The two leaders are ahead by 10:20 and Cunego is behind the peloton by 12:20. There is 15KM left in the stage from where the leaders are spinning and the peloton is nearly 20KM from the end.
From here on out I'll delay the reports until 9PM EST.
But a ten-minute lead might be able to stand because the final climb of the day is at the 8.5KM to go mark.
GO TEAM COLUMBIA. Where is George?
Showing posts with label peloton. Show all posts
Showing posts with label peloton. Show all posts
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Not really slip sliding away
Even though the peloton is letting some riders jump clear, the yellow jersey isn't in real jeopardy.
With two leaders - Burghardt and Barredo leading, there is a threesome nearly four minutes behind and the peloton is about 11 minutes back.
Sadly, Cunego is ANOTHER ten minutes behind the peloton. But his teammates are helping pull him back into the pack. We'll see if that works.
Oh, all this is happening 108KM into a stage that's nearly 200KM long (197KM to be exact).
With two leaders - Burghardt and Barredo leading, there is a threesome nearly four minutes behind and the peloton is about 11 minutes back.
Sadly, Cunego is ANOTHER ten minutes behind the peloton. But his teammates are helping pull him back into the pack. We'll see if that works.
Oh, all this is happening 108KM into a stage that's nearly 200KM long (197KM to be exact).
After 63KM - Update
The riders have gone 63KM so far in the 18th stage of the 2008 Tour de France and the peloton is all together.
There was a breakaway early on in the race and seven riders were clear by about 48 seconds.
There were also two major crashes - not in terms of numbers but in terms of severity. In one crash Sandy Casar was knocked out of the lead group and rejoined the peloton.
In the other, Damiano Cunego fell and was slow to get up. It took him nearly six minutes to get rolling again and is off the back of the race by seven minutes at this point.
There was a breakaway early on in the race and seven riders were clear by about 48 seconds.
There were also two major crashes - not in terms of numbers but in terms of severity. In one crash Sandy Casar was knocked out of the lead group and rejoined the peloton.
In the other, Damiano Cunego fell and was slow to get up. It took him nearly six minutes to get rolling again and is off the back of the race by seven minutes at this point.
Just Four Days Left
Today's Stage 18 is going to be a trial for the guys who are in the spots 5-10. They're all about 6+ minutes back and to have a whisper of a hope they must blast the peloton open and race for glory today.
In a second I'll give some info about the racing action today. So hold tight while I get race radio tuned in and Tivo buzzing.
*You could do this too, by the way. I'm just serving as a delivery boy for TDF info. When I've been blogging FROM the Tour de France, the updates have a lot more personal flavor to them because I'm surrounded by people, the weather and the food.
When I'm sitting at my desk with a cup of Earl Grey at my elbow, the recaps probably lack a little umph.
Well, I'm trying. If you have something to say or want to share your own Tour memories, leave them in the comments. Back shortly.
In a second I'll give some info about the racing action today. So hold tight while I get race radio tuned in and Tivo buzzing.
*You could do this too, by the way. I'm just serving as a delivery boy for TDF info. When I've been blogging FROM the Tour de France, the updates have a lot more personal flavor to them because I'm surrounded by people, the weather and the food.
When I'm sitting at my desk with a cup of Earl Grey at my elbow, the recaps probably lack a little umph.
Well, I'm trying. If you have something to say or want to share your own Tour memories, leave them in the comments. Back shortly.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
SPOILER - 3KM to go in Stage 17
Sastre is still ahead - now by 2:20 - with only 3KM to go.
At this pace he's smashing the top five and will be the seventh yellow jersey wearer of this year's Tour.
Evans is trying to eat into that time by pedaling furiously, but it's not reeling Sastre back yet.
At this pace he's smashing the top five and will be the seventh yellow jersey wearer of this year's Tour.
Evans is trying to eat into that time by pedaling furiously, but it's not reeling Sastre back yet.
SPOILER - 5KM left in the race
The other post was a little premature as the peloton and Sastre had a few KM to go before hitting the first of 21 bends in the vicious Alpe d'Huez ascent. He's now 5KM from the finish and looks to have the race well in hand. As long as he doesn't crack on the mountain.
Race radio tells me that Sastre has a lead of 1:50 over the field and that puts him 1:01 ahead of Schleck and 1:03 or so ahead of Evans.
This was unexpected. Not as unexpected as KFC sauceless hot wings, but still kinda whacky.
Race radio tells me that Sastre has a lead of 1:50 over the field and that puts him 1:01 ahead of Schleck and 1:03 or so ahead of Evans.
This was unexpected. Not as unexpected as KFC sauceless hot wings, but still kinda whacky.
Out of Bourg d'Oisans and on to Alpe d'Huez
The low level slopes of Alpe d'Huez are ahead of the peloton. There are two riders ahead - Sastre and Pineau.
With the scant lead Sastre has, he could be the overall leader if he finishes with the same gap he possesses now.
The rest of my info will be in SPOILER form and won't show up here until after 9PM tonight.
Oh, Saab word of the day is coming.
With the scant lead Sastre has, he could be the overall leader if he finishes with the same gap he possesses now.
The rest of my info will be in SPOILER form and won't show up here until after 9PM tonight.
Oh, Saab word of the day is coming.
Hincapie CRASH
George crashed but quickly got up and rejoined the peloton.
Phew. Hope my predictions aren't causing people to run into danger.
As the four breakaway riders arrived at the Col de la Croix de Fer, they were nearly 7:00 ahead of the peloton.
The hors category climb is 29KM and I fear it will further splinter the riders. It's time for George to attack.
Phew. Hope my predictions aren't causing people to run into danger.
As the four breakaway riders arrived at the Col de la Croix de Fer, they were nearly 7:00 ahead of the peloton.
The hors category climb is 29KM and I fear it will further splinter the riders. It's time for George to attack.
Col du Galiber
At the top of this first hors category climb the results were as follows...
1. Stefan Schumacher (GST) 20pts - and 5,000 Euros for ’Souvenir Henri Desgrange’
2. Remy Di Gregorio (FDJ) 18pts
3. Peter Velits (MRM) 16pts
4. Ruben Perez (EUS) 14pts
5. Bernhard Kohl (GST) 12pts - at 4’45"
6. Thomas Voeckler (BTL) 10pts
7. John-Lee Augustyn (BAR) 8pts
8. Amets Txurruka (EUS) 7pts - at 4’55"
9. Kantstantin Siutsou (COL) 6pts
10. Carlos Barredo (QST) 5pts - at 5’00"
Schumacher, Perez, Velits and Di Gregorio lead the yellow jersey's peloton by four minutes on the descent.
Even after Perez crashed over the side of the mountain!
Kohl has broken away and is the virtual leader on the road as of right now at the top of Galiber. More in a second, I don't think the Kohl lead can last.
1. Stefan Schumacher (GST) 20pts - and 5,000 Euros for ’Souvenir Henri Desgrange’
2. Remy Di Gregorio (FDJ) 18pts
3. Peter Velits (MRM) 16pts
4. Ruben Perez (EUS) 14pts
5. Bernhard Kohl (GST) 12pts - at 4’45"
6. Thomas Voeckler (BTL) 10pts
7. John-Lee Augustyn (BAR) 8pts
8. Amets Txurruka (EUS) 7pts - at 4’55"
9. Kantstantin Siutsou (COL) 6pts
10. Carlos Barredo (QST) 5pts - at 5’00"
Schumacher, Perez, Velits and Di Gregorio lead the yellow jersey's peloton by four minutes on the descent.
Even after Perez crashed over the side of the mountain!
Kohl has broken away and is the virtual leader on the road as of right now at the top of Galiber. More in a second, I don't think the Kohl lead can last.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
78KM done in Stage 14
And the breakaway group of 21 has been gobbled up EXCEPT for four riders. They are Sandy Casar (FDJ), Jose Ivan Gutierrez (GCE), Bram Tankink (RAB) and William Bonnet (C.A).
This works in perfectly with my prediction that Sandy Casar will win today's stage. Well, my prediction took place AFTER I saw he was in the breakaway.
We'll see what happens.
This works in perfectly with my prediction that Sandy Casar will win today's stage. Well, my prediction took place AFTER I saw he was in the breakaway.
We'll see what happens.
Less than 10KM into Stage 14, a 21-person breakaway
21 riders dashed away from the peloton today after less than 10KM. The size of the breakaway makes it likely that someone in this aggressive group will stay away for the entire 194.5KM.
Here's who's in the breakaway, courtesy of letour.fr...
My guess for the two guys who might stick it out and win today's stage are Voeckler and Chavanel.
Here's who's in the breakaway, courtesy of letour.fr...
At the 5km mark, Stijn Devolder instigated the first successful escape of stage 14. The riders involved are: O’Grady (CSC), Oroz and Txurruka (EUS), Garcia-Acosta and Gutierrez (GCE), Eisel (COL), Quinziato (LIQ), Bono (LAM), Bonnet (C.A), Devolder (QST), Riblon (ALM), Haussler (GST), Gonzalo Ramirez and Lelay (AGR), Tankink (RAB), Sprick and Voeckler (BTL), Velo (MRM), Casar and Sebastian Chavanel (FDJ), Frischkorn (GAR).
The teams not represented are: Silence-Lotto, Barloworld and Cofidis.
My guess for the two guys who might stick it out and win today's stage are Voeckler and Chavanel.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Nimes
According to letour.fr,
Pretty cool. I was in France in 2004 and actually in Nimes, as mentioned in an earlier post.
Unfortunately, I left the country before the start of the Tour.
The last time a stage of the Tour de France concluded in Nimes, the runner-up was Nicolas Jalabert. He was part of an escape group on the day the Tour visited this city in the Gard department in 2004. The winner was Aitor Gonzalez who was riding for the Fassa Bortolo team at the time.
Jalabert has just been seen hovering around the rear of the peloton expressing little interest in racing too hard in the first half of the 13th stage.
Pretty cool. I was in France in 2004 and actually in Nimes, as mentioned in an earlier post.
Unfortunately, I left the country before the start of the Tour.
Stage 13 has begun
I'm reading about today's stage after doing a little ride myself. I'm nowhere near as fast as the peloton and WAY slower than the two guys who broke away from the pack at the 1KM mark.
The breakaway is now 20KM into the race and has a lead of 9:25 over the rest of the 158 riders still in the 2008 Tour de France.
The riders who broke away are:
Niki Terpstra (Milram) is 125th overall and 1:40:19 behind Cadel Evans.
Florent Brard (Cofidis) is 146th overall and 1:51:21 behind Cadel Evans.
The breakaway is now 20KM into the race and has a lead of 9:25 over the rest of the 158 riders still in the 2008 Tour de France.
The riders who broke away are:
Niki Terpstra (Milram) is 125th overall and 1:40:19 behind Cadel Evans.
Florent Brard (Cofidis) is 146th overall and 1:51:21 behind Cadel Evans.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
SPOILER - 3.5KM To Go
All together again and the pace is blistering. 64.8KMH! I don't know what that comes out to but the riders are all single-file because they're going so fast.
In the time that I've typed this, they have gone all the way down to 2.2KM to go. Holy moses. Team Columbia is moving to the front and keeping the pace SUPER high.
Just now, at 1.5KM to go (can you believe it?) QuickStep have jumped forwrad and it's a mad bunch at the front.
Here comes the sprint finish.
In the time that I've typed this, they have gone all the way down to 2.2KM to go. Holy moses. Team Columbia is moving to the front and keeping the pace SUPER high.
Just now, at 1.5KM to go (can you believe it?) QuickStep have jumped forwrad and it's a mad bunch at the front.
Here comes the sprint finish.
SPOILER - 11KM To Go
With a mere 11KM to go to the finish, three breakaway riders have a tiny 0:14 lead over the peloton.
That tells me that even with the wind at their backs, they'll be gobbled up soon and a mad dash will ensue for the line.
That tells me that even with the wind at their backs, they'll be gobbled up soon and a mad dash will ensue for the line.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
SPOILER - 20KM to go
With a mere 20KM to go, Moinard still has about a minute advantage over the 11 riders on his tail.
He's crested the Col del Bouich and is pedaling fast.
Oscar Pereiro is still in no-mans-land ahead of the peloton and behind the 12 guys in the lead. His deficit is 14:30.
He's crested the Col del Bouich and is pedaling fast.
Oscar Pereiro is still in no-mans-land ahead of the peloton and behind the 12 guys in the lead. His deficit is 14:30.
SPOILER - Less than 30KM to go
Amael Moinard’s lead is down to 1:45 and the pack behind him is gaining. In that group are Arvesen, Ballan, Botcharov, Fofonov, Elmiger, Wegmann, Moerenhout, Velo, Vaugrenard, Pozzato and Fedrigo.
Then, Oscar Pereiro is the lone rider in no-man's land about a minute and a half ahead of the peloton - which is at 16:30.
Moinard has started the category 3 Col del Bouich.
Then, Oscar Pereiro is the lone rider in no-man's land about a minute and a half ahead of the peloton - which is at 16:30.
Moinard has started the category 3 Col del Bouich.
Monday, July 14, 2008
SPOILER - Top of col du Tourmalet
At the top of the Tourmalet climb - hors category - there were only 14 riders in the yellow jersey's peloton.
They were: Voigt, Sastre, Menchov, Cobo, Evans, Efimkin, Kohl, Schleck, Schleck, Ricco, Piepoli, Kirchen, Vande Velde and Duenas Nevado.
There were also eight riders ahead of this group already over the climb. That left 138 riders BEHIND the peloton and the stage leaders.
Can you sense the impending explosion?
Schumacher was spat out the back along with a bunch of other big names including - I'm afraid - George Hincapie.
They were: Voigt, Sastre, Menchov, Cobo, Evans, Efimkin, Kohl, Schleck, Schleck, Ricco, Piepoli, Kirchen, Vande Velde and Duenas Nevado.
There were also eight riders ahead of this group already over the climb. That left 138 riders BEHIND the peloton and the stage leaders.
Can you sense the impending explosion?
Schumacher was spat out the back along with a bunch of other big names including - I'm afraid - George Hincapie.
Changes
As I mentioned, the breakaway group has gone into disrepair and now the race - on the col du Tourmalet - has one rider in the lead, seven in a chase group, two in an intermediate group, the peloton, and a whole slew of riders spit out the back.
The gaps are 0:30, 7:40, 0:15 and then a bunch of assorted times.
Reading those, the 30-second rider is ahead of seven riders who are 7:40 ahead of a couple riders who are 0:15 ahead of the peloton.
I'm done with details until the SPOILERS get posted tonight.
Check back at 9PM for the full recap and my predictions for stage 11 - if anyone of note is left in the race.
The gaps are 0:30, 7:40, 0:15 and then a bunch of assorted times.
Reading those, the 30-second rider is ahead of seven riders who are 7:40 ahead of a couple riders who are 0:15 ahead of the peloton.
I'm done with details until the SPOILERS get posted tonight.
Check back at 9PM for the full recap and my predictions for stage 11 - if anyone of note is left in the race.
Happy Bastille Day
In France, today is Bastille Day and past Tours de France have seen Frenchmen destroy the field to win stages on this national holiday.
Right now (or really as I'm reading dispatches and watching Tivo) there are eight French riders in a breakaway group of 24.
This group is only a minute ahead of the peloton, but it's the largest breakaway group of this year's race and includes some big names that could stay away. EVEN over the hors category climbs and brutal layout of the stage.
I'll keep you informed.
Yes, yes, yes. I know. No spoilers. If there's something that is considered too revealing, it will get a SPOILER tag and will be scheduled for release after 9PM. Settle down.
Right now (or really as I'm reading dispatches and watching Tivo) there are eight French riders in a breakaway group of 24.
This group is only a minute ahead of the peloton, but it's the largest breakaway group of this year's race and includes some big names that could stay away. EVEN over the hors category climbs and brutal layout of the stage.
I'll keep you informed.
Yes, yes, yes. I know. No spoilers. If there's something that is considered too revealing, it will get a SPOILER tag and will be scheduled for release after 9PM. Settle down.
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