Professional Cycling For the Fans - Lanterne Rouge 2008 Spoiler

Today's Red Lantern: 179. Mauricio Soler (Barloworld), 1:21 trail on 178. Wim Vansevenant.


This year's 2008 Tour de France Lanterne Rouge competition revolves around the big question: can Belgian Wim Vansevenant (Silence - Lotto) become the first racer in the history of the Tour to three-peat as the infamous Red Lantern?

After two stages, Wim is already in second to last place and over nine minutes down. But more Lanterne Rouge quests have been swept up by the broom wagon than come to naught because of good performance. Does 36 year old Wim still have the legs to complete the Tour? Will he falter on the Mastif Central or in the mountains? In the past he's proved to be a master at husbanding his energy and never bonking or blowing up. His last-across-the-line finish today certainly announced to the other riders that's he's serious about having the Maillot Rouge* on his shoulders in Paris. There's a reason no rider has ever three-peated, though, and it won't be easy for Wim.

tcs



* There is no real red jersey worn by the last place rider. There should be, though! :)

I'm pulling for him. I vote he can do it again.

Why is he on the team if he never finishes with the field? I'm sure they can find someone else to squeak in before the maximum allotted time each stage.

Why is he on the team if he never finishes with the field? I'm sure they can find someone else to squeak in before the maximum allotted time each stage.

http://www.forumammo.com/cpg/albums/userpics/10062/KIOSAWCICFJQSWS4S3A23W5YLAOCDZDV.jpg

Why is he on the team if he never finishes with the field? I'm sure they can find someone else to squeak in before the maximum allotted time each stage.

I can't take it. This is the best...:roflmao2::roflmao2::roflmao2::roflmao2::roflmao2::roflmao2:

While Wim moved in to the "red jersey" and the Tour's overall trail today, he still got a big scare at the finish line. Wim finished alone (safely staying out of any potential crashes!), a comfortable three minutes back of the autobus. There were just two riders still out on course, both of whom seemed non-threateningly up in the standings. But the clock kept ticking, ticking, ticking, and finally after another four and a half minutes Frenchman Matthieu Sprick (Bouygues Telecom) crossed the line --- placing him just eight seconds ahead of Wim on GC!

Is Sprick for real? Could he be a threat to Vansevenant's quest to become the greatest Lanterne Rouge in tour history? But remember 1989 - could these eight seconds haunt Sprick in Paris?

In tomorrow's short, flat individual time trial, the advantage is all Sprick's. Vansevenant has to start first, and Sprick could easily bag the Red Lantern in the final time split while Wim stands helplessly staring at his name atop the leader board.

Ah, but it's a long way to Paris. :)

tcs

Soler seems to be giving him a run for his money. Maybe they have upped the prize list for the "Lantern Rouge"?? And is it cheating if you get the last place due to injury? :D

Why is he on the team if he never finishes with the field? I'm sure they can find someone else to squeak in before the maximum allotted time each stage.

There are many roles in a team. Not everyone is out for glory and points. Some just "work" for others. Google "domestique" and "Sean Yeats".

These guys are heros.

OK, Sprick proved to be a one-day red light special, and Wim had a solid red lantern performance in the time trial, placing 173nd out of 178 racers. At this point the two biggest threats to his three-peat would seem to be:

1) the broom wagon. We'll have some idea by the first rest day if Vansevenant has the form to keep from getting swept up.

2) the other two-time Lanterne Rouge in the 2008 Tour, Jimmy Casper (Agritubel). That's right, unbelievably there are two riders in this year's tour who have finished last twice in past years! Unlike all-rounder Vansevenant, Casper is actually a strong sprinter (in fact, a former stage winner) but when it comes to getting over the mountains - well, not so much. While Casper currently lies in 116th on CG, he also had a red lantern-esque 163nd placing in today's time trial - and the mountains lie ahead.

Shining Lanterne Rouge moment: On the final day of the 2006 Tour, an amused peleton looked on as Wim caught Jimmy napping and sprinted to the day's first time bonus. The time earned left Wim only seconds behind. To the greater amusement of the peleton, Casper then marshaled his team and marked Vansevenant all the way to the Champs-Elysées.

tcs

On Wednesday, July 23rd, the 17th stage will climb the Col du Gaibier, Col de la Croix de Fer and finish up L'Alpe d'Huez (all beyond category).

The racer in last place will probably be behind by a couple of hours on GC by this point. Ahead lie hours of pain and the possibility of being time limited at the end of the day. His own self interest would council just staying in bed that morning.

The man with the heart of the Lanterne Rouge will get up on the 23rd, put his uniform on, and go ride for cycling, his team and all those ToF fans waiting on L'Alpe d'Huez's 21 switchbacks.

Many of us will see a day when life's endless climbs seem impossible and we wonder "Why go on?" At those times, it's not the glorified champion in the yellow jersey who'll be our guiding light - it's the Lanterne Rouge.


These guys are heros.

Yep.

tcs

If he can't do it, I'll volunteer to do it.

On Wednesday, July 23rd, the 17th stage will climb the Col du Gaibier, Col de la Croix de Fer and finish up L'Alpe d'Huez (all beyond category).

The racer in last place will probably be behind by a couple of hours on GC by this point. Ahead lie hours of pain and the possibility of being time limited at the end of the day. His own self interest would council just staying in bed that morning.

The man with the heart of the Lanterne Rouge will get up on the 23rd, put his uniform on, and go ride for cycling, his team and all those ToF fans waiting on L'Alpe d'Huez's 21 switchbacks.

Many of us will see a day when life's endless climbs seem impossible and we wonder "Why go on?" At those times, it's not the glorified champion in the yellow jersey who'll be our guiding light - it's the Lanterne Rouge.



Yep.

tcs


On a day like that, you wonder if someone in the team car is actually supplying him with info on what kind of time he needs to avoid the broom wagon. Or is sitting in the autobus enough to guarantee a start on the following day.

There are many roles in a team. Not everyone is out for glory and points. Some just "work" for others. Google "domestique" and "Sean Yeats".

These guys are heros.

I know he's a domestique, but I'm having trouble believing that a guy who's minutes back after one flat stage is going to be carrying 8 bottles up a mountain in his jersey. My thought was: can't his team find ANOTHER domestique who can serve the team a bit better?

On a day like that, you wonder if someone in the team car is actually supplying him with info on what kind of time he needs to avoid the broom wagon.

The info probably wouldn't be of much use - if the Lanterne Rouge could ride any harder up the third Hors Category climb of the day, he would!


Or is sitting in the autobus enough to guarantee a start on the following day.

Yes. Occationally when some superman goes on a flier the autobus gets technically eliminated on time, but the organizers always make an exception on those rare days to maintain the field.

tcs

... a guy who's minutes back after one flat stage...

The race is to Paris. ;)

tcs

Where might we find Vansevenant Merchandise, preferably Lanterne Rouge?
In the alternative, where might we find Lanterne Rouge merchandise?

Wim is still going for it!

165. Christophe Riblon (FRA), Ag2r at 52:02
166. Aliaksandr Kuschynski (BLR), Liquigas at 52:11
167. Jeremy Roy (FRA), Francaise des Jeux at 55:04
168. Stephane Auge (FRA), Cofidis at 55:25
169. Mathieu Sprick (FRA), Bouygues Telecom at 57:12
170. Wim Vansevenant (BEL), Silence-Lotto at 58:54
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/254/526590441_eef002e9eb_o.jpg

All I can say is, I wish I was in good enough shape to come in last place in le Tour.

After Stage 9, he's still going strong. Lost 27 mins today.

165 Francesco Chicchi (Ita) Liquigas 1.17.11
166 Christophe Riblon (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 1.18.56
167 Jérémy Roy (Fra) Française des Jeux 1.21.58
168 Stéphane Augé (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 1.22.19
169 Matthieu Sprick (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 1.24.06
170 Wim Vansevenant (Bel) Silence - Lotto 1.25.48

Wim finished stage 9 comfortably in the back of the largest group, crossing in 166th place some 28 minutes after Ricco (Saunier Duval). Two-time last-place-in-Paris man Jimmy Casper made his first big Red Lantern move for 2008, losing contact - despite the down hill finish - with all of the other 169 riders still in the Tour and finishing this stage dead last (170th place). This notable performance took two and a half minutes out of Wim Vansevenant's trail and moved Casper down to 163rd on GC. With so many major mountain stages in the next week and a half, the Belgian will need to keep a close eye on the dangerous Frenchman (http://www.velonews.com/photo/22480) if he intends to hang on to the "red jersey".

The Vansevenant/Casper duel to be the first man in Tour history to Red Lantern three times could be shaping up as an epic for the ages.


All I can say is, I wish I was in good enough shape to come in last place in le Tour.

They're Red Lanterns all right, but they're hung on the back of the TGV. :)

tcs

^^^ :lol:

Stage 10: Wim once again finished comfortably near the back of the largest group in 157th, so his 36 y.o. legs do seem Tour-worthy. Sorry, broom wagon!

But! The Ghostman slipped off the back, finished 167th and took another 52 seconds off Vansevenant's trail. You're just going to have to keep an eye on Casper, Wim!

Lanterne Rouge leader board headed into the first rest day:
169 Wim Vansevenant (Bel) Silence - Lotto 1.56.39
168 Matthieu Sprick (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 1.54.57
167 Stéphane Augé (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 1.53.10
166 Christophe Riblon (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 1.49.47
165 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Team Columbia 1.48.33
164 Francesco Chicchi (Ita) Liquigas 1.48.02
163 Jimmy Casper (Fra) Agritubel 1.47.56
162 Arnaud Gérard (Fra) Française des Jeux 1.47.46


Special congratulations to Team Silence-Lotto for having men in both Yellow and Red!

tcs

PS - Oh, and a tip of the beret to French professional cycling, now holding 6 of the bottom nine GC positions. Hang in there, mes amis, we want to cheer you on the Champs-Elysees.

What would be funny is if this thread made it to Silence-Lotto to show them that we are pulling for him to be last.

Bernhard Eisel is really letting me down. :( :( :(

Holy moly, the French are really in this thing. Just a small slip from a few riders and they could take the top (bottom) five. :O

Two items of note from the 11th stage:

1) I clearly wrote Sprick, the great French hope, off too soon for the Lanterne Rouge. Sure, he got to second-to-last in one bad stage, but he has failed to move out of that position for over a week. He's surely close enough to take it on any single stage without getting time limited.

2) Casper announced today: he's officially going for Lanterne Rouge in Paris! He gapped himself from the back of the autobus at the finish, again came in dead last, and took another 16 seconds out of Vansevenant's trail. He would probably need just two Casper-esque mountain stage results to erase the eight and a half minutes by which he leads Vansevenant and thereby become the Red Lantern - and there are four rugged mountain stages left.

The Lanterne Rouge leader board after stage 11:
166 Wim Vansevenant (Bel) Silence - Lotto 2.04.02
165 Matthieu Sprick (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 2.02.20
164 Stéphane Augé (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 2.00.33
163 Christophe Riblon (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 1.57.10
162 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Team Columbia 1.55.56
161 Jimmy Casper (Fra) Agritubel 1.55.35
160 Francesco Chicchi (Ita) Liquigas 1.55.25

Best,
tcs

I like this thread so I am going to make it a sticky

The 12th stage illustrates the advantage to Lanterne Rouge contenders of being an all-rounder over a specialist. Running generally downhill with but a single Cat. 4 climb, the 169km stage concluded in the expected sprint finish. Vansevenant paced himself, sat in, dropped back at the end and finished 155th out of 158 (au revoir, Saunier Duval - Scott). He put another 2:12 on his Red Lantern trail. Casper, a sprint specialist who struggles (at this super-elite level) with his climbing, was required by Agritubel to, well, sprint, and came across the line a fine 12th.

Vansevenant continues to methodically build a position from which he'll be hard for any other rider to dislodge without grave danger of going over time limit on a stage. But could Evan's Yellow jersey be a threat to Vansevenant's Red? There is always the possibility on some up coming stage that as the attacks play out Silence-Lotto will require the ever-energy-conservative Wim to fry himself making pace protecting Evans' tenuous grip on the Yellow jersey, and then be left on the road in a grim personal battle with the broom wagon. Cadel actually ran out of pacing team mates today and rode the last 20km sans the phalanx of team jerseys any tour leader would like to have. Not good. What will be said at the Silence-Lotto team strategy meeting tonight?

Wim, we love you, and a historic three Red Lanterns would be très frais - but it's the Tour! Yellow comes first, buddy!

After stage 12:
158 Wim Vansevenant (Bel) Silence - Lotto 2.06.14
157 Matthieu Sprick (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 2.02.20
156 Stéphane Augé (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 2.01.48
155 Christophe Riblon (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 1.57.10
154 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Team Columbia 1.57.09
153 Jimmy Casper (Fra) Agritubel 1.55.35
152 Francesco Chicchi (Ita) Liquigas 1.55.25

tcs

PS - Congratulations to Lanterne Rouge contender Jimmy Casper for moving up to a respectable 11th in the Green jersey competition! Top ten is soooo close, Jimmy!

I wonder how many trips up through the peleton, loaded down with water bottles, the Lanterne Rouge makes on a typical stage? Do they think, "See that water bottle on my team leader's bike as he crosses the finish line? I handed him that!"

tcs

ROTFLMAO! This thread rocks! tcs, you deserve your own kind of award.

I wonder how many trips up through the peleton, loaded down with water bottles, the Lanterne Rouge makes on a typical stage? Do they think, "See that water bottle on my team leader's bike as he crosses the finish line? I handed him that!"

tcs

:lol:

Congratulations to Lanterne Rouge contender Jimmy Casper for moving up to a respectable 11th in the Green jersey competition! Top ten is soooo close, Jimmy!

Casper and Chicci were busting their humps in the sprint today, when they could have been silently drifting off the back and tightening up the standings.

I'm waiting for the press to catch Wim, just outside the "3-K to go" banner, yakking with some roadside fans and chewing on a baguette, while the pack storms towards the line. :D

lol nah Wim has ot make sure he gets his red jersey. I would be happy with a red jersey. It would mean I am a way better rider than I am now. I want to see him make it to Paris.

Here's our boy Wim pacing the peleton early on stage 12: on the far right (http://www.davitamon-lotto.com/site2007/fotoreeksen/TDF_2008_12_hor13.jpg).

And earning his pay (http://www.davitamon-lotto.com/site2007/fotoreeksen/TDF_2008_12_hor10.jpg) mid-stage.

Good form on the bike: low, compact, focused.

Not so trivia: Wim is exactly the same height as Cadel Evans, 1.74 m.

Q: Is Wim the only pro racer who doesn't have a sun glasses sponsorship contract?

Best,
tcs

I wonder how many trips up through the peleton, loaded down with water bottles, the Lanterne Rouge makes on a typical stage? Do they think, "See that water bottle on my team leader's bike as he crosses the finish line? I handed him that!"

tcs

ROFLMAO! :lol:

Our boy hung tough today putting another 2 mins buffer between him and Stéphane Auge, but in an epic move for glory, Sven Krauss lost 15' 12" today dropping 21 places to 142 place, just 17 mins ahead of Wim.

I think we can rest assured that Wim will not be escorted from the tour by the gendarmes.

He does his work during the stage and obviously finds finishing last a goal of some kind.
I would make fun of him if not for the fact the he is 100x the rider I will ever be.

Two weeks of intense cycle race is being to take its toll. Even though today's stage featured just three cat 4 climbs and a bunch sprint finish [congratulations, Cavendish!(Columbia)], we saw for the first time in a Tour 2008 non-mountain stage some riders get shelled and drag in late. Notably, previous bronze medal Red Lantern Stéphane Augé (Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone) missed the autobus and has now replaced Matthieu Sprick in the silver medal position.

Tomorrow takes us to the base of the Alps. Often (but not always) the white, green and - surprisingly - the pokadot jerseys are decided by the second set of big mountains. However, it's in that second range of high Cols were the yellow jersey - and the red! - is won.

The guys who only came to sprint will pull out. The guys who are struggling, sick, injured or just not up to the demands of Le Tour will get time limited or not make a start one morning. And when the mountains are finally behind the riders, it's the true Lanterne Rouge who will get the honor of starting first on the final individual TT.

tcs

He does his work during the stage and obviously finds finishing last a goal of some kind.

Maybe. And maybe not. Perhaps Vansevenant is the smartest, most selfless domestique in the peleton. He makes pace, he hauls water and food and he's there with his bike (identical to Evan's) in case of a mechanical. When he's released for the day, as all domestiques are at some point during a stage, he shuts down the afterburners and expends the minimum energy required to finish the stage so he can be as strong as possible the next day. Maybe he's on Silence-Lotto's Tour squad - once again - because he is a superior domestique, and being the Red Lantern is a secondary result of his caring more about the team's goals than his own finishing position.

It's hard to know with basically zero news reporting on any rider except the top handful.

Best,
tcs

For some reason my fiancee loves the LR. When she gets bored with me talking about cycling, I bring up the LR and she seems much more responsive.

For some reason my fiancee loves the LR. When she gets bored with me talking about cycling, I bring up the LR and she seems much more responsive.

Watch out for the Wm pinup.:love:

Maybe. And maybe not. Perhaps Vansevenant is the smartest, most selfless domestique in the peleton. He makes pace, he hauls water and food and he's there with his bike (identical to Evan's) in case of a mechanical. When he's released for the day, as all domestiques are at some point during a stage, he shuts down the afterburners and expends the minimum energy required to finish the stage so he can be as strong as possible the next day. Maybe he's on Silence-Lotto's Tour squad - once again - because he is a superior domestique, and being the Red Lantern is a secondary result of his caring more about the team's goals than his own finishing position.

It's hard to know with basically zero news reporting on any rider except the top handful.

Best,
tcs


Is Wm a Cadel domestique or a Robbie domestique or does he pull double duty?
My recollection last year was that only Horner was assigned to Cadel, so once Robbie dropped out they had a team of nonclimber sprinter domestiques of no value to Cadel beyond Horner.

Thanks for the pics. I had no idea who you were talking about. That dude is small!

For some reason my fiancee loves the LR. When she gets bored with me talking about cycling, I bring up the LR and she seems much more responsive.

Responsive, eh? Maybe she likes the back of the train more than the front? :love:

For some reason my fiancee loves the LR. When she gets bored with me talking about cycling, I bring up the LR and she seems much more responsive.



She prefers it from the rear?

Responsive, eh? Maybe she likes the back of the train more than the front? :love:

Ok, I was way late, but all great minds run the same path.

...when the mountains are finally behind the riders, it's the true Lanterne Rouge who will get the honor of starting first on the final individual TT.
:roflmao: :roflmao2:

Stage 14: Big Lanterne Rouge cheer for Sven Krauss! After yesterday's nasty crash and huge loss of time, he could have stayed in bed this morning, but no. He made the start today and finished in a fine 147th place. Of course, he remains in last place in the white jersey standings. I see great potential as a future Red Lantern for this big hearted young rider.

Stéphane Augé rallied today and put Matthieu Sprick back into runner-up position for the 'Lantern. Remember: should anything happen such that the Lanterne Rouge champion could not complete the Tour, the runner-up would be called upon to step in.

And that champion continues to be the one, the only, Mr. Consistancy, Wim Vansevenant! Never a really bad, nasty, bonking, tongue hanging out, road rashed, no good stage result - aaaand never a particularly good one, either - he makes being Red Lantern look easy. Ah, but the great ones always make it look easy, don't they? No one's ever Red Lanterned three times before? Really? I imagine Wim sitting at a street-side cafe this evening with several lovely young female Tour groupies, modestly saying, "It's nothing, really, cheri."

Sébastien Chavanel (Française des Jeux) did have a bad, nasty, bonking, tongue hanging out day, loosing over 13 minutes, finishing alone and dead last, which dropped him 11 spots on GC to 152. Catch a massage, eat a good meal, get a good night's sleep, Sébastien! OC and Cat. 1 tomorrow!

And how about that Jimmy Casper, who refuses to go more than 2 hours down on GC - what a fighter. Nice work in the second break today, too. Catch a massage, eat a good meal, get a good night's sleep, Jimmy! OC and Cat. 1 tomorrow!

And the fun and games are now truly over, and tomorrow the Alpine stages and the really, really dramatic time losses begin. Expect big shake-ups on GC, missed starts and guys reserving seats on the broom wagon in the next four stages. Back of the pack men Sprick, Auge and Chavanel were sent by their team on the day's long break, which must have been tiring. Catch a massage, eat a good meal, get a good night's sleep, guys! OC and Cat. 1 tomorrow!

tcs

Thanks for the pics. I had no idea who you were talking about. That dude is small!

Listed at 5'7", 135 lbs. Ruggedly handsome, in a Lyle Lovett kind of way.

tcs

Could you imagine if Vansevenant was a doper or among those with suspicious hematocrit levels? That would make his quest all the more remarkable.