LANCE IN YELLOW!

I agree that mountain-top finishes are superior, though I do enjoy watching a 20k downhill into the finish, which rewards bike handling skills, even if it causes some to take risks like CVV last year.

It's much easier to run the end-of-stage logistics in town than on a mountain top 30k away.

Why is the course so boring there is hardly any racing. There are only two mountain top finishes the rest is just rolling.

With all the discussion about LA and AC, who was the designated team leader? Was this team built around LA coming in and being #1?

If anyone can remember long ago when an up and coming Greg Lemond, who seemed to be the superior cyclist, had to play second fiddle to team leader Bernard Henault. Henault was riding in his last TdF and Lemond, as the team player, had to support Henault's efforts in winning his final Tour.

I believe Lemond played the support rider in 1985 to Hinault. Hinault was supposed to support Lemond in 1986, but he played mind-games with Lemond and refused to cede leadership to him until the final TT -- in which Lemond beat him (falling if I recall correctly) -- and only then was Lemond the undisputed team leader. It was a split between the English-speakers and the others on La Vie Claire. Cycling historians: please correct me.

I agree about wasting the mountains. The race really is about mountain finishes and TT. Little of consequence seems to happen on the other days.

The organizers obviously want to keep the tour exciting into the last week, but damn has it made the pyrenees boring! The race basically comes down to stage 15, the ITT, and Ventoux.

JoeGarland wrote:

I believe Lemond played the support rider in 1985 to Hinault. Hinault was supposed to support Lemond in 1986, but he played mind-games with Lemond and refused to cede leadership to him until the final TT -- in which Lemond beat him (falling if I recall correctly) -- and only then was Lemond the undisputed team leader. It was a split between the English-speakers and the others on La Vie Claire. Cycling historians: please correct me.

I agree about wasting the mountains. The race really is about mountain finishes and TT. Little of consequence seems to happen on the other days.

I wouldn't call myself a historian, but here's the short version. 1985 Lemond is there to support Hinault in his quest for his 5th TDF I believe. Hinault gets dropped on a climb late in the tour (and appears stronger throughout), the team car & Lemond argue (caught on tape) about how to finish. Lemond is promised that Hinault will ride for him in 1986, he backs off. In 1986 Hinault attacks Lemond (more than once, he was a prick, but hey, how else do you win 5 tours, Lance is a prick, AC may be a prick). Lemond is able to fend Hinault off (including a legendary stage where Hinault attacks, Lemond is hung out to dry, then the only other good american, Andy Hampsten who rides for another team, joins with Lemond to run down Hinault). Hinault only reliquished when it became obvious he wasn't going to win. It's a shame Lemond has turned into such a negative depressing SOB, he was a hell of a rider. 3 wins, and may have had more if his freaking bro-in lay hadn't Dick Cheney'd him while hunting.

I'd like Schleck to move up also (I have both brothers on my fantasy cycling team, heh), but damn he's got his work cut out for him. There's still another time trial where he'll lose minutes on the Astana riders (Contador Lance Leipheimer). So where could he possibly do it? There are three hilly stages left, 16, 17, and Ventoux (20). There need to be fireworks on stages 16 and 17, because I don't think anyone can put too many minutes on Contador on Mont Ventoux. I'm on the west coast so it's hard to watch anything live, but I'll be waking up early to watch those three.

Schleck could maybe get up to second if he has a good day on the Ventoux. Conti is too good to get dropped. Schleck couldnt even go with him on stage 7.

tour over wrote:

Schleck could maybe get up to second if he has a good day on the Ventoux. Conti is too good to get dropped. Schleck couldnt even go with him on stage 7.

I think Schleck just might be the best mountain climber in the tour. His problem is that he isn't on Astana. If stage 7 was a little harder, I bet he would have caught Conti. Did you see how much Conti was struggling. He didn't put much distance between him and the rest after he made the initial surge. Lance and a few of the other guys looked relaxed finishing and you have to know Lance didn't give an all out effort. With the way the Astana is made up with having two studs, it's going to come down to the ITT. That's when Lance puts on the Yellow Jersey. I can't wait until next year when they are on different teams. Levi and Lance will smoke everyone with their team tactics. I was a fan of Conti until stage 7. Now I just feel sorry for what he will go through during the rest of the tour.

Conti had the wind against him all alone on stage 7.

Cycling racing always sucks big time and is boring because of the wind and all the hanging around in the groups.

Can you imagine racing every day for a week and everyone is sitll only 10 seconds apart. It is total nonsense and not athletic at all. Oh and if someone takes off you're supposed to hold back and not challenge them.

tour over wrote:

Schleck could maybe get up to second if he has a good day on the Ventoux. Conti is too good to get dropped. Schleck couldnt even go with him on stage 7.

I think you might be right, but I hope you're wrong. If you're right, the rest of the TDF will be very boring. I hope Schleck just didn't want to waste the effort -- his post-stage comments didn't make it sound like it was a big deal, a tactical retreat. Then again, that's what he *would* say...

not so not so.

1 - next sundays stage to verbier - mountaintop finish. apparently not the toughest of finishes but at the end of a long day and a week's worth of frustration for the GC challengers. Someone will have to attack - the strength of astana might render it pointless but schleck or evans will have a go.

2 - tuesdays stage to Bourg-St-Maurice - comes after a short stage of two very tough climbs - the cols of Grand and Petit St bernard. No flat at the end today - just a descent. Theres a chance someone will give it a shot on the final climb if they can.

3 - wednesdays stage to le grand bornand. The final climb of the colombiere is very tough (i know, I've ridden it) and the descent is short and no good for any sort of chase. So as good as a mountain top finish really. tough stage all round so fireworks time.

4 - The annecy time trial - flat - the chance for the likes of Wiggins and Evans to claim back time? But chances are LA and AC will respond.

5 - The second last stage to Mont Ventoux - the toughest single climb in the race - it will be decided here.

Dont forget that the accumulated fatigue will be a factor in the final week.

So we have 5 stages where things could happen. if the race is boring its down to astana's strength neutralising the race and preventing attacks rather than any deficiencies in the route.

In addition to what is listed above, Stage 13 has enormous potential for drama if the teams are forced to ride in radio silence as has been proposed for stages 10 and 13. A medium mountain stage combined with radio silence is the perfect recipe for attacks and breakaways all day long.

Unfortunately, Astana is leading the protest against the radio ban in the interest of "safety." Perhaps the safety of Astana's GC dominance would be at stake?

How much is Menchov sucking he must have used up all his epo on the Giro.

Cycling is totally ridiculous.

Yesterday was a "truce", from their usual lollygagging around.

And today is....... a rest day!

Today my mom got an old mountain bike with big ole mountain bike tires. I rode it 3 miles fast and pretended I was in the tour. Oh and I had a cap on backwards to be more aero.

J.R. wrote:

Cycling is totally ridiculous.

Yesterday was a "truce", from their usual lollygagging around.

And today is....... a rest day!

Hahahaha I agree with this. The riders are all not making enough testosterone. Lance Armstrong is the only one up for a fight and he only has one ball.

The Tour is always quieter between the two major mountain ranges. Today, they were cautious because of the race radio situation, tomorrow is another chance for a break, and there should be plenty of green jersey positioning as well.

I think it was better when they were full of epo. The climbers could make it more exciting in the mountains then. Remember Pantani. I dont think that could happen now.