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Le Tour 2011

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barbarian

Phil Kearns (64)
Staff member
The battle should be way better this year as Contador actually has time to make up and can't just sit on Frank's back wheel the whole time. Can't wait for the Alps.
 

Jethro Tah

Bob Loudon (25)
The Crooked Feed for Le Tour:

After yesterdays stage two riders were each fined 100 Swiss francs (approx AUD$100) by the UCI for public urination and two others were each fined 30 Swiss francs for throwing bidons. The UCI would make a fortune if they policed this as thoroughly.

I couldn't find any reference to urination in the UCI rules but on drink bottles they say "Riders may not, without due care, jettison food, bonk-bags, feeding bottles, clothes, etc. in any place whatsoever. Riders may not jettison anything on the roadway itself but shall draw to the side of the road and safely deposit the object there." See here. For the uninitiated, a bonk-bag is a feed bag.
 

AngrySeahorse

Peter Sullivan (51)
The Crooked Feed for Le Tour:

After yesterdays stage two riders were each fined 100 Swiss francs (approx AUD$100) by the UCI for public urination and two others were each fined 30 Swiss francs for throwing bidons. The UCI would make a fortune if they policed this as thoroughly.

I couldn't find any reference to urination in the UCI rules but on drink bottles they say "Riders may not, without due care, jettison food, bonk-bags, feeding bottles, clothes, etc. in any place whatsoever. Riders may not jettison anything on the roadway itself but shall draw to the side of the road and safely deposit the object there." See here. For the uninitiated, a bonk-bag is a feed bag.

I have always wondered myself what they do when nature calls.

Watching it now. Massive crash yesturday with Wiggins now gone, possible broken collar bone.
 

light

Peter Fenwicke (45)
Would you back Cadel from here, I honestly think Dave Millar is gone from this years tour. He's in great form but to keep dropping time will take a mental toll at some point. Don't think Voeckler will survive the Alps either. My main worry would be Luiz-Leon Sanchez at this point, he's not a big name rider but can climb incredibly well and will still be thereabouts at the finish. Not saying he will win, but he won't be likely to drop out of the race.

Right now you'd have to say Contador is very well placed, certainly a dark horse and I can easily see him making up alot of time in the mountains. If he goes no one will stay with him up those hills. Luckily he's 4mins + behind and I doubt he will gain that much time on a single stage, thus he would have to win a few of the mountain stages leaving him fatigued for the run home, that and his teammates don't seem to be riding for him..yet. Frank Schleck has been sitting on Cadel's shoulder for the past few stages but has lost a few seconds, he can easily make them up but I imagine if team BMC can stick together they should be able to help Cadel counter any moves.

Other threats for mine are: Tony Martin, Andreas Kloden, Phillipe Gilbert, Christian Vande Velde and Frank Schleck. Also any of team Euskaltel Euskadi, those boys have impressed me the last few stages and even last year, I have my eyes on Samuel Sanchez come the mountains.
 

barbarian

Phil Kearns (64)
Staff member
Contador is still favourite. He is about 1m40 down on Evans and Schlek, and that time disappears pretty quickly in the mountains. I still think it will be very hard for Evans, and the race will be primarily fought between Contador and Andy Schlek as it was last year.

I have to say the uphill finishes and crash carnages have made the first week way more interesting than usual.
 

The_Brown_Hornet

John Eales (66)
The crashes have thrown things into chaos to a degree, but most of the big contenders are still there or thereabouts. I can't recall as much mayhem in the early stages as this for a while.
 

Jethro Tah

Bob Loudon (25)
I was impressed with Gilbert yesterday. He had a technical problem half way up the last hill and lost a stack time while changing bikes but then raced back through the struggling peleton at an impressive speed right back to the head of the pack.

I read that Contador had another crash towards the start of the stage but didn't see it. Apparently he has pulled up with a sore knee. That would be four crashes so far this Tour and will certainly play on his confidence levels. I am a big fan of his climbing and can't wait to see the duals with the Schlecks in the mountains but fear he won't make the podium this year.

Team BMC with big George Hincapie are doing a top job for Cadel so far but whether they can sustain that into the mountains is another question. Cadel appears quite relaxed and jovial in the interviews so hopefully that bodes well for the rest of the Tour. If he can stay injury free then he will be in the mix.

My predictions are for a top 2 of Andy Schleck and Gilbert with Evans, Sanchez, Kloden, Contador and Frank Schleck fighting for third.
 

Cutter

Nicholas Shehadie (39)
My predictions are for a top 2 of Andy Schleck and Gilbert with Evans, Sanchez, Kloden, Contador and Frank Schleck fighting for third.

Do you think Gilbert will handle the Pyrenees and Alps? I don't think he'll cope there.
 

sevenpointdropgoal

Larry Dwyer (12)
Do you think Gilbert will handle the Pyrenees and Alps? I don't think he'll cope there.

Not a chance. Gilbert will be lucky to be in the top 50 come Paris. He's basically a sprinter who can go up hills and has a bit of distance in his legs, a guy who's built for the Ardennes classics - certainly not a GC contender in a three week stage race.
 

sevenpointdropgoal

Larry Dwyer (12)
In other news I enjoyed seeing Louis Leon Sanchez winning the other day. I'm also pleased that Europecar has to defend the yellow - certainly plays into Cadel's hands. With any luck he can stay in the mix, but avoid the jersey, until they get to the Alps.
 

light

Peter Fenwicke (45)
I was actually impressed by Gilbert last night, thought he almost held off the pack, is it just me or does Cavendish seem off this year? He looked very relieved after his stage win the other day and last night he had a lead and got beaten. FWIW I think he will still win the sprinters category but he doesn't seem to be dominating like he used to.

Also starting to worry about Cadel, he started well but hasn't seemed to do anything for a while. Has to be mentally draining having Schleck sitting on your backwheel every stage so far not being able to move. On the other hand his team seems to still be going alright, I hope Hincapie is still there with him in France.
 

barbarian

Phil Kearns (64)
Staff member
Also starting to worry about Cadel, he started well but hasn't seemed to do anything for a while. Has to be mentally draining having Schleck sitting on your backwheel every stage so far not being able to move. On the other hand his team seems to still be going alright, I hope Hincapie is still there with him in France.

He doesn't need to though. These stages are mainly for the sprinters anyway, Cadel just has to make sure he doesn't fall or lose time in the unlikely event of a Contador or Schleck attack. This tour will be won and lost in the Alps, and if Cadel can go there still ahead of Schleck and Contador then I think he will be very happy.

His team are looking good but not great, I doubt their capacity to go with him for very long on a big climb. Hincapie is past it, Marcus Burghardt is probably his best bet and he is not brilliant.
 

Baldric

Jim Clark (26)
The real race is only starts on friday. The race so far has been fun, but the business end starts on Friday. Cadel is in a good position but then so are the Schlecks.

I am also loving the SBS iPhone app. Well laid out and informative.
 

AngrySeahorse

Peter Sullivan (51)
Hard to tell about Cadel but he's travelling better this year than last year I think anyways. Andre greipel's victory over Mark Cavendish was a highlight for mine the two absolutely hate each other and Mark whilst a great sprinter doesnt really know much about humility, great to see him get a kick up the arse.
 

Bruwheresmycar

Nicholas Shehadie (39)
The tour starts tonight, and Cadel is in a pretty good position. No one knows how he will go, either he will hang on for dear life, or the likes of Contador and Shleck will smoke everyone.

Either way, it will be a good stage to watch. Geraint Thomas is in the breakaway today (sky's lead out man) :lmao: He has done a few youtube video diaries for anyone who is interested: http://www.youtube.com/user/MrGThomas86?blend=1&ob=5
 

Moses

Simon Poidevin (60)
Staff member
Can someone explain why a rider like Cavendish who dominates the sprints is such a pussy in the mountains?
I mean, it's the same movement, using presumably the same muscles.... what's so different about going up hill?
 
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