Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime. Teach a man to cycle and he will realize fishing is stupid and boring.
Today is declared flat. A complete and utter joke! The stage includes 4 Categorised climbs, including the Col Du Sestriere. Tyler will try his best to stay at the front and compete, but the reality is, that even if he can stay with the pack over the 2 Category 2 climbs of the day, the final climb of the day is too close and too selective for us.
The breakaway was a hard fought affair, Farrar and Beyer made several attempts to get into a breakaway, but couldn't go with the group that escaped, 4 men - Langeveld, Gasparotto, Bakelendts and Cesar.
The break held 5minutes up the Col Du Sestriere. This nice "easy" section of a flat days riding...
Several teams clearly felt they could do well here today, on the descent a mixture of TT'ers and Descenders came to the front to set the pace, closing 5minutes in 35km!
With it all back together, there were always going to be fireworks on the final climb, Nibali was the rider who decided to give it a go, we tried to follow, but it was apparent that today would not be for Lance, so we dropped back to the main group to help keep a high pace and try to bring him back.
4km to go... The peloton is down to just 53 names, 54" behind Nibali, Farrar is gone, so now all that is left is to stop Vicenzo taking time away from Armstrong.
The pack brought him to close for time gaps, but he was able to hold on for a stage victory, the major irritation of the day, is that Samu Sanchéz out sprinted the rest for second place, meaning that with 2Mountain Days, a TT, and then The Champs-Elyssés, Farrars lead is just one point.
The first true mountain day of the Alps! We finish today atop the Col Du Galibier, This is the first of 2 ascents on the route this year, we climb the road again tomorrow before heading to the Alpe D'Huez. Today, we climb the Col D'Agnel, and the Col D'Izoard before arriving for a summit finish on the Galibier, expect fireworks!
Moises Aldapé got into todays break this morning, a group of very strong riders, including such names as Kreuziger, and C.Sorenson and M.Albasini.
Kreuziger was in no mood to hang around for the weaker members of the break today, he got to the front during the climb of the Col D'Agnel, ripping the break in 2, Aldapé missed the split, and the 12man break became 5.
Leopard seemed keen to control the pack, a tactic which worked brilliantly for them in the Pyrénees. They controlled the break, and it seemed unlikely that the break would hold off, 4' was there advantage as they finished the penultimate climb of the day.
And in fact, they gave up without a fight, brought back right at the base of the climb, it seems that everyone is feeling the effects of being 3 weeks into a grand tour!
Leipheimer was keen to protect his KOM jersey, but being so close to the top of the GC, his attacks for KOM points meant the pack had to close the gap each time, quickly breaking the peloton into smaller more elite groups.
With 5km to go, the 5 favourites had a 12" gap over G2. Armstrong was in this second group, behind Schleck, VdBroeck, Basso, Sanchéz and Nibali, he was pulling hard along with Mosquera, could they get back across?
Yes! Under the Flamme Rouge, and G2 and G1 are back together, Armstrong hasn't got much left, but neither will anyone else at this point, who will take the sprint to the line?
Sanchéz holds off Schleck. No time bonus so he doesn't gain any ground on 1st, but sadly for us, this victory lands Sanchéz in the Maillot Vert ahead of tomorrow, the odds are against Farrar now...
Armstrong takes 7th place, 30" down on Sanchéz, he maintains 4th place in the GC, 9" ahead of fellow american, Levi Leipheimer.
The final mountain stage of Le Tour, finishing upon the summit of the famous Alpe D'Huez. 110km long, so it will be ascent, and not length which is the determinant factor here, expect the pure climbers to attack to gain time ahead of tomorrows Time Trial!
This morning we knew it was unlikely, but he had to try... Tyler Farrar got into the break, trying to get to the sprint on the other side of the Galibier! In there with him were some strong riders, such as Albasini, Mori and Pozzato.
Unsurprisingly, it wasn't to be, he was dropped about halfway up the climb, however, it's fair to say he tried, and either way, we've run Sanchéz close for the green, in the teams first season!
Leopard took up the pace setting on the Galibier, the break was allowed little time, just 3minutes atop the first summit.
Onto the Alpe D'Huez, and around halfway up the attacks started, Lance, Nibbles and Mosquera were the first trio to dig, Armstrong knew it wasn't the most likely move to succeed, but with 3rd placed Vicenzo going, he had to follow to avoid losing more time.
3km to go, and Armstrong, Sanchéz, and the only survivor from the break, Kiserlovski are ahead of a second group of 8; 21" back, which contains the days other favourites.
1.5km to go, Schleck attacks, he shows why he's been carrying the Maillot Jaune this far, he comes past Armstrong and Nibali, only Sanchéz can follow, but he seems to be unable to completely match the terrifying speed of Andy Schleck.
Schleck takes it on the line, 2nd place is Sanchéz and 3rd Nibali. Armstrong held on for 4th place, opening a gap to 5th place in the GC Levi Leipheimer, of 31" ahead of the TT.
Sadly, his second place is almost certainly enough for Samu, he's 36points ahead, so even if he gets no points for the rest of the race, (Unlikely with a TT to come) We would need a stage win, and some points from the Checkpoint in order to take the victory.
This stage has never worked on my PC, which sucks as it is usually decisive...
Todays victor was Cadel Evans of BMC. He's had a quiet race throughout, but takes the win on stage 20, moving into 6th place overall!
The points jersey was decided today as well, Sanchéz takes second place, making him uncatchable tomorrow. Farrar will obviously aim to win on the Champs Elysses, but can no longer catch Sanchéz for the green jersey.
Andy Schleck can be proud, it would seem the 2'28 gap he had into the TT was enough, Just! assuming nothing goes horrifically wrong tomorrow, He will be named winner of the 2011 Tour De France!
Lance also performed brilliantly in Grenoble, he picks up 3rd place, another podium for Armstrong, in what has been a good, TdF for him aswell!
Wtf has got into Sanchez... he's even podiuming the TT?
Well a good result for Armstrong at 4th. Obviously we'd all hoped for a win but it's quite hard to do when you've almost 40. And now, come on Farrar and take another win just near the Arc de Triomphe
"Sammy Sanchez of Euskatel Euskadi has tested positive for EPO on the second rest day of the tour de france."
Quote from race directors:
"We always like to see riders get great results, but when Sanchez started earning top ten placings on sprint stages, the test results weren't surprising."
"This makes Vincenzo Nibali move into second, with Lance Armstrong of Exxon rounding ou the podium. Tyler Farrar now wheres green."
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy
baseballlover312 wrote:
Cyclingnews.com just reported!
"Sammy Sanchez of Euskatel Euskadi has tested positive for EPO on the second rest day of the tour de france."
Quote from race directors:
"We always like to see riders get great results, but when Sanchez started earning top ten placings on sprint stages, the test results weren't surprising."
"This makes Vincenzo Nibali move into second, with Lance Armstrong of Exxon rounding ou the podium. Tyler Farrar now wheres green."
baseballlover312 wrote:
Cyclingnews.com just reported!
"Sammy Sanchez of Euskatel Euskadi has tested positive for EPO on the second rest day of the tour de france."
Quote from race directors:
"We always like to see riders get great results, but when Sanchez started earning top ten placings on sprint stages, the test results weren't surprising."
"This makes Vincenzo Nibali move into second, with Lance Armstrong of Exxon rounding ou the podium. Tyler Farrar now wheres green."
Samu to be rewarded with a 24month ban?
They hadn't yet decided. Now up:
"As protocol, Sanchez will be given a 2 year ban as well as a backdate on all results during the 2011 Tour de France."
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy
lluuiiggii wrote:
Wtf has got into Sanchez... he's even podiuming the TT?
Well a good result for Armstrong at 4th. Obviously we'd all hoped for a win but it's quite hard to do when you've almost 40. And now, come on Farrar and take another win just near the Arc de Triomphe
Lol, in my career he became National TT champions and 3rd on WC ITT
The Champs-Elyssés! What a day, and a place where all sprinters dream of victory! There won't be a chance for a break today, though that doesn't mean they won't try...
The morning break was 12 strong, Chad Beyer has been quiet since the end of week 1, but we needed someone up in the break to shift a portion of the workload, and he jumped at the opportunity.
With HTC, Garmin, FDJ and Katusha all pulling, the break was caught easily, on the first lap of the Champs. We had Farrar feeling good, along with Rodriguez today, so with 11km left to go, we started to put together the final lead out train of the Tour.
With 5km to go, our train was fully constructed, and Danielson was just starting to kick up the pace. We had Boonen and Bernie Eisel following behind, whilst Boassen-Hagen and Hushoved were coming around the outside.
2.4km... Armstrong is the last man in front of the sprinters, he's soon to drop away for Freddie to take over, but he's done his job getting Farrar to the front. Hagen and Hushovd have just started sprinting, clearly going for endurance over a quick burst!
1.4km... Freddie is all but finished, and B-H and Hushovd have got a gap, they have started to slow down, can Farrar get across the gap, in the remaining few hundred metres?
1m... Farrar has closed right up to them, but it's so tight between Eddie BH and Tyler, can he get past him before the line, or will he have to settle for second place?
Farrar! He may have missed out on the Maillot Vert to Samu Sanchéz, but he will still be making a trip to the podium! He takes the win by the narrowest of margins, only able to celebrate once he is passed the finishing line!
Stage Results
1
Tyler Farrar
Exxon Duke
3h44'59
2
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
3
Tom Boonen
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
4
Heinrich Haussler
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
5
Óscar Freire
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
6
Bernhard Eisel
HTC - Highroad
s.t.
7
Filippo Pozzato
Katusha Team
s.t.
8
Romain Feillu
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
9
Leonardo Duque
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
10
Samuel Sánchez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Fred Rodriguez
Exxon Duke
s.t.
12
William Bonnet
FDJ
s.t.
13
Thor Hushovd
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
14
Mirco Lorenzetto
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
15
Andy Schleck
Leopard Trek
s.t.
16
Daniele Bennati
Leopard Trek
s.t.
17
Lance Armstrong
Exxon Duke
s.t.
18
Allan Davis
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
19
Vincenzo Nibali
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
20
Cadel Evans
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
21
Samuel Dumoulin
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
22
Nicolas Roche
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
23
Gerald Ciolek
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
24
Dominique Rollin
Exxon Duke
s.t.
25
Jens Voigt
Leopard Trek
s.t.
26
Jimmy Casper
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
27
Joaquím Rodríguez
Katusha Team
s.t.
28
Lars Ytting Bak
HTC - Highroad
s.t.
29
Marcus Burghardt
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
30
Koldo Fernández
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
31
Anthony Geslin
FDJ
s.t.
32
Fränk Schleck
Leopard Trek
s.t.
33
Fabian Cancellara
Leopard Trek
s.t.
34
Ryder Hesjedal
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
35
Jurgen Van den Broeck
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
36
Levi Leipheimer
Team RadioShack
s.t.
37
Bradley Wiggins
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
38
Ezequiel Mosquera
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
39
Christophe Le Mével
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
40
Jonathan Hivert
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
41
Kurt-Asle Arvesen
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
42
Sandy Casar
FDJ
s.t.
43
Christian Vande Velde
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
44
Lars Boom
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
45
Arnold Jeanneson
FDJ
s.t.
46
Tony Martin
HTC - Highroad
s.t.
47
Yury Trofimov
Katusha Team
s.t.
48
Greg Van Avermaet
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
49
Daniele Pietropolli
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
50
Jérôme Coppel
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
51
Michael Albasini
HTC - Highroad
s.t.
52
Richie Porte
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
53
Pierrick Fédrigo
FDJ
s.t.
54
Benoît Vaugrenard
FDJ
s.t.
55
Maxime Bouet
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
56
Bram Tankink
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
57
Linus Gerdemann
Leopard Trek
s.t.
58
Marco Marcato
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
59
Tom Danielson
Exxon Duke
s.t.
60
Gustav Erik Larsson
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
61
Björn Leukemans
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
62
Branislau Samoilau
Movistar Team
s.t.
63
Vladimir Karpets
Katusha Team
s.t.
64
Daniel Oss
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
65
Danilo Di Luca
Katusha Team
s.t.
66
Xavier Tondo
Movistar Team
s.t.
67
Craig Lewis
Exxon Duke
s.t.
68
Thibaut Pinot
FDJ
s.t.
69
Maxime Monfort
Leopard Trek
s.t.
70
David Millar
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
71
Kanstantsin Siutsou
HTC - Highroad
s.t.
72
Gorka Verdugo
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
73
Ludovic Turpin
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
74
Damien Monier
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
75
Julien El Fares
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
76
Jan Bakelandts
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
77
Alexandr Kolobnev
Katusha Team
s.t.
78
Johan Van Summeren
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
79
Janez Brajkovič
Team RadioShack
s.t.
80
Romain Zingle
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
81
Guillaume Levarlet
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
82
David Moncoutié
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
83
Eros Capecchi
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
84
George Hincapie
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
85
Brice Feillu
Leopard Trek
s.t.
86
Alessandro Ballan
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
87
Andrey Amador
Movistar Team
s.t.
88
Karsten Kroon
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
89
Rémi Pauriol
FDJ
s.t.
90
Sylvain Chavanel
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
91
Matti Breschel
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
92
Oliver Zaugg
Leopard Trek
s.t.
93
Luis Pasamontes
Movistar Team
s.t.
94
Johnny Hoogerland
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
95
Benjamín Noval
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
96
Enrico Gasparotto
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
97
Vitaliy Buts
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
98
Pablo Lastras
Movistar Team
s.t.
99
Ivan Basso
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
100
Philippe Gilbert
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
101
Francisco Pérez
Movistar Team
s.t.
102
Sylwester Szmyd
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
103
Maxim Iglinskiy
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
104
Cyril Dessel
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
105
Juan Antonio Flecha
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
106
Roman Kreuziger
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
107
Manuel Quinziato
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
108
David Loosli
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
109
Carlos Barredo
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
110
Andreas Klöden
Team RadioShack
s.t.
111
Sébastien Joly
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
112
Hubert Dupont
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
113
Nick Nuyens
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
114
Thomas Löfkvist
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
115
Stijn Devolder
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
116
Christophe Riblon
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
117
Kevin De Weert
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
118
Yaroslav Popovych
Team RadioShack
s.t.
119
Tiago Machado
Team RadioShack
s.t.
120
Egoi Martínez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
121
Marzio Bruseghin
Movistar Team
s.t.
122
Marco Marzano
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
123
Robert Kiserlovski
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
124
Romain Sicard
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
125
Paolo Tiralongo
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
126
Michael Rogers
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
127
Rémy Di Gregorio
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
128
Rubén Pérez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
129
Jean-Christophe Peraud
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
130
Amaël Moinard
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
131
Danilo Hondo
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
132
Chris Anker Sørensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
133
Fredrik Kessiakoff
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
134
Jelle Vanendert
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
135
Guillaume Bonnafond
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
136
Ruslan Pidgornyy
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
137
Ángel Madrazo
Movistar Team
s.t.
138
Jesús Hernández
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
139
Rémy Cusin
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
140
Dario Cataldo
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
141
Mauro Santambrogio
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
142
Frederik Willems
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
143
Sebastian Langeveld
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
144
Tiziano Dall'Antonia
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 1'48
145
Matthew Goss
HTC - Highroad
s.t.
146
Geraint Thomas
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
147
Denis Galimzyanov
Katusha Team
s.t.
148
Martijn Maaskant
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
149
Chad Beyer
Exxon Duke
s.t.
150
Steve Chainel
FDJ
s.t.
151
Manuele Mori
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
152
Cyril Lemoine
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
153
Moisés Aldape
Exxon Duke
s.t.
154
Jérôme Pineau
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
Freddie just misses out on a second top 10, losing out to the man of the tour, Sanchéz... The sprint is for nothing but pride for Farrar, who shows people that he is a great sprinter, and can be proud to have got through the 3 weeks, and comes a narrow second to Sanchéz in the end.
Edited by baggieboys32 on 31-05-2012 21:00
