Posted on 07/13/2006 11:37:15 PM PDT by nutmeg
add me to ping list plse
I read something interesting about George that I didn't know before today...he married one of the Tour de France podium girls a few years back.
Reminds me of Jeff Gordon and his first wife who was one of the NASCAR victory lane girls.
Word is that salvodelli was Injured AFTER yesterday's stage, and that lead to his abandoning today. Anyone know the nature of his injury?
Anyway, being Bastille day, I would expect that the Peleton will allow a French rider lower in the GC to break off late and take the stage.
Four man break now-- up to 1:30 ahead -- Yaroslav Popovych (Discovery), Oscar Freire (Rabobank), Allessandro Ballan (Lampre) and Christophe Le Mevel (Credit Agricole)
Well looks like this break is being allowed. Good to see Popovych in it. Best placed in the break at 9:00 back. Wish it were Big George tho'...
14:41 - Special Yellow & Black Bike For Landis...
The fifth American to wear the yellow jersey in the Tour de France is riding a special bike today. His BMC frame is yellow and black while the rest of his Phonak squad ride red and black frames.
That is interesting. Little early to be getting cocky tho'...
Break up to 3:20
I'm a little confused. Isn't Popo doing better on GC than Hincapie? Why would the peloton let Popo get away and not George?
I think it was some of the other guys that were in the break and not George.
They pulled that group mainly because Cunega and Rasmussen were in it. Not that they were huge threats to the GC, but both are good climbers, and Rasmussen IS a threat to the KOTM, and there were KOTM points out there today.
For those wondering about Salvodelli. Apparently he chose to ride back to the Hotel after the Stage yesterday, and on the way down the mountain he was accidently struck in the head by an object being carried by some race fans. He was knocked from the bike and required 12 stitches to close a gash on his forehead. The team thought he would be ok to ride today, but apparently pain and/or dizziness caused him to abandon after 45Km.
From cyclingnews:
Axel Merckx (Phonak) told us today, "AG2R wont take the responsibility as they don't have the jersey. But if they want to take the jersey, they can. I expect a crazy start with lot of attacks, but once the right group is gone it will go easier. The right group is an escape with not too many riders who are far away on GC."
Thanks, commish. What a pisser to lose more of a team (that isn't doing particularly well in the 1st place) to something like that.
France Television has just spoken with a directeur sportif from the Davitamon-Lotto team. Hendrik Redant offered his thoughts on today’s stage. “At first we worked to catch Bennati,” said Redant. “He is a rival of Robbie’s in the points classification.
“We had him but now it’s the same thing with Freire and that’s why you saw Robbie chasing. That’s also why you saw him talking to Tom Boonen. It would be better if two teams could work to reel in the escape, not just us. We have to save some energy so our riders will not be the only squad responsible for the pursuit. I hope that we can catch the four leaders before the finish of today’s stage.”
The points at the top of the Cote de Pamiers (136.0km) were won by:
1. Yaroslav Popovych (DSC) 3pts
2. Christophe Le Mevel (C.A) 2pts
3. Alessandro Ballan (LAM) 1pt
3:09 PM Yesterday's WTF moment
We expressed surprise yesterday that the white coat and clipboard crowd at the UCI declared that they were going to weigh the top-five finishers' bikes.
We were surprised largely because that's also the way they announce random drug tests. The weight requirement is 6.8kg. It's a strange rule in that it applies to all bikes, no matter what the size, no matter what the use. In other words, a 62cm cyclo-cross bike has the same requirement as does a 48cm pursuit bike. The justification for that rule is safety... in that the UCI wants to discourage a manufacturers' race to "stupid light" bikes, bikes that compromise safety to save weight. Strangely enough, they allow teams to comply with the rule by adding little weights on the bike at the start line... hence, WTF!
Two things from cyclingnews:
15:15 CEST 136km/75km to go
Valjavec continues to set tempo for the yellow-clad Landis in the bunch, which is also on this climb. Phonak is stronger than it looked yesterday - Floyd explained this in the post-race press conference, that he told his teammates to take it easy yesterday. Axel Merckx was the only rider within cooee of Landis at the finish.
To which I say cooee? eh?
15:17 CEST 138km/73km to go
Interestingly, Landis is waring black and white shorts, as opposed to his teammates wearing yellow and green. Maybe the Phonak yellow didn't quite match with the maillot jaune. We wouldn't want a clash, would we? That would be very unhip.
What did I say yesterday? That combo was hideous. Even a Mennonite could tell...
After the 2 Cat 4s are done, it's pretty much a given that any breakaway can be easily caught on the remaining flats to the finish.
Why would the peloton let Popo get away and not George?
And Velonews is saying that Phonak has basically told McEwen and Co. to find someone else to help with the chase, they are not concerned with the riders in this break.
I am wondering one thing though? Do ya'll think it might be a possibility that Dessel may attack late in an effort to take Yellow on Bastille Day? And if so, will Floyd let him have it?
BIg Picture racing there. Floyd must have felt he could handle yesterday on his own, and he wants the team fresh for the Alps.
This really puts Landis & Phonak's strategy out in the open. Stay close through the Pyrenee's and put it away in the Alps.
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