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

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: Tour de France - 2011

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.

He had George Hincapie last year, too. Cadel's problem last year was Hincapie 2010 = Brian Lake 2011.

Hincapie looks OK so far this year but we'll learn a lot tonight.

[Mantis]

Re: Tour de France - 2011

He had George Hincapie last year, too. Cadel's problem last year was Hincapie 2010 = Brian Lake 2011.

Hincapie looks OK so far this year but we'll learn a lot tonight.

Hincapie is the leader on the road in that he uses his experience to help with pace setting, etc.. but he isn't a mountains man.

So far BMC have been pretty smart, they have used the likes of Hincapie, Bookwalter & Schar to do the donkey work on the flat stages, but haven't called up the likes of Morabito, Santaromita & Moinard do much work as they will be expected to give Cadel assistance on stages like tonights.

[Mantis]

Re: Tour de France - 2011

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.

Saxo Bank has some quality riders in their team so expect Porte, Navarro & Sorensen to be up the front helping Contador when the whips start cracking tonight.

[GVGjr]

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?

It's primarily to disrupt the breakaway group by never taking their turns up front and trying to slow them down. They will ride in bursts and try and change the rhythm by positioning themselves in front near major turns and corners and then slowing right down, ensuring everyone has to hit the breaks a bit harder.
Most good teams will send someone forward because they just add don't add anything to the group.

[divvydan]

Re: Tour de France - 2011

The other reason it would've helped BMC to have someone in that breakaway is that they could then say to the other teams that they're not helping chase as they have a teammate up in the lead, thus forcing other teams to set the pace in the peloton to try and catch the breakaway.

[boydogs]

Re: Tour de France - 2011

The other reason it would've helped BMC to have someone in that breakaway is that they could then say to the other teams that they're not helping chase as they have a teammate up in the lead, thus forcing other teams to set the pace in the peloton to try and catch the breakaway.

Plus the obvious one, the rider that goes with the breakaway may get a higher finish.

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: Tour de France - 2011

Plus the obvious one, the rider that goes with the breakaway may get a higher finish.

They don't really care too much about the support riders overall finish. He could win the stage, of course, that would be a nice sponsors bonus.

[Bornadog]

Re: Tour de France - 2011

What great viewing last night, really enjoyed watching the tactics, especially when Leopold went to the front and tried to break the other teams and how good was Frank Schleck at the end, but just couldn't catch Sanchez. Cadel played it nicely and gained some important time.

Voeckler's ride was incredible for a man not noted for mountain climbing, but I wonder how he will pull up as he seemed to put everything into it last night to hold the yellow jersey on Bastille day.

I think the Schleck brothers are in the box seat as they can double team Cadel plus they have a very strong team surrounding them.

[boydogs]

Re: Tour de France - 2011

They don't really care too much about the support riders overall finish. He could win the stage, of course, that would be a nice sponsors bonus.

Even being in the breakaway is a sponsors bonus

[Bornadog]

Re: Tour de France - 2011

Voeckler still hanging in with the yellow jersey, when will he crack? Can't believe he stayed with the pellaton all the way to the top of the mountain.

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: Tour de France - 2011

Voeckler still hanging in with the yellow jersey, when will he crack? Can't believe he stayed with the pellaton all the way to the top of the mountain.

I can't understand why there were so few attacks? The Schlenk boys took it easy on everyone else. Surely they're not going to lay it all on the line in stage 19?

[Mantis]

Re: Tour de France - 2011

I can't understand why there were so few attacks? The Schlenk boys took it easy on everyone else. Surely they're not going to lay it all on the line in stage 19?

The problem is the 2 Schleck's are too worried about each other... If one misses the surge they slow up... Neither can win with these tactics.

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: Tour de France - 2011

The problem is the 2 Schleck's are too worried about each other... If one misses the surge they slow up... Neither can win with these tactics.

They should be worried now. Lost over a minute to Evans and Contador and even lost 40 seconds or so to Voekler

[Bornadog]

Re: Tour de France - 2011

They should be worried now. Lost over a minute to Evans and Contador and even lost 40 seconds or so to Voekler

The Schlecks couldn't go with Contodors move, so puts Cadel in the box position. Getting interesting now.

[Doc26]

Re: Tour de France - 2011

The Schlecks couldn't go with Contodors move, so puts Cadel in the box position. Getting interesting now.

Alberto remains the big threat. He can make up ground plus some over these next three stages.
Somehow I hope he becomes overcome with guilt and drops off.

Notice that the Col du Galibier stage finishes at it's highest altitude this year.