Tdf Spoiler

"Paul - ***" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> What great final few kilometres.
>
> Shame for Mengin, but that's racing, win or lose, no half measures. Great
> break away move and did extremely well to hanf on, right 'till 'that'
> corner.
>
> --
> Paul ...
> (8(|) Homer Rules ..... Doh !!!
>

Yes, what a horrible amount of pressure to take the final corner under with
such poor conditions!

in message <[email protected]>, Paul - ***
('[email protected]') wrote:

> What great final few kilometres.
>
> Shame for Mengin, but that's racing, win or lose, no half measures.
> Great break away move and did extremely well to hanf on, right 'till
> 'that' corner.

Poor guy, I really felt for him. It looked like his back wheel just went
out, and you go down hard when that happens. And the trouble with doing
a breakaway like that is you burn so much energy it takes days to
recover, so he's probably lost his chance for glory this race. Still,
respect for trying! Breakaways are, for me, a large part of what makes
the race exciting.

--
[email protected] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

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"Simon Brooke" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> in message <[email protected]>, Paul - ***
> ('[email protected]') wrote:
>
>> What great final few kilometres.
>>
>> Shame for Mengin, but that's racing, win or lose, no half measures.
>> Great break away move and did extremely well to hanf on, right 'till
>> 'that' corner.
>
> Poor guy, I really felt for him. It looked like his back wheel just went
> out, and you go down hard when that happens. And the trouble with doing
> a breakaway like that is you burn so much energy it takes days to
> recover, so he's probably lost his chance for glory this race. Still,
> respect for trying! Breakaways are, for me, a large part of what makes
> the race exciting.
>

It seems to me that without the breakaways the first week would just be a
series of long uneventful rides with a quick sprint at the end. Roll on the
mountains (rather then than me).

Simon Brooke came up with the following;:
> in message <[email protected]>, Paul - ***
> ('[email protected]') wrote:
>
>> What great final few kilometres.
>>
>> Shame for Mengin, but that's racing, win or lose, no half measures.
>> Great break away move and did extremely well to hanf on, right 'till
>> 'that' corner.
>
> Poor guy, I really felt for him. It looked like his back wheel just went
> out, and you go down hard when that happens.

.... and then some.

> And the trouble with doing
> a breakaway like that is you burn so much energy it takes days to
> recover, so he's probably lost his chance for glory this race. Still,
> respect for trying! Breakaways are, for me, a large part of what makes
> the race exciting.

Yep, break-aways, whether they succeed or fail are probably the most
exciting parts, I think, since Abdoujaparov (spelling?) retired. I
especially like the break-aways in the mountains though, and definitely the
downhill speedsters.

Makes me go all goose-pimply, wanting to do it myself ..

--
Paul ...
(8(|) Homer Rules ..... Doh !!!

>>
>
>It seems to me that without the breakaways the first week would just be a
>series of long uneventful rides with a quick sprint at the end. Roll on the
>mountains (rather then than me).
>

(what he said)

Garry

<Makes me go all goose-pimply, wanting to do it myself ..

You are so right, it's the breakaway that makes all the miles of slog
worth it, for the rider as well as spectators.

I still get goose pimply when I recall the end of the only mass-start
(as they were called then-50 years ago) I ever raced ( time trials were
the only form of "pure" bike racing in the north of Scotland back
then).

I was in the final bunch of about ten of us,and I knew I had no chance
in a sprint, and finished 3rd or 4th, I can't quite remember. yet I was
stronger than any of them and I've re-raced the last few miles of that
race a hundred times over the years...............

With about 5 miles to go there was a long inclined section that I knew
well.

At about 6 miles to go I make a solo break and put a bit of distance
between me and the bunch. I start easing off during the climb and let
them just about catch me at the top.

They are knackered and i've built up some reserves while they've been
all out trying to cath me.

Just as they think they've got me I hit the pedals with everything and
over the next 4 miles to the line I increase the gap and win a
brilliant tactical victory.

Well, maybe I'd have won or maybe not, but I remember during the
final stages of that race contemplating a solo break and being frozen
with fear.

It was just so much easier and safer sitting anonomously with the
bunch. But ever since I've had a healthy respect for the rider who
dares to leave the safety of the peloton and goes for his moment of
glory...no matter how short-lived.

brig