- Location
- Next door to Mr Benn at No 54
Stage 9 **SPOILER**
- Thread starter Landslide
- Start date
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Chuffy
Veteran
- Location
- On the banks of the Exe
I was thinking something ruder. 'kin fanboy..
Flying_Monkey
Recyclist
- Location
- Odawa
It always raises a smile when he wins. I was reading an article the other day that was making the case that in a previous era with more basic technology, less team support and no race radios, he might have been one of the greats. He does seem to represent something real, gritty and unglamorous.
laurence
Veteran
- Location
- in the aeroplane over the sea
Foghat
Freight-train-groove-rider
Impressed by Schleck today. Not renowned as a descender or rouleur, but he certainly drove it well down the Madeleine and in the Maurienne valley at the end, right to the finish too, looking full of fight.
That Madeleine descent is actually pretty gruelling if you race down it - plenty of sections where you have to pedal hard (especially where the wind is against), and enough tight bends needing you to ride hard out of to get back to speed quickly. I remember it being one of the few descents where we actually encountered a Frenchie able to keep up with us!
The final Maurienne valley is also noticeably uphill in today's direction. Not sure what the wind was doing on this stage, but if the wind isn't helpful, those gradually uphill valley roads feel pretty darn heavy when in a small group and with a day's mountain passes in the legs, so it's good to see two climbers ride the rest of the race off their wheels in both the ascent and descent/valley sections.
That Madeleine descent is actually pretty gruelling if you race down it - plenty of sections where you have to pedal hard (especially where the wind is against), and enough tight bends needing you to ride hard out of to get back to speed quickly. I remember it being one of the few descents where we actually encountered a Frenchie able to keep up with us!
The final Maurienne valley is also noticeably uphill in today's direction. Not sure what the wind was doing on this stage, but if the wind isn't helpful, those gradually uphill valley roads feel pretty darn heavy when in a small group and with a day's mountain passes in the legs, so it's good to see two climbers ride the rest of the race off their wheels in both the ascent and descent/valley sections.
Agree with the comment on Evans, it must be so brutal to keep on pushing when you're really suffering and know your chance of winning has gone. One thing about Evans is that it's all there to see, no running and hiding on the bus; he faces up to the public and his emotion is for all to see.
Thought Schlek looked good, although think Contadot maybe just seeking to wipe out the rest of the field knowing he'll take Schlek in the TT.
Thought Schlek looked good, although think Contadot maybe just seeking to wipe out the rest of the field knowing he'll take Schlek in the TT.
Spinney
Bimbleur extraordinaire
- Location
- Back up north
On the other hand, with Cav's propensity for saying stupid things when he's feeling emotional, perhaps it's just as well that he runs to the bus! (Even if his helmet doesn't stay there
- but seeing a video of that again - there are a lot of steps up to the 'floor' of the bus - is it possible that he just dropped it and it bounced down the steps?)
Chuffy
Veteran
- Location
- On the banks of the Exe
Cackle!
The NY Velocity guys do a (very funny) text commentary on each stage and they seem to be following coverage that uses Phil'n'Paul. Link in my sigline.
