2008 Tour De France : Stage 5 Cholet - Châteauroux 230 km Wednesday, July

TheDarkLord

Is there a reason why they always catch the break so late into the stage? Is it a tactical move to prevent other breakaway groups?

peterlip

Yes. That's the exact reason not to catch them 50km out. It's easier to catch a group that's been out there for 200km, than chase a group that has just jumped in the last 20km.

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Road: Felt F70
Commute: Raceline Comp LX

Powerful Pete

Yup. The are is in timing it just right so that no one else gets the crazy idea to attack. The problem is when you get the timing wrong...

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De Rosa Planet
Campagnolo Per Sempre!
PAOLO BETTINI CAMPIONE DEL MONDO x 2!

jhuskey

Wel, I came close in my guess. If you count second place as close.
The story of my life!

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Sobriety is over rated!

TheDarkLord

Only watched the last 10 km. But wow, they only JUST managed to catch the break. In fact, one of the riders in the break almost won it but seemed to lose steam some 50 m ahead of the finish!

jhuskey

Edit: Well I guess they called Zabel 3rd ,but it was close 3rd.

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Sobriety is over rated!

TheDarkLord

Yeah, they showed a line graphic to see who's in front, and both Freire and Zabel seemed to be at the same position. Real close.

What happened to McEwen? Good call Grater - got two of the top three right!

limerickman

Kelly was singing the praises of Zabel on Monday (eriks birhtday) on Eurosport.
Referred to Zabel as having "a superb career" "remarkable rider doing what he has done and being still racing for the win at his age (38)".
Very high praise from King Kelly.

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.."But finally the last thing I’ll say to the people who don’t believe in cycling, the cynics and the sceptics. I'm sorry for you. I’m sorry that you can’t dream big. [I]I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles. You should believe in these athletes, and you should believe in these people. I'll be a fan of the Tour de France for as long as I live. And there are no secrets" - this is a hard sporting event and hard work wins it - Armstrong 2005 TDF
morelike hypocrisy.

jhuskey

He was not popular with some other riders but well respected because he was such a training fanatic.
He would train a full day with the team and then go back out for more.
Or so I am told.

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Sobriety is over rated!

limerickman

yeah, I've read that he is a fanatic for the bike.
I read that he's also a very single minded character.

I heard somewhere that during the late 1990's that he wanted to be the team leader at Telekom when Jan Ullrich was winning the GT's.
By all accounts Erik wanted the team to back him instead of Jan Ullrich.

Goodefroot rated Zabel very highly.
His famous comment "if JU had the motivation of EZ, he would be as good as Merckx".
I take Goodefroots point (even if it is slightly over the top - as no one in my opinion is even close to Merckx).

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.."But finally the last thing I’ll say to the people who don’t believe in cycling, the cynics and the sceptics. I'm sorry for you. I’m sorry that you can’t dream big. [I]I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles. You should believe in these athletes, and you should believe in these people. I'll be a fan of the Tour de France for as long as I live. And there are no secrets" - this is a hard sporting event and hard work wins it - Armstrong 2005 TDF
morelike hypocrisy.

jhuskey

That's pretty much what I was told about Zabel and the fact that he was not well like within the team.
Eddie was incomparable, but that was a different time.

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Sobriety is over rated!

azdroptop

Almost left that one out a bit long eh!? I would have loved to see the French Champ win the stage! Awesome attempt by the 3 to rev it back up after the Peloton slowed down the chase for awhile. Canvindish is a animal. Unstoppable with in 200 M. Very exciting finish.

Grater

That's what we like to see!

Crankyfeet

That 4 mm of Freire's wheel cost me $100...


To make matters worse... I think Oscar soft-pedaled in Stage 2 when he found out I had picked him...

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