Tour de France - Stage 14 - SPOILER

[Willo]

Fair play to Voeckler. Had expected Andy Schleck to make some time today but with a fairly large group all marked each other out of it. I hope Andy Schleck isn't holding anything back for his brother.

 

[Fiona N]

A bit underwhelming in the end I think? Fair play to Voeckler though - despite the fact that I was dissin him to my mates only last week for his generally pointless breakaways!

It seems very even this year... is it a cleaner peloton?
It's worth having a look at the analysis on the Science of Sport blog - they've been using the power / HR / speed data on the SRAM/Powertap site (Chris Horner's data until he went home and Anke Sorenson's amongst others) to work out power/wt on the different length climbs. It's really interesting that there seems to be a distinct cut-off on the longest climbs at around 6 to 6.2 w/kg. The sports scientists on the site reckon that this is close to the physiological limit for sustained effort in an undoped athlete. In comparison, Lance and Contador in the past have been able to sustain over 6.5 w/kg up to nearly 7w/kg which, it is implied, but not stated as fact, obviously, means they were receiving benefit from some unnatural means - either blood doping or epo. Interesting stuff.


Finally great to see Sky getting the white jersey back!!!!!!!!!!! Definitely

 

[Alessandro Petacchi]

After watching the Tour today i thought i would do a Jens Voigt but faster!Went over the bars at 30+mph,so i am sat here with lots of bruises,cuts and scrapes and i think a torn muscle.But the main thing is look at the state of my helmet and its the same on the other side,it also has a dent in it from a large stone and i did'nt realise any of this until i took it off at home.Sometimes i wear a cloth cap but for some reason i put a lid on today .

 

[Willo]

Sorry to hear that, but glad nothing more serious. The helmet done its job by the sounds of it. Hope the scrapes and bruises are not too sore in the morning.

 

[Alessandro Petacchi]

Sorry to hear that, but glad nothing more serious. The helmet done its job by the sounds of it. Hope the scrapes and bruises are not too sore in the morning.

Thanks,i think the helmet did a good job.My wife said that i will have to wear one all the time now! At 55 you feel sore in the morning anyway so tommorow should be fun.

 

[Crackle]

The Schleks aren't doping, they're dopy. Similiar but different.

 

[Dayvo]

Why is everyone down on the Shlecks? At least they tried and they aren't (to date) dopers like Contador or a**es like Evans.

Having said that, my money is on Evans for the GC.

That's a bit unfair. Evans is a 100% trier and is clean (AFAIK) and was a worthy winner of the rainbow jersey the time before last.

If he were to win the tour, as you state, and I hope, will you still regard him as an arse? And just why, exactly?

 

[naffets]

still dont like the bloke but Chappo to voeckler! didnt think he,d get up with the so called tour favourites andy left it too late again to get any time gap or did he not have the legs?

 

[lukesdad]

The Schleks aren't doping, they're dopy. Similiar but different.

Basso took the sting out of that stage, and Voeckler marked all the moves. I think frank was on the rivet and andy didn t know what to do. Basso and Contador are only going to get better and watch out for Voeckler on the descent into Gap could try to steal a few seconds there.

 

[raindog]

still dont like the bloke but Chappo to voeckler!

Why don't you like him? Just curious.