Le Tour Stage 7 - **Spoiler**

[ComedyPilot]

Just got in. Brilliant stage, well done to Bertie, and Nocentinifor taking yellow. Does he have a team to keep it up? LA still in there, I hear what people are saying but he is a wily old fox and might be keeping something in reserve?

What about Wiggy? Brilliant result for him, and he even had a sneaky 'YES' to himself behind the team bus as the TV crew were trying to catch up with him.

Good day to be a cyclist.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

LA looked drained in the interview.... has is age caught up with him?

Mrs 3BM nearly choked on her tea when I told her LA wasn't 50 he was only 38!

 

[Skip Madness]

I don't doubt that there is genuine tension within the Astana team, but if Lance is going to attack Bertie he will wait until they're in the middle of the Alps, not split the team after the first week.

 

[yello]

Some would say the team is split already SM.

But that'll be my final word on it. I really am not well versed in cycling tactics and so I'm calling it based on what I'm reading into the situation at Astana and what little I know of Armstrong's ego/will to win. I do fully admit the possibility of getting it completely wrong and it all to be revealed in the fullness of time as cycling tactics and no more.... but lord I love it, whatever the truth!

 

[Crackle]

Great ride by NOCENTINI, at one point he looked finished, can't decide if he was playing the classic 'had it' look or whether he recovered after chasing a few attacks.

Wiggins was very impressive, maybe he could be a Grand Tour rider but I think I'll reserve opinion on that to the end of the race.

I expected Contador to go but though the initial accelaration was impressive he didn't get that much time and he was fighting it at the end. I don't think Armstrong had much more and I think he wanted to go but knew he wouldn't get away in that wind, so he played the marker role and limited his time loss. I suspect he's not got the top 2/3% of power anymore, he knows it and is playing a strategy and control game. I think the anger was missing yellow, maybe he knows that's the closest he'll get, Contadors attack probably pissed him off too. Thing is he's hard to read, a master of disguise and spin.

Good attacking by Evans but no sign of Sastre who was 3 minutes down, good stage but not yet the full firework display.

 

[stumpy]

Wiggin to be the GC man for team sky then???

 

[ComedyPilot]

Wiggin to be the GC man for team sky then???

Oi !!!!!

That's how rumours start...!

 

[onthe_road]

LA still in there, I hear what people are saying but he is a wily old fox and might be keeping something in reserve?

Astana buyout?

 

[Chuffy]

Good attacking by Evans but no sign of Sastre who was 3 minutes down, good stage but not yet the full firework display.

Four words I thought I'd never hear.

GO CUDDLES!

 

[Chuffy]

And Wiggy seemed to be making it very clear that Vandevelde is still top chap at Garmin and that he'll ride for him as required. Frankly I trust Wiggy in ways that I don't trust...other riders.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Wiggins was quite clear in his interview that when Contador went, Armstrong was 'blocking' for him. Sure he wants to win, and certainly I am not a huge fan, but Lance has also got a serious tactical and professional head on him, and he made as sure as he could that Contador got away from his rivals in other teams.

Excellent stage, and an great ride by Wiggins (which wasn't quite as unexpected by those of us who have been keeping an eye on him in the Giro and elsewhere this year...).

 

[dellzeqq]

Bruyneel had a completely flat face. There were no individual plans he said, we wanted to work as a team and watch for the attacks he said. He wouldn't be drawn on the subject of Armstrong and/or Contador. Why did I get the impression he wasn't overly pleased with his team's position??

I think Bruyneel is the master of the flat face. He's had a lot of practice. Armstrong was definitely cheesed off, though that might have been because Bertie didn't go back to the team car to get his sandwiches - I fear that there are a lot of things that Lasnce doesn't find quite to his liking - but there's no doubt that when Contador shot off there was nobody to touch him, and that might have been the moment when Lance realised that second in the GC was the best he could have hoped for.

Wiggers (or what's left of him)! Wow!

 

[yello]

Wiggins was quite clear in his interview that when Contador went, Armstrong was 'blocking' for him. Sure he wants to win, and certainly I am not a huge fan, but Lance has also got a serious tactical and professional head on him, and he made as sure as he could that Contador got away from his rivals in other teams.

That seems SO in response to my position that I simply have to come back from the dead! I agree with you that Armstrong was blocking and is a great tactician. I'm pretty sure it's not what he wanted to happen though. My point was, I didn't think he could follow Contador... in fact, nobody could!

It was also Contador acting alone; no team orders, arguably giving the bird as he took off (cf Armstrong to Ulrich, 'The Look' 2001 Huez). Sod the tactics, I reckon if Armstrong could have followed he would have! I reckon it could well be a defining moment of this tour.

Excellent stage, and an great ride by Wiggins (which wasn't quite as unexpected by those of us who have been keeping an eye on him in the Giro and elsewhere this year...).

You're making it sound 'ho hum'! Many people were aware of what Wiggins did in the Giro, that doesn't mean we expect it from him all the time! He hasn't yet made that transition in our minds to Brad the proven grimpeur! He also faded in the Giro. Let's applaud every single time he turns in a performance like that and not expect it.... not yet anyway!

 

[Crackle]

You're making it sound 'ho hum'! Many people were aware of what Wiggins did in the Giro, that doesn't mean we expect it from him all the time! He hasn't yet made that transition in our minds to Brad the proven grimpeur! He also faded in the Giro. Let's applaud every single time he turns in a performance like that and not expect it.... not yet anyway!

Yep. I watched him in the Giro too. It's a 3 week race, he wasn't in it for three weeks. He did a couple of impressive rides as in the Tour so far. He's got to do that over 3 weeks, otherwise he's a stage rider not a Grand Tour rider.