Chasing The Tour | Stage 8

July 09, 2012

You gotta love these short stages of the Tour de France. The racing was aggressive from the gun, the attacks lasted from start to finish, and the riders left everything on those seven climbs into Switzerland. Thibaut Pinot was the man of the day but tomorrow is where the race will really start to take shape. We drove the TT course tonight and it's not nearly as flat as the profile suggests...

(Via Inrng.com)

Photos

: Wiggins had some blunt words for his critics when asked by an Associated Press reporter about comments that have been made on Twitter comparing Sky’s Tour performances with US Postal’s in previous Tours. “What do you say to the cynics who think that you have to be doped up to win the Tour de France?” Wiggins replied. “They are just f***ing w*****s. I cannot be doing with people like that. It justifies their own bone-idleness because they can’t ever imagine applying themselves to anything in their lives. It’s easy for them to sit under a pseudonym on Twitter rather than get off their arses in their own life and apply themselves and work hard at something and achieve something, and that’s ultimately it. C***s!”

: The race finished in Switzerland today before coming back into France for the rest of the Tour.

: Thibaut Pinot, the youngest rider in the race, crossing the line first. Pinot raced into the lead of the stage with 17km to go. He caught and immediately raced past Kessiakoff near the top of the final climb and was away for the win.

: The bunch kick for second place taken by Cadel Evans

: Cadel came in second on the stage for the second day in a row, but has yet to make up time on Wiggins. The race is still young and anything can still happen.

: Jurgin Van Den Broeck’s Campy EPS shifting has been having some problems over the past 2 days

: It’s not a good photo but here is Cadel having a personal moment with Marc Herremans, the Belgian triathlete and motivational speaker who suffered paralysis when crashing on his bike in training.

: Arthur Vichot is no Obscure Pro here in France

: The team busses lined up in the fields near the finish line of Porrentruy, Switzerland

: Fans already set up to camp overnight on the TT course to get a good spot for tomorrow’s stage.

Stage 9 Preview

We drove the TT course tonight and the climbs are much more significant than the profile suggests. The climb up to the 16.5km mark is steep and has a 14% sign at the top. The final lump on the profile within the last 5kms is a short and sharp one as well. As for the rest of the course, the amount of descending on short and windy roads will definitely be a factor. From what I saw from the car, it is a very technical course which will suite a rider like Cancellara.

Race Results Summary

Tour de France (2012) - Stage 8

Belfort to Porrentruy (158km)

8 Jul 2012

View the full race results

Stage

Position	Name	Nationality	Team	Time
1	PINOT, Thibaut	FRA	FDJ-BIG MAT	3:56:10
2	EVANS, Cadel	AUS	BMC RACING	26
3	GALLOPIN, Tony	FRA	RADIOSHACK-NISSAN
4	WIGGINS, Bradley	GBR	SKY PROCYCLING
5	NIBALI, Vincenzo	ITA	LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE
6	VAN DEN BROECK, Jurgen	BEL	LOTTO BELISOL
7	FROOME, Chris	GBR	SKY PROCYCLING
8	MENCHOV, Denis	RUS	KATUSHA
9	ZUBELDIA AGIRRE, Haimar	ESP	RADIOSHACK-NISSAN
10	SCHLECK, Frank	LUX	RADIOSHACK-NISSAN	30

General Classification

Position	Name	Nationality	Team	Time
1	WIGGINS, Bradley	GBR	SKY PROCYCLING	38:17:56
2	EVANS, Cadel	AUS	BMC RACING	10
3	NIBALI, Vincenzo	ITA	LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE	16
4	MENCHOV, Denis	RUS	KATUSHA	54
5	ZUBELDIA AGIRRE, Haimar	ESP	RADIOSHACK-NISSAN	59
6	FROOME, Chris	GBR	SKY PROCYCLING	+1:32
7	MONFORT, Maxime	BEL	RADIOSHACK-NISSAN	+2:08
8	VAN DEN BROECK, Jurgen	BEL	LOTTO BELISOL	+2:11
9	ROCHE, Nicolas	IRL	AG2R LA MONDIALE	+2:21
10	TAARAMAE, Rein	EST	COFIDIS, LE CREDIT EN LIGNE	+2:27

Sprint Classification

Position	Name	Nationality	Team	Points
1	SAGAN, Peter	SVK	LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE	217
2	GOSS, Matthew Harley	AUS	ORICA-GREENEDGE	185
3	GREIPEL, André	GER	LOTTO BELISOL	172
4	CAVENDISH, Mark	GBR	SKY PROCYCLING	129
5	PETACCHI, Alessandro	ITA	LAMPRE - ISD	109
6	BOASSON HAGEN, Edvald	NOR	SKY PROCYCLING	95
7	VEELERS, Tom	NED	ARG	76
8	CANCELLARA, Fabian	SUI	RADIOSHACK-NISSAN	74
9	EVANS, Cadel	AUS	BMC RACING	72
10	VAN HUMMEL, Kenny Robert	NED	VACANSOLEIL-DCM	69

Mountains Classification

Position	Name	Nationality	Team	Points
1	KESSIAKOFF, Fredrik Carl Wilhelm	SWE	ASTANA	21
2	FROOME, Chris	GBR	SKY PROCYCLING	20
3	EVANS, Cadel	AUS	BMC RACING	18
4	PINOT, Thibaut	FRA	FDJ-BIG MAT	16
5	WIGGINS, Bradley	GBR	SKY PROCYCLING	12
6	MORKOV, Michael	DEN	STB	9
7	NIBALI, Vincenzo	ITA	LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE	9
8	GALLOPIN, Tony	FRA	RADIOSHACK-NISSAN	9
9	SÖRENSEN, Chris Anker	DEN	STB	8
10	ROY, Jérémy	FRA	FDJ-BIG MAT	5

Young Rider Classification

Position	Name	Nationality	Team	Time
1	TAARAMAE, Rein	EST	COFIDIS, LE CREDIT EN LIGNE	38:20:23
2	GALLOPIN, Tony	FRA	RADIOSHACK-NISSAN	46
3	PINOT, Thibaut	FRA	FDJ-BIG MAT	+1:14
4	VAN GARDEREN, Tejay	USA	BMC RACING	+1:41
5	IZAGIRRE INSAUSTI, Gorka	ESP	EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI	+3:38
6	MALACARNE, Davide	ITA	TEAM EUROPCAR	+10:57
7	SAGAN, Peter	SVK	LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE	+14:16
8	VALLS FERRI, Rafael	ESP	VACANSOLEIL-DCM	+16:20
9	VICHOT, Arthur	FRA	FDJ-BIG MAT	+16:31
10	BOASSON HAGEN, Edvald	NOR	SKY PROCYCLING	+17:04

tags: 2012 Tour de France, Thibaut Pinot

Previous Article Next Article

http://cycling.norbtech.com/ norbs

Wiggo, jesus. Have some class man!
- mattb
  
  Not only does he go to the same hairdresser, he obviously goes to the same school of etiquette and public speaking as the Gallagher brothers
- Anonymous
  
  England is producing some real media friendly sportsman.
  - http://twitter.com/TeeDee8 Tee
    
    “Cuddles” – remember?
    - Anonymous
      
      http://www.bikeradar.com/blog/article/cadel-evans-against-the-world-17691/
      
      Lest we forget.
- Robert Mcglinn
  
  CT – does Wiggo get fined for that kind of language in public? I wouldve thought that both the UCI and Team Sky PR people would be scrambling to ‘clean’ up the language in the interviews….
- Anonymous
  
  I find his honesty and directness refreshing. I’ve noticed in other interviews his extremely dry humour and po-faced expression is often misinterpreted. And I’m not easily offended so I guess that helps.
  - Robert Merkel
    
    I don’t really care about the language and the fact that he’s prepared to say what he thinks.
    
    That said, if he doesn’t understand why the world is cynical about pro cycling, he’s been living under a rock.
    
    It’s entirely possible that Sky are as clean as a whistle in a clean(ish) peloton and now we’re seeing the natural order of things assert itself – if that’s the case, I can understand why they’re frustrated with the accusations. But we’ve been disappointed so many times that they’re going to have to live with suspicion for a while yet.
    - Anonymous
      
      From The Age. Classic comment…
      
      Wiggins’s compatriot David Millar, who has resurrected his career after being busted for doping, saw the funny side of the comments.
      “Wiggo’s now better at me in everything to do with cycling, profanity-filled interviews were all I had left. Now he’s taken that crown. Darn,” Millar tweeted.
      
      Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/sport/cycling/bradley-wiggins-lashes-critics-with-profanityladen-outburst-20120709-21pz1.html#ixzz205Ff4oHE
  - Salacious Muttonchops
    
    I love it too! We have politicians to provide us with all vacuous , meaningless rhetoric we need. Gimme more!
- Lee
  
  How many press conferences has the man sat through in his career, after responding to stupid questions for that long I think it’s about time someone told the idiots to shove off.
anon

Between Wiggins’ words to a journalist at Romanie, his antics on the Dauphine podium, and today’s outburst I’m finding him very hard to like. While I think his intentions are good, his delivery detracts hugely from the message he’s trying to send. It’s too bad for Pinot that Wiggins’ words are taking the spotlight in all English media.
Anonymous

Not to defend Wiggo’s actions, but pedaling a bike and dealing with the media are two very different activities.
Sven Nijs

“C***” seems to be his favourite word at the moment:
http://www.cyclismas.com/2012/07/wiggins-lets-the-insults-fly/
John

The best racing of this stage was in the first hour. Attack after attack after attack, most of them led by, or containing only Jens Voigt. I really hope this isn’t his last year.
- Rob
  
  Jens Voigt may retire…but we will salvage his legs (and accent) and make a new Jens Voigt 2.0.
  
  We can rebuild him. Stronger. Faster. Lighter. More German.
Paolo

YEAH, Thibaut is the man!Watched out for him since he won the valle d’Aosta as a first year senior. The french version of Pantani. Didn’t expect to get excited about the Tour this year, but Sagan and Pinot (and Madiot the legend!) made it already worthwhile. In ten years the 2012 Tour will be remembered as the arrival of Sagan and Pinot.
http://www.chromaticdramatic.com/ Chromatic Dramatic

Marc Herremans… total legend for what he did at the Crocodile Trophy!

http://youtu.be/N1N7enCYA0U
Mitch

Wiggo’s response regarding a Sky vs. USPS comparison, not necessarily about doping, was in my opinion an unacceptable reaction and in my opinion reminiscent of how Lance used to react to tough questions. Furthermore it shows that he is perhaps struggling with the pressure and spotlight and maybe this is an insight into the first cracks.
- xrider3464
  
  ….wishful thinking….
- xrider3464
  
  ….wishful thinking….
Anonymous

Two comments….with my parochialism proudly showing through…
1) Wiggins has now had 2 days in Yellow and the intensity/pressure is already seeming to get to him…add a further 2 weeks of focus…
2) The last time Evans completed a ITT with anything meaningful on the line (i.e. 2011 TDF) he was able to lift significantly to effectively make up 1 min on the same course on the (to be crowned) World Champion.
Looking forward to tonight !
norm

I like the fact that Wiggo blows his nut when he answering questions to the media. I might not agree with his language but at least you can see that he is being (very) genuine. I think I prefer to see that kind of raw emotion rather than the stereo-typical cliche we are so used to hearing.
xrider3464

Get a grip….you’ll spend the time banging on about how great it was seeing Hinault punch strikers, bemoan the loss of characters such as Cippo then turn into big girls’ blouses as soon as anyone takes offence to the fact that – by default – they’re calling him a dopper….good on him I say. Bring back the 70′s when you called a spade a fu…cking shovel and everyone knew where you stood! Fuck all these boreing athletes who never have anything to say for themselves….you wanna listen to the same old pat answers or run away crying as soon as anyone uses the f-word….thought this was the land of great sledgers (or can they only dish it out and not take it?….:)
- Abdu
  
  It’s more the signs that he’s cracking already, it’s a long way from Cadel’s bitching to calling people C*unts isn’t it? Anyway, Team Sky have a couple of dodgy DS’ there with them, maybe look up the TVM boys from ’98 Tour who were kicked off after syringes were found in their hotel, etc. Have a look behind Wiggo at guys like Knaven and De Jong (?) on the Sky Team….
  - Xrider3464
    
    Yeah, some fair points Abdu…. agreed, it is a long way from Cadel to calling people C*unts and fair enough, it might not be the best or most politically correct way of dealing with it. But that actually wasn’t really my point. The point was we all bang on about “characters” and then when someone actually isn’t boreing and wears their heart on their sleeve many of the same people start carrying on like Mary Whitehouse at Sunday school. Can you imagine the reaction to Hinault’s punching of strikers these days, or – in the case of your namesake :) – riding everyone (including himself at times!) off the road?Yes, these guys were “difficult” and can easily be taken out of context and looked back on with rose tinted glasses….but at least they had something to say or they were “interesting” in one way or another…indeed, you could catagorise Cadel in that mould. Let’s be honest, the only reason he’s so popular now with many who were knockers before is that he has had the grit and character to say “F*ck You” to many people and do it his way.Before the Worlds he was written off as “selfish” or “difficult” or “introverted” etc.
    As for the case of the DS’s, yes agreed. I am in no way excusing Sky or treating them any differently to anyone else, but if you were sticking say 15-25 million dollars into a pro team, wouldn’t want someone who at least knew what they were doing? Vaughters has virtually admitted doping in the past, but do we seriously accuse them of at least not trying to do the right thing? At what point do we as cycling fans draw a line in the sand and say “right, that was then and this is NOW?”….I’m not saying I know the answers – god know the UCI don’t even seem to want to.
    Probably like many cycling fans, it’s hard given the years of let-downs not to be cycnical and jaded at times, but I for one will celebrate and hope what is a result of hard work and planning etc, and then, if it turns out to be dodgy, be just as vocal in my criticism…for what it’s worth:) (Enjoy many of your comments by the way!….)
    
    Cheers, Lee.
Paolo

Re Wiggins. We’ve heard it all before, thanks to Lance.
- Joshua McDougall
  
  Thats gold! Thanks Paolo for highlighting this moment of ironic hilarity! (Wiggins’ Lance-like response only serving to make the comparison of USP and SKY more legitimate.)
  - jules
    
    re: doping – wiggins has more credibility than lance, period. similarities in their respective responses to allegations against them is not evidence that Wiggo must be on the same stuff as Lance was.
    
    i like Wiggo’s straight shooting. good on him.
Fez

I think Wiggo’s angling for a cooking show. He could team up with Gordon Ramsay.
Fez

I think Wiggo’s angling for a cooking show. He could team up with Gordon Ramsay.
Peterf165

Quinziato = eyetie for cougar magnet. “hey bellezas, just don’t touch the guns!”
Mr Bailey

Wiggans is entertaining. If he was Australian you’d probably be saying he’s an Aussie Larrikan or “calling it as he sees it”.

By all the anti-Wiggans comments I think you all know that he’s going to beat Evans and you’re struggling to come to grips with it.
I say this as an Australian who really wants Evans to win.
- randomactsofcycling
  
  Ironically, Mr Bailey, Wiggins’ Father is Australian and his mother is from Belgium (or could be the other way around) , so he’s not actually a Pom.
- randomactsofcycling
  
  Ironically, Mr Bailey, Wiggins’ Father is Australian and his mother is from Belgium (or could be the other way around) , so he’s not actually a Pom.
  - Marcus
    
    Wrong. Yes, his now-deceased father was Australian (and they weren’t close – not in the slightest) but his mother is English. He was born in Belgium whilst the old boy was making a living as a track cyclist, but the parents split and he has lived in England for pretty much the whole of his life.
    - randomactsofcycling
      
      Exactly! He was mothered in Belgium! That’s what I said! :)
      - Anonymous
        
        He’s Tom Boonen’s half brother!
      - Anonymous
        
        He’s Tom Boonen’s half brother!
Joshua McDougall

oh the irony of him confirming the assertion through his Lance like response is hilarious.
guest

well my 2 cents. if you were doing your job and and working your arse off to do it, and then someone comes out and says you are a cheat and that you don’t deserve it… how would you respond? and then how would you respond if you were full of adrenaline? like honestly let him say what he wants to say and stop being so sensitive about the language he uses. haters going to hate
- Echidna_sg
  
  happens all the time in professional offices, either in front of your face, or behind closed doors…
  
  reality is, the media scrutiny comes with the jersey and it only gets heavier as you get closer to Paris… Wiggo knows this, but all he is doing is feeding the pack with ammunition. meanwhile Evans is kicking back and having a massage and a chat with his support crew.
- Hunter
  
  How to respond?
  
  1. Release your blood values for scrutiny?
  2. Sack the team doping doctor that’s been involved in prior doping scandals.
  3. Have your domestiques not take the piss so much out climbing some of the premier climbers of the last few years. When you see a train of ‘never quite had it’s’ do that it’s no wonder the questions have started. 1990 called and wants their dope back.
  - mitch
    
    Best comment I’ve read about anything in weeks. Most people are in
    denial, they prefer to indulge in fairy tales… I guess it’s human
    nature…
53T

I think the media have to stop to comments about Wiggo. It will fire him up to much for the TT. We need him passive for this!
JC

I’m not so concerned about the doping allegations so much as those school boy level chops…..C’mon Wiggo….you ‘avin a laugh
- Salacious Muttonchops
  
  I agree JC, go hard on the chops or go home.
mitch

Best comment I’ve read about anything in weeks. Most people are in denial, they prefer to indulge in fairy tales… I guess it’s human nature…
mitch

Best comment I’ve read about anything in weeks. Most people are in denial, they prefer to indulge in fairy tales… I guess it’s human nature…
- mitch
  
  Ignore above, was replying to Hunter
Anonymous

At what point do we officially start describing these outbursts as “Wigg-Outs”?
Anonymous

At what point do we officially start describing these outbursts as “Wigg-Outs”?
https://twitter.com/#!/BPriestie Priestie

Great win by Pinot.
Great one man attack by Cadel to gain back time (on a group of 8+ guys near the finish).

I’m with Wiggo, tell it like it is brother.
Russell

Living in the UK and they’re going nuts over him! My phone provider drew the line however (i’m using my iPhone as personal hotspot to access the net) and because of the ‘adult content’ on CT (I reckon it might be the C word) I have to go in an change the settings to view it!
Anonymous

It’s a hard sport, so better harden the fu*k up if you want to follow it!
Jim

mental note to self …. must stop using bad language
Billybillynomates

whooo wiggo takes yellow and some fool thinks hes a cheat, no wonder he gets upset. I swear he will make you look c***s in the end …. wiggo froome 1-2 nice
Toby

It’s certainly not a sign he’s cracking – he is looking very relaxed, he just isn’t scared to call people out when they rub him the wrong way.
Toby

It’s certainly not a sign he’s cracking – he is looking very relaxed, he just isn’t scared to call people out when they rub him the wrong way.