Posted on 07/02/2010 11:30:15 AM PDT by Ready4Freddy
Le Tour says 8 bolts for Frank in his shoulder. Ouch!
LeTour.fr recently spoke to Alain Gallopin to find out why the RadioShack riders have been riding just near the front of the peloton all day. "It’s natural to do this," said the French directeur sportif. "It’s safer for a start as there is always a bit of anxiety and the best way to not get caught behind a crash is to be ahead of it. "A little bit of wind, a touch of wheels... these things happen all the time in the peloton so we’d rather have our riders in a safe position.."
Definitely true. Don’t want to do too much work, but don’t want to be caught looking either.
The site with HTC’s biometric data is really cool.
Got link for HTC biometric?
Overall after Stage 4. Note that Geraint Thomas in 2nd is wearing the white jersey for best young rider:
1. CANCELLARA Fabian 13 TEAM SAXO BANK 18h 28’ 55”
2. THOMAS Geraint 39 SKY PRO CYCLING 18h 29’ 18” + 00’ 23”
3. EVANS Cadel 121 BMC RACING TEAM 18h 29’ 34” + 00’ 39”
4. HESJEDAL Ryder 54 GARMIN - TRANSITIONS 18h 29’ 41” + 00’ 46”
5. CHAVANEL Sylvain 131 QUICK STEP 18h 29’ 56” + 01’ 01”
6. SCHLECK Andy 11 TEAM SAXO BANK 18h 30’ 04” + 01’ 09”
7. HUSHOVD Thor 95 CERVELO TEST TEAM 18h 30’ 14” + 01’ 19”
8. VINOKOUROV Alexandre 9 ASTANA 18h 30’ 26” + 01’ 31”
9. CONTADOR Alberto 1 ASTANA 18h 30’ 35” + 01’ 40”
10. VAN DEN BROECK Jurgen 101 OMEGA PHARMA - LOTTO 18h 30’ 37” + 01’ 42”
11. ROCHE Nicolas 81 AG2R LA MONDIALE 18h 30’ 37” + 01’ 42”
12. VAN SUMMEREN Johan 58 GARMIN - TRANSITIONS 18h 30’ 42” + 01’ 47”
13. MENCHOV Denis 191 RABOBANK 18h 30’ 44” + 01’ 49”
14. WIGGINS Bradley 31 SKY PRO CYCLING 18h 30’ 44” + 01’ 49”
15. MILLAR David 57 GARMIN - TRANSITIONS 18h 31’ 01” + 02’ 06”
16. KREUZIGER Roman 44 LIQUIGAS-DOIMO 18h 31’ 19” + 02’ 24”
17. SANCHEZ Luis-Leon 161 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 18h 31’ 20” + 02’ 25”
18. ARMSTRONG Lance 21 TEAM RADIOSHACK 18h 31’ 25” + 02’ 30”
19. LÖVKVIST Thomas 37 SKY PRO CYCLING 18h 31’ 29” + 02’ 34”
20. ROJAS Jose Joaquin 169 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 18h 31’ 30” + 02’ 35”
How cool is that!? Thanks, MB
Tyler Farrar fan.
I can’t believe that Petacchi is winning these stages! What next? Cipollini?
;-)
Stage 5 - Épernay > > > Montargis - 187.5 km
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Épernay > > > Montargis - 187.5 km
•Km 18.5 - Côte d'Orbais-l'Abbaye - 1.6 km climb to 4.8 % - Category 4
•Km 36.5 - Côte de Mécringes - 1.3 km climb to 5.4 % - Category 4
Stage 5 - Épernay > > > Montargis - 187.5 km
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Plain - A sporting perspective
For the sprinters
This route is somewhat unusual since we will be going through Provins, which became a UNESCO world heritage site in December 2001. We will be visiting Montereau and Nemours before finishing in Montargis. There are no major difficulties during this stage which seems to be best suited to the sprinters. Yet this will all depend on who leads the Tour at that moment in time. Armstrong will be seeking to eliminate the largest number of rivals possible as early as he can, whilst biding his time to grab the Yellow Jersey. However, if he leads the general standings in Arenberg, he will probably let a breakaway go all the way in one of the three following stages to avoid having to bear the weight of the race on his shoulders. This is what happened in 2004, when Voeckler took advantage of such an “opportunity” in Chartres.
(letour.com)
July 5 post:
Stage 5 starts in Epernay, the capital of the Champagne region surrounded by vineyards as far as the eye can see. Epernay also hosted a stage start in 1978 and 2002. We'll then continue south over two category 4 climbs early on before settling into a flat day passing Paris on the way, 35 km to the west.
Similar to the previous stage finish, Robbie McEwen has also won in Montargis back in 2005 when the Tour last visited Montargis. There should also be a sprint finish again this year in Montargis, known for its 131 bridges and walkways giving rise to the nickname, "Venice of the Gâtinais." However, it depends on how the previous Arenberg stage unfolds and the gaps in the general classification that opened up. The new leader of the race, if there is one, might not want the Yellow Jersey so early in the month. — Steve
(steephill.tv)
Stage 5 - Épernay > > > Montargis - 187.5 km
Thursday, July 8, 2010
ÉPERNAY
• 3 times a stage town
• Population: 27,000
• Sub-prefecture of Marne (51)
Épernay, another champagne capital, hosted the first stage finish of the 1963 Tour. Eddy Pauwels triumphed in a double win, sweeping both the stage and the overall classification. This was no lucky accident: already yellow jersey holder for two days in 1959, the Belgian rider went on to win a total of four stages and finished five times among the top twenty in Paris. The Tour returned twice to Epernay, in 1978 and in 2002, also for stage starts.
Situated at the heart of 30,000 hectares of vineyards, Epernay, the capital of the Champagne region, attracts around 450,000 visitors every year. Nestled between vineyards and forests, and bordered by the River Marne, it offers an excellent quality of life in an outstanding natural setting. The Champagne countryside has also been proposed as a UNESCO world heritage site. The Avenue de Champagne, one of the sites selected for this application, is the location of some of the most famous champagne houses. With 110 kilometres of cellars and 200 million bottles of champagne stored underground, it is one of the most prestigious streets in the world. Recently renovated and redesigned as an avenue-park, creating a pleasant place to stroll, it is also used for a range of events, including the “Habits de Lumière” Christmas lights in December, while its country atmosphere enhances the architecture of the buildings. The town’s heritage is reflected in these beautiful 19th century town houses, as well as its historical monuments, such as the Castellane tower and the Gabrielle- Dorziat theatre.
MONTARGIS
• 3 times a stage town
• Population: 15,800
• Sub-prefecture of Loiret (45)
Montargis has already appeared on the route of the Tour in three previous editions and powerful finishers have always triumphed there. Herman Van Springel was the first to win here in 1969. In 1976, when the town hosted the start of a stage that finished in Créteil, another Belgian rider, Freddy Maertens, triumphed. On the Tour’s most recent visit, in 2002, the most Belgian of Australians, Robbie McEwen, was victorious…
Montargis’ main attraction is its canals and its 131 bridges and walkways, earning it the nickname of the “Venice of the Gâtinais”. The River Loing, its canals and lake create an atmosphere of freshness and charm. You can still visit the remains of the royal castle of Renée de France, who turned it into a refuge for the Protestants in the 16th century, as well as the ramparts which are currently being renovated. A few years ago, the town launched an ambitious urban renovation programme, a firm commitment to the future and sustainable development. The Pâtis area has been completely restructured, with the creation of the Exhibition Gardens outside a newly renovated function hall. Next in line for renovation is the Sainte Madeleine church. Montargis has committed to the responsible approach of an Agenda 21, aimed at protecting the environment for the wellbeing of its inhabitants. These decisions have earned Montargis the label of “One of the most beautiful detours in France”.
Click the 'To' option to go to the start of the Stage 5 posts.
The Stage starts at 12:50 local time CEST (6 hrs ahead of US EDT).
velonews.com - "Cutting southeast of Paris from Éperney to Montargis, stage 5 is another mostly flat stage, very similar to the one that came before it. Riders will hit a couple Cat. 4 climbs in the opening 40km before rolling country that continues to the end. The finale in Montargis is surprisingly technical, threading through narrow back roads before making a sharp turn onto the slightly uphill straightaway.
Robbie McEwen won the last stage to finish in Montargis in 2005, taking a bunch sprint ahead of Tom Boonen, Thor Hushovd and Stuart O’Grady."
FReepmail me to get on or off the 2010 TdF Ping List.
Our journey continues southwards again today, bringing the Alps to the riders this weekend, so once more the sprinters should make the most of the occasion.
The route starts from Epernay, the home of Moet et Chandon champagne, a few kilometers south of the finish of stage 4 in Reims, and covers 187 kilometers to Montargis. For two days the race has travelled around Paris, but this city will again wait until the last day to greet the survivors.
The grapes that go to make the champagne grow on small hillsides around Epernay, so the route starts with two fourth-category climbs in the first 36kms, but after this it will be a sprinters' stage, finishing only 200 feet above sea level.
There are only six pure sprinters' stages this year, so I don't think the likes of Mark Cavendish, Tyler Farrar, Alessandro Petacchi, Robbie McEwen, and others will let the opportunity slip by.
versus.com
They look like women's foundation undergarments. Or ballet tights. Who in their right mind designed these things?
ROGER THAT
Regards
alfa6 ;>}
Much Obligied for the pings R4F :-)
Regards
alfa6 ;>}
Interesting start to the race today. 24 km done and we have a new virtual leader. Guiterrez, van der Walle and El Fares are 5 min in front of the peleton, making Guiterrez the virtual leader by a minute and a half.
163 k:s to go, though. ;)
Sadly, they are quite proud of their new kit - Footon-Servetto rolls out 2010 kit
This was posted in the letour live updates yesterday:
Only one rider on the roster of 24 from the Footon team has ridden the Tour before this year. That is Gianpaolo Chuela (but he’s not in the line-up for the race now).
If true, how the heck did Footon-Servetto get approved for the TdF?
The uniforms were designed by Dario Uzay who is a fine artist rather than a clothing designer and it shows. He shouldn't give up his day job anytime soon, that's for sure.
the Footon-Servetto kits (do they call them kits?) are beyond ugly. - lainie
My mom calls them "costumes". She watched the prologue and first stage in the Netherlands because we used to live there (albeit up the coast from Rotterdam.) Her favorite team "costume" is Astana (ACK!), but I set her straight that we'll both be rooting not so much for anybody in particular to win the TdF this year, but for Contador to LOSE!
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