Le Tour de Pharmaceutical

gap at 3.5 minutes

They have now taken a minute out of Andy's lead.

he's not looking as good, either

be handy if someone helped Cadel in the chase

Sanchez cracks!

he won't be the last

gap nearly back at 3 minutes now

Voeckler still hanging in, too

Shleck hanging in, and only 2.5 km to go

Looks as though they might have dropped Contador.

Gap now below 3 minutes.

this is two absolutely fantastic rides ... Evans has led this group the whole way up the hill, with no help, chasing Schleck, who has also done the climb on his own

Gap down to 2:35 & Voeckler should retain the Yellow Jersey.

he does. What a finish.

Great ride by Andy but Evans was fantastic in bringing the gap down & Voeckler continues to surprise everyone by retaining the Yellow Jersey.

A lot will depend on how some of these can back up tomorrow. Andy & Cadel would have spent a lot of energy today. Frank had a lazy day so should be fresh tomorrow. Expect him to attack.

Brilliant, brilliant stuff. That last 1km in a 200km stage was thrilling.

Frank Shleck looking good now having been dragged up the mountain by Cadel.. I expect Cadel to lose more time tomorrow putting him too far behind for the tt. But a magnificent, gutsy ride by Cadel today.

Basically Cadel has to shadow Frank tomorrow. Expect Andy to go for broke early tomorrow, as he did today. If Cadel can limit the damage tomorrow, he may still be within 1.5 minutes coming into the time trial.

Cadel's chances may have been wrecked because Contador & Sanchez didn't have the legs to compete today. He needed them to do their share of the work over the last 20 km. The race does look set up for Frank. Just hope Cadel can hang in there. I still think he has a decent chance of winning the tour. It just depends on how much he has left tomorrow.

Is it tomorrow yet?

I can't wait.

But a magnificent, gutsy ride by Cadel today

Wow!

WideWally wrote:Cadel's chances may have been wrecked because Contador & Sanchez didn't have the legs to compete today. He needed them to do their share of the work over the last 20 km. The race does look set up for Frank. Just hope Cadel can hang in there. I still think he has a decent chance of winning the tour. It just depends on how much he has left tomorrow.

The Schlecks and Voeckler aren't renowned as good time trialists though, if he's within a couple of minutes he might be favourite, with Contador seemingly out of the picture. I think they were all waiting for Contador to launch the attack in that chasing group, the fact he wasn't up to it meant none of the others really knew what to do. Frank Schleck was concentrating on covering him until he dropped off the pace, and Voeckler and his team-mate were just looking to hang on as they have been doing for the last week or so, so it just left one man to do all the work.

Anyway one of the classic stages I've seen, full marks to the organisers for the course, 2 or 3 years ago there seemed to be some very cagey mountain stages and everyone just left it to the last big stage to see who was strongest but this time every day seems to be eventful. And four men within a minute and a half, with one mountain stage and the time trial to go, there can't have been many with a finish like that.

beamer wrote:

WideWally wrote:Cadel's chances may have been wrecked because Contador & Sanchez didn't have the legs to compete today. He needed them to do their share of the work over the last 20 km. The race does look set up for Frank. Just hope Cadel can hang in there. I still think he has a decent chance of winning the tour. It just depends on how much he has left tomorrow.

The Schlecks and Voeckler aren't renowned as good time trialists though, if he's within a couple of minutes he might be favourite, with Contador seemingly out of the picture. I think they were all waiting for Contador to launch the attack in that chasing group, the fact he wasn't up to it meant none of the others really knew what to do. Frank Schleck was concentrating on covering him until he dropped off the pace, and Voeckler and his team-mate were just looking to hang on as they have been doing for the last week or so, so it just left one man to do all the work.

Anyway one of the classic stages I've seen, full marks to the organisers for the course, 2 or 3 years ago there seemed to be some very cagey mountain stages and everyone just left it to the last big stage to see who was strongest but this time every day seems to be eventful. And four men within a minute and a half, with one mountain stage and the time trial to go, there can't have been many with a finish like that.

Yep. We're hoping Cadel can stay within a minute and a half of the Schlecks going into the ITT. The next stage will be crucial.

As much as I dislike the Shlecks, Voelcker winning this year would be a farce.

I have no idea about cycling or Shcleck or Shrek or Voldemort or whoever is in the lead- I only ever watch the Tour De France because of the stunning scenery, but does it look like Cadel Evans has had a Saffie-like choke? Can I snigger?

Henry wrote:does it look like Cadel Evans has had a Saffie-like choke?

Not at all. He put in an outstanding ride last night. If anyone choked, it was Contador & Sanchez.

In previous years, I have thought that Cadel lacked something but he has been faultless this year.

WideWally wrote:

In previous years, I have thought that Cadel lacked something but he has been faultless this year.

Aye, he's certainly had an attitude alteration with this new team. In previous years he was a bit of a sook with a victim complex