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

[Doc26]

Re: Tour de France - 2011

2 huge nights coming.

[westdog54]

Re: Tour de France - 2011

If Evans can stay with Contador over the next 2 nights he should win. Can't see Contador making up 2 + minutes on the time trial.

[Bornadog]

Re: Tour de France - 2011

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.

Three massive peaks to climb tonight with the Col Agnel at 2676m, Col dlzoard at 2354m and the Col du Galibier at 2623m and then back to the Col du Galibier on Friday before a long down hill. Some of the highest peaks in the 100 years of the Tour.

I feel the next two nights will sort out Voeckler and hopefully Cadel can be primed to win.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Tour de France - 2011

S**t this is it. Tonight's the night.. if he's going to win it, it all happens here (you better bet everyone else will be attacking!) -- the time trial will be important, but tonight sets everything up...

... can't believe I won't be in Paris this weekend for the finish -- of all the times I had to be back here! Have only witnessed actual tour stages (as opposed to the ceremonial last day) a couple of times (it's really just bikes flying past in a blur and then jumping in your cars and trying to get up ahead of them for another view of bikes flying past in a blur.. I was once in a paddock to watch the bikes and the guys next to me -- veteran Tour watchers -- weren't even watching the bikes, they were watching their little handheld portable TVs to see what the heck was going on), but the finishing route is just down the road and over the Seine from our little street in the Marais, and it's always a festive atmosphere, so it totally sucks that we won't be there for Cadel if he wins it. Ridiculously bad timing.

An Aussie winning this -- it's as big as it gets.

[BulldogBelle]

Re: Tour de France - 2011

Very exciting times in the TDF...can't wait for tonight's stage. GO Cadel!

[Doc26]

Re: Tour de France - 2011

Top 3 prediction at end of tonight's Stage 18:

1. Evans
2. F Schleck + 4 sec
2. Contador + 10 sec

Anyone else keen to have a crack ?

[JohnGentStand]

Re: Tour de France - 2011

I'm torn between my love of watching Cadel create history, and my love of the commentator voices taking me away from my insomnia.. The T.D.F. is truly a win-win for me. LOVE IT

[boydogs]

Re: Tour de France - 2011

Should be a good night's viewing. I'm tipping the Schleck's to dominate.

[GVGjr]

Re: Tour de France - 2011

Should be a good night's viewing. I'm tipping the Schleck's to dominate.

You were not wrong.

[westdog54]

Re: Tour de France - 2011

As much as its dissapointing that Cadel has fallen to 4th it was great to see him work back 2 minutes of that margin on the last climb to leave himself in striking distance. Its set up a cracking stage for tonight. Cadel can't afford to lose another second to Andy Schleck. I think Cadel is a better time trialler than Schleck, one minute should just be close enough for Cadel to reel him in, but I wouldn't want it being any further than that. Schleck is in a great spot to pinch the polka dot jersey as well.

[Bulldog Joe]

Re: Tour de France - 2011

Evans put in a fantastic performance, but was just sat on by the peloton. Shows that he is the one feared by all the GC contenders.

Even the cross team assistance of Contador and Sancez unravelled, but the Schleck's have been very smart. It does show the value of 2 riders with genuine claims in the one team.

Just like having 2 goal kickers playing against teams with only 1.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Tour de France - 2011

I missed Andy Schleck's break and it was an obvious mistake not to cover him. I was disappointed when Cadel was looking around for help when we all knew he needs to do it himself. He fought back well to reduce the time.
Almost certain Frank Schleck will attack tonight and Andy will try to sit back and take advantage late. Cadel needs help from Vockler, Contador, etc, or he will lose time again.

[Mantis]

Re: Tour de France - 2011

I missed Andy Schleck's break and it was an obvious mistake not to cover him. I was disappointed when Cadel was looking around for help when we all knew he needs to do it himself. He fought back well to reduce the time.
Almost certain Frank Schleck will attack tonight and Andy will try to sit back and take advantage late. Cadel needs help from Vockler, Contador, etc, or he will lose time again.

Really?

The likes of Contador, Basso & Sanchez should have been up the front trying to limit their losses to AS too.

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: Tour de France - 2011

What an amazing effort from Schlenk, Evans and even Voeckler.

Evans gestured to Contador about 20km out as if to say "what the **** are you doing?". That far out Contador knew he was in trouble.

The two I really didn't understand were Basso and Damiano Cunego. They are currently sitting 5th & 6th, both seemed to be travelling OK, both made it to the line in the Evans group and both bludged their way up the mountain.

Even if the two of them took short stints up front the group could have ended up a fair bit closer at the top.


Good effort from Maxime Monfort helping Schlenk a fair part of the way.

[Doc26]

Re: Tour de France - 2011

My prediction last night was off the mark. Thought Alberto and Sanchez had more in the tank and would show dominace in the rarefied air. Got to give it to Leopard Trek last night, their strategy paid big dividends. Thought Cadel's ride was brilliant. If only he had the burst last night to breakaway. Voeckler's yellow has been saved off the back of the free ride Cadel gave him. If not for Cadel, the Tour would've been over on completion of last night's stage.