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TDF - Stage 16: They’ll be coming around the mountains

July 22, 2008 at 7:53 am · Filed under People, tour de france and tagged: , , , , , , , , ,

Cuneo - Jausiers 157K

Two, count them - two - HC climbs, and this isn’t even L’Alpe d’Huez!

What happened while I was battling traffic on the freeway:

Cadel said he’s a bit tired and nervous, and is looking for CSC to continue their strong run in the mountains. Frank Schleck is not expected, at least by the commentators, to be able to hold onto the yellow jersey into Paris. Menchov is the man expected to excel today. Big George Hincapie was among the few, the good, the determined to keep attacks under check. The weather is expected to be just as hot as here in Central Texas - but the “heat” on the climbs will be unbearable for some of our riders, today, I am most certain of that.

This is a stage for the climbers, after all, and they’re all out toward the front: Voekler, Schumacher, Egoi, Popo, Siutsou. Schumacher took the first HC, La Lombard.

Watch out for that fast descent, Popo slipped, but is back on his bike.

Schumacher leads.

Cuneo…Cunego…the Italian “Little Prince” just couldn’t pull out a victory in Cuneo. C’est dommage.

The peloton is somewhere around 9 mins behind Schumacher as they go over the top of La Lombard. Cancellara had a puncture in his tire. yikes!

Schumacher is in the feed zone, facing a short flat preceding the next HC climb at Cime de la Bonette. Former Tour champion Steve Roche doesn’t think Schumacher can hang onto his lead.

Stage 15 saw Denis Menchov take a bad spill, just when he was ahead of the GC! This stage hasn’t been kind to riders, either.

Cunego is in the chase group which is less than 5 minutes behind Schumacher and closing. But, so are Hincapie and Siutsou (both Team Columbia), Danny Pate (Garmin-Chipotle), Voekler and the company of other strong climbers.

A new name comes into the chase for the yellow as Valjavec (AG2R) leads in time over Frank Schleck. But, things happen in the mountains. Hold onto your seats, they’ve begun this last steep climb.

Danny Pate has been dropped behind the first chase group, along with Dumoulin. Well, they’re in good company with each other!

There are now three chase groups and roughly 12 minutes gap between Schumacher and the peloton.

REMEMBER - refresh your browser often, as I’m typing as fast as I can while getting live comment!

Schumacher is starting up la Bonette! Hoshovd falls off the peloton! Team CSC pushes on (oh, please let’s not hear that Nibali or anyone on that team has tested positive for doping!)!!

Don’t you just hate it when you get interrupted by an impromptu meeting? arrgghh!!

But, I did see that my man Popo was outrun by Cyril Dessel to take the stage. However, Hincapie was only 25 seconds back.

Frank Schleck holds onto the yellow jersey by 7 seconds over Kohl, 8 seconds over Cadel Evans. Every second counts here.

Stage results
1 101 DESSEL, Cyril FRA ALM 04:31:27 00:00:00
2 161 CASAR, Sandy FRA FDJ
3 032 ARROYO, David ESP GCE
4 007 POPOVYCH, Yaroslav UKR SIL
5 047 HINCAPIE, George USA THR
6 038 PORTAL, Nicolas FRA GCE
7 109 VALJAVEC, Tadej SLO ALM
8 111 SCHUMACHER, Stefan GER GST
9 016 SCHLECK, Andy LUX CSC
10 115 KOHL, Bernhard AUT GST

GC
1 017 Frank SCHLECK LUX CSC 68h30′16” 00”
2 115 Bernhard KOHL AUT GST 68h30′23” 07”
3 001 Cadel EVANS AUS SIL 68h30′24” 08”
4 011 Carlos SASTRE ESP CSC 68h31′05” 49”
5 131 Denis MENCHOV RUS RAB 68h31′29” 1′13”
6 191 Christian VANDEVELDE USA TSL 68h33′31” 3′15”
7 041 Kim KIRCHEN LUX THR 68h33′39” 3′23”
8 031 Alejandro VALVERDE ESP GCE 68h34′27” 4′11”
9 027 Samuel SANCHEZ ESP EUS 68h34′54” 4′38”
10 109 Tadej VALJAVEC SLO ALM 68h35′39” 5′23”

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TDF - Rest to Meet the Dragon

July 21, 2008 at 12:44 pm · Filed under People, tour de france and tagged: , , , , , , , , ,

With the dragon mountain, L’Alpe d’Huez, just two days away, the riders need this rest day. Their rest would be like hard workouts to most of us…make that VERY hard workouts!

Current standings:
yellow 17 SCHLECK Frank TEAM CSC 63h 57′ 21″
green 133 FREIRE Oscar RABOBANK 219 pts
red 115 KOHL Bernhard GEROLSTEINER 85 pts
white 67 NIBALI Vincenzo LIQUIGAS 64h 02′ 43″
team TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 191h 43′ 49″

All withdrawals to date:
NO LONGER RIDING
Stage 15
91 DEVOLDER Stijn (BEL) QUICK STEP withdrawls
89 RENSHAW Mark (AUS) CREDIT AGRICOLE withdrawls
43 CAVENDISH Mark (GBR) TEAM COLUMBIA non-starter
37 PEREIRO SIO Oscar (ESP) CAISSE D’EPARGNE withdrawls
Stage 14
126 JALABERT Nicolas (FRA) AGRITUBEL withdrawls
Stage 12
179 PIEPOLI Leonardo (ITA) SAUNIER DUVAL - SCOTT non-starter
177 JUFRE POU Josep (ESP) SAUNIER DUVAL - SCOTT non-starter
175 DEL NERO Jesus (ESP) SAUNIER DUVAL - SCOTT non-starter
174 DE LA FUENTE David (ESP) SAUNIER DUVAL - SCOTT non-starter
173 COBO ACEBO Juan Jose (ESP) SAUNIER DUVAL - SCOTT non-starter
172 BERTOGLIATI Rubens (SUI) SAUNIER DUVAL - SCOTT non-starter
171 RICCO Riccardo (ITA) SAUNIER DUVAL - SCOTT non-starter
55 COOKE Baden (AUS) BARLOWORLD withdrawls
Stage 11
59 LONGO BORGHINI Paolo (ITA) BARLOWORLD withdrawls
56 DUENAS NEVADO Moises (ESP) BARLOWORLD non-starter
53 CARDENAS Félix (COL) BARLOWORLD withdrawls
Stage 10
147 TROFIMOV Yury (RUS) BOUYGUES TELECOM withdrawls
Stage 8
62 BELTRAN Manuel (ESP) LIQUIGAS non-starter
Stage 7
192 BACKSTEDT Magnus (SWE) GARMIN CHIPOTLE outside time limit
166 JEGOU Lilian (FRA) FRANCAISE DES JEUX withdrawls
121 MOREAU Christophe (FRA) AGRITUBEL withdrawls
106 GADRET John (FRA) AG2R-LA MONDIALE withdrawls
95 FACCI Mauro (ITA) QUICK STEP withdrawls
Stage 6
178 PASSERON Aurélien (FRA) SAUNIER DUVAL - SCOTT non-starter
Stage 5
51 SOLER HERNANDEZ Juan Mauricio (COL) BARLOWORLD withdrawls
Stage 3
176 GOMEZ Angel (ESP) SAUNIER DUVAL - SCOTT withdrawls
Stage 1
184 DUCLOS-LASSALLE Hervé (FRA) COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE withdrawls

Good luck to the Cav on his upcoming Olympic performance, what a ride he had in this year’s Tour! Wishing the injured riders well and speedy recovery. As for those who continued to injure the sport - well, there’s one outfit that believes in second chances. However, it remains to be seen who would still be worth offering that option.

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TDF - Stage 15: Bring it On in the Alps

July 20, 2008 at 9:26 am · Filed under People, tour de france and tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Embrun - Prato Nevoso 182km

OK, I lied - I did not come back yesterday, and I’ll tell you why: it was my husband’s birthday, our son’s best friend was in town, we just had other things to do. But, I did get my little 3 mile morning walk in yesterday, and a nice 6 miler this morning.

So, here we are in Stage 15 and I’m watching the video of a nasty crash on both sides of a huge rond point at somewhere around 50k to go. The initial word is that Vandevelde crashed, Garmin-Chipotle definitely did, on rain-slick roadway.

Vandevelde is back on his bike - phew!

Time for a little recap of this weekend’s events:

  • Cavendish won his 4th Stage, packed up and left for home where he will prepare for the Olympics. I was hoping he’d stick it out to Paris; but, there was always that expectation that he’d leave early. What a great way to bow out, though!
  • Baroloworld will no longer sponsor the Tour and out of cycling.
  • GC standings after Stage 14:
    1 001 Cadel EVANS AUS SIL 59h01′55” 00”
    2 017 Frank SCHLECK LUX CSC 59h01′56” 01”
    3 191 Christian VANDEVELDE USA TSL 59h02′33” 38”
    4 115 Bernhard KOHL AUT GST 59h02′41” 46”
    5 131 Denis MENCHOV RUS RAB 59h02′52” 57”
    6 011 Carlos SASTRE ESP CSC 59h03′23” 1′28”
    7 041 Kim KIRCHEN LUX THR 59h03′51” 1′56”
    8 104 Vladimir EFIMKIN RUS ALM 59h04′27” 2′32”
    9 022 Mikel ASTARLOZA ESP EUS 59h05′46” 3′51”
    10 067 Vincenzo NIBALI ITA LIQ 59h06′13” 4′18”
  • Stage 14 results:
    1 133 FREIRE, Oscar ESP RAB
    2 186 DUQUE, Leonardo COL COF
    3 151 ZABEL, Erik GER MRM
    4 193 DEAN, Julian NZL TSL
    5 094 DE JONGH, Steven NED QST
    6 072 BALLAN, Alessandro ITA LAM
    7 026 PEREZ, Ruben ESP EUS
    8 145 PINEAU, Jérôme FRA BTL
    9 098 TOSATTO, Matteo ITA QST
    10 081 HUSHOVD, Thor NOR C.A

I just noticed that the markings on the rond point the riders just passed through - safely - has I-Ching markings…interesting…I’ll get back to this, later.

UPDATE on the earlier nasty crash involving Oscar Pereiro and Robbie Hunter: Oscar - broken shoulder and femur, he’s in hospital, otherwise okay; but out of the race. Best wishes to Oscar!

David Millar was also in that earlier rond point crash; looks like Robbie Hunter is on his bike.

So, we’re headed into Italian territory before tomorrow’s rest day.

Had to scan back through the route reports to see what happened on the HC climb: Danny Pate shoved a bunch of newspapers under his jersey for warmth on the descent. Y’know - I always wondered what that was all about!

Egoi Martinez - go Eqgoi! - took the HC points. Mark Renshaw abandoned, one less support man for Huschovd.

Martinez allowed another rider to take the next points on the Cat 3 climb. Let me double-check spelling for Arriete - Arrieta (AG2R) - how very gentlemanly of Egoi - go Egoi! Another example of why we love this sport!!

Will there be a change in the GC standings? Most likely another rider will be in yellow, making the 6th change this year. Am I speaking too soon? Are the commentators speaking too soon? Is Paul Sherwin ever wrong? haha!

CSC is making their move on the Cat 1 climb! The last of the stage - CSC wants to upset Cadel Evans with either Frank Schleck or Carlo Sastre - but, who would they be kidding. Wouldn’t Cadel already expect this?

Sprinters hate to climb.

My apologies if you’re refreshing your browser while I’m editing my commentary - my live feeds have been slow to recover from that first nasty crash around the rond point (everyone’s scrambling to figure out what happened to whom), and I’m trying to keep up with Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwin, LOL!

Where in blazes is Team Columbia? C’mon guys!

I have to say, along with a million other fans I’m sure, that Garmin-Chipotle is certainly performing incredibly well in their first appearance in the Tour. Way to go, G-C (hey, I like that)!

Inside 10K to go and it’s finally getting fun!

Frank Schleck wants to shut down that 1 second lead of Cadel Evans.’ Meanwhile, Cadel is every vigilant; he doesn’t need to react right now, with 5K to go.

If you were Andy, would you sacrifice yourself for Frank?

Vandevelde is still hanging in; Kirchen is not having the best of days; Danny Pate is working hard.

Team CSC is on a mission!

Martinez surprised Danny Pate with an unexpected attack, but Pate is right after his wheel. Menchov went down! He’s back up, but the rain had just started - no fun on a hard uphill push!

Andy Schleck is doing his brother proud by pushing the lead group hard up the climb to the summit with 2k to go!

Cadel Evans is in trouble, but Menchov’s attack didn’t deter him.

Frank Schleck may be in a little trouble, sitting on Cadel’s wheel. Andy is wavering at the front of the lead group. Valverde is moving ahead.

1k to go and Danny Pate takes the lead!

Valverde has lost time, Andy has dropped back, Cadel Evans and Frank Schleck are battling for position.

I’m exhausted just watching!

Simon Gerrans takes the stage!

Gerolsteiner’s Bernhard Kohl pushes forward, trying to take the yellow jersey away!

Kohl crosses the line and Cadel must cross inside of 4′49″ to keep the yellow!

Frank Schleck is in!

Results are still coming in, but this is what I have, so far:

Stage 15 results:
1 086 GERRANS, Simon AUS C.A
2 024 MARTINEZ, Egoi ESP EUS
3 199 PATE, Danny USA TSL
4 102 ARRIETA, Jose Luis ESP ALM
5 115 KOHL, Bernhard AUT GST
6 011 SASTRE, Carlos ESP CSC
7 031 VALVERDE, Alejandro ESP GCE
8 131 MENCHOV, Denis RUS RAB
9 017 SCHLECK, Frank LUX CSC
10 191 VANDEVELDE, Christian USA TSL

GC Standings after Stage 15:
1. SCHLECK Frank 17 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 63h 57′ 21″
2. KOHL Bernhard 115 GEROLSTEINER 63h 57′ 28″ + 00′ 07″
3. EVANS Cadel 1 SILENCE - LOTTO 63h 57′ 29″ + 00′ 08″
4. MENCHOV Denis 131 RABOBANK 63h 57′ 59″ + 00′ 38″
5. VANDEVELDE Christian 191 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 63h 58′ 00″ + 00′ 39″
6. SASTRE Carlos 11 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 63h 58′ 10″ + 00′ 49″
7. KIRCHEN Kim 41 TEAM COLUMBIA 64h 00′ 09″ + 02′ 48″
8. EFIMKIN Vladimir 104 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 64h 00′ 57″ + 03′ 36″
9. VALVERDE Alejandro 31 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 64h 01′ 32″ + 04′ 11″
10. SANCHEZ Samuel 27 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 64h 01′ 55″ + 04′ 34″
11. ASTARLOZA Mikel 22 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 64h 02′ 39″

Well, so there it is: the yellow jersey will change hands, perhaps to Cadel’s relief. Andy did his brother Frank proud. Danny Pate was vocally disappointed (but, word is he’s typically pessimistic, anyway). CSC will most likely keep pushing toward greatness in the Alps.

The monster climb is 3 days away.

Have a terrific weekend.

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08-08-08 The Games Begin in Beijing

July 18, 2008 at 7:37 pm · Filed under acoralsea and tagged: , , ,

We were supposed to be preparing to make a trip of a lifetime to Beijing, not just to attend the Summer Games, but also to celebrate a milestone anniversary. Well, it’s not to be. But, I can still enjoy the televised broadcasts from the comfort of my own living room, instead of having to practice on natives who probably speak English far better than I can speak a few phrases in Mandarin.

What do you know about Beijing, or China in general? Take this quiz and see if you have a gold medal command of Chinese history.

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TDF - Post Stage 13 updates

July 18, 2008 at 3:27 pm · Filed under acoralsea and tagged: , ,

Late updates:

Because I left the office early to take my hubby to lunch in celebration of his birthday, I got a chance to catch a televised re-broadcast of today’s Stage 13. It was, as described earlier, fairly uneventful until the final sprint through the city of Nimes. Rounding a left turn, a Gerolsteiner rider (if I’m not mistaking the jersey) managed to slice his bike in half when he got caught in the wrong spot over the turn post in the road - that cement traffic control structure with a metal post in the middle). The cyclist took a nasty fall, but was up and walking. His bike is toast, but he, fortunately, looked okay. I’m searching for a video that is actually available in my zone - aaaarghhh!

The title sponsor announced they will drop sponsorship of Saunier Duval.

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