Tour de France 2011

[lawgrad91]

Tour de que? ;)

We went to The Pit in Raleigh yesterday for lunch. Yum.

If I could remember the Motherearth beer I had, I could PW on the "ymm, beer" thread.

[Lavabe]

Day of crashes today, so far.
The first one was the peloton, at aboutthe halfway mark. This was horrible. Vino went off the side of the road, down about ten meters, and fractured his pelvis. Zabriskie broke his wrist in the pile up. Van den Brouek, slotted to be in the top five, broke something as well. All three abandoned the race. That slowed the peloton. RadioShack got hit hard, as Kloden fell, but they got up again and rejoined the peloton.

About 35 km from the finish, the breakaway group was sideswiped by one of the tv cars, causing Fleccha to crash hard on the ground, causing Hoogeland (doing well in the mountain jersey race) to crash and go FLYING off the road into a barbed wire fence, back first. BOTH RIDERS GOT UP, and rejoined the race, slowed down, and badly hurt, but no fractures and no concussions.

Gilbert doing well in the green jersey race today.

The road is dry now. About 5 climbs today... 25 km to go.

[Lavabe]

So, Thor wound up giving up the yellow jersey, as the peleton did NOT catch the breakaway. As a result, Thomas Voeckler has the yellow jersey. He holds a 1 min 50 sec lead over second-placed Sanchez. Overall he leads 3rd-5th Evans and the Schlecks by roughly 2 min 30 sec.

[Lavabe]

Downpour at the finish today. Cavendish won easily on a sprint finish today. Last day before the severe mountain racing, including tomorrow's race to Luz-Ardiden (which will also include the Col de Tourmalet). One category 1 and two HC climbs tomorrow. That will shake up the lead.

[Lavabe]

The race yesterday to Luz-Ardiden was a BIG mountain race, with loads of falls on the descents. Kloden, of Radioshack, fell badly, but continued. Voeckler (yellow jersey) had a slip and near fall. The real story was that Contador cracked on the last rise, and couldn't handle the Schleck brothers and the winner, Samuel Sanchez of Euskatel.

In today's race, Kloden withdrew. Radioshack is down to five riders. At least two others have as well.

Cadel Evans is sitting pretty in 3rd. He climbed well yesterday, and his team is solid. But watch out for the Schleck brothers. KUDOS to American Danielson, also in the top 10 in the race for the yellow jersey.

[Lavabe]

Thor STOMPS in the last 10 km. Thor wins today EASILY!!

A breakaway began early, with a Frenchman dropping the others through the mountain climbs. After the last mountain, Thor trailed the escapee, but turned it on. He caught the leader in the last 2 kn, then cranked it home but fast!! The peleton finished maybe 6 minutes back or so.

This was not a big day to race for the yellow jesey. No major changes up top. BIG mountain climb tomorrow, and everyone was saving up for it. In sprinting, Cavendish is losing a little ground.

FWIW, I believe Levi is some 7:30 behind the leaders, but is still in the top 20.

[DukieInKansas]

I was gone all last week and away from coverage. I watched the two rest day programs on Versus. I should have just read your recaps - I think they were more informative.

What is up with the photographers taking out riders this year? First the motorbike and then the car. That is disgraceful. The car should have tried to stop or just gone ahead and hit the tree. Hitting a rider is unacceptable.

[Lavabe]

I was gone all last week and away from coverage. I watched the two rest day programs on Versus. I should have just read your recaps - I think they were more informative.

What is up with the photographers taking out riders this year? First the motorbike and then the car. That is disgraceful. The car should have tried to stop or just gone ahead and hit the tree. Hitting a rider is unacceptable.

I saw part of the rest day program yesterday, and was underwhelmed. Their LIVE coverage, however, is fantastic.

Today was a crazy day. The end result was that 3 people from a breakaway lasted, with Thor winning (Garmin had two people in that group of three). Cadel, Contador and Sanchez led another group, although Cadel gained a couple of seconds on Contador. These three were part of a group with the Schlecks and a couple of others, but they just broke away and cracked Andy Schleck on the final rise. Voeckler lost about 25 seconds overall to Evans, but raced pretty well in the next group back. Cavendish was another minute behind, but well positioned, considering the Alps are coming (i.e., at least he didn't endanger himself of not making time).

No major crashes today. The big news was Evans placement vs. Schleck.

[DukieInKansas]

I did not record the live program. Won't make that mistake again. I avoided all news of TdF all day only to have the evening coverage start with how Contador did well today and is getting stronger. News flash for Versus - giving the outcome before you air the details is not a way to keep people watching.
I would like to see Thor win the green jersey. I'm not sure why I'm not a Cavendish fan - he is very talented. I can decide who I want to win the overall. Of the current top riders - I could easily pull for Voeckler and Sanchez. Since a Frenchman hasn't won in 26 years or so, perhaps it is time.

[Lavabe]

I did not record the live program. Won't make that mistake again. I avoided all news of TdF all day only to have the evening coverage start with how Contador did well today and is getting stronger. News flash for Versus - giving the outcome before you air the details is not a way to keep people watching.
I would like to see Thor win the green jersey. I'm not sure why I'm not a Cavendish fan - he is very talented. I can decide who I want to win the overall. Of the current top riders - I could easily pull for Voeckler and Sanchez. Since a Frenchman hasn't won in 26 years or so, perhaps it is time.

No way Sanchez wins the yellow, as there should be a time trial remaining.
You know, although Contador did well, it wasn't THAT great.
I like Cav, as I ride a Specialized bike. More importantly, I love watching good teamwork; both Garmin and HTC are really enjoyable to watch. But we'll see what hapens in the next two stages.

[DukieInKansas]

The TT should keep Voeckler and Sanchez off the top step but I can always bope! HTC does a great job of leading out Cavendish - it is fun to watch.

Do you think snow will keep them from finishing on the Galibier?

[Lavabe]

The TT should keep Voeckler and Sanchez off the top step but I can always bope! HTC does a great job of leading out Cavendish - it is fun to watch.

Do you think snow will keep them from finishing on the Galibier?

The elites who are chasing Voeckler (Evans, Contador, Schleck1, Schleck2, Basso, Sanchez) each gained about 27 sec today on Voeckler, who still seems to race well. Having said that, on the final steep descent, He missed a turn and wound up in someone's driveway. Contador tested the elites a few times, but he and Sanchez were caught by the others at the end of the race. Danielson finished with Voeckler. Cavendish finished with the peloton.

Tomorrow has like 3 HC climbs. It will be moving day, with lots of shake-ups in the standings. And then, the next day after should be one last killer mountain.

During today's coverage, they showed the snowy weather at Galibier. However, the weather is fine now. It looked like it was sunny and in the low 70's.

[Lavabe]

Steve Largent is not in this year's Tour de France.
Neither is EarlJam.

[Lavabe]

REALLY thrilling race today.

Three HC (beyond classification) climbs today in the Alps. ANDY SCHLECK gets the ballsy rider award of the day. Racing in the peloton through the beginning of the second HC climb, he broke away fiercely, and caught up with the breakaway group that gotten some 6 minutes ahead of the peloton. He had a fellow Team Leopard Trek rider in the breakaway group, while his brother (also in Team LT) stayed in the head of the elite peloton, keeping an eye out for any of the yellow jersey competitors who would choose to break away.

Once Andy caught his teammate in the breakaway group, he had like about 40 km to go, including a tricky descent and a monster climb to finish the race. The breakaway group helped him NOT ONE BIT, so Schleck had to do double work most of that time. One by one, the breakaway group succumbed to the race. Andy began the last climb some 4+ minutes in the lead, having the virtual yellow jersey.

Meanwhile, the elite 10 or so in the peloton (including yellow jersey Thomis Voeckler) waited til the final climb to attack. Cadel Evans did almost all of the work, and was able to finish some 2+ minutes behind Andy. Contador looked listless, as did climbing specialist Sanchez. Frank Schleck wound up taking second, Evans third, followed quickly by Voeckler.

The end result is that Voeckler retains the yellow jersey, some 15 seconds or so ahead of Andy Schleck. Frank Schleck is in 3rd, and Evans is up there too. Tom Danielson (the best performing American) is in 9th place, several minutes behind.

Tomorrow is another Alpine stage, with two HC climbs (including Alpe d'Huez) and a category 1 climb. The sprint tomorrow is insane, just before the final climb.
Saturday is the time trial. Basically, expect lots ofchanges in the leader board in the next two days.

[DukieInKansas]

What a fascinating stage yesterday. I can't wait to get home and watch today's coverage. I have to confess that there is a sick, twisted part of me that would like to attempt to ride up Alpe d'Huez. Maybe that will be my goal to do before I turn 60.

Recording the live coverage is always iffy as it sometimes goes longer than the posted time. Fortunately, I realized that was going to happen in time to record the last half hour of the evening coverage. I only missed 2km of Andy's ride. I'm not getting caught that way again today because I'm recording the next program also.

[Lavabe]

Extremely tough race today, but lots of chess games going on.

After an initial 12-19 rider breakaway (including members of BMC and Leopard) at the 0km mark, the elites charged ahead of the peleton. On the first climb (Cat 1), Contador attacked, with ASchleck on his tail. Evans initially joined, but had mechanical issues, falling back to the head of the peleton. Contador quickly charged up Telegraph Mountain, passing the initial breakaway one by one.

Contador and Schleck +2-3 othersmaintained about a minute lead through the the descent of 1, and through the 2nd climb. The elites kept up the pace, finally dropping Voeckler. On the long descent of the 2nd climb Sanchez quickly caught up to the Contador/ASchleck group. Shortly before the beginning of the climb of Alpe d'Huez, the Evans group caught the Contador group. Although Contador made several charges up the mountain, he cracked with about 1.2 km to go, giving the race to French Europcar rider, Pierre Rolland. Sanchez made it up there next, followed quickly by Contador, and the Schleck/Evans group next. Voeckler lost the yellow jersey, coming in some 3 minutes after Contador.

What this means is that ASchleck has the yellow, his brother Frank is in 2nd some 50 secs off pace, followed 4 more seconds by Evans. Contador is 4th or 5th, with Cunego and Voeckler close. Danielson is still the best American

Evans can make up the time in the time trial, but it will be REALLY interesting tomorrow.

The last two stages were FASCINATING, with gutsy racing, and extreme fatigue.

[DukieInKansas]

Definitely another fun filled day. I would have loved to be a fly on a helmet to listen in to the conversation between ASchleck and Evans. Congratulations to Pierre Rolland - a stage win for France and the white jersey. What a great day for him and France!

Tomorrow's time trial should be very interesting. Are we looking at a closer finish than Lemond-Fignon 9 seconds?

[DukieInKansas]

Apparently not. I was really hoping Andy would ride with the power of yellow and keep a few seconds of his lead. Congratulations to Cadel. I admit I was pulling against him today but he deserves the victory. Tommy D kept his place in the top ten in his first tour.

It was fun to watch Rolland come across the line and realize he had won the white jersey. Voeckler was impressive also. France has heroes in both of them and a potential future winner in Rolland.

[Lavabe]

Apparently not. I was really hoping Andy would ride with the power of yellow and keep a few seconds of his lead. Congratulations to Cadel. I admit I was pulling against him today but he deserves the victory. Tommy D kept his place in the top ten in his first tour.

It was fun to watch Rolland come across the line and realize he had won the white jersey. Voeckler was impressive also. France has heroes in both of them and a potential future winner in Rolland.

I was pulling for Evans, and was very happy for him after so many years on the Tour. I was also pulling for a Voeckler podium place, but the Schlecks held on. I was EXTREMELY happy that Contador finished in 5th.
Congrats to Danielson (9th), as best American. Vandevelde in the teens. Levi was in the 30's. I hope Hincapie will come back for one more year on BMC.
Polka Dot (Sanchez) is now complete. Yellow (Evans) is now complete. White is Rolland. I believe Garmin-Cevelo gets team (I was pulling for HTC). The big thing that's left is the sprint, and the showdown between HTC (Cavendish) and G-C (Farrar).

[Lavabe]

Still the most beautiful scene of the Tour: the riders just turned onto the Champs. Team BMC gets honors to lead the yellow jersey.

Freaking LONG train.
And the ceremony is over. Sprinters are lining up for the first sprint.