TdF Stage 19 (spoilers)

[margo49]

Another glorious day's television!
I was thinking of all you Americans with Levi's win. He was so cool in the interviews right afterwards. Said it was the best day of his life and he just kept getting stonger and stronger. You could tell by looking at him he was just so In The Zone.
Any ideas why Evans was not wearing shoe-covers today? With everything so close and all I would have thought any aerodynamic measures would be doubly checked. I mean 55 km is not exactly round the block.
Well done Contador who really gave it everything.

[Triskeliongirl]

Indeed it was an exciting stage! Does anyone know if this is Contador's FIRST grand tour?

[pll]

Not exactly sure which tours qualify as grand tours, but according to his web site, Contador has participated in the Tour de Suisse in 2006 (winner 8th stage), the Tour Down Under (winner 5th stage) and Tour of Germany in 2005.

[teigyr]

This makes me wonder if tomorrow will be a race stage? Am half thinking Cadel might try to strike.

Haven't seen today's stage on TV yet but really want to see Levi's ride. I like him and am thrilled he did so well

[DirtDiva]

I reckon he might too. He'll certainly be having it out with Leipheimer. I'll have to wait for the highlights tomorrow to find out. There is live coverage free to air tomorrow, but I won't be home to see it. I'll be out riding instead.

I think the Grand Tours are the TdF, the Giro and the Spanish one I can neither pronounce nor spell. I could be making that up though, except the linguistically challenged part.

[Lifesgreat]

Wow! That was exciting. Thirty-one seconds separate first-third place. That is incredible considering they have ridden 2000+ miles. 31 seconds is a mechanical problem, hitting a dog, working for a teammate, etc. Even with the troubles, the TdF has been fun to watch.

[LBTC]

Go, Cadel, Go!!! I really do hope it's a race tomorrow, and then I may actually watch it!

H&B
~T~

[VeloVT]

Gotta say I was on the edge of my seat for Levi the whole way. I was really hoping... **he'd move up to first in the GC**

Still, it was a great ride.

[Triskeliongirl]

Indeed the "grand tours" according to the UCI points schemes are the TdF, Giro and Vuelta. I think grand refers to the duration, which is longer than the others. So, that is amazing he is likely to WIN his first ever grand tour. Yes, Levi was amazing today. His position looked so perfect. I was so grateful GLC posted that link to versus on line so I could watch it from my cabin in the woods with internet but no TV. Even if Cadel wants to get some time bonuses tomorrow, how can he? If he tries a breakaway the disco boys will reel him in, and then of course the sprinters will get the stage win. But, do you guys realize if Levi wasn't fined 10 sec early on (?stage 12 I think) for drafting on the support vehicle after a bike change he would be in second place.

[Thorn]

Do I have to admit I was cheering for Cadel Evans? Then Preditor-Lotto would have had both first place and last in the tour...the silly marketing quotes that you could make having both the yellow jersey and the distinction of the Latern Rouge

[Velobambina]

Saw an interview w/Levi after the race today. He commented that Cadel could breathe easy, as he wasn't going to try to take the yellow or second. I think the "boys" will follow the time-honored tradition of respecting the person in yellow on the final stage and the end result will be 1) Conti, 2) Cadel, 3) Levi. Levi is truly a class act.

[Trekhawk]

Saw an interview w/Levi after the race today. He commented that Cadel could breathe easy, as he wasn't going to try to take the yellow or second. I think the "boys" will follow the time-honored tradition of respecting the person in yellow on the final stage and the end result will be 1) Conti, 2) Cadel, 3) Levi. Levi is truly a class act.

I read an interview with Cadel and he said the same thing. No chasing tomorrow. Cadel will be the first Aussie to make the podium for GC at the TDF. YAY CADEL.

[RoadRaven]

Talking about Contador and what a great TT he did under such incredible pressure (anyone here who does TTs knows how easy it is to get pscyhed, or psyche yourself).

Did you all realise that like Lance, Contador has overcome great personal adversity at a young age?

He's only 24, and had an embolism (I think embolism, aneurism is the heart, isn't it) in the brain, was supposed to die and has a piece of titantium in his skull.

What a guy!

We have the last two hours of the TT on DVD now... I trained on my spin bike yesterday as it was raining, and even as I watched it for the second time (of course, already knowing the finish) I was still engrossed watching those three battle the time together and yet on their own

I love TTs so much, but I know some find them not so exciting to watch as say, the mountain stages - but what a great stage it turned out to be... what great performances from all of them

[RoadRaven]

Indeed it was an exciting stage! Does anyone know if this is Contador's FIRST grand tour?

Born Dec 6 1982, Madrid

2003
Stage win in Tour of poland

2004
In a coma with swelling in the brain after a crash

2005:
Stage win - Tour Down Under
Overall winnner + 1 stage win - Catalyn Cycling Week
TT stage win - Tour of the Basque Country
Stage win - Tour of Romandie
31st overall -Tour de France

2006:
Stage win - Tour of Romandie
Stage win - Tour of Switzerland

2007:
Overall winner + 1 stage win - Tour of Castilla and Leon
Overall winner + 2 stage wins - Paris-Nice
Stage win - Community of Valence

OVERALL WINNER & 1 stage win - TOUR DE FRANCE

[PinkBike]

yes, in the 2005 tour he finished third in the white jersey competition behind popovich and kashechkin. he was riding for liverty seguros.