|
A Tale of Two
|
| ste_18 |
Posted on 04-09-2012 16:08
|
Protected Rider
Posts: 1384
Joined: 06-08-2012
PCM$: 200.00
|
Excellent race for VDBand great job of Eric for VDBV |
| |
|
|
| Ian Butler |
Posted on 04-09-2012 16:13
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21381
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
|
@PCM rulezz: Kind of like De Gendt in real life 
@FreitasPCM: It would be great to kep both of them there 
@Katusha: That might be possible. But now VDB still needs him to take some more time on Contador for the final TT.
@ste_18 Thanks |
| |
|
|
| sutty68 |
Posted on 04-09-2012 16:14
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 33999
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
|
Great victory for Van den Broeck, putting a little bit more daylight between himself and Contador |
| |
|
|
| Ad Bot |
Posted on 24-10-2026 03:37
|
Bot Agent
Posts: Countless
Joined: 23.11.09
|
|
| IP: None |
|
|
| Ian Butler |
Posted on 04-09-2012 16:22
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21381
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
|
Le Tour De France - Stage 15
I skipped the flat stages for all of you following. You probably caught them on tv anyway! Today we didn't plan on an early battle. It's been a long week and everyone's looking forward to the rest day. Add the fact that it was 34°C, nobody felt like attacks all day long.
So the breakaway was quickly formed and quickly gathered a maximum marge of 21'01".
KoM jersey wearer L.L. Sanchez was part of it and took most of the points.
Like always, I did my fair share of the work.
The breakaway made it to the finish, with Frank winning the stage!
And, who could've predicted that, after the final descend the battle opened up. Accelerations and attacks. So I had to give full gas on the flat. Some riders weren't set on just riding to the finish line.
My work took its toll. In the final km it wasn't entirely flat, about 2-3%, so I was unable to hang on. It's been a hard Tour so far for me too.
Result
| 1 | Mathias Frank | BMC Racing Team | 4h59'22 | | 2 | Sergio Pardilla | Euskaltel Euskadi | s.t. | | 3 | Fabian Wegmann | Team Garmin-Barracuda | s.t. | | 4 | Moreno Moser | Liquigas-Cannondale | s.t. | | 5 | Cameron Meyer | Orica-GreenEDGE | s.t. | | 6 | Thomas Voeckler | Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | 7 | Luis León Sánchez | Rabobank Cycling Team | s.t. | | 8 | Christophe Kern | FDJ-BigMat | s.t. | | 9 | Romain Bardet | Ag2r La Mondiale | s.t. | | 10 | Chris Horner | Radioshack Nissan Trek | s.t. | | 11 | Peter Velits | Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling Team | s.t. | | 12 | Rémy Di Gregorio | Cofidis, Le Crédit en Ligne | s.t. | | 13 | Massimo Codol | Acqua & Sapone | s.t. | | 14 | Cyril Gautier | Team Europcar | + 37 | | 15 | Christian Knees | Team Argos-Shimano | + 5'47 | | 16 | Thomas De Gendt | Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | + 8'56 | | 17 | Chris Froome | Sky Pro Cycling | s.t. | | 18 | Pierre Rolland | Team Europcar | s.t. | | 19 | Alberto Contador | Team Saxo Bank | s.t. | | 20 | Fränk Schleck | Radioshack Nissan Trek | s.t. | | (...) | | 25 | Jurgen Van den Broeck | Lotto-Belisol | s.t. | IanButler | | (...) | | 37 | Eric Lombaerts | Lotto-Belisol | + 9'56 | IanButler |
GC
| 1 | Jurgen Van den Broeck | Lotto-Belisol | 62h27'22 | 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 | Roman Kreuziger | Astana Pro Team | + 5'30 | | | 10 | Eric Lombaerts | Lotto-Belisol | + 5'47 | IanButler |
Points
| 1 | Peter Sagan | Liquigas-Cannondale | 265 | | | 2 | Matthew Goss | Orica-GreenEDGE | 187 | | | 3 | Romain Feillu | Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | 162 | | | 4 | Philippe Gilbert | BMC Racing Team | 133 | | | 5 | Jurgen Van den Broeck | Lotto-Belisol | 111 | IanButler |
KoM
| 1 | Luis León Sánchez | Rabobank Cycling Team | 63 | | | 2 | Mathias Frank | BMC Racing Team | 61 | | | 3 | Christophe Riblon | Ag2r La Mondiale | 48 | | | 4 | Pierre Rolland | Team Europcar | 40 | | | 5 | Jurgen Van den Broeck | Lotto-Belisol | 36 | IanButler |
Combativity Award
Today's Combativity Award goes to the first attacker of the day, French Champion Thomas Voeckler!
See you after the rest day! |
| |
|
|
| Ian Butler |
Posted on 04-09-2012 16:23
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21381
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
|
@sutty68: Thanks, I believe he'll need it for the final TT! |
| |
|
|
| sutty68 |
Posted on 04-09-2012 16:26
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 33999
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
|
Stage 15 was a chance to replenish some energy before the next battle with Contador |
| |
|
|
| Ian Butler |
Posted on 04-09-2012 17:58
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21381
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
|
We're looking forward to it 
Jurgen has never been this close to winning the Tour. But it's difficult to predict how much time he'll lose in the time trial. So we'll keep on attacking until we reach Paris |
| |
|
|
| PCM rulezz |
Posted on 04-09-2012 18:33
|
Protected Rider
Posts: 1446
Joined: 21-05-2011
PCM$: 200.00
|
I think he needs between 1'30" - 2' before the TT. Let's hope he can do that with the help of Eric.
Imagine, a Belgian wins the 100th edition of Le Tour de France. That's just unbelievable
Winners never quit, quitters never win.
It's difficult not to be happy when you're surrounded by Belgians. - Mark Cavendish
|
| |
|
|
| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 04-09-2012 19:00
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 18088
Joined: 12-05-2012
PCM$: 0.00
|
PCM rulezz wrote:
I think he needs between 1'30" - 2' before the TT. Let's hope he can do that with the help of Eric.
Imagine, a Belgian wins the 100th edition of Le Tour de France. That's just unbelievable
He definatly needs at least 1'30"!! Otherwise Ian is cheating, or PCM is truly broken... 
A Belgian winning, more believable than a british 1-2 or Andy winning.... oh wait...
|
| |
|
|
| Miguel98 |
Posted on 04-09-2012 19:02
|
World Champion
Posts: 10231
Joined: 23-06-2011
PCM$: 200.00
|
Andy winning? Don't go there. |
| |
|
|
| Ian Butler |
Posted on 04-09-2012 19:03
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21381
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
|
TheManxMissile wrote:
PCM rulezz wrote:
I think he needs between 1'30" - 2' before the TT. Let's hope he can do that with the help of Eric.
Imagine, a Belgian wins the 100th edition of Le Tour de France. That's just unbelievable
He definatly needs at least 1'30"!! Otherwise Ian is cheating, or PCM is truly broken...
A Belgian winning, more believable than a british 1-2 or Andy winning.... oh wait...
I ain't cheating
However, Contador's TT stat is only 76, strangely enough. I thought it'd be more. But 1'30" sounds about right, I think. |
| |
|
|
| JuanMotr |
Posted on 04-09-2012 19:34
|
Domestique
Posts: 679
Joined: 29-07-2011
PCM$: 200.00
|
what a great team work from Eric he can be proud ... man, even I am proud!! |
| |
|
|
| glpsace |
Posted on 04-09-2012 22:17
|
Amateur
Posts: 19
Joined: 17-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
|
Hello everyone,
I´m from Portugal and, despite following this awesome forum for quite a long time, it is my first post around here.
Maybe because of the language barrier, or even because I prefer to read without making much fuss, the truth is that I never felt the urge to step in.
So, I really just want to thanks Ian for this absolutely inspiring story, that I´ve been following with the greatest interest. A fantastic tale that make us all dream but with its dose of drama and reality check.
I feel more related to Eric, because it is the sort of rider that I always admire and look in the real world. Nevertheless, both Stijn and Eric paths are addictive to follow.
My particular favourite "moment" was when Eric put aside his personal interestes and agenda in favour of the team and his leader. Excelente stuff that also tells me a little about the creator of this plot
Anyway, just wanted to thank you deeply for this very hard and demanding work, that you gift us with, without asking nothing in return.
Really admirable and certainly very noble of you.
Thank you my friend!
GLP |
| |
|
|
| sutty68 |
Posted on 04-09-2012 23:08
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 33999
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
|
glpsace - I don't know why you were worried about the language barrier, you have written perfect English
Oh and welcome aboard |
| |
|
|
| Ian Butler |
Posted on 05-09-2012 08:33
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21381
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
|
@JuanMotr: I'm glad you're proud of Eric, I hope Jurgen is, too
@glpsace: What can I say? Thank you so much for that very, very kind post I have to agree with sutty68, your English is almost flawless! I hope I'll keep on entertaining you with this story, I'll certainly try my best! Thanks again, I'm very honored that you spend your first (and hopefully not last) post on my story, it's truly amazing! Thank you. |
| |
|
|
| Ian Butler |
Posted on 05-09-2012 09:53
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21381
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
|
Le Tour De France - Stage 16 - 17
Stage 16
Breakaway made it to the finish.
Result
| 1 | Robert Hunter | Team Garmin-Barracuda | 3h37'36 | | | 2 | Steve Houanard | Ag2r La Mondiale | s.t. | | | 3 | Sylvain Chavanel | Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling Team | s.t. | | | 4 | Christophe Riblon | Ag2r La Mondiale | s.t. | | | 5 | Mikhail Ignatiev | Katusha Team | s.t. | | | 6 | Vasil Kiryienka | Movistar Team | s.t. | | | 7 | Anthony Charteau | Cofidis, Le Crédit en Ligne | + 2'26 | | | 8 | Christophe Kern | FDJ-BigMat | s.t. | | | 9 | Peter Sagan | Liquigas-Cannondale | + 5'00 | | | 10 | Matthew Goss | Orica-GreenEDGE | s.t. | |
Stage 17
This is the queen stage of Tour De France 2013!
Recognize this?
I was off to a decent start, but in the descend of the Aubisque, I took quite a fall!
I was lucky that Van De Walle was there to wait for me and bring me back. He'll truly be missed upon his retirement in October, he's the greatest helper you can imagine.
On the next two climbs, Tourmalet and Aspin, it was up to us to make the pace, but the team is tired. So after a while, it was just Vanendert, me, Jurgen and De Greef, who was regaining some energy inside the small peloton.
Frank took most of the KoM points and is on his way to become the King of the Mountains.
We need time on Contador, so we have to take some risks. What we did next was definitely a risk, as it put Jurgen out in the open without any help with still more than 15km to go! I launched him and he was off on his own on the Peyresourde.
I lost touch once again.
But everyone has a weak moment, and we were very unfortunate that today was Jurgen's. Contador caught him and went on to win the stage.
Result
| 1 | Alberto Contador | Team Saxo Bank | 6h04'30 | | | 2 | Jurgen Van den Broeck | Lotto-Belisol | s.t. | IanButler | | 3 | Samuel Sánchez | Euskaltel Euskadi | + 57 | | | 4 | Vincenzo Nibali | Liquigas-Cannondale | s.t. | | | 5 | Chris Froome | Sky Pro Cycling | s.t. | | | 6 | Thomas De Gendt | Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | | 7 | Pierre Rolland | Team Europcar | s.t. | | | 8 | Andy Schleck | Radioshack Nissan Trek | s.t. | | | 9 | Roman Kreuziger | Astana Pro Team | + 1'31 | | | 10 | Cadel Evans | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | | 11 | Fränk Schleck | Radioshack Nissan Trek | + 2'22 | | | 12 | Daniel Martin | Team Garmin-Barracuda | s.t. | | | 13 | Arnold Jeannesson | Cofidis, Le Crédit en Ligne | s.t. | | | 14 | Robert Gesink | Rabobank Cycling Team | s.t. | | | 15 | Eric Lombaerts | Lotto-Belisol | + 3'31 | IanButler | | 16 | Wout Poels | Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | + 4'33 | | | 17 | Juan José Cobo Acebo | Movistar Team | s.t. | | | 18 | Richie Porte | Sky Pro Cycling | + 5'56 | | | 19 | Cameron Meyer | Orica-GreenEDGE | s.t. | | | 20 | Francis De Greef | Lotto-Belisol | s.t. | IanButler |
GC
| 1 | Jurgen Van den Broeck | Lotto-Belisol | 72h14'28 | IanButler | | 2 | Alberto Contador | Team Saxo Bank | + 51 | | | 3 | Vincenzo Nibali | Liquigas-Cannondale | + 2'36 | | | 4 | Chris Froome | Sky Pro Cycling | + 3'31 | | | 5 | Andy Schleck | Radioshack Nissan Trek | + 4'16 | | | 6 | Thomas De Gendt | Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | + 4'42 | | | 7 | Pierre Rolland | Team Europcar | + 5'10 | | | 8 | Samuel Sánchez | Euskaltel Euskadi | + 5'21 | | | 9 | Roman Kreuziger | Astana Pro Team | + 7'01 | | | 10 | Cadel Evans | BMC Racing Team | + 8'57 | | | 11 | Fränk Schleck | Radioshack Nissan Trek | + 9'05 | | | 12 | Eric Lombaerts | Lotto-Belisol | + 9'18 | IanButler | | 13 | Robert Gesink | Rabobank Cycling Team | + 12'07 | | | 14 | Juan José Cobo Acebo | Movistar Team | + 14'03 | | | 15 | Wout Poels | Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | + 15'39 | | | 16 | Tony Martin | Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling Team | + 21'54 | | | 17 | Daniel Martin | Team Garmin-Barracuda | + 24'00 | | | 18 | Arnold Jeannesson | Cofidis, Le Crédit en Ligne | + 26'38 | | | 19 | Cameron Meyer | Orica-GreenEDGE | + 26'42 | | | 20 | Steven Kruijswijk | Rabobank Cycling Team | + 26'51 | |
Points
| 1 | Peter Sagan | Liquigas-Cannondale | 286 | | | 2 | Matthew Goss | Orica-GreenEDGE | 204 | | | 3 | Romain Feillu | Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | 178 | | | 4 | Philippe Gilbert | BMC Racing Team | 137 | | | 5 | Jurgen Van den Broeck | Lotto-Belisol | 128 | IanButler |
KoM
| 1 | Mathias Frank | BMC Racing Team | 114 | | | 2 | David Moncoutié | Cofidis, Le Crédit en Ligne | 77 | | | 3 | Luis León Sánchez | Rabobank Cycling Team | 63 | | | 4 | Christophe Riblon | Ag2r La Mondiale | 48 | | | 5 | Jurgen Van den Broeck | Lotto-Belisol | 46 | IanButler |
Team Classification
| 1 | Lotto-Belisol | 217h07'43 | IanButler | | 2 | Radioshack Nissan Trek | + 14'39 | | | 3 | Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | + 16'12 | |
Combativity Award
David Moncoutié.
Well, tomorrow's our last chance. Let's give it our everything! |
| |
|
|
| sutty68 |
Posted on 05-09-2012 10:20
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 33999
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
|
That was such a shame for Jurgen, being beaten on the line by Contador
To finish 15th after your earlier fall and then launching VDB's attack, you need a massive pat on the back |
| |
|
|
| ste_18 |
Posted on 05-09-2012 10:22
|
Protected Rider
Posts: 1384
Joined: 06-08-2012
PCM$: 200.00
|
sutty68 wrote:
That was such a shame for Jurgen, being beaten on the line by Contador
To finish 15th after your earlier fall and then launching VDB's attack, you need a massive pat on the back
Totally agrees...You're doing a great work for Jurgen |
| |
|
|
| Ian Butler |
Posted on 05-09-2012 10:35
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21381
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
|
Thanks both
Eric's really learning about his potential in this TDF, with his enormously hard work. I think there's no doubt he'll return as a leader one day.
The final mountain stage coming up! |
| |
|
|
| Ian Butler |
Posted on 05-09-2012 10:44
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21381
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
|
Le Tour De France - Stage 18
Today I had a bad start, still a bit shook up from the fall. The entire team worked hard again today, it was our final chance to get more time between Jurgen and the other ones!
And then, on the final climb, Jurgen showed us all what one motivated Belgian cyclist and his bike really can do.
I was unable to help today. However, I did get better near the end of the race, and I found myself riding faster and faster on the Peyresourde, maybe I could go to the front and help Jurgen by watching Contador in some way.
I never got to Contador, but it appeared that Jurgen didn't need any help today. In my opinion it's pretty obvious: this is the strongest rider in the peloton at the moment, you cannot tamper with this man: Jurgen Van Den Broeck!
And then it was waiting for the time differences.
I did extremely well at the end and finish 7th!
Result
| 1 | Jurgen Van den Broeck | Lotto-Belisol | 4h44'58 | IanButler | | 2 | Pierre Rolland | Team Europcar | + 1'24 | | | 3 | Chris Froome | Sky Pro Cycling | s.t. | | | 4 | Alberto Contador | Team Saxo Bank | + 1'47 | | | 5 | Samuel Sánchez | Euskaltel Euskadi | + 2'24 | | | 6 | Roman Kreuziger | Astana Pro Team | + 2'42 | | | 7 | Thomas De Gendt | Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | | 8 | Eric Lombaerts | Lotto-Belisol | + 3'26 | IanButler | | 9 | Cadel Evans | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | | 10 | Andy Schleck | Radioshack Nissan Trek | s.t. | | | 11 | Robert Gesink | Rabobank Cycling Team | s.t. | | | 12 | Vincenzo Nibali | Liquigas-Cannondale | s.t. | | | 13 | Fränk Schleck | Radioshack Nissan Trek | s.t. | | | 14 | Juan José Cobo Acebo | Movistar Team | + 4'33 | | | 15 | Daniel Martin | Team Garmin-Barracuda | + 5'44 | | | 16 | Christophe Kern | FDJ-BigMat | + 6'13 | | | 17 | Jelle Vanendert | Lotto-Belisol | + 6'39 | IanButler | | 18 | Mikel Nieve | Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | + 8'20 | | | 19 | Janez Brajkovic | Astana Pro Team | s.t. | | | 20 | Christophe Le Mével | Team Garmin-Barracuda | s.t. | |
GC
| 1 | Jurgen Van den Broeck | Lotto-Belisol | 76h59'26 | IanButler | | 2 | Alberto Contador | Team Saxo Bank | + 2'38 | | | 3 | Chris Froome | Sky Pro Cycling | + 4'55 | | | 4 | Vincenzo Nibali | Liquigas-Cannondale | + 6'02 | | | 5 | Pierre Rolland | Team Europcar | + 6'34 | | | 6 | Thomas De Gendt | Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | + 7'24 | | | 7 | Andy Schleck | Radioshack Nissan Trek | + 7'42 | | | 8 | Samuel Sánchez | Euskaltel Euskadi | + 7'45 | | | 9 | Roman Kreuziger | Astana Pro Team | + 9'43 | | | 10 | Cadel Evans | BMC Racing Team | + 12'23 | | | 11 | Fränk Schleck | Radioshack Nissan Trek | + 12'31 | | | 12 | Eric Lombaerts | Lotto-Belisol | + 12'44 | IanButler | | 13 | Robert Gesink | Rabobank Cycling Team | + 15'33 | | | 14 | Juan José Cobo Acebo | Movistar Team | + 18'36 | | | 15 | Wout Poels | Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | + 24'11 | | | 16 | Daniel Martin | Team Garmin-Barracuda | + 29'44 | | | 17 | Steven Kruijswijk | Rabobank Cycling Team | + 36'27 | | | 18 | Tony Martin | Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling Team | + 36'28 | | | 19 | Jelle Vanendert | Lotto-Belisol | + 36'32 | IanButler | | 20 | Arnold Jeannesson | Cofidis, Le Crédit en Ligne | + 39'10 | | | 21 | Francis De Greef | Lotto-Belisol | + 40'18 | IanButler |
Points
| 1 | Peter Sagan | Liquigas-Cannondale | 286 | | | 2 | Matthew Goss | Orica-GreenEDGE | 204 | | | 3 | Romain Feillu | Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | 178 | | | 4 | Jurgen Van den Broeck | Lotto-Belisol | 148 | IanButler | | 5 | Philippe Gilbert | BMC Racing Team | 137 | |
KoM
| 1 | Mathias Frank | BMC Racing Team | 114 | | | 2 | David Moncoutié | Cofidis, Le Crédit en Ligne | 77 | | | 3 | Jurgen Van den Broeck | Lotto-Belisol | 67 | IanButler | | 4 | Luis León Sánchez | Rabobank Cycling Team | 64 | | | 5 | Pierre Rolland | Team Europcar | 60 | |
Combativity Award
Cameron Meyer, once again!
Well, Jurgen is well on his way to win this Tour De France, and be the first Belgian winner since Lucien Van Impe in 1976.
Stage 19
| 1 | Steve Houanard | Ag2r La Mondiale | 4h38'44 | | | 2 | Sylvain Chavanel | Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling Team | s.t. | | | 3 | Nicolas Vogondy | FDJ-BigMat | s.t. | | | 4 | Peter Sagan | Liquigas-Cannondale | + 13'49 | | | 5 | Matthew Goss | Orica-GreenEDGE | s.t. | | | 6 | Romain Feillu | Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | | 7 | Greg Van Avermaet | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | | 8 | Matti Breschel | Rabobank Cycling Team | s.t. | | | 9 | Robert Hunter | Team Garmin-Barracuda | s.t. | | | 10 | Oscar Freire | Movistar Team | s.t. | |
Time Trial tomorrow!
I still have a shot at the top 10, I should think! How wonderful would that be? |
| |
|
