Stage 9: Bordeaux - Dax, 170 km

http://cdn.dayport.com/olnimg/tdf/img/profiles/profile09.gif

That stage is almost as flat as a table top. I'll go out on a limb......McEwen anyone!
http://www.bottledbeer.co.uk/photos/mcewansscotchale.jpg

Boonen.

He has to win one of them.

as early as he sits up, Boonen might as well be a lead out man

Hmmm...

McEwen

Robbie to teach a lesson on sprinting again....

I like watching the carnage of bunch sprints as much as the next person but I'm dieing to see what happens to tdf 2006 when they finally hit a mountain on Wednesday. Boonen's lost his way, McEwan is on a rampage, the king is dead long live the king.

as early as he sits up, Boonen might as well be a lead out man

I totally agree.

Robbie's last shot for awhile.......if ya gunna suffer over the hills ya might as well do it with another victory in your pocket!. Boonen is frustrated & making amateur mistakes every sprint & Thor just doesn't have the speed.....Robbie all the way

Thor. . .

Voight on a breakaway?

McEwen

Schleck on a breakaway.

Schleck on a breakaway.

Too flat for Schleck. He'll be better off in the mountain (if he has recovered from his disappointment about Basso and his 8 minutes delay in Gc).

ru serious?! this tour should be the best in recent memory, but i'm getting good and sick of flat stages.

Well today looks the last day for the main sprinters to show there stuff. I think this will be an extreemly exciting stage, one of the most exciting so far possibly. The riders are rested and energised and the course isflat...but that means quick, tactical riding and hopefully a superb finish! I dont think there will be a successfull breakaway, just because the sprinters will be taking this as there 'last chance' on the flats so they will be determined to catch any escapers.

Enjoy this stage people...i think McEwen could be a forth win, but it will be a tough finish!

:)

Oh and for all those complaining about the flats...enjoy this stage knowing it gets 'serious' tommorow :D.

I like watching the carnage of bunch sprints as much as the next person but I'm dieing to see what happens to tdf 2006 when they finally hit a mountain on Wednesday. Boonen's lost his way, McEwan is on a rampage, the king is dead long live the king.

Robbie's on a roll-McEwen again.

BTW-they said on Sunday Robbie can do about 1800W in a short burst. Is that at the end of a stage or before he has had a couple hours in the peloton?

Any idea what power a sprinter of Magnus' size generates?

The peloton ate the breakaway...

And it's Friere!!!

Robbie's on a roll-McEwen again.

BTW-they said on Sunday Robbie can do about 1800W in a short burst. Is that at the end of a stage or before he has had a couple hours in the peloton?

Any idea what power a sprinter of Magnus' size generates?


I think Robbie's got nitrous oxide on his bike. That sprint today was crazy. He still almost pulled it out. He'd have 2 more stage wins if he hadn't gotten boxed in. He's got freaky acceleration...

http://www.letour.fr/PHOTOS/TDF/2006/900/finish.jpg

Man, that is absurdly close.

Will someone make sure that Boonen eats his Wheaties in the morning, during next year's tour? :D

Doesn't get a whole lot closer than that finish. Man I love the bunch sprints...too bad there is all that riding before the sprint. LOL j/k

Shoul dbe interesting to see if anyone that matters gives it a go tomorrow or if someone WAY down gets away on the big break like Vokler (sp) a couple of years ago

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2006/tour06/tour069/DV91604.jpg

What these guys do is unreal. Keep in mind this is at 40 mph.

What happened to Levi?? He lost time in this stage!

What happened to Levi?? He lost time in this stage!
Did you see the TT result? Clearly there is something goign on with Levi...I wish they would confirm what it is...lets hope it isn't a lack of doping products, that would bum me out. :(

Did you see the TT result? Clearly there is something goign on with Levi...I wish they would confirm what it is...lets hope it isn't a lack of doping products, that would bum me out. :(
apparently he has hinted at something going on but won't say what since he
doesn't want to use it as an excuse , but isn't that in and of itself an excuse?

marty

Bye Bye Levi

Wow, I almost wish I hadn't of peeked.

American Levi Leipheimer, one of the pre-race favourites who lost more than six minutes in last Saturday's time trial, finished 1:44 behind the main pack before being re-instated 0:26 adrift of Freire.

American Levi Leipheimer, one of the pre-race favourites who lost more than six minutes in last Saturday's time trial, finished 1:44 behind the main pack before being re-instated 0:26 adrift of Freire.

I saw his place and time lost on the stage and it didn't match up. Was he caught behind a crash?

Doesn't get a whole lot closer than that finish. Man I love the bunch sprints...too bad there is all that riding before the sprint. LOL j/k



That's what I love about track racing. You dispense with the first three or four hours of nonsense and get right to the point. Heh, heh.

I really liked Robbie McEwan's take on the finish in Cyclingnews:

"I was just starting to really accelerate when we hit the line, I hadn't even got into top gear yet," said McEwen. "That’s what happens on the Tour. Sometimes you need a bit of luck to get out and I didn't think I was going to get out at all, so in the last 40m I rescued a few points. It would have been nice to win another one but... that’s how the Tour goes you don't win 'em every day and maybe if I won it would get a bit boring - Hey not for me, but for everybody else!"

Robbie's interviews are the most interesting of all the riders; he gives lessons on sprinting that could be put into textbooks. Like the way he won Stage 4, where he sent leadout man Steegmans out on the outside of the last turn because he knew the outside of the turn would be clear.

I was also pleased to see Zabel getting in for 3rd. Old age again triumphing over Boonen's youth and skill. Obviously, experience really counts in a bunch sprint.

- L.

that's a pretty low point for boonen though. to get nipped on the line by zabel, at this point in their respective careers, just shouldn't be happening.

Boonen peaked too early, I think we can now safely say.

We're about to find out if the same is true for Landis.

Boonen peaked too early, I think we can now safely say.

We're about to find out if the same is true for Landis.

Did I hear correctly, that Boonen has SEVENTEEN event and/or stage wins already this year? Good grief, no wonder he doesn't have any explosive power left in his legs for these sprint stages - he's already spent before the TdF even started.

McEwen has credited not racing the way Boonen has (yes, 17 wins) as a reason for his success.

Did I hear correctly, that Boonen has SEVENTEEN event and/or stage wins already this year? Good grief, no wonder he doesn't have any explosive power left in his legs for these sprint stages - he's already spent before the TdF even started.

They were commenting about that at OLN during stage 4. Robbie at age 33 is more experienced at doing what he needs to train and schedule events to peak his body for this event while Boonen has done so much else this year that he's already peaked and spent before this event.

Beetle,

The bent-spoke effect is due to the movement of the camera shutter, not actual bending of the spokes. (I can't tell if you knew that!)

NuCommuter

They were commenting about that at OLN during stage 4. Robbie at age 33 is more experienced at doing what he needs to train and schedule events to peak his body for this event while Boonen has done so much else this year that he's already peaked and spent before this event.yeah although i think as a belgian tom prolly just has different priorities. no question this is all robbie this year though. even if petacchi could have made it he wasn;t riding well. i consider petacchi, mcewen and boonen to be by far the best sprinters.