2012 TdF Spoiler Thread
Since many of us watch a delayed broadcast of the TdF, here's the place to talk about the current day's race, and others will know to stay away if they haven't yet seen the stage. The other thread can be for general race strategy discussion, trash talk, and reference to previous stages.
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Everyone else did about what I expected for a 6K prologue. We'll see what happens to the GC when they hit stage 7 & then the first TT...Tony Martin will get his revenge!
Wiggo is exactly where he wants to be, ahead of all the GC contenders and not having to defend the yellow jersey.
Props for Fabio for living up to all the pressure! 2004 was a long time ago, but it's good (esp for RadioShack) to see him back in yellow in the first week.
Sagan owes Fabian a beer- but WOW- you gotta give that kid kudos for riding smart and giving us all a pretty exciting finish to watch.
I'm fairly pleased with the podium hostess outfits this year- the polka dot jersey ladies still have the worst of the lot, but at least they don't look like they are wearing umbrellas.
And Finally- I've always liked the Bobke Road ID commercials- but the one with Jens this year is the best!
Takes some you know what not to take a pull when FC is asking you to come through. Will be interesting when we get to a real sprinters stage to see him and Cav go head to head .
Today's win was "vintage" Sagan - in quotes because he's only been racing at the top level for 2 years . At the end of the race, he made sure he was top 15 at the base of the climb. Then, when Hincapie/Evans came powering by, he latched on immediately. When the pace hit a lull with the end, he "found" himself @ the front. He knew that someone would take the opportunity at that point to attack; when he saw it was Cancallara, he did not hesitate for a nano-second. Then, he insisted on sucking wheel until 150 m to go, as all he cares about is winning. He did keep looking back, to make sure he could risk that.
His skill set is so complete for someone so young:
• Uncanny positioning instincts in the final 2-3 k
• Amazing bike handling ability - yesterday, as he almost fell over in the roundabout, he looked as if he were riding a mtn bike, not a TT machine - no mean feat, IMO
• Seemingly limitless power when needed at the end of the race. Admittedly, youth helps here.
Tomorrow, I'm actually kind of excited to watch a sprint stage for the first time in 4 years. Between him and Goss (who snared the intermediate sprint today), Cav has reason to worry. I hope they all stay upright and it's a fair fight at the finish.
What was that Chicken dance as his winner's pose?
Agreed on all counts Al, he's definitely been the most exciting rider to watch this past year.- I think the move he busted was flying/wings.
I can't believe I've managed to dodge two crash injuries and an illness bullet so far. Sanchez, Martin, and Kittel were all on one or more of my draft teams. Sanchez might be ok- but that cast on Martin looks like he'll be lucky to just get to Paris. Hopefully he can make it to the next TT where he won't need to use that wrist.
How many more wins before Cav can just go home, play with his new baby, and get ready for the Olympics? Two more should do it, right?
Yep, very cool to Sagan get in that move with Cancellara. He opened up a HUGE gap very quickly and not many men in the world can do anything on the Wheel of Spartacus except hang on for dear life. PS had enough juice to look around a bit
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However, he got boxed in a little on today's stage while Cav found a way out of the scrum. Poor positioning? Other teams working to jam him up?
Yesterday or today? Today it looked like he could never really get clear to uncork it
I remember him winning Big Bear uphill 2 years ago. Everyone said he was el dopee then. I think he's simply a freak.
I think Sagan got a little spanked today. It was argy/ bargy in there. A lot of shoulders banging. Those guys weren't/aren't gong to let him get clear easy. It was rough. I hope he's not spending himself trying to win these straight field sprint days. Fred Velo needs him.
Cav is amazing.
Yep, that's what I thought. I thought he looked at little confused, tentative, WTF do I go, etc? Seemed there was lots of space on his left, where Cav went, but that he couldn't get over there because he was boxed?
CRAZY how long they had the speed up going into the sprint! Like over 10k out. A sign of the leadout not being dominated by one team = more teams jockeying = much more risky?
Up until the 3K mark, the GC teams are leading the train - BMC, Sky, Katusha, Liquigas (they were there for Nibali, not Sagan; he's only got Oss). After last year's crashes, they have determined they must be in front when things are going fast into a sprint until the magic no fault zone past 3K to go. So that's why the speed can stay so high for so long. Orica and Lotto are the trains this year, fat lot of good it did 'em.
Tomorrow is another day for Sagan - lots of Cat 3/4 climbs and a Cat 4 to the finish. Bet he doesn't get shoved by the likes of Goss again. He might as well try to win everything he can - what has he got to lose, it's his first Tour, he might as well learn all he can and he's obviously a quick study. Waching him and Cav go after Merckx' 34 Tour wins is like watching Griffey and Rodriguez 12-15 years ago for Seattle Mariners ... which one might end up the all time home run champ?
i don't like Sagan doing the cocky thing. Show some respect and humility.
Yeah ... like Cav.
yes Cav a lost cause in that regard.
I like the finish line sprinter poses, kinda fun to see what they come up with and gives my friends and I something to copy at the end of our old slow guy slow motion town line sprints
Sagan looked like Dirk Digler, ready to go again.
Great ride by Chavanel.
Menchov lurks.......
Still really enjoy seeing close-ups of TJ as he dawns the white jersey. He's no Andy, but between him and Fabian I'm getting decent eye candy. Even Sagan isn't too hard on the eyes. Sadly all of that is likely to change when we get to the mountains.
Phil and Paul commented that it looked like Sagan stopped to get a new wheel after that first crash, but I think he got a whole new bike. Wasn't he riding that special "Tourminator" SuperSix Evo earlier in the ride?
Right, it was a new bike - the first one was for show, the second one for dough - probably easier on the climbs.
Look for Sagan to win maybe 3 more: stages 5, 8, & 12. After today's "run" across the line, if he "swims" the next time, maybe we should accept him as a wannabe triathlete? And, according to Bobke, the first one WAS the Funky Chicken.