2011 Le Tour De France - Follow all the Highs & Lows here.

First topic message reminder :

Running from Saturday July 2nd to Sunday July 24th 2011, the 98th Tour de France will be made up of 21 stages and will cover a total distance of 3,430.5 kilometres.

These stages have the following profiles:
•10 flat stages,
•6 mountain stages and 4 summit finishes,
•3 medium mountain stages,
•1 individual time-trial stage (42.5 km).
•1 team time-trial stage (23 km).


Stage 21: Créteil - Paris Champs-Élysées 95 km

I hope Cadel Evans get his wish... and the sun is out today on the Champs-Élysées.


Current Overall Standings:

01: 141/Cadel EVANS/BMC/83h45'20''/0'00''

02: 011/Andy SCHLECK/LEO/83h46'54''/1'34''

03: 018/Frank SCHLECK/LEO/83h47'50''/2'30''

04: 181/Thomas VOECKLER/EUC/83h48'40''/3'20''

05: 001/Alberto CONTADOR/SBS/83h49'17''/3'57''

06: 021/Samuel SANCHEZ/EUS/83h50'15''/4'55''

07: 161/Damiano CUNEGO/LAM/83h51'25''/6'05''

08: 091/Ivan BASSO/LIQ/83h52'43''/7'23''

09: 052/Tom DANIELSON/GRM/83h53'35''/8'15''

10: 108/Jean-Christophe PERAUD/ALM/83h55'31''/10'11''

Amazing performance from Thor to keep yellow this far. Surely tomorrow Evans can take it ? (though I really thought it would happen on this stage!)

Vinokourov didn't half lose it in the last kilometer there - for a few minutes I was convinced he had stolen the overall lead - in fact I was astonished they let him go at all. Guess that shows the leading riders are much better judges than armchair would-be pundits like me

I was worried about him too - he looked as though he'd made the right move (those attacks usually pay off for a rider of such calibre) but something tells me that the main bunch were so well organised and confident of their ability to haul him back.

They didn't panic and they didn't try to attempt to keep up with Vinokourov initially...knowing they had a top crop of experienced climbers including Contador, who could grind him down over the last few kms.

It was a close call if you ask me. Timing for that chase towards the finish was perfect.

Alex Vinokourov and Jurgen Van Den Broeck crashed out today...so many big names already out of it!

David Millar came off too but he's been patched up and is struggling to get back to the pack.

Spoiler:

Did any of you see the car going into the leaders today? Yikes!

http://www.cyclingnews.com/tour-de-france/stage-9/photos/181772

Contains scenes of a disturbing nature and moderate nudity.

How gutted am I over that nudity!

The fact that he got back up and rode the last 30km is testimony to how tough some of these guys are.

I think his 'Crazy Johnny' nickname was pretty apt today.

Great ride by Hoogerland, he must have been in agony after what he went through.

Gilbert's ride really disturbed me though - I'm too used to the idea that if a ride looks too good to be true then it probably is and he rode like Superman to get to back to the front of the man field and lead it over the line.

snoopster wrote:Great ride by Hoogerland, he must have been in agony after what he went through.

Gilbert's ride really disturbed me though - I'm too used to the idea that if a ride looks too good to be true then it probably is and he rode like Superman to get to back to the front of the man field and lead it over the line.

Are you suggesting he had some 'special' meat, snoopster?

Know what you mean though...he made the other look stationary ducking and weaving through cars and other riders. I couldn't believe it when I saw him near the finish line with the others.

So what you're saying is that if Cav doesn't win green, it will be because the ones that beat him were doping?

I think maybe he was simply on a rampage to make amends. He was not in protection mode after that fall.

Pure anger, adrenaline, agression and natural testosterone I'd say. He'd be feeling it all today for sure.

You have to realise that the riders he was going through when he was behind the peloton were riders who were falling off the back of the bunch.

Most of them would probably be in cruise home to the finish mode, so it'll make a guy who is actually wanting to get back to the front look like he's absolutely flying.

Also, they'd let the break go, so there wasn't really a frantic rush to the finish from the peloton. Omega Pharma were controlling the pace until Gilbert had his problem, so once they stopped riding at the front, it would take some time for another team to organise properly and push it on again.

djlovesyou wrote:So what you're saying is that if Cav doesn't win green, it will be because the ones that beat him were doping?

No, I'm saying I'm suspicious when anyone can ride up a hill to catch mainfield past no end of riders being shelled out the back of it and still have the energy to beat all the main contenders over the line.
Seriously, you need to stop letting your obsession with Cavendish blind you - that Gilbert is looking like he has a good chance of beating him to the green doesn't mean he didn't dope either. It is up to you want you want - do you want everyone to just agree with you that Cavendish is evil and nothing that disturbs that, or do you want people to make comments based on what they see and think?
You might also note Rojas is above Cavendish - are you trying to claim that I have made any comment about him? Because I haven't.

Linebreaker

You might be right, it could just be he was so peed off that he really throw everything at it and is just lucky today is a rest day. It was one hell of a ride and I hope he is clean - it is rather sad really that I try not to be cynical about cycling but now when I see rides like that which used to fill me with excitement I'm always fearing the worst.

yes, snoopster. We all want it to be squeaky clean but I admit I sometimes seem to draw conclusions by looking at the rider's facial expression...when they're not struggling or in pain.

I hope we don't get another bombshell again this year. It would really do the whole thing in for me.

You're talking a lot of nonsense though.

The only guy who actually contested that finish was Velits, and he was never going to beat him. All the GC guys were happy just to sit in the wheel and finish together.

Once he was back in the main bunch, it didn't really matter how much energy he had used, he's still the best hill sprinter in the world. Couple that with the fact that he was the only one who really wanted to win the sprint, it doesn't actually seem that surprising that he took it at all.

For me, Gilbert is very strong but not as strong as he was in the Spring (but of course, Cav wasn't one of his rivals then so you give him a pass).

Yes, he's proved he's very strong. For the record I think he's clean.

Linebreaker wrote:yes, snoopster. We all want it to be squeaky clean but I admit I sometimes seem to draw conclusions by looking at the rider's facial expression...when they're not struggling or in pain.

I hope we don't get another bombshell again this year. It would really do the whole thing in for me.

Same here - if people are doping then I really do want to see them caught or punished but I'm not sure how many more major riders can get caught before it completely kills my interest so I really, really hope they are all clean now. It would be nice to see cycling finally come out the other side of the years of pain it has been through and start shaking of the bad reputation the sport has gained.

You say that, but it doesn't exactly help when you throw around accusations every time someone has a good ride (or in this case, scores a bunch of points in a competition in which you desperately want your favourite to win.)

djlovesyou wrote:You say that, but it doesn't exactly help when you throw around accusations every time someone has a good ride (or in this case, scores a bunch of points in a competition in which you desperately want your favourite to win.)

shush. There is clearly no point talking to you since you already know all the answers ever.

Cracking race today - a fair sprint with tricky to read tactics after a climb that tested the sprinters ability to stay up with the peleton, and Cav pipped on the line - great effort by all concerned.

Bleausardv2 wrote:Cracking race today - a fair sprint with tricky to read tactics after a climb that tested the sprinters ability to stay up with the peleton, and Cav pipped on the line - great effort by all concerned.

Yes, I really enjoyed it. Some great riding and a great finish, a really good stage.

Last few kms...the rain could make things tricky.

Cav, Farrar, Martin, Millar, Hushovd all in there...who will it be?

Mark Cavendish, Andre Greipel, Tyler Farrar third...nice leadout from Renshaw.

So he gets 'revenge' for yesterday and makes it 18 Stage wins now...

nice result for Cav there, happy with that

Yes well done again. I wonder if he'll win another stage in this TdF...serious mountains ahead. Maybe he's got a chance in the stage down to Montpellier and of course the final day to Paris.

The record of 22 stage wins should last another year but he's sure given it a shake in the last few years!

Good finish, terrible weather.

It is going to be interesting to see if Cav can hang on to the Green jersey with just two flat stages to go out of ten.

So now the Tour really starts - one Cat 1 and two HC climbs including the Tourmalet and a summit finish on Luz Ardiden all within the last 80km of this stage.

Now we'll see who are the genuine overall contenders. Also, can Crazy Tommy possibly hold on to the jersey with only a couple of minutes to the first of the main contenders? The inspiration of the jersey has done this sort of thing before, but to be honest I can't see it this time - just too small a lead and with Contador and Sanchez needing to regain time after accidents in the first couple of days I think we'll see some action.

Also Bastille Day, so expect some crazy aggression from the French climbers.

Yes, we'll have a better indication of the main contenders after today. It will be interesting to see how Contador fares after his accidents - he looked and sounded a bit concerned about his time deficit the other day. Maybe he has shrugged it all off and has other plans.

Interesting - Sanchez takes the stage but without a particularly big time gap. Frank Schleck attacked from the lead peloton and gained a few seconds, and Contador lost another handful to the main contenders.

Oh, and Voeckler finished only 7 seconds behind Contador, within a minute of the stage win, and so retains the yellow jersey after a brilliant day for him in the mountains.

So what is everyone's predictions for the GC now after seeing the first, real hard climb with a tough summit finish?

Frank Schleck looked good in his breakaway near the end, but Alberto seemed strangley lax. Does he just not see Frank as a big threat or is he not on top form? For me, I still like Andy Schleck for yellow but with Frank his closest challenger! I don't think Alberto has it in him this year.

Gutted for Uran. If it werent for waiting for Wiggins he would now be near to top 10 and in white.

JD

Agree that Contador looked a bit off yesterday - given that he is already trailing the Schleck's, he wouldn't have wanted to concede any more time, but just didn't have it in his legs. Having said that, he also got out-kicked at the end of the first mountain stage last year and came on stronger later in the race.

My suspicion though is that the pace wasn't that fierce on Luz Ardiden - Frank was able to pull ahead quite easily and if it had been really full-on Voeckler and his team mate (who was absolutely the man of the day) would not have been able to hold on for so long and lose so little in the end. If that's right, then signs really are bad for Contador.

I thought Cadel looked very strong, while Basso and Andy S looked calm and in no real difficulties. So, after one day I don't think we are much closer to knowing who will win, but it's looking less likely to be Contador than was probably expected at this stage

Based on that Frank Schleck and Evans looked in the best form, Andy didn't look great but it might have been partly that he was trying to save himself while his brother made the others work. Basso looked in pretty good form as well.
Contador wasn't looking too good - not terrible but a way of being a Tour winner. Plus he crashed a fair bit in the first week, which is something I can't remember happening to the eventual winner usually (though it was worse than normal for crashes I guess)

I think Frank is the man to win this year. Always seems to play second fiddle to his brother.

Thor takes the stage win today. Great ride from him, one of the best I have seen in a while. Summit finish tomorrow to finish off the Pyrenees and expect to see the big guns moving tomorrow!

Can Voeckler hold on to the yellow jersy, it is unlikely but who will get it? Cadel, or one of the Schlecks? Or even Contador to get closer than he is now. I would expect a move from Alberto and Saxobank as he is a long way back on the other GC contenders.

Fantastic effort from the world champ to wind in Jeremy Roy under 3km to the finish. That downhill persuit was spectacular to watch.

I have a feeling it could be one of the Schleck brothers today. They, along with Cadel, Basso weren't too concerned in Stage 13...saving their legs for the big assault today. Contador will really need to pull out something special but I have a feeling that he is on the wane whislt the brothers (one in particular!) will be fairly well motivated.

I really hope Cadel Evans can hang on to any breakaway. He has been another quiet achiever and seems to have more steel this year.

I really felt for Roy. He was so close to getting the stage win - and after having a real go the day before as well - I had to admire Thor's performance but was hoping he wouldn't catch the Frenchman.

Contador does look in trouble doesn't he? He may come out tonight and prove us all wrong , but he needs to make up a lot of time : being close to Andy and Frank before the time trial might be enough but he would want to be in front of Evans.

I agree this stage will show us a lot. Still fancy Andy for the win this year - he has been a bit quiet so far and many are saying he doesn't look as good as his brother , but when Evans tried to get away the other day he latched on pretty quickly to finish with him and Basso. I reckon he has plenty up his sleeve and this stage may be when he shows it.
Evans does look good : will be interesting to see if he is just going to follow and rely on the time trial or is prepared to try an attack of his own.

how many stages are still left? who is the favourite from hereon? Moving from one team to another affects in what way (Contador) ?

Vouelker was superb today. Good win for Vanendert.

Nobody is interested unless Cav is winning. Expect comments tomorrow.

None about him hanging on to team cars to get himself up the mountains again though. It's all lies. This time and in the Giro.

I think one of Frank Schleck, Cadel Evans, Sammy Sanchez or Alberto Contador will win overall GC.

Andy played the perfect foil for Frank yesterday but it must be a risk for both of them to be working so hard together, stage after stage. The other contenders can just sit on the wheel and react to any breakaway - as we saw many times on the way up to the plateau yesterday.

This is why I think Evans, Sanchez or Contador work better in a one-against-one situation against other team opposition.

Tommy has done so well up until now - but I'll be surprised if he still has an overall lead after the Alps. (famous last words... since he has looked so good on the high mountain stages so far!)

Basso would have to have a significant lead - say 3-4 minutes after the Alps to fend off the main contenders in the ITT at Grenoble.

Evans looks to be in a good position - some of the Aussie commentators seem to think it is pretty much in the bag already! I would like to see him win after his past efforts - this is surely his best and probably last chance. (Even though if all the climbers raced with his tactics the race would be a major bore : guess he'd be a mug to take any risks when he knows he can take most of them in the TT)

Just still have a feeling that we have more to see from Andy S : I don't think he was totally dedicated to breaking the others yesterday, think it was all more in the nature of testing his opponents - though if he could have dropped them he'd have been delighted of course! Reckon he will have a real go in the Alps and it is then we will see if the others can still hang on.
I can't see Contador making up the minutes he needs - could be famous last words though ...

I'd make Evans the favourite currently - I think Contador doesn't have the form this time and that time he lost is hard to see him making up on Evans.

The Schlecks look pretty good but their tactics haven't worked yet - one thing I think they did right was refusing to always be the ones who chase down breaks by others... but they still seem to end up doing it more than others.

Of course one good/ bad day in the Alps could turn it all around for someone. With so many contenders, this has to be one of the best tours for years.

So far it's been a Tour of great stage performances (the likes of Thor's win on Friday), but the GC competition hasn't really kicked into high gear yet (other than Tommy's brilliant climbing to defend the jersey).

I've been disappointed with the tactics of the Schlecks because they could see Contador was in trouble both Thursday and yesterday, but have shown a lack of killer instinct - Andy obviously had strength at the end yesterday, but it gained him 3 seconds rather than the 3 minutes he needs on Voeckler and the time to eliminate Contador from the real competition.

dummy_half wrote:
I've been disappointed with the tactics of the Schlecks because they could see Contador was in trouble both Thursday and yesterday, but have shown a lack of killer instinct - Andy obviously had strength at the end yesterday, but it gained him 3 seconds rather than the 3 minutes he needs on Voeckler and the time to eliminate Contador from the real competition.

I assumed, rightly or wrongly, that it was due to Andy not being able to do more than he did then either. It was a bit disappointing that no one else looked for a chance to attack either with Contador in trouble and Andy looking like he was on the limit, though saying that I don't think there was anyone else who could have done more... it is just a bit fustrating to watch then.

Cavendish pips the bunch sprint yet again and almost certainly the Green Jersey. No surprises there.

No change to the overall individual placings.

Rest day tomorrow - then the real fight will start as they head up to the Alps.

Tomorrow's stage seems an odd one - neither fish nor fowl just an all day slog gaining height with nothing spectacular to really press the best riders.

Do others agree with me that Cavendish, if he really wants green in Paris, is going to have to make sure that he's there or thereabouts at a few of the intermediate sprints over the next few days? Perhaps if he does not not go for points tomorrow, when the initial sprint is at the end of a fairly steady long climb, then he needs to look at Gap-Pinerolo and Pinerolo-Galabier where the initial parts of those stages are relatively flat. The organisers seem to have geered the points for the green jersey to make it more consistently intense throughout the race for challengers than in the past.

To return to tomorrow's stage - from what I've seen so far (and I'm no expert) it seems that the stage might present a good chance for Gilbert to pick up a few more points because it won't exactly favour pure sprinters (i.e. Cavendish, who has not identified it as a target), polka dot challengers won't be bothered about one Cat 2 climb, and those competing for the GC will be waiting for the really big mountains later on in the week.

Barrystar
With regard to the green jersey, there are really two options for HTC - take Cav to the intermediate sprint or let a big group get out and mop up the points. They'll probably prefer the 2nd option as long as Gilbert remains more than a stage win behind in the points. They also have to factor in that Gilbert will take few (if any) points in the mass sprint on the final stage, while Cav will be looking to win it again. Rojas will most probably be riding close to Cav (and whining about him getting assistance from cars that the commissaires aren't seeing).

Tomorrow is a funny stage - last time the finish was there, it proved to be a much harder finale than expected and the GC riders went on the attack (depriving David Millar of a possible stage win). Normally I'd say watch for Gilbert, Chavanel and Vockler on this type of route, but obviously Crazy Tommy is going to be marked out of it, Chavanel has been below his best and Phil Gil has worked very hard so far and looks to be tiring (also it would have been a Vino stage).

So, we need to look for someone who is prepared (and allowed, so discount Europcar, Leopard Trek and BMC and anyone within 15 minutes on the GC) to get into an early break, can climb pretty well, descend excellently and ride the flattish finale at a good pace. I'd like to see an FdJ rider actually make it to the end, but think there might be a few too many really strong riders after this stage - LL Sanchez, Hejsdal, Tony Martin, Millar, Thomas, Gerrans etc all come to mind as guys who could do it.

For HTC, I'd think the best plan is to try and get people away to mop up the points ahead of Gilbert and let Cav save his energy for getting over the mountains - I don't know that Gilbert looks to be tiring though, rather caught between strategies on how to compete for the Green jersey and getting fustrated with it.

I excpet Gilbert to have a go, possibly Hushovd as well - a pure sprinter isn't going to win it but a strong rider who can sprint as well is going to have a really good chance from a breakaway unless a GC contender tries something resulting in a serious chase down towards the end

Rojas will most probably be riding close to Cav (and whining about him getting assistance from cars that the commissaires aren't seeing).

Sean Kelly spoke to the autobus driver about the accusation and was told Cav was riding right at the back in sight of him for most of the day and he didn't see him do anything wrong - unless someone manages to get footage, I'm going to just assume this is the usual sprinters bitching Rojas out of fustration at not having worked out how to beat him consistently.