Can Samu save the Tour? 22th of July, 2016, Le Bettex
The high hopes of Euskaltel, with Nieve in the climbing form of his live, were shattered by the horrible crash on the descent of stage 17 on the descent of the Fouclet. Abandoning the race with serious injuries, it is the task of Samuel Sanchez to save the race. The heavily critisized Spaniard is in touch for a Top10 still...
The evening after stage 17 was completely different. Routines were broken, the riders and the stuff just sat together for most of the evening, talking about what happened. And what will happen in the future. In the evening spanish media rumors broke out, as if several important riders of Euskaltel Team were told to seek contracts elsewhere. It was the worst day in the recent history of the rebuilt Euskaltel Team Project.
On stage 18 now most of the team members had a day out as it was a mountain time trial to Megeve. Haimar Zubeldia climbed decently, staying in touch with the Top25 in the GC. All others turned a lower gear, besides Samu of course. He rode his heart out on that stage, powering the climb on a higher gear than many other riders did to finish 11th, and even gaining on some direct opponents. Nairo Quintana won the stage, ahead of Contador and Pinot. Interestingly that brings the Top 3 within a minute, having Bardet and the Movistar - Duo close behind.
Stage 19 offered a beautiful scenery, the stage to Saint-Gervais-Mont-Blanc. 6 riders still with realistic chances to win the Tour.
We had Romain Sicard in the break once more. The Frenchman could compete with his opponence, but at the Mont Blanc he was done. Same for Geniez, who survived the longest from the break. Movistar again forced up the pace soon, again Chris Froome was isolated early. Ion pushed the pace up high, trying to shake off as many riders as possible. This time Samu could hold on though, but it was only a matter of time until the attacks happened.
And what an attack Alejandro Valverde burned onto the gradient, an acceleration only Purito could follow. Wheel by wheel the riders streamed ahead, while a couple of meters Froome, in his sitting style, tried to pull them back. However, it wasn't that easy for him. Porte, recovering well, Bardet, Pinot, Quintana and Kreuziger stayed with him. Well, not really, as Kreuziger was pulled back to help Contador, who seemed to suffer under a bad day. Samu with him, Nibali and Meintjes, no sign of Mollema though who must have fallen behind even further.
Valverde pulled them up further the climb, while Froome was only riding 90%, meaning the advantage pulled out further and further. And nobody was helping Froome, besides Porte caring about a possible Top10. As it was back in the Sky days...
But on the steeper parts with 3 kilometers to go stuff got interesting. Still the French played the waiting game, while Quintana obviously would. But the advantage exceeded 1 minute now, putting Valverde into virtual 2nd and Rodriquez close to the podium. A reaction of Bardet/Pinot? No! They played the waiting game on Froome.
And sooner than later it was one lonesome guy at the front. But not Valverde! Instead Purito shook off his rival, riding for home glory. Valverde tried to fight himself back, but then at one point with around 1.5 kilometers to go seemed to completely crack and slipped away of the Katusha leader. He was now over 1'30 ahead, almost secure to win the stage.
Further behind Movistar reacted to Valverdes weakness, and Quintana attacked in style. Nobody was able to follow the Colombian. He walked away, too easy to be true, and bridged over 1 minute to Valverde in 1.2 kilometers. Froome in the back was struggeling to keep yellow, but really suffering. Could this be the day to kick the brit out?
It certainly was the day for Joaquim Rodriguez. At the age of 37 he won the queen stage on the Mont Blanc in style, finishing over a minute ahead of Nairo Quintana. The Colombian took almost half a minute on Bardet and Pinot, who once again worked very well together. Froome only 11 seconds behind them keeping yellow, while Valverde finished 2 seconds down.
Later Kreuziger led the next group in, containing his captain Contador (who almost lost a minute on Froome), Meintjes, Nibali and Sanchez. Mollema 2 minutes later, even behind Kelderman, Yates, Aru and Vuillermoz. Zubeldia again gaining two spots, now in 21st position and with a possible Top20 in mind.
Gora Samu! Another well written episode as well, go Purito for yellow!
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant." [ICL] Santos-Euskadi | [PT] Xero Racing
@jandal: thank you very much! We'll see how Purito can do on the final stage - but Froome won't let him go that easily again. Indeed rather small time gaps, probably because there is no dominant pacing team.
2 days left of an up-and-down Tour de France for the Euskaltel Team. Many basque were on the roads over the last days, supporting their stars in orange. Can the team make them proud for one last time in the mountains at their comeback tour?
On the final classment determining stage there was one last chance to show the aggressive mountain set-up we had. And the stage to Morzine offers plenty of opportunities for that.
From the beginning on we tried to get into the break. And on the Arvais there was a successful move. 22 riders could get into the move, and 4 Euskaltel riders inside that: Lopez, Sicard and even Garcia. And Samuel Sanchez!
Plenty of big names inside the group, including Aru, Fuglsang, Majka, Meintjes, Adam Yates and Pantano. Yet it was our team to push the pace, eventhough Egoitz pretty early lost contact on the Colombiere. Sicard was doing the major work over the climb, after which the group was 5'20 ahead of the pack.
In the meantime it was Sky controlling the pace in the pack. Over the Ramaz they still had 5 riders left, especially Kiriyenka was doing one hell of a job on the climb. Team Sky, that looked vulnerable on the previous stages, was in control this time.
In the front group Romain Sicard was done close to the top. David Lopez took over, sharing the pace together with Durasek. The two of the working for their captains, while the group was visibly reduced. Most notably Fuglsang and Yates were dropped up the climb already, seing the stellar pace Lampre and Euskaltel were pushing on to attack the Top10.
It was still 4'40 when the peloton reached the Col de Joux Plane. Durasek mostly leading alone now, as his basque partner dropped a little back to his captain. Speaking of whom, he surprisingly settled in 6th position of the order of the 8 riders. Durasek still forced the pace, but in the pack it was the belorussian engine of Vasil Kiriyenka to thin out the pack. Only 15 riders left, and not even Ion Izagirre anymore, who was the dominant helper so far.
In the group it was hammertime then. Meintjes took over, and the opponents went flying. A kilometer later only 3 of the former group members were with him: Rafal Majka, Fabio Aru and an orange jersey. While Jarlinson Pantano had dropped back quite crucially, it was even more drama for the rider right behind the group. Samuel Sanchez couldn't hold the pace of the South African anymore.
Only seconds later David Lopez dropped back to join him. But Meintjes kept increasing his gap, with Aru and Majka helping him now. The Euskaltel duo quickly lost seconds, while both the trio ahead and the pack was flying. Kiriyenka was done with 7,3 kilometers to go, and instead Geraint Thomas increased the pace. THe peloton was down to the incredible number of 9 riders with 6 to go on the Joux-Plane:
Thomas
Henao
Froome
Valverde
Quintana
Kreuziger
Contador
Pinot
Rodriguez
Big trouble for Romain Bardet, who was dropped in the process already, likely to loose his Top 5. Also Mollema loosing all his chances of a Top 8, being not only down on the group but also on the Porte-Nibali duo in behind. Only 3 minutes for the group ahead, with decreasing tendencies as Thomas spinned a high, steady gear. The next victim of it was Roman Kreuziger, who rode a stellar race but couldn't follow the pace anymore. Meanwhile Rodriguez was suffering as the last rider of the group. On the other side, nobody was looking too comfortable anymore.
Froome however seemed to be in control. At latest when Henao took over. The colombian drained a frenetic pace. More sooner than later the group was reduced once again. And it was the great Alberto Contador that couldn't keep up on the last 4 kilometers. Shortly behind him it was also too much of the pain for Alejandro Valverde. He could not respond anymore to the pace. Only 5 riders left:
Henao
Froome
Quintana
Pinot
Rodriguez
Several riders from the break were overtaken sideways. Two of those the Euskaltel duo, that even dropped behind Pantano over the climb.Ahead still 1'47 for Meintjes, Aru and Majka at the 3km to go mark. But shortly later it was too much for Aru as well, as he couldn't keep up with the constant cadence of the two, while he also couldn't bring on enough power on the lower ones.
Behind, Froome now went on his own. No response from Joaquin Rodriguez, as it visibly was the last punch needed for Chris to knock him out. But on this day nobody could really follow Froome. Quintana and Pinot tried, but after 200 meters of sitting acceleration they were done and dusted. Flying up the mountain was Chris Froome now, closing 1'30 on Aru in 2 kilometers!
However, he could not catch up with the two of Majka and Meintjes over the climb. While the Pole took the KOM to accentued his dominant mountains classification win for one more time, Meintjes took over for most of the descent. Froome peaked over the Top 20 seconds back, Quintana and Pinot 1'30 behind. Other riders like Rodriguez following. Interestingly the next behind him already was Roman Kreuziger, without his captain who had another bad day as well.
Situation over the Joux Plane:
Meintjes, Majka
Froome
+ '20
Aru
+ '51
Quintana, Pinot
+ 1'32
Kreuziger
+ 2'14
Rodriguez, Henao
+ 2'38
Thomas
+ 3'19
Bardet, Porte
+ 3'38
Contador
+ 3'47
Valverde
+ 4'26
Sanchez, Lopez, Pantano
+ 4'52
On the downhill then it was even the victory in danger. Froome flew down the descent, still taking the risks for that stage win. At the end he was 5 seconds short of the duo that sprinted it out in Morzine. In the sprint though it an uneven matchup. Meintjes took over most of the work, so that he had no chance at the end. Majka pushed it from the front to win the sprint with ease. Meintjes and Froome on the podium.
Then Quintana came in, right behind Aru. He dropped Pinot pretty shortly after the Ranfolly, The Frenchman never was able to come baack, loosing over 20 seconds on the descent, which lead to even being caught by Kreuziger at the end. Half a minute later Rodriguez and Henao cane in, another 40 seconds for Bardet and Thomas. Then Contador, who overtook Porte on the descent.
Sanchez at the end one of the big loosers at the end, coming in in the next group behind Valverde at the end of the day. He finished together with Nibali, 5 minutes down on his former breakaway companions, meaning that he'd loose another place in the GC to finish 13th.
GC after stage 20:
1.
Christopher Froome
Team Sky
2.
Nairo Quintana
Movistar
+ 2:12
3.
Joaquin Rodriguez
Katusha
+ 2:52
4.
Thibaut Pinot
FDJ
+ 3:13
5.
Roman Kreuziger
Tinkoff
+ 4:21
6.
Romain Bardet
AG2R
+ 4:47
7.
Alberto Contador
Tinkoff
+ 5:52
8.
Alejandro Valverde
Movistar
+ 5:54
9.
Louis Meintjes
Lampre
+ 8:43
10.
Vincenzo Nibali
Astana
+ 9:03
11.
Richie Porte
BMC
+ 9:18
12.
Bauke Mollema
Trek
+ 12:05
13.
Samuel Sanchez
Euskaltel
+ 12:13
14.
Wilco Kelderman
LottoNL
+ 15:43
15.
Fabio Aru
Astana
+ 21:36
The big winner of today was Louis Meintjes, getting inside the Top10 beneath securing the white jersey. And Chris Froome obviously, securing the yellow jersey. The third winner of the day was Kreuziger, saving Contador's issues for good for Tinkoff. Samu was almost able to catch Mollema before Paris however. There should be no changes in Paris anymore, but who knows in the world of cycling?
Edited by Croatia14 on 05-01-2018 15:05
