Professional Cycling - Oh Hell, Vino's going to make for some tired legs now.

Well after Vino's crash and injury today, if he's up to it (heck, even if he's not 100%), he'll be willing to attack his own grandmother from now on. I'll be surprised if he plays super aid to Kloden but it will be interesting to see how it plays out.

So is Vino definitely kissing his GC chances goodbye now?

Info on Kloden/Vino injuries: Link (http://sport.guardian.co.uk/breakingnews/feedstory/0,,-6775251,00.html)

Is Vino kissing GC goodbye? Too soon to call, IMO. Saturday's stage will be the true indicator...hoping this doesn't become another story of "You can't win the Tour in the first week, but you sure as hell can lose it"

I hope he charges the way we know he can. I'll be watching very closely and pulling for him! Indeed it is too early to tell, but maybe he'll be that much more determined. Let's hope so!

I am sure a shot of whiskey will do hom good. Just ask Landis.

The peloton is certainly pulling for him as well:

Boonen (http://www.vrtnieuws.net/cm/vrtnieuws.net/sporza/wielrennen/Tour_2007/verslagen/1.153113):
"The peloton drove very hard on that last climb. They did not ride at the head to prepare the sprint, but to put as much time as possible into Vinokourov."

Pozzato (http://www.velonews.com/tour2007/news/articles/12711.0.html):
"It's a pity no one slowed for Vinokourov, There used to be respect for the champions of the sport. Maybe that respect is gone."

Schleck:
"It's the last thing you want to see, someone like Vinokourov lose time like that."

The peloton is certainly pulling for him as well:

Boonen (http://www.vrtnieuws.net/cm/vrtnieuws.net/sporza/wielrennen/Tour_2007/verslagen/1.153113):
"The peloton drove very hard on that last climb. They did not ride at the head to prepare the sprint, but to put as much time as possible into Vinokourov."

Pozzato (http://www.velonews.com/tour2007/news/articles/12711.0.html):
"It's a pity no one slowed for Vinokourov, There used to be respect for the champions of the sport. Maybe that respect is gone."

Schleck:
"It's the last thing you want to see, someone like Vinokourov lose time like that."

i missed the tour that vino won. what year was that? later.

i missed the tour that vino won. what year was that? later.

He said "Champions of the SPORT" not "The TOUR".



You stop following cycling after the Tour de France, dont you. There's another grand tour that happens later this year...as big as the Tour? no. Bigger than your last charity ride? Yes.

;)

crap, i need to work on my speed reading. i over looked that "sport" thing.

i dont do charity rides. :)

later.

Apparently Vino had to get stitches on both knees. The injuries were that deep. Doesn't look good for him.

That respect you speak of is traditionally reserved for the yellow jersey. Anyone else has to ride back to the peleton, as Vino did. I didn't hear Vinos whining about the peloton not waiting up.

Remember when Lance hit the deck (in Yellow), and Ullrich directed the slowing of the pace ? Vino hesitated, but slowed his pace as well ... because Lance was in yellow ... otherwise, he'd have had his team drag him up the hill as well.

BTW, Vino made a stellar ride back to the group (kudos to Boonan). I can only think of a few riders in the peloton that could have gotten back like Vino did ... he showed us how srong he is right now.

Kloden? ... we'll see how the hairline fracture of his "butt bone" is in the morning. That injury is going to be very painful as the tour progresses.

And, I'm not even rooting for Vino (or Kloden).

BOTH knees? Damn.

That respect they speak of is traditionally reserved for the yellow jersey. Anyone else has to ride back to the peleton, as Vino did. I didn't hear Vinos whining about the peloton not waiting up.

It's not me in the team kit, getting quoted by the press after a Pro Tour stage...;)


he showed us how srong he is right now.

Before the true pain of injuries sets in...overnite

I didn't hear the quote ... I'm just talkn' tradition hear.:)

If he's crying about today, he needs to pull up his panties, and get on with the tour ...

I actually hope he's out. I've never been a fan of Vino ...:D That's just me.

But, I won't deny his talent, and if he wins, it's because he rode his ass off, and worked for it.

Vino didn't whine...didn't mention anything about it; those quotes were other rider's reactions to the stage.

I wouldn't worry about Vino. Kloden is the one who is questionable for tomorrow.

The peloton is certainly pulling for him as well:

Boonen (http://www.vrtnieuws.net/cm/vrtnieuws.net/sporza/wielrennen/Tour_2007/verslagen/1.153113):
"The peloton drove very hard on that last climb. They did not ride at the head to prepare the sprint, but to put as much time as possible into Vinokourov."

Pozzato (http://www.velonews.com/tour2007/news/articles/12711.0.html):
"It's a pity no one slowed for Vinokourov, There used to be respect for the champions of the sport. Maybe that respect is gone."

Schleck:
"It's the last thing you want to see, someone like Vinokourov lose time like that."
Once Vino was off the back, I was wondering why the GC-contending teams didn't throw out a few rabbits to goad the sprinters teams to drive the pace up even higher.

So I guess the other GC contenders showed some measure of sportsmanship.

Pls let Vino recover!! He will make this an exciting race!!

Remember when Lance hit the deck (in Yellow), and Ullrich directed the slowing of the pace ? Vino hesitated, but slowed his pace as well ... because Lance was in yellow ... otherwise, he'd have had his team drag him up the hill as well.

Ullrich directed the slowing? Hardly, at least not until Tyler Hamilton convinced Jan he should slow down himself. Then, maybe, he had something to do with slowing down others.

So how did Vino's crash happen anyway?

On euronews here in France they were reporting definite Coccyx fracture for Kloden and they said he was going to be out. I am upset for Vino, but the guy can TT. Hopefully the gashes do not affec his performance. But lets be real. It's going to affect the performance. And why would Vino Complain? He is made of Kazakhstanium - about as hard as they come. Remember, he comes from the school of throw everything against the wall and let's see what doesn't break. I am hoping euronews is wrong.

Before the true pain of injuries sets in...overnite

I hear the 2nd day after a crash is usually the worst, so Saturday's hilly stage will be the real test. I hope he isn't hurt badly - it will be a more exciting tour if he is in the GC battle.

Ullrich directed the slowing? Hardly, at least not until Tyler Hamilton convinced Jan he should slow down himself. Then, maybe, he had something to do with slowing down others.


Yes, you are right ... and it was Ullrich who benifited when the peloton did not push the pace, when Ullrich took a curve wide on a descent, and rode down an embankment (don't remember the year) ... but Ullrich had won the tour prior to that. I guess they were just being a bunch of nice guy.

In Vinos case, I don't think he should have been waited for (IMHO) ... and I guess neither did he (I still have not heard or read all the press on this). No matter who said what, somewhere along the line it will come back around for Vino, and if he's in position, he may drive the train, if that's what he decides to do. It all makes good press though, and good forum foder as well.:)

We'll see ... big mountains on the horizon, with an easy day leading up to them. :eek:

I hope Kloeden isn't out. I was rooting for him. And without him, we'll be spared the fun of watching Astana try to figure out who da man---sad to lose that. What a painful place for a hairline fracture. Oh the indignity!

At least my boy Bennati's coming back. I'm very impressed he managed third today after getting creamed in that crash on Stage 2. Had wounds on the hand, arm and bruised ribs. Bruised ribs must really suck for a sprinter. Maybe he still has a chance at green, since apparently he's a decent climber and should make it over the mountains.

I've never been a real fan of Vino either, but I sure would hate to see him out of the Tour. He's a classic mischief maker, and it will be a real loss for the Tour if he can't continue or at least put up a good fight. I suspect he would have attacked grandmas before this injury though---Vino's been spitting mad ever since being excluded last year.

I suspect he would have attacked grandmas before this injury though---Vino's been spitting mad ever since being excluded last year.

he wont be done spittin if he is bowed out :)

Hopefully he attacks on the mountains and shows us that this crash was just a little fall

Once Vino was off the back, I was wondering why the GC-contending teams didn't throw out a few rabbits to goad the sprinters teams to drive the pace up even higher.

So I guess the other GC contenders showed some measure of sportsmanship.


well popovich went off the front for a bit. i'm sure they all knew vino was out the back too...

On euronews here in France they were reporting definite Coccyx fracture for Kloden and they said he was going to be out.

Thats probably good for Vino in the long run. Astana will still be plenty deep with Salvodelli and Kaschekin. Kloden had a habit of undermining team leaders at t-mob, and i still dont know what he was thinking jumping ship anyway when he finally had the chance to be the clear leader there.

If astana can work at the level they did during the dauphine, Vino is going to still be hard to beat.

Yes, you are right ... and it was Ullrich who benifited when the peloton did not push the pace, when Ullrich took a curve wide on a descent, and rode down an embankment (don't remember the year) ... but Ullrich had won the tour prior to that. I guess they were just being a bunch of nice guy.

In Vinos case, I don't think he should have been waited for (IMHO) ... and I guess neither did he (I still have not heard or read all the press on this). No matter who said what, somewhere along the line it will come back around for Vino, and if he's in position, he may drive the train, if that's what he decides to do. It all makes good press though, and good forum foder as well.:)

We'll see ... big mountains on the horizon, with an easy day leading up to them. :eek:

There was no peloton. Ullrich attacked on the climb and it was just him, lance and Ullrichs teammate. Lance was by himself until 2 people got up to him. It was the 2001 tour and stage 13 unlucky for some.

I agree with Ryanf. It wasn't a peleton by any means whatsoever

BOTH knees? Damn.
The spokesman said one knee and one elbow.

how did Kloden manage to fracture his coccyx? Seriously, did he go over the handlebars, flip and land on it? I can see how riders fracture hands, wrists, knees, collarbones... but your coccyx doesn't seem to be that exposed when you're riding a bike... it's not as if you can really fall backwards.

i only saw the aftermath of the crash on tv... he was lying in a ditch in obvious pain. never good to see top riders taken out or severely restricted by crashes (a la past years for tyler hamilton, joseba beloki, valverde)

how did Kloden manage to fracture his coccyx?

He's quite good at it, stage 1 of 2003 left him with a broken coccyx and he retired a few stages later.