Podium Cafe

Up early, eh?

podium!

Albertina - February 5, 2012 via iPhone app reply

seriously aso, can you not provide a ticker for this race?

So where's the party, here or there?

take your pick. but, probably here. tho relying on twitter updates until live viddy starts.

can we add in a couple of updates from Etoile de Bessèges (stage 5a) as we

wait for some action?

ok, here we go:

Todays stage was modified a bit (a hill taken out) and runs for 75km. The last stage is a TT (9,7km) which will go ahead this afternoon local time (CET).

with 26km to go, we have a break with 42secs to the peloton.

Renaud Dion (Bretagne Schuller), Frédéric Amorison (Landbouwkrediet) et Jonathan Hivert (Saur Sojasun)

15km to go.

Jonathan Hivert (Saur Sojasun) solo in front. Very little gap.

Stéphane Poulhiès (Saur Sojasun) wins from a bunch sprint.

Traksel has been quite consistent

1 Stéphane Poulhiès (Saur Sojasun)
2 Justin Jules (Véranda Rideau U)
3 Bobbie Traksel (Landbouwkrediet)

Pascal Jules son, isn't it?

Yes

Traksel will probably move up in the GC.

TT skills?

Not much

I hate threads with multiple races...hate 'em.

I'm confused

How do you really feel?

You dislike two races in one thread ….. I dislike two threads for one race.

I guess we are both grouchy today

So if we have two threads, and the same two races are discussed in both...

I am think of adding in a bit of info from Tour d´Egypte

Both happy!

No, wait, probably not.

My mistake will. i put the other thread up hours ago, not thinking there'd be one.

I should have known better.

As a general rule of thumb, races with streams will have livethreads

Most often scheduled to go up at race start time (not earlier) .

Don't worry Jens. i won't waste your time or will's again.

no worries

better two than none

Why did you delete it?

I had linked your post in this post’s description! Also removed now.

Thanks Ted! I think Will is correct...two posts is confusing.

I felt stupid okay ;)

maybe SBNation needs a merge function.

we might get merged with an SBNation motorcycling blog

I am being told all M/A's are successful

What would be great is if it could be in a different colour. It would work like a charm.

no worries

I was mainly kidding.

(I don’t see the problem with 2 races in one thread if the other race is small – seems like a good idea to me – unless there is a spoiler issue)

It's my ability to keep the names in my head...see further down.

its funny, it works very well for me and my memory went down the drain

years ago.

I can remember all my students' names within a day...for any others my brain seems to be in shutdown.

I would not be able to remember the names of an entire class

of students after 24 hours. Maybe a handful or so. I would just have to be very selective and ignore the rest.

I think it's a survival skill early in your career. Later, it's second nature.

How long until viddy?

in about 60min

Morning. How about Challenge de Mallorca?

After 3 laps 13 in a breakaway with 24 secs – Boaro, Sergent, Madrazo, Brutt, Matthews, Saez, Cordeel, Neyens, Henao, Nordhaug, Kwiatkowski, Carazo and Reza

Seahorse loves you.

HeeHee :)

LOL...It's probably that I'm envious of the fact that apparently some people can keep around 200+ names in their heads.

I have enough trouble remembering who’s in one race. Two is just ridiculous for me. Jokes aside, i do find it really confusing.

Morning from SuperBowltown.

where are you?

Indy!

are you a fan of any of the teams?

No.

But the city is crazy. We were downtown last night—amazing party atmosphere.

any bands playing?

We had tickets to a 50 Cent/Lil Jon/Pitbull concert, but didn't get in.

Too crowded. But we were there to people-watch anyway, so no biggie.

missed a concert of a lifetime. Too bad.

Couldn't pull my husband and his friend away from where ESPN was broadcasting.

If you zoomed in about a billion times on their crowd coverage, there we were.

Missing 50 cent

now there’s a blessing.
Saw him at a festival once, while sitting in the feedzone. Worst performance, ever. And a sample of a gun shooting after everything he said.
“Hello Belgium!”
BANG BANG

Hilarious.

tehGrindCrusher - February 6, 2012 reply

I'm of the distinct and considered opinion

That 50 Cent sucks.

Indianapolis

What is this of which you speak?

Ahhh, handegg

bowling today?

BTW

jackie Treehorn died yesterday.

sad

Who is that?

Big Lebowski fame

Actor Ben Gazarra

Dude was a known pornographer

Interactive erotic software. The wave of the future, Dude. One hundred percent electronic!

Impossibe.

I have never heard of him.

British TV is showing highlights of TdU!

Strange scheduling!

It's hot, it's a bike race.

It’s sort of like Qatar.

hell, they could merge the two races.

10 stages.

And between them they would have average sized roadside-crowds

What would that be...the average i mean?

lots of sheiks in crocodile boots.

Zing :)

13 viewers/km*

’may or may not be complete nonsense

Via Erik Dekker, Rabo DS

edekker1970 on Twitter:

First crash of the day:

(click for larger)

Then: Vermeltfoort was in the 2nd crash of the day, DNF because of a deep arm wound.

Doesn't look that bad

As I wrote: pic from the first crash, arm wound from the second

Yes, I'm aware of that

My comment is that this crash doesn’t look that bad.

Should I have kept that to myself?

Aren't we all prickly this morning.

Sorry.

As usual when someone is angry at me, I really have no idea what happened

So I’ll just smile and walk away….

Bummer for Vermelfoort.

One Rabo talent down, 687 to go

updating your VDS picks?

Did I Follow the Rules?

No, you must fire 20 riders from the team.
No, you overspent 28 points on the budget.
Yes, you filled the available spot for riders costing 24 points or more (not mandatory).
Yes, you have still 1 spot available on the team for riders costing 18 points or more.

Check, check, check and check.

it’s great when the Pro Teams post “live” photos

it could easily be integrated into a live ticker.

Apparently Farrar took a tumble too

but won the 2nd intermediate sprint later so not too serious

He knows I want him on my team.

So he’s both taunting me and trying to prove himself. It’s a tough balance.

Just imagine how much FSA VDS form he is wasting right now

in order to tempt you to pick him!

When you pick your team based on how they do in the TDU, Qatar, and Oman

turns out they really rock until, oh, about March 12 or so. Then it’s a long slide to the end of the game.

Except Sagan...ouch.

This year I'm toying with a team based on as little thought as possible.

At the moment I just can’t see any way that VDS doesn’t wind up with me pissed off at myself for being so stupid.

This is my 4th year playing.

I’m always stupid.

Same

and same.

Three quarters of my team are riders I like. It's when I try to be clever that I'm disappointed.

A certain Euskie omes to mind…

Last time I picked riders I liked, I jinxed them so badly

I still have guilty nightmares about it.

LOL. I have permanent places for two old war horses, no matter what the price. After that, most of it is whim.

Thomas Löfkvist could have won the Tour by now

if it hadn’t been for my jinxing

I like you too much to comment on that directly.

You've gone soft

TWSS?

that's more like it

I'll do it:

Did you mean jizzing?

I think I'm going to end up with a Cobbles team this year and klodi as my sprinter :)

14?

I hate it when my favorites price themselves out of the running

he is in a transition phase.

could pay off.

To the Classics?

a new Cancellara with better English skills

Are you talking about Farrar? Really? And Cance's English is part of his appeal.

And whilst I’m sceptical of any new Cancellaras, I think that a Farrar who was almost purely a classics rider, is someone i’d be happy to have on my team. I’m thinking Langeveld as my young Classics stud.

Farrar is half the price.

And half the talent...at this stage.

Twitter says Qatar now live on ES 2.

Is that TV or internet?

http://sports-livez.com/sopcast/sop-2.php

working

Only 25.5km to go?!? Bawls.

Live!

yay, brian

Svein Tuft looks like Stuey's twin.

copy + paste jersey from Beppu's design

which is a shame.

That's what I thought too...at first I was a little perturbed at how Anglicized Beppu had become.

happy to learn that I am not alone in thinking that, I got very confusedface for a moment :)

LittleOldLady - February 5, 2012 reply

Yay...LOL, I'm having trouble keeping young Richie on my team. The move to sky has taken the fun away...

David Tanner will need a cheer squad.

Oh I have big trouble to keep all my favorites on the team

for now I have riders for five teams and need more than 150 for each of them, so it is fine with me if you don’t have room for Richie, I understand the problems

LittleOldLady - February 5, 2012 reply

I feel disloyal. I'm actually thinking about taking Mick Rogers...sigh.

Still 20 km or so.

Bah—I have to leave before the end.

Going to church (i.e. the Indy-dome or whatever it's called)?

Nah--Sunday mornings I usually run with a running buddy.

I keep staring at my phone in case she texts me she’s cancelling.

I respect your religious observances.

at least you got to see all the action in the middle of the race.

Can someone please jog my memory? Was this race streamed last year, or is this a first?

been streamed for a few years

I can remember that it was on Eurosport

Good morning people..!

Yeah a race…! and with video..! and look the camera doesn’t stand in one place only!!!

what was that?

Jack bauer with a flat?

hopped across the road a bit there, didn't he?

One man against the peloton

If anyone can get back on he can do it :P

Watch as over the next 24 hours he uncovers a vast conspiracy in the peloton

And stops the terror from spreading

Only 19 days, 20 hours

and 3 minutes until Omloop Het Nieuwsblad…

Woooooohoooooo!

+645

sorry 30 minutes.

Ah, hell.

I was jumping up and down with excitement for a moment there.

Pete is mean

and apparently he has carnie hands as well I’ve been told

I have had that countdown running on my google home page

since the award ceremonies of Paris-Roubaix.

that extra 27 minutes is killing me

chartreuse basketball uniforms?

In other news, I serviced my bike myself today, for the very first time...and it still goes :)

what did you fix?

It just needed a general tune-up. I ride it on the beach.

do you fix punctures?

Yes, but beaches don't cause many of those. I'm a pathetically lazy rider.

Riding on the beach = CX BABY

I approve.

excellent. It's sorta fun, isnt it?

Actually, it was. Better yet, I felt a great deal of satisfaction when I rode it afterwards :)

Get over here and adjust my rear derailleur

There’s free beer and bitter aquavit in it for you

PROTIP for you Pete

If you adjust the derailleur badly for the first few days, that means more free beer.

Fine by me

Pete is good company anyway (unless he reacts poorly to the bitter)

As an aside

I saw the remake of The Thing today. Early line that made me think you immediately:

“You want to get out of there before the storm arrives. The last thing you want is to be trapped in a cabin during a blizzard with 12 Norwegians.”

Hehe

Can we wash it down with some leffe?

that goes without saying ......

shift to the lowest cog in the small ring

down shift 3 times. The pulleys, chain and cog should form a perfect vertical line. If not adust the rear barrel. Counter (anti) clockwise will move it left, clockwise right. Never more than say a 1/4 turn at a time.

Ok where is my Aquavit?

Dude

I’d say you deserve a bonus for fixing it remotely.

I can see it now. Ah, Jens

I found the problem. Somehow an empty vodka bottle got jammed in the rear derailleur cage.

Will there be Northern Lights? If so, I'll bring the tools AND the beer :)

Somebody told Lotto the TV is on.

cav's at the back

Training ride? Isn't that what happened last year with Renshaw designated sprinter

might mean Apollo is the ds for Sky

He's crook.

Also sick.

Anyone on Sky not sick? :D

Same thing ;)

I may be a fan for the first time ever...at least until TdF.

Adam Hansen is an excellent Tweeter.

Someone needs to tell this guy it's Garmin-Barracuda

That name is too badass not to be used properly!

So BMC got PG...

They forgot to hire someone to design the kit for him? Yaaack…!

Doesn't the Belgian champion have to wear the kit a certain way?

Pretty sure Boonen and Devolder wore kits just like that one.

its the red shorts

gaaahh

-10 for the shorts..! that is what it is..!

+100

Sven Nys refuses to wear frog-green Landbouwkrediet shorts

with his Belgian champs jersey. Wears black. Good man.

yep... much better with black shorts..

let me look... But i am sure there is something different.

/

Ehh, a little different.

that's good kit

Which one?

The jersey has to stay the same

but unfortunately they get free reign to wear the shorts they want

Aha, thanks

Hi, everyone, glad to see everyone here so early!!

Ah, 2012 must have started

Sunday with cycling on Eurosport, and a live thread on Podium Cafe.

Although I am still optimistic about my VDS (FSA) team, so it can be Oomlop yet.

is the women's VDS also sponsored by FSA?

yes. did you miss the thread?

yeah

it was too long when I arrived? #lazy

also I didn’t want to give away any secrets on my all French speaking, cow-loving, super team

Hi, Willj! Yes.

Hi & merci

I believe so

I’m going to find this sponsorship difficult (although I’m glad the powers that be have it, well-deserved, etc). I don’t ride bikes, but I am a British accountant. So I read FSA and think Financial Services Authority. This doesn’t make me happy.

if you win, you get audited

+1

I don't think I need to worry

I had beginners luck last year and still got schooled.

Boonen or Chicci for the win imo

whomever they choose to sprint…or whoever decides he wants to :D

Kelly reading my posts!

Ok, 11k to go. Far-rrarrr FTW!!!

8.2 ks here Ruthann?

Oh, wow, my feed is slow! Minnesota is far away from Qatar today!

This is more than a Bruce Gap.

Ah, Qatarian deserts, I could cry out of joy

OK, not really. But almost.

The weird animals you encounter during your rides

You could write a book

I am looking at this race.... Can't imagine a 100km solo ride there?

I'd love it if it wasn't too windy. No hills :)

I was thinking I would turn around after 10km.... Bored...!

Ipod with a book ;)

and riding? I will break my neck..!

Not on that flat road.

Put it this way...

Andy has nothing on my bike skills..!

LOL...

greg henderson flats :(

why not make a stage that includes a bit of dirt racing?

There are raiders there?

Who’s the co-commentator?

Raiders of the Lost Ark presumably

Though they were in Egypt

Brian Smith? probably

That sounds familiar

Boonen and Chicchi

Sound like they should be fighting crime

Or designing handbags.

Or both!

By day, they’re top handbag designers. By night, they right the injustices of the world!

Perfect.

Excellent!

Bugger Galimzyanov

bad luck :(

He's pronouncing it kicky, not chee chee

(don’t know if that’s right or not). Possibly some kind of kung fu hanbag swinging thing?

ooh, I've seahorsed, sorry

and bad luck for Galymizov

it's right

It's more like Kee kee

3.6 km...hurry up, boys!

Have we had a Cance sighting yet?

I saw him near the back at around 4k.

huge crowds

don’t we have a PdC’r there?

he's working

thegrindcrusher

or, tehGrindCrusher

I'm here

Just not there. Hope to get out there this weekend. Will post pics if I do.

they have been told to stay in the shade

O/T Andy Fenn won in Mallorca!

double-up for qs today

http://www.biciciclismo.com/cas/site/noticias-ficha.asp?id=47310

Top 15

Breschel...I'd forgotten all about him.

Nice result for Zak Dempster as well

Okay, okay, I'll be a minute or two late...

Easy

Tommeke still has it!

that was ugly

boonen in a slow drag

Boonen...well done!

Glad i picked him again.. (his price has fallen faster than my company stock)

Lol...perhaps i should have Cance and Boonen on my team. Points wise, i never thought it would be possible.

I have them both plus Thor.

I am loading up for Roubaix…

Nice! i want to pick Langeveld and docker too. They're cheap and may be very, very good.

Both did well last year.

That was incredibly chaotic

Expeience does it

That was a bloody weird sprint.

As usual, in Qatar

lets see. We need to have a finish line somewhere. Any suggestions?

Sorry, I don't understand what you mean.

Don't be sorry

He’s Danish and used to it.

very much so.

See you all later!

Have a good run!

Too easy Boonen

knew the QS sprinter would be the strongest, San Luis they looked so dominiant

Of course now at 12 points,

he looks like a pretty safe bet. I can see 2 podiums in the northern classics this year.

OMQS dominating the pre-season races...

Is this a good sign for the rest of the year?
Will they dominate now and die down by classics time?

They used to do well in April after dominating Qatar in the past

So you predict a few good finishes on the classics?

No, they'll be terrible

Stink the place ups. Absolute.shit.

Jinxed already...

Now how many guys I have from OMQS? time to change stuff around.

No- you should go al Rabobank

Their cobble strategies are just amazing!

ursula - February 5, 2012 reply

Thinking back to the Velo at Roubaix in 2010

when Boonen couldn’t come around Hammond for 4th. He seemed to have sunk pretty low for a one time green jersey wearer. It’s nice to see him with a finishing kick again. The classics start in 19 days…