Thats a bit of a disapointment for Martin, might have more scope to go for a stage win now.
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Thats a bit of a disapointment for Martin, might have more scope to go for a stage win now.
I think he is targetting the mountains jersey and a stage win, so no harm to shed a bit of time. Still a pity as he could well have done something on that sort of finish.
According to his twitter feed Danielson has separated his shoulder and is out of the rest of the tour.
Pretty mad how much resources Garmin put to Danielson. Left Ryder on his own in the lead peleton.
As above the bit of time loss may help get away on a mountain stage. Not that he won't lost 6 minutes on the titme trials...
Yeah, didn't understand everyone waiting with Danielson - maybe him not being the leader was a bluff to take pressure off him, which JV has done before. Having said that, Dan kinda finished in no man's land between the leaders and Danielson - not sure what happened there. He was on Ryder duty on Stage One so maybe he got caught later. I know the focus wasn't GC at all for him, but still a bit disappointed we won't truly see his potential. Hard to see him going too far into the red in the time trials now, which he might've been tempted to do if he'd still been there or thereabouts.
Maybe, but I don't really want to see him bust his balls to maybe finish top ten when he can agitate in the mountains. Much prefer him chasing stages or even the polka dot (to complete the set for Ireland ;) )
Call it the anti-Roche move
I think people are a bit harsh on Roche... going for a top ten is likely to yield more UCI points than going for stage wins, even if it's less spectacular and interesting. And it's still a big achievement in itself.
I'm pleased to see that AG2R aren't throwing guys into every single breakaway this year. Maybe this will mean they have more energy left to support Roche in the mountain stages.
Well Vaughters agree's with you, rather than me, so I think he'll be 10 minutes plus down by the time the first mountains come around. I'd love to see him get a stage, and a genuine climber win the polka dot too so it'd be a great double.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dodge
I probably have more of an issue with it being his complete focus, and would like to see him more focused at other times of the year. For all that could be done better with AG2R, they can't be faulted for giving him space to try for a high grand tour finishes.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr A
Yeah, but I just don't think he's good enough to finish top 10. His 14th/15th a couple of years ago was a phenomenal result. The other 2 outings were low-mid 20s. Far from knocking that achievement I just think he'd be better suited trying to attck on the medium mountains. A stage win is worth the same UCI points as finshing 14th (ironically enough)Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr A
Bouet was in the first one.Quote:
I'm pleased to see that AG2R aren't throwing guys into every single breakaway this year. Maybe this will mean they have more energy left to support Roche in the mountain stages.
Yeah I know, but I don't mind if they're on stages where a break might actually stick. At times the French teams can be so obsessed with camera time that they'll attack regardless of whether there's actually a chance of success... see FDJ last year or Saur this year so far, and from some of the Roche diaries in the past AG2R have thought the same way.
Yeah, pays the bills and all that.
Claims that 5 former team mates will admit using drugs and testify against Armstrong and receive only 6 month bans.
Vaughters has said that nobody at his team have received bans though. No one has yet commented on whether they testified.
Read more: http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12...#ixzz1zju7Z1MqQuote:
They are George Hincapie (BMC Racing Team), the only rider who was present for every one of his seven victories, Levi Leipheimer (Omega Pharma Quick Step) and the Garmin-Sharp duo of Christian Vande Velde and Dave Zabriskie. The fifth individual is Garmin-Sharp manager Jonathan Vaughters.
Judging by Vaughters on Twitter, I'd say its pretty clear that he testified. Delighted he did too.
And no way the names on that list can attempt to be written off like Landis and Hamilton could either.
No, but you could see why armtrong's people would try and leak them. More pressureQuote:
Originally Posted by Macy
http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/...igation_118885
vaughters statement in 2010. basically - answer the questions if you're asked them
Ups the pressure on them, but it smacks of desperation too. Anyway, I think it's great that people are standing up for it - kind of reassuring to see Vaughters and Co follow through publicly rather than hinting.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dodge
I mean ups the pressure as in, they don't need this while they're racing. Clearly a desperation move
Lazy question. I've heard no mention of Boonen or Hushovd so far. Are they both out? Boonen was on great form in the spring classics.
Also, anyone got any idea why some of the Sky helmets (e.g., Cavendish) have no ventilation holes.
What a finish today. The breakaway guys came so close. Also, interesting Millar interview on ITV4. It seems GB, US and Germany will all work together in London to make sure Cavendish, Greippel and Farrar will be able to contest the medals.
I think they're both doing the Tour of Poland instead.
Ha. Bit of a waste of effort from the US guys there!
Today should be another day for the sprinters.. tomorrow is the first real climbing test. I have a feeling Roche will go well, and we'll learn a lot about Martin's recovery from his crash at the Dauphine.
Stuck a few quid on Goss once I heard Greipel had crashed.. Looks like Cavendish isn't in the front group.. Sagan will probably screw me over.
Drat.......
And it seems both Roche and Martin lost time.
Didn't watch but whole team pulling for Goss and he can't win that against Sagan and an injured Greipel? Poor
Nico Roche unscathed and in 14th place now
Dan Martin part of the germin bus that brought Ryder home 13 minutes down. no idea if caught up in crash or just there to help him finish
Dan Martin interview with Ned Boulting here:
http://www.itv.com/tourdefrance/news...ive-interview/
He has a regular column in Irish Times too which I guess you all know about so I won't post a link.
Hopefully AG2R now focus on Roche seeing as Peraud lost time yesterday. Martin is almost the only unhurt Garmin Sharp rider so should have free rein from now on. Mental stage yesterday and really looking forward to today's. Would love to see Evans put some time into Wiggins.
Roche up to 8th in GC. Martin was hyped up by ITV but couldn't cut it today apparently.
Evans and Nibaldi are riding solo for all intents and purposes. SKY seems well in control and with a 50k+ TT to come it's already looking like Wiggins' to lose.
Garmin rode for Martin. He said he didn't have the legs today. Hopefully he finds them for next week
Yeah garmin going on the front kind of hyped Dan rather than the other way round.
Great performance from roche.
Not sure I'm entirely comfortable seeing a US postal style mountain train blow a stage apart. however, still coming down on believing...
What number is Roche lads? My father wants to know but when I google him there seems to be different numbers on him each picture I look at. Does it alter with overall classification each day ? And/or is there a constant number also? Forgive the ignorance here.
I think he's number 79. Constant. I'm a bit confused, as I thought all numbers were 3 digits, except Evans as he is champion so wears 1. then I thought it went by team ranking so SKY being best ranked team and Wiggins being team leader makes him 101 etc.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
I think you're right there,thought he looked strong enough at the end today.
Was looking at it today. Team leaders definitely end in 1 but plenty of double digit rider numbers.
Roche down to 9th after that. TT tomorrow.
Roche is def No.79 http://www.letour.fr/le-tour/2012/us...e-nicolas.htmlQuote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
They always start with 1, with the defending champion (and I think defending champions team if they're not defending). And always start from 1 going up. They are constant through the tour - gc leader is defined by yellow jersey.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
Wiggins lost the plot yesterday...
For what it's worth, I do believe (and hope) Wiggins and Sky are clean. However, imo he's been far less vocally anti doping since he became a contender, and his continued Lance fanboy act doesn't exactly do him any favours in this regard. And there appears to be a question mark over one of the Team Sky Doctors, which the dot joiners just love to see, but does raise some questions for Brailsford. So I don't have a problem with Wiggins having a pop back (or the language used), but he hasn't really done himself any favours in recent seasons.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bradley Wiggins
Roche in 10th after the time trial- great ride from him. Hopefully he can move up a bit in the mountain stages before the final time trial.
Hard to see anything stopping Wiggins now.. but the climbers have to give it welly in the mountains now so it should be entertaining.
Yep, great TT from Roche. Definite improvement. Unlucky to lose that bit of time the day before, but hopefully he can stick with the main GC guys on the longer climbs.
Possibly Froome is Wiggins biggest danger. If Wiggins has a bad day, and Froome isn't, will Froome wait? And would Brailsford make him? Probably, but creates an added bit of confusion.
Armstrong tries to stop the USADA case, fecks it up completely: http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12...fications.aspx He can try again though, and no doubt will.
Meanwhile the Cofidis team have been raided by police and one rider arrested with two others on suspicion of involvement with doping products. Yay. Another Tour rest day.
Remy di Gregario arrested at Cofidis hotel (usual bull about them storming the hotel). As if he wouldn't turn up anyway... Investigation stems from his time at Astana (shock!)
Froome was stronger than Wiggins in the Vuelta. Sky ballsed up trying to get Wiggins the title, and they ended up 2nd and 3rd. Phenomenally strong
Yeah, but I'm not sure anyone (including Froome himself) knew he was that strong or consistent at that stage. He wasn't even selected for the Tour last year in support of Wiggins. Still think from the PR point of view, Wiggins is the man for them to focus on.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dodge