Professional Cycling For the Fans - TdF Stage 8 - Saturday July 11 - 176 km - Andorra-la-Vella (Andorra) → Saint-Girons

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That looks like some very technical descents.

Is it just me, or do they seem to out the big mountains first, then little easy ones after in comparison.

To me, that route should be the other way around.

Is it just me, or do they seem to out the big mountains first, then little easy ones after in comparison.

To me, that route should be the other way around.

Think it would be interesting in either direction - especially considering what they are riding in stage 7 (and the following day).

A cofidis rider going for the win?

A cofidis rider going for the win?

That's the formula for stage 10. :D

That looks like some very technical descents.

lots of map squiggles means lots of small wiggles on the road. total breakaway stage
for somebody(bodies). very technical which could lead to some crashes & retirements
if a leading contender goes and forces the others to chase. sllghtly reminiscent of that
infamous stage into gap in 2003 where beloki exited the tour and armstrong did his
cyclocross thing. this stage is harder though.

This should be fun.... but then again, they all have been so far. But yeah, the first descent has some interesting squiggles.

I was pretty wrong today, but I'm undeterred. Wegmann and Ignatiev on the break?

I'll go out on a limb..... Evans is going to attack early & "organized" and lead a breakaway to gain some minutes. As all things this tour, he will fail or fall or both, but hell, Evans, at this point, why the hell not!

Oh... and some French dude will again surprise everyone with a stage win. lol!

My predictions: Lance is going to ride his bike. Alberto is going to ride his bike. Somehow, someone here will have an issue with how one of them was riding their bikes and create a 20 page long thread about how they don't like Lance. Just a guess though. :rolleyes:

I hope an decent sized break can get away and mix up the GC a bit.

I hope an decent sized break can get away and mix up the GC a bit.

Yeah, I'm just hoping it's a forgotten or "they've got no chance now" GC contender in the breakaway. I want some panic on that last descent!

Im seeing in my crystal ball a Zubeldia break, serving as an up the road helper or possibly a stage winner if the break can survive. He dropped off early today but he didnt look to stressed.

What does a break need to survive the final 40k? 6+ minutes or more at the top?

Im seeing in my crystal ball a Zubeldia break, serving as an up the road helper or possibly a stage winner if the break can survive. He dropped off early today but he didnt look to stressed.

What does a break need to survive the final 40k? 6+ minutes or more at the top?

You and John Wilcockson seem to have the same brand of crystal ball. (http://tour-de-france.velonews.com/article/94912/inside-the-tour---watch-for-surprises-this-weekend)

You and John Wilcockson seem to have the same brand of crystal ball. (http://tour-de-france.velonews.com/article/94912/inside-the-tour---watch-for-surprises-this-weekend)

:lol: awesome.

Cyril Dessel to get into a breakaway and win, keeping up the French string of good fortune! Too bad they can't save some of it for Bastille Day! :D

http://www.letour.fr/2007/TDF/presentation/us/profil-700.html

Linus Gerdemann?

A rider with an eye to the Polka-Dot jersey who is low on GC will make an early solo break-away, but will be caught by the end.

Watching a live feed this morning that appears to be from South Africa. What's interesting to me (the first time I get to watch a lot of the feed this year) is watching the different gearing these guys are running. Some are clearly really spinning it up while others in the same group are pumping away at a different speed.

I expect a few crashes on this first big downhill, because its gonna be FAST and wiggly.

I was pretty wrong today, but I'm undeterred. Wegmann and Ignatiev on the break?

Add Jens Voigt to the list.:)

Hey... we're back! Not the most exciting stage so far. Let's hope someone takes advantage of the skinny roads coming up to mess with some heads? But it doesn't look like it.

Thor took the green jersey.

Yeah.... Cav's a mess in the mountains, eh?


Hoping for a few second gain attack from someone in the peloton at the end.

Oh good, the versus website keeps locking up on me.

Oh well. Fun sprint for the breakaway.

Oh good, the versus website keeps locking up on me.

No worries, you didn't miss much, just a decent sprint finish, good tactics kinda thing...

Thor took the green jersey.

I'm not a Thor fan.

and Astarloza still has never won a professional bike race. :(

Did you guys like how Astana got to the front and slowed the last climb down near the top so Nocentini could catch back up? They don't want the Yellow Jersey yet.

I'm not a Thor fan.

and Astarloza still has never won a professional bike race. :(

Did you guys like how Astana got to the front and slowed the last climb down near the top so Nocentini could catch back up? They don't want the Yellow Jersey yet.

I missed it. Fell back asleep. :o Interesting tactic, though. I wonder why they are holding off.

:lol: The website picked up a little extra Phil and Paul banter.

Did you guys like how Astana got to the front and slowed the last climb down near the top so Nocentini could catch back up? They don't want the Yellow Jersey yet.

But why? They are already riding like they have it, why not actually have it? Didn't they spend a bit of energy chasing Andy before it slowed a little bit?

I'm not a Thor fan.

and Astarloza still has never won a professional bike race. :(

Did you guys like how Astana got to the front and slowed the last climb down near the top so Nocentini could catch back up? They don't want the Yellow Jersey yet.

Incorrect (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikel_Astarloza).

Incorrect (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikel_Astarloza).

That's a stage race. He won the overall, but he didn't win any of the stages.

That's a stage race. He won the overall, but he didn't win any of the stages.

So, if the TDF is won by a rider that doesn't win a stage, then that is not considered winning a professional bike race? I don't think you're definition is the same as the UCI.

But why? They are already riding like they have it, why not actually have it? Didn't they spend a bit of energy chasing Andy before it slowed a little bit?

I think the theory is that AG2R will help Astana in return for letting them keep the yellow.

Glad to see the wheel-sucker in the break ended up 4th.

So, if the TDF is won by a rider that doesn't win a stage, then that is not considered winning a professional bike race? I don't think you're definition is the same as the UCI.

OK - let me rephrase it then. He still has yet to be the first to cross a finish line in a professional bicycle race.

I'm pretty bummed because he's on my fantasy team, and I was pulling for him (against the odds).

So, if the TDF is won by a rider that doesn't win a stage, then that is not considered winning a professional bike race? I don't think you're definition is the same as the UCI.

The UCI considers it a win but I have heard interviews with riders who say they would consider it kind of a hollow victory if they didn't win at least one stage while winning the tour.

I missed it. Fell back asleep. :o Interesting tactic, though. I wonder why they are holding off.

I know what you mean, this stage was a bit of a snooze after the first half. Likely the tactics are sound and common enough, but it leads to a whole lot of dull miles with Astana basically neutralizing the stage. I'm almost wishing for them to blow up at some point so a real race can get started.

It was nice to see Thor take the green, with a small enough margin that its going to be a big brawl for him to keep it. But once Cancellara dropped out of the breakaway I just went back to bed...

I always hate seeing these types of stages on the race scheduled as they are almost always the most boring of the grand tours. I guess not every mountain stage can be a mountain-top finish but that would be more entertaining. In the end, these stages just put miles on the legs of the contenders and plays into the overall fatigue factor.

I'll go out on a limb..... Evans is going to attack early & "organized" and lead a breakaway to gain some minutes. As all things this tour, he will fail or fall or both, but hell, Evans, at this point, why the hell not!

You were spot on, good call.


Oh... and some French dude will again surprise everyone with a stage win. lol!


again good call, only it was a Spaniard, close enough though.

I think the move by Cadel was really stupid. All he did is waste energy. Did he think he would get in an all day breakaway, gain time, and have enough energy to go over the Cols tomorrow???

I always hate seeing these types of stages on the race scheduled as they are almost always the most boring of the grand tours. I guess not every mountain stage can be a mountain-top finish but that would be more entertaining. In the end, these stages just put miles on the legs of the contenders and plays into the overall fatigue factor.
There are a lot of tages like that this year.
Im guessing that the Tour organizers wanted some breakaways (read small riders from small French teams)
going on all these stages. The last week is suppose to have big mountains.
I personally hate this, because basically, the GC is going to be made in the time trials, not the mountains.
Even if Sastre gains back 3min in these rather unfair mountain stages, he will lose it in the time trials
Really unfair and boring.
But ultimately, some years have had too many mountains, some too few. So i guess it all balances out over the years.

You were spot on, good call.

again good call, only it was a Spaniard, close enough though.

I think the move by Cadel was really stupid. All he did is waste energy. Did he think he would get in an all day breakaway, gain time, and have enough energy to go over the Cols tomorrow???

haha! damn, I was on! Too bad for Evans he couldn't get it to stick. I think he's desperate for some time. Honestly, I can't blame him. He has to be so frustrated with himself and his team.

haha! damn, I was on! Too bad for Evans he couldn't get it to stick. I think he's desperate for some time. Honestly, I can't blame him. He has to be so frustrated with himself and his team.

I don't know what commentary you were getting - we didn't have the Phil Ligget show for that part of the race.

It wasn't a case of Evans 'couldn't make it stick', it was a case of he wasn't allowed to. The other riders in the group, but especially Cancellara and then Hincape, refused to work for him and told him to go back to the peleton. Cancellara threw a massive tantrum waving his arms around, yelling, badgering the other riders. In the end, he had a choice of do the ride alone (though they weren't too shy to hang onto his wheel and get sucked along) or drop back to the peleton.

Here's a quote from one news service report:

However the Silence- Lotto team leader's bid to close the gap to Contador and Armstrong came undone by his "immature" breakaway companions, and a resolute Astana team.

Evans was eventually reeled in by the peloton after the day's first climb around 65km into the stage.

He later complained: You'd think anyone in the Tour de France would let me go in a breakaway, and then when they get into a break with me - like a couple of members of them did - they carry on like three-year-olds with their tantrums, saying 'get out of the group, they're gonna chase us'.

"I saw an opportunity there on the climb and I've got nothing to lose so I thought I'd try something.

"As it turned out, a big waste of energy. Hopefully I will recover that by tomorrow."

I understand the thinking and the tactics and don't disagree with the argument, but riders of the calibre of Cancellara and Hincape and to a lesser extent, Hushovd showed a gutless disregard for what was a sporting attempt to win the race. It was a breakaway (by Evans) that probably wouldn't work, but with a group as strong as that was, it had a chance (as eventually happened) despite the determination of Astana to prevent it. There are times when grand tours aren't sporting events and this was one of them and it's why most tours end with boring stages.

Regardless of the tactics though (which are quite defensible), Cancellara's tantrum on the road was disgusting. Sadly, Hincape's support for that sort of behaviour paints him in the same colours.

Richard

Well, Dessel did have a brief charge, trying to bridge up but it came to naught. I thought I had a chance there for a moment! I too was cheering for Astarloza, but Sanchez is a good winner too!

This is from Stage 7, but I'm posting it here so as much people can see it.
Amazing descent by Cancellara.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgVmq4UBJs4

I don't know what commentary you were getting - we didn't have the Phil Ligget show for that part of the race.

It wasn't a case of Evans 'couldn't make it stick', it was a case of he wasn't allowed to. The other riders in the group, but especially Cancellara and then Hincape, refused to work for him and told him to go back to the peleton. Cancellara threw a massive tantrum waving his arms around, yelling, badgering the other riders. In the end, he had a choice of do the ride alone (though they weren't too shy to hang onto his wheel and get sucked along) or drop back to the peleton.

Sorry, when I started watching this morning, any Evans action was done and over. The little I heard them mention it, it just sounded like an Evans breakaway attempt that failed.

Keep in mind a break with Evans is doomed to fail. Why sould FC & GH put in energy for a failed break to help Evans? Why should FC work with Evans to help him put time on Frank & Andy? That is stupid.

That's why I can't stands Evans. It is always someone elses fault.

Richard


I don't know what commentary you were getting - we didn't have the Phil Ligget show for that part of the race.

It wasn't a case of Evans 'couldn't make it stick', it was a case of he wasn't allowed to. The other riders in the group, but especially Cancellara and then Hincape, refused to work for him and told him to go back to the peleton. Cancellara threw a massive tantrum waving his arms around, yelling, badgering the other riders. In the end, he had a choice of do the ride alone (though they weren't too shy to hang onto his wheel and get sucked along) or drop back to the peleton.

Here's a quote from one news service report:


I understand the thinking and the tactics and don't disagree with the argument, but riders of the calibre of Cancellara and Hincape and to a lesser extent, Hushovd showed a gutless disregard for what was a sporting attempt to win the race. It was a breakaway (by Evans) that probably wouldn't work, but with a group as strong as that was, it had a chance (as eventually happened) despite the determination of Astana to prevent it. There are times when grand tours aren't sporting events and this was one of them and it's why most tours end with boring stages.

Regardless of the tactics though (which are quite defensible), Cancellara's tantrum on the road was disgusting. Sadly, Hincape's support for that sort of behaviour paints him in the same colours.

Richard

I forgot to mention Thor should have helped Evans put time into Sastre to?

Richard