QuoteAstarloza fails drug test. Roche was 4th in the stage Asraloza won I think, easing off at the end. If he'd contested the sprint he might now be a stage winner.
In fairness last stage is generally about the sprint. It's the marquee stage to win, and everyone wants it
Yellow jersey is on cruise control
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Astarloza fails drug test. Roche was 4th in the stage Asraloza won I think, easing off at the end. If he'd contested the sprint he might now be a stage winner.
Last edited by Stuttgart88; 02/08/2009 at 5:40 PM.
4th.Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
dan martin being tipped to do well in GC in the (world ranked) Tour of Poland which started today
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I was editing my post as you were typing!
I think Roche had chain trouble at the end of that stage, Asterloza was a few seconds ahead of his group
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Nicolas Roche has been one of the unluckiest men between last year's Vuelta and this year's tour, second on two stages, and repeatedly up in the top placings for several of the others, and good overall GC placings. When he finally wins, I am hoping he will win big.
Is he going to this year's Vuelta? I'd fancy his chances to do something special there.
That question was less stupid, though you asked it in a profoundly stupid way.
Help me, Arthur Murphy, you're my only hope!
From betfair.com
was reading spanish press today....
"A Tale of solitude. It happened on Thursday, a few hours before the Annecy ITT. Contador came downstairs to the entrance of the Palace of Menthon, the luxurious Astana hotel. The Tour was on. He looked right, then left. Nobody, nothing. No Astana cars or helpers. Cold sweat. Quick time check. Where are they? The hotel is several kilometers from the start. There he was, the leader of the Tour, in flip-flops, bag in hand and alone. He went to the hall looking for an answer: Armstrong had ordered the helpers to go pick up his wife, kids and friends to the airport.
Contador left his room last because he was the last one starting the ITT. Armstrong had managed to take away his means of transportation. The straw that broke the camel's back. Hot flashes, he was rabid. He called his brother Fran. He came to pick him up by car and took him to Annecy in a private vehicle. He left last and finished first. His best victory. In the ITT. In solitude. The same way he has won his second tour.
dan martin didn't tart today's last stage in the Tour of Poland.
No idea why
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Latest world rankings place Ireland in a respectable 18th position, given that most of our protour or thereabouts professional contingent are 25 or under. Dan Martin is the highest ranked (and the only in the top 100) at 48th, and this ranking means we can send three to the Worlds in Mendriso for the first time since the early 1990s.
It is also good to see that four of the top six (including all of the top three!) teams will be at the Tour of Ireland this year.
That question was less stupid, though you asked it in a profoundly stupid way.
Help me, Arthur Murphy, you're my only hope!
Presume the 3 will be Roche, martin and Deignan.
although, you never know Roger Aiken might get the shout again
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Just read that Paul Healion died this weekend. He had been rated by many as most likely of the starters on the national team to do something in the forthcoming Tour of Ireland/Munster this week. I hope that some one of them does well on one of the stages in his name - I doubt that Cavendish would be willing to forsake a stage win to honour him, especially when there are only two he can win.
Obit on Irishcycling here.
That question was less stupid, though you asked it in a profoundly stupid way.
Help me, Arthur Murphy, you're my only hope!
Tour of Ireland starts tomorrow, with a minute's silence beforehand for Paul Healion. Hopefully the National team can do something to commemorate him in the race, though it looks set for a Cavendish stroll. Anyone heading into Waterford for it?
That question was less stupid, though you asked it in a profoundly stupid way.
Help me, Arthur Murphy, you're my only hope!
He didn't even finish last year - will he bothered to drag himself up Patricks Hill? No leave left to take - bad enough even if I didn't have to drive the route to work (one sprint and one kom).
If you attack me with stupidity, I'll be forced to defend myself with sarcasm.
I was just talking about tomorrow. He *might* finish on Sunday, but only if he thinks he'll win the green jersey. I wouldn't be surprised if he won the first two stages, but failed to keep the green or started the third stage and pulled out when he got close to the team hotel. He is a very strong sprinter, but I really suspect his character / attitude regarding certain things. No concern last year about hanging on to help his team mate knobble Downing - only two Columbia's finished in fact, I think.
Stinker about covering the route and not getting to go - no chance to go the other days?
That question was less stupid, though you asked it in a profoundly stupid way.
Help me, Arthur Murphy, you're my only hope!
Big split today, cav missed it.
Russell Downing won the sprint, with Deignan in 5th
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Deignan was fourth, though it makes little difference - he is only 11s down on GC with another four, then another 19 in 15 seconds, everyone else out to 2m18, and probably gone from it, aside maybe a random long break. Of the first 23, aside maybe Deignan, who was fifth in one of the Spanish stage races so he does have some pedigree, there are maybe five I'd fancy could win - Downing, Fuglsang, Zubeldia, Pinotti, and of course Armstrong. Fingers crossed...
That question was less stupid, though you asked it in a profoundly stupid way.
Help me, Arthur Murphy, you're my only hope!
Downing won the overall after finishing 2nd today. In the end only 47 riders finished as the rest abondoned on St Patrick's Hill (including Armstrong in his last race for Astana). Deignan was 12th overall. Promising 18 year old Sam bennett was one of only 2 other Irishmen to finish.
Nicolas roche admitted he'd have liked to race in Cyclingnews. He's off to the Tour of Britain next week
In the end he dind't do much in France but Dan martin finished 5th (and in the leading group) to pick up 30 more world ranking points. Coming into form nicely for the Vuelta
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Apparently Lance is going on a cycle with the fans of Dublin, according to his twitter and Cycling Weekly. I can only presume that the bunch won't be going Military road, which can be a bit steep at times
That question was less stupid, though you asked it in a profoundly stupid way.
Help me, Arthur Murphy, you're my only hope!
Phil Deignan wins today's stage in Vuelta!
UPDATE: 9th overall, 7m50 down on Valverde, almost 3 full minutes clear of Cobo in 10th
Brief report on cycling news.
Last few kms in Dutch on Youtube - Go Dayn-yan. Did it make any of the Irish news?
Last edited by Bluebeard; 18/09/2009 at 12:47 AM.
That question was less stupid, though you asked it in a profoundly stupid way.
Help me, Arthur Murphy, you're my only hope!
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