Scot David Millar (Cofidis) made an audacious attack with 31 km to go, but his move was too soon. Millar might have arrived with the best today, but ended up in the third group, losing almost a minute to Maillot Jaune Armstrong. "I thought the course went up that climb, descended and went up the next climb," explained Millar. "I didn't realize I had so much flat and headwind...a bit of a tactical error. I was really trying hard and I was enjoying it. Mistakes, you've got to learn from them..."
Could have been avoided by exploring the stages before the Tour. Lance did, Boogerd did (and knew the tarmac would be melting in that descent), Millar didn't, did Beloki do this?
"Kurgan Gringioni" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Scot David Millar (Cofidis) made an audacious attack with 31 km to go, but his move was too soon. Millar might have arrived with the best today, but ended up in the third group, losing almost a minute to Maillot Jaune Armstrong. "I thought the course went up that climb, descended and went up the next climb," explained Millar. "I didn't realize I had so much flat
and
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headwind...a bit of a tactical error. I was really trying hard and I was enjoying it. Mistakes, you've got to learn from them..."
Beloki did "on site" preparation this year. But could you explain what is that he should have done when he noticed that he had dipped his tire into melted tar. Maybe wait one minute of two for Boogerd to arrive and ask him?
"Erik van Leeuwen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
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Could have been avoided by exploring the stages before the Tour. Lance
did,
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Boogerd did (and knew the tarmac would be melting in that descent), Millar didn't, did Beloki do this?
"Kurgan Gringioni" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Hehe, maybe he forgot to do cross country training this winter...
"Alex Beascoechea" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
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Beloki did "on site" preparation this year. But could you explain what is that he should have done when he noticed that he had dipped his tire into melted tar. Maybe wait one minute of two for Boogerd to arrive and ask
him?
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"Erik van Leeuwen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Could have been avoided by exploring the stages before the Tour. Lance
did,
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Boogerd did (and knew the tarmac would be melting in that descent),
Millar
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didn't, did Beloki do this?
"Kurgan Gringioni" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
I do not think that the problem is one of scouting the roads in advance. The cyclist have to stand road conditions in the TdF that are not tolereated in lesser races (such as the Giro and the Vuelta). Everybody knew about these roads and what happens at 37C but to compound the problems they send along a caravan of hundreds of cars and trucks in advance to screw up the tarmac a bit more and leave it even more irregular (till it melts back into a smooth shape). Maybe the organizers should do some checking of the conditions themselves (if only for concern about the cyclists safety) instead of giving in to whoever pays higher.
"Erik van Leeuwen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
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Hehe, maybe he forgot to do cross country training this winter...
"Alex Beascoechea" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Beloki did "on site" preparation this year. But could you explain what
is
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that he should have done when he noticed that he had dipped his tire
into
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melted tar. Maybe wait one minute of two for Boogerd to arrive and ask
him?
Quoted message said:
"Erik van Leeuwen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Could have been avoided by exploring the stages before the Tour. Lance
did,
Quoted message said:
Boogerd did (and knew the tarmac would be melting in that descent),
Millar
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didn't, did Beloki do this?
"Kurgan Gringioni" <[email hidden]> wrote
in
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message "]news:[email hidden]... > from David Millar. > > > cyclingnews.comtour03Open ↗ > > Scot David Millar (Cofidis) made an audacious attack with 31 km to
go,
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but
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> his move was too soon. Millar might have arrived with the best
today,
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but
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> ended up in the third group, losing almost a minute to Maillot Jaune Armstrong. "I thought > the course went up that climb, descended and
went
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up
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> the next climb," explained Millar. "I didn't realize I had so much
flat
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and > headwind...a bit of a tactical error. I was really trying hard and I
was
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> enjoying it. Mistakes, you've got to learn from them..." > > >
I do not think that the problem is one of scouting the roads in advance. The cyclist have to stand road conditions in the TdF that are not tolereated in lesser races (such as the Giro and the Vuelta). Everybody knew about these roads and what happens at 37C but to compound the problems they send along a caravan of hundreds of cars and trucks in advance to screw up the tarmac a bit more and leave it even more irregular (till it melts back into a smooth shape). Maybe the organizers should do some checking of the conditions themselves (if only for concern about the cyclists safety) instead of giving in to whoever pays higher.
I saw a photo yesterday of a water truck spraying water on the pavement in advance of the riders in an attempt to cool the road surface.
Maybe they should unpave the roads and return them to a retro state, circa 1949.
Crashes happen. That's racing. Tough break (no pun intended) but Beloki is not the first Tour contender to crash out of a major tour. Take a look a Coppi cheering Bobet while recovering from his broken bones.
"Alex Beascoechea" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
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I do not think that the problem is one of scouting the roads in advance.
The
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cyclist have to stand road conditions in the TdF that are not tolereated
in
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lesser races (such as the Giro and the Vuelta). Everybody knew about these roads and what happens at 37C but to compound the problems they send along
a
Quoted message said:
caravan of hundreds of cars and trucks in advance to screw up the tarmac a bit more and leave it even more irregular (till it melts back into a
smooth
Quoted message said:
shape). Maybe the organizers should do some checking of the conditions themselves (if only for concern about the cyclists safety) instead of giving in to whoever pays higher.
"Erik van Leeuwen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Hehe, maybe he forgot to do cross country training this winter...
"Alex Beascoechea" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Beloki did "on site" preparation this year. But could you explain what
is
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
that he should have done when he noticed that he had dipped his tire
into
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
melted tar. Maybe wait one minute of two for Boogerd to arrive and ask
him?
Quoted message said:
"Erik van Leeuwen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]... > Could have been avoided by exploring the stages before the Tour.
Lance
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did, > Boogerd did (and knew the tarmac would be melting in that descent),
Millar
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> didn't, did Beloki do this? > > "Kurgan Gringioni" <[email hidden]> wrote
in
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> message "]news:[email hidden]... > > from David Millar. > > > > > > cyclingnews.comtour03Open ↗ > > > > Scot David Millar (Cofidis) made an audacious attack with 31 km to
go,
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but > > his move was too soon. Millar might have arrived with the best
today,
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but > > ended up in the third group, losing almost a minute to Maillot
Jaune
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> > Armstrong. "I thought the course went up that climb, descended and
went
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up > > the next climb," explained Millar. "I didn't realize I had so much
flat
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> and > > headwind...a bit of a tactical error. I was really trying hard and
I
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was
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> > enjoying it. Mistakes, you've got to learn from them..." > > > > > > > >