What I can’t get over is how they can ride 100+ miles and then SPRINT the last half mile or so. I know they’re in much better shape than I am and not carrying any extra lard like I am, but jeebus, where do they get the fricking energy for that sprint at the end?
These descents where they’re crouching up on the top tube tucked in and in highest gears spinning away downhill scare the hell out of me. THIS is why they mandated helmets. Eek.
The aerial shot they had this morning, coming up to the summit, was unworldly. You could see the top of the climb, and beyond, the road just dropped out of sight! Not for the faint of heart
Question:
The announcers mentioned that certain riders may be, for lack of a better word, kicked out of the tour if they finish too far behind the leader. Does anyone know what the cutoff is? Robbie McEwen finished somewhere in the neighborhood of 22 minutes behind, does anyone know if he can continue?
On another front, did anyone see Gerdemann after the race? He couldn’t even walk straight. A heck of a performance…
Oh, they’ll have to be much much farther behind than that. I’m not sure how far but I’m sure McEwan’s safe.
Blondebear-- yes, I saw that. Looked that way as well form the cameras following the cyclists on the road up there–It looked like the top of the start of the roller coaster when you realize that you’re about to pee yourself.
found it incidentally:
(fastest time + 25%)
Ah, still on the road today, but I’m impressed by Rasmussen: I like the idea of a Dane riding for a Dutch club winning in the mountains-- it’s slightly deliciously ironic. I love this uphill constant slow-motion sprint in the main lead pack, though. The mountains so fracture the field it’s great-- no tthat fraction of a second difference like on the flats.
What a race today. The mountains separated the contenders from the pretenders and claimed victims as well. Rogers and O’Grady out, too bad.
Two funny images today-- the Borat lookalike, and the guy who stepped out and totally clothes-lined a jerk who was running alongside the leaders.
I’m still holding out a bit of hope for Vino. I’m wagering he comes out guns blazing after the day off. He has his work cut out though as Valverde has two and a half minutes on him. I guess we’ll have a better idea after the first time trial. Kloden did a hell of a thing today, staying behind to drag Vino to the finish. He probably lost 30 seconds because of it. His injury (Kloden’s) can’t be as bad as once thought as I thought he looked pretty good today. Either that or he is simply bad-ass (no pun intended).
If Vino doesn’t overcome his injuries, my money is now on Cadel Evans. Australia had a pretty bad day today…they’re due.
Also, because of my last posts, I feel the need to pass along that Robbie McEwen is officially out. He was outside the time limit today.
Today’s stage featured something I’ve never seen before: a collision with a dog. The Labrador Retriever walked away, but I bet (s)he will have some sore ribs tomorrow!
I seem to remember a few years ago a famous Italian rider was badly injured when he collided with a dog while out on a practise run. I cannot remember his name but I think he had to cancel his rides both in the Giro and Le Tour for that year.
140+ miles in 100-degree weather today. Vinokourov may not be out of it, but he’ll need some luck to win this year, I’m afraid.
I saw a couple of total morons out running in the middle of the lead pack today. Usually they just run along the road alongside the riders, mowing down pedestrians and such. This time they were out among the cyclists, with the chase cars honking at them. It would be so nice if there had been a cop around to arrest them on charges of aggravated jerkhood.
At least the dog had a defense of being a dog and not knowing any better.
Maybe the guys I saw were village idiots or something? They still have those in Europe, or do they elect them to public office like we do in the US?
The next two days are what I refer to as the “true classic Tour de France stages” as they transition westwards from Marseilles to the Pyrenees.
If you’re a follower of the history of the sport, as most of us who have partaken in the sport, the classic long flat transition stages in the south of France are what truly define this classic bike race. For mine, they summarise what Le Tour is really all about - riding long hot stretches, often with strong Mistral winds, and the potential for long breaks which can sometimes upset the overall standings.
Certainly, the next two stages remind me most of what I loved about racing in France during the hot summer months - and believe me, they were very hot in the south of France. But in particular, it was the ambience - lots of French holiday makers in the South on their annual leave, sitting on the long country roads eating fine food and getting drunk on great local wines. These are the stages which still closest resemble what the old “classic Tour” was like - before it became the annual Olympic style sporting event that it now is.
As for my predictions, I think Kloden will come back into the Top 6 after the ITT. Evans will probably get an unshakeable hold on a Top 3 podium position because he too is a very strong ITT rider. But I think Valverde will probably have at least one killer day in the Pyrenees which leaves him way out in front. Almost certainly, little Rasmussen will lose 10 minutes by the end of the two ITT’s. Such is the race of truth, as they say. Leipheimer, as always, will get no higher than 7th. He just doesn’t have what it takes to shake up a race it seems. Too bad. His teammate Alberto Contador does however. But like Rasmussen, no ITT strength. Hence, it comes down to Valverde and Evens in the first ITT. Evans has the capacity to easily get a top 3 ITT finish. But Valverde doesn’t, in my opinion. Kloden easily can win the ITT however, and by how much will determine who far up in the GC he’ll go on Saturday. I’m tipping he’ll end up in 3rd on GC after the first ITT but then lose time in the Pyrennees.
Just as a follow up to my predictions: Sergio Gonchar isn’t in this year’s race, as is (obviously) that Landis moron. So that rules out those guys as the first ITT winner. Kloden almost certainly will win it. But Oscar Pereiro can do a pretty good ITT too, and clearly he can climb well too. He’s currently almost exactly 4 minutes behind Evans on GC in 14th place. That’s an attacking position. He could make that up with a good ITT and a good break in the Pyrenees. Don’t write off Oscar Pereiro.
One thing is for sure… Rasmussen, Valverde, and Iban Mayo do NOT have anywhere near the Pantani like lead they need over Evans to overcome their lack of ITT speed. None of them will feature on the podium in Paris, but Evans will - barring an unforeseen crash of course. The more I go through last year’s ITT results, the more it looks like Evans, Kloden and Oscar Pereiro are the guys to beat.
Cadel Evans is a quiet achiever who I’ve had my eye on for a few years. I sometimes wonder if he’s too quiet. When you see him interviewed, he’s always unassuming, and uncertain of his own abilities or prospects.
Last year he was 5th in the GC. 4th if Landis’ doping charges are upheld, I suppose.
Needless to say, a top five finish in the GC in the TdF puts you pretty much into deity territory. All year I’ve been waiting for the news that he’s joined a GC team, perhaps even as leader. Nope. This year’s tour starts and he’s still riding in a team set up around Robbie McEwen and the green jersey.
I mean, WTF, eh?
Now Robbie’s out and Cadel has the whole team to himself, but the rest of them (although no doubt trying their guts out to help) are just not the sort of climbers that a GC contender needs as team mates to assist. They can’t keep up.
So yet again I have to sit watching in irritation while my local boy favourite rides on his own in the mountains, matching it with other GC contenders who have at least one or two team mates in the lead bunch to protect them. Gah.
Irritated with today’s late crash. Happy for the nice South African boy, but still annoyed.
(Quick Step fan)
A couple of great rides today by Vino and Rasmussen. I can’t even imagine trying to ride fast over those wet roads. One week to go…and it still looks up for grabs.
As someone who does not have cable, I do appreciate the CBS coverage. Yes, it is very little coverage (1 hour {ok, 45 minutes} for 14 {I think} stages), but it is something.
I don’t know enough to give a good analysis.
Brian
IIRC in the UK stages a couple of runners got clotheslined or otherwise grabbed by the police. They didn’t allow much of it.
What’s a miracle is that are never any serious motor vehicle accidents, although Linus Gerdemann nearly ran into the back of a stopped motorcycle during his breakaway. I cringed during the ITT when riders crashed on the slick roads and their cars were right behind them.
They had a cam in Johann Bruyneels’ car and he was clutching a sheaf of papers in the hand that he was steering with and he operated a CB type microphone with the other. Or he was passing bottles out the window. Not only is he doing all this, but he’s doing it for five or six hours (I’m assuming he’s the only one driving). Other coach car cams were pretty much the same. It’s nuts!
Between the team cars, Officials’ cars, camera cars and motorcycles weaving in and out, the whole tangle of motor vehicles must require a communication system that’s a story unto itself.