Between Thor's SMASH and Moreau in a break, Schmalz will have a field day with today's stage ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by KnottedYet
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Between Thor's SMASH and Moreau in a break, Schmalz will have a field day with today's stage ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by KnottedYet
Lance's answer always seemed to be that he never failed a drug test.Quote:
Originally Posted by DDH
I'd like to think that he didn't cheat, but the way he was SO MUCH better than his competition, will always make me wonder.
V.
This is a fantastic tour. I'm loving the no time bonus stages. I hate time trial stages (except for team time trials, which are awesome, and I miss) so less of them is a big plus. It's going to be fun to see what happens when everyone's fried in about a week. I bet this ends up being the fastest tour, with the fewest finishers. It's an open field. It's going to take a lot of heart to win this one.
Lance was so much better than everyone else because he knew how to use his team the best. He did not expend any unnecessary energy, he let George do all the work. He was a great time trialist, and a great climber. He was not Eddy Merckx, who could ride solo for an entire race and never see a teammate, or the peleton, for that matter, and win again the next day.
Lance also was big into gear improvements. He spent more time with mechanics and designers, improving everything he could to wear yellow, than any other racer. I'm not saying he didn't dope, but I'm saying, put him on a steel frame with down-tube shifters and toeclips, and he would be looking at Eddy's back like the rest of them did.
Anyone who isn't watching this tour because some riders doped is really missing an opportunity to see the most beautiful sport in the world. And, it's your sport. But if it really bothers you that much, then you shouldn't watch the Olympics (track and field, swimming, gymnastics) either, because I hear some of them doped, too. And baseball. Football. The stuff some basketball players do to dogs is ungodly, so that should be out, too. Maybe bowling is safe, but I wouldn't bet on it :rolleyes:.
Amen, sister....Quote:
Originally Posted by redrhodie
( :p if they're all doping then it's an even playing field...:D)
Seeeee! This is why I upgraded from down tube shifters! I could never be the next Lance with those! Wait, are you dissing my beloved steel? The steel I love so much I plan to sleep with it at night?Quote:
Originally Posted by redrhodie
OMG have you seen The Big Lebowski? Those dudes are downing White Russians left and right! And I know it's true because a movie says so!Quote:
Originally Posted by redrhodie
Here's a lovely, potty-mouthed rant about the current state of affairs: http://drunkcyclist.com/wordpress/2008/07/06/la-verde/
I understand about half of it, but love a good rant.
Hey Amanada,
Many Aussies & Kiwis can come accross as arrogant but are quite sweet! ;):p
Cadel was on Enough Rope W Andrew Denton last year & he seemed quite down to earth..
I normally just follow the reports in The Australian & hope someone from downunder or Europe does v well or wins..I'm not a huge fan..
I work weekends, I made a point to wake up early on Sat. to watch the opening of the TdF.. got a phone call at the beginning of the race.."what ya doin?" "its opening day of TdF and I'm making a point to watch it"..you could hear crickets in the background. People don't get it. Had to come home from work Sat and Sun and wake my DH to ask..who won.. He gave me highlights..but not the same. We Will watch tonight, I can't wait..
I love watching the sport and just amazement of the talents of speed, climbing, and agility they have..with or without enhancements. I do agree that every sport has their dark side, unfortunatley the media doesn't seem to let the world forget about it when it comes to cycling..I agree with redrhodies comment in her last paragraph..
I would like garmin/chipolte or the new columbia/highroad to win. I think George should win something after all these years. Poor guy, worked so hard for lance and he remained in the shadow so to speak (in my opinion). I'm disappointed that there is no astana..they would've kicked butt!
I've been listening to the live audio feed from Eurosport and one of the two announcers is about to put me to sleep. Does anyone know of another source of free, workplace-appropriate live audio feed for the Tour?
I always listened on OLN- now Versus (versus.com). You can listen to Phil there.
Ironic. I watch the Tour on Versus every night, but I've never checked out their 'net coverage. Thanks, mamaof5, now I can really get my fill of Phil ;)
I have watched Le Tour religiously for many, many years and always enjoy listening to Phil. However, this year I decided to boycott the Tour as the best team and defending yellow jersey were not invited due to the actions of Vino and others who are not even on the team this year.
Okay, I just logged into Le Tour's own site for the first time this year, and I'm finding it amazing that in the standings display, they've got Team Garmin/Chipotle listed as "TSL" and Team Columbia listed as "THR." How do they expect to attract new sponsors (to replace all the ones who pulled out) if they won't properly identify the sponsors EVERYWHERE their names appear? How hard is it to update the team name abbreviations?
I get that Columbia was signed at the last minute, but we're nearly a week into the event now people. It's one thing that they're wearing Highroad and Slipstream colors in the pre-recorded interviews that Versus is airing, it's a whole 'nother thing that the event's webmaster can't be bothered to change three keystrokes for the contemporaneous coverage... :mad:
Stage 10
http://www.letour.fr/PHOTOS/TDF/2008/1000/PROFIL.gif
I just wanted to bump this up since today is one of THE big stages.
And in case anyone is looking for live coverage online go to cyclingfans.com
They're almost at the start of the first big climb! Enjoy!
Stage 15: Yow! That was a heck of a race. Crashes, attacks, surprises, oh my!
You said it! Very exciting!Quote:
Originally Posted by Kalidurga
Is it too early for me to give huge props to Team Chipotle? It's not really a spoiler, they're just doing so danged awesomely at their first Tour :D
I agree. They are doing incredibly well... It's been a pleasure to root for them!Quote:
Originally Posted by Kalidurga
Sad for Oscar Freire...
:(
Very exciting stage though.
Do you mean Oscar Freire (Rabobank) or Oscar Pereiro (Caisse d'Epargne)? (* Spoiler link, for those of you behind on race coverage *)Quote:
Originally Posted by liza
That was an exciting stage yesterday. I like both Cadel Evans and Christian Vandevelde, they are both very sensible when interviewed. I have to wonder about the sponsor of the Silence Lotto team because they have to great riders and no depth to support them :mad:. McEwen has nobody to help him into position in the sprints, and nobody can stay with Cadel on climbs. With Cadel's last year finish, the sponsor could have invested in a better roster of domestiques (by contrast, CSC is a stunning team). So, at the end, it is best for Cadel not have the yellow jersey and keep close until the end.
I was reading the Spanish media this morning and Pereiro says he crashed against Robby Hunter, who was already on the ground. Pereiro's computer registered the speed at 56 km per hour at the crash. :eek:
I watched what I could while I was away. I'm still such a newbie that I don't know names/faces/etc. but I really enjoy watching. This thread reminded me to find it now that I'm back home and there is a recap on OLN right now. Maybe that will help me get caught up.
I'm loving Johan Bruyneel's contribution to the broadcast. It's so great to really get inside the race.
Funny to hear Danny Pate's interview. You would have thought he came in dead last. Dude, you finished third in a Tour de France mountain stage. How bad can you be? Trust me, you don't suck.
Did you hear Vaughters yesterday saying, in response to a comment taht Pate didn't look so good in the middle of the climb, that he doesn't know that Pate has ever not, not looked good. :) He said soemething like, I don't think Danny has ever been happy a day in his life. We cracked up, wondering if it meant he was the type who was always hard on himself, or was he a whiner. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by redrhodie
Wish I had such good wit....even a dry sense of humour..
That was a funny quote -- then to see it played out in Danny's interview later was a crackup! Jonathan hit it right on the nose. :pQuote:
Originally Posted by Possegal
What was interesting is the winner (can't remember his name and too lazy to look it up), said that he felt at one point that Pate and the other guy (I'm bad) were way stronger than him and he was just hanging on at one point. That echos almost exactly what Pate said -- that the other two were way stronger than him and HE was just hanging on. Funny the two different perspectives in the same three-man breakaway!
Lovin' the Tour this year -- can't wait for Wednesday. You think a bomb went off yesterday, wait til Alp d'Huez. We're talkin Hiroshima, baby.
~BikeMomma
when i used to see danny pate destroying the field in all those domestic criteriums i thought he was an absolute monster. then i saw his interview and he's, like, built like a jockey!
i wish frank schleck could time trial, CSC is the best team around, poor cadel has no-one, CSC can gang up on him almost at will and attack-attack-attack. notice i said schleck not sastre - i have been disappointed too many times by carlos to get my hopes up (yes, i'm a cubs fan too).
i got a bumper sticker in the mail today that says "what would jens do?"
i am most impressed with ----- drum roll ------- cancellara. he is always up there taking pulls, do you see other TT guys doing that? millar? schumaker? dave z (were he there)? he's a big boy to be doing all this in the mountains! you go fabian!!
i truly thought stijn devoilder would make an impact in this tour. couldnt have been more wrong, eh?
cant wait til tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dave Z's at home with a brand-new baby boy and a broken vertabrae. I haven't seen anything about how he's recuperating from the accident at the Giro. Hopefully he's doing well.Quote:
Originally Posted by PinkBike
Even though I knew today was a rest day, I almost automatically brought up the live coverage when I got to work this morning. Amazing how quickly the Tour becomes a habit ;)
Dave Z has been showing a bit more of ability to climb in recent years, like last year's Giro. Cancellara is a beast though, between him, Jens and Suart O'Grady they can just shred the field. I am ready for tomorrow and then Wednesday!! No sleep for a couple nights (we record the stages).
I didn't know today was a rest day and watched the last ten miles.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kalidurga
didn't realize it until the finish when I say to myself "Hey ! This is a rerun!"
Stage 16: I wasn't able to follow the live coverage due to some computer issues here at work, but I just checked the reports over at VeloNews...
:eek: :( :eek: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Can't wait to get home tonight and watch the re-cap.
Just read this over at VeloNews (spoiler link, for those not checking today's results until later):
That's just so cute :pQuote:
The Schleck brothers are extremely close... Frank replied, “Andy will win the Tour someday. He’s got the right head for it. He’s strong, but he lives like a puppy dog right now. He lives at home still and my mom babies him too much. Once he toughens up, he’ll win the Tour.”
I've been watching Andy Schlek.
I see potential there. Something in his face.
And he's pretty cute too but I think his brother hit it spot on.
I heard an NPR news reader talking about KAY-dul Evans :rolleyes:
Maybe Danny Pate should be renamed Eeyore :rolleyes:
DD got his autograph at the Tour of CA. She is a growing, skinny 11 year old and is about his height. Later, I learned he was SO sick (the stomach flu was going through the peleton), but he still took the time to sign her program. I didn't know he was so ill or I wouldn't have let DD near him :eek:
What is Dave Z up to? Check out this article from the local paper.
Aawww, poor Pate! ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Lifesgreat
Thanks for that link. Now I have to make sure I watch the Olympics!Quote:
Originally Posted by Lifesgreat
it almost looks like he was trying to commit suicide.
No attempt to turn at all, just straight over :eek:
I saw Elvis!
Is it just me, or does Bruyneel look unbelievably bored every time he's on camera??? I love his insight, but geez, the guy looks like he's a million miles away (probably wishing he were in a team car, instead).Quote:
Originally Posted by redrhodie
Bruyneel is probably thinking about what Astana could be doing in this field. I have to wonder that myself.
That was my thought too.
The course yesterday was incredible! Both scenic and scarey!
I am bummed because there doesn't seem to be a way to follow the tour on my 'puter at work. Some years there have been cute little icons of bicycles on a virtual track... or even live video...
Geonz, check out Yahoo! Sport. That link should take you directly to today's coverage. They've got the bicycle icons and there's a link for live audio (if you can wade through Sean Kelly's impenetrable accent to understand it).