SwissVan Posted July 6, 2011 Share Yeah but from my understanding the confusion arises from the fact some are saying it was an uphill finish and hense there were splits, so actual time should have been recorded, almost like stage 4. Perhaps there is a difference between a sprint finish with an uphill and a mountain climb finish? I think some dudes are getting confused between uphill and mountain finishes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwissVan Posted July 6, 2011 Share mmmmmmmmm for someone who knows nothing about cycling (as the pros/cycling gods on this blog have pointed out) my predictions were pretty cloise about yesterdays stage. Contador did attack. But did you guys notice how tired he looked? I now more than ever think the Giro took too much out of him. Watch Andy peak in week 3..... I think this will be an Andy, Evans and Wiggins show......... Yep Contador obviously felt he had to try something and imo it was a wasted effort, he gained 8 seconds on AS but u have to wonder if it was worth it?Perhaps AC used yesterday as a quality session to get back into peak form? Also wonder about Evans, hope he is not trying to hard to soon... Thats whats makes these tours so great, trying to figure out whats actualy going on between the lines.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eldron Posted July 6, 2011 Share Perhaps there is a difference between a sprint finish with an uphill and a mountain climb finish? I think some dudes are getting confused between uphill and mountain finishes. My understanding is that any stage that finishes on a classified hill/mountain/col (even a cat 3 or 4) doesn't have the 3km no time loss rule. Gaps were given yesterday inside the 3km limit. According to the rules there doesn't seem to be a difference between hilltop and mountain top finishes... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garfield2010 Posted July 6, 2011 Share Considering that Evans has issues 15km's from the end and had to catch up and ride his way back to the front I would have to say he is looking the strongest of everyone at the moment..... I just wonder if he will be able to keep his form for the duration of the tour....... The same goes for Wiggins............. This is going to be one hell of a tour.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eldron Posted July 6, 2011 Share Yep Contador obviously felt he had to try something and imo it was a wasted effort, he gained 8 seconds on AS but u have to wonder if it was worth it?Perhaps AC used yesterday as a quality session to get back into peak form? Also wonder about Evans, hope he is not trying to hard to soon... Thats whats makes these tours so great, trying to figure out whats actualy going on between the lines.... Agreed! Andy stills worries me though - in California he couldn't climb the long drags and in Stage 4 he couldn't/wouldn't go with the power spinters...not looking good for him. I hope for his sake the fabled "peak in the second week of the tour" urban legend is no legend!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
X-Man Posted July 6, 2011 Share +1 2008 Tour de France champion Carlos Sastre has criticised the way that the rules were applied on stage one of the Tour de France, resulting in defending Tour champion Alberto Contador losing a significant amount of time compared to his main rivals. Writing in his current role during the Tour as a consultant for Spanish national TV, Sastre said he believes that some bodies are taking a stance "against Alberto at all costs". He added that his compatriot is not being shown the respect he deserves. Currently riding for his Geox-TMC team at the Tour of Austria, Sastre said he had been talking there with two former teammates about the Tour's opening stage, and all agreed that Contador appeared to have been treated unfairly according to their knowledge and experience of the sport's regulations. "We agreed that Alberto Contador has not been sanctioned [for his positive test for clenbuterol], which gives him every freedom and right to compete. Contador has been and continues to be a scapegoat, and it seems that the only way of dethroning him is to take a stand against him and not support him on any decisions," said Sastre. http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/sastre-theres-a-lack-of-respect-for-contador I agree, and I think Riis should have appealed on Saturday as was his original intention. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwissVan Posted July 6, 2011 Share Well at least Contador will have 2 reasons excuses possibilities to explain why he lost the Tour, IF he loses.... Smoke and mirrors... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eldron Posted July 6, 2011 Share Considering that Evans has issues 15km's from the end and had to catch up and ride his way back to the front I would have to say he is looking the strongest of everyone at the moment..... I just wonder if he will be able to keep his form for the duration of the tour....... The same goes for Wiggins............. This is going to be one hell of a tour.... Much as we love to "form check" in the first few stages - there is a huge difference between sitting in the bunch for 200km on a flat course before a slight uphill sprint and hammering a cat 1 10km climb after 4 classified climbs over 170km. Stage 12 will reveal ther top 10 GCers. That said I would put some money on Wiggo as a dark horse...he's looking lean and light without looking gaunt - exactly how I think a Tour rider should start the race. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nochain Posted July 6, 2011 Share Perhaps there is a difference between a sprint finish with an uphill and a mountain climb finish? I think some dudes are getting confused between uphill and mountain finishes.That’s why I think they should maybe fix it before as part of the race bible .Then everybody knows. But yes there is a huge difference between a finish like that and a mountain top. Any hill that you see Cancelarra sprint up in a 53x16 or something is as good as a sprint finish. Yesterday was more of an uphill and I would think the rule would not apply there. Yesterday's stage was tailor made for the hill "punch" riders. It has no relevance what so ever on form for me.Either you are that type of rider or you are not.2km at 15% is nothing compared to 12km at 8 or 10%.The way people analyse yesterday's stage you would swear that means Vino,Hushovd and Gilbert are now overall contenders and Mountain goats because they were able to stay with Contador and Evans and Andy,Gesink,Wiggens and Basso could not. Edited July 6, 2011 by nochain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garfield2010 Posted July 6, 2011 Share Agreed.... Hy moet bietjie vet om die lyf he vir die latere fases! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'Dale Posted July 6, 2011 Share 'Berto has been victorious in several Grand Tours.He knows how to win, whether by minutes or by seconds. He is stunning.After the power surges of the recent Giro, I wonder how much more dancing on the pedals he can do. ----- The politicians are not expedient and efficient in their decision-making.Really hurting the spirit of the sport.Ai. Tch! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyOldGuy Posted July 6, 2011 Share Perhaps there is a difference between a sprint finish with an uphill and a mountain climb finish? I think some dudes are getting confused between uphill and mountain finishes. Stage 4 was certainly not a Mountain top finish either yet it was an "actual time" stage and the 3 km rule did not apply. As stage one finished, if memory serves me, on a cat 4 climb as well, some are questioning why was a differant rule applied there when both stages had similar finishes.? I think its a valid question, so far I have not seen a valid answer though. Edited July 6, 2011 by GrumpyOldGuy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eldron Posted July 6, 2011 Share Stage 4 was certainly not a Mountain top finish either yet it was an "actual time" stage and the 3 minute rule did not apply. As stage one finished, if memory serves me, on a cat 4 climb as well, some are questioning why was a differant rule applied there when both stages had similar finishes.? I think its a valid question, so far I have not seen a valid answer though. Checked the results and time splits were given on both Stage 1 and 4 inside the last 3km but not Stage 3. It seems the rule is that time splits are given if the stage ends on a classified climb. It's probably in the rules somewhere I just couldn't be arsed to find it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E1A104 Posted July 6, 2011 Share Well at least Contador will have 2 reasons excuses possibilities to explain why he lost the Tour, IF he loses.... Smoke and mirrors... True but the interesting fact is that he has not publicly said a thing about it and just got on with the job at hand . Intrigued to know what went on behind closed horel doors when he was "recovering". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garfield2010 Posted July 6, 2011 Share As long as it is clarified before the stage starts it is fair to everyone? The tour has changed a lot. It is about entertainment these days. The organisers is very happy with the way things are going as causes for excitement in the coming days. Remember in the past how booooring the flat stages always were? We only need some cobbles now as well!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E1A104 Posted July 6, 2011 Share As long as it is clarified before the stage starts it is fair to everyone? The tour has changed a lot. It is about entertainment these days. The organisers is very happy with the way things are going as causes for excitement in the coming days. Remember in the past how booooring the flat stages always were? We only need some cobbles now as well!! The sisters schleck would love that ......NOT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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