Blog Posts From Frankie Andreu at the 2008 Tour de France Tagged With alp-d'huez

3 Weeks Done and Out

Frankie Andreu — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 15:45:24 GMT

It doesn't matter if you are part of the written press, television, or even a cyclist, the Tour is a moving circus. The constant shifting of position each and every day wears on everyone. The riders race during the day and the media compound travels by night to set up each and every finish. At the finish I get the privilege of interviewing the stage winner and all the jersey wearers. I don't talk with all of them because Versus does not like to do the translation thing, so we target the English speakers.

Behind the podium is the protected area where there are three camper cars for the riders to wash up in before they come meet the media. One of the sensations of this Tour has been Andy Schleck, who many say will win the Tour de France in the next three years. Andy not only has been one of the strongest in the climbs, but his willingness to speak with many of the media is also unmatched.

At the bottom of l'Alpe d'Huez it was chaos around the CSC bus with Carlos Sastre in yellow. The road was too narrow, the buses too large and every time a team car had to pass everyone would get squashed. Once Carlos stepped out of the bus the little streamers they use to keep people back were torn off as everyone rushed in.

As we head to Paris I'm glad the Tour has ended. I have enjoyed the excitement of the Tour this year and in a way it was an easier Tour then previous years. The teams were more accommodating, the riders more willing to speak, and the mountains not as draining to get through. The next few months will be critical for cycling as ASO and the UCI work out their problems. The riders and teams will also have to work out their own rules, between themselves, involving the next races and disappearance of the Pro Tour.

I hope everyone enjoyed the podcasts and the articles. I enjoyed bringing you the excitement of the Tour de France.

The 18th Stage Snoozer

Frankie Andreu — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:48:27 GMT

Even though today's stage lacked the action and drama of yesterday's l'Alpe d'Huez thriller, Marcus Burghardt is still one happy camper. Listen as Frankie Andreu reveals CSC's real plan for Sastre's breakaway, and why the results weren't what they expected.

Also, Frankie ranks Sastre's 39-minute-and-change climb among the times of past years' l'Alpe d'Huez winners; and the French police search the car of Andy and Frank Schleck's dad.

Can Sastre Hang on to Yellow?

Frankie Andreu — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 19:13:21 GMT

Frankie Andreu reports from the mountaintop finish of l'Alpe d'Huez, where questions abound: What will CSC do in the next few days to gain time for Carlos Sastre and Frank Schleck? Can Christian Vande Velde make it 11 years in a row that an American is on the podium? How much wattage was Sebastian Lang producing on his breakaway yesterday?

And why was actor Michael Douglas helping Carlos Sastre put on the yellow jersey?

Click below to listen to Frankie's podcast.

CSC Puts the Hammer Down

Frankie Andreu — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:56:03 GMT

Frankie Andreu reports from Jausiers, where Cyril Dessel prevailed after a crazy descent that saw John Lee Augustyn, the first to reach the summit, launch off the road and slide down the mountain. Also during Stage 16, CSC rode like a team on a mission, keeping Frank Schleck in yellow despite a virtual change in race leadership during the race.

Tomorrow is the queen stage--up L'Alpe d'Huez. "It's the last chance for Frank Schleck to get rid of Menchov or Evans, or he is going to lose the Tour."

How the Pyrenees Shaped the Race

Frankie Andreu — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:21:56 GMT

What we have learned from the Tour is that it takes from the strongest as well as the weakest. Many riders have struggled during the first days in the mountains, some because of fatigue or fitness and some because of bad luck.

For Cadel Evans, it was the latter--a matter of the right place at the wrong time. He was riding near the front of the group, paying attention as he should, when one of the Euskatel riders, riding in the first 10, overcooked a turn and crashed about seven riders. Cadel was a casualty of that crash, breaking his helmet in three pieces and shredding his shorts and jersey. In an instant, Cadel went from Tour favorite to a Tour victim.

The first mountain stage went to Riccardo Ricco with a Pantani climbing flare that has not been seen since Marco Pantani's last Tour victory in 1998. Ricco danced on the pedals, accelerated out of the saddle on the climb, and made the tilted roads look easy to pass over. For the others, the Col d'Aspin was a launching pad for multiple attacks, and it provided a great racing day for only being day number one in the mountains.

Kirchen kept the yellow jersey, but he showed vulnerability by riding in the middle of the pack instead of near the front of the group. The Luxembourg rider was weakening right when he needed his strength the most.

The biggest day of the Pyrenees was Hautacam, and it proved to shake things up a bit but not as much as I had thought. Alejandro Valverde had a horrible day, losing contact with the peloton on the Tourmalet and he never caught up. CSC struck out to try and get the yellow jersey, but I'm surprised they didn't attack earlier on the Tourmalet. As it ended up, Frank Schleck only lost the yellow jersey by one second.

Cadel Evans was lucky to get the yellow by the way he and his friends rode up Hautacam. It was a staring contest between Denis Menchov, Ricco, Carlos Sastre, and Evans, while Christian Vande Velde just watched from the corner of the room. For Vande Velde it was a new experience, so he waited for the big guns to make their move--they never did! Finally, Christian said the **** with it and it was his attack that allowed Evans to take yellow. I believe Cadel will ultimately out think himself from the yellow jersey and a win in Paris.

After Hautacam was a nice rest day. It was a beautiful day in Southern France for the riders to rest and train a little before they hit three transition stages before the Alps. Many of the riders' wives and girlfriends were around, and some of the press were treated to Chipotle burritos at a Garmin-Chipotle media event. To say burritos are rare in France would be an understatement.

Of course the news before Stage 11 was the fact that Moises Duenas Nevado from Barloworld was busted for EPO from Stage 4. Duenas and the team doctor were taken to the police station for questioning, and of course the rest of the team endured questioning at the start of Stage 11.

In this next week I believe Saunier Duval-Scott will play a large role in the outcome of the Tour de France. This team is climbing so well that anyone that can hang on or tag along will have a big advantage.

Here at the start of Stage 11 David De La Fuenta and Saunier Duval-Scott had tons of fans cheering them on.

CSC will start to become more visible; since Andy Schleck has lost time, he will be getting in some breaks to put pressure on the teams. What might end up happening is that Cadel, because he has a bad mountain team, will benefit from the Gerolsteiner and Garmin teams working to keep their spots on the G.C., and in the end help Cadel keep his jersey.

This year L'Alpe d'Huez will be as critical as ever. The winner of L'Alpe d'Huez will probably take the yellow and this rider will be the winner of the Tour de France.