Tour de France stage discussions

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » July 1, 2006, 11:19 am

Figured we could keep all the Tour discussions in one thread to save the rest of the inbreds here!

That said: One down.

noel · Post by **noel** » July 1, 2006, 11:24 am

I imagine you've got to be pretty happy with that result.

Just make sure McEwen never beats Hushovd through the rest of the race so I don't have to see ANY McEwen interviews.

I was surprised by Hushovd's win. I'm pleased with the results of all of the Americans (obviously) because we're in the first week, and though you can't win the Tour in the first week you can definitely lose it...

WTF happened with Landis? Did he not know he was racing the Tour today?

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » July 1, 2006, 11:27 am

I don't really worry about McEwen for the Green. I do worry about Boonen, he has to be the big favourite imo.

Was an exciting finish though!

noel · Post by **noel** » July 1, 2006, 12:01 pm

I just read that Landis had a flat tire before the start.

Let me be the most recent person to say: That sucks!

Truant · Post by **Truant** » July 2, 2006, 1:15 am

IT BEGINS!

Excitement

)

Gotta figure out which set of coverage I'm going to watch since I cannot watch it live like I used to.

noel · Post by **noel** » July 2, 2006, 2:34 pm

That fucking sucked. I cannot understand for the life of me why PMU can't go to fucking foam hands instead of the cardboard ones which have caused accidents in the past, and will again in the future. Maybe now that the maillot juane's arm was nearly cut off (the injury doesn't look serious but with the tour, no additional pain is required) they'll pull their heads out and do something about it.

Props to Hincapie for a VERY cheeky move that I never would have seen coming... If Bruynheel didn't know about that I hope to god he reigns Hincapie in. There are more important things than wearing the jersey for a day, and he just might need that energy down the road.

Still I am as always, happy for George. He's been the bridesmaid/best man for so long it's always nice to see him get some glory.

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » July 2, 2006, 3:17 pm

The cut is reported as about 5 cm long and fairly deep. He lost a LOT of blood and will be stiff as hell tomorrow in that arm. HE was also reported as in shock when he was first treated and as very pale, but he swears he will ride tomorrow.

I didn't get to see it live, was out all day. Waiting for the re-runs before I really comment beyond these reports.

noel · Post by **noel** » July 2, 2006, 3:40 pm

Kelshara wrote:The cut is reported as about 5 cm long and fairly deep. He lost a LOT of blood and will be stiff as hell tomorrow in that arm. HE was also reported as in shock when he was first treated and as very pale, but he swears he will ride tomorrow.

I didn't get to see it live, was out all day. Waiting for the re-runs before I really comment beyond these reports.

Allow me to clarify then. The cut looked serious as hell when he was lying on the ground. The amount of blood that was all over made me think he'd crashed after crossing the finish line, and landed on his right side, breaking his collarbone. I saw it live and at first you coud not tell at all where the actual injury had occurred. If you watch as he's coming down the line in the final say 200M he's over to the left side of the screen. You'll see the hand make contact with him and he keeps going fine. You'll also see him glance to his right side as he's crossing the line. Then you'll see him lying on the ground. If you don't realize where it happened it makes no sense.

My comment about the injury not looking serious was based on an article on velonews.com where they say as their headline that the injury is not serious.

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » July 2, 2006, 6:57 pm

Just watched it, looked painful. But it is a good thing he didn't go down when he got hit, that would have been nasty. And probably similar to when.. erh.. Jalabert was it? Went down and basically smashed his entire face heh.

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » July 3, 2006, 12:31 pm

And history repeats itself: McEven is a jackass heh.

Boogahz · Post by **Boogahz** » July 3, 2006, 12:53 pm

I headed to work during this morning's stage. What did he pull this time?

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » July 3, 2006, 1:13 pm

Direction change during the final sprint when you are supposed to stay in your "lane", hit Hushovd on the back of his right pedal that almost tipped Hushovd over. By what I would call great balance he managed to stay on his bike but in the process pulled his left foot out of the left pedal so he had to finish on one leg heh.

Not often you see Hushovd as pissed as he was after crossing the finish line. He is usually very mellow.

noel · Post by **noel** » July 3, 2006, 1:33 pm

I wish he'd beat the living shit out of McEwen. McEwen is such a fucking baby when anyone does anything to him, but he thinks he can do whatever the fuck he wants.

Nice work on Thor's part to get back in yellow!

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » July 3, 2006, 4:15 pm

You should have heard him in the interview right after he got off the bike. He was fuming! The arm was really hurting him too, even such minor things like having to use your left arm instead of your right to get food from his back heh. Not to mention having stomach issues from the antibiotics. Oh well, was a good race but I am worried about him getting through it.

And yes, McEwen needs a beating. Sad really, Tom Boonen is (at least imo) a class act and McEwen kind of ruins the whole competition between them.

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » July 3, 2006, 4:47 pm

Just read another interview with Hushovd where he said McEwen hit his wound when he did the direction change in the final sprint.

noel · Post by **noel** » July 3, 2006, 5:14 pm

I can tell you from experience that the littlest things will fuck up your ability to ride at full potential. A stiff neck, hurt hand, even the wrong sunglasses can really suck. Worst of all, a three week grand tour is no time to have to heal. Fuck McEwen.

Edit: Saw this on cyclingnews.com

Q: What happened in the sprint with Hushovd?

RM: I've already spoken with Thor since the finish. Thor and I already watched to the video together. Thor came with his front wheel against my left foot.

When I look to the video and what I remember of the sprint, I started on the wheel of O'Grady and he was behind Zabel. Then I went passed both of them. Because O'Grady passed Zabel on his left, I needed to go even more to the left. From there I road a direct line to the finish line as the road curbed just a little bit to the right. With about hundred metres to go I felt something against my foot and I pulled back to the right. That proved to be Hushovd. We're still friends, no problem.

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » July 4, 2006, 11:51 am

Wow Decker.. and Valverde! Gone!

The drama doesn't seem to end this year!

Edit: And Fred Rodriguez!

noel · Post by **noel** » July 4, 2006, 9:22 pm

Today was a great stage minus all of the injuries. Stuart O'Grady cracked a vertebrate in his lower back.

I loved having Le Cauberg at the end of the stage. It was a good way to finally get some meaningful gaps in the overall standings.

I'm really looking forward to stage 7s ITT.

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » July 5, 2006, 12:35 pm

Damn. McEwen looks scary strong.

noel · Post by **noel** » July 5, 2006, 1:16 pm

Lucky that CA rider didn't fuck everyone in the peloton with where he crashed.

I agree though, it's looking more and more like McEwen just has to get over the mountains this year to get the green.

This just in:

Hushovd relegated for irregular sprint
This report filed July 5, 2006

Defending Tour de France points champion Thor Hushovd (Crédit Agricole)was relegated from his fourth-place finish in Stage 4 of the Tour de France Wednesday after officials ruled him guilty of irregular sprinting.

Hushovd, who wore the yellow jersey after winning the race prologue and again two days later, was ruled to have blocked Austrian sprinter Bernhard Eisel as both riders raced to the finish line in a bunch sprint.

Robbie McEwen, of Davitamon, won the sprint well ahead of his rivals to claim his second stage of the race and tenth of his career, allowing him to reclaim the race's green jersey for the points competition.

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » July 5, 2006, 4:42 pm

I will not comment on that since I am biased.. but most people have called it "pure bullshit" that I have read so far. Looks like it is time to forget the green jersey and go for stage wins instead.

That said.. the fall of the CA guy (Hushovd's main setup guy and I can't recall his name right now.. ugh) looked painful and could very easily have been very very nasty.

noel · Post by **noel** » July 5, 2006, 5:31 pm

I think it was: Julian Dean

Any idea what him being relegated even means? As far as I can tell, he hasn't lost any points in the Annual Robbie McEwen Jersey contest, and he doesn't appear to have lost any time...

Nevermind, I just read this:

Hushovd's relegation could prove fatal to the defending green jersey winner, who slipped from what should have been third at 86 points to 5th at 62 points.

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » July 5, 2006, 5:44 pm

Yeah he lost points. Pretty much out of it now, and as i said it might be time to go for stage wins instead. Shame, he was really strong too even with the hurt arm.

noel · Post by **noel** » July 6, 2006, 10:20 am

So listening to the pre-show on OLN this morning, the reason Hushovd was relegated was because of the move Dean made across the peloton right before he ate shit.

Nick · Post by **Nick** » July 6, 2006, 10:33 am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmqbW70NUAA

Haha!

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » July 6, 2006, 10:49 am

noel wrote:So listening to the pre-show on OLN this morning, the reason Hushovd was relegated was because of the move Dean made across the peloton right before he ate shit.

Eh? The lead-off riders pull off all the time! Wtf??

noel · Post by **noel** » July 7, 2006, 12:09 pm

Holy fuck... Has McEwen already locked up the green?

LOL Nick.

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » July 7, 2006, 12:15 pm

Yeah, unless he gets an injury, fails a blood test or dies on a mountain stage. He simply looks amazing and his team is damn good as well.

noel · Post by **noel** » July 8, 2006, 11:46 am

Not sure what the fuck's happened to Leipheimer... I didn't have high hopes for him to win anyway, but losing 5 minutes?? That's crazy...

I am reading that the wind has really picked up...

Bobby Julich's crash looked pretty brutal. They're saying his wrist might be jacked up, but the way he hit the curb, I'd be concerned about a cracked rib. Looks like he was able to get up ok.

Overall, interesting day. I don't think Hincapie can win as a marked man in the mountains, but Floyd could... Kloden is another good choice. I'll have to look at the GC when it's up and make some educated guesses.

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » July 8, 2006, 2:09 pm

Julich dropped out. Leipheimer was.. just sad. Right now I would put my money on Landis or Kloden. It almost seems like losing Ulrich has put a burr under T-Mobile's collective sadle heh. Very impressive riding so far.

noel · Post by **noel** » July 8, 2006, 2:44 pm

Yeah T-Mobile looks kind of strong...

1 Serguei Gonchar (Ukr) T-Mobile 1.01.43.60 (50.54 km/h)
2 Floyd Landis (USA) Phonak 1.00.62
3 Sebastian Lang (Ger) Gerolsteiner 1.04.27
4 Michael Rogers (Aus) T-Mobile 1.23.87
5 Gustav Larsson (Swe) Francaise Des Jeux 1.33.48
6 Patrik Sinkewitz (Ger) T-Mobile 1.38.65
7 Marcus Fothen (Ger) Gerolsteiner 1.41.77
8 Andreas Klöden (Ger) T-Mobile 1.43.26
9 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 1.43.90
10 Joost Posthuma (Ned) Rabobank 1.44.41
11 Cadel Evans (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto 1.49.39
12 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 1.51.68
13 David Zabriskie (USA) Team CSC 1.56.59
14 Matthias Kessler (Ger) T-Mobile 2.02.77
15 Christophe Moreau (Fra) AG2R-Prevoyance 2.03.46
16 Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) T-Mobile 2.04.61

6 riders in the top 16 and they only brought 7 riders to the Tour. The GC standings look like we had a TTT. Granted there hasn't been any climbing yet, but still.

I think Disco should continue to publically say Hincapie is their GC guy, but really ride for Savoldelli. He's got the experience as a Grand Tour leader and I think ultimately he'll climb much better than Hincapie. At least this is going to be an interesting two more weeks. This Tour is still wide open imho.

Good news about Julich:

"There are apparently no fractures," CSC team director Alain Gallopin said. "Nevertheless, they will keep him overnight and he will have a little surgery to clean the wound properly. You could see the bone and the tendons, so the wound is rather deep.

With a side of total bullshit:

"He knew the course and has the experience of riding fast even in curves, but there was a lot of gravel at that particular junction, as people walked over the graveled sidewalk, and some of it ended up on the road. His wheel just slid," Gallopin added.

I guess that's better than saying, "No idea why he went into that corner way too fast, ate shit, and had to abandon the tour..."

Edit: Sorry I keep editing this, but I keep reading more shit...

"It's lucky Jan Ullrich is not here, otherwise the Tour would be over," Discovery Channel team manager Johan Bruyneel told Reuters.

Bruyneel has forgotten more about cycling than I'll ever hope to know, but I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with him here. To me it looked as though a LOT of riders (not just the Americans) did poorer than expected. Either that was a really hard course or they really did get all of the dopers out of the Tour (wishful thinking on my part)...

And finally, I think:

Another American with big hopes for the stage, CSC's David Zabriskie, had to settle for 13th place. "I was hoping for the win, but sometimes it doesn't work," Zabriskie said. "Honestly, I wish could have seen this course in advance. It was hard to get a feel for it. It's like a circus out there."

This is about the fifth American rider to say that he wished he could have seen the course in advance... Last I checked, the route for the '06 tour has been published for almost 10 months. Did the rest of the Americans learn nothing from Lance? Say what you want about Armstrong, but he would ride almost every stage of the Tour prior to competing and most especially the Time Trials... I'll grant that Armstrong had perhaps more freedom than some of these riders to go out and do whatever the fuck he wanted, but still. If I were prepping for a stage race that had TTs and I were going for the GC, those would be the stages I'd spend the most time reconning, riding and preparing for.

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » July 8, 2006, 3:33 pm

I know Hushovd rode the prologue 3 times before actually racing it heh. That said, there has been a LOT of talk about how disappointing Americans in general and Discovery in particular have been in this Tour. That said, even though Bruyneel is just saying that to take attention off his guys, I agree with him to some extent.

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » July 13, 2006, 12:23 pm

hm.. Landis and Menchov the top two picks now?

Drolgin Steingrinder · Post by **Drolgin Steingrinder** » July 13, 2006, 3:01 pm

Looks like Rasmussens bid for the polkadot is being sacrificed on the tactical altar. One less reason to watch the tour.

noel · Post by **noel** » July 13, 2006, 5:06 pm

I wouldn't rule out Cadel Evans or Kloden just yet though I don't think they can TT like Floyd...

I can't believe how much time Disco lost today... I'm not surprised they didn't win, but I was surprised at the time gaps...

Cartalas · Post by **Cartalas** » July 13, 2006, 7:52 pm

Kelshara wrote:hm.. Landis and Menchov the top two picks now?

Wasnt Landis, Armstrongs Mountain Bitch?

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » July 14, 2006, 9:03 am

Salvodelli and Noval quit? Wtf is up with Disco?

Truant · Post by **Truant** » July 14, 2006, 3:07 pm

So many names I'm not familiar with. Plenty in there that I am, but still...just odd.

Hooray for Boonen beating McEwen across the line today!

Sitting on my hands until tuesday. Then begins my fav part.

noel · Post by **noel** » July 15, 2006, 3:35 pm

Landis was one of Armstrong's domestique's but he left Disco two years ago to pursue his own victories.

I'm kind of surprised they let Pereiro get 1.5 mins on Landis today, but I guess they figure he can't TT and he lost ungodly time on the second day of the Pyrenees.

Sucks that Savodelli is out as 'Il Falco' has always been one of my favorite riders... Noval was nearly out last year with injuries, but it's pretty obvious that this year's tour has been a total disaster for Disco. My attitude for Hincapie was basically, show me you can climb for yourself and I'll believe you're a contender, though I've always been a big fan of his based on his work ethic and his selflessness.

My pre-Tour, pre-doping picks were: Ullrich, Basso, Landis (mostly due to the double Giro/Tour thing for Basso), so at least it looks like I might have been right about Landis... I need to check how much time Menchov lost in the first TT so I can get an idea of how he'll do in the final TT.

Edit: Menchov lost 43", and Pereiro lost 1'40" in the first TT.

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » July 19, 2006, 12:07 pm

Holy mother of.. what a stage today!

noel · Post by **noel** » July 19, 2006, 12:10 pm

That's a bonk if I ever saw one. I was just looking at Floyd's cadence and it looks to be just over 60. At the rate he's losing time, he's not only losing the maillot jaune for good, he's losing a shot at the podium. His team is weak, but that's not why he's losing. He really looks like he's bonked to me.

This has been an incredible tour.

Except for T-Mobile. They're fucking morons.

Drolgin Steingrinder · Post by **Drolgin Steingrinder** » July 19, 2006, 12:37 pm

Rasmussen!

noel · Post by **noel** » July 19, 2006, 12:46 pm

If he'd just learn to TT and learn to handle a road bike... He'd easily win the overall.

I can't understand why his bike handling skills are so fucking apalling...

Edit: Btw, I'm not meaning to be overly critical if I'm sounding that way. I'm in complete awe of Rasmussen. I just can't rationalize why he's a former mountain biker (normally known for being better bike handlers than roadies) and he's so bad at bike handling (comparatively)... Also, if he hadn't lost 11 minutes in the opening TT, Rabobank would have been riding for him, not for that scrub, Menchov.

Drolgin Steingrinder · Post by **Drolgin Steingrinder** » July 19, 2006, 12:52 pm

I'm still not so sure - but I'm not an expert!

noel · Post by **noel** » July 19, 2006, 12:53 pm

Drolgin Steingrinder wrote:I'm still not so sure - but I'm not an expert!

I just play one on TV!

GO CHICKEN!

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » July 19, 2006, 1:07 pm

Yeah the commentators here and myself all scratch our heads and hold our breaths when they show him going downhill. He is an accident waiting to happen.

And man I don't think I have ever seen a rider wearing yellow stop like Landis did. And his team sucks!

noel · Post by **noel** » July 19, 2006, 1:34 pm

Truant · Post by **Truant** » July 19, 2006, 8:59 pm

Some crazy shit today! I knew this would be a good stage

1. Was glad for Rasmussen. He impressed the shit outta me on those breakaway days in the mountains last year.

2. I was really hoping for Leipheimer to make it, but it finally caught up to him. He still did well regardless, but I'm surprised he isn't doing better this year. Guess I expected too much.

3. Landis. Wow. Wtf happened? Also, wtf was his team the whole time? He was on his own until he was done and Merckx went and pulled his happy ass along.

4. No "Il Falco" descents today made me sad

Watching that guy on descents is like magic.

I sure miss the live coverage, cause chopping this whole thing down to an hour and a half just causes you to miss stuff...which sucks!

Cartalas · Post by **Cartalas** » July 19, 2006, 10:46 pm

Does this mean an american is not going to win this year?

noel · Post by **noel** » July 19, 2006, 11:51 pm

Highly unlikely.