[N.B.O.L.]

I know today was not really flat, but still it was billed as one of the two days for the sprinters, and Cav is forming an autobus. What's going on with That?

[Burkni]

N.B.O.L., on 15 June 2011 - 01:32 AM, said:

I know today was not really flat, but still it was billed as one of the two days for the sprinters, and Cav is forming an autobus. What's going on with That?

I had a very close look at the finish, and it was always going to be a Hushovd/Freire/Sagan affair.
Give Cav a month and he'll handle this kind of finish (say, in Lisieux?)

Goss is also marking the back. He has talked like he will be on the Tour team, but what kind of role will he have?
Will the leadout train be Grabsch - Martin - Eisel - Goss - Renshaw?

[Mantus]

N.B.O.L., on 14 June 2011 - 12:33 AM, said:

On the Andy S. watch, he obviously needs to find a mess of form quickly if he is going to contend in le Tour.

Andy Schleck is actually doing better at the Tour de Suisse than he tends to. This is a very typical Suisse for him, and I actually think he is climbing better than some editions. Team Lux ride for Fuglsang and Frank Schleck here. The Tour will be different.

His form is coming a long, just like always. Tour de Suisse is to the Tour de France what País Vasco is to LBL – he just needs two weeks more and he will be just where he needs to be (not that I think that will be enough against Contador).

I hope Cunego can extend his lead, cause he will need a bit more time against guys like Fuglsang and maybe Leipheimer to be completely sure. Thank god we have another HC climb coming up.

Edit: typed HQ in stead of HC for some reason. Must be all that youtube I'm watching at work.

This post has been edited by Mantus: 15 June 2011 - 11:50 AM

[Mantus]

Burkni, on 15 June 2011 - 11:09 AM, said:

Goss is also marking the back. He has talked like he will be on the Tour team, but what kind of role will he have?
Will the leadout train be Grabsch - Martin - Eisel - Goss - Renshaw?

Not forgetting the wild cards, Alex Rasmussen and Lars Bak. Rasmussen was a beast for Cavendish at the Giro, and recently won Philly (not forgetting he would have won the last Giro TT had it not been for his puncture). See Rasmussen beastly leading out Renshaw and Cav from about 1,7 K from finish (about 8:20 in):

Rasmussen seems much more suited for that kind of second lead out job - he is big (Renshaw gets zero wind) and has I gigantic engine on the flats on the final kilometres. Goss would prob be better suited to go for the early hilly stages and maybe stages later. But is he needed in a Cav leadout? Eh...

[crockett]

Andy Schleck was doing some serious soft pedaling too a few stages back. He is just messing around. I think he will be strong come the Tour.

On that stage that Sagan won, I'd like to know what happened to him after he first caught Cunego on the descent, but couldn't come round the motorbike. Did the motorbike at all cause his problem (was it a puncture? a crash? a short off road adventure?) The way Sagan was descending it seemed like he would have caught Cunego and blown past him. Put him in the category with Nibali and Sammy Sanchez. Also, put Laurens Ten Dam in the opposite category. I think I saw a tree pass him on the way down.

[Burkni]

Mantus, on 15 June 2011 - 01:25 PM, said:

Rasmussen seems much more suited for that kind of second lead out job - he is big (Renshaw gets zero wind) and has I gigantic engine on the flats on the final kilometres. Goss would prob be better suited to go for the early hilly stages and maybe stages later. But is he needed in a Cav leadout? Eh...

Yes, Goss is a wild card for Mont des Alouettes/Mur de Bretagne/Lisieux (the interesting stages)
The way I see it, Hushovd is favourite for the first, Gilbert the second, and probably Cav for the third, but they could opt to simply work for Goss at Lisieux as he would probably be likelier for the win.
Then again, that would not aid Cav in his quest for that elusive green jersey ...

crockett, on 15 June 2011 - 01:40 PM, said:

I think I saw a tree pass him on the way down.

Well, you never know what super-efficient methods those Swiss lumberjacks utilize ...

[N.B.O.L.]

NBOL's observation of the day.

If Cunego is going to keep holding on to the lead, the Tour de Suisse needs to invest in some smaller presentation jerseys.

[wildeone]

Soler crashed and was helicoptered out... stage neutralised, at least temporarily. TOS press conference scheduled for later on

[Burkni]

wildeone, on 16 June 2011 - 01:57 PM, said:

Soler crashed and was helicoptered out... stage neutralised, at least temporarily. TOS press conference scheduled for later on

[wildeone]

Burkni, on 16 June 2011 - 02:35 PM, said:

i know.

they're saying cranial fracture but no further info

[Mark]

Burkni, on 14 June 2011 - 10:24 PM, said:

Beating Sagan on his current form is no small feat.

Very true!

Sad to see Soler crash out yet again with a suspected fracture skull today.

[The Rake]

Sad to hear about Soler, and hope he is okay.

I have been secretly impressed by Rabobank of late. What has usually been pack fodder with the occasional sprinter or leader is now showing to be a strong team with the likes of Kruiswijk, Ten Dam, Bollema, Boom, and of course, Gesink

[Leafcake]

wildeone, on 16 June 2011 - 02:54 PM, said:

i know.

they're saying cranial fracture but no further info

Update from Movistar (google trans):
Cyclist Team Movistar Colombia's Juan Mauricio Soler, has suffered a serious fall in the first kilometers of the sixth stage of the Tour of Switzerland that has forced the abandonment. Evacuated by helicopter to the Hospital of St. Gallen, the first tests carried out have confirmed a severe head trauma with cerebral edema and multiple fractures and bruising. The rider remains admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, where the Swiss hospital medical services continue to conduct the relevant tests to check the progress of their injuries.

It appears a spectator was only slightly injured.
http://06.live-radsp..._Shortnews.html


Am very angry with the cycling gods. What is this?!

Wish Soler all the best and a full recovery.

This post has been edited by Leafcake: 16 June 2011 - 05:21 PM

[wildeone]

and it only gets worse.

heard he crashed, was treated by the doctor, and continued (what heart!)... 6km or so along, he crashed again, probably due to the initial crash (brain injury?)... someone said he was now in a medically induced coma

just heartbreaking!

and only a few days ago he won for Tondo...

ETA: the most comprehensive piece yet

This post has been edited by wildeone: 16 June 2011 - 07:10 PM

[wildeone]

Leafcake, on 16 June 2011 - 05:20 PM, said:

Am very angry with the cycling gods. What is this?!

i want to scream too!

what is going on?


it just gets worse and worse

[Burkni]

Venturing back onto the topic of those left in the race:
Levi is 1:59 down on Cunego and if he climbs like today, he should take the final GC handily.

[crockett]

Does that qualify as an attack by Levi on the yellow jersey (Cunego)? I had visions of Contador dancing in my head.

What is Andy Schleck doing? He clearly his using this as a training ride, but he doesn't seem to be pushing himself at all. He looks great, smiling, no suffering, then he turns off the engine.

[N.B.O.L.]

crockett, on 17 June 2011 - 03:22 AM, said:

Does that qualify as an attack by Levi on the yellow jersey (Cunego)? I had visions of Contador dancing in my head.

He jumped him, he jumped him hard!

Quote

What is Andy Schleck doing? He clearly his using this as a training ride, but he doesn't seem to be pushing himself at all. He looks great, smiling, no suffering, then he turns off the engine.

It is obviously a new training style that I am unfamiliar with. When July gets here I guess we will see how effective it was.

This post has been edited by N.B.O.L.: 17 June 2011 - 03:55 AM

[Leafcake]

I think Cunego still has a good chance of winning this.

Current standings:

1 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre - ISD 27:09:49  
2 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team 0:01:23  
3 Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team 0:01:36  
4 Frank Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek 0:01:41  
5 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team RadioShack 0:01:59  
6 Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Leopard Trek 0:02:38  
7 Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team 0:03:10  
8 Giampaolo Caruso (Ita) Katusha Team 0:03:11  
9 Mathias Frank (Swi) BMC Racing Team 0:03:20  
10 Tejay Van Garderen (USA) HTC-Highroad 0:03:22  


In 2009 Cunego lost 2:33 min to Cancellara over a 38.5km lumpy course. (He was then riding for GC placing: 6th)

1 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team Saxo Bank 0:45:59  
2 Tony Martin (Ger) Team Columbia - Highroad 0:01:27  
3 Thomas Dekker (Ned) Silence-Lotto 0:01:42  
4 Marcus Burghardt (Ger) Team Columbia - Highroad 0:01:43  
5 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Quick Step 0:01:48  
6 Cameron Meyer (Aus) Garmin - Slipstream 0:01:50  
7 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas 0:02:00  
8 Brian Vandborg (Den) Liquigas 0:02:02  
9 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana 0:02:09  
10 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervélo TestTeam 0:02:14  
11 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Team Katusha 0:02:21  
12 Alessandro Ballan (Ita) Lampre - N.G.C. 0:02:24  
13 Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Cervélo TestTeam 0:02:33  
14 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre - N.G.C.    
15 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 0:02:37  
16 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team Saxo Bank 0:02:40  
17 Brett Lancaster (Aus) Cervélo TestTeam 0:02:41  
18 Francis De Greef (Bel) Silence-Lotto 0:02:43  
19 Carlos Barredo (Spa) Quick Step 0:02:44  
20 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin - Slipstream 0:02:46  

The Schaffhausen ITT is somewhat up and down with a hill in the second part. 32.1kms. Some corners to be cut, and several stretches of open road (see Google directions). It would have been better for Cunego had he gained some more time in the mountains. Still, he appears to be in pretty good shape and having the yellow jersey and all must add motivation. So I expect him to put up a fight.

[Leafcake]

wildeone, on 16 June 2011 - 01:57 PM, said:

Soler crashed and was helicoptered out...

Cancellara and Blick's take on the crash (edited Google trans. excerpt):

The horrific accident happened last Thursday shortly after the start of stage six. The victim is Mauricio Soler (Col). In Sirnach (km 11), the second on overall rides at the rear wheel of Fabian Cancellara.

The Swiss describes the drama this way: "I came with my bike on a number of paving stones that serve as borders. The tire touches the borders, I feel the bike pulls to the right. I jack with one leg out of the pedals and pull the machine with a swing to the left - then it crashes behind me "

Mauricio Soler does not have the technical class of the Bernese. In the field he is considered as "breaking pilot" with great technical weaknesses. He brings the right pulling bike no longer on to the road. He remains hanging to the borders and crashes right into a concrete wall with a garden hedge.

Cancellara: "I got a nasty adrenaline rush through the swerve. Immediately I began to think of my teammate who died in the giro Wouter Weylandt." Fabian Cancellara goes further, Mauricio Soler lies unconscious on the floor. He bleeds from his left ear. Within 10 seconds the two tour doctors -- Thorsten Hammer and Roland Kretsch -- they drive right at the end of the peloton – are at the scene of the accident.