll be happy too. As long as it is not Contador.
Also, one thing Contador did well is attack the Schlecks on a weakness of theirs. 1, they don't like the cold and wet weather and 2, they are not great descenders, especially Andy. I expect the Schlecks will be aggressive in the Alps and this will make for great racing in the GC
Excactly. And what annoys me is Andy's outburst against how the stage finished. They're the ones that didn't dare to attack Contador all the way in the Pyrenees, when he clearly didn't have the legs for it.
Hated them when they quit Saxo Bank and now hate them even more for their arrogance and lack of courage
used to be too myself