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Garmin vs HTC on the Roads of France

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AjaxDeevoy
07/21/09

In reply to Garmin vs HTC on the Roads of France
Another reason Garmin's closing the gap was such bad form was that they had one of their own riders (Martijn Maaskant) in Hincapie's break. You don't reel in a break containing a teammate with a shot at winning the stage unless the break includes a rider who is a threat to your General Classification hopes. That wasn't the case. Garmin simply had no justification for doing what they did.
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inertial
07/21/09

In reply to Garmin vs HTC on the Roads of France
cavendish is very clutch when sprinting to the finish. didn't know team columbia was sponsored by htc. surprisingly this year toF the gap in minutes is so huge. definitely will be interesting to see what happens in next few days.
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atlasspanked
07/21/09

In reply to Garmin vs HTC on the Roads of France
For teams, winning a stage is all about marketing power and buzz. So, they try and beat each other, boohoo.

The TDF is -supposedly- all about chivalry and tradition according to the Euro sporting press. But in reality it's all about riding fast, winning stages, climbs and the overall -- and marketing.

Hincapie's a big boy. He knows this.
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Don Nguyen
07/21/09

@atlasspanked: I completely agree. It would make sense if Garmin-Slipstream were going for something like the stage win or to put a man in one of the many jerseys, but it wasn't. The only press they've gotten so far is negative press (though it might not all be deserved). Some readers have rightfully pointed out that a lot of the blame may rest on Cav's shoulders for running his mouth at the Giro. I have a feeling there is more to this story, details should pour out once the Tour is over. George is a big boy, and consummate professional. It should tell you something when he's that upset over something, big George isn't one to sulk over something trivial.
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TuxBobble
07/21/09

In reply to Garmin vs HTC on the Roads of France
Some days, I wish I understood (or cared about) the Tour de France. But really...it never lasts...
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SkiBumCU
07/21/09

In reply to Garmin vs HTC on the Roads of France
Although Garmin lead a large portion of the push to pull back the breakaway it was Hincapie's OWN TEAM that put the nail in the coffin by upping the pace at the end of the race to position Mark Cavendish for a sprint win at the finish. Chivalry, sportsmanship, all that crap aside this is a race with multiple competitions occurring at the same time. To place the blame on one team is a seriously ignorant notion.
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dexxxtro
07/21/09

In reply to Garmin vs HTC on the Roads of France
First of all I feel bad for Hincapie, but that said I would suggest to stick to gadgets if you have no idea about pro-cycling. Moreover considering Armstrong-Bruyneel's behaviour regarding Contador in this Tour, I would not give their opinion any value.
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bapti
07/21/09

In reply to Garmin vs HTC on the Roads of France
Basically this is nothing to do with Hincapie and everything to do with a feud between Columbia-HTC and Garmin.

It started back in the Giro (Italy's Grand Tour) in May when Columbia(Cavendish) started talking smack about Garmin. So Garmin decided to return the favour.

It's a fair shout in my book - you reap what you sow.
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Christopher Ferguson
07/21/09

In reply to Garmin vs HTC on the Roads of France
In the UK, we had an interview with Wiggins (Garmin rider) after the stage, and he seemed confused and a little upset about chasing George down. But then Cavendish has been moaning about them for not chasing down breakaways all tour, so maybe Matt White (?) was getting hiis own back, and George suffered for Cav's sins.
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Don Nguyen promoted this comment Edited by Christopher Ferguson at 07/21/09 4:25 AM

JwEagle
07/21/09

In reply to Garmin vs HTC on the Roads of France
I watched that stage and wasn't Astana (Lance's team) pushing the pace in the beginning? Near the end they slacked off and allowed Garmin-Slipstream to take over, but Astana kept the breakaway close. So, I don't think it is all Garmin's fault.
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jayteepee
07/21/09

In reply to Garmin vs HTC on the Roads of France
There are great riders on both teams, and I'd have felt just as bad if the same thing happened to Christian Vande Velde. Still, George Hincapie really IS one of the nicest guys on the tour and he definitely deserved the yellow jersey.

It'll be interesting to see how it all plays out. I'm waiting for the real fireworks to start between Contador and Armstrong.
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Don Nguyen
07/21/09

@jayteepee: You're right, if it had happened to Christian it would have been just as wrong. The penultimate stage up Mount Ventoux is going to be absolutely crazy this year, Lance is going to want that stage badly after giving it away to Marco Pantani the last time he had a chance to take it. You can bet I'm going to be glued to my TV.
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Ramsay101
07/21/09

@jayteepee: Just wait til tomorrow. Thats when it'll all hit the fan.
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HarroChan
07/21/09

@Ramsay101:

The race is over. They'll try to attack Contador but no one will drop him on Ventoux and he'll put time into Schleck in the TT.
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Yossarian Threepwood
07/21/09

In reply to Garmin vs HTC on the Roads of France
Okay, I know nothing about cycling so this story has got me confused. So, people are upset because George Hincapie wasn't fast enough to win the yellow jersey? Surely the whole point of a race is to go as fast as you can and try and win. Isn't that what these guys were doing?

If this Hincapie fellow isn't fast enough, why should other people go easy on him?
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Don Nguyen
07/21/09

@Yossarian Threepwood: That's a great question, it's hard to understand for someone who is not versed in the rules of cycling. At it's core, the winner is determined by who finishes with the lowest aggregate time, but in between it is a sport ruled by chivalry and a code of conduct shared by all the riders.

George Hincapie had done everything that it took to win the yellow jersey, and by the unwritten rules of cycling a team with absolutely nothing to gain should not move itself to the front of the pack and drive it forward. That task is reserved for teams with something to gain, in this case the team trying to keep their man in the lead (Ag2r).

Garmin-Slipstream had nothing to gain by driving the peloton, their only ambition was to keep an American who is not on their team out of the yellow jersey. While this isn't against any explicit rule (obviously) it is an affront to the rules that keep order within the peloton. It's akin to a fourth line hockey player going after the stars on another team, except in hockey the means for retribution is a meeting with an enforcer. Garmin-Slipstream will need another team's help eventually, whether it be in this race or another one--and on that day, they will find themselves alone.

To learn more, I'd suggest you read the Velo News and ESPN articles and all the comments from racers.
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Reil promoted this comment Edited by Don Nguyen at 07/21/09 11:15 AM Don Nguyen was starred Don Nguyen was unstarred

HarroChan
07/21/09

@Yossarian Threepwood:

There are a lot of unwritten rules in cycling. When one is broken people bitch.
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Barion
07/21/09

@HarroChan: It's like the unwritten rules of baseball. Like not stealing home with a big lead, or batters should know better than to crowd the plate or the pitcher will plunk him.
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Toastie
07/20/09

In reply to Garmin vs HTC on the Roads of France
There's alot of dicks in the Tour (here's to you Cavendish, you prick), but I won't look down on Garmin because of this, I'll actually support them for sponsoring a team. Then again I also plan to support HTC by buying that new android phone. I'll take out my displeasure with Chipotle by using Tomatillo on my burritos now. :P
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Ramsay101
07/20/09

@Toastie: Yeah, there do seem to be a lot of big ego's in this years race, not even counting Armstrong's (well deserving) ego.
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Don Nguyen
07/20/09

@Toastie: Cav has an especially big ego, but I can't recall any great sprinters who didn't have gigantic egos (with the possible exception of Erik Zabel)-- Mario Cipollini anybody?
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HarroChan
07/21/09

@Toastie:

Until someone beats you you can be as cocky as you want to be. Last time I checked no one has ever come around Cav in a sprint.
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Toastie
07/21/09

@Don Nguyen: Which is why I hate sprinters, the mountain climbers are the real men. When you think of Lance's most memorable ride it isn't his time trials, it's his fight with Ulrich on the mountain. Winners are made on the mountains.
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eagles3 speeeedin
07/20/09

In reply to Garmin vs HTC on the Roads of France
I'm relatively new to the cycling world, but even I could see that this was a pointless move on garmins part.

I am also pleased with how important sportsmanship is in the sport.

But my Garmin GPS is pretty nice...
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Woozle Wozzle
07/20/09

In reply to Garmin vs HTC on the Roads of France
sports are fun
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