2008 Tour de France Stage 17 - Wednesday, July 23: Embrun - L'Alpe-d'Huez, 210.5 km
- Thread starter TheDarkLord
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It depends on whose side he is on.Klodifan said:
The peloton is a white train (CSC) followed by the light blue train (Gerolsteiner).
Final climb is way too late. Shleck or Sastre can't get enough time on Evans if they wait that long.thoughtforfood said:
As others have noted, you're not going to wear out Evans with a fast steady pace. Much more likely you'll wear out Sastre and Shleck that way.
Piti is 4:11 down Schleck. And given that he is not as good a time trialist as Evans or Menchov, he will need a cushion. So, I would say that it is unlikely for him to be able to win - unless everyone blows up utterly.Klodifan said:
Edit: Great view of Alpine glaciers!
I am speaking of the attacks that realistically could drop Cadel. That wont happen until the Alpe. He is much too strong to drop any earlier than that.serpico7 said:
i agree, its unlikely. but if he attacks early today and the rest respond like they have, its possible. he has to get away on the second climb.TheDarkLord said:
cadel isnt that strong. he has just been hanging on to a steady pace set by csc. it works for him. if tactics were different cadel would totally crack before final climb
At a steady pace, yes, he's too strong to drop until very late.thoughtforfood said:
If CSC wait until the Alps, Frank may as well hand Evans his yellow jersey. CSC has to be willing to sacrifice the white jersey and a podium place if they want the yellow.
I just don't think they can crack him that early. They have to ride the last climb, and to drop him while blowing yourself up for the last climb makes no sense. Cadel is strong, make no mistake about that.Klodifan said:
How much time do you think Sastre or Frank can get on Evans in the final climb? Remember, none of these guys is climbing like Ricco.thoughtforfood said:
I think that Sastre and Frank have to be willing to risk blowing themselves up today if they want a chance to win. Not blowing up, but gaining only seconds on Evans is a losing strategy.
I agree they need to do something, and hey it's the tour there's no point holding back, but evans is to experienced now, he's learnt from his mistakes, if they put him in trouble he'll let them go, and ride at his pace and will in affect ride back up to them. Sure they can gap him but can they keep the same pace he can over the distance, on the last climb maybe but on the second last time, I think it'll be alot of waisted effortserpico7 said:
BUt if you aren't strong enough to have another choice, what does it matter. I don't think either is that much better on climbs. Menchov may be strong enough combined climbing and TT though as Bro suggests.serpico7 said:
Ah! Some welcome action. Kohl, Wegmann and a couple of other riders (Voeckler is there) have attacked and have a decent lead over the peloton.
Good to see Kohl attack since that is bound to induce a reaction among the GC contenders.
Good to see Kohl attack since that is bound to induce a reaction among the GC contenders.
OK, now you all must know that I hate you all....they uped my deadline from Friday to Thursday, and I have to leave the house now to go work.....I hate you...TheDarkLord said:
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