TdF Stage 11 – A Tough One [Spoilers]

Thomas Voeckler is, apparently, one of the morst unpopular riders in the peloton.

From cyclingnews:
Voeckler’s win once again confirms him as the darling of the French public, at least in July, but that status contrasts sharply with the reputation he holds in some quarters of the peloton. Before he took his leave, Voeckler was asked why he was such an unpopular figure among some of his fellow professionals.

“I answered this question earlier in the year and it made a lot of noise,” he said. “So you have to ask the other riders, they’re the only ones who can give you an answer.”

So still no real clue as to why the other riders don’t like him… Off to search for previous news items…

http://doctoramarthacastro.wordpress.com/category/thomas-voeckler/

Nice to see some of the riders taking their tips on humility from John Terry, who himself could still win the tour this year 🙂

From the Guardian feed:

“I’d always thought, as you did, that Thomas Voeckler seemed like a ‘salt of the earth’ kind of guy,” writes Brad McMillan. “Then I listened to the (excellent, but way too short) ITV podcast this morning and Ned Boulting described asking Voeckler for a quick interview; a request met with snarling, almost threatening behaviour until the moment the camera rolled … and it was suddenly all sweetness and smiles. Ned referred to it, somewhat disdainfully, as the ‘Europcar Smile’.”

Thanks for he link trickydisco, backs up hammerite’s take on the situation for sure.

Cheers guys.

Re Tommy … it all kind of adds up… He IS french… so was born stroppy and charismatic in equal measure

Nibbles dropped and drafting his team car doe all he’s worth……

Wasn’t he getting a drink from the team car?

he’d send someone to get a drink for him surely. Unless he’s sent all his team up the road to leapfrog later?

Just seen a few guys taking Powerbar bottles from a Powerbar liveried motorbike. Would these just be water – aren’t they all on highly specific energy drinks?

Nibali had a mechanical I think. superstar brake pads i reckon

He wouldn’t send someone to get a drink if he wanted a quick talk about tactics.

I think the powerbar stuff would just be water. They were also taking drinks from a Vittel bike too.

Scarponi is looking interesting. Is he after a stage win, or after yesterday gaining a few minutes under the radar to sneak into the top 10? Or playing the long game for the Polka dot jersey?

TJ attacks….

Going ahead to be there for Cuddles later on in the stage?

Interesting…

Chess on bikes!

CUDDLES!

attack from Evans…..ride him down sky…..

go on evans, lets see some cracks in team sky

*im riding tonight, so wont see the highlights, therefore may as well follow the text updates*

Race starts here…….

Sky tapping it out slowly….

Calm? Or struggling? Faces showing nothing!

2 BMC riders with evans, this needs to be closed down

One BMC rider dropped from Cuddles.

Sky still tapping it along. Split the Peloton to pieces!

I think they bank on never losing much time by just sticking to the plan and not fluctuating the pace massively putting themselves too far into the red.

So they’ll carry on riding to the same power output as they always do, so will just keep tapping out a rhythm.

They may push it a bit on the final climb if the gap keeps growing.

Cuddles has been dropped by TJ! I don’t think he’s got it in him today….

Coming back on to the wheel slowly.

We drove this climb last year, the Mrs hated it. Doesn’t like narrowish roads with drops to the side when a campervan starts heading towards us.

I rode the way up to Croix de la Fer from Bourg d’Oisans.

Good effort, Cuddles.

No chance, though.

why am i stuck in a teleconference instead of watching the TV!!!!

why am i stuck in a teleconference instead of watching the TV!!!!

Poor diary management, I’d say.

😉

cuddles doesn’t look like his legs have got it today, sky should attack him.

Is Nibali in the Sky group, or is he down the road moaning about his mechanical?

Given he doesn’t rate Brad, i assume he wouldn’t have needed them to wait for him?

The Sky train looks pretty ominous.

The Sky train looks pretty ominous.

Like a dark cloud looming…..

I’d say omnipotent rather than ominous.

Great crowd support and atmosphere on the big climbs

BUMP!

all the big boys together now

Cuddles to go for it on the descent, with his great bike handling skills? He used to be a mountain biker don’tcha know…

Sky should be the hammer down now after evans exertions, they don’t need to but they should just for kicks.

Aye and pay back for it tomorrow …..

Nibali will have another dig i reckon

Cuddles egos bruised after that tejay was destroying his own captain .

Long stage tomorrow but not a monster climbing wise so they should kick some arse today.

I am starting to warm to cuddles.
As the holder he is showing the TdF immense respect and he is a least trying to attack rather than just moaning.
I expect him to launch again on the descent.
Cant see any change now unless Sky do as I predicted and have a pop to see who still has some legs

I reckon Nibali is going to have a go on this next short climb and try to extend a gap on the descent.

Maybe we’ll see an attack from Froome to put Evans under some pressure.