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A Tale of Two
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 04-09-2012 13:02
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Tour de France Champion
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Wow, your flying through these stages at the moment 
Great to see Van den Broeck in yellow 
And Eric in fourth place as back up, keep it going |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 04-09-2012 13:18
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Tour de France Champion
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@Katusha: I'll think about it 
@francopell: Jurgen is much stronger than Eric in the mountains. Eric is a better TT-er, obviously, but I think the difference is going to be made in the mountain stages (unlike irl)
@JuanMotr: Thanks
@sutty68: Let's hope we can keep as many riders as possible at the front of the classification, you never know when it might come in handy |
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| cj2002 |
Posted on 04-09-2012 13:29
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Loads of great results, Ian. You've clearly done a great job training Eric. I reckon we could learn a thing or two from you. Fingers crossed for the rest of the Tour, hoping for a great result for the whole team. |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 04-09-2012 13:33
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21381
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Le Tour De France - Stage 11
This is almost the exact same stage from the Dauphinée. We'll even use the same tactic, more or less.
We had a long chat with most guys of the team during the race, changing tactics in-race, which is quite unusual. We had to get Jurgen to gain as much time as possible between him and his opponents. So we came up with a battle plan. Unfortunately for me, that battle plan involved me losing this beautiful jersey. However, I was willing to make that sacrifice for the team.
As soon as we hit the ascending ground on the Grand Colombier, Jurgen planted himself in my wheel and I started making the pace, a truly excruciating pace, I might proudly add.
In the descend, we took a quick look around us to see if anyone important had dropped. To our pleasant surprise, both De Gendt and Froome were either badly placed or were having a bad day, because they were chasing.
On Col de Richemond, I was able to pull Jurgen for a couple more km, but I was running out of gas, I have to admit.
So I jerked my head sideways, made brief eye contact with Jurgen, which was enough for him to understand it was time to attack. He accelerated immediately out of my wheel.
My job was done, now it was up to Jurgen to finish it.
I have to admit it was a sad moment for me. There went my jersey, my fifteen seconds of fame.
Even De Gendt and Froome passed me by near the end.
Contador won the stage, with Jurgen a great second. He's in yellow again!
Over 2 minutes later, I crossed the finish line. I was heartily surprised by the roaring applause I got from the audience. I'm fairly unknown to the French, as my major achievements in my career have been in the Giro and in Tirreno-Adriatico!
Result
| 1 | Alberto Contador | Team Saxo Bank | 5h23'53 | | | 2 | Jurgen Van den Broeck | Lotto-Belisol | s.t. | IanButler | | 3 | Andy Schleck | Radioshack Nissan Trek | s.t. | | | 4 | Wout Poels | Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | | 5 | Vincenzo Nibali | Liquigas-Cannondale | s.t. | | | 6 | Fränk Schleck | Radioshack Nissan Trek | s.t. | | | 7 | Daniel Martin | Team Garmin-Barracuda | s.t. | | | 8 | Robert Gesink | Rabobank Cycling Team | s.t. | | | 9 | Arnold Jeannesson | Cofidis, Le Crédit en Ligne | s.t. | | | 10 | Pierre Rolland | Team Europcar | + 43 | | | 11 | Roman Kreuziger | Astana Pro Team | s.t. | | | 12 | Samuel Sánchez | Euskaltel Euskadi | s.t. | | | 13 | Thomas De Gendt | Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | + 1'38 | | | 14 | Chris Froome | Sky Pro Cycling | + 1'56 | | | 15 | Eric Lombaerts | Lotto-Belisol | + 2'22 | IanButler | | 16 | Rein Taaramae | Cofidis, Le Crédit en Ligne | + 3'19 | | | 17 | Cadel Evans | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | | 18 | Juan José Cobo Acebo | Movistar Team | + 3'42 | | | 19 | Steven Kruijswijk | Rabobank Cycling Team | s.t. | | | 20 | Chris Anker Sørensen | Team Saxo Bank | s.t. | | | 21 | Francis De Greef | Lotto-Belisol | + 4'20 | IanButler |
GC
| 1 | Jurgen Van den Broeck | Lotto-Belisol | 43h11'05 | IanButler | | 2 | Alberto Contador | Team Saxo Bank | + 9 | | | 3 | Vincenzo Nibali | Liquigas-Cannondale | + 36 | | | 4 | Chris Froome | Sky Pro Cycling | + 1'31 | | | 5 | Andy Schleck | Radioshack Nissan Trek | + 1'36 | | | 6 | Thomas De Gendt | Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | + 1'45 | | | 7 | Eric Lombaerts | Lotto-Belisol | + 1'55 | IanButler | | 8 | Robert Gesink | Rabobank Cycling Team | + 2'23 | | | 9 | Wout Poels | Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | + 2'49 | | | 10 | Roman Kreuziger | Astana Pro Team | + 3'13 | | | 11 | Samuel Sánchez | Euskaltel Euskadi | + 3'21 | | | 12 | Pierre Rolland | Team Europcar | + 3'57 | | | 13 | Cadel Evans | BMC Racing Team | + 4'09 | | | 14 | Tony Martin | Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling Team | + 4'28 | | | 15 | Fränk Schleck | Radioshack Nissan Trek | + 6'01 | | | 16 | Juan José Cobo Acebo | Movistar Team | + 7'13 | | | 17 | Rein Taaramae | Cofidis, Le Crédit en Ligne | + 9'11 | | | 18 | Steven Kruijswijk | Rabobank Cycling Team | + 10'17 | | | 19 | Francis De Greef | Lotto-Belisol | + 10'49 | IanButler | | 20 | Sergio Luis Henao | Sky Pro Cycling | + 11'03 | |
Points
| 1 | Mark Cavendish | Sky Pro Cycling | 192 | | 2 | André Greipel | Team Saxo Bank | 165 | | 3 | Peter Sagan | Liquigas-Cannondale | 157 | | 4 | Arnaud Démare | FDJ-BigMat | 141 | | 5 | Marcel Kittel | Rabobank Cycling Team | 127 |
KoM
| 1 | Robert Gesink | Rabobank Cycling Team | 25 | | | 2 | Pierre Rolland | Team Europcar | 20 | | | 3 | Jurgen Van den Broeck | Lotto-Belisol | 16 | IanButler | | 4 | Fränk Schleck | Radioshack Nissan Trek | 16 | | | 5 | Daniel Martin | Team Garmin-Barracuda | 14 | |
Combativity Award
Cameron Meyer won today's Combativity Award!
Today was really hard, both physically and mentally, but tomorrow is an even harder stage, so I'm going to get some rest now. See you tomorrow! |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 04-09-2012 13:34
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21381
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cj2002 wrote:
Loads of great results, Ian. You've clearly done a great job training Eric. I reckon we could learn a thing or two from you. Fingers crossed for the rest of the Tour, hoping for a great result for the whole team.
Thanks a lot! |
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| Schleck96 |
Posted on 04-09-2012 13:35
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Well it was great to see Eric with the Maillot Jaune but now it's time to work for Jurgen. |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 04-09-2012 13:37
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@Schleck96: Indeed, now he can concentrate 99% on helping (let's save 1% for the white jersey ) |
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| jph27 |
Posted on 04-09-2012 13:37
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 Well, at least VDB leads. If you lose a bit more time working for him, then you might even get to go on an attack later on for personal glory perhaps? |
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| PCM rulezz |
Posted on 04-09-2012 13:41
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Nice result for VDB, he must be proud of Eric.
Eric lost his yellow but he is still in white, isn't he?
Winners never quit, quitters never win.
It's difficult not to be happy when you're surrounded by Belgians. - Mark Cavendish
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 04-09-2012 13:41
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@jph27: That's not out of the question  However, winning a TDF stage is not something easily done, but he can try. First we'll try to put more distance between VDB and good TT riders as Nibali and Contador.
@PCM rulezz: He's very comfortably in white
Edited by Ian Butler on 04-09-2012 13:42
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| Katusha |
Posted on 04-09-2012 13:42
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Eric's look is good now.His objectives should top 10 happen. |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 24-10-2026 03:46
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| JuanMotr |
Posted on 04-09-2012 13:43
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So sad to see Eric 7th... but great to see Jurgen in yellow |
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| fcancellara |
Posted on 04-09-2012 13:51
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Still a decent ride by Eric though!
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| johannes-w |
Posted on 04-09-2012 13:58
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Too bad Eric had to lose some time for the greater good of the team, but at least VDB is leading
By the way I love those time-trial-battles between De Gendt and Eric Hopefully Eric will win the next one again |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 04-09-2012 14:10
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Great to see Jurgen cope with Contador |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 04-09-2012 14:32
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21381
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Thanks for the many comments!
@Katusha: Top 10 would be extremely good, but he's riding extremely well so it may be possible.
@JuanMotr: It's too bad they can't ride 1 and 2 like Froome and Wiggins
@fcancellara: Thanks!
@johannes-w: He appears to meet De Gendt anywhere where a time trial is held Maybe Eric will beat De Gendt at the next NC, or at the WC!
@sutty68: Yeah, but Contador hasn't been the same since his suspension. VDB is really strong, though!
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 04-09-2012 14:50
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21381
Joined: 01-05-2012
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Le Tour De France - Stage 12
What a stage, short but oh so sweet!
I started back in white. You know what, it doesn't matter. I look better in white than in yellow anyway!
The team worked hard again, we have really developed into a climbing team over the last few years, with hard workers as De Clerq, De Greef, Vanendert...
On the final climb, I was left with Jurgen. I looked at him: "same plan?". He nodded: "same plan"
I moved up the pace a notch.
The Belgian press have not been too kind of Van Den Broeck lately, doubting his abilities to lead this team in Tour de France. I don't know if it's that what caused it, but with 5km left to go he passed me by and gave quite a demonstration!
Nobody could keep up with him!
And he took the win! What a show of power! This is what he worked for all these years, he's finally doing it: Jurgen is winning the Tour!
I finish almost 3 minutes later.
Result
| 1 | Jurgen Van den Broeck | Lotto-Belisol | 4h43'43 | IanButler | | 2 | Pierre Rolland | Team Europcar | + 16 | | | 3 | Fränk Schleck | Radioshack Nissan Trek | + 42 | | | 4 | Alberto Contador | Team Saxo Bank | s.t. | | | 5 | Chris Froome | Sky Pro Cycling | + 1'03 | | | 6 | Vincenzo Nibali | Liquigas-Cannondale | s.t. | | | 7 | Samuel Sánchez | Euskaltel Euskadi | s.t. | | | 8 | Andy Schleck | Radioshack Nissan Trek | + 1'43 | | | 9 | Thomas De Gendt | Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | + 2'00 | | | 10 | Cadel Evans | BMC Racing Team | + 2'17 | | | 11 | Roman Kreuziger | Astana Pro Team | s.t. | | | 12 | Jelle Vanendert | Lotto-Belisol | s.t. | IanButler | | 13 | Juan José Cobo Acebo | Movistar Team | s.t. | | | 14 | Igor Anton | Euskaltel Euskadi | + 2'42 | | | 15 | Eric Lombaerts | Lotto-Belisol | + 2'52 | IanButler | | 16 | Arnold Jeannesson | Cofidis, Le Crédit en Ligne | + 3'10 | | | 17 | Wout Poels | Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | + 3'34 | | | 18 | Robert Gesink | Rabobank Cycling Team | + 3'45 | | | 19 | Daniel Martin | Team Garmin-Barracuda | + 4'24 | | | 20 | Nicolas Roche | Ag2r La Mondiale | s.t. | |
GC
| 1 | Jurgen Van den Broeck | Lotto-Belisol | 47h54'48 | IanButler | | 2 | Alberto Contador | Team Saxo Bank | + 51 | | | 3 | Vincenzo Nibali | Liquigas-Cannondale | + 1'39 | | | 4 | Chris Froome | Sky Pro Cycling | + 2'34 | | | 5 | Andy Schleck | Radioshack Nissan Trek | + 3'19 | | | 6 | Thomas De Gendt | Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | + 3'45 | | | 7 | Pierre Rolland | Team Europcar | + 4'13 | | | 8 | Samuel Sánchez | Euskaltel Euskadi | + 4'24 | | | 9 | Eric Lombaerts | Lotto-Belisol | + 4'47 | IanButler | | 10 | Roman Kreuziger | Astana Pro Team | + 5'30 | | | 11 | Robert Gesink | Rabobank Cycling Team | + 6'08 | | | 12 | Wout Poels | Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | + 6'23 | | | 13 | Cadel Evans | BMC Racing Team | + 6'26 | | | 14 | Fränk Schleck | Radioshack Nissan Trek | + 6'43 | | | 15 | Tony Martin | Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling Team | + 8'52 | | | 16 | Juan José Cobo Acebo | Movistar Team | + 9'30 | | | 17 | Rein Taaramae | Cofidis, Le Crédit en Ligne | + 14'06 | | | 18 | Steven Kruijswijk | Rabobank Cycling Team | + 15'21 | | | 19 | Sergio Luis Henao | Sky Pro Cycling | + 15'27 | | | 20 | Igor Anton | Euskaltel Euskadi | + 16'50 | |
Points
| 1 | Peter Sagan | Liquigas-Cannondale | 166 | | | 2 | Matthew Goss | Orica-GreenEDGE | 115 | | | 3 | Jurgen Van den Broeck | Lotto-Belisol | 111 | IanButler | | 4 | Tony Martin | Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling Team | 101 | | | 5 | Alberto Contador | Team Saxo Bank | 97 | |
KoM
| 1 | Christophe Riblon | Ag2r La Mondiale | 48 | | | 2 | Luis León Sánchez | Rabobank Cycling Team | 46 | | | 3 | Mathias Frank | BMC Racing Team | 40 | | | 4 | Jurgen Van den Broeck | Lotto-Belisol | 36 | IanButler |
Combativity Award
Christophe Riblon.
Today was a bad day for many riders, arriving too late.
Among those unable to continue in this Tour De France are Cavendish, Kittel, Degenkolb, Démare, Viviani and many more.
In other news: De Gendt will go to Radioschack next season! |
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| PCM rulezz |
Posted on 04-09-2012 14:57
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It's looking better with every stage you ride
Winners never quit, quitters never win.
It's difficult not to be happy when you're surrounded by Belgians. - Mark Cavendish
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| FreitasPCM |
Posted on 04-09-2012 15:04
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Looking really good for Van den Broeck, while Eric's also inside the top-10. |
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| Katusha |
Posted on 04-09-2012 15:20
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Excellent ride for VDB.Perhaps Vanender work for Eric.After VDB Of course! |
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