Stage 10: No One Makes a Move
Before we talk about today’s stage, I wanted to quickly address something in velonews a few days ago. There was a little fluff piece in which Cipo says McEwen is really good. Well, thanks. But it’s a nice article and I wouldn’t comment on it were it not for this line:
“Mario Cipolinni, arguably the greatest sprinter of modern Tour de France history.”
I’m sure you COULD argue that. I mean, you could also argue the moon is made of cheese. You’d just be wrong.
Cipo’s won four stages in two
Don’t misconstrue this as a slam on velonews. Their cycling coverage is consistently awesome. I’m just picking nits.
OK, stage 10. What a waste.
We wait a week and a half for this? This was a stage with an HC climb in which Erik Friggin’ Zabel finished ninth. That should never happen on a mountain stage. Two riders in the top five of the green jersey standings should not be in the top ten on a stage with an HC climb. It’s supposed to be a day for climbers and GC men, not a glorified rolling stage. I’m pissed. It’s one thing for an underdog to win the stage, but none of the contenders ever left the peloton. Except for Rasmussen for a few minutes to pick up a few climbing points.
Wow. I’m cranky today. So let’s pass out some praise. I said before the Tour that if Agributel even had a rider finish top 20 in any stage, it will be a successful Tour. Stage 10 was the first time we saw Agributel in the top 20 of any stage: Mercado won it. I really enjoy it when the small teams have their moment in the sun. Ag2r, hardly a powerhouse themselves, just missed out on the stage, but get to solace themselves with the yellow jersey. So Cyril Dessel gets a day in yellow, which is pretty damn cool.
Mercado who?
posted by Poseur at 5:16 PM
2 Comments:
I agree about the minnow teams. Agritubel justified their bit today. It took them only 11 days of racing to get a result, which is more than we can say about a lot of other invited teams in years past.
There isn't nearly as much deadwood in this Tour as in the past. Pretty much every team shows signs of life. Even Euskaltel is throwing guys into breakaways. They had two in the breakaway today, and Isasi apparently wants to contest sprints and mountains (though he's second rate at both). I think Liquigas and Saunier have been the only worthless teams so far.
Speaking of Euskaltel, did you notice that Iban Mayo finished 24 minutes behind the stage winner (17 minutes behind the peloton)? Jeez, the climbing specialist couldn't hack it on a day the contenders took it easy. What a fraud!
Mayo took a gas pipe. What has happened to that guy? And are we the only people who have written him off as a serious contender?
De La Fuente has competed for dots through week one, so even Saunier is doing something. His one day in dots is more than CSC has won in this Tour.
Once again, Erik Zabel finished 9th. And there was an HC mountian. That is simply an inxecusible stage design.
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