Poor team tactics for Euskaltel

On 6 Jul 2004 10:02:52 -0700, [email hidden] (Richard Adams)

Quoted message said:

All 8 Euskaltel riders were caught by the gap. Even Maillot Jaune,
Thor Hushovd couldn't expect the lead group to wait up, with Jens
Voigt in the break.

I was a bit surprised that E-E couldn't close the gap, with the whole
team back, along with undoubtably more than a few who would help work
to close the gap. I have to wonder if Mayo was more seriously injured
than thought.

Several of the other Euskaltel riders came off in the crash, which
happened where they were massed, well up at the front of the bunch. It
wasn't just a matter of dropping back to help him. They pretty much
only had help from Credit Agricole in the chase, and they had been
pulling at the front all da, while the front group was being pulled by
three basically fresh teams.

Roger

The poor tactics were in the 20 kms before the crash when they were
nervously wasting energy riding at the front.
When Mayo crashed he was alone. It took too much time to regroup. They
waited and werent caught by the gap.
And then they still had to tackle the cobbles. It was ugly to see them
aiming desperately for the grass, they must have lost an aweful amount of
time on that first cobbled section.
And how could those shaken skinnies ever close the gap when so many strong
teams were riding in the 2 first groups?

On Tue, 06 Jul 2004 18:55:35 GMT, "Bart Van Hoorebeeck" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

The poor tactics were in the 20 kms before the crash when they were
nervously wasting energy riding at the front.

??? Accepted wisdom is generally that staying at the front is exactlky
what they should have been doing, since then most of the crashes
happen behind you. Just not all of them.

Roger

Bart Van Hoorebeeck said:

The poor tactics were in the 20 kms before the crash when they were
nervously wasting energy riding at the front.
When Mayo crashed he was alone. It took too much time to regroup. They
waited and werent caught by the gap.
And then they still had to tackle the cobbles. It was ugly to see them
aiming desperately for the grass, they must have lost an aweful amount
of time on that first cobbled section.
And how could those shaken skinnies ever close the gap when so many
strong teams were riding in the 2 first groups?

Euskaltel blew their wad too early. Postal, T-Mobile, Phonak, and CSC
started moving up in the last 6 or 7 km before the pave, and it's no
coincidence that those teams are going to do well in tomorrow's TTT. When
Euskaltel finally got their act together at the front of the second group
there was no way they were going to close the gap.

"Roger Hughes" <[email hidden]> schreef in
bericht news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Tue, 06 Jul 2004 18:55:35 GMT, "Bart Van Hoorebeeck" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

The poor tactics were in the 20 kms before the crash when they were
nervously wasting energy riding at the front.

??? Accepted wisdom is generally that staying at the front is exactlky
what they should have been doing, since then most of the crashes
happen behind you. Just not all of them.

Wisdom is being there at the right moment. Not for tens of kilometers in
advance.
Agreed what his teams did wasnt tactically wrong, they simply arent up to
that kind of work and were doing their utter best riding at the front (while
Ekimov etc were probably smirking just behind )

Has anyone information on where Mayo was when he crashed? Just before he was
shown the group was shown USPS-led, with only 25 riders and all the rest
reconnecting in a row. From that I guess Euskaltel was still hanging around
near the front when the crash happened.

My point was: Mayo doesnt deserve smack for "hanging at the back" as he
wasnt (I assume).

On Tue, 6 Jul 2004 21:25:51 +0200, "Robert Chung" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Euskaltel blew their wad too early. Postal, T-Mobile, Phonak, and CSC
started moving up in the last 6 or 7 km before the pave, and it's no
coincidence that those teams are going to do well in tomorrow's TTT. When
Euskaltel finally got their act together at the front of the second group
there was no way they were going to close the gap.

USP had been up there in numbers as far back as the regrouping after
the Muur prime. Indeed, it's very rare not to see them up near the
front.

Roger

Quoted message said:

All 8 Euskaltel riders were caught by the gap.

They were not caught by the gap, they waited for mayo that felt to bring him up
upfront, but never made it.

Bart Van Hoorebeeck said:

"Roger Hughes" <[email hidden]>
schreef in bericht news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Bart Van Hoorebeeck said:

The poor tactics were in the 20 kms before the crash when they were
nervously wasting energy riding at the front.

??? Accepted wisdom is generally that staying at the front is
exactlky what they should have been doing, since then most of the
crashes happen behind you. Just not all of them.

Wisdom is being there at the right moment. Not for tens of kilometers
in advance.
Agreed what his teams did wasnt tactically wrong, they simply arent
up to that kind of work and were doing their utter best riding at the
front (while Ekimov etc were probably smirking just behind )

Has anyone information on where Mayo was when he crashed? Just before
he was shown the group was shown USPS-led, with only 25 riders and
all the rest reconnecting in a row. From that I guess Euskaltel was
still hanging around near the front when the crash happened.

My point was: Mayo doesnt deserve smack for "hanging at the back" as
he wasnt (I assume).

According to the French television commetary, Mayo and Euskaltel weren't
able to keep in the front and Mayo was in the middle being shuffled towards
the back when he crashed. So I don't think it was bad tactics, just bad
racing.

"Bart Van Hoorebeeck" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Wisdom is being there at the right moment. Not for tens of kilometers in
advance.
Agreed what his teams did wasnt tactically wrong, they simply arent up to
that kind of work and were doing their utter best riding at the front

(while

Quoted message said:

Ekimov etc were probably smirking just behind )

Lefevere predicted it right from the beginning, although it didn't stop a
couple of his guys going down. The Spanish teams basically panicked before
the cobbles and there was more tension than was really necessary. It was
really a lack of experience riding classics that cost Mayo and Menchov their
GC today, and that lack of experience also affected other riders who were
caught up in the crash.

Postal and T-Mobile rode smartly, while Phonak probably did a bit too much
but still survived with Hamilton intact. And I was very impressed by Heras
and Liberty Seguros to hang with the boyz in front. An interesting stage.

Jeff

Quoted message said:

From: "Jeff Jones" jeff@cyclingnews-punt-com

Postal and T-Mobile rode smartly, while Phonak probably did a bit too much
but still survived with Hamilton intact.

Hey Jeff
If you were Phonak wouldn't YOU be sending everyone in red alert mode to
protect, guide, hold upright, Tyler?
This is one case where I think that overeaction can be excused, no?
I still can't believe he came out of New England with those bike handling
skills.
Bill C

TritonRider said:

Quoted message said:

From: "Jeff Jones" jeff@cyclingnews-punt-com

Postal and T-Mobile rode smartly, while Phonak probably did a bit too much
but still survived with Hamilton intact.

Hey Jeff
If you were Phonak wouldn't YOU be sending everyone in red alert mode to
protect, guide, hold upright, Tyler?
This is one case where I think that overeaction can be excused, no?
I still can't believe he came out of New England with those bike handling
skills.
Bill C

Everyone but Zulle.