Le Tour de France 2009

[Angry Angel]

Well, not that many surprises there, even Menchov toppling over is hardly a surprise any more these days nor is his lack of interest. Evans won't be too happy I'd imagine, for the rest most of the favorites remained within a minute of each other.

You can't win a Tour on a team time trial but you can lose it (c) someone on TV who this time had something not too stupid to say...

Seeing how the last years the top 5 in any major race has been quite close that's quite an accurate statement. Losing half a minute like some did yesterday cause the wind breaks apart the peloton, losing ground downhill cause you can't keep up ... if you add all of that you could be talking about minutes. 2 minutes in a time trial like this one can have a huge impact. And it hardly ever happens that someone can make it up in the mountains, not by minutes anyway. That's why I never see someone like Menchov winning it, he's just too ... careless. I'll be happy if he proves me wrong though

 

[Angry Angel]

197 kms today from Le Cap d'Agde to Perpignan.

Flat again, but the teams might have to be on their toes for the wind this close to the coast.

 

[RAMA]

I'm an Armstrong fan, but I never even expected him to contend! For him to be essentially tied for first already amazes me!!!

RAMA

 

[Jono]

What's the rule with the team cars? I noticed a couple of times with crashes that some riders seem to get a helping hand by their team cars to get them back with the group.

 

[Roger Wilco]

I think the riders are not allowed any help from the car, they can't hold on to it unless for a short period of time when they are restocking their bottles/food or getting mechanical help, and they can't even use the draft.

 

[Angry Angel]

That's it, and if they do get an advantage the jury will give them penalty seconds at the end of the race. It's the same with getting help uphill from fans. They need to fend them off. The order of the team cars behind the peloton is based on the general team classification. So helpers getting water or food from a lower classed team sometimes need to go back a whole lot more than those from the leading teams. It's also that when a group escapes no cars are allowed till after the gap has grown to over 1 minute.

 

[Roger Wilco]

Congratulations to Voeckler, phenomenal win, and he's a guy who really deserved that.

 

[Angry Angel]

Not a fan of him, but impressive run nonetheless with the peloton getting that close. Good show of the other escapees too though, they were able to stay ahead quite well.
And again a black day for Rabobank, Gesink out because of a broken wrist, such a damned shame.

 

[mimic]

Thomas Voeckler is going to win.

I'm a psychic.

 

[Angry Angel]

181.5 kms today, from Gerone to Barcelona

Maybe one for the adventurers again, but if the pack stays together it might be one of the few chances for sprinters like Hushovd and Freire who can finish uphill:

 

[Shaytan]

Something that might be important : the weather is horrible in Barcelone.

 

[Angry Angel]

I just read it ... they're having problems with painting the finish line on the road
Hopefully we're not going to see any crashes.

 

[Angry Angel]

It's going uphill today, with the longest stage this tour. 224 kms from Barcelona till Andorre Arcalis:

 

[Roger Wilco]

That looks like a gruelling stage. Will Astana wait until showing their cards or go full throttle today already?

 

[Shaytan]

That looks like a gruelling stage. Will Astana wait until showing their cards or go full throttle today already?

No idea but I really expect to have some answers.

 

[Angry Angel]

Well that was disappointing. Don't see today bringing much changes either. 2 category 1's, but no uphill finish.

176.5 kms from Andorre-La-Vieille to Saint Girons.

 

[Shaytan]

Well that was disappointing.

If action in the last 2km is their idea of making the Tour interesting...

 

[Angry Angel]

No joy today either. One of the most boring Tours so far.

 

[Shaytan]

No joy today either. One of the most boring Tours so far.

Yeps, I haven't found the Tour interesting since at least 2000...

 

[Angry Angel]

I'm not really sure what the Tour organization is trying to accomplish with these kind of stages, but here's another one:

160.5 kms from Saint-Gaudens to Tarbes. Maybe because they have to take the Tourmalet right after the Col d'Aspin that it will give some action.