Tour de France 2012

[E.J.]

Guess I'll start this a few weeks early with the word that Andy Schleck withdrew....:(

[gnbikes]

Also a real possibility that Radio Shack will not be allowed at all...
G-

[AlohaStyle]

Guess I'll start this a few weeks early with the word that Andy Schleck withdrew....:(

Wow, I didn't hear this news... that really sucks! I've been wanting him to win the last few years. :(

[jesseboston81]

Wow, I didn't hear this news... that really sucks! I've been wanting him to win the last few years. :(

Same here, very disappointing news.
Posted via Mobile Device

[CRIMPS]

Guess I'll start this a few weeks early with the word that Andy Schleck withdrew....:(

Yep, same here. Sucks.

[Wanger]

Sucks that Schleck is out. Figured he was one of the favorites this year. Will be interesting, nonetheless.

[mosesbotbol]

Wiggens is the most obvious choice with Evans or possibly that french guy who had the yellow several times (can't think of his name right now).

[CigarGuy88]

Wiggens is the most obvious choice with Evans or possibly that french guy who had the yellow several times (can't think of his name right now).

You're thinking of Thomas Voeckler

[mosesbotbol]

You're thinking of Thomas Voeckler

Indeed! :banger

I think he could pull a suprise, but is his team up for the challenge?

[CRIMPS]

Cadel Evans will challenge. But, he is 35. Its tough for me to imagine he going back to back. Contador has to be the favorite, IMHO.

[jjmitchem]

I've always liked watching the Schleck brothers riding together. I like Evens, but I have never liked Contador.

What's up with RadioShack? Just saw their facebook post today listing the team.

[CRIMPS]

oh trust me, I hate Contador. I think he is a snake.

I suspect the RadioShack Team is going to be disbanding in the near future. Nothing to base that on.

[E.J.]

Contador ate too much steak ...he won't be riding in the Tour this year.

[gnbikes]

[
What's up with RadioShack? Just saw their facebook post today listing the team.[/QUOTE]

The Lance USADA charges may hit Bruyneel's ability to even be on the team.
Garry

[E.J.]

Odds makers currently have it Wiggins, Evans, Menchov, Van Den Broeck, Froome, Nibali, Gesink and Sanchez.

[mosesbotbol]

Radioshack is on the verge of collapsing. There are a few articles on this, but the owner is light on money and Radioshack as company isn't in great shape either. I read they missed some payroll.

[Don Fernando]

Keep an eye on Mollema.

[E.J.]

So Cancellara wins the Prologue to give RS a nice start and wears yellow.....

Congrats to Sagen for his first TdF stage win today. Chatter that he didn't take pulls(a pull) with Cancellara and wheel sucked to a win. Sounds like Sagen knew where he was at/his limits and rode a great race. “I waited to see if I could attack and I wanted to hold on because I knew it was a long finish… I couldn't ride with Cancellara. I know he’s very strong… but I did succeed in getting a win.”

So, should Cancellara just slowed and said, if you don't take a pull, neither of us will win....?

After Stage 1

1. Fabian CANCELLARA, RadioShack-Nissan, in 5:05:32
2. Bradley WIGGINS, Sky, at :7
3. Sylvain CHAVANEL, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at :7
4. Tejay VAN GARDEREN, BMC Racing, at :10
5. Edvald BOASSON HAGEN, Sky, at :11
6. Denis MENCHOV, Katusha, at :13
7. Philippe GILBERT, BMC Racing, at :13
8. Cadel EVANS, BMC Racing, at :17
9. Vincenzo NIBALI, Liquigas-Cannondale, at :18
10. Ryder HESJEDAL, Garmin-Barracuda, at :18
11. Andreas KLÖDEN, RadioShack-Nissan, at :19
12. Bauke MOLLEMA, Rabobank, at : 21
13. Maxime MONFORT, RadioShack-Nissan, at : 22
14. Janez BRAJKOVIC, Astana, at : 22
15. Christian VANDEVELDE, Garmin-Barracuda, at : 22
16. Rein TAARAMAE, Cofidis, at : 22
17. Jean-Christophe PERAUD, Ag2r La Mondiale, at : 23
18. Tony MARTIN, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at : 23
19. Marco MARCATO, Vacansoleil-DCM, at : 23
20. Vladimir GUSEV, Katusha, at : 24
21. Haimar ZUBELDIA AGIRRE, RadioShack-Nissan, at : 24
22. Wouter POELS, Vacansoleil-DCM, at : 24
23. Peter SAGAN, Liquigas-Cannondale, at : 24
24. Daniel MARTIN, Garmin-Barracuda, at : 24
25. Nicolas ROCHE, Ag2r La Mondiale, at : 25
26. Michael ROGERS, Sky, at : 25
27. Pieter WEENING, Orica-GreenEdge, at : 25
28. Kanstantsin SIVTSOV, Sky, at : 25
29. Robert GESINK, Rabobank, at : 26
30. Koen DE KORT, Argos-Shimano, at : 27
31. Jurgen VAN DEN BROECK, Lotto-Belisol, at : 28
32. Simon GERRANS, Orica-GreenEdge, at : 29
33. Dries DEVENYNS, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at : 29
34. Ivan BASSO, Liquigas-Cannondale, at : 29
35. Thomas DANIELSON, Garmin-Barracuda, at :31
36. Thomas VOECKLER, Europcar, at :33
37. Michael ALBASINI, Orica-GreenEdge, at :34
38. Arthur VICHOT, FDJ-BigMat, at :34
39. Alejandro VALVERDE BELMONTE, Movistar, at :35
40. Eduard VORGANOV, Katusha, at :35
41. Mikel ASTARLOZA CHAURREAU, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at :37
42. Dominik NERZ, Liquigas-Cannondale, at :37
43. Michele SCARPONI, Lampre-ISD, at :37
44. Lieuwe WESTRA, Vacansoleil-DCM, at :37
45. Frank SCHLECK, RadioShack-Nissan, at :38
46. Andriy GRIVKO, Astana, at :38
47. Matthieu LADAGNOUS, FDJ-BigMat, at :38
48. Samuel SANCHEZ GONZALEZ, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at :40
49. Jelle VANENDERT, Lotto-Belisol, at :40
50. Robert KISERLOVSKI, Astana, at :42
51. Rui Alberto FARIA DA COSTA, Movistar, at :42
52. Nick NUYENS, Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank, at :43
53. Pierre ROLLAND, Europcar, at :45
54. Levi LEIPHEIMER, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at :45
55. Samuel DUMOULIN, Cofidis, at :46
56. Thibaut PINOT, FDJ-BigMat, at :47
57. Jerome COPPEL, Saur-Sojasun, at :48
58. Tony GALLOPIN, RadioShack-Nissan, at :52
59. Christophe RIBLON, Ag2r La Mondiale, at :52
60. Steven KRUIJSWIJK, Rabobank, at :53
61. Rob RUIJGH, Vacansoleil-DCM, at :53
62. Oscar FREIRE GOMEZ, Katusha, at :57
63. Rafael VALLS FERRI, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 1:01
64. Chris Anker SÖRENSEN, Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank, at 1:01
65. Yury TROFIMOV, Katusha, at 1:05
66. Vasili KIRYIENKA, Movistar, at 1:05
67. Mikael CHEREL, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 1:06
68. Ruben PLAZA MOLINA, Movistar, at 1:06
69. Juan Jose COBO ACEBO, Movistar, at 1:07
70. Giovanni BERNAUDEAU, Europcar, at 1:08
71. Cyril GAUTIER, Europcar, at 1:09
72. Johnny HOOGERLAND, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 1:10
73. Giampaolo CARUSO, Katusha, at 1:18
74. Bram TANKINK, Rabobank, at 1: 20
75. Alessandro PETACCHI, Lampre-ISD, at 1: 21
76. Dmitriy FOFONOV, Astana, at 1: 21
77. Yann HUGUET, Argos-Shimano, at 1: 22
78. Danilo HONDO, Lampre-ISD, at 1: 23
79. Andrey KASHECHKIN, Astana, at 1: 24
80. Jorge AZANZA SOTO, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 1: 26
81. Christopher HORNER, RadioShack-Nissan, at 1: 29
82. Sébastien HINAULT, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 1:30
83. Egoi MARTINEZ DE ESTEBAN, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 1:30
84. Christopher FROOME, Sky, at 1:41
85. Fredrik Carl Wilhelm KESSIAKOFF, Astana, at 1:42
86. Marcus BURGHARDT, BMC Racing, at 1:44
87. Amaël MOINARD, BMC Racing, at 1:46
88. Maxime BOUET, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 1:47
89. Federico CANUTI, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 1:48
90. Laurens TEN DAM, Rabobank, at 1:55
91. Johannes FRÖHLINGER, Argos-Shimano, at 1:56
92. Fabrice JEANDESBOZ, Saur-Sojasun, at 1:57
93. Maxim IGLINSKY, Astana, at 1:57
94. Christophe KERN, Europcar, at 2:01
95. Simone STORTONI, Lampre-ISD, at 2:01
96. Davide MALACARNE, Europcar, at 2:02
97. Yukiya ARASHIRO, Europcar, at 2:03
98. Peter VELITS, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 2:09
99. Brett LANCASTER, Orica-GreenEdge, at 2:18
100. Roy CURVERS, Argos-Shimano, at 2: 22
101. Luis Angel MATE MARDONES, Cofidis, at 2: 22
102. George HINCAPIE, BMC Racing, at 2: 27
103. Kristijan KOREN, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 2: 29
104. Daryl IMPEY, Orica-GreenEdge, at 2:29
105. Sebastian LANGEVELD, Orica-GreenEdge, at 2: 29
106. Mark CAVENDISH, Sky, at 2:30
107. Stuart O’GRADY, Orica-GreenEdge, at 2:30
108. Sandy CASAR, FDJ-BigMat, at 2:31
109. Sergio Miguel MOREIRA PAULINHO, Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank, at 2:31
110. Cyril LEMOINE, Saur-Sojasun, at 2:32
111. José Ivan GUTIERREZ PALACIOS, Movistar, at 2:33
112. Alessandro VANOTTI, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 2:33
113. Daniel OSS, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 2:35
114. Matthew Harley GOSS, Orica-GreenEdge, at 2:36
115. Johan VAN SUMMEREN, Garmin-Barracuda, at 2:37
116. Maarten WYNANTS, Rabobank, at 2:37
117. Imanol ERVITI, Movistar, at 2:40
118. Gorka IZAGUIRRE INSAUSTI, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 2:40
119. Nicki SÖRENSEN, Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank, at 2:40
120. Sylvester SZMYD, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 2:41
121. Yaroslav POPOVYCH, RadioShack-Nissan, at 2:43
122. Kevin DE WEERT, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 2:44
123. Jonathan CANTWELL, Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank, at 2:44
124. Luca PAOLINI, Katusha, at 2:45
125. Borut BOZIC, Astana, at 2:45
126. David MONCOUTIE, Cofidis, at 2:46
127. Kris BOECKMANS, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 2:46
128. Baden COOKE, Orica-GreenEdge, at 2:46
129. Karsten KROON, Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank, at 2:47
130. Aliaksandr KUSCHYNSKI, Katusha, at 2:49
131. Kenny Robert VAN HUMMEL, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 2:50
132. Mark RENSHAW, Rabobank, at 2:51
133. Matthieu SPRICK, Argos-Shimano, at 2:52
134. Rémy DI GREGORIO, Cofidis, at 2:54
135. Romain ZINGLE, Cofidis, at 2:55
136. Yauheni HUTAROVICH, FDJ-BigMat, at 2:56
137. Cédric PINEAU, FDJ-BigMat, at 2:57
138. Marco MARZANO, Lampre-ISD, at 2:59
139. Vincent JEROME, Europcar, at 3:04
140. Davide VIGANO, Lampre-ISD, at 3:09
141. Ruben PEREZ MORENO, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 3:09
142. Anders LUND, Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank, at 3:10
143. Patrick GRETSCH, Argos-Shimano, at 3:13
144. David MILLAR, Garmin-Barracuda, at 3:19
145. Jens VOIGT, RadioShack-Nissan, at 3: 20
146. Jérémy ROY, FDJ-BigMat, at 3: 23
147. Bert GRABSCH, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 3: 27
148. Adam HANSEN, Lotto-Belisol, at 3: 29
149. Michael SCHÄR, BMC Racing, at 3:30
150. Jimmy ENGOULVENT, Saur-Sojasun, at 3:37
151. Sébastien MINARD, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 3:39
152. Anthony DELAPLACE, Saur-Sojasun, at 3:41
153. Brice FEILLU, Saur-Sojasun, at 3:42
154. Pierrick FEDRIGO, FDJ-BigMat, at 3:44
155. Jurgen ROELANDTS, Lotto-Belisol, at 3:46
156. Tyler FARRAR, Garmin-Barracuda, at 3:53
157. Amets TXURRUKA, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 3:53
158. Stephen CUMMINGS, BMC Racing, at 3:59
159. Greg HENDERSON, Lotto-Belisol, at 4:01
160. Christian KNEES, Sky, at 4:02
161. Richie PORTE, Sky, at 4:03
162. André GREIPEL, Lotto-Belisol, at 4:04
163. Gustav LARSSON, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 4:05
164. Michael MORKOV, Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank, at 4:05
165. Robert HUNTER, Garmin-Barracuda, at 4:05
166. Alexandr VINOKUROV, Astana, at 4:07
167. David ZABRISKIE, Garmin-Barracuda, at 4:07
168. Anthony ROUX, FDJ-BigMat, at 4:08
169. Biel KADRI, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 4:09
170. Manuel QUINZIATO, BMC Racing, at 4:09
171. Marcel SIEBERG, Lotto-Belisol, at 4:09
172. Jan GHYSELINCK, Cofidis, at 4:12
173. Jérôme PINEAU, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 4:12
174. Tom VEELERS, Argos-Shimano, at 4:15
175. Albert TIMMER, Argos-Shimano, at 4:15
176. Juan José HAEDO, Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank, at 4:15
177. Lars Ytting BAK, Lotto-Belisol, at 4:18
178. Juan HORRACH RIPPOLL, Katusha, at 4: 23
179. Hubert DUPONT, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 4: 25
180. Yohann GENE, Europcar, at 4: 25
181. Julien FOUCHARD, Cofidis, at 4: 25
182. Nicolas EDET, Cofidis, at 4: 28
183. Luis Leon SANCHEZ GIL, Rabobank, at 4:32
184. Grega BOLE, Lampre-ISD, at 4:33
185. Maarten TJALLINGII, Rabobank, at 4:35
186. Marcel KITTEL, Argos-Shimano, at 4:44
187. Matthew LLOYD, Lampre-ISD, at 4:46
188. Martin VELITS, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 4:49
189. Julien SIMON, Saur-Sojasun, at 4:59
190. Vladimir KARPETS, Movistar, at 5:13
191. Bernhard EISEL, Sky, at 5: 22
192. Jose Joaquin ROJAS GIL, Movistar, at 6:13
193. Yuriy KRIVTSOV, Lampre-ISD, at 6:30
194. Pablo URTASUN PEREZ, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 6:46
195. Gorka VERDUGO MARCOTEGUI, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 7:12
196. Francis DE GREEF, Lotto-Belisol, at 7: 26
197. Jean Marc MARINO, Saur-Sojasun, at 7:45
198. Guillaume LEVARLET, Saur-Sojasun, at 9:43

[mosesbotbol]

It would be the most exciting to me to see either win the TdF

Ryder HESJEDAL, Garmin-Barracuda
Thomas VOECKLER, Europcar

[Don Fernando]

Voeckler won't win, he's not even a real challenger. He's not a real climber, not a real time-trial specialist. He's got heart though and that brought him far last year but in the end he's just not good enough for a 3 week race.

[E.J.]

Sagen wins again....... Wow, this kid is talented...

General Classification after Stage 3
SUI 1 CANCELLARA, Fabian (RADIOSHACK-NISSAN) 14:45:30
GBR 2 WIGGINS, Bradley (SKY PROCYCLING) + 7
FRA 3 CHAVANEL, Sylvain (OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP)
USA 4 VAN GARDEREN, Tejay (BMC RACING) + 10
NOR 5 BOASSON HAGEN, Edvald (SKY PROCYCLING) + 11
AUS 6 EVANS, Cadel (BMC RACING) + 17
ITA 7 NIBALI, Vincenzo (LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE) + 18
CAN 8 HESJEDAL, Ryder (GARMIN - SHARP)
GER 9 KLÖDEN, Andreas (RADIOSHACK-NISSAN) + 19
NED 10 MOLLEMA, Bauke (RABOBANK) + 21




Was only about to watch for about an hour while I read the paper and drank coffee this AM, but LOT OF carbon hitting the pavement....

[E.J.]

Hesjedal is done, that's too bad. Another victory for Sagen. No other big changes, save for Hesjedal, at the top.

[mosesbotbol]

Hesjedal is done, that's too bad.

Garmin is two steps from dropping out at this point.

[tsolomon]

:tt Waiting for the mountain stages. Looking forward to tomorrow and Sunday.

[E.J.]

Fun stage today.... Froome wins with a late push(what looked to be a response to Cadel's move) and the field is split even more.

Cool to see Wiggins, who will now wear yellow, raise his fist in celebration for Froome's late push to take the stage.

GBR 1 WIGGINS, Bradley (SKY PROCYCLING) 34: 21: 20
AUS 2 EVANS, Cadel (BMC RACING) + 10
ITA 3 NIBALI, Vincenzo (LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE) + 16
EST 4 TAARAMAE, Rein (COFIDIS, LE CREDIT EN LIGNE) + 32
RUS 5 MENCHOV, Denis (KATUSHA) + 54
ESP 6 ZUBELDIA AGIRRE, Haimar (RADIOSHACK-NISSAN) + 59
BEL 7 MONFORT, Maxime (RADIOSHACK-NISSAN) + 1:09
IRL 8 ROCHE, Nicolas (AG2R LA MONDIALE) + 1: 22
GBR 9 FROOME, Christopher (SKY PROCYCLING) + 1:32
AUS 10 ROGERS, Michael (SKY PROCYCLING) + 1:40

I've never ridden a 20% grade, has my head spinning....

[E.J.]

HOLY Bradley Wiggins...nice ITT. It is early, but he just may have locked this up, assuming nothing catastrophic happens to Team Sky.... You have to assume they will put more time into everyone in the TTT.

Froome just put himself into the GC contention....(though he was odds on 5th before the tour started, when I posted the odds)

Team Sky looks VERY good right now.....and the doping rumblings have started.....booooooo.....:td

[E.J.]

No team TT, another ITT.....

[mosesbotbol]

Wiggins and Sky are going to get hammered on the next mountain stages. There hasn't been any big battles yet and for me it's way to early to speculate on Wiggins. He had an amazing Time Trial, but can Sky reel in the attacks?

[E.J.]

Congrats to Voeckler for his Stage 10 win.

Great ride by Jens....there is a reason everyone loves that guy!

A lot of race left and Wiggins could crack, have a mechanical at a bad time or wreck, but.....save for any of that, I think what we saw today is what you are going to see in the next 4.5 mountain stages. The rest of the 2012 TdF is Teams trying to get stage wins and jockey for a spot on the podium with Wiggins.

Everything else is flat and with another ITT. In a nutshell, Cadel would need to make up the time he is down AND put a chunk of time into Wiggins to have a shot....and I just don't see that happening.

I could be wrong.....;)

[E.J.]

1. WIGGINS - SKY 43h 59' 02''
2. EVANS - BMC + 01' 53''
3. FROOME - SKY + 02' 07''
4. NIBALI - LIQUIGAS + 02' 23''
5. MENCHOV - KATUSHA + 03' 02''
6. ZUBELDIA - RADIOSHACK + 03' 19''
7. MONFORT - RADIOSHACK + 04' 23''
8. VAN DEN BROECK - LOTTO + 04' 48''
9. ROCHE - AG2R + 05' 29''
10. VAN GARDEREN - BMC + 05' 31''

[mosesbotbol]

Everything else is flat and with another ITT. In a nutshell, Cadel would need to make up the time he is down AND put a chunk of time into Wiggins to have a shot....and I just don't see that happening.

I could be wrong.....;)

There are 4 teams beyond Sky that have rider that could win and/or podium. Sky team is going to some work on their hands to keep the tempo and attacks at bay.

[E.J.]

There are 4 teams beyond Sky that have rider that could win and/or podium. Sky team is going to some work on their hands to keep the tempo and attacks at bay.

Like Evans, I do not think that either Nibali or Menchov are going to cut 4:00-5:00 minutes into Wiggins and thus, think this TdF is over... I could be wrong, but I'm calling it now....

You can call me wrong and quote me a week from tomorrow(the 19th), where either Evans, Nibali or Menchov will not only have to have Yellow, but realistically, a gap on Wiggins....

[mosesbotbol]

I could be wrong, but I'm calling it now....

You can call me wrong and quote me a week from tomorrow(the 19th), where either Evans, Nibali or Menchov will not only have to have Yellow, but realistically, a gap on Wiggins....

Not saying you are wrong at all, but a lot of things can happen and that's one of the reasons this race is so beloved. 4-5 minutes is a big deal for sure, but he was able to build that gap in 10 days; it can be taken away just as quick. One day like Hesjedal had and that's it...

[tsolomon]

I'm cheering for Wiggins, but there is a lot of racing left and anything can happen. Tomorrow is another tough day and then stages 14, 16 and 17 in the Pyrenees will be tough on everyone.

[E.J.]

Tom & Moses,

Just to be clear, it is why I qualified with A lot of race left and Wiggins could crack, have a mechanical at a bad time or wreck, but.....save for any of that......

The other GCers can put some time into Wiggins on the mountain stages, but I don't think they can put that kind of time into him without something catastrophic happening, not with the way Sky is running. Who knows, that is why they race the race....

The way Froome looked the other day.....what are the chances that he works for Wiggins that final climb tmorrow, then tries to overtake Evans for 2nd at the Summit....

Tomorrow is going to be fun, 2 HC's early, then Cat 2 and Cat 1 Summit finish....

[CigarGuy88]

I really hope Sky isnt stupid enough to force Froome back to help wiggo if he has a horrible day/badly timed mechanical. Sky is so rediculously strong this year with Boasson Hagen Rogers, Porte (who IMO is a potential GC contender if he had his own team) they should have enough potential to let froome be a backup GC guy in case wiggo has a bad day. Sky is starting to remind me of Postal and Discovery in the LA days except those teams never had anyone who could keep up with their leader the whole way up climbs

[mosesbotbol]

I really hope Sky isnt stupid enough to force Froome back to help wiggo if he has a horrible day/badly timed mechanical. Sky is so rediculously strong this year with Boasson Hagen Rogers, Porte (who IMO is a potential GC contender if he had his own team) they should have enough potential to let froome be a backup GC guy in case wiggo has a bad day. Sky is starting to remind me of Postal and Discovery in the LA days except those teams never had anyone who could keep up with their leader the whole way up climbs

Some good points, but Postal and Discovery did have plenty of GC guys who could've won. Heras, Hamilton, and Landis are the first 3 off the top of my mind. Not to mention all dopers, lol...

[CigarGuy88]

Heras if I remember correctly is the only one with a good grand tour resume and the vuelta isnt the tour as we all know, hamilton never got anything going with CSC or phonak and landis got caught doping...

[mosesbotbol]

Heras if I remember correctly is the only one with a good grand tour resume and the vuelta isnt the tour as we all know, hamilton never got anything going with CSC or phonak and landis got caught doping...

Heras won the Vuelta 3 times, podium 2 times after riding the Tour which is no easy feat. Hamilton won stage in TdF, 2nd in Giro, and Liege Baston Liege which is bigger than winning any single stage in the Tour. Hamilton is one of the best American hill climbers ever.

This is not take away from Armstrong, but cycling is a team sport and there can only be one leader at a time.

[E.J.]

I really hope Sky isnt stupid enough to force Froome back to help wiggo if he has a horrible day/badly timed mechanical.

They didn't bring him back due to a terrible day or mechanical, but apparently it looks like they stopped an attack.... I was just getting updated on the phone, so don't know exactly what happened.

[E.J.]

Wiggins pulls Boasson Hagen across the gap and leads out for him on the sprint finish.....cool to see yellow do that, even if he(EBH)didn't get the win.

[mosesbotbol]

Wiggins looks great. Relaxed on the last hill and stayed up front. Unless Nibali do something special, it looks like it Wiggins to lose.

[E.J.]

WTF - "The competition director Jean-François Pescheux later claimed that there were tacks on the road and that's what caused the spate of punctures. Sabotage could have influenced general classification but cool heads prevailed and ultimately all the GC riders joined forced and rolled to the finish together well behind the stage winner."

Doesn't matter where you are, there are going to be asshats that want to cause havoc....



I have yet to watch todays stage, I went for a bike ride instead....

[Wanger]

Read a bit about yesterday's stage, and saw that Wiggins urged the peleton not to blow Evans away, but to wait. Was good to see that.

[mosesbotbol]

It's Wiggins to lose right now. I would be concerned about Froome a little bit. If Nibali attacks, Froome will go after him and it will be Wiggins that will have to be able to keep up the attack.

Can anyone expect Froome to keep it slower on the decent if there's a gap?

[E.J.]

Frank's a doper.......:td

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/18/sports/cycling/frank-schleck-fails-doping-test-at-tour-de-france.html?_r=1



Tomorrow is going to be an interesting stage.... 2 HC's, 2 Cat1's...

[mosesbotbol]

Frank's a doper.......:td

It's always my favorite riders who get caught doping... He's still a beast in the Classics