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Post by Bundy on Jul 13, 2012 22:55:54 GMT 10
Cadel can't possibly win now, This is why Cadel was so inconsistent previous years, he could've won more if not for stupid decisions like last nights one. I wouldn't say it was stupid or maybe you can where he should have known his limitations as a bike rider more and he has never been one to mid-race, launch an attack and succeed. Of course, he has done them right at the end of races, the world champs comes straight away to me as example but cadel isn't gifted in the raw speed, going up hill department but for sure for steely determination he takes the cake.
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Post by HDT05 on Jul 16, 2012 1:13:22 GMT 10
Not good news for Evans, he's stopped about 3 or more times for puntures and lost a couple of minutes atleast.
Theres a few with Putures, including Wiggins...in the space of a few km's looks like someone could of put something on the road maybe to punture the leaders tyres?
The commentaters said it could be thumb tacks
They counted 28 tacks on the road, cowards some ppl are!
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Post by Bundy on Jul 16, 2012 13:01:07 GMT 10
It was an unbelievable race...not just for the challenge for the overall but for the win.
It was mayhem when Cadel did incur problems with his flat tyre. The roads were that narrow that the team cars couldn't get through to swap his bike or change his tyre and Cadel suffered large delays as a result...it didn't help either that he didn't have a team-mate close by who he could swap his bike with. Making matters worse was that it wasn't just a one off incident that he had to stop a further 3 times to sort it out and to cap it all off was that it was reportedly some scum that had left these tacs on the roads for the riders to ride over...
But I must say a big mention must be given to Wiggens for directing the group that he was in to slow down and wait for Cadel despite the number of times that Cadel had to stop with issues for his bike...of course Pierre Roland can't be mentioned in the same breathe as he continued to attack and tried to build up a lead over Cadel while he was suffering his problems...so well done to Bradley Wiggins.
As for the win itself, Luis Leon Sanchez would have been disappointed to see that he couldn't drop the green jersey winner on the final climb (and likely winner if they were to remain together until the end due to his superior sprinting skills) but was smart enough to make the move when he was on a slight incline with 10ks to go and then from there just used his time trialling ability to build a race winning lead which he held on to till the end.
Pretty flat stage tonight and Sky will want to arrest the deficit of wins that Cavendish currently faces by launching him to victory...
The next big mountain stages are on Wednesday and Thursday night in the Prynnes. Looking forward to that...
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Post by crikey on Jul 16, 2012 15:11:19 GMT 10
Wonder what makes people do such stupid things, Hope they catch the person and send them to jail.
Good to see the Wiggins do the right thing and wait, Its the sportsman like thing to do.
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Post by Bundy on Jul 16, 2012 17:11:58 GMT 10
Wonder what makes people do such stupid things, Hope they catch the person and send them to jail. Good to see the Wiggins do the right thing and wait, Its the sportsman like thing to do. He's definately moved up a few notches in my book after that
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Post by crikey on Jul 16, 2012 17:54:09 GMT 10
Wonder what makes people do such stupid things, Hope they catch the person and send them to jail. Good to see the Wiggins do the right thing and wait, Its the sportsman like thing to do. He's definately moved up a few notches in my book after that Same here Bundy. Its one of the last sports you would see that sort of sportsmanship happen, With the exception of that one douche that took advantage of it. It has to be said also that Wiggins having a race winning lead would have helped his decision, But in all honesty I think even if he didn't have that lead he would have done the same.
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Post by Bundy on Jul 18, 2012 12:06:14 GMT 10
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Post by Bundy on Jul 19, 2012 1:14:45 GMT 10
Well Cadel had probably his worse day in the mountains today and really dropped back from the top 3...shame really it sort of sums up his entire tour just not having the legs to be able to stay up there and compete.
Little Tommy Voekler did it again with a ballsy ride and took the stage and in doing so became the king of the mountains jersey holder as well...
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Post by crikey on Jul 19, 2012 8:40:13 GMT 10
It was probably all over for Cadel before last nights stage to be honest, But now its game set and match.
He said after the race that he had a stomach bug 2hrs before the stage, As you say Bundy it sums up his tour pretty much, Its hard to watch him this year after the last few years where he has been so strong on the climbs, Full credit to Wiggins though he looks much improved this year.
Voekler is still a machine on the mountains, Good on him for the stage win last night.
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Post by HDT05 on Jul 19, 2012 9:15:27 GMT 10
Forgot to watch last night, but what the hell happened to Cadel? Won't be another fairytale ending for us Aussies unfortunately
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Post by Bundy on Jul 19, 2012 9:39:20 GMT 10
Forgot to watch last night, but what the hell happened to Cadel?Won't be another fairytale ending for us Aussies unfortunately He bottomed out literally on the penultimate climb, came back on the descent and then fell away on the final climb. The commentators were saying that it might have been because there was a rest day and that broke his climbing rhythm...but I think he just didn't have it in him to make this tour a successful one. On a sidenote, its a shame that the greatest contest shaping up on paper between team-mates Wiggins and Froome can't be battled out as Froome has to obey team orders favouring Wiggins. Hopefully Froome can get on another team, maybe Orica Greenedge? Similarily, Cadel Evans would probably have a bit remaining on his contract with BMC, but I think for a top GC team like that I think they need to get behind someone else, maybe the white jersey holder Van Garden and maybe Cadel to come to Greenedge as well...same for Mick Rogers as I have been really impressed by his ride this year and think he could be up there in the GC if it hadn't been for his sacrifices for Wiggins. Riche Porte has done well too
On Frank Schleck, he is still protesting his innocence and wanting his B sample to be tested to make sure he is actually positive. But how many times does that sample negate the findings of the first? Not many I would have thought www.cyclingnews.com/news/frank-schleck-requests-b-sample-will-claim-hes-been-poisoned
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Post by crikey on Jul 19, 2012 17:45:02 GMT 10
Cadel might do a Stoner and just retire, I would like to see him get one more year with BMC, But agree that Van Garden is a gun, And could be the future for BMC, I suppose we will find out in the days after the Tour.
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Post by Bundy on Jul 19, 2012 18:51:21 GMT 10
Cadel might do a Stoner and just retire, I would like to see him get one more year with BMC, But agree that Van Garden is a gun, And could be the future for BMC, I suppose we will find out in the days after the Tour.Indeed we will Another big mountain stage tonight...this one finishes on the top of a category 1 mountain. Nibali and Liquigas need to attack or Wiggins is going to do it real easy...
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Post by HDT05 on Jul 20, 2012 0:43:43 GMT 10
Thanks for the updates, I watched the replays on Fox Sports, wasn't a good day for Cadel.
posted by Bundy: On Frank Schleck, he is still protesting his innocence and wanting his B sample to be tested to make sure he is actually positive. But how many times does that sample negate the findings of the first? Not many I would have thought
Exactly, it'll still come back positive, might aswell give it a crack I suppose?
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Post by Bundy on Jul 20, 2012 10:52:50 GMT 10
Another shocker for Cadel last night...I don't believe his defence that he was hampered by a stomach bug that hit him 2 hours before he started...I just think he is carrying bad form atm.
Good win for Valverde...didn't think he had the legs to do it as his team-mate was looking good for the break-away win at one stage last night...Froome yet again showed what this tour could have been if he was allowed to race Wiggins.
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Post by crikey on Jul 20, 2012 12:17:29 GMT 10
Agree about stomach bug as well Bundy, To me it looks like it was the way Cadel prepared this year, More than anything.
Froome could have bolted so much earlier if he was allowed, But thats what being part of a team on the tour is all about, Sadly for Froome and his own ambitions, He will get his chance though.
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Post by HDT05 on Jul 20, 2012 14:33:29 GMT 10
I think it's just Cadel, he's too hit and miss, look at his career for the tour de France, could've - would've - should've Won a few more wins if not for stupid mistakes etc..
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Post by Bundy on Jul 20, 2012 15:21:58 GMT 10
I think it's just Cadel, he's too hit and miss, look at his career for the tour de France, could've - would've - should've Won a few more wins if not for stupid mistakes etc.. I just think he is too much of an all-rounder. He doesn't excel or specialise in one discipline like the individual time trial, climbing or spriting...he is just fairly decent at all of them. But being decent in all of them doesn't equate to taking the overall honours and Wiggins and you have to give him credit for it, has just brought his A game to the tour this year in all its various facets.
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Post by crikey on Jul 20, 2012 15:35:25 GMT 10
I think it's just Cadel, he's too hit and miss, look at his career for the tour de France, could've - would've - should've Won a few more wins if not for stupid mistakes etc.. Very Harsh HDT
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Post by Bundy on Jul 20, 2012 19:40:52 GMT 10
But still you can't knock him - tour de france champion up against the likes of Contador, Andy Schleck, Bradley Wiggins, Nibali...not to mention road racing world champion.
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