Professional Cycling For the Fans - Paris-Nice

wow, Contador self destructed today on stage 7.

video here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggT7qF1KI38

If you look at his picture on Velo News at the end of stage 7 he looks totally bonked and emaciated. Apparently he forgot to eat. A bad move on a 191km stage. He barely was able to finish the race. He's now down 1:50 sitting in fourth place in GC. I hope he can recover for tomorrow. When you get that bonked it's tough to come back the next day at full strength.

What an implosion! With about 1-2k to go the main group just rode right through him :eek:

Looking at Sunday's stage, I think the only way Contador can win is to do a Floyd Landis:innocent:
http://www.letour.fr/PHOTOS/PNC/2009/800/PROFIL.gif

Sort of reminds me of the time that Lance bonked (on the Tourmalet? I forget...) and Ullrich and the others rode away from him. I guess even a pro can get caught up in the action of the day and forget to keep eating. I'm looking forward to seeing the recap today on VS!

You said it. That kid's got a future!

I'm going to stick my neck out now and predict that Sanchez will be on the podium at the TdF, assuming he is on schedule to ride it! :D

Lance's bonk was on the Joux-Plane outside Morzine.

Contador did try a Landis flyer today and it didn't work. Not surprising! He probably hadn't fully recovered from yesterday.

Contador did try a Landis flyer today and it didn't work. Not surprising! He probably hadn't fully recovered from yesterday.

plus he was only down 1:50 and not 8:08

I'm going to stick my neck out now and predict that Sanchez will be on the podium at the TdF, assuming he is on schedule to ride it! :D

I wonder how this win changes the Caisse d'Epargne dynamic and his relationship with Valverde and Pereiro. To Valverde's detriment, his promise for stage races was overhyped early on -- somewhat like Cunego's and the added pressure probably hasn't helped. The spotlight on Sanchez just got a bit hotter. I hope he can deal.

And conversely, Contador really wanted Paris Nice, perhaps to send Astana management a sign. The directeur sportif made a few comments in the press to the effect that Contador's a diamond that still needs some polishing... very exciting season!

I wonder how this win changes the Caisse d'Epargne dynamic and his relationship with Valverde and Pereiro. To Valverde's detriment, his promise for stage races was overhyped early on -- somewhat like Cunego's and the added pressure probably hasn't helped. The spotlight on Sanchez just got a bit hotter. I hope he can deal.



That did remind me of the battle for control between Cunego and Gilberto Simoni in the 2004 Giro! A lot is going to depend on avoiding any infighting between riders on the team, and how team management is going to decide who rides in what race as team leader. I'm wondering if they have Sanchez pegged as the #1 Caisse d'Epargne rider in the Giro? I tried to search for their proposed team roster but had no luck. Even CyclingNews.com had no rider listing.

That was an exciting stage today, for a while I thought maybe Contador was going to do the unexpected, but Sanchez and his team, with the help from Saxo Bank, were at least able to control the last 20 km. I was disappointed to see my man Jens drop down a spot in GC...he was chasing like a madman on that last climb!

Sort of reminds me of the time that Lance bonked (on the Tourmalet? I forget...) and Ullrich and the others rode away from him. I guess even a pro can get caught up in the action of the day and forget to keep eating. I'm looking forward to seeing the recap today on VS!

Yes, one mistake at the wrong time can cost you the race. I think he totally shelled himself on the 7th stage just to keep a respectable time. And he totally destroyed himself doing so. It will probably take him 2-3 days of rest and easy spinning to fully recover from that kind of a workout. It also put him in a bad position for stage 8.

And conversely, Contador really wanted Paris Nice, perhaps to send Astana management a sign. The directeur sportif made a few comments in the press to the effect that Contador's a diamond that still needs some polishing... very exciting season!

He is still young and bound to make mistakes. I still think that he will be a serious contender in the TDF. He probably would have won this race had he not made this mistake. He still pulled off fourth place which is a good result. It is a hard but good lesson for him. He will not easily forget the pain of finishing that stage. And he strikes me as having the iron determination of Armstrong as well.

It was a good and exciting race. Contador just learned that he can't take things for granted or skip his routine. It just makes him more focused for the TdF and whatever Grand Tours or classics he wants to win or contend in for a podium spot. Too easy to lose your competitive and athletic edge in today's sporting events and also burn out from entering in too many events without getting the proper recovery time or time off.

To contador's credit he went down fighting. He's going to be more than capable winning the TDF aspecially when Astana fields their strongest riders....boy just needs to eat!

Having said that, Sanchez was a worthy winner and is really showing his talent. I think Valverde & Sanchez will share the leader's role until one outshines the other.

That did remind me of the battle for control between Cunego and Gilberto Simoni in the 2004 Giro! A lot is going to depend on avoiding any infighting between riders on the team, and how team management is going to decide who rides in what race as team leader. I'm wondering if they have Sanchez pegged as the #1 Caisse d'Epargne rider in the Giro? I tried to search for their proposed team roster but had no luck. Even CyclingNews.com had no rider listing.

According to early sources on cyclingstartlists.com:

ARROYO David
KYRIENKA Vasil
LASTRAS Pablo
LOPEZ David
PEREZ Fran
RODRIGUEZ Joaquin
+ 3 from
CHARTEAU Anthony
JEANNESSON Arnold
PEREZ Marlon
PERGET Mathieu
ROJAS José Joaquín

And he strikes me as having the iron determination of Armstrong as well.

Yes, and - in Paris-Nice -- a glimmer of Merckx, who tried to win every race he entered... he never seemed to look at small races as training for bigger ones, which I'm sure discouraged some of the other riders, but it must of been exciting to watch. Armstrong certainly was determined but his legacy seems to reveal a control freak. Which is why his coming back without the guarantee of winning is so refreshing.

Contador is 26 and thus just entering his prime GT years. A few more racing IQ points and some luck and he could be one of the best.

A few more racing IQ points......

Very well stated...I'll have to remember that line! :lol:

Were there any other Astana riders in the race? Contador seemed to be without team mates at some crucial moments.

Were there any other Astana riders in the race? Contador seemed to be without team mates at some crucial moments.

Popovych finished 23rd, the next placed Astana rider. The team didn't seem that strong but they do have a plethora of good riders to pick from come the TDF.

As a Saxo Bank fan, I'm pleased to see the determination of Frank Schleck and Jens Voigt to finish high in the standings.
I don't think we should make too much out of Conti's fourth place here - I expect him to be in better form as we approach the TdF - that's when the fireworks will truly go off. Astana will be a tough act to beat - but they are not unbeatable and the other teams will not ease off because they think they don't have a chance. Astana hasn't succedded in putting that kind of fear in thier hearts yet.
It's apparent that Saxo as well as a number of other teams are making a run for glory this season - it's gonna be fun to watch!