[Leafcake]

Strategy, on 12 July 2011 - 07:09 PM, said:

Though - another day when the Saxobank squad don't quite manage to keep things under control. Rolf Sørensen is highly critical of the team - castigates Benjamin Noval for being useless, and says that too much of the burden of protecting Contador is being placed on Nicki. And although experienced, Nicki is used to being supported by big riders such as Voigt and Cancellara. I tend to agree - also find Noval very dissappointing and a little in Tossatto (whom I had expected - at least - to be able to maneuver these hectic finales in a good way). It's been a poor showing by Saxobank so far, and Riis will no doubt have to think a bit extra over his rider setup for next year's Tour. The team badly needs a "big guy" again.

Agreed. Noval should have been reduced to “Phone a Friend”.

[Burkni]

Strategy, on 13 July 2011 - 12:49 PM, said:

The thing to keep in mind, though, is that the team is top-heavy for the latter stages of the Tour. Navarro, Chris Anker Sørensen, and Hernandez are all top class support riders for the mountains. Porte and Nicki Sørensen are ...

Compare that to Leopard/Old Saxo Bank, with Cancellara, O'Grady and Voigt to police AS through the flat stages. Even though FC and JV can climb, they are hardly climbing domestiques and their roles are primarily on the flats. That's three spots on the team, and they are certainly doing a better job than whoever is supposed to be doing the same job at Saxo.

[Strategy]

Burkni, on 13 July 2011 - 07:04 PM, said:

Compare that to Leopard/Old Saxo Bank, with Cancellara, O'Grady and Voigt to police AS through the flat stages. Even though FC and JV can climb, they are hardly climbing domestiques and their roles are primarily on the flats. That's three spots on the team, and they are certainly doing a better job than whoever is supposed to be doing the same job at Saxo.

Oh, I don't disagree about that - the team for the flats has been completely inadequate. I'd much prefer Hernandez, Navarro and CAS over Fuglsang and Monfort (and who else is supposed to be climbing domestiques on Leopard-Trek). And as I recall, it was often a discussion in past years whether SBS was actually strong enough in the mountains, once one looked past the Schleck brothers.

It remains to be seen whether the SBS guys will actually perform, though. CAS has been looking very good so far, and Navarro/Hernandez have been allowed to rest throughout these first days, so they should and must be there today and the rest of the Tour. They certainly have no excuses if this is not the case.

[VdB]

The Schlecks have one advantage over almost everyone else though: they often both make the final selection of the favorites, and they are genuinely happy for/ok with their brother winning the stage or GC. That's incredibly rare, and a formidable weapon in the right situation. No internal strife + two horses to bet on.

Of course, their brotherhood is also a weakness in some ways. But still.

[Strategy]

Vis a vis my earlier comment. Leopard-Trek gone now with 10+ km left. Saxobank still has 3 riders + Contador. It may not make any difference (Franck and Andy are a potent combination), but it supports my suggestion that they have a stronger mountain team.

Jens Voigt is a beast, though. What a ride he put in (again, again).

This post has been edited by Strategy: 14 July 2011 - 02:50 PM

[VdB]

Yeah, makes you wonder why he should retire...at 39 he still is more useful than 90% of the peloton in just about any situation.

Some major moving and shaking in the GC!

Voeckler
F Schleck +1'49"
Evans +2'06"
A Schleck +2'17"
Basso +3'16"
Cunego +3'22"
Contador +4'00"
Sanchez +4'11"
Danielson +4'35"
Roche +4'57"
De Weert +5'07"
Jeannesson +5'50"

The way he rode today, Voeckler deserves to be mentioned in the list of hopefuls. Not for the win, of course, but a nice GC standing? Who knows! Cut off the list at 6'. Close behind are Velits, Leipheimer, Zubeldia and Taramae.

[crockett]

If this is a top 10 GC list, you need to include Levi, because he is going to finish somewhere from 6th to 8th!

Never thought I'd see Tommy D in the top 10 after a major mountain stage of the Tour at this point of his career. The Vuelta is not the Tour for depth of field.

[The Rake]

VdB, on 14 July 2011 - 10:11 PM, said:

Yeah, makes you wonder why he should retire...at 39 he still is more useful than 90% of the peloton in just about any situation.

Post race Frank Schleck said that Jens! would go on for another four years.

WHy not if Jeannie Longo can win titles at the age of 732

[N.B.O.L.]

VdB, on 14 July 2011 - 10:11 PM, said:

Yeah, makes you wonder why he should retire...at 39 he still is more useful than 90% of the peloton in just about any situation.

Somewhere there is a whole thread devoted to JEN! isms, but this is one of my favorites, and fits well after today's performance.

Quote

"Jens Voigt has never been in a breakaway. But he has successfully dropped the peloton on a number of occasions."

[Burkni]

N.B.O.L., on 15 July 2011 - 07:23 AM, said:

Somewhere there is a whole thread devoted to JEN! isms, but this is one of my favorites, and fits well after today's performance.

My personal favourite:

Quote

Jens! doesn't get road rash. The road gets Jens! rash.

[The Rake]

Jens! telling his legs to shut up

[Double R]

Andy Schleck had the opportunity to make sure that Contador coundn't beat him this year..unbelievably Andy...

[Burkni]

Taking this oppurtunity to express deep, deep disappointment in Gesink and Martin. Just when I thought they'd be ready to break onto the big stage. Guess they did too much earlier on in the season.

[crockett]

Burkni, on 15 July 2011 - 10:54 AM, said:

Taking this oppurtunity to express deep, deep disappointment in Gesink and Martin. Just when I thought they'd be ready to break onto the big stage. Guess they did too much earlier on in the season.

Gesink is injured. Martin, who knows. It's the same Tony Martin that we see each year. Reminds me a bit of Michael Rogers. Never going to get it done in a GT.

[VdB]

crockett, on 15 July 2011 - 10:46 PM, said:

Gesink is injured. Martin, who knows. It's the same Tony Martin that we see each year. Reminds me a bit of Michael Rogers. Never going to get it done in a GT.

Yeah, maybe he'll ride a great mountain stage again like the Ventoux two years ago.

[Burkni]

crockett, on 15 July 2011 - 10:46 PM, said:

Gesink is injured. Martin, who knows. It's the same Tony Martin that we see each year. Reminds me a bit of Michael Rogers. Never going to get it done in a GT.

+1
My thoughts exactly.

[Double R]

1 Andy Schleck - Leopard Trek 82.48.43
2 Fränk Schleck - Leopard Trek 0.53
3 Cadel Evans - BMC Racing Team 0.57
4 Thomas Voeckler - Team Europcar 2.10
5 Damiano Cunego - Lampre - ISD 3.31
6 Alberto Contador Velasco - Saxo Bank-SunGard 3.55
7 Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez - Euskaltel-Euskadi 4.22
8 Ivan Basso - Liquigas-Cannondale 4.40
9 Thomas Danielson - Team Garmin-Cervelo 7.11
10 Pierre Rolland - Team Europcar 8.57
--------------------
My guess --- final GC

1-Evans
2-A Schleck
3.Contador
4.F Schleck
5.Voeckler
6.Cunego
7.Sanchez
8.Basso
9.Danielson
10.Rolland

[Burkni]

Agree, RR, except that I'd put Samu ahead of Cunego