Viva Le Tour - Tour de France 2011

[The Sleeping Giant]

I feel asleep watching it last nite, but woke up when Cadel was nearing the finish line. Was massively confused.

[am Bays]

Apart from gaining time on everyone that matters (from a few seconds over Contador and Sanchez to over a minute on Andy) reducing the Leopard double act to 1 is massive. They now don't need to worry about Andy so much, while Andy will happily chase down Contador for Frank. Every other year, things seem to have gone against Cadel. This year, everything's going his way. This time yesterday he was the man to beat still, now he's got one foot on that top step. If he can stay out of trouble and mark attacks, I'm sure he'll take Voeckler without needing to attack.

Yep Evans just has to park himself along side Contador now and when Contador goes, he goes. Just can't see Voeckler hanging on over the next three days especial with the two climbs over Col de Agnel.

That 6 Watts/kg Evans can threshold at needs to come to the fore over the next three days.

[Grahaml]

I feel asleep watching it last nite, but woke up when Cadel was nearing the finish line. Was massively confused.

The whole stage was odd. When the coverage started I was expecting the usual graphic of how far behind the breakaway the peloton was, especially on a stage that was designed for a breakaway to succeed. The scramble at the front was fascinating.

Tonight's stage looks another breakaway rider's dream. But after last night, you wonder how the GC contenders will deal with each other. Contador drove a dagger into Andy Schleck, so how he responds will be fascinating. There are a few interesting climbs and a couple of tricky descents. I think we might see Alberto try it again, if nothing else to really finish off Andy. If Andy is struggling and isn't in touch on the final descent he could lose another minute or 2. That would enable Contador and Evans to worry only of Frank. The middle of the stage is listed officially as a series of 3 climbs, a cat 3, then a cat 2 then a cat 1, but it looks more like 2 cat 1 climbs back to back. The initial 8-10 kilometres off the peaks of those two might be a little tricky. I don't think we'll see an attack at that stage unless the peloton is really weakened. But at least once the sprint point is gone you're either climbing or descending. I think the stage is set up for Gilbert. How much of an advantage the breakaway gets on the first 80kms of the stage will determine whether someone can go off the front after the sprint point, but a guy like Gilbert would back himself to make time on the descents.

[pels]

Have to laugh at A.Schleck comments after stage last night complaining that the descent was too dangerous, you had already been dropped on the Cat 2 you knob.HTFU
He seems mentally weak and there is more descending tonight will be another fascinating stage

Will be interesting what leopard trek do from now on

Contador just lit the fuse in this TDF last night and he could blow it up in the next few days if he has the legs.

this is what is in store tonight, you reckon someone in the GC my money is on Cantador will attack on the Cat 1 climb to Sestrieres and the the fun will start

[Grahaml]

Any descent is only as dangerous as you make it. Strange comment to be honest, probably said in the heat of the moment when he was still dealing with his tour being severely compromised.

Not sure about an attack from the GC riders so early in the stage though. I think it'll only happen if the course from then on suits riding home solo. But someone like Andy who doesn't like descending so much might get dropped anyway. I think an attack will come on the final climb. Perhaps they might try to isolate each other on that first category climb with a view to attacking on the final one, but I have a funny feeling they'll spend the day watching and marking each other.

[Mop Up]

You struggle to see how Schlek could stay with the main guys on that descent... 50km descent!!

Not to mention the one down to the finish line... Hopefully Evans can keep in touch with Conty and if he does lose him, catch him on the descents...

Can't wait..

[Jase]

I love the whack that steephill.tv give Andy Schleck after last nights stage... You can see it in the gallery in the link, but the statement is...

"Andy Schleck's eyes were full of rain and anger that a downhill finish would cost him over a minute to the GC contendors. If not for time-trialling, descending and climbs where you need to change gears, he could probably win the Tour de France"



http://www.steephill.tv/2011/tour-de-france/photos/stage-16

[NFC]

I'm scared, I think Contador is looking freaking good now.

Typically working with Sanchez again...

[NFC]

WOW!! Where the heck did Evans and co come from???? That is amazing.

[mickey]

Cadel gains more time on the yellow jersey.. the choice of camera they show had been a bit poor this year, maybe there had been too much action to show....

[pels]

I'm scared, I think Contador is looking freaking good now.

Typically working with Sanchez again...

Definitely an alliance going on their between the Spaniards. As if he needs anymore help Contador

The downhill part was very nasty, little village roads in Italy.Vovkler and some Dutchmen having 2 near misses.
The Evans group did well to get it back to a compact group at the end

Tonight its all on the line.

[pels]

Cadel gains more time on the yellow jersey.. the choice of camera they show had been a bit poor this year, maybe there had been too much action to show....

Didn't that suck on the last climb, they barely showed the yellow jersey group

[Grahaml]

Can't have a camera everywhere, we've all seen what happens if you have too many media vehicles around! With 3 motorbikes you have one showing the leaders on the road, one at the front of the main group and another behind the main group, on a fast tricky descent you're going to miss stuff. We were lucky to see what happened with Voeckler at all to be honest.

I think from what I could see on the replay, Cadel was around 5th or 6th coming down, Frank and Voeckler (after he fed back in after a little excursion) between Cadel and the spaniards were leaving some gaps, no big deal usually, but once Voeckler left the road again and Frank seemed to pull back as well it left a gap. Cadel then had the choice of close down the gap on his own in the final parts of a tricky descent, or back a 7 man group to chase down a 2 man group on the last 3ks of flat open road. He wisely stuck with the group I think as opposed to being left on the road all on his own trying to chase a double team. I commented after last night that it's not worth ruining the following day by busting your backside chasing a few seconds and leaving yourself open to losing minutes down the track. I think at that stage Cadel would have given up 10 seconds to avoid a tough slog with the epic stage tomorrow.

Overall though, another excellent day for Cadel. Contador worked that bit harder for no gain, Voeckler is now in the zone where he will almost certainly need to gain time before the ITT and Basso has also started to lose touch, finishing with Voeckler which further makes him one Cadel can afford not to worry about so much. In fact Basso, Cunego and Andy Schleck (along with Voeckler now I think it has to be said) aren't so much threats for the win but for the podium. Cadel can afford to surrender time to them without affecting his position but Contador and Sanchez can't. So I think Cadel can mark Contador and let the others attack, let Contador chase them down. If he loses grip with Contador, he should have strong support to chase him down. But even if he does lose time to Contador, they are comparable in the final TT, so he can afford a limited time loss. Even up to 90 seconds over the next 2 stages so long as he has a strong time trial in him.

[Grahaml]

Tomorrow's stage is going to be one of the all time toughest, followed by another equally tough stage. Contador looks frighteningly strong right now, I guess the hope is that he's left a little too much on the last two stages for a net loss of 3 seconds to Cadel. Cadel will need to be smart early, conserve strength as best he can until those final climbs when Leopard Trek and then Saxobank will fire shots. Cadel will no doubt again make those 2 final HC climbs on the next 2 days more or less on his own, but so will most of the other contenders. So long as he marks Contador tomorrow I think he'll be ok. I don't think we'll see attacks on the first climb by an HC contender, there's simply too far to go after that. Perhaps a Basso or a Cunego might risk a top 10 finish to go for glory, but the top 5 won't allow the others to get clear. The seconds I feel will be the same situation. It's steep, but the descent isn't as sharp and there's a longish valley road before the start of the last climb.

The stage winner will probably come from the main contenders. Whoever wins will be making a statement, even if it's a sprint to the line. My money will be on Contador to win the stage, with Cadel on his wheel and a small gap to the Schlecks and Basso with Sanchez falling back slightly. Voeckler might vanish from the top 10.

[whufc]

What is the time gap between all of the top 5 riders.

[Jim05]

What is the time gap between all of the top 5 riders.

Just a touch under 3 minutes.
Think the top 8 or 9 are within 4 minutes.

[am Bays]

I've got the chips, dips, jatz and red wine all set for a compulsory night of TV watching....

[OnSong]

I've got the chips, dips, jatz and red wine all set for a compulsory night of TV watching....

It was my first viewing of a full stage, thought the long descent into the short climb and another dangerous descent into the finish line was great drama.

How funny were the two riders (including Voeckler) who parked in that guy's back yard barely minutes after one another. Hilarious.

I reckon the group Cadell was in even surprised Liggett with how fast they caught Contador and Sanchez.

[Jim05]

I've got the chips, dips, jatz and red wine all set for a compulsory night of TV watching....

Similar, substitute red wine for cc and cola cans though
Cant wait for the end of the tour, have to get up for work at 4:30 and havnt missed a stage yet, lack of sleep is hitting me hard

[NFC]

I've got the chips, dips, jatz and red wine all set for a compulsory night of TV watching....

Similar, substitute red wine for cc and cola cans though
Cant wait for the end of the tour, have to get up for work at 4:30 and havnt missed a stage yet, lack of sleep is hitting me hard

Insane effort!