Viva Le Tour - Tour de France 2011

[Aerie]

I started watching Le Tour last year for the first time and was drawn by the battle between Andy Schleck and Contador as well as the stunning scenery. This year I have followed a little more closely and have got to understand the sport a bit more. A lot more to understand I'm sure. I can't remember enjoying watching sport more than I've enjoyed watching this tour. It's a bit like Test Cricket at it's best. You can zone out for periods and not miss too much, but when that moment happens it becomes all the more important because of what has gone on before hand.

The last two nights have been unbelievable. Can't wait for tonight and tomorrow. Also look forward to getting some sleep next week!

[pels]

Tonight is d-day for Evans, you reckon he is going to cop attacks galore from the Schlecks tonight.
Its going to be tough for him to respond to all the attacks after the effort he put in yesterday.
Get ready for another epic stage, as we have seen anything can happen in this tour this year.

whatever happens in the coming days, The effort he put in on the last climb to chase Schleck has won him plenty of admirers especially in Europe.

I've got a work show in town, so will be taping the stage and watching it when I get home fully cut.

[mickey]

can we hope for an Aussie tourist taking out Andy & Frank with a big shirtfront as they go up 1 of the climbs

[Grahaml]

Looking at the stage, it's hard to see the same tactic that worked yesterday paying off. Nobody will have a chance to really escape far up the road before those big back to back mountains, while the valley road is longer and more taxing. If a true climber jumps, they'll blow past any escape well before the peak of the Galabier, then they'd have 50km of gentle descent and valley road to deal with solo. Not impossible, but with Huez the benefits compared to the risks make it seem unlikely.

Back to some questions why they let Andy go, but Cadel's comments sum it up perfectly. He stretched his lead from around 2m30 to 4m30 when it should have been coming back the other way. That is where all of Andy's winning margin came from. If he does in fact do all that work, makes no time or as would normally be the case get pulled back, he puts all that effort in to be caught at the start of the final climb. If that happens, he gets dropped. Nobody else wanted to take that chance, but Andy really needed to.

Also not sure about the likability thing. Not many out there battle as hard as he does. He isn't a great attacker because he doesn't have it in his legs, that's a young man's trait that even Contador is losing. He rides to his strengths which is to stick around and not drop off. It's not the most exciting way to win I guess, but it's thrilling nonetheless.

[Jase]

Also not sure about the likability thing. Not many out there battle as hard as he does. He isn't a great attacker because he doesn't have it in his legs, that's a young man's trait that even Contador is losing. He rides to his strengths which is to stick around and not drop off. It's not the most exciting way to win I guess, but it's thrilling nonetheless.

Certainly can't argue with the battling part, he is a battler... as I said, it is taking time for me to warm to him... but still want him to win and would love to see him grind out until the final climb tonight and then just gun it, to show that he can do that as well as grind...

#yellforcadel

[dedja]

OK, I'll put this out there and I know it sounds like an holier than thou Australian talking because we don't cheat....

But where the hell has Voeckler come from this year?? I know he has worn the yellow jersey in the past but he has always cracked in the mountains, this year he has survived 5 mountain stages including yesterday's killer. The question has to be asked has he eaten some choice beef in the last 12-6 months???

Seriously I hope he hasn't and it is all legit, but at that level you just don't come from clouds and and put up that level of performance.

Really hope Cadel can grit his teeth and hang tough on tonights 109 km "sprint" up Alp d'Huez with the Schleck bros.

Got to admit I'm thinking the same thing ...

[dedja]

Andy Schleck will win the maillot jaune this year ...

bump ...

[mickey]

4 trying to break away.. including a BMC rider

[mickey]

4 trying to break away.. including a BMC rider

Riders jumping the gap makes it 14 trying to get away

[mickey]

Leopard trek sit the whole team at the from setting the pace.. so contador decides to take off and attack 93km from home and takes a saxo team mate or 2 with him...

the 2 brothers join in and cadel tags along after a km or 2..

and now a km later Voeckler jumos the gap and goes with them

[Jase]

Leopard trek sit the whole team at the from setting the pace.. so contador decides to take off and attack 93km from home and takes a saxo team mate or 2 with him...

the 2 brothers join in and cadel tags along after a km or 2..

and now a km later Voeckler jumos the gap and goes with them

wasn't expecting this, Frank is gone... so it is down to 4....

[Jase]

Crap time for a mechanical issue, gears breaking just as AC attacks... be hard to catch up from here but should be able to do it, plenty of time and distance left

[mickey]

If that was me the bike would have flown over the side of the mountain

[cripple]

bugger

[Jase]

If that was me the bike would have flown over the side of the mountain

After all the work CE has put in, if I was him I would have followed it over the edge... There is still time and Km's left though...

[NFC]

Unbelievably shattering.

Lets hope there's one more twist in the tale for Cadel.

[Sploosh]

... It's a bit like Test Cricket at it's best. You can zone out for periods and not miss too much, but when that moment happens it becomes all the more important because of what has gone on before hand...

I completely agree. Absolutely fascinating stuff. Cadel is currently 90 seconds behind, but has 3 team mates helping him at the front of the peleton, so hopefully they can come up with the tactics and energy to haul Cadel back to the others, with about 80km to go.

[mickey]

Cadel is currently 90 seconds behind, but has 3 team mates helping him at the front of the peleton, so hopefully they can come up with the tactics and energy to haul Cadel back to the others, with about 80km to go.

This is my suggestion

can we hope for an Aussie tourist taking out Andy & Frank with a big shirtfront as they go up 1 of the climbs

[RustyCage]

Cadel is having to do it all on his own again

[Jase]

How good is this race... Cadel is a machine... keep going you gun...

Respect is certainly increasing...