Tour stage 17: Christian 9th on The Alpe; holding steady at 6th overall
Author: Woody23 Jul
Keeping Team Garmin-Chipotle H3O’s podium dreams intact, Christian Vande Velde once again put in a brilliant performance on today’s epic three-climb stage. He remained with the race leaders over the Galibier, the Col de la Croix de Fer and up Alpe d’Huez. On the final climb up Alpe d’Huez, Christian kept his cool despite the constant attacks and counters from the group of contenders trying to limit - or increase - their time gaps before Saturday’s decisive individual time trial.
Christian is shown attacking above in the final kilometers, giving it all he had. He finished 9th on the stage and held on to 6th overall, 4′41″ behind Sastre.
Team Garmin-Chipotle H3O stage 17 results
1. Carlos Sastre 6h07′58″
9. Christian Vande Velde +2′15″
42. Ryder Hesjedal +18′19″
79. Trent Lowe +31′48″
102. Martijn Maaskant +38′00″
118. David Millar +38′00″
135. Julian Dean +38′00″
136. Will Frischkorn +38′00″
137. Danny Pate +38′00″
Team Garmin-Chipotle H3O GC
1. Carlos Sastre +74h39′03″
2. Frank Schleck +1′24″
3. Bernhard Kohl +1′33″
4. Cadel Evans +1′34″
5. Denis Menchov +2′39″
6. Christian Vande Velde +4′41″
54. Ryder Hesjedal +1h33′10″
71. David Millar +2h00′16″
79. Trent Lowe +2h07′07″
99. Danny Pate +2h34′12″
112. Julian Dean +3h01′11″
139. Martijn Maaskant +3h22′41″
140. Will Frischkorn +3h24′44″
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50 Responses for "Tour stage 17: Christian 9th on The Alpe; holding steady at 6th overall"
Way to go Christian!! Way to hold it down for the mid west!! We can climb!!! Great work today guys!! Keep it the Argyle Armada rollin’ for just a few more days!! You all are so close!! All of us Argyle junkies are so proud of the team and everything you all have and will accomplish!!! Good luck in the mountains again tomorrow!!
Great day on the Alps. CVV came in 9th and Ryder 42nd on the stage. Congrats to team Garmin Chipotle for all the hard work to date.
Okay, I’m a big fan of CVV and GARMIN but why are we talking about “podium dreams” here? Today’s stage was the best example why there won’t be any podium.
If you want to be in the Top 3 you can’t wait for a TT where you have to make up 3:08min to 3rd place GC!
Watching today’s stage in the last 10K was lame. If he really wanted it then he would have attacked!
I’m sure Sastre and Schleck will deliver great TT’s and he won’t be able to overcome three guys and 3+minutes in a 50K!
Just my $0.02. I’m just a bit more realistic it seems…
CVV looked great today. Completely in control.
I think the next couple of days are trickier than they look on paper. No major climbs, but a shortie, quick downhill, followed by another shortie can shake things up. What CVV has going for him is his calm, cool, collected head. He won’t miss a move tomorrow.
(Well, he might miss one… when Millar sneaks out to take the stage win!!)
Hey… changing gears… just saw the Bicycling article about Dr Lim and Chef Willy. Those two need to get together and write a cook book / sports nutrition / behind the scenes book. Get on that, okay?
whether or not he makes the podium, I don’t think we’ve seen the last of Christian Vande Velde
Great ride Christian. If you hadn’t fallen yesterday, you would definitely be in for a podium place. But, you never know, Schleck, Sastre, and Kohl could blow up spectacularly and you could still land on the podium. Pray for a headwind to wipe out the little climber guys.
In full unashamed celebration. What a joy to feel good about the person (and team) not just the performance (performances). To have genuine admiration for the spiritual quality of the sport and participants. To put emotion into a person versus a machine. To have faith the performance is a reflection of the kingdom inside. The tour was meant to be more than entertainment. This is a human achievement. You have given me back the tour. My son needs heroes. I need heroes. Christian, David, Julian, Danny, Will (and team) it is your time to reign.
Steve.
Relax buddy. I love how fans think riders can just attack whenever they feel like it. The plan all along was to hang with the leaders and put in a strong TT. Christian had 1 bad day. Well 1 not so good day.
The podium for Christian was definately in reach. Nearly all of the top contenders had bad days. All it took was one or two of the top contenders to have a bad day and Christian could have easily moved up. We saw how strong he was today.
It’s not like Christian layed back and waited. He went after it on the last climb and definately left it all on the road.
Christian rode like a champion today and he should be applauded for it.
Taking the time splits from the last ITT and expanding them out for the additional length of the 2nd ITT, I came up with an estimate for the finish:
Evans: 0.00
Sastre: +0.53
Kohl: +2.34
Menchov: +2.37
Schleck: +3.02
VandeVelde: +3.36
This doesn’t take into account that VdV has really been targeting the ITT stage for a big move, or how Sastre will be defending his Yellow Jersey, or the fatigue by guys after 3 weeks of biking vs 3 days at the first TT. I show that VdV has to make up just over 1 minute on Menchov in addition to the minute I expect him to make up as his hardest task. I think he could realistically take over Schleck and Kohl if he rides as well as we all think he can. This will be difficult, but Christian has the attitude of a champion - good luck!
Bravo! AdamAustin…Great reply to “Steve”…You saved me from wasting time on that idiot!
GREAT JOB CHRISTIAN! And Team….Keep up the good work.
Way to go CVV, it was great watching you climb with all the big dogs today, even closing down some of the attacks!
I agree with Steve a little, when Menchov was off the back would of been a great time to go to the front and try to get some time back from him, easier for me to say I was not the riding 17 km at 8%!!!
CVV will move up several spots on GC after the ITT, I know it!!
I’m in agreement with Adam. VdV has let it all out in the alps and had a small gap on one climb but overall it’s been a fantastic ride. You can be realistic or a dreamer but you have to recognize anything can happen in the TdF.
I knew Christian was capable of a top 10 finish this year but it will always be a podium finish in my eyes regardless of his overall GC place.
Steve/All: Please remember we are applauding the effort of VdV and the team. The point is to stay in striking distance in the event soemthing happens to those in front of you on GC. It takes a team effort to get to the podium or yellow jersey as CSC showed us today. Remeber Garmin is not a ProTour team but a Pro Continental team and has a rider in the top 10. To me that is a great accomplishment at this point of the team development. It takes time to develop a team to into a top GC contender. Give JV some and congratulate the team on it wonderful effort in its first TdF.
Great job Christian! Way to bounce back from yesterday. Now just kick there asses in the time trial! Every day I watch the tour with great enthusiasm pulling for you and Garmin Chipotle! I also pull a little for Hincape but that’s because he is a local. Such a great tour having two American Teams doing so well!
Now if they will only start selling the new Garmin Chipotle cycling kits!! I am sure there are others wanting one as well.
Hey David - Some fun number crunching there. Here in France, folks are doing all kinds of similar analysis. Laurent Fignon and Laurent Jalabert, who both do on the road commentary for France 2/3 TV looked at the 2007 final ITT to try and come up with some stats for Saturday’s event. Though, of course, at that time, Christian was but a super domestique…
Great Job Christian… I love watching you race, and after yesterday it was great to see you come back, have a great day, and look so relaxed on the final climb…. great job, you should be very proud of yourself!
Christian, I got just about everyone here at Powerhouse (well Cardinal now!) cheering you on while we watch you on Versus while working out. It’s to the point where we are watching and cheering you on more than working out! We are ALL pulling for you! Just remember all the people that support your incredible efforts at TDF! You are going to turn Lemont into a Midwest cycling hub!
See you in November!
Great job to the ENTIRE Garmin Chipotle crew (riders, staff and support crew)!
You all make true bicycling fans proud and as far as I’m concerned you all, collectively, are on the podium. What a tremendously positive “splash” into the team’s first TdF!
All of you have my support and my best wishes…and I’d lend a fresh pair of legs if possible.
Regardless of the outcome, you folks are tremendous and I wish you all the best. I wish Christian the best of luck on Saturday’s TT.
Another great ride - I’m continually impressed with not only the athleticism of all the Argyle guys but also the class. I was obsessively watching my live update window at work and can’t wait to watch the stage on TV this evening. Congrats again, and we’re cheering you on down here in Texas!
@David Banker Sastre besting Christian by over 2 minutes in the final TT? What kind of altered reality are you working with?
Christian road incredible today. That was one hell of riding *big grin*. The Garmin guys are really riding a great Tour.
great ride again today you guys, keep it up! we are all cheering for you!
love the columns from david and will as well - thanks for the insight -
Christian, we were screaming and shouting at our tv cheering you on here in Chicago…. way to go! You rode beautifully up Alp D’Huez… oh… and up those other *two* HC climbs…. what a stage! And especially following yesterday’s stage… the race organizers certainly are a bunch of sadists!
Wishing you great luck for the rest of the Tour and a great night’s sleep. We’ll be rooting for you….
From the coverage on Versus, it seemed like Matt White was hoping that Christian would put a few seconds between himself and Evans/Menchov who are his main ITT rivals. Now with Sastre in the mix, it’s almost devastating to think that those 2 minutes that he lost on the descent down the Bonette-Restefond would have put him in the position of looking to put a minute into Sastre for 2nd place, instead of having to leapfrog 3 strong contenders for 3rd. VandeVelde is doing an amazing job with a young, inexperienced team, and can drop the ‘domestique’ from his previous title, because his 2008 tour is plain Super!
Great ride, CVV! For next year lose a testicle and 20 pounds and you’ll rule the world! Just kidding. it really does show that you’re right there with Evans and Menchov. One more explosive level on the climbs and you’d be up there with the Big Mig, Greg and Lance.
Best of all, you’re ona clean team! So we’re not waiting for the lab results before we can cheer.
Pulling for you 100% on the TT,
D
Does it really make any difference whether CVV or anyone else on Garmin-Chipotle makes it to the podium this year or not? For this to be the team’s first year at the Tour and Christian’s first year riding as a GC contender, they’ve got a lot to be proud of over these last 17 stages, as well as over the course of this year. This is a team worth watching.
As David put it, “What a joy to feel good about the person (and team) not just the performance (performances).”
Great ride today VDV! Loved seeing you put in that last little dig just outside of a K to go. Think tomorrow you might try and steal some time at the finish? Should be a great TT - go get ‘em!!
Pro Continential team congrats! Carpe diem and walka proud . Christian how interesting to watch you today.
Steve:
I do think that realism dictates that a podium spot remains an uphill battle, but I do think Vande Veldeleft it all on the mountains today and has from the start.
In my completely lay and very inexperienced opinion, it seems there are three tiny occurrences and one incontrovertible fact which separate him from where he is now, which is looking super with a real even if fairly slender, chance at the podium, and being the prohibitive Yellow Jersey favorite tonight.
Occurrence 1: As he himself pointed out after Hautacam, was not following Kohl when he had the legs to. Of course his tactically appropriate assumption that sticking with Evans would be best was very understandable. Still, that day he had the legs to stick right on.
Occurrence 2: after pulling an absolutely Herculean effort to stay only 35 seconds behind over the final peak yesterday, he had bad luck and crashed. Bummer, but bring those two plus minutes back and everything looks very different tonight.
Occurrence 3: Here I get kind of speculative, but could he have stuck with Sastre today. Sastre had the luxury of being let out the front, then riding tempo all the way home. If Vande Velde had been able to stick on, or even if anyone else had been able to stick on, the race would have been very different. That early in the climb, I just don’t think Christian was positioned close enough to the front, and again, sticking with Evans might have been prudent, especially if not for the 2 1/2 minutes from yesterday. He obviously left it all on the course trying to break away the rest of the way up, but was thwarted by…
Incontrovertible Fact #1: CSC is a freaking powerhouse. They took three pure climbers to the base of the Alpe totally fresh after the team set a steady pace over the first two Cols. We may not ever know, but in watching it unfold today, it looked like it had been scripted for weeks, right down to Schleck’s saying, “We have two cards to play” in multiple interviews. I say BS. CSC might as well have stood for Carlos Sastre’s Crew because I believe every single thing went according to their plan all tour long. If you don’t think Andy Schleck could have made the climb with Sastre you weren’t watching, and in my opinion, Frank was nearly as strong. They sat their and screwed with the yellow jersey group all the way up, jumping right on every break, then refusing to make any pace so things slowed down, then aggressively jumping off the front to force someone to keep up, and guess who had the strong legs to do a lot of that keeping up, VDV. Thus, VDV and Evans group was overall so slow that the cracked Menchov even caught up. That never happens on a climb, which is proof that the CSC chaos in the pack plan worked to perfection. Frank made no attempt to stick with Sastre; I think he never intended to do anything but sacrifice for Sastre and it worked to perfection. What would have happened if Evans and VDV and Valverde and Kohl had just ignored Schleck breakaways and set their own aggressive pace up the Alpe. Well, who knows, but I doubt Sastre would have got the time he did.
In any event, Vande Velde has made this, for me, the most wonderful Tour I’ve ever watched. Sitting here in Massachusetts the last two nights I could hardly sleep waiting to see how he’d do.
And he did amazingly well.
But Sastre had what I heard Jens Voight describe on an early Pyrenees day in a Versus interview. To win the Tour takes one leader and 9 guys willing to die for him. That was CSC, I think.
The Schleck’s are scary as hell for the future and could have been for now as well, but the designated patron for the team was CS, and they served him brilliantly.
All that said, though, Christian Vande Velde is on the best legs of his career, is he not? I think the podium is definitely possible if he time trial is as much of a revelation as his mountains have been.
Whatever the outcome, I am a huge freaking fan of this team. Way to go every single one of you!
you’re nearly there Christian, just hold on for the next few days and concentrate on the time trial-you can do it mate, it would be great to see a garmin chipotle in the top 5, it would certainly make a nice change! good luck for the rest and well done to all the team, you’re all riding extremely well!
I agree with AgyleArmy and adamaustin. Christian and David Millar are the only Garmin riders to have ridden the TDF before. At this point barring a nasty crash or missing a time cut, Team Garmin should finish with 8 of the 9 riders that started the race. Tomorrow’s stage isn’t as hard on paper as today’s, but it’s hard enough that a rider having a bad day could lose time. Reaching the podium for Christian at this point is a tall order, but finishing in the top 10 was his t goal going in to the TDF which he will make with ease. Bottom line, overall this is predominantly a young team that should get better with time. At 32, Christian still has a grand tour or two left in him. Look out for Dan Martin in the years to come.
Great job guys, I gotta admit I only “saw” the stage today via Twitter and a EruoSport live blog while “working.”(I’ll catch the re-broadcast tonight).
Following these late stages via Twitter is killing me, but the vibration (of the phone) in my pants about 10 a.m. CST each day raises the blood pressure in anticipation of the late charge or daily result.
As I’ve said before, you guys have made this TdF a blast, so thanks. Great interviews too, VdV brings an “every man” air to the tour when talking to the media (Vs. anyway) that is refreshing.
Last comment was typed fairly quickly and obviously not proofread. The moderator should feel free to correct the several typos and if not, at least let this comment through as apology for the hasty sloppiness. I had to rush the comment out because I’m behind at work because Le Tour is so freaking compelling, you know!
Fantastic ride on this insanely hard stage Christian! Amazing, go get them in the TT.
And awesome job in the Alpes Ryder!!! Good luck in the TT as well, only a few spots from moving into top 50 in GC.. what a Tour debut you are having!! You have all of Canada cheering for you!
Great work Christian!!! Keep charging hard:) You make us proud.
Congrats again on the ride today - you’re making us proud!
Keep on riding hard and we’ll raise a toast to the whole team on Sunday.
Love the twitter updates during the day.
Great job today Chrisitian! Conventional wisdom may say 4′41″ on Cadel, Dennis and Carlos over a 53k time trial isn’t likely. I say screw conventional wisdom and what’s what on paper…podium baby!! I have faith!! Good luck…
CVV rocks! The Surprise of Le Tour except for all true Argyle Armada fans.
Can’t wait for CVV and the rest of the squad to bring it on Saturday!
Wonderful ride, Christian! And wonderful comments from the loyal and admiring Argyle Armada fans out there! I won’t try to re-invent the wheel by echoing them, but I want to say…no, PLEAD….to the team management, PLEASE begin TODAY putting together the funding to surround CVV with some riders who can escort him at least a LITTLE bit in the big mountains. I know, I know, Danny did an amazing job earlier in the week, and that’s admirable, but the nearest teammate is what, 1:30 back? DM is 2:00 back? Come on…I’m as big a cool-aid drinker as anyone out there, but putting CVV in the position of riding more or less alone on three HC climbs is just wrong.
That being said, good lord, the ride, the race, that Christian has put together thus far truly boggles the mind! Just imagine if he had the dometiques and lieutenants to pitch in…. Now, get out there and spend some money!!
My numbers above (if it’s unclear) represent what would happen if everyone rode the same speed on Saturday’s TT that they did on stage 4. I took the time differences and expanded them out to about 1.8 times their normal size (his 16s deficit to Evans became 29s, and the 66s he put into Sastre became 114s). Therefore, he makes up *nearly* 2 minutes of a 4′41 gap. There are so many variables that it just turns into an exercise in speculation rather than prediction. But it is fun to see where VdV stands and how much work he has in front of him. I think that he has a better shot at a podium than people are giving him, simply based on his assertion during most interviews that he’s planning on doing his best ride during that final TT. I for one will be glued to the coverage and cheering the latest American super-cyclist.
First, this is a different Steve than the guy who commented earlier.
Remember, this is a team that many people didn’t think belonged in the tour. You guys have done a magnificant job. Give it a couple of years and you will dominate. You are the future of cycling. Be proud and keep it up.
Absolutely fantastic ride by CVV on the stage to the Alpe.
Riding within himself the whole way and able to counter at the end when the Schleks let the attacks go. Yellow in Paris is now highly unlikely, but the podium is certainly a very strong possibility with Christian’s time trialling ability. The GC guys can easily put a couple of minutes into the weaker TT riders amongst them over the longer distance on Saturday, and guess what, CVV is one of those with the legs to do it.
Sorry if this has been asked somewhere I just missed it, but Christian seems to have been coughing more and more through the VS interviews after the stages….I’ve been chalking it up to the level of physical work, but is there anything more to it?
Thanks! I’m really proud of VV’s efforts and the support of the team….def. earned the ticket to the Tour, guys! Great work and keep safe in this last stretch!
That was AWESOME, watching VDV attack at the end of such an incredible stage. This has been the best tour i’ve ever watched (and i’ve watched many) all thanks to Team Garmin Chipotle and VDV! VDV you look so relaxed, its great. Keep your eye on the prize and crack into the top 5. I can’t wait to be screaming at my tv for the ITT!!!!!!! You don’t have to win to Inspire!
ESPN has a cool photo gallery of Ryder
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/flash/zoomGallery?section=gen&photoGalleryId=3491038
A true champion takes a big hit and lives to fight another day. CVV and the argyle warriors did just that. This tour is not over, will luck be involved, of course. Will it take a heroic effort. Of course it will, that’s why me and a bunch of one time cynics have come back to the tour and the sport A renewed passion and belief. Thank you all. Now go put the hammer down and get Christian on a break. Make the peloton earn it. Belief is a beautiful thing. It’s funny how that Argyle stuff starts to grow on you. Please pass the hot sauce!
Great job Christian,. i hav been routing in u from the beginning and i hav never given up on u. i think a podium finish is still completely possible, u can kick ass in those TT’s and make up time on the climbers.
Go Christian and the Argyle Armada!!!!!!!
Incredible job by the whole team. All the rookies are making it through, and we only lost Maggy to what sounded like some weird condition.
VdV can’t just attack and drop riders at will on climbs. He’s not a pure climber and, like Evans, his strength is in riding a strong, steady pace. Also like Evans, he doesn’t make time on climbers, he just doesn’t lose time, then distances them in the TT.
What an amazing climbing performance on the Queen stage, though. While it’s painful to think where he would be if he hadn’t have a bad couple minutes (and a fall) on one stage, or gone with an earlier move a couple times that rode at a nice pace more suiting him, his tour has still been amazing.
Christian — you are the hero of this year’s TDF!! It was so awesome to watch you attack and kick ass on Alpe d’Huez. My friends and I are definitely on the VDV train!!!! Good luck on the TT — I can’t wait to see you take down those little Schleck brothers!!!!!!!!
Can we expect a downloadeable file for our garmin gps of stage 17 of the TDF
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