Le Tour

[Raw Toast]

Re: Le Tour

Have been following the tour closely as per usual, though other deadlines have meant I haven't stayed up for an all-nighter yet. I've taped a few stages and watched after a "media-ban" day. Former housemate followed the 2003 Tour over there, which was a cracker, and I'm so glad SBS cover virtually all of it live now.

Been so busy it was only this morning that I realised there would be a WOOF thread on it!

Last year Evans lost because Contador and Rasmussen teamed up on him during key mountain stages, so the threat from CSC is very real, but their problem is that neither of their chances are great in the time trial, though Sastre is ok. The TT is what makes Menchov a danger. His team is not that strong either though, so he's vulnerable to CSC as well, and did crack last year in the Alps semi-early on. He'll be hoping that CSC focus on Evans, and allow him an easier passage, at least for the first of the three killer days coming up.

Regarding Popovich, I reckon he's a better rider in the Alps than in the Pyrenees, so Cadel might still get some valuable help from him. Though both are obviously bloody hard, the two mountain ranges are quite different, and many climbers are much better at one than the other. The Pyrenees climbs tend to vary in gradient a lot, very steep for a while, then easing up, then steep again, so those riders who like to have a really steady rhythm struggle in them, whereas someone like Evans who is fairly explosive, likes them best. The Alps often have a higher average gradient but it's fairly level, so if the bigger riders like Popovich can get into a nice rhythm, then they can power up them (hopefully dragging Evans along).

Because Evans is better in the Pyrenees, his fall meant he didn't dominate as much as he could've, but he showed last year that he's up there with the best in the Alps as well. Sastre is another who prefers the Pyrenees (most but not all Spanish and Basque riders do, Indurain with his big body being an exception), while the Schleck brothers like the Alps.

I'm going to see if I can work and watch some of those Alps stages at the same time.

[BulldogBelle]

Re: Le Tour

I absolutely love watching the TDF every year. One of my closest friends is right into it and over the years has been over to France a couple of times and followed the route quite closely, I have also travelled to some of those regions absoulety awesome scenery.

The Alps stages are awesome and definitely a highlight of the tour. Good to see Cadel Evans doing so well hopefully he kicks on in the Alps stages.

Stage 13 is now on...

[LostDoggy]

Re: Le Tour

Contador was a freak. He could just keep on 'kicking' up the mountain. Evans doesnt have the speed, he just climbs at a good even pace. Im not sure if there is any riders this year with Contador's explosive bursts (drug assisted or not), which might be Evans (and Lotto's) saving grace.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Le Tour

The Victorian Gerrans won last nights stage into Italy.
Evans lost the lead to Schleck(what a great name), now in 3rd 8 sec behind. Not sure if thats a a really good or bad thing.
Probably the whats important is he lost time to Menchov(27sec) and Sastre(47sec)

[Raw Toast]

Re: Le Tour

The Victorian Gerrans won last nights stage into Italy.
Evans lost the lead to Schleck(what a great name), now in 3rd 8 sec behind. Not sure if thats a a really good or bad thing.
Probably the whats important is he lost time to Menchov(27sec) and Sastre(47sec)

Probably not such a bad thing - Evans and his team can now concentrate on winning the whole thing rather than on defending the yellow. I think if you offered Evans these positions at the start of the race he would've taken them in close to a hearbeat. And if he loses the same amounts of time in the next two stages, he'd still be the favourite to win it in the time-trial.

CSC were pretty awesome though, weren't they. Andy Schleck was incredible (maybe Evans needs his younger brother on his team!), while Menchov looked very dangerous. I guess the big question for me is can CSC dominate like that on three massive mountain stages in four days? O'Grady, Voigt and Cancellara will probably be able to give them the same push each day, but can the two Schleck's and Sastre take advantage of it? I'm most worried about Menchov, but it's still an incredibly close, with the top six now within a minute of each other, and all looking like legitimate contenders.

I was able to do a fair bit of work watching last night's stage, so I've got the perfect excuse (I start teaching on Monday though, so that's a bit of a concern).

[Raw Toast]

Re: Le Tour

That L'Alpe-d'Huez looks incredible, three uncatergorizable climbs over 210kms with the most famous mountain-top finish of them all... http://www.letour.fr/2008/TDF/LIVE/u...par_etape.html

[westdog54]

Re: Le Tour

The mountain stages are great.

The last 15 kms or so were magnificent TV. Great work by Simon Gerrans to get up and win the stage as well. Very impressed by Danny Pate from the US, who finished 3rd. Not a noted climber but managed to stay with the breakaway group and kept with them in the final climb to finish 3rd.

Evans was cantering by the end of that stage, didn't have to do a heck of a lot of work to stay in that second breakaway. He's got plenty left in the tank for the remainder of the tour.

[Mantis]

Re: Le Tour

That L'Alpe-d'Huez looks incredible, three uncatergorizable climbs over 210kms with the most famous mountain-top finish of them all... http://www.letour.fr/2008/TDF/LIVE/u...par_etape.html

The next 2 stages are going to be pivotable in determining the winner of this year's tour. Last night was another feeling out stage, but I would expect to see some fireworks come Tuesday.

Get some rest tonight kiddies because Tuesday and Wednesday night's stages will be must watch TV.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Le Tour

That L'Alpe-d'Huez looks incredible, three uncatergorizable climbs over 210kms with the most famous mountain-top finish of them all... http://www.letour.fr/2008/TDF/LIVE/u...par_etape.html

Thats easy!
Only 3 Unclassified climbs and a category 3!
A few years back they had a time trail up L'Aple-d'Huez IIRC?

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: Le Tour

The last 15 kms or so were magnificent TV. Great work by Simon Gerrans to get up and win the stage as well. Very impressed by Danny Pate from the US, who finished 3rd. Not a noted climber but managed to stay with the breakaway group and kept with them in the final climb to finish 3rd.

Gerrans was smart about the way he chased. He realised he still had time to come back and did it gradually rather than spending all his petrol tickets in one big effort.

[BulldogBelle]

Re: Le Tour

The next 2 stages are going to be pivotable in determining the winner of this year's tour. Last night was another feeling out stage, but I would expect to see some fireworks come Tuesday.

Get some rest tonight kiddies because Tuesday and Wednesday night's stages will be must watch TV.

A couple of good night viewings with Stage 16 and 17 coming up in the high mountain stages. Tomorrow nights stage covers the regions of Cuneo to Jausiers which is about 157kms, whilst Stage 17 they will be covering another 210 kms which is the most for any of the stages. Looking forward to watching it.

[Raw Toast]

Re: Le Tour

Thats easy!
Only 3 Unclassified climbs and a category 3!
A few years back they had a time trail up L'Aple-d'Huez IIRC?

Yep in 2004, Armstrong won it (of course), in a near race-record, one second behind the time set by Marco Pantani.

I know you're being light-hearted, but IIRC they normally only have 2 unclassified climbs, with the second one up the Alpe, and as Bulldogbelle noted, it's a huge day in terms of distance as well, and coming on the back of the other days.

The time trial was only 15.5 km's, and in a way you could argue it was easier because cyclists can set their own pace much more, and are less likely to get pushed into the 'red zone'. They're unlikely to do it again as a time-trial anytime soon, because the crowds were completely chaotic, even more so than usual, because the riders were coming through so regularly and by themselves, rather than in groups.

[Mantis]

Re: Le Tour

Cadel did a great job last night staying withe contenders on the climb and an even better one descending where he was able to put some valuable time between himself and Menchov. Although he was a bit lucky to miss hitting the official who was standing on the road after Augustyn went over the top. (Wasn't he lucky not to kill himself)

Tonight's stage will the last chance Kohl, Schleck and co have the opportunity to put some time between themselves and Cadel so expect to see some attacks especially on the last climb.

One suspects if Cadel can minismise his losses to about a minute then the tour is his for the taking. Popovych will be crucial for Cadel tonight.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Le Tour

That was a ripper stage.
How about Augustyn! Win the ride to the top of the last mountain then fall off the other side.
He went maybe 5 m down a bit which seemed like all slate type rocks. His bike was lost might have gone 20m+.
He had to wait for his team car which was no where in sight for another bike. Lost 5+ minutes.

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: Le Tour

Cadel rode like a demon but I was surprised how little pressure CSC put him under. Another night like that one tonight and Cadel will win the Tour.

They were doing 90kmh down that hill with huge drops over the edge. Those blokes have goolies the size of Western Australia.