[spookyload]

Thank god its over. No more watching three guys mark each other and hope to get the time bonus finishes. What sort of stage race is sorted by time bonuses? The one move that had potential to add excitement was shut down by the Rabobank rider for a reason unknown. Rogers was finally in trouble and Levi and DZ were clear. It might have actually gotten exciting. Not to be. Status quo.
:mad2:

 

[stevesbike]

wow, you should check for a pulse - the last lap was great racing.

 

[spookyload]

Levi had half his team with him. Still couldn't pull off a move. Watching three riders mark each other up the last climb isn't exciting racing.

 

[Dan Gerous]

At least today, they tried to do something, it didn't work but there was something to watch. I agree the other stages were pretty boring as far as the GC is concerned, today was a bit better. The Giro, especially today's stage still makes the ToC look like a tempo training ride though... Not sure it's good to put the ToC during the Giro, it only amplifies it's insignificance... The Floyd thing brought a bit of action at least.

 

[den bakker]

Levi had half his team with him. Still couldn't pull off a move. Watching three riders mark each other up the last climb isn't exciting racing.

Well, he flatted at the beginning of the climb. Not exactly great having to attack after catching back on.

 

[spookyload]

So how much $$$$ did the assist by the Rabobank rider cost Rogers? I can see no reason for him to help Rogers. If you watch it again, he slows to let Rogers get on his wheel before saving the ToC for him.

 

[Dan Gerous]

So how much $$$$ did the assist by the Rabobank rider cost Rogers? I can see no reason for him to help Rogers. If you watch it again, he slows to let Rogers get on his wheel before saving the ToC for him.

It's good to have friends.

 

[M-theory]

Well at least Levi looked pleased to be on the podium. Not the sore loser a certain someone else would have been if he came in third.

 

[euro-trash]

Well, he flatted at the beginning of the climb. Not exactly great having to attack after catching back on.

He got such a ridiculous draft from the caravan his heart rate was lower than those that didn't flat (and I'm all in favor of a fair use of the caravan to get back on after a flat).

 

[Creakyknees]

So how much $$$$ did the assist by the Rabobank rider cost Rogers? I can see no reason for him to help Rogers. If you watch it again, he slows to let Rogers get on his wheel before saving the ToC for him.

yep, same thought crossed my mind. it wouldn't be the first time money changed hands in a situation like that.

 

[davidka]

Levi had half his team with him. Still couldn't pull off a move. Watching three riders mark each other up the last climb isn't exciting racing.

He pulled several moves, Mick was too good to shake and got help from an unexpected rider. Maybe Horner could've gone earlier to put more pressure on Rogers but if you thought it was bad racing then you have very unrealistic expectations.

 

[trainCatcher]

I thought the stage was very exciting. Watching the DZ and Levi go at Mick like that was great! Much better than watching one EPO crazed goon gain minutes over everyone else on every climb. It was nice to see people actually get tired.

 

[troutmd]

I thought the stage was very exciting. Watching the DZ and Levi go at Mick like that was great! Much better than watching one EPO crazed goon gain minutes over everyone else on every climb. It was nice to see people actually get tired.

I thought Stage 8 --- at least in person --- was good. Each passing lap you could feel the effort, dwindling resources and the tension.

<a href="https://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v385/troutmd/?action=view&current=TOCMikeRogers.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v385/troutmd/TOCMikeRogers.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[grrrah]

What would you rather watch, a breakaway with the leader's team keeping the peloton within reach with a mellow pace for the first half, then the sprinter's teams pacing to catch the break so there can be a typical sprint finish,

or

the 2nd and 3rd place riders exchanging attacks on the isolated leader that marked them? With what seemed like they finally cracked the leader until an unexpected friend aided him saving the win?

Every race has guys marked by the leaders. Only in a few of races do we actually get to see action amongst it.

Personally I would have liked to see DZ and Levi stay away then Horner and Ryder coming back and forming a 4-person TT to the win. But only because I was rooting for DZ from the beginning.

 

[fast ferd]

I thought Stage 8 --- at least in person --- was good. Each passing lap you could feel the effort, dwindling resources and the tension.

Nice photo, Trout. Somebody needed the presence of mind to snap some shots, instead of running alongside the cyclists in a pill bottle suit.

I thought it was a great stage. Fast pace for half the race to discourage breaks, until one finally succeeds. Three-minute lead to overcome. Made for good watching on my DVR, blitzing thru all the commercials by commencing my viewing about thirty minutes into the telecast!

Langeveld saved the day for Rogers. And saved his own 53rd place in the overall. At a minimum, he got brownie points. Otherwise it was plain stupid.

Actually a little stupid was HTC (except for Rogers) spending so much effort in the TT the day before. Martin, Grabcsh, et all must've been fried for stage 8. Pretty risky for your main guy, but they managed to pull it off.

 

[chuckice]

Yesterday's ToC stage = boring & predictable.

 

[desmo13]

Yesterday's ToC stage = boring & predictable.

There is no way you predicted the leader being isolated by 2nd and 3rd, then broken by their attacks, only to be dragged back up by a disinterested 3rd party.

 

[chuckice]

There is no way you predicted the leader being isolated by 2nd and 3rd, then broken by their attacks, only to be dragged back up by a disinterested 3rd party.

Except for the "dragged back" part yes...and it was VERY boring. Maybe 10/15 mins of minor drama that was likely not going to affect the outcome at all. That = boring.

 

[vandalbob]

Ditto

I thought the stage was very exciting. Watching the DZ and Levi go at Mick like that was great! Much better than watching one EPO crazed goon gain minutes over everyone else on every climb. It was nice to see people actually get tired.

I thought it was great racing. Mick did well to mark the moves and got the overall win. Horner led out Hincapie but that bloody Canadian Hejsdal got the jump for a great finish. Good stuff.

 

[robbyracer]

Ooops wrong thread