Professional Cycling - How can Disco/Levi get time on Cadel?

Levi is 56 seconds from being in 2nd place, and he can't bank on gaining that from Cadel in the TT. Sastre is over 3 minutes behind him, not a threat. Is there anything else Levi and Disco can do to get that time in the other remaining stages?

They have the strongest team now, by far. Can they try to string out the peloton and isolate Cadel, then launch Levi? Do they have enough power do to that? Will Bruyneel try? Or will they be content just protecting their 1 and 3 positions?

Spike Cadel's bottles.

Bruyneel would sacrifice the 3rd position to ensure yellow. The problem is that Cadel will probably beat Contador in the TT by 2 minutes.

Disco will secure 2nd and 3rd IMO.

Time bonus sprints :D

Come on, Levi. Duke it out with Zabel, Hunter, and Boonen. You know you want to.

Come on, Levi. Duke it out with Zabel, Hunter, and Boonen. You know you want to.

LMAO.

Disco will probably protect their positions or at least Contador. Might let Levi join a breakaway with another Disco rider to try to make up time and the rest will just cover Cadel and protect Contador. But I think Disco will play it safe and get 2 riders on the podium. Doubt Levi would take chances and blow his wad before the TT. It would depend if Cadel shows the effects from the last mountain stage and IF Levi and/or Contador can take advantage or just cruise along with Cadel to regain some energy. Kind of late to start making up time...it's something that should have been done in the mountain stages. But who can fault the Team's or Levi's strategy?...unless Levi cracks, he's on the podium. Cadel is in a good position if he can nail the TT. Don't know how good Contador is at TT, but if he puts in a good effort, he can limit his losses and win the tour. He was only about a minute behind Cadel in the 1st TT (stage 13).

Theres nothing left except the TT. Every man for himself, no real help from the team.

If disco were to go for sprint bonuses, Predictor-lotto has plenty of lead-out strength leftover from Mcewen to chase them down. Just one man from the team, not even Cadel would have to jump the line to keep Levi from getting it. Now, Cadel setting up a cheeky little lead-out sprint could almost work... Hincapie would probably be the only one with enough kick to counter.

Such tactics would be crass IMO, but I guess nothing is below the riders these days.

Theres nothing left except the TT. Every man for himself, no real help from the team.

If disco were to go for sprint bonuses, Predictor-lotto has plenty of lead-out strength leftover for Mcewen to chase them down.

You mean the McEwen who dropped out of the tour last week ?

Are you even watching this race ?

I wonder if Evans has enough in the tank to beat Contador in the TT. He's faster - usually - but the past few days he's been looking grim. And isn't Levi faster than Evans in flat TTs?

How about a three-way tie?

You mean the McEwen who dropped out of the tour last week ?

Are you even watching this race ?

Yes.

*forgive my typo. replace "for" with "from":beer:.

You're not going to see a TV shot in the next 2 days that hasContador Evans and Leipheimer more than a bike length apart.

They'll be stuck together like glue. And barring something freakish (i.e. crash) the time splits will be exactly the same going into Saturday's TT.

You're not going to see a TV shot in the next 2 days that hasContador Evans and Leipheimer more than a bike length apart.

They'll be stuck together like glue. And barring something freakish (i.e. crash) the time splits will be exactly the same going into Saturday's TT.

It never works any other way.

Pump to Spokes?

Richard

Well, one way to win would be for Levi to start riding faster than Cadel. Sure, an old fashioned way to win, but it has been known to work. And, today would be the day to do it.

Yeah, this is NOT a "brilliant" plan, such as the "spike" Cadel's bottle plan. But, the "ride faster than the other guys" thing has worked rather well for most Tour winners.

And, if Levi is not capable of riding faster than Cadel, there is no plan "clever" enough for Levi to win.

Does anyone really think guys like Eddie and Lance won the Tour with an endless series of "clever plans"? They won year after year because they rode faster than the guys who finished second.

Well, one way to win would be for Levi to start riding faster than Cadel. Sure, an old fashioned way to win, but it has been known to work. And, today would be the day to do it.

asinine.

Ok well, there are a few climbs today. What if Discovery just launched an offensive against Evans? As in whole team sets a brutal pace against the Lotto team? Like literally just try and break him?

I'm sure they'll try. It's tough to do and Lotto is a pretty strong team as well......

All else being equal, I think Evans has slight edge in the TT. It'll be a tall order for him to get a minute. They both have a good shot at Contador, however.

I'm sure they'll try. It's tough to do and Lotto is a pretty strong team as well......

All else being equal, I think Evans has slight edge in the TT. It'll be a tall order for him to get a minute. They both have a good shot at Contador, however.

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. I think Evans will kill Contador on the TT so I would think Discovery would want to try and break the guy before they get to the TT.

Cadel's going to have such a tough time. Especially if Contador and Levi agree to switch attacks until one gets away.

Well, one way to win would be for Levi to start riding faster than Cadel. Sure, an old fashioned way to win, but it has been known to work. And, today would be the day to do it.

.

Name the last time that anyone in the top 3 made up any significant time on the Yellow Jersey on a flat transition stage after the last mountain stage, before the final TT.

Does anyone really think guys like Eddie and Lance won the Tour with a series of "clever plans"?

Yes. When Lance did his own thinking, unfortunate things ensued (like his Olympic road race in Atlanta).

Dude, you've been around the sport forever, and you're dissing tactics? What gives? I'm surprised is all.

Cadel's going to have such a tough time. Especially if Contador and Levi agree to switch attacks until one gets away.

+1

ed rader

Cadel's going to have such a tough time. Especially if Contador and Levi agree to switch attacks until one gets away.

Attacking on the flats?:rolleyes: Whole teams would get into the chase. How fast the top 3 can ride on their own is irrelevant until the TT. They will certainly dispense with the antics and save their strength for the TT.
Not that they wont be ready to pounce on any weakness, but its a stalemate until Saturday.

Attacking on the flats?:rolleyes: Whole teams would get into the chase. How fast the top 3 can ride on their own is irrelevant until the TT. They will certainly dispense with the antics and save their strength for the TT.
Not that they wont be ready to pounce on any weakness, but its a stalemate until Saturday.

Stupid me, I hadn't realised there's no climb left that would test Evans.

The teams should be shielding their riders as much as possible until the TT. Any time bonuses could easily be made up by fresh legs in a long TT.

Then again, you just can't predict what's going to happen in this Tour.

Disco and Levi should be more worried about getting caught.

Disco and Levi should be more worried about getting caught.

I would be completely un-shocked if the peloton decided to abuse Disco in order to help Cadel.

Probably never happen though.

I would be completely un-shocked if the peloton decided to abuse Disco in order to help Cadel.

Probably never happen though.

I meant "caught doping"

Other than the TT, Levi needs to try to take 3-5 seconds off Cadel by making a break at 2-3km to go in all the remaining stages. If cadel cannot follow and there is a clean break where the officials give him and the people with him a different time than the peleton, he can gain some time. This may only work once though and the fact Levi isn't known for his explosive breaks, he may not be able to do it. If he could get a team mate to explode for him and then he can just power ahead, that might work.

I meant "caught doping"



Touché.

Levi - always a possibility, but he's been fast since he was young. (Setting pro hill climb records when he was 14)

Contador - I have no doubt that he's got some damn fine docs behind him.

Other than the TT, Levi needs to try to take 3-5 seconds off Cadel by making a break at 2-3km to go in all the remaining stages. If cadel cannot follow and there is a clean break where the officials give him and the people with him a different time than the peleton, he can gain some time. This may only work once though and the fact Levi isn't known for his explosive breaks, he may not be able to do it. If he could get a team mate to explode for him and then he can just power ahead, that might work.

Might be hard to "make a break" with 2-3km to go when the pack is travelling at 65km setting up for the sprint.

*sigh* If only Jens Voigt was only two minutes out of yellow.......

Levi is 56 seconds from being in 2nd place, and he can't bank on gaining that from Cadel in the TT. Sastre is over 3 minutes behind him, not a threat. Is there anything else Levi and Disco can do to get that time in the other remaining stages?
They have the strongest team now, by far. Can they try to string out the peloton and isolate Cadel, then launch Levi? Do they have enough power do to that? Will Bruyneel try? Or will they be content just protecting their 1 and 3 positions?

my vote is to ride harder and faster than the other guys.:rolleyes:

Might be hard to "make a break" with 2-3km to go when the pack is travelling at 65km setting up for the sprint.

Exactly. It would be an extreme long shot that I really doubt would work. The only thing I can think he can reasonably do is try to ride very sensibly until the TT and hammer it. Even the parade into Paris... normally you do not attack the yellow jersey - especially when it's a team mate! Cadel will no doubt close on AC in the TT, Disco will need to keep Evans in check on the final stage, they may want to try and get 20 seconds on AC and then take the stage for another 20 second bonus which may be enough to get Evans into yellow.

Cmon, how long have some of you been watching???? It's all about the numbers. The current time splits will last till the TT and there is no way Cadel will put in the time needed to over take AC. The current top 3 will not change any order what so ever come Paris. Unless of course a mishap in the TT by any of them. BTW Levi will put time into Cadel on the TT also but not enough...

BTW Levi will put time into Cadel on the TT also but not enough...
Agreed, but Cadel will put time into AC. Not enough to take over of course but surely close to within 50 seconds or so. If he can get off the front on the way into Paris by 20 seconds, a time bonus may be enough. All I am saying is Disco needs to be on top of things, I don't think the last stage is going to be a formality.

Exactly. It would be an extreme long shot that I really doubt would work. The only thing I can think he can reasonably do is try to ride very sensibly until the TT and hammer it. Even the parade into Paris... normally you do not attack the yellow jersey - especially when it's a team mate! Cadel will no doubt close on AC in the TT, Disco will need to keep Evans in check on the final stage, they may want to try and get 20 seconds on AC and then take the stage for another 20 second bonus which may be enough to get Evans into yellow.

Don't see Discovery winning the final stage, sprinters dream of winning that stage. The GC guys would be fighting Quickstep, Milram and Credit for the stage win not just Predictor.

I see your point. Disco has more experience than anyone protecting leads so I don't think there is any need to worry about that. If it comes down to where Evans would need a time bonus to win it I think he will be screwed. The sprinters will want that stage just as bad as him and I would pick the sprinters over Cadel.. The only way it could happen is if he pulled a Vino and I don't think thats going to happen when the yellow is involved....

Contador - I have no doubt that he's got some damn fine docs behind him.

Hopefully its not the same Docs that gave him that blood clot.
I see Evans gaining significant time on Contador in the TT. The yellow jersey won't be giving him wings because my guess is he's a little worried about the pee and blood test at the end.

They won't.

Cadel FTW.

Ok, everybody who said, Disco would, should attack, break Evans, win intermediate time bonuses...

Are any of you surprised by yesterday's stage? Do any of you doubt today will be more of the same?

If you watch the TDF even a couple of years, some of these things become very predictable. In part because they're dictated by simple physics.

Other than the TT, Levi needs to try to take 3-5 seconds off Cadel by making a break at 2-3km to go in all the remaining stages. If cadel cannot follow and there is a clean break where the officials give him and the people with him a different time than the peleton, he can gain some time. This may only work once though and the fact Levi isn't known for his explosive breaks, he may not be able to do it. If he could get a team mate to explode for him and then he can just power ahead, that might work.


**** STAGE 18 SPOILER *****
Don't read this if you don't want to know anything about what happened in Friday's Stage 18. Good call. Cadel must be reading this thread because not only did he make sure it didn't happen, he made it work for himself. He came in with Boonen and a few sprinters at 8:34, while Contador and Levi came in at 8:37.

**** STAGE 18 SPOILER *****

I would be completely un-shocked if the peloton decided to abuse Disco in order to help Cadel.

Why? Do you think Cadel is clean? I dunno, but I'm interested in why you think he's clean, but not the Disco boys.

... Brad

Why? Do you think Cadel is clean? I dunno, but I'm interested in why you think he's clean, but not the Disco boys.

... Brad

Disco is the powerhouse. Everyone likes to see the little guy win... If I was racing in the tour, I would be sick of seeing Disco at the top. Now it looks like 2/3 of the podium will be Disco, so why not get another team in there?

Seems as the rest of the peloton has given up and are just going for stage wins.

It would be funny to see Disco lose by 3 seconds after today.

Disco is the powerhouse. Everyone likes to see the little guy win... If I was racing in the tour, I would be sick of seeing Disco at the top. Now it looks like 2/3 of the podium will be Disco, so why not get another team in there?

Hey, like most, I'm all about the underdog. Heck, I think I've been one all my life!

... Brad