Rabobank--strong in the mountains
I couldn't resist such a goofy title. Rabobank might be the longest running team in the TdF. Their MO has been to send a bunch of Dutch riders who compete in the flat stages and disappear in the mountains. Now that this Tour has had a sample of mountains, they look like freaking billy goats. Two moutain stages, two stage wins. Mickael Rasmussen's stage 9 win was about as impressive an individual effort as you'll ever see. He left the peloton about 5 km after the start to get a measley 4 points on the first climb. He rode ahead of the first chase group with Dario Cioni until Cioni couldn't hold the pace on the category 1 climb. After that, Rasmussen was solo for the final 70 km. After 167 km at the front of the race, he finished 3 minutes ahead of Voigt and Moreau, the remains of the chase group, and 6 minutes ahead of the peloton. Rasmussen scored the maximum 56 climbing points by winning every climb of the day. He now has 88 points to Moreau's 40. That's a huge lead, but it's not safe with so many climbs remaining.
Jens Voigt finally got the green light from his team to go on the attack. He was just a minute behind Armstrong to start the day, but now he wears the yellow jersey. That's a nice reward for a rider who always busts his butt in the long breakaways.
Back in the peloton the big guns played it safe. None of the contenders made an attack, and Discovery wasn't inclined to put up much of a chase on the leaders. Everyone is waiting for the showdown on Tuesday. The loss of the yellow jersey shouldn't bother Armstrong too much, as he's just 2:18 off Voigt's lead and 28 seconds behind Moreau. I've got a feeling neither one will be atop the standings Tuesday.
Sprint points in the moutains?
The finish was flat, but the green jersey contenders were all going easy in the Autobus. All but Stuart O'Grady. He made it up to the yellow jersey group and took 4th place on the stage while Boonen, Hushovd, and McEwen were still a few km behind. That's a steal of 18 points for O'Grady, who jumps McEwen in the standings, third place, 24 points behind Boonen.
How is Discovery?
Whatever problem they had yesterday (if they really had one) wasn't bothering them today. For a while all 9 were at the front of the peloton during the climbs, and 7 of 9 finished in the yellow jersey peloton. That doesn't seem like a bad day. Of course, this was a routine climbing day. The real tests start Tuesday and Wednesday.
Jens Voigt finally got the green light from his team to go on the attack. He was just a minute behind Armstrong to start the day, but now he wears the yellow jersey. That's a nice reward for a rider who always busts his butt in the long breakaways.
Back in the peloton the big guns played it safe. None of the contenders made an attack, and Discovery wasn't inclined to put up much of a chase on the leaders. Everyone is waiting for the showdown on Tuesday. The loss of the yellow jersey shouldn't bother Armstrong too much, as he's just 2:18 off Voigt's lead and 28 seconds behind Moreau. I've got a feeling neither one will be atop the standings Tuesday.
Sprint points in the moutains?
The finish was flat, but the green jersey contenders were all going easy in the Autobus. All but Stuart O'Grady. He made it up to the yellow jersey group and took 4th place on the stage while Boonen, Hushovd, and McEwen were still a few km behind. That's a steal of 18 points for O'Grady, who jumps McEwen in the standings, third place, 24 points behind Boonen.
How is Discovery?
Whatever problem they had yesterday (if they really had one) wasn't bothering them today. For a while all 9 were at the front of the peloton during the climbs, and 7 of 9 finished in the yellow jersey peloton. That doesn't seem like a bad day. Of course, this was a routine climbing day. The real tests start Tuesday and Wednesday.
posted by uberschuck at 4:05 PM
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