Reply to: Tour de France 2010

[DaveB]

There would have been an element of not taking advantage of people having crashed as well I expect.

I expect there is oil spilt on most of the roads in the tour what with crappy french cars leaking the stuff everywhere.

It was orchestrated by Cancellara, most agree that riding tempo after the crashes to let everyone catch up was the fair and decent thing to do, but to go further and persuade the race officials to negate the sprint at the end is what is causing the problems now. A lot of riders, particularly Hushovd who was the biggest loser as a result, although not the only one. I suspect Cancellara is storing up goodwill for later in the race, since it's largely due to him that many of the big names are still in contention. The Tour isn't always about who is the best on a bike it's also about who manages the politics of the peloton as well.

[doodab]

Not seen anything to confirm this, the Astana team claim there was a fuel spill from one of the escort bikes that went down just before the peloton arrived at one point, but thats all.

Everyone else seems to be saying it was simply a combination of steep twisty roads, speed and wet tarmac. If so the riders really have no cause to complain as that section of the route is used in the Liege-Bastonge-Liege one day classic and thats been ridden in snow and ice on occasion. Most of the riders have ridden it before and the route was known a year ahead of the event. It may have looked like a united front at the finish but a lot of riders are now coming out and saying they didnt agree with the way the stage ended.

There would have been an element of not taking advantage of people having crashed as well I expect.

I expect there is oil spilt on most of the roads in the tour what with crappy french cars leaking the stuff everywhere.

[DaveB]

I really LOLed when Jean-Francois Pescheux went down too as he stepped out of his car to help some fallen riders.

God knows how they are going to cope with the Pave at the end of todays stage

[threaded]

Not seen anything to confirm this, the Astana team claim there was a fuel spill from one of the escort bikes that went down just before the peloton arrived at one point, but thats all.

I really LOLed when Jean-Francois Pescheux went down too as he stepped out of his car to help some fallen riders.

[DaveB]

Apparently someone had thrown oil on the road several places in advance of yesterdays stage, and the local authorities knew it, but did nothing.

Belgians!

Not seen anything to confirm this, the Astana team claim there was a fuel spill from one of the escort bikes that went down just before the peloton arrived at one point, but thats all.

Everyone else seems to be saying it was simply a combination of steep twisty roads, speed and wet tarmac. If so the riders really have no cause to complain as that section of the route is used in the Liege-Bastonge-Liege one day classic and thats been ridden in snow and ice on occasion. Most of the riders have ridden it before and the route was known a year ahead of the event. It may have looked like a united front at the finish but a lot of riders are now coming out and saying they didnt agree with the way the stage ended.

[threaded]

Apparently someone had thrown oil on the road several places in advance of yesterdays stage, and the local authorities knew it, but did nothing.

Belgians!

[DaveB]

And with that I'm off home to watch the highlights!

[DaveB]

Armstrong, Farrar and Wiggins all suffering after the earlier crashes. Armstrong has a badly gashed arm and hip, Wiggins still "being assesed", no news on Farrar but it doesnt look good.

[DaveB]

And just to round off the day Chavanel takes the Green Jersey as well after notching up maximum points in the course of the stage.

[DaveB]

No sound here so I can't listen to the live reports but it does look like the riders were unhappy about the roads on todays stage and felt they were not suitable for a tour stage.

Heaven knows what they will make of it tomorrow when they hit the Pave.

[DaveB]

Looks like the united front from the peloton was in protest at the conditions. Cancellara has been working on his diplomacy, slowing things down in the pack to allow stragglers from the crashes to catch up again. He's playing the long game here and hoping it will pay back later in the tour.

[DaveB]

In the end there was no sprint from the peloton and they cross the finish in line abreast, although Cancellara looks upset about something. Chavenal takes the stage win and the yellow jersey at the end of stage 2.

[lilelvis2000]

Interesting, no sprint for second..Perhaps because of the accidents?
Cancellara looked pissed.

[DaveB]

And he;s done it, Chevanel takes the stage win. Now to see if he takes the yellow jersey as well.

[lilelvis2000]

Don't think he cares about tomorrow. Its a mind blowing win really.
Let see who gets third.