Stage 12: Luchon - Carcassonne

[Guest]

Stage 12: Luchon - Carcassonne, 211 km

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[HDTVKSS]

The return of Robbie?

[OrionKhan]

Yep. Did you see him shine in today's stage? Took an intermediate sprint. Then he took the rest of the day off with the other sprinters...:D

[HDTVKSS]

no, aus coverage only started after the Tourmalet :( stupid tv..... looks like ill ahve to wait till the lowlights DVD comes out....

[blue_neon]

And it looks like by the time they show it tonight, all the first 2 main climbs will be over :(

[HDTVKSS]

was good catching the fox highlights package this morning cause at least they showed a bit of the tourmalet, but still no sprint :(

[my58vw]

Hmmm. downhill stage?

[SunSwingsLow]

For some reason I see a breakaway getting away from the field tommorow for some individual glory. Its a pretty hilly route which may just be enough to keep a group of say 6-8 riders away from the field.

[adamastor]

no, aus coverage only started after the Tourmalet :( stupid tv..... looks like ill ahve to wait till the lowlights DVD comes out....

Go to www.tv2.dk and for DKK 159.00 (+- 25 USD) you can watch live stages. Very good quality, turn off sound and listen to Eurosport live audio or your Aussie comments.

[blue_neon]

We're ready to go.

For those that can't access the Tour live yet (Australians maybe)...view this site for live minute by minute updates off the race!

http://www.letour.fr/2006/TDF/LIVE/us/1200/index.html

:)

[Second Mouse]

Quiet here today. Anyone think the peleton has a shot at catching the escape? Not likely, methinks (21km to go).

[merlinextraligh]

Ok that's damn wierd Popovych wins a flat stage and makes up 4 minutes on GC. This really is a wide open tour. Probably too little too late for GC. But the boy has too much potential to just toss him 4 minutes.

[Socalcycling]

thank god they didn't "let" a frenchmen win

[pathdoc]

Its good to see Discovery win at least one stage. Good job Popovych. Where doese Popovych sit in the GC?

[SunSwingsLow]

Its good to see Discovery win at least one stage. Good job Popovych. Where doese Popovych sit in the GC?

10th now around 4:15 back

[pathdoc]

That's great. Popovych will become team captian. I read earlier there would be no team captian if no one was in the top 10 GC.

[Socalcycling]

Cycling teams don't have team captains. They have leaders. Even so its pretty late for Disco to have any real aspirations for a podium position. It's all about stage wins now.

[pathdoc]

He'll still become their leader.

[USAZorro]

They ought to work for Acevedo in the mountains and have riders try to steal glory on breaks. I like Ekimov, but he has zero potential to help Discovery out for the rest of this tour. I bet Bruyneel is kicking himself for not bringing Guisev - who would be a huge threat on a breakaway.

[Boatdesigner]

I think I would have the team work for Popo as there are a few in the top 10 who could be vulnerable in the Alps. He did well pulling for LA last year, if he can regain some of that form, maybe with his teams help, he could possibly move up a few places in GC. To me at least, it would look a lot better for them to have a young rider in a strong top 10 position than a stage win (big maybe!). Something to build on for next year.

[Socalcycling]

I think I would have the team work for Popo as there are a few in the top 10 who could be vulnerable in the Alps. He did well pulling for LA last year, if he can regain some of that form, maybe with his teams help, he could possibly move up a few places in GC. To me at least, it would look a lot better for them to have a young rider in a strong top 10 position than a stage win (big maybe!). Something to build on for next year.

Sorry but if you don't have a chance at a podium position in the TDF a stage win is ten times bigger. Cycling is all about advertising. It's all about having those cameras pointed at the teams sponsors on the jersey. If your not on the podium in Paris nobody cares to put the camera on you. However, if you win a stage you get all that attention for at least the one day. Thats why the sponsors sponsor these teams.

If you watched the tour last year can you tell me without looking it up what GC position GH or Polo ended up with in Paris? Probably not but you do know they both had stage wins. If look at a pros career stats you will never seen finished 8th 2006 TDF but you will see finished 1st stage 12 TDF 2006.

[Boatdesigner]

I agree the stage wins are big, but I don't think you should give up a high GC placing to get a chance at a stage win. Can they defend his position and still go for wins? No I can't remember where Popo finished last year (IIRC he was in the top 15?). But can you tell me who won stage 12 last year?:) I was just thinking that a high GC position that they all contributed to may give them more motivation in the future. I have never been on a bike racing team, so I can't say how much Popo's win today motivates George or Jose. It does seem that Discovery needs to find a new leader to rally behind in the future, why not a young guy who can be around for a few years?

Then again, I am dumb enough to be in the boat biz, so my logical thought processes are likely suspect.:D

[eaglevii]

Can someone who saw the entire stage (I sadly caught only the last 20 km) shed some light on why Popo did not get voted Most Combative? I would think that 4 attacks in the last 10 km would qualify, and reading stage re-caps I cannot figure out what Bennati did to earn it. I know that it is not a big deal compared to the stage win, but my TDF pool at work gives 5 points for Combative and 3 for the Stage win - and I really wanted 8 points since Disco hasn't been doing so hot. :)

[gm1230126]

thank god they didn't "let" a frenchmen win
Especially on Bastile day

[gm1230126]

Cycling teams don't have team captains. They have leaders. Even so its pretty late for Disco to have any real aspirations for a podium position. It's all about stage wins now.

4:15 is nothing in the Alps. This race is wide open yet for probably any decent rider within 10 minutes of the lead. Anything can happen in the Alps. Especially this year. How many different people have led? How many different teams have been in the yellow?

[godspiral]

Can someone who saw the entire stage (I sadly caught only the last 20 km) shed some light on why Popo did not get voted Most Combative? I would think that 4 attacks in the last 10 km would qualify, and reading stage re-caps I cannot figure out what Bennati did to earn it. I know that it is not a big deal compared to the stage win, but my TDF pool at work gives 5 points for Combative and 3 for the Stage win - and I really wanted 8 points since Disco hasn't been doing so hot. :)

They usually award it to failed breakaways, and for a more individual effort. If its given to the winner, it has to be a pretty extreme effort. It can definitely feel like a figure skating competition though.

[Socalcycling]

4:15 is nothing in the Alps. This race is wide open yet for probably any decent rider within 10 minutes of the lead. Anything can happen in the Alps. Especially this year. How many different people have led? How many different teams have been in the yellow?

Yes, several riders have worn the yellow so far but now that we are in the mountains it's time to stop messing around. There is no way that Landis is going to let MJ off his back as easy as the first week riders have. I believe he has is locked up. Again riders are going to be riding for 2nd and 3rd. I really like Popo, have met with him a few times but there is no way he is going to podium.