Tag: TDF (Page 5 of 14)

No wonder the Dutch newspaper picked today to print their story regarding the USADA investigation of Lance Armstrong’s still alleged doping – Stage 5 was so boring the story, fiction or not, was bound to get more attention than the race – and it has.

Rumor has it (to quote Adele) that George Hincapie, Levi Leipheimer, David Zabriskie and Christian Vande Velde received six-month bans after admitting to doping and agreeing to provide evidence against Armstrong. The USADA in response to the story stated that no case against any individual has been finalized… and that the bullying or intimidation of witnesses will not be tolerated.

My statement: Yawn.

Let’s get back to the race. The finish of Stage 5 was exciting. I had one of my TDF Fantasy Cycling Challenge riders, Jan Ghyselinck (Cofidis) in the 4 man breakaway and it looked like he just might make it to the finish in time to get me some points. Ultimately the charging peloton led by sprinter Matthew Goss (Orica-GreenEdge) passed him.

The crash du jour occurred when Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Sharp) touched the wheel of a Lampre rider and went down. Stage 5 winner, Andre Greipel (Lotto) was bumped by the falling Farrar (that may become his nickname, he’s gone down in the last 3 stages) but managed to keep his footing (by using the body of Farrar to put his foot to steady himself) and win the stage.

Unfortunately, Peter Sagan (Liquigas) wearer of the green jersey was caught in the crash du jour melee and finished with the main group. Sagan is also on my team.

Stage 5 results:

• 1. André GREIPEL, Lotto-Belisol, in 4:41:30
• 2. Matthew Harley GOSS, Orica-GreenEdge, at 0
• 3. Juan José HAEDO, Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank, at 0
• 4. Samuel DUMOULIN, Cofidis, at 0
• 5. Mark CAVENDISH, Sky, at 0

I picked Cavendish to win the stage, his team even worked for him and yet he came in 5th. It didn’t seem to me that he challenged full-out at the line. Historically if he knows he’s beaten he doesn’t waste his energy. I’m not saying he didn’t race, he did, but he just didn’t seem to be as hard charging as he usually is. Maybe due to fatigue or pain sustained in yesterday’s crash. He did race for the interim (peloton) sprint finishing first there.

It’s worth mentioning that Greipel didn’t race for points at the interim sprints in Stage 4 or 5 saving his energy for the finish. Seems to be working.

There was no change in the four jersey competitions – Fabian Cancellara retains yellow, Sagan the green (although that race is a lot tighter), Tejay Van Garderen white for the best young rider and Michael Morkov keeps the polka-dot jersey. Cancellara has won 27 yellow jerseys in his career which is a record for number of yellow jerseys without winning the Tour. Congratulations to Cancellara!

Overall GC results after Stage 5:

• 1. Fabian CANCELLARA, RadioShack-Nissan, in 24:45:32
• 2. Bradley WIGGINS, Sky, at :9
• 3. Sylvain CHAVANEL, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at :9
• 4. Tejay VAN GARDEREN, BMC Racing, at :12
• 5. Edvald BOASSON HAGEN, Sky, at :13
• 6. Denis MENCHOV, Katusha, at :15
• 7. Cadel EVANS, BMC Racing, at :19
• 8. Vincenzo NIBALI, Liquigas-Cannondale, at :20
• 9. Ryder HESJEDAL, Garmin-Sharp, at :20
• 10. Andreas KLÖDEN, RadioShack-Nissan, at :21

TDF Fantasy Cycling Challenge: Stage 4 was the first race stage for the challenge. The 4loveofbikes team collected 244 points. The guys rode well, following my instructions to a T.

Stage 6 Preview:

Stage 6 will be another sprint stage featuring just one climb, a category 4. Expect a day like today except Cavendish takes stage and Sagan is in the top 5, along with Greipel (maybe winning, he looked strong today), Goss and maybe Farrar is he can stay out of harms way. Good luck to him.

Stage 4 began with 195 of 198 riders, 3 riders unable to start due to injuries sustained in the carnage of Stage 3. It was announced this morning that Maarten Tjallingi (Rabobank) had suffered a fractured left hip yesterday and wouldn’t start Stage 4. Keep in mind that he finished the stage!

There are no tougher athletes than professional cyclists.

Tony Martin (Quickstep) is nursing a broken bone in his hand, Luis Leon Sanchez (Rabobank) has a broken wrist, Tom Danielson (Garmin-Sharp) has a separated shoulder and Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) aggravated a knee injury and lost 7+ minutes yesterday. He had an incredible Tour last year (finished 4th) so wouldn’t be allowed to get in a break, but since he’s 7+ minutes back he’ll be free to get away and I for one expect to see him in one when we get into the mountains.

A 3 man breakaway got away just like yesterday. The peloton allowed them to get a 7 minute lead but no more. Radio Shack-Nissan drove the peloton at a relatively easy pace. Jens Voight blogged that the Tour this year had been unusually slow, and no one is challenging the breaks so the first one usually goes – this is very unusual.

Mark Cavendish (Sky) took the interim sprint and 13 points. Peter Sagan (Liquigas) took 4th, he needs to work on his positioning, but the power is there to challenge most sprinters. He’s only 22 so he’s still learning – must be a frightening thought for the other riders being as he’s won 2 of the 3 stages so far.

Although there weren’t crosswinds as there often are along the coast, there was rain. No problem with narrow roads thankfully.

Just like yesterday however, there was a crash within 3 kilometers of the finish (so they received the same time as peloton). It appeared to be caused by a touch of wheels as the sprinters and lead-out’s were lining up.

In the melee, Cavendish went down hard, Superman Sagan managed to stay upright and finished 5th on the stage.

 
With Cavendish not a factor, Andre Greipel (Lotto), Matthew Goss (Orica-GreenEdge), Allesandro Petacchi (Lampre) contested for the win, with Greipel finishing first and Pettachi finishing 2nd. Cavendish’s helmet was cracked, jersey torn but like all good racers he soldered on (this time on his own with no teammates) and finished. He was obviously angry and I’m sure will have plenty to say about it.

Sagan has a sizeable lead on the Green jersey, Fabian Cancellara also avoided going down in the crash and maintained the overall lead and the Yellow jersey and Michael Morkov (Saxobank) the Polka-dot jersey.

Stage 5 Preview:

If I was a betting person I would put my money on Mark Cavendish tomorrow. The stage is truly flat and he’s an angry, very fast man. Look for the green jersey hunt to tighten and for Cancellara and Morkov to keep their yellow and polka-dot jerseys, respectively.

Remember how there were no crashes yesterday? Can’t say that today.

Today was the first stage of the Tour de France that was actually in France. It was a lumpy stage with several category 4 climbs and one category 3. The roads were narrow and a light rain fell the latter part of the race (when the racing begins in earnest) adding to the likelihood of crashes – especially during the first few stages.

There were 4 crashes today resulting in time gaps for many and in two riders having to abandon the race – Kanstansin Siutsou (Sky) and JJ Rojas (Movistar). In addition, Tom Danielson (Garmin-Sharp) suffered a separated shoulder; no decision has been made yet whether he will continue the race. Garmin-Sharp sprinter, Tyler Farrar was also caught in two of the crashes but didn’t suffer any significant injury. I think it’s a long shot for Danielson to start tomorrow. A separated shoulder would be difficult to ride with once the serious mountain stages start. If he does abandon it will be a big loss for GC hopeful, Ryder Hesjedal.

The man picked to win the Tour this year, Bradley Wiggins got caught up in the last crash just before the finish. He wasn’t injured apparently and didn’t incur any time loss. The loss of his teammate Siutsou will be a hardship on Wiggins and the team particularly during the 2nd and 3rd weeks. Losing any one of the 9 riders on a team makes the Tour that much more difficult on the others. Particularly for those with a serious contender for the yellow jersey.

Speaking of those, Cadel Evans (BMC) and his team seemed to escape unscathed. The team did a great job of keeping Evans at the front and out of trouble – very important – especially during the early stages when nerves are high.

In yesterday’s post I predicted Sylvan Chavanel (Quickstep) to win Stage 3. He didn’t, but he did try. He made a move with about 1 kilometer left, but didn’t have enough to finish and the peloton caught him.

One man had more than enough. A seriously powerful bike racer named Peter Sagan (Liquigas)! Did I say he was only 22… riding in his first tour… and has won 2 of the 3 stages thus far. The guy did the running man/Forest Gump after he crossed the finish line and didn’t even look winded. The photo shows the handful of riders that were racing for the win were winded… and they weren’t even really that close. Sagan is the real deal. He isn’t an overall GC type guy – yet – but who knows what his future holds.  He’s amazingly talented and I love to watch him win.

Fabian Cancellara (Radio Shack-Nissan) retained the yellow jersey, Superman Sagan has the green jersey and a man that has managed to get himself into the break every day to collect the points for the climbs has the polka dot jersey – Michael Morkov (Saxobank).

Stage 4 is a (relatively) flat stage designed for the sprinters. A good part of it follows the coast of France which usually means crosswinds – which usually means splits in the peloton – which means the teams of the race favorites, BMC, Sky, Garmin, Liquigas and others will try to keep their guys up at the front.

It looks like another stage for Mark Cavendish, or maybe Andre Greipel (Lotto) or possibly Sagan. I think it will be Cavendish.

Stage 4 also is the official start of the Tour de France fantasy challenge. My team unless I make changes before midnight:

We’re up and running again, cable television and internet is a GO! Just got it hooked back up late this afternoon, so haven’t watched Stage 3 yet, but will catch the 7pm – 10pm broadcast and post later.

Stage 4 (tomorrow) means the roster for the TDF Fantasy Cycling Challenge team is set, no more changes to the roster. You can always make changes between starters and bench guys.

Here’s our team – I love being a director sportif!

Today was the type of stage that isn’t that exciting – even for me: A flat and fast stage with a bunch sprint at the end. The bunch sprints are exciting and today we had two; in addition to the stage win, the interim sprint for points for the green jersey classification was also contested by super-sprinters Mark Cavendish (Sky), Matthew Goss (Orica-GreenEdge) , Mark Renshaw (Rabobank) and yesterday’s stage winner – Peter Sagan.

Unlike yesterday, the teams with sprinters took turns setting the pace of the peloton and chasing down the 3 man breakaway. They caught the breakaway with no trouble, keeping the pace high, they got their “sprint trains” in place to carry and deliver their sprinter to the 200-250 k mark from the finish and the let the sprinters duke it out.

With Sky saving their riders for yellow jersey hopeful Bradley Wiggins’ use in the mountains, Cavendish was left to his own devices. Not a problem. He worked his way along and with about 150 k to go he found former teammate/current archrival Andre Greipel’s wheel and held on waiting to pounce. When Greipel (Lotto) opened up his sprint, Cavendish came around him and just pipped him at the line. Goss, also a former teammate of Cavendish’s took 3rd.

When Greipel finds out that it was his wheel that Cavendish used to beat him and take the stage win, he will not be happy to say the least. Those two guys strongly dislike each other to say the least.

I don’t think it was accidental that Cavendish ended up on his wheel.

There was no change in the overall lead, fan favorite Fabian Cancellara (Radio Shack-Nissan) held on to the yellow jersey. Tomorrow the riders leave Belgium and start their tour of France… 😉

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Stage 3 will be somewhat like Stage 1 – lumpy with Category 4 and 3 climbs. Unlike Stage 1, there is no uphill finish, nonetheless it isn’t a stage for the sprinters. It’s a stage for the likes of Sagan, Cancellara, Phillip Gilbert, or the guy I think might win – Frenchman, Sylvan Chavanel who sits in 3rd place (yes, 3rd) at only 7 seconds behind the yellow jersey. Expect more excitement tomorrow!

P.S. My cable television and internet service is out. Yep. Out. My husband is waiting on hold to talk to them and hopefully get it back up tomorrow morning. I can’t be without my services in the month of July!