Tour de France 13:00

[Lizard]

I want to eat cookies, not seconds.

The cake is a lie.

[Rake]

Sry, didnt work out today... next days should be better.

Congrats BSE, a lot of points today

[Zentaron]

You don't have to apologize, your work was fine. It's sad only for you that you forgot to set the sprint right after the last intermediate.

[Lizard]

Man, I needed that sprint, too many points for Stalteri.

[Zentaron]

Hm? Which sprint? The one of Rake?

[Lizard]

Hm? Which sprint? The one of Rake?

Yes, correct.
Btw, just seen my training. Whaddup!

[flockmastoR]

pf soneau that clone

[Zentaron]

Hm? Which sprint? The one of Rake?

Yes, correct.
Btw, just seen my training. Whaddup!

You've seen mine? The flat crew becomes better and better. (However, I still miss a sprint training of Leendert and since hundreds of years I miss a very very very good flat guy like Maomaki or Alonschenko or Caltapang.)

And to the sprint: Nobody knows if he would have stolen points from Paul. Paul was in good shape, he had 960 energy at the sprint despite of the sprint at the intermediate. And he had quite a good wheel. Chances there were for Rake, good ones, no question, but maybe he would have lost anyway.

[Lizard]

Paul back to 960? Wow, okay, very good chances, he definitely couldve won like we say "aus eigener Kraft"

[Robyklebt]

You've seen mine? The flat crew becomes better and better. (However, I still miss a sprint training of Leendert and since hundreds of years I miss a very very very good flat guy like Maomaki or Alonschenko or Caltapang.)

The devil will take his revenge!

[Zentaron]

"Der Teufel" was the best of his time, he did the best job I've ever seen by a flat rider (remember the 10 km solo tempo where he catched a group which was 1 minute in front). He is a great guy for sure, maybe the greatest, but I talked only about values, pure flat values.

[Lizard]

pf soneau that clone

Btw! Why clone? Still at least as successful as the "original"

[Ronson]

First of all, thanks to ProTour who sitting me and done the needful that Soares was able to gain some more seconds against JeanMarie.

Maybe someone can help me to understand some things:
1. Very good result of Xavi, what happens? Really good form at the moment? If so, he has good chances to wear yellow for some days Erik Elmo with a good result too, even he attacks very early.
2. JeanMarie really has form 90 the whole time? If so, good for me, Erik and Xavi. If not, EQ is a liar

Thanks,
Ron

[Ronson]

Strange stage today.

Alma was riding for Soares group and JWBB for the group of JeanMarie. The big looser today was ELITE with Xavi

Thought that Xavi attacks, so my classics don't attack while waiting. So I missed the very good slot to have my classics in front Furthermore me and EQ missed to block again. Nevertheless, win some sec on JeanMarie and lost some at Xavi. Xavi still in a good form. The TT tomorrow will englighten us more about the form settings.

[Lizard]

First time GC-fighting, already amusement today

Where do we begin? My point of view. Good stage, sure, when you win it's always good. Not so good that Stalteri gets another 5 points, I should've ridden, in the end no difference for the finale. Okay, 5 more points gone, nevermind. The finale was interesting, the sieb got me at a moment I didn't even realize that we had heavy rain. If the climbers work better together, they have a better chance. Like this, we get back to the front with a good cooperation. Elite and me, one for GC, one for stage, I think the aim for us was the same. Getting back and then in the flat finish rid of the rest, with the flat intensive riders no problem. Elite did good to drop the rest of the Xavi group to get to me, Soneau helps the mountain, Xavi the downhill, we catch up, instant attack, no one follows, we go.Then I need some rest in the end, Pique a little fresher, I wasn't sure if Xavi sprints (expected not) but was afraid to hang in Feuerbach's wheel, Pique 100% in Soneau's. So it's from 50, I stay in Xavis wheel in case of a late attack, Feuerbach put all his effort in the escape and was empty in the sprint. Lucky for me, but Elite will get stages surely.

Then the subject of the day, Alma's intervention. The problem here is simple: We have three groups, all have a strong guy for GC: 1st Ximenez, 2nd Soares, 3rd Betancourt. Without Brathwaite's help Soares loses around 30secs, maybe 40 to Ximenez. Very important for classics to make time on the hilly stages, where Soares will get it back in the mountains. On the other hand Betancourt would've caught Soares with Bishop's immense tempo, like this he loses time. So Alma intervened twice here, against Ximenez and against Betancourt. While his own profit is zero. The question is, where can he himself make time here against the other GC guys? Today, only against Betancourt. But those 15 secs won't be close to enough for what he needs. He needs cooperation with other climbers, pure climbers, and for 15 secs loss (btw, only against Ximenez if he doesnt ride himself) it's not a big loss for him after all. It's no loss. So I understand if others find it unfair, I find it unfair aswell, even SK Blu-Bardhe said it's not really fair to do so.

But enough of the fairytales, maybe we look at the future. What does this change to the tour? I think, sanctioning Alma is not the right thing. We say that in a clash maybe, yes, but we won't do it. But many won't cooperate with him anymore, he's no one to be trusted it seems when riding like this randomly. So he needs to make up himself, show cooperation, stop intervention while having chances (in good case) for top 10 only and find place for his own attacks rather. People will realize it and find a way to coop again if necessary. But the red fight will be tough now, because Alma wants it and who knows how many people will stop him from getting into breakaways... He might even find himself waiting for the finish line instead of attacking just because of that, at least if we want some groups to get through^^

So tomorrow TT, Soneau for sure goes 110%, I'm very interested in the time gaps, I guess Rake's time trialist will easily do this.

[stinull]

am not gone tell you the form ) amnot stupid ) like the say in poker the never tell the truth same counts for RSF ?lol ) i know how much form ihave for you its guess)

Anyway JwDD Ride ? does 56 flat realy helps 81 flat ?? rashaan stil had 600 at finsh am sure i would have catch SK and probley would have lost 20 sec to xavi instead )

Anyway Tour is still open 1 mistake and it all can be gone )

good stage today all

[Zentaron]

56 always was in (tempo) which means he never made tempo, cause he was unable to join the other one in tempo. So he didn't help but he didn't disturbed/slowed down either. He influenced nothing.

5 points for Stalteri were nearly perfect. Maybe I should have reacted to the group not working well together and let fall my riders back before the intermediate, so Paul could have earned 2 points more. However, I never thought about earning a single point today. So it was a good stage for my goal to win the green jersey.

[AlmavivaItalia]

100% quote for lizard..

I do all my apologize (can't do anything for betterize it) for my behaviour, with an eye for try to avoid some other like this.

i cut the gap only 15'' less (we are a lot of 85 mountain with no tt and we all fight for at least position 10 in GC, for sure) (and in front there were ceriale & MTV that are in fight with me... and, for sure, ceriale was offline during all the stage and then in the end with lucky remains in the back of Zachary was not also a good behaviour for me).

i don't expect red carpet when i am in escape for the red, for sure. I don't ask for an help for the red and i work for this if i'm able to do.

But i've a question (not as justification): in a so leveled kind of climber in this tour, where i've the less reg, less TT, less flat and older rider that probably will decrease his skill during the tour, but i'm the one able to had an help in late stage like today and don't compete for the victory of the stage, what can i do if my rider is in yellow group? sincerely... attack? with a 52 flat? and with the helper borderline to Reg limit? stop in chaser group, so losing other time and probably lost stage positions and have some useless energy used by thomas (that never attacked, he simply has enough strenght to remain in front of EQ group but not enough to remain with Zachary & Ximenez)? i sincerely ask, i repeat, not to justify my, but to know what may i did Or what i will may do in next stages.

Only to underline my question:

I was accused to be a sucker in sprintstage because i go always in escapes... --->no one win
i was accused to be a sucker in mountain stage because i escaped, but i clearly explain the form/condition of my rider --> no stagewin
i was accused not to work in today stage because i was a favo--->can't mantain soneau's wheel during last mountain---> no stagewin
i told i know my riders form/situation and other more for justification--->nobody want to know...i've the "numbers" in the riders'skill so i need to work. Than it happens a sieb, i lost my entire team like some moments today but i need still to work... and when i work really for my issue, my target, my goal, i do it wrong because i help other teams....
first stage, not favo and anything, worked only during last attack and only because i do right choice in attack--->stagewin accusing as a sucker

i'm very "proud" of all these sentences about me but i want really know what i've to do...



Just as reminder in the end, so i will write this

Hilbert
Soares
E. Elmo
Addeo
Osvaldo
C. Elmo
Deuters
Pineau

has 10'' more in GK.

In the end we will notice how it can influence this.

[Ronson]

Anyway JwDD Ride ? does 56 flat realy helps 81 flat ?? rashaan stil had 600 at finsh am sure i would have catch SK and probley would have lost 20 sec to xavi instead )

56 always was in (tempo) which means he never made tempo, cause he was unable to join the other one in tempo. So he didn't help but he didn't disturbed/slowed down either. He influenced nothing.

I thought you both were online yesterday?! Don't see and noticed that Urvoy makes tempo the last hill, there was no rider from EQ who makes tempo km 139 -142. In the downhill EQ joined, but there are no brackets around Urvoy. Starting with flat parts EQ complained the help, if we said him that Urvoy not able to help him or slow him down.

Anyway, I don't complain ... just wondering that you both noticed this

[Zentaron]

Hm, Ich bin grad zu blöd, das auf Englisch zu verstehen. Sagst mir eben auf Deutsch, was du meinst?

@Alma You we're accused as a sucker on flat stages? Who said it? I, as one of the two "big guns" of sprint here in this peloton (and in whole RSF^^), never said so. I feel not very good if you escape, sure, cause you have little chances to win with one of the few sprinters here, but I know that it is very hard for Dasic to win, because with this few options for taking a wheel me and Rake are clear favourites every flat stage. And so I would never say that you are sucking on flat stages. If there were more sprinters and the sprints were more open then, it would be another thing. But this way everything is okay, I think.

[Ronson]

Hm, Ich bin grad zu blöd, das auf Englisch zu verstehen. Sagst mir eben auf Deutsch, was du meinst?

*hihihi*

Urvoy hat EQ den letzten Berg hochgezogen, km 139-142 und da war keiner von EQ im Tempo, erst in der Abfahrt war EQ dabei und da war auch Urvoy im Tempo, ohne Klammern. Est im Flachstück war Urvoy in Klammern und EQ meinte er verschleppt das Tempo, bis wir ihn aufklärten

[Robyklebt]

All sprinters suck! Or how often have you seen Stalteri in tempo before the sprint???

[Zentaron]

As often as Conti.

[Lizard]

Favocheck!

General classement

1st Xavi Ximenez 00:00:00
2nd Jean Marie Betancourt 00:00:20
3rd Francisco Soares 00:00:32
4th Erik Elmo 00:00:44
5th Hubert Deters 00:04:14
6th Stefan Feuerbach 00:04:17
7th Jacob Amersfoort 00:04:35
8th Caio Addeo 00:04:55
9th Zizza Agresta 00:05:21
10th Julien Pineau 00:05:29
11th Zachary Soneau 00:05:47
12th Mauricio Osvaldo 00:05:58

These are all the riders within 6 mins, and we see that four riders are in the race for the top places, while Elmo is quite probably the weakest here and will hardly make it into the Top 3. Betancourt has obvious weaknesses in downhill and flat, Soares will have his stages coming in the mountains, especially stage 16 and 17 he will benefit from some minutes he can make, maybe 2 mins are possible to get there. If Elite rides good, he will have a chance, Betancourt will probably take 3rd but the other two will fight an open battle in the coming days, very interesting!!

Points classement

1st Paul Stalteri 177 pts
2nd Vladimir Dasic 121 pts
3rd Zachary Soneau 113 pts
4th Pontus Widding Persson 98 pts
5th Francisco Soares 80 pts

Here are the top 5 for the points classement. I think only two have a chance since Dasic will never ever catch up to Stalteri. Soneau had some stages made for him already, some are still coming. Stage 15 and 20 are typical sprint stages, even on stage 13 there are chances for a bunch sprint (but I will do everything to intervene there ). Soneau will probably make points on every stage from now on, he showed his potential in the mountains already and will easily be taken with by groups including Ximenez or Soares. I say: When Soneau wins two more stages, he will have a very good chance of catching up to Stalteri.

Young riders classement is forgiven 99% to Erik Elmo, red still open, the stages to make points are just coming now!

[Zentaron]

100% agree.