Tour de France - 2011 *Congratulations to Cadel Evans- 2011 Tour De France Champion*

[westdog54]

Re: Tour DE France - 2011

I have the Telstra T-Box, still don't receive SBS.

Wow, that's really really bad. You'd think Telstra would be able to get something like that right. Then again, it is Telstra.

As a sidebar, I'm still getting used to the 'edit posts' button I now have in this forum. I went to quote Glove's post and ended up with an edit screen instead

[Bornadog]

Re: Tour de France - 2011

Cavendish has won his second stage which was really ripe for the taking as it was a sprinters paradise. Another massive pile up and several riders are out of the tour, notably Bradley Wiggins.

Overall lead still with Thor Hushovd with Cadel one second behind.

Stage 8 tonight:

Start: Aigurande
Finish: Super-Besse Sancy
Distance: 189km
Sprints: Auzances (83km)
Climbs: Cote d'Evaux-les-Bains (65.5km, category 4), Cote du Rocher des Trois Tourtes (119.5km, category 4), Col de la Croix Saint-Robert (164km, category 2), Super Besse (189km, category 3)

This stage is more for the climbers, so watch out for the Schleck brothers, Contodor and Cadel Evans.

[Mantis]

Re: Tour de France - 2011

This stage is more for the climbers, so watch out for the Schleck brothers, Contodor and Cadel Evans.

I can't see much action occuring tonight, possibly some feeling out, but I can't see big time gaps being opened up on climbs that aren't that severe.

For me the tour starts on Thursday night.

[Before I Die]

Re: Tour DE France - 2011

Flecha and Hoogerland Shunted Out Of Lead Group

'With 35km to go, a car passing the lead group sideswiped Flecha who catapulted into Hoogerland and caused a spectacular crash. Both fallen riders got back on their bikes but by then Voeckler, Sanchez and Casar had resumed racing after a brief respite. At the intermediate sprint Casar led Voeckler and Sanchez to the line; Flecha was at 1’50”. Hoogerland landed on a barbed wire fence and his legs were sliced up in the accident but he finished the stage, as did Flecha. Both were awarded the ‘Fighting Spirit’ award for their efforts. It’s the first time two men have received this prize in one stage at the Tour de France.'

Every rider in this race shows tremendous courage, but these efforts were outstanding.

Youtube video of the crash

[westdog54]

Re: Tour DE France - 2011

Flecha and Hoogerland Shunted Out Of Lead Group

'With 35km to go, a car passing the lead group sideswiped Flecha who catapulted into Hoogerland and caused a spectacular crash. Both fallen riders got back on their bikes but by then Voeckler, Sanchez and Casar had resumed racing after a brief respite. At the intermediate sprint Casar led Voeckler and Sanchez to the line; Flecha was at 1’50”. Hoogerland landed on a barbed wire fence and his legs were sliced up in the accident but he finished the stage, as did Flecha. Both were awarded the ‘Fighting Spirit’ award for their efforts. It’s the first time two men have received this prize in one stage at the Tour de France.'

Every rider in this race shows tremendous courage, but these efforts were outstanding.

Youtube video of the crash

Has the driver of the car been banned from the tour? That was despicable driving in such an important event. The list of charges I'd be going for if I was investigating, bloody hell... conduct endangering life, driving in a manner dangerous, truly unbelieveable.

On the flip side, absolutely incredible that they walked away from that collision, let alone finished the stage.

[Greystache]

Re: Tour DE France - 2011

Has the driver of the car been banned from the tour? That was despicable driving in such an important event. The list of charges I'd be going for if I was investigating, bloody hell... conduct endangering life, driving in a manner dangerous, truly unbelieveable.

On the flip side, absolutely incredible that they walked away from that collision, let alone finished the stage.

Yes, he was sacked on the spot, and rightly so. Disgraceful performance.

[Mantis]

Re: Tour DE France - 2011

Yes, he was sacked on the spot, and rightly so. Disgraceful performance.

They should have whipped his bare legs with barb wire.

[Greystache]

Re: Tour de France - 2011

They should have whipped his bare legs with barb wire.

Agreed, I'm actually angry about it! Probably due to my own frustration with self absorbed drivers.

Hoogerland received 35 stitches in his legs from the crash, he's racing tonight. These guys are unbelievable.

[Mantis]

Re: Tour de France - 2011

After 11 stages of jockeying around the tour gets real tonight.

2HC climbs & a Category 1. See the profile of the stage here

Expect the climb up the Col de Tourmelat to be a bit of a testing out period in which the weak links drop back before the big boys test themselves out up to Luz-Ardiden.

If you only watch one stage in this years tour watch this one. ( oh you have to watch the stage up to Alpe d'Huez too )

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: Tour de France - 2011

I've watched nearly all of it again this year having only started appreciating the sport a few years ago.

I've timed it right the last two nights and managed to catch the last 1/2 hour of each stage (I was going to give myself some respite and not bother about the flat stages, didn't work out like that). I'll be watching tonight for sure.


There's one tactic I've never understood. When a significant rider is part of the breakaway, a team with a rider in the running for the GC will send a support rider with the breakaway. Why do they do this? How can he help his team leader when he's 5 minutes up the road? He can't slow down the breakaway group and bring them back to the pelaton, so what's the point? Does he try to lead the breakaway and then slow down?

[Mantis]

Re: Tour de France - 2011

There's one tactic I've never understood. When a significant rider is part of the breakaway, a team with a rider in the running for the GC will send a support rider with the breakaway. Why do they do this? How can he help his team leader when he's 5 minutes up the road? He can't slow down the breakaway group and bring them back to the pelaton, so what's the point? Does he try to lead the breakaway and then slow down?

If I understand your query correctly the idea is that when the GC guys who have split away from the rest of the peloton and have limited support left in the 'elite group', if they have another team member ahead he may be of assistance when they catch them. This might be as little as going back to get a water bottle or pace making for a few hundred metres, but if the GC contender is lucky he might get solid assistance and be able to conserve some much needed energy.

I think we will see this tactic tonight where members of Saxo-Bank, BMC & Leopard-Trek will try and get up the road to help their team leaders when required.

I am expecting Leopard-Trek to go hard tonight and for Phil & Paul to get way too excited than needed about the likes of O'Grady, Voight & Cancellara who will be lauded like kings for 'Burying themselves'.

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: Tour de France - 2011

If I understand your query correctly the idea is that when the GC guys who have split away from the rest of the peloton and have limited support left in the 'elite group', if they have another team member ahead he may be of assistance when they catch them. This might be as little as going back to get a water bottle or pace making for a few hundred metres, but if the GC contender is lucky he might get solid assistance and be able to conserve some much needed energy.

I think we will see this tactic tonight where members of Saxo-Bank, BMC & Leopard-Trek will try and get up the road to help their team leaders when required.

I am expecting Leopard-Trek to go hard tonight and for Phil & Paul to get way too excited than needed about the likes of O'Grady, Voight & Cancellara who will be lauded like kings for 'Burying themselves'.

That's not what I mean. I understand the concept of supporting your lead rider.

I'll use examples.

A few nights ago when Vinokourov was part of the breakaway, Phil Leggitt said BMC have made a mistake by not sending a rider with them. Why would they? What could that rider have done to bring Vinokourov back to the peleton?

[Mantis]

Re: Tour de France - 2011

A few nights ago when Vinokourov was part of the breakaway, Phil Leggitt said BMC have made a mistake by not sending a rider with them. Why would they? What could that rider have done to bring Vinokourov back to the peleton?

Yeah NFI on that one.

As you say it isn't like the rider in the breakaway can slow them up because if he tried to he would be dropped. I guess the only reason could be what I brought up.

And Phil is known to talk a fair amount of tripe.

[Greystache]

Re: Tour de France - 2011

That's not what I mean. I understand the concept of supporting your lead rider.

I'll use examples.

A few nights ago when Vinokourov was part of the breakaway, Phil Leggitt said BMC have made a mistake by not sending a rider with them. Why would they? What could that rider have done to bring Vinokourov back to the peleton?

My understanding is having a rider in the breakaway group that doesn't co-operate with the other riders disrupts the rhythm of the group making it less efficient, and therefore easier to catch.

Not certain though.

[Bornadog]

Re: Tour de France - 2011

I think we will see this tactic tonight where members of Saxo-Bank, BMC & Leopard-Trek will try and get up the road to help their team leaders when required.

I am expecting Leopard-Trek to go hard tonight and for Phil & Paul to get way too excited than needed about the likes of O'Grady, Voight & Cancellara who will be lauded like kings for 'Burying themselves'.

About time Saxo Bank team helped Contodor. It seems each time he was in trouble there was no one from his team assisting him to catch up to the pelaton. This year is the first time I have seen Cadels team mates help him . Previously with Lotto they were useless.