Stage 5: Beauvais - Caen

[Guest]

Stage 5: Beauvais - Caen, 219 km
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[bobke]

I predict a lot of flat tires and a pile-up under 20K to go. ;)

... and I predict the Tornado takes the stage.

[lwedge]

I know I'm going out on a limb here but I think Boonan will pull it together and not get boxed in and win this stage.

What's with all the flats this year ?

[CCFISH81]

McEwen again.... yes again.....

[^*^BATMAN^*^]

I vote for Boonen, he has to take atleast one stage. I think he will stay in the yellow too.

[DMF]

Popovych' turn for breakaway.

[SaintAndrew]

i'm going with anyone but boonen. i'm not gonna get fooled again.

[Starclimber]

Hincapie...I wanna see some rolling eyes.

[climbo]

easy...

[HDTVKSS]

+1. go the 3 peat.

[240GL]

The sprinter's teams have been working very hard the last few days, and the work horses must start feeling a bit tired. I think that an escape has a better chance to succeed today than on previous days.

[pshaw]

Robbie to win again!

[blue_neon]

Robbie's a chance...but a hat trick so early? ;).

Riders are well underway now, an early breakaway group was caught but another has been reported.

"
12:22 - Three Riders On The Attack

As Geslin was caught (at 19km), another trio have attempted to establish an escape group. We await confirmation of who is involved."


2hours untill the Tele cast begins here!

[cuda2k]

The break is getting reeled back in quickly now with less than 25k to go. I don't think they'll hold the lead and we'll see another sprint finish. Pulling for Boonen to get a win, but McEwen is just dang fast right now and seems to be able to find the spots to attack from better than Boonen right now.

[cuda2k]

Martinez of DSC is down, possibly out??!

edit... but not out! Back on the bike now.

[lotek]

OY, OY, OY (australioiddish slang for Oi )
Boonen, Casper, Dean. . .
anyone but Robbie puhleeze
(the aussies are getting impossible to live with)

signed,
A concerned Seppo :rolleyes:

[sunninho]

SPOILER: Boonen 2nd, by one bike length, behind Freire of Spain (Rabobank). McEwen finished 5th this time.

[my58vw]

Top 10
1. Oscar Freire (Sp), Rabobank
2. Tom Boonen (B), Quick Step-Innergetic, same time
3. Inaki Isasi (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, s.t.
4. David Kopp (G), Gerolsteiner, s.t.
5. Robbie Mc Ewen (Aus), Davitamon-Lotto, s.t.
6. Alessandro Ballan (I), Lampre, s.t.
7. Thor Hushovd (Nor), Crédit Agricole, s.t.
8. Francisco Ventoso (Sp), Saunier Duval, s.t.
9. Erik Zabel (G), Milram, s.t.
10. Bernhard Eisel (A), Française des Jeux, s.t.

Overall
1. Tom Boonen (B), Quick Step-Innergetic
2. Michael Rogers (Aus), T-Mobile, at 0:13
3. Oscar Freire (Sp), Rabobank, at 0:17
4. George Hincapie (USA), Discovery Channel, s.t.
5. Thor Hushovd (Nor), Crédit Agricole, at 0:19
6. Robbie Mc Ewen (Aus), Davitamon-Lotto, at 0:24
7. Paolo Savoldelli (I), Discovery Channel, at 0:27
8. Floyd Landis (USA), Phonak, at 0:28
9. Vladimir Karpets (Rus), Caisse d'Epargne-I.B., at 0:29
10. Serhiy Honchar (Ukr), T-Mobile, sd.t.


HINCAPIE IN 4TH?

[cuda2k]

Oscar moved up with his time bonuses from winning the stage it looks like. Everyone is so packed together in GC that 6-7seconds bonus moves riders 20 spots it seems. The ITT will hopefully shuffle things around a bit and put some bigger gaps to be tested in the mountains.

[godspiral]

at 50k to go with a 5 minute lead, and slowing down, and news that the pack has 3 teams leading the chase, why keep trying?

[my58vw]

Oscar moved up with his time bonuses from winning the stage it looks like. Everyone is so packed together in GC that 6-7seconds bonus moves riders 20 spots it seems. The ITT will hopefully shuffle things around a bit and put some bigger gaps to be tested in the mountains.

True, I was not thinking of the time bonuses.

Thank You

[steveh2]

True, I was not thinking of the time bonuses.

Thank You

I was hoping the breakaway would succeed, to keep the first and second place bonuses out of Boonen's hand, and thus keep Zabriskie closer to the top before Saturday. Then again, he should be able to beat Booned by 35 seconds in the ITT, though I'm not sure if he'll beat the other TT specialists who are also in the top 20.

[Thylacine]

I predict Rogers in Yellow by the end of the ITT. (That ones' just for you, Lotek!)

[HDTVKSS]

at 50k to go with a 5 minute lead, and slowing down, and news that the pack has 3 teams leading the chase, why keep trying?

to prevent counter attacks by other teams.

[adamastor]

Hincapie...I wanna see some rolling eyes.

:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

Sorry couldn't resist

[marqueemoon]

Awesome move by Freire. I wonder if Boonen could hear him coming around.

[substructure]

Hey did anyone see Samuel Dumoulin's bike fit? (I think it was him for Ag2r in the 2 man breakaway)
It looked like his seat tube slid down to nothing and he just left it.