Tour de France
 

It started today!!! Should be a pretty good tour this year that will favor the climbers. Contador is probably the favorite. Though there are several other riders who may have a chance. Not sure how good a chance I would give Lance. Tough to know how good his form will be until he gets to the mountains.

My power went out for a half hour this morning, about a minute after Lance Armstrong went out on the course.So I missed his ride. There will be several chances to catch a replay though. I am a little mad that I do not have Vs. in HD on my cable system. Though I may be switching over to Dish later in the month.

Also, enter my TDF Lanterne Rouge contest!!!

http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=17947

Re: Tour de France
 

Hope you enjoy the race, brother. From my point, I'm simply glad I won't be seeing Sheryl Crow hangin' around this year. :ss

Re: Tour de France
 

I expect a good showing from Washington state homeboy sprinter, Tyler Farrar!

:banger

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well, my favorite Menchov sucked big time today.

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My wife and I had to call Directv today to change our package so we could get versus again just for the Tour. Something meditative about Phil Liggetts voice in July.

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Except he seems to be missing the calls on more of the sprints lately. Ten again, most of the time I cant figure it out.

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The planets have aligned once again here in July with the TDF in action. I made it home just in time this morning to watch Lance's reappearance, then I had to get some sleep only to wake up in time for the replay! :)

Re: Tour de France
 

Looking forward to this years tour. Not sure I'd call Lance the favorite, but I can't wait to see him in the mountains.
I do hope we will see a clean race this year. I'm starting to get a bit frustrated, especially after the cheater Andy Schleck helped me win some cigars last year.

Re: Tour de France
 

Lance was sharp as a razorblade today, and that might cause trouble within the Astana team. Contador missed the boat and Bruyneel gave Popovych and Zubeldia green light to help the Columbia team. He can defend his decision by saying it was to hurt Evans and Menchov, but I'de love to be a fly on the wall during Astana team dinner tonight.

Re: Tour de France
 

The next few days should be interstesing to watch Astana to see if Contador steps his game up. This video is awesome and can definately show why so many people like Lance. http://www.livestrong.com/lance-arms...-e722454f6151/

Re: Tour de France
 

I only caught the very end, how did the lead group with Lance break away?

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There was a turn and the cross winds kicked in off the ocean. Then Columbia created a small split and just went with it. The rest ofg the teams were just caught napping.

Lance has a good chance at wearing Yellow tomorrow.

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George H. made it sound like Garmin was tired of waiting for someone to come up and change this from a charity ride to a world class race so they just went. He was very explicit about not naming sprinter teams though. :)

Re: Tour de France
 

Thanks. It came back on a midnight and I thought I'd be able to stay up for it. That didn't happen.

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Its been a crazy begining of todays stage.

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Fixed for you ...

Re: Tour de France
 

this is very interesting to see them hit the curves today...

Re: Tour de France
 

Well, nobody commented on yesterdays team time trial. Astana looked good, like the most professional team out there. Every time Lance won a tour, it was his team that got him 95% of the way. Astana looks like they could deliver the package.

I finally saw how Lance got into that break, and I would've liked to see Contador even with Lance going into the mountains, but now the fact that Lance is up probably means Contador is supporting him if there was any doubt before.

Can't wait to see Astana pick up the pace in the mountains.

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Great race today. I'll have to eat my words from the previous post. Astana let Contador go for it and silenced Evans all at the same time.

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Yea Contador had some awesome legs up that final climb today. We will see for sure in the next couple days if Lance truly is going to be a Domestique this year.

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The next 2 stages we are gonna see what the riders are really made of! I'm excited to see how the Team Astana drama works out..

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Two words for Astana - LeMond/Hinault. Let's hope it's not a sequel.

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It is looking like that. You wonder if the last week will look like Telecom a few years back when the teammates Vino & Ullrich were covering each others attacks. And will the team favor one rider over the other or break into factions.

You can tell when Lance is pissed off in his interviews. Even Levi danced around the issue this morning. You got the early season impression that Lance may support Contador. It seems like there was some agreement broken the other day. But I am not sure if Lance can ride with Contador.

The problem is the schedule, everything is packed into the last week. You only had one mountain finish and a short time trial so far. The last two stages had high mountains, but a long run to the finish, so attacks were minimal. Then now you have to see them wait another week before there is another mountain stage. There is no time trial to help establish a clear team leader until the middle of next week. So now you have a week for tensions to simmer on the Astana team.

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What stage will they climb Alpe D Huez? I need to take a day off.

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You ride? why didn't you bring your bike! Stupid m$*^$*@ why didn't you bring it we could have gone riding! Your too damn light you would need a weight belt but I have been slowly getting back to the ride. Record the tour and go to work so you can make the return trip soon:tu
Rob

Stage 20

MONT VENTOUX
Jacques Goddet called Mont Ventoux “a gigantic upside-down top measuring 21 kilometres around at the base”. The highest point in Provence has always been a key moment in the race. This is where Bobet outdistanced Gaul in 1955, partly ensuring his third title; the Luxembourg rider got even with him three years later. In 1970 Eddy Merckx suffered and passed out at the top. Armstrong lost here to Pantani in 2000 and Virenque in 2002. But no rider has ever won this stage twice. Ventoux is unbeatable. :dance:

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You got to feel sorry for Leipheimer. Sucks that he is out of the tour.

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Todays race was amazing. If Lance could've kept pace, he would've. Contador looks amazing.

Gotta love the mountains!

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I'm still trying to figure out which factors kept George five seconds off yesterday. Interviews point to lack of communication between Garmin and the sprinters, but is that really IT?:confused:

(from my mobile device)

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I was hoping for the 8th victory for Lance Armstrong, but after today I think that won't happen.

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Mmm "Not so fast my friend" it would appear that your correct!

AND Lance did say he was out of it, but let's wait and see IF he stays within reach and maybe the TT is going to decided. It could be he is not good enough to get # 8 or it could be that he is waiting. he is still one of the best and time will tell :banger

Rob

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:tpd:

Er, I mean what Gorob said! :D

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I'm actually quite surprised Lance is way up in the standings at this point. I didn't expect him to get #8. I initially thought it would be a great achievement if he finishes in top 5. I yesterday's stage is any indication, I expect Lance to drop in the standing even further. I wouldn't be suprise if Sastre finishes ahead of LA.

If Contador is not with a strong team with a great director (Johan Bruynell), will he still be as good as he is?

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Rest Day: Time to over analyze the race...

I think that Contador is looking much stronger then Lance. Lance needs a team to crack the group. Without Levi, it's going to be very hard. Losing Levi hurt Lance more then just the "20%" as I heard him explain it. It pretty much solidified the stronger rider as the team leader.
If I were Lance, I'd tell Contador to go for it.
I'm a bit skeptical that there really is much drama in Astana at this point. They are very professional, and know who the best mountain rider is on the team.

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Drama is over. AC is the Astana man. Notice that LA didn't mention anything about playing the good team mate and not chasing AC when AC let loose? He just doesn't have the legs to stay with the best climbers.

AC is a lock unless he rides the St. Bernard given to him :ss. I'm wondering who will Astana protect next week, Armstrong or Kloden. Kloden look stronger than Armstrong yesterday. He even had a better ITT than armstrong. It will be very interesting how Armstrong body respond to next weeks mountain stages. He always had the best condition besides this tour.

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Is it tomorrow yet? I'd like to get a better picture to figure out if Lance was being polite that last stage, out of gas or if he's going to play super domestique. Yeah, I still believe. :) Contador did look very impressive yesterday and looks like he'll pretty much hold his own.

BTW, I'm glad this race finally has something to talk about besides pass the no doze.

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I will leave the office early today, so I can watch the race

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I think I would opt for cagy. He sure looks like he is out for a Sunday training ride at the end of the stage while a lot of the others sure look beat.

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The way he covered that gap today was quite impressive. I think if he is able to keep it close he should be able to make up time during the time trial. This could become a truly epic Tour.

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He is a Manimal!

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NOT SO FAST MY BOOKEND FRIEND!

you kids you never give us old guys credit! Lance may or may not be done. The thing he has learned is that you don't show all your cards because you never know. The race goes ALL the way until the end.
I mean really did you smoke ONE cigar at So cal and say that's it I'm done! :rolleyes:

Stupid Me&^%!@:tu

Rob :tpd:

Re: Tour de France
 

I want Lance to do so well, hell I am the same age as he is. I was hoping for him to do a lot better. I'm a big fan of his. In fact, I am amazed on what he had shown the last two days. I watched the replay last night and his acceleration in order to bridge the gap on the last climb brought back memories of his first few TDF wins.

Just looked at what happened yesterday and today. Ignore the Verbier stage. He was able to hang with the strongest climbers when they are doing a fast tempo in order to shed the pack. But when they (AC, Schelck brothers) attacked, he can't respond anymore. He can out climb the other contenders but not the strongest climbers. He said so himself.

Can LA still win the TDF? Highly unlikely unless something bad happens to AC like 4 flat tires and 2 crashes in ITT :D.
Can LA podium? Possibly. He will definitely grab some time from the Schleck brothers. They time trial like I climb a hill :D. I expect Wiggins and possibly Kloeden to have a strong showing tomorrow as well. I wouldn't be surprise if LA TT's time is better than AC tomorrow.

As for AC, what the **** was he thinking today? He attacked and dropped Kloeden. Possibly costing Kloeden a podium finish. That kid is dumb.

Was I suppose to smoke more than one cigar? M!@#$#%.

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Was he unable to respond, or do you think he was waiting to see if they could keep up the pace (there by picking his place and time to respond)? I don't know much about the statagy of bike racing, but I know he sure looks pretty comfortable out there when some of the rest are looking haggard. I also think he a a cagy ol' fart!

Just my $0.02

Re: Tour de France
 

When AC attacked during the last climb at the Verbier Stage, you can argue that Armstrong sat up. I think that's the normal team strategy. However, his comments after that stage ("AC showed he is the strongest") and his comments after after yesterday stage ("That's what I should have done") led me to believe that Astana's leadership was still up for grabs at that time. He could have gone up with AC and/or counter attacked if he can or wanted to. He just wasn't able to.

If AC is not with Astana, I can believe this is still part of his strategy. Cycling rope-a-dope.

LA seems to be getting better as the week progress. He proved me wrong there. I thought with his age and absence from elite racing will be detrimental for his body towards the end of the TDF.

We will know for sure tomorrow.

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I take his comments "That's what I should have done" and AC showed he was strongest" kinda like poker table talk.

But I agree, tomorrow we will know more.

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What have we seen so far from Armstrong? He can still climb but not as well as the very best. If he can gain back some time from the Schleck's, then he will podium.

Going to be a great stage tomorrow.

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I don't think Lance can make up 4 minutes on AC, but with the time trial tomorrow and Mount Ventoux on Saturday he could make up 1:30 on Andy Schleck to finish second. With both Bruyneel and Armstrong leaving Astana next year, will the Tour even invite Astana next year if Contador is gone and Vinokourov is back? :2

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Next years tour will be interesting. Levi, Popo and possibly Kloeden will go with LA and JB to the new team. Contador and Paulhino to another team, unless they patch things up somehow. Lance might give it a shot for another year just to give some publicity to his new team. I'm sure if I'm one of the backers, I will require him to ride at least the TDF.

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:tpd: Heck of a resume AC's putting together for next year. Yeah he's a good rider, but twice now?? Really.

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:bx Stupid Mex&@* Now I really feel old! because I have 16 years on both of you! :mad:


You are right on with this, because Lance already said he was coming back next year. I think this year showed him that he is still in the game and wants to give it another whirl....Kinda like when I beat the crap out of Allen in the auction :fu





You were supposed to keep up with Mr. Nee. I didn't smoke one on Sunday I was done! ;s

Rob

Re: Tour de France
 

Woah Contador!!! Not bad for Andy Schleck.

I'm still not sure if Wiggins can take some time from LA on Ventoux. The climb is longer which seems to suit LA's.