Viva Le Tour - Tour de France 2011

[Jase]

I've got the office know all telling me that Evans is rubbish and has pretty much finished his chances. Last nights stage was the first she has watched all year... She knows everything there is to know about any sport in the world... Only 5 more working days and I am free...

[Jim05]

I've got the office know all telling me that Evans is rubbish and has pretty much finished his chances. Last nights stage was the first she has watched all year... She knows everything there is to know about any sport in the world... Only 5 more working days and I am free...

She will have egg on her face when he wins it

[Sploosh]

(I have only started watching the Tour properly this year, so I admit I don't have the technical knowledge that a lot of others on this thread have, but...)

It was a concern that Andy was allowed to get ahead so far for so long. Don't any other teams have tacticians? With still another day in the mountains, I can see it happening all over again, and then Cadel will have too great a time to make up in the time trial. Cadel certainly looks strong, but anything can happen with 3 days to go, and he needs to be getting in front now rather than leaving it to the last minute, surely?

[Jim05]

They wont let him go tonight.
Id be confident if Cadel chasing down up to 3 minutes in TT

[whufc]

I think Frank Schlek is definatly the sleeper he.

He had the easiest out of all of the rides (not that it would have been 'easy') and will have plenty of legs in the tank. His some imho who could seriously take 3-4 seconds of the rest similar to what A.Schlek did last night.

[Jim05]

I think Frank Schlek is definatly the sleeper he.

He had the easiest out of all of the rides (not that it would have been 'easy') and will have plenty of legs in the tank. His some imho who could seriously take 3-4 seconds of the rest similar to what A.Schlek did last night.

Geez id reckon he needs to do more than that

[Sploosh]

I think he meant minutes...

[Sploosh]

This is what Cadel said on his website:-

(http://www.cadelevans.com.au/)

One of the harder days of this Tour.....thus far, by a long shot! A very strong effort by Andy Schleck and his Leopard crew; how they managed to take so much time in the valley from Briancon up to the Lauteret was a little mystifying. Four guys riding into a block headwind - who had already made an effort just get in the break and make time - is not usually a match for the combo of up to ten men behind with fresher legs. Work cohesion maybe? That would explain some of the teams Team Time Trial results. Compliments to Andy and Leopard for however they managed that.

Behind in our group, with 15km to go, no one was willing to work. A bit strange for a French guy in yellow, this close to Paris.....and even a chance for the White jersey as well. For me, without Voeckler's help, it put me in a loosing situation, with the wind though, escaping from the group was going to be very difficult but not very time effective, so, I just did one turn....for 9km....Basso did swap off for a few seconds, and I think that Europcar guy who could have had White today did one short turn as well, not how I would be looking to set myself for Paris, but we'll see when we get there.

Tomorrow, more of the same, just shorter and sharper.

[OnSong]

This is what Cadel said on his website:-

(http://www.cadelevans.com.au/)

One of the harder days of this Tour.....thus far, by a long shot! A very strong effort by Andy Schleck and his Leopard crew; how they managed to take so much time in the valley from Briancon up to the Lauteret was a little mystifying. Four guys riding into a block headwind - who had already made an effort just get in the break and make time - is not usually a match for the combo of up to ten men behind with fresher legs. Work cohesion maybe? That would explain some of the teams Team Time Trial results. Compliments to Andy and Leopard for however they managed that.

Behind in our group, with 15km to go, no one was willing to work. A bit strange for a French guy in yellow, this close to Paris.....and even a chance for the White jersey as well. For me, without Voeckler's help, it put me in a loosing situation, with the wind though, escaping from the group was going to be very difficult but not very time effective, so, I just did one turn....for 9km....Basso did swap off for a few seconds, and I think that Europcar guy who could have had White today did one short turn as well, not how I would be looking to set myself for Paris, but we'll see when we get there.

Tomorrow, more of the same, just shorter and sharper.

Yeah, he summed it up there. Frustrating to watch but inspiring to see Cadel take the race by the scruff of the neck and do something about it.

[Zelezny Chucks]

I think the question that needs answering is whose missus did Cadel f**k?

He has never gotten any help from anyone yet still manages to put himself in positions to win it. If only he had a few mates in the field he might have won a couple by now.

[Swooper16]

I’m expecting a fairytale finish from Team Garmin Cervelo’s 9th placed rider Danielson.

His team coach looks like a wily character…

[Jase]

I think the question that needs answering is whose missus did Cadel f**k?

He has never gotten any help from anyone yet still manages to put himself in positions to win it. If only he had a few mates in the field he might have won a couple by now.

Could it be that he just isn't very well liked by anyone. I struggle to warm to him to be honest but still want him to win, he can come across as a bit of a whinger IMHO.

Having said that #yellforcadel

[OnSong]

I think the question that needs answering is whose missus did Cadel f**k?

He has never gotten any help from anyone yet still manages to put himself in positions to win it. If only he had a few mates in the field he might have won a couple by now.

Could it be that he just isn't very well liked by anyone. I struggle to warm to him to be honest but still want him to win, he can come across as a bit of a whinger IMHO.

Having said that #yellforcadel

Yeah, has the personality of a tree but watching him grind out the stage like he did last night earned him a sh!tload of brownie points with me. What a competitor.

[Jase]

I think the question that needs answering is whose missus did Cadel f**k?

He has never gotten any help from anyone yet still manages to put himself in positions to win it. If only he had a few mates in the field he might have won a couple by now.

Could it be that he just isn't very well liked by anyone. I struggle to warm to him to be honest but still want him to win, he can come across as a bit of a whinger IMHO.

Having said that #yellforcadel

Yeah, has the personality of a tree but watching him grind out the stage like he did last night earned him a sh!tload of brownie points with me. What a competitor.

Completely agree...

[Jim05]

Gee i must be the odd one out, i dont mind the bloke. Reckon he is under a bit of stress and realises he probably only has a couple of tours left in him to claim the holy grail.

[heater31]

Gee i must be the odd one out, i dont mind the bloke. Reckon he is under a bit of stress and realises he probably only has a couple of tours left in him to claim the holy grail.

Not alone, IIRC when in Australia one summer he stuck with a bunch of amateurs out for a ride one day. He could of easily burned them if he wanted but stayed with them until they had to turn off to their destination. He continued on his ride after that.

[Swamp Donkey]

Good wrap-ups on here people, really enjoying everyones opinion at the moment.

Everyone seems to be of the opinion that Andy Schleck might be too tired tonight to kick again, while I don't think they will let him go again, I do think he still has it in him to do something similar and gain more time on Evans and tonight is the night.........F*** I wish I had the day off from footy tomorrow!!!! so don't think I'll stay up.

In my view last nights chase by Evans would have also knocked him around a lot too and its something that nobody seems to have recognised, he basically did what Andy Schleck did....went solo up that final climb, so in terms of being fresh tonight I am concerned that Frank Schleck and Andy might gain more time on Evans tonight.

Also Andy Schleck is not as bad as I keep hearing on these ITTs. Last year was an exception because Cadel was nursing a few injuries but look at 2009, under 90 secs seperated the pair in the TDF ITT, thus I am concerned about anything over about 1 min for Evans to chase in that TT.

Tonight is huge for Cadel any further increase in lead over Cadel might spell the end of him, but given the grit and guts he showed last night I think he'll track the whell of any rivals that have a big go tonight.
BRING IT!

[Swamp Donkey]

I think the question that needs answering is whose missus did Cadel f**k?

He has never gotten any help from anyone yet still manages to put himself in positions to win it. If only he had a few mates in the field he might have won a couple by now.

i seriously just think they couldn't keep up with the pace that Cadel wanted and needed to ride at up that final climb last night, I don't think its a case of not having the support, more the fact they are too piss weak and incapable to chasing at such a pace, thus he thought buggered it and did it himself.

[am Bays]

OK, I'll put this out there and I know it sounds like an holier than thou Australian talking because we don't cheat....

But where the hell has Voeckler come from this year?? I know he has worn the yellow jersey in the past but he has always cracked in the mountains, this year he has survived 5 mountain stages including yesterday's killer. The question has to be asked has he eaten some choice beef in the last 12-6 months???

Seriously I hope he hasn't and it is all legit, but at that level you just don't come from clouds and and put up that level of performance.

Really hope Cadel can grit his teeth and hang tough on tonights 109 km "sprint" up Alp d'Huez with the Schleck bros.

[mickey]

Here we go... 109.5km of hell on a bike..

JEAN-FRANÇOIS PESCHEUX’S ANALYSIS : The stage everyone is afraid of

“Today’s route runs in the opposite direction to yesterday’s. The riders tackle the successive climbs of the Col du Télégraphe and the Galibier, and then finish with the climb to Alpe d’Huez, which returns after an absence of three years. It is a short stage. Nevertheless, all of the riders will be afraid of it. Those who aren’t going so well will be concerned about the cut-off time for elimination and the favourites will know that they will pay a heavy cost for any sign of weakness. The shortness of the stage allows the climbers to attack from very early on, which is not something they will be used to. This stage will be thrilling and, bearing in mind that it comes on the back of two other tough days, there is a chance that a lot of damage will be done today.”

and the ball breaking climb that is the Alpe-d’Huez