Professional Cycling - Stage 3: La Châtaigneraie - Tours

Stage 3: La Châtaigneraie - Tours, 212.5 km

Oh, all right. Boonen. Again.

Mcewen, Boonen, or huschvold. I am so terribly sorry for my unforgiveable spelling, but alas, i am too lazy to look up their names.

I changed my order a bit...

Boonen/Baden cook (toss up between these two for 1-2)
Mcewen

Boonen! Again!

Hushovd
Boonen
McEwen

The break - Lots of Frenchmen

I wouldn't be surprised to see Chris Horner try and 'have a go' as it's the 4th of July.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Chris Horner try and 'have a go' as it's the 4th of July.

That would be cool!

I wouldn't be surprised to see Chris Horner try and 'have a go' as it's the 4th of July.
Yes, that would be really great. I don't know if he will though.

McEwen
Boonen
Hushovd

This will be a blazing fast stage. Mostly flat roads + aAtlantic tailwind = a tough job getting away.

Bunch sprint. This one's Robbies.

This will be a blazing fast stage. Mostly flat roads + aAtlantic tailwind = a tough job getting away.


Wouldn't the tailwind help a breakaway? Less wind resistance makes the ride easier, which helps a breakaway, and disadvantages the peloton compared to a headwind.

It also means a peloton flying along at 32 mph making it tough for anyone to get away.

It also means a peloton flying along at 32 mph making it tough for anyone to get away.

But that means the break is flying along as well. A large pack can handle a headwind much better than a small pack. With a tailwind, during that record fastest Vuelta stage, a 40 rider pack finished 2:30 ahead of an 80 rider peloton.

But that means the break is flying along as well. A large pack can handle a headwind much better than a small pack. With a tailwind, during that record fastest Vuelta stage, a 40 rider pack finished 2:30 ahead of an 80 rider peloton.
I don't think anyone's completely discounting the notion of a breakaway succeeding today. It just isn't too likely, especially considering Riis's statement that he wants to keep the jersey for as long as he can, and they (CSC) will fight seriously to protect it.

Boonen Hushvold or McEwen. Not just because they were 123 on stage 1, they were clearly the fastest.

McEwen will be annoyed with himself from yesterday, he won't make any tactical mistakes today!

I don't think anyone's completely discounting the notion of a breakaway succeeding today. It just isn't too likely, especially considering Riis's statement that he wants to keep the jersey for as long as he can, and they (CSC) will fight seriously to protect it.

Well I think (thought - now it's late in the stage) it's highly unlikely too. But not because of the weather.

McEwen will time it just right this time and win.

Spoiler.....


































Boonen! AGAIN!

and its boonen again!, man i feel sorry for erik decka he was running for his life the whole race just to get swallowed in the last 2 kilometers.

McEwen will time it just right this time and win.

THINK NOT!!!!!

BOONEN!!!!!!!

I changed my order a bit...

Boonen/Baden cook (toss up between these two for 1-2)
Mcewen

3/3 for the stages thus far... Online betting here i come..

Btw the O-Grady/Mcewen shoulder lock was awesome...

Ahhh man, I was rooting for that breakaway :(

and its boonen again!, man i feel sorry for erik decka he was running for his life the whole race just to get swallowed in the last 2 kilometers.

Yup.. Inspiring...

Who says that flat stages are boring? A chase like that and bunch sprint is the most exciting thing in cycling.

Good finish. it was hard to get some perspective when the it was from camera directly in front of the riders but it was good to watch it from the helicopters perspective. This tour is turning out to be very interesting so far :)

Who says that flat stages are boring? A chase like that and bunch sprint is the most exciting thing in cycling.

Agree with your wisdom... I was amazed that Boonen managed to get himself out and outsprint EVERYONE...

was McEwen sandwiched?


great to watch, nonetheless

Aww yeah.

:)

was McEwen sandwiched?

Not exactly... but he either leaned on or was leaned into by o-grady in the final 10 metres..

It looked like o'grady bumped him and then mcewan got carried away in retaliation - leaning his head all over o'grady.


but Boonen's sprint was perfectly timed he was about 12th when kirsipuu went for it and then powered thru to the finish. just like yesterday all smiles and looking relaxed as he crosses the line. The man is on form and in the zone!

Stew

It looked like o'grady bumped him and then mcewan got carried away in retaliation - leaning his head all ove o'grady.

Stew
amendment, Mcewen relegated to the back of the field after official review... O'grady third...

amendment, Mcewen relegated to the back of the field after official review... O'grady third...WOW!!

I think we need an official Tom Boonen fan club. He is awesome. What about in five years? He will win the whole tour solely on sprint time bonuses.

He's very confident - he was interviewed pre race yesterday and was asked who he thought likely to win the stage - his reply: "moi!"

Stew

He's very confident - he was interviewed pre race yesterday and was asked who he thought likely to win the stage - his reply: "moi!"
how good's his French? :)

did anyone see what actually happened to mcewen after his mixup with ogrady?
they have him listed finishing 186th

je croi qu'il est Belgique, donc il parle tres bien francais.

Stew

je croi qu'il est Belgique, donc il parle tres bien francais.
Yeah, you say that now.......:p

Let me guess:

"for a Belgian dude, he speaks good enough French

????

did anyone see what actually happened to mcewen after his mixup with ogrady?
they have him listed finishing 186th

McEwen looked like his was pretty pissed off at being a bit boxed in, then when O'Grady got a bit closer, McEwen started head butting him :)

Yep I'm fairly certain he's Belgian. In the south of Belgium they speak French, in the far north, Dutch.

Most of the pro tour guys speak French even McEwan gets by, albeit with a lot of um's and ahs.

Stew

damn, Dekker is an impressive rider.
I should have picked Boonen on my fantasy tour team.

McEwen looked like his was pretty pissed off at being a bit boxed in, then when O'Grady got a bit closer, McEwen started head butting him :)


The official TdF site has the finish photo and you can see McEwan putting his head in

http://www.letour.fr/2005/TDF/LIVE/us/300/index.html

Btw the O-Grady/Mcewen shoulder lock was awesome...
Shoulder? I've heard of sprinting with your elbows, but McEwen sprinted with his skull!

I watch Boonen rip it up from Qatar to Switzerland this season, then I start picking against him. What was I thinking? I'm picking Boonen until someone rides him off of a cliff. And them I'm picking him again. :rolleyes:

Who says that flat stages are boring? A chase like that and bunch sprint is the most exciting thing in cycling.

Yes, hours of absolute monotony, followed by five guys racing for two minutes...I don't think my heart can handle that much excitement. Wooow...


The real excitement begins next Tuesday, July 12th. The Tour de France will begin on the slopes of Courcevel. At the end of the afternoon, it will be clear which riders are aiming for the Podium in Paris, AND which riders are just pack fodder.

Yes, hours of absolute monotony, followed by five guys racing for two minutes...I don't think my heart can handle that much excitement. Wooow...


The real excitement begins next Tuesday, July 12th. The Tour de France will begin on the slopes of Courcevel. At the end of the afternoon, it will be clear which riders are aiming for the Podium in Paris, AND which riders are just pack fodder.
No, the Tour begin on July 2nd. Both literally and figuratively. Did you notice those time gaps? Guess not.

I think we need an official Tom Boonen fan club. He is awesome. What about in five years? He will win the whole tour solely on sprint time bonuses.

Get a grip. Most of the sprinters intend to quit the Tour when the going gets tough. The remaining sprinters will be hanging off the back, just trying to make the daily cut-off time. This is the Tour de France, not a one day race. At the rodeo, the "Star" is not the clown in the barrel. The "Star" is the cowboy sitting on top of the horse.

Tom Boonen will not be on the podium in Paris. Not this year. Not ever.

Oh, I forgot...Boonen can get to the podium in a "green jersey"...In 2004, Boonen got the "green jersey" after finishing 120th in the GC, and finishing THREE hours behind the top three riders. Boonen was "very fast" on the easy days. And, really awful on the tough days. Really, really awful.

The promoters of the Tour have been "clever" at thinking up awards to keep the fans interested after the GC comes down to just two or three serious contenders. "Best Young Rider". "Points Winner". "Most Combative". "Cleanest Shirt". Good entertainment over at the side-show.

History will long remember how Jacque Anquetil dominated the Tour in 1961, 1962, and 1963. And who will ever forget the Green jersey winners those years? Darrigade, Altig, Van Looy...the "best clowns" at the rodeo. But Anquetil was "best cowboy".

If someone finishes behind twenty guys in the GC, and gets the "Green Jersey", he is like the lady who goes to the "Miss America" contest and wins "Miss Congeniality". He has won a prize, but it is NOT the prize that the contest was truly about. The Tour de France is about the GC. The "Green Jersey" is a side-show for the guys who don't have a chance to win the GC.

Get a grip. Most of the sprinters intend to quit the Tour when the going gets tough. The remaining sprinters will be hanging off the back, just trying to make the daily cut-off time. This is the Tour de France, not a one day race. At the rodeo, the "Star" is not the clown in the barrel. The "Star" is the cowboy sitting on top of the horse.

Tom Boonen will not be on the podium in Paris. Not this year. Not ever.
You are an idiot. He will indeed be on the podium this year IN THE GREEN JERSEY. He will not quit the Tour. He finished the Tour last year, even won the last stage.

I guess Lance back in '93 was just another loser who was hanging off the back, just trying to make the daily cut-off time.

No, the Tour begin on July 2nd. Both literally and figuratively. Did you notice those time gaps? Guess not.

At the close of business on July 12th, do you really think that Zabriskie and Boonen will be AHEAD of Ullrich or Vinokourov in the GC?

The "serious" GC contenders, including Lance, Ullrich, and Vinokourov will arrive at the top of the Courchevel, take showers, do interviews, and head off for supper...in the distance, you will then see Zabriskie and Boonen struggling up the mountain. "Time gaps" indeed.

The Tour is about who wins the GC. Boonen is not contenders for the GC. Boonen finished 120th in the GC last year, three hours behind Lance. This year, he is "much improved", so maybe he will finish around 50th, an hour behind the winners. So, the Tour is NOT gonna be about Boonen, nor about the other guys who finish an hour back.

At the rodeo, the "Star" is not the clown in the barrel.

This is true. You are the clown in the barrel. Thx for clearing this up for us.

At the close of business on July 12th, do you really think that Zabriskie and Boonen will be AHEAD of Ullrich or Vinokourov in the GC?

The "serious" GC contenders, including Lance, Ullrich, and Vinokourov will arrive at the top of the Courchevel, take showers, do interviews, and head off for supper...in the distance, you will then see Zabriskie and Boonen struggling up the mountain. "Time gaps" indeed.
Your ignorance is astounding. Do you honestly believe that the battle for the GC did not start on July 2nd with Lance putting a minute plus into all of his rivals? Are those not the types of time gaps we'll see in the mountains? They are. Do us all here a favor: get over yourself and don't bother posting until July 12th. Your comments regarding Boonen (who, by the way, won two races this year that Lance has never and will never win) and other sprinters are completely unnecessary.

*edit: Boonen is not ahead of Ullrich or Vino on the GC.

Get a grip. Most of the sprinters intend to quit the Tour when the going gets tough. The remaining sprinters will be hanging off the back, just trying to make the daily cut-off time. This is the Tour de France, not a one day race. At the rodeo, the "Star" is not the clown in the barrel. The "Star" is the cowboy sitting on top of the horse.

Tom Boonen will not be on the podium in Paris. Not this year. Not ever.

You're an idiot.

The good news is that you'll be gone at the end of July.