2008 Tour de France Stage 20 - Sat July 26: Cerilly-St. Amand-Montrond (ITT), 53 km
- Thread starter Crankyfeet
- Start date
Going on recent form (1st TT this year and both TT's last year) Evans would be approx 2 seconds per km quicker than Sastre and would have won on GC. He was only about 0.5 seconds per km quicker in this TT. IMO Sastre has come into the third week in top shape, rode to the high end of what you'd expect his form to be, while Evans rode well below expectations. His form isn't as anywhere as good as last year IMO, whether through his fall a week ago or just how the penny drops I don't know.Bro Deal said:
Yea, Sastre only put himself out on one stage, and Cadel definately did not ride like everyone (including me) expected. He was off, no doubt about it. Today's ride by Sastre was not superhuman in any way, and Cadel's was less than he is capable. I think that there is some merit to the pressure of carrying #1 getting to him. I would probably have a hard time too.....if I had any decernable talent on the bike, and people were hounding me, and everyone expected me to win, and reporters touched my shoulder, and someone almost stepped on my accessory dog, and....well in all honesty, he had a lot of pressure, and just like Greg Norman, you guys don't seem to handle that too well...classic1 said:
(I know that is a sore spot, and it was really uncalled for on my part...but sometimes my fingers have to type things that I don't think are appropriate.)
Yeah. He was asked to dope on Mapei, said no, and then almost won the Giro. Mapei was a dirty team. The sponsor dropped sponsorship because he was disgusted with the doping.plectrum said:
Nobody has placed in the top 10 of the Tour without doping or a lucky break for a very long time. This year was supposed to be an exception, but I am skeptical.
Greg Norman would have finished about 5 minutes behind Sastre I reckon... but he is 53 and he only rides on weekends...thoughtforfood said:...well in all honesty, he had a lot of pressure, and just like Greg Norman, you guys don't seem to handle that too well...
I could care less about Greg Norman. He ***** me. No particular reason, he just does. You're right re Sastre. Anyone who goes 'wheelsucker ***** ***** Evans' should have a good look at Sastre and note that he followed wheels the whole Tour except on Alpe d'Huez. This is not a criticism of Sastre. He had the best team and would have been stupid to do otherwise. He did what he needed to do and he finished strong after 3 weeks. Evans didn't.thoughtforfood said:Yea, Sastre only put himself out on one stage, and Cadel definately did not ride like everyone (including me) expected. He was off, no doubt about it. Today's ride by Sastre was not superhuman in any way, and Cadel's was less than he is capable. I think that there is some merit to the pressure of carrying #1 getting to him. I would probably have a hard time too.....if I had any decernable talent on the bike, and people were hounding me, and everyone expected me to win, and reporters touched my shoulder, and someone almost stepped on my accessory dog, and....well in all honesty, he had a lot of pressure, and just like Greg Norman, you guys don't seem to handle that too well...
I think Evans below par TT wasn't any one thing, but a combo of his fall, pressure, tiredness and below par form (past his peak form) in the last week.
Any news on Potatohead? Surely they must have analyzed his sample from the 1st TT by now? And wtf happened to Kohl? Admittedly, Evans didn't well today, but to have Kohl within a few seconds? Anyway, great ride by Sastre and a well deserved yellow in Paris. The Schlecks need to practice TT. Abysmal.
oh cmon, tff. that is about the worst apologist bs ive read so far.thoughtforfood said:Yea, Sastre only put himself out on one stage, and Cadel definately did not ride like everyone (including me) expected. He was off, no doubt about it. Today's ride by Sastre was not superhuman in any way, and Cadel's was less than he is capable. I think that there is some merit to the pressure of carrying #1 getting to him. I would probably have a hard time too.....if I had any decernable talent on the bike, and people were hounding me, and everyone expected me to win, and reporters touched my shoulder, and someone almost stepped on my accessory dog, and....well in all honesty, he had a lot of pressure, and just like Greg Norman, you guys don't seem to handle that too well...
Evans rode out of his socks today. All the other riders had transfusions and improved their times by two and a half minutes.
Nothign was found, everytime there has been a positive it has usually been returned within 5-7 days of the stage. So if there was anything detected I am sure it woould have been announced already.Cobblestones said:
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