TMobile Strategy and predictions after Pyrenees

Not having to defend the Yellow Jersey is a bonus for TMO tomorrow (stage 11).

 

Absolutely, i think Moreau wasn't really happy today...

 

Is Kloden the only man who podiumed in the entire bunch, or are there others? I can't think of anyone off hand.

He looked mighty good today, all of TM did, I wish DC had set the pace a bit, just to show they can.

 

Kloden podiumed.

Rinero won the 1998 TDF KOM competition.

I think only Kloden and Jullich were the only riders in this years TDF who had podiumed after Basso and JU were thrown off the TDF.

 

With the exception of Julich, who already had to leave the Tour after his crash and injury, Klöden is the only one. He looked really good, I agree. But we'll see what it really means.

As a T-Mobile fan, I have to admit that I wasn't completely happy with their strategy today. Letting a comparatively harmless group of riders away and losing the Yellow jersey I can understand. But I'm really wondering why Sinkewitz had to do that much work. I really consider him to be T-Mobiles Wildcard (more so than gonchar or Rogers) should Klöden not be good enough, since his Time Trial was surprisingly good. And him riding on the front of the peloton that often I can't really understand.

 

Do you guys think Michael Rogers will be very unhappy and not work as hard since he is not captain?

No big mentions about Christophe Moreau... I think people are starting to forget how well he climbs and he is still in the Top 15 I believe.

 

I think they were conservative today. I believe stage 11 will set the trend for the GC's.
No need to waste energy with such a hellish day comming up.
I believe Kloden will deliver.

 

The tactics that T-Mobile used were smart ones. They knew that their reduced sqaud could not defend the jersey for 10 days. T-Mobile has a bunch of great time trialists, and decent climbers. I think that they would want to stay in close contention for the jersey, but not grab it until the final time trial the day before Paris. We know that Honchar is probably not going to stay in close contention. People have already tipped Kloden of being in good form, and I think that Rogers also is riding well. Those are their tt specialists that would have to stay in contention. Guerrini will be domestic, and I think that Kloden will be team leader with Rogers sitting as a dark horse. T-Mobile would love to have team classification, it would make a great tour for them, and if there were two high placed riders, all they need is a third.

Rogers knew that he would play domestic to Jan whebn he signed on, so I think that he would realize that if Jan was racing, he would be domestic. But, I think that, as said before, T-Mobile would like to keep him as a dark horse.
Also, I think that T-Mobile will send people like Kessler, Guerrini, Mazzolini ect. into breaks to a) gain time at sprints, and possibly at the end of stages, to stay in the team classification lead and b) so they dont have to chase. T-Mobile will exauste themselves if they are forced to chase to much.

 

I'm not sure what the T-Mobile DS was thinking today, but it was pretty idiotic what they did. Sure they controlled the race, but to what end. They lost the jersey, ok fine maybe they wanted to anyway, but if so then why waste all the energy on the front when someone else could have done it for you. They spent more energy today than anyone else on the eve of what is possibly the hardest stage, and to show for it they have ??? lost the jersey ???

The tour is all about conserving energy, and today they helped a lot of people not in pink do just that.

 

Agreed, Very nice stage for Floyd, Menchov, Evans, Hincapie, Savoldelli etc.

I can't believe they didn't even really try to minimise the time losses to the lead 2. Maybe they did which would be even worse???

 

Well they paid for it today. They are pretty much out of any podium possibility now. Only team more mysteriously dissapointing is Discovery, complete meltdown.

 

Could be but i don't think so, more mountains to come, Dessel will loose his second place and Klöden is still not 100%, he already said for the Pyreaen stages that he will be 100% in the Alpes (Klöden was injured after a creas in April).

 

I would say that FLandis & Menchov are looking at 1st/2nd and probably Evans 3rd. Evans tends to get stronger so I can't see Kloden getting past him in the GC.

 

It wouldn't surprise me if Evans will have a black day. Evans has almost no support, the team is designed for McEwens green jersey.

 

Kloden, Evans, Landis, and Menchov have all had bad days in the past. We will probably see some juggling of the standings before Paris.

Kloden has a very strong team and Rogers is a nice card for the team to play.

 

This race is only getting started...sooooo..... to early for absolute predictions. Two days ago Leipheimer was finished, or was he?