2008 Tour de France : Stage 3 Saint-Malo - Nantes 195 km Monday, July 7

Originally Posted by Crankyfeet

I get your point. My three picks though were guys I thought had a chance of winning. Not the prediction of the stage podium (or people who could top 10).

For instance... in my limited experience... I see McEwen as an all or nothing man. If he has good positioning he should win. If he doesn't have good positioning.... he doesn't put in the effort and finishes 10th-15th. Even though the points count for the green jersey. He seems more interested in stage wins than worrying about coming fourth or fifth.

Originally Posted by thunder

depends, if he thinks he is gonna win green, he will be up there.

if he had freddie and both were strong, he would always be in the top 5, cos Freddie would have him in the top 10 at 200metres.

Recently mcewen has been sitting up. Previously he would be sprinting thru to the line.


But the big guys, Boonen and Mcewen, will sit up, if out of green equations, they only want a win.

Originally Posted by thunder

Cranky, often in the last 3kms, and longer, they, the sprinters, need to have a couple of efforts, and some out of saddle sprints in the wind to move up, and position themselves.

If Cav does not get help, I think he would struggle to get top 15. Someone needs to put Cav in position to use his speed in the last 200metres. He does not have the ability, the strength, to put himself in position to sprint for the win. He is not strong enough, yet.

But if they bring him to the front at the right time, and his legs are fresh enough and not sapped, he will beat everyone 9 times out of ten if they sprint from the same point.

Originally Posted by thunder

Cranky, often in the last 3kms, and longer, they, the sprinters, need to have a couple of efforts, and some out of saddle sprints in the wind to move up, and position themselves.

If Cav does not get help, I think he would struggle to get top 15. Someone needs to put Cav in position to use his speed in the last 200metres. He does not have the ability, the strength, to put himself in position to sprint for the win. He is not strong enough, yet.

But if they bring him to the front at the right time, and his legs are fresh enough and not sapped, he will beat everyone 9 times out of ten if they sprint from the same point.

Originally Posted by Crankyfeet

Thanks. So do Columbia have a plan tomorrow that is solely centered around Cav? Or are Kirchen and Ciolek given a free rein? Or do Kirchen and Ciolek get their own leadouts?

I would suspect their strategy will be centred on Cav... right?

Originally Posted by Crankyfeet

Thanks. So do Columbia have a plan tomorrow that is solely centered around Cav? Or are Kirchen and Ciolek given a free rein? Or do Kirchen and Ciolek get their own leadouts?

I would suspect their strategy will be centred on Cav... right?

Originally Posted by TheDarkLord

All 179 riders started today, which means that Soler is still hanging on.

Edit: CN reports that Soler has both hands bandaged and that he was looking very grim.

Originally Posted by jhuskey

William Frischkorn (Garmin Chipotle - H30), Paolo Longo Borghini (Barloworld), Romain Feillu (Agritubel) and Samuel Dumoulin (Cofidis


Good breakaway ,over 11 min gap. Probably never hold it but so far a good attempt.

Originally Posted by TheDarkLord

All 179 riders started today, which means that Soler is still hanging on.

Edit: CN reports that Soler has both hands bandaged and that he was looking very grim.

Originally Posted by TheDarkLord

The gap has increased to 14:15 min, which is somewhat high. What is the highest gap in a flat stage that has been successfully bridged?

Originally Posted by jhuskey

More than 14 mins but they will need to start reeling them in soon. An 18 min gap is very hard to cross if the break stays organized and their legs maintain.

Originally Posted by jhuskey

More than 14 mins but they will need to start reeling them in soon. An 18 min gap is very hard to cross if the break stays organized and their legs maintain.