Tour stage spoiler - VeloNation - Cycling Forums, Bicycle Forums, Community Forums

Posts:2881

07/11/2014 11:17 AM
Nice chop by Gerrans to take out Talansky, who never saw it coming. Be careful when you mix it up with the sprinters.

Posts:781

07/11/2014 11:45 AM
Sagan does not look like his normal self sprinting. II think he is hurt more than he is letting on.

----- It is his word versus ours. We like our word. We like where we stand and we like our credibility."--Lance Armstrong.

Posts:809

07/11/2014 11:53 AM
tight

Entheo

Posts:317

07/11/2014 11:55 AM
where were kittel and greipel -- did they get mixed up in crashes?

Posts:4499

07/11/2014 12:02 PM
Kittel and Greipel lost touch on penultimate climb. That was the last part of TV coverage I saw. Didn't see the finish but it seems to me Sagan hasn't really had his top end sprinting speed all year. Maybe he his hurting on top of that. Between Talansky and TJ not a good day for the Americans. But could be worse. VdB lost time too; this Tour is turning into a process of elimination.

Posts:2881

07/11/2014 01:46 PM
Sagan took a flier over the last climb but it didn't stick. Easy to say in hindsight, but that cost him the stage.

Ride On

Posts:537

07/11/2014 08:13 PM
CK chime in here, Trentin aero helmet, Sagan standard helmet. Winning margin 2cm. If Specialized doesn't use that photo in an ad really soon I'll eat my hat.

Posts:775

07/12/2014 12:38 AM
I finally saw the finish (over and over). AT shouldn't have been looking around, but that was SG's fault. After reading some of the comments on cyclingnews I thought that I was going to see something completely different. Even if AT is looking he probably wouldn't have been able to avoid SG's cut. With that said, if I'm a GC guy I'm not getting involved in a sprint like that.

CERV

Posts:151

07/12/2014 04:10 AM
I think that was Talansky's fault. Not looking where he was going and drifting the opposite direction he was looking while in the top 7 riders in a sprint. I don't understand where this concept of 'holding your line' in a sprint comes from that you read about in all the comments sections and forums. I've never seen (or participated in) a sprint where people didn't jump around from wheel to wheel and muscle into gaps in the last 200m. Gerrans was enough ahead of Talansky that his rear wheel contacted Talansky's front, and even though gerrans wanted to move across to get behind the lead sprinters, you can see he was aware of talanasky drifing and checks himself briefly. By the time he does start to cut across he was far enough ahead to reasonably assume Talansky would be watching where he was going. There's even a term for what Gerrans did. 'Shutting the door'. Watch when Sagan makes his last move to try to come around for the finish. Gallopin has to check his line or Sagan's back wheel would have hit his front wheel. Difference was he was looking forward like you're supposed to in a sprint.

Ride On

Posts:537

07/12/2014 07:59 AM
Specialized PR guys are on top of things, who could blame them Specialized on the crash

Posts:775

07/12/2014 07:06 PM
Cerv, I posted this in another thread to Ben. Is it OK to cut a guy if he's not looking? If AT would have been looking, he would have had to slam on his brakes and/or swerve which would have caused problems behind him. It may have actually been worse. Just because SG eyes were past AT, doesn't mean he is clear to come over. I agree on two things: AT should not have been there, but since he was there he should have been looking ahead (even if that may not have changed anything).

CERV

Posts:151

07/13/2014 03:21 AM
I dunno. I think Gerrans had a vague spacial sense of where AT's bike was as AT swerved wide, but I'm pretty sure he had no idea AT was gazing off in the other direction. His eyes were forward where they should be. I don't think AT would have had to do anything crazy to adjust for Gerran's move if he had been paying attention in the first place. Generally in a sprint, The onus is on the rider behind to not overlap wheels, and to be ready to anticipate any sideways move the guys ahead might make trying to jump around somebody.

Posts:2881

07/14/2014 09:30 AM
Race radio feed sez Contador crashed hard because his frame broke. D'oh! Stupid light.

Posts:781

07/14/2014 10:00 AM
Alberto is gone.

----- It is his word versus ours. We like our word. We like where we stand and we like our credibility."--Lance Armstrong.

Posts:61

07/14/2014 10:09 AM
My Richie Porte call is becoming more plausible.

C2K_Rider

Posts:173

07/14/2014 10:14 AM
Wow. Top two out. Has that ever happened before?

Posts:775

07/14/2014 10:30 AM
I was just thinking the same thing. I have CRS, but I don't remember the two big favorites both crashing out. WOW!

Posts:625

07/14/2014 11:01 AM
Imagine being Astana. Finally, a day where you likely won't have to hammer at the front. Oh wait.

Posts:4499

07/14/2014 11:30 AM
What happened there exactly? Didn't I say something about misty descends being just a dangerous as cobble stages and this tour being a process of elimination. And the day started so good for Contador...

Dale

Posts:1767

07/14/2014 11:35 AM
Watching Tony Martin drive that train like a mad man was awesome… then watching him blow up like a stick of dynamite was quite the show

Posts:781

07/14/2014 11:50 AM
Dale you know how it is...once you take your foot off the accelerator, the engine just can't fire up again.

----- It is his word versus ours. We like our word. We like where we stand and we like our credibility."--Lance Armstrong.

Posts:781

07/14/2014 11:54 AM
Nibbles is terribly impressive. He is putting in a hell of a ride this month.

----- It is his word versus ours. We like our word. We like where we stand and we like our credibility."--Lance Armstrong.

Posts:625

07/14/2014 12:08 PM
The 'Cenz! Damn. Makes me feel less like a loser when I see the yellow jersey with snot strings in his mouth. These guys were putting it all out there.

jrt1045

Posts:363

07/14/2014 12:23 PM
There's the race. Veulta should really rock this year Nibbles survives FTW

cycling chick

Posts:72

07/14/2014 12:28 PM
According to the team, AC has a broken tibia and will require surgery. I can't believe he soldiered on for a bit. Damn.

jrt1045

Posts:363

07/14/2014 01:11 PM
did his bike break before the crash? tis the rumor

Posts:775

07/14/2014 01:33 PM
cc, I was just saying that to my wife: he broke his tib and still made a good chase for a while...that's FN tought!

Posts:4499

07/14/2014 02:12 PM
From Sporza, it sounds like VdB is a little pissed at Contador for taking unnessecary risk and almost taking him out in the process: "his own fault".

Posts:2881

07/14/2014 02:36 PM
Later race radio reported his bike was dropped from the car roof earlier which lead to the later catastrophic failure. That's still stoopid lite. This years winner will be chosen by attrition.

Posts:4499

07/14/2014 05:59 PM
So much for the broken bike conspiracy. Just some knucklehead riding on Alberto's part http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/contador-crashed-twice-on-one-descent

Posts:625

07/14/2014 08:25 PM
Riding on a broken tibia. Holy crap.

Inferno7

Posts:344

07/14/2014 08:52 PM
Massive respect for Berto! The is the asterisk tour. The asterisk that Nibali kicked butt on two of the toughest tour stages in (?) how long? Obviously terrible that Froomey and AC are out, but geez watching Nibali today wow, how impressive. Hope the weather gets better, and Talansky recovers for Some good days in the mountains ahead. And Tejay is looking pretty good....eh.

CERV

Posts:151

07/14/2014 09:01 PM
I really don't like specialized as a company. Their eagerness to issue statements denying the crash had to do with a frame failure really displayed where their priorities lie. Just another example of that company really not giving a sh*t about anything but themselves. I'm to the point where I would avoid buying specialized products.

zootracer

Posts:833

07/14/2014 09:25 PM
Article over at VeloNews said that was a replacement bike for Contador and it got hit while it was on the roof of the team car when it rushed in to aid A.C. They pulled if off in order to retrieve another bike. I'm sure this will become more clear as to what happened in the near future...

Posts:625

07/15/2014 01:16 PM
Yeah, I just commented on another post about this two seconds ago. All of this speculation doesn't help. Nobody is shocked that a carbon bike could break from either crashing at high speed, falling off a car, being run over by a car, being smacked into a car while attached to another car, etc. Specialized really should have just released a statement about wishing Alberto well physically, and waited to see what really happened in regard to the bike. To me, unless the thing just snapped while in motion, there's not really a story. I even bent a steel fork in a not super fast crash just due the "perfect storm" of events. Nick

Posts:4209

07/15/2014 02:36 PM
I don't blame Specialized in the slightest for issuing a quick statement about the bike. It was grossly mis-reported on TV, and product reliability is central to any product's success (especially a bike frame). Reporting that AC's bike was "in pieces" and had just been "thrown into the team car" gave a very bad (and completely erroneous) impression of Specialized bikes.

Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!

Posts:4499

07/15/2014 03:57 PM
Agree, can't blame Specialized in this particular instance. In fact, I can't believe that Velonews $4it piece still only lists what actually happened as the "fourth version of events". Here is the Saxo bike being untangled from the Belkin roof rack. I wonder who is liable for damage to Belkin bikes and if insurance covers it

8art8

Posts:11

07/17/2014 10:09 AM
very insightful interviews & analysis & occasional interesting anecdotes. Stage 5 included an entertaining story: Chris Boardman forgetting he had cobbled his driveway after returning from a ride & the consequences. http://www.itv.com/tourdefrance/podcast

8art8

Posts:11

07/18/2014 12:04 AM
Discussing this Tour's high volume of attrition, the itv podcast guys discussed teammate of De La Cruz: Paul Voss injuries "two broken fingers & a broken nose from stage 4 I think" AND Marcus Burghardt a separated shoulder from stage 2. And they're still riding!

Posts:781

07/18/2014 09:59 AM
http://www.bestsportgo.tv/20140705/vv-845656-cycling-53b7b91ca555e6.36994029.html Still working.

----- It is his word versus ours. We like our word. We like where we stand and we like our credibility."--Lance Armstrong.

Posts:4209

07/18/2014 10:53 AM
Porte's race is over.......Costa going backwards also. last guy who can make a challenge is Valverde. _____________________________________________

Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!

Posts:809

07/18/2014 10:59 AM
Tejay Leipheimer?

Posts:781

07/18/2014 11:05 AM
Nibali is on another level this year.....jeez.

----- It is his word versus ours. We like our word. We like where we stand and we like our credibility."--Lance Armstrong.

Posts:781

07/18/2014 11:09 AM
Valverde is riding like a dick right now.

----- It is his word versus ours. We like our word. We like where we stand and we like our credibility."--Lance Armstrong.

Posts:4209

07/18/2014 11:10 AM
This race is over......well, it was over a few days ago, but it is being firmly sealed as we speak. Would ahve loved to see Nibali have gone up against AC and Froome. This tour will be remembered as the "What Could Have Been" Tour.....

Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!

Posts:809

07/18/2014 11:40 AM
Nibali looks seriously fit. He could have given AC and Froome a real challenge. Agreed, hard to cheer for Valverde today. Two Frenchman battling for the last podium spot. Maybe someone will put a pump in Valverde's wheel and they'll both make it on the podium.

Oldfart

Posts:511

07/18/2014 12:18 PM
I think Nibali worked really hard to prepare this year. Certainly the class of the field. Smart early racing put Froome and Contador on the back foot and trying to make up time I think may have had a hand in their crashes. I think most of the peloton dislike Valverde. He rarely seems to get favours and if he has a mechanical or crash everyone frickin' pins it.

Posts:4499

07/18/2014 12:42 PM
Anyone remember Thibaut's 2013 tour? http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/pinot-asks-what-am-i-doing-on-the-tour He worked on it; fixed it and is now battling for GC. Impressive. French dudes battling for GC is good stuff.

Posts:781

07/18/2014 01:58 PM
I totally forgot he was THAT guy! Chapeau to the French...three guys in the top 10.

----- It is his word versus ours. We like our word. We like where we stand and we like our credibility."--Lance Armstrong.

SideBySide

Posts:444

07/18/2014 04:52 PM
Wow, I had forgotten he was that guy too. I have to give him serious props for persevering.

79pmooney

Posts:3180

07/18/2014 05:34 PM
I was routing for Valverde but what I saw today wasn't pretty. Battling with Pinot was dumb. He doesn't even matter to Valverde. Valverde should have let him do whatever, paid him zero attention and work at minimizing losses to Nibali. That even if Pinot sucks his wheel to the finish and zips around him for the place. Do that and you look like the man, Pinot looks small and you have done all you can to preserve your GC. And next time, Pinot (or whoever) is much more likely to realize that if I work with this guy, I do better against everybody else. Ben

Posts:2881

07/24/2014 10:13 AM
Don't know if it will stick, but valverde and his team's move is brilliant.

Yo Mike

Posts:338

07/24/2014 10:48 AM
Geezer alert....

Posts:4209

07/24/2014 10:54 AM
Attention - The Geezer Alert for the July 24th stage of the Tour de France has been lifted.

Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!

Yo Mike

Posts:338

07/24/2014 10:56 AM
LOL Nibbles is taking a big, big bite today.

Posts:809

07/24/2014 10:58 AM
What are "Astana Motors" and where can I get one?

Posts:4209

07/24/2014 11:04 AM
Nibbles laying down the law today. Uh-oh.....Valverde just cracked!!

Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!

Posts:809

07/24/2014 11:05 AM
Who's job was it to babysit Valverde in the last 5k today??!!

Posts:4499

07/24/2014 11:43 AM
I won! Left home when they had about 14 k to go; OK theirs was all uphill; my 14k is mostly flat but I was riding a 30lbs bike, first had to put on my gear, get bike out of basement, deal with traffic lights and some construction, get bike down in parking garage at work, lock it up, ride the elevator up and then get the CN live stream online in my office. By the time I had all that done, Nibali was only at the 1k to go marker. And I wasn't even hurting

stronz

Posts:447

07/24/2014 01:05 PM
Nibali looks so good riding. Fun to see Horner have a dig -- things are a little different this July than they were last September in Spain, eh? As good as Nibali is I still think AC would have found some time in the pyrenees. AC is just too good a strategist and still a better climber tho it would have been close -- probably would have bombed down the descent after the Tourmalet and stormed up the Hautacam. Anyway -- the TT will be interesting -- who is the best TTer in the top 4? Can either of the french guys TT? TJ may move up but at 11 min down I think the podium is out of reach. Valverde surprised everyone and won a TT this year early on if I remember.

stronz

Posts:447

07/24/2014 02:02 PM
the other thing about AC to consider is just how strong Sax0-Tinkoff have been. Majka, Roche and Rogers would have made a formidable train for Contador to challenge Astana which seemed to have no real difficulty controlling things.

Posts:2881

07/24/2014 08:21 PM
They'll be expecting a pay raise to hang around to help Alberto next year. Especially Majka - what a bright future he has.