Tour de France 2010
 

Go Team Radio Shack.....

Though I am REALLY hoping Armstrong can win, I think it may be more than his legs can handle.... Though his Tour de Suisse showed well, because I honestly believe he held back..... Anyway, GO LANCE ARMSTORNG!!!!

If Armstrong cannot win....and cannot pull Klöden or Leipheimer to the win....which would be second best to a LA win, I guess I'll take Andy Schleck.

Anyway, starts Saturday....

Re: Tour de France 2010
 

I'm afraid Contador will win again, don't like the guy a bit. Hopefully Lance can put him in his place.

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:tpd: Would love to see Lance win another. I believe it will be a longtime before we see another great cyclist like him. If we ever see one like him again.

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Contador or Andy Schleck would be my picks. The real story would be if Basso can pull a double like Pantani did.

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I'm voting for someone to run Contador into the ditch.

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I agree with you also think that Armstrong was holding back at the Tour de Suisse. Contrador and Vinokourov will probably have some issues similar to what Contrador and Armstrong went through last year at the tour. I'm rooting for Radio Shack and could go with Kloden and Leipheimer as well as Lance. You can't forget the Schleck brothers with Frank just winning the Tour de Suisse over Lance.

The question I have is what are Lance and Bruyneel planning? Only a couple more days before my production at works drops off for a couple of 3 weeks. :r

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Crazy finish with all the wrecks at the end today.... I had it TiVo'd & it ended about 2 minutes after the finish....no idea if anyone actually was injured....

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The official site is, of course, http://www.letour.fr/indexus.html for the English speakers

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Anyone know a good tour analysis site? Five six years ago there was a guy who did a blog/website that talked in depth about the team strategy and chess game going on beyond what any of the main sites are doing. He would predict who would make a break and points on the stage to expect activity and why and then do a post race breakdown about what actually happened and he was dead on a lot. I really enjoy the tour regardless but it I would like to know more about what is actually going on.

Re: Tour de France 2010
 

Tuesday's stage will be a big deal with the cobbles. So far, it's about keepin the team intact and leader's safe. The cobbles will fracture the peleton into groups and it's anyone's guess who (of the leaders) will come out ahead and unscathed.

I'd expect many attacks in or near the cobbles, especially from the Schleck's and Cadel Evans. Contador's cobble stone riding is novice, but he has practiced it a lot this last off season.

As for everyone's general strategy; be as close to the yellow jersey without actually wearing it. Flat stages are about getting new riders into break aways (assuming your team is not leading) and touting your sprinters at the finish.

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Interested to see how hurt Andy Schleck is.... He looked done at the wreck site, then rode well....

Another crazy day....

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I wonder if they'll alter any times over the evening? I doubt they will, but was mentioned by commentators.

Andy does not strike me as being mentally tough as his brother, but has more athletic talent.

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would be interested in this as well - I understand the basics but reading from someone who knows would be cool

go team RS! a surreptitious Leipheimer win would be really cool too!

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Tomorrow is a must see stage. Cancellara will be back in yellow is my prediction. He is a beast on this style of course and only Frank Schleck has the moxie to keep up with him. Frank he has to save himself for the Alps.

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Today was a crazy stage. A shame to see Frank go out like that. Also horrible luck for Armstrong to get a flat when he did. Things do not bode well for him or Andy now. I would be rather surprised to see anyone besides Contador win now.

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Tough day for LA. Had 30 seconds on Contador....loses 50 second to him after the flat. Add to that he had to ride like a mad man to just lose 50.... That riding may cost him later....

Today was thought to be a day he could put some time into Andy and Alberto.....and just the opposite happens.... The tour is not over, but this time is going to be difficult to make up....he is no longer the climber that both of them are....

Now just hoping for podium....but never know what will happen, as the first 2 paragraphs attest....

Andy has to be disappointed to lose Frank and the thought of him pulling him through the mountains... Made up some time today though....amazing after yesterdays wreck and what looked like him being out of the Tour..... FC actually saved Andy's tour chances with his holding back the race yesterday..... AND he is back in Yellow...

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awesome stage today, very exiting.

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WOW....what a great race today!

Schleck and Conti are in a class by themselves. Contador looked MUCH stronger today than Sunday... If this continues, I don't see how he doesn't win GC.

Poor Cadel Evans.... Apparently he had a broken elbow, which makes him cracking understandable... For a second there I thought he bonked like I would....:D

WAY TO GO LEVI AND LANCE.... Though podium seems doubtful for Levi, it was still a VERY good ride today. Lance also rode well.... Still crossing my fingers that Lance can get a stage win.....

Re: Tour de France 2010
 

don't forget Menchov and the youngster Robert Gesink who both competed and finished with the best. And hats off to the oldest cyclist in the tour (Moreau) for his preformances in this stage.

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Radio Shack team was suppose to have their act together, but obviously did not.

No suprise how well Saxo Bank is doing. It's all big time stars on that team and the egos are left behind.

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You appear to be saying that ego is what has hurt Radio Shack...:confused: The Shack has had some VERY bad luck.... Would love to hear how they don't have their act together?

That doesn't mention the fact that Radio Shack is currently in 2nd as a team....

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Paulinho did something good for Radio Shack today.

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I don't see how bad luck for RS could be counted as not having their act together. Yesterday they had a very good day. Today they won the stage. It has definately not been the Tour they had envisioned but I still think they are having a good tour overall.

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Lance would've never made such tactical errors, what about Kloden? These guys have not been as well executed as years past with Bruyneel. Yes, there is bad luck, but his teams have been so well polished, it's like bad luck did not exist. In all reality, they have the same shakes as every team this tour, but got caught out at some crucial times. Points is about all they can shot for at this stage. A few stage wins, I doubt they'll win the individual time trial.

Saxo Bank is looking really great, but I want Contador to win. I question Andy Schleck's mental toughness. Contador and Vino are cool as they get. Jens Voight as great as he is, can only give so much.

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Bruyneel said (my guess) "Since our tour is blown, why don't you go for the break away?" I bet they'll try to put their domestiques into each break away for the rest of the race. They need to give RS their money's worth and there could be stipulations on bonuses based on overall win, points, stages... Since the crown jewel is, time to get what you can.

We could see Lance or Levi in the polka dots for instance.

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Other than RS (Lance) the only other team I think that you could compare that has had as bad luck this year would be Garmin. The timing of the crashes and flats Lance had this year made it humanly impossible for him to make up the ground he lost and still stay with the lead group on the tough climbs. If Alberto or Andy would have had the same flats and crashes in the places Lance has had this year they would be out of the race as well. The difference in my opinion is that if it would have happened to Astana any hopes they have for any success would be dashed if it were to happen to Alberto. Saxo is probably the closest to RS as far as depth this year imo.

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Exactly what tactical errors? I really don't know what you are referring to...:confused:

I have not seen, nor have I heard discussed LA, Johan or Team Shack making tactical errors that have cost them.... Though there has been a lot of talk about things that happen in long stage races that just suck... Much like Saxo losing Frank.... That was not a tactical error by Saxo or Frank...just something that happens....

In the end, it is a long stage race and things happen.... A flat in the cobbles with no support, going down at 36MPH and having to try to catch a jumping field, on a second bike, right before a climb.... It didn't work out for the Shacks GC #1 to win the tour....however unlikely that would have been...

Like I said before, I think it is Contadors' race to lose.... If A. Schleck was better in the ITT, I'd give him the edge...

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There is no question who the two deepest teams are.

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Classless move by Contador to attack when the yellow goes down to mechanical....

Add to this, the thought is, Contador is already right where he wants to be.... To take Yellow by attacking when Yellow goes down to a mechanical....or wreck...is just total douche.... He didn't need this time....it is a WTF move....:td

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I disagree. I am no Contador fan, not at all, but every rider would have done the same. He saw a chance and he took it.

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So by every rider, like Lance attacking when Ulrich went off the road on the descent....or Ulrich hammering down when Lance was pulled down by the musette.....;)

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He probably should have sat up and waited, but I'm sure his excuse is going to be Menchov & Sanchez had no intentions and he couldn't let them gain time.

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Lance vs Ulrich, Lance in the yellow with more than a 3 minute lead. Whole different story than Contador vs Schleck where Schleck leads by 31 seconds.

Ulrich did wait indeed, that's why he only one the tour once.

How much I want Schleck (or Menchov, or Gesink, or Leipheimer) to beat Contador, I can't blame him for taking the opportunity.

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I didn't see it but Contador has shown to be classless in general so it doesn't surprise me. Historically it is my understanding that it didn't matter whether the yellow had a ten second or a ten minute lead other GC riders did not take advantage of falls or mechanical issues.

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Back in the day this kind of stuff happened all the time, so historically Contador did what he had to do. A bad chain, a flat, stuff like that is part of the course and throughout all history riders took advantage of that. Now a pee-break or a nasty fall, that's another issue.

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:tpd:

The major icons of cycling like Hinault were interviewed about this and all said "it's a part of racing, tough luck".

SRAM both won and lost the TdF in an instant. :r

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Absolultely not! Schleck can't adjust his derailleur so everyone should hold his hand? Stuff like this is all part of the breaks

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Contador waited on Schleck in Spa, he can't keep waiting can he?

Erik Breukink, teammanager of Rabo and former top 5 rider in the TdF, said the same thing as Hinault.

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Even though I can't stand Contador I can't fault him for this. If you recall he was only 10 seconds back on the climb. He lost the majority of his time on the descent. Schlek is not a very good descender so he very well could have lost the jersey today anyways if they would have finished the climb together.
Also if I remember corectly it was the Saxo team that was drilling it when Lance had his crash that esseentially put him out of contention this year.

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You cannot compare leaving a rider who went down and leaving yellow after a wreck/mechanical....????



Johan Bruyneel also doesn't fault Contador for hammering down.....



That said, I still don't like the move....

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[quote=E.J.;921443]You cannot compare leaving a rider who went down and leaving yellow after a wreck/mechanical....????



Alot of the people that have been complaining about the move today are comparing it to the year that Lance waited on Jan when he crashed. When Lance had his crash that really hurt him on stage 8 alot of people are saying they saw him flat which is what caused him to clip his pedal and crash. Either way it is part of the sport. No matter how much I do not like Contador, which I dont, and how I truly want Schelk to beat him I cant fault him for today. Like I said in my previous post Schlek lost most of his time on the descent. Not on the remainder of the climb.

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I would love to see Basso put Contador down. I haven't had time to watch the race this year :(

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Basso isn't anywhere close enough to kick Contador's ass. None of the competitors of the (extremely heavy) Giro this year is any good in the Tour this year.

Today is the day, couple of huge climbs. Gonna be exiting.

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Contador and Schleck have this Tour wrapped up unless something tragic happens. I don't consider the chain popping off tragic.

If someone is capable of winning a double grand tour again, it will be Contador. Basso completed his objective of the season and he could be someone to win the World Championships if Italy fields a good team.

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For what it is worth, apparently Contador has apologized for the way he took yellow yesterday, citing rider etiquette.

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a real apology doesn't start with "maybe I ....."

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Haven't chimed in, but I can't help myself from cheering for Schleck. Contador took advantage. There is only one way Contador could've gotten away, and that was by attacking while Schleck was in trouble.
The truth is, Contador wasn't attacking until Schleck had the problem. Once he lost his chain, Contador started flying.

And if there was any doubt, Contador led the charge. It appeared as if the others were going to wait up. Also, you have to give more respect to the yellow jersey. I don't think Schleck had it in Spa.

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Just to make a complete picture: on the stage with the cubblestones, Contador had a flat and was caught up in the pile behind the fallen Frank Schleck. Andy didn't wait then either.

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I didn't say he meant what he said....:r I VERY MUCH feel like 99% of public apologies are nothing more than damage control.....

So with that said, wouldn't you agree that it appears that he knew it was a douche move and he needed to recognize that publically for damage control.....?


Like Moses stated, I think barring some sort of major unforeseen event, this tour is wrapped up.... I will go further, and have, stating that it is Contador that has it wrapped up. He is not worried about anyone but A. Schleck(made apparent on Sunday when they let everyone do their own thing while they played cat and mouse) and will gash him for minutes in the ITT... So again, with just 2 more days in the mountains(only place Andy has a prayer to gain time)....it doesn't even look like a desperate attack, just a....:confused:


ALL OF THAT SAID.... It has been a fun TdF IMO....

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Was Contador wearing yellow? People continue to act as if waiting on every crash or mechanical is the norm.... There is a difference between attacking yellow during an issue and going on with a race when a contender goes down....


I was under the impression that Contador had a broken spoke... I don't remember a flat.... But as far as the spoke, even the announcers were not aware of his issue until after the race....which is why there were questions about Vinokurov dropping him at the line.... Or maybe I am thinking a different stage????????


Not trying to appear/or be argumentative.... Sometimes this stuff doesn't translate well with the written word....

I also don't want to try to appear to be some epic knowledge base as far as cycling and bike races.... I am not.... These are just opinions by an amateur cyclist...