Tour talk -- Spoiler alert

[arielmoon]

Some spectators caught Lance's slide. Wow. Ouch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHBft...layer_embedded

[Blue_Fedora]

{snip} Now I am rooting for anyone but Contador. {snip}

Yup... ABC... Anyone But Contador

[tulip]

Um, why ABC?

Is it a Lance-worship thing, having to do with Contador winning last year (he was the stronger rider, as I recall)?

Is it a Spain-Already-Won-Enough-World-Sporting-Events thing, what with Nadal, Las Rojas, and Contador last year?

Is it an anti-Spain thing having to do with bullfighting, the Inquisition, or the colonization of the Americas?

He's an amazing bike racer. That's really all that counts.

[7rider]

Gonna throw my hat into the prognostication ring today:

Schleck atop the podium in Paris. Annoying little bugger, just like Contador, but a darned fine cyclist.
Levi - as much as I love him - will not be there. Nor will Cadel.
Contador in the #2 spot.
The crystal ball is fuzzy on #3.

Lance is gonna attack on Tuesday. What the hay, right?

That, and a dollar, will still get you kicked out of most reputable establishments!

[ACG]

I am going to the tour! on the last day. I have seats, etc. Going with my daughters. I found a company who arranged for our hotel. I can't wait. We are leaving this weekend. Whoever wins, wins.

[Veronica]

Gonna throw my hat into the prognostication ring today:

Schleck atop the podium in Paris. Annoying little bugger, just like Contador, but a darned fine cyclist.
Levi - as much as I love him - will not be there. Nor will Cadel.
Contador in the #2 spot.
The crystal ball is fuzzy on #3.

No, no, no!!! Schleck at the top is good. Not sure why he's annoying though...

Levi or Cadel have to be on the podium though.

Ryder Hesjedal in the top ten would be grand. How weird is that to start off the Tour thinking, "I'm a domestique." But now he's thinking, "I'm the man..." That's got to be kind of hard and a lot of pressure. But I think he's doing well.

Veronica

[ny biker]

Um, why ABC?

Is it a Lance-worship thing, having to do with Contador winning last year (he was the stronger rider, as I recall)?

Is it a Spain-Already-Won-Enough-World-Sporting-Events thing, what with Nadal, Las Rojas, and Contador last year?

Is it an anti-Spain thing having to do with bullfighting, the Inquisition, or the colonization of the Americas?

He's an amazing bike racer. That's really all that counts.

I don't like Contador. That pistol gesture drives me nuts and the hat is ridiculous. And he was still whining about lack of team support in December. Dude, you won the race, move on already.

[Veronica]

I don't like Contador. That pistol gesture drives me nuts and the hat is ridiculous. And he was still whining about lack of team support in December. Dude, you won the race, move on already.

He can't whine about lack of support this year. He had a few guys with him right up until the last climb. And one guy stayed with him to the very end. I thought it was pretty cool when Contador dumped water on the other guy's back. You could see him look surprised and then go,"Ahhhhh..."

Veronica

[tulip]

I am going to the tour! on the last day. I have seats, etc. Going with my daughters. I found a company who arranged for our hotel. I can't wait. We are leaving this weekend. Whoever wins, wins.

Have a wonderful trip! I love Paris!

[jobob]

I don't like Contador. That pistol gesture drives me nuts and the hat is ridiculous. And he was still whining about lack of team support in December. Dude, you won the race, move on already.

I like Contador a lot. Too bad that pistol gesture bugs you, I like it, and I like his hat. Ridicuous? Wow, pass the sour grapes. Anyone know where I can buy one of those hats?

Whining about lack of team support, oh please. I'd say he moved on, quite nicely.

Face it, if Lance did the same sort of thing, all the Lance worshipers would lap it up in adoration. Oh wait, he does, with all that self-promotion.

Don't know how Versus is going to re-write their script, this should be a hoot.

Go Levi!!! And Andy, and Cadel, and Ivan, and Denis, and Ryder, and yes, Alberto. The silly posturing is over, and the real tour has started. 'Bout time.

[7rider]

No, no, no!!! Schleck at the top is good. Not sure why he's annoying though...

I agree. It's just that he's a skinny little thing that just looks too happy too often! I want to throw him a sandwich and tell him to look like he's working for Pete's sake.

Levi or Cadel have to be on the podium though.

I think Levi burned his matches in California. He didn't train to be at peak for the TdF.
Cadel...well, he's just so not a pretty climber. I keep waiting for him to blow up. It's coming. He's having a fantastic year...but I'm waiting for him to pop.

Ryder Hesjedal in the top ten would be grand. How weird is that to start off the Tour thinking, "I'm a domestique." But now he's thinking, "I'm the man..." That's got to be kind of hard and a lot of pressure. But I think he's doing well.

Maybe he's the dark horse for the 3rd spot. I am soooo waiting for Garmin to take a stage. They deserve it. They need it. Tyler in Paris. Now wouldn't that be sweet???

[ny biker]

I like Contador a lot. Too bad that pistol gesture bugs you, I like it, and I like his hat. Ridicuous? Wow, pass the sour grapes. Anyone know where I can buy one of those hats?

Whining about lack of team support, oh please. I'd say he moved on, quite nicely.

Face it, if Lance did the same sort of thing, all the Lance worshipers would lap it up in adoration. Oh wait, he does, with all that self-promotion.

Don't know how Versus is going to re-write their script, this should be a hoot.

Go Levi!!! And Andy, and Cadel, and Ivan, and Denis, and Ryder, and yes, Alberto. The silly posturing is over, and the real tour has started. 'Bout time.

Thanks but there are no grapes here, sour or othewise. If Lance started doing a stupid shooting gesture and wearing that hat, I would think it was just as annoying. And if Contador had an organization with a pistol as its logo, it would make sense to wear the hat. But he doesn't. And yes, he was still complaining about last year's tour in December.

http://velonews.competitor.com/2009/...comment_102149

He's a great racer, but he annoys me. I fast forward past the interviews with him. I also fast forward past the Lance-sucking-up, if that makes you happy.

[Veronica]

You might try here for a hat.

https://www.albertocontador.com/producto.php?id=6

I just don't like the shooting gesture. Yes, he's "killed" his opponents or the climb or whatever... Guns aren't play things.

Otherwise, I think he's a pretty classy guy. I haven't read or heard too many interviews where he puts down his competition. I like that.

Veronica

[Blue_Fedora]

Um, why ABC?

Is it a Lance-worship thing, having to do with Contador winning last year (he was the stronger rider, as I recall)?

Is it a Spain-Already-Won-Enough-World-Sporting-Events thing, what with Nadal, Las Rojas, and Contador last year?

Is it an anti-Spain thing having to do with bullfighting, the Inquisition, or the colonization of the Americas?

He's an amazing bike racer. That's really all that counts.

Not a Lance-worship thing at all for me. In fact, I'm not a huge Lance fan... I'd love to see Andy Schleck win it I do not care for Contador's personality one bit and to me he comes across quite negatively. Just personal preference but I'd be pleased if anyone but Alberto Contador won.

[katluvr]

Some spectators caught Lance's slide. Wow. Ouch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHBft...layer_embedded

still can't tell what happened, but he did quite a slide...no wonder his jersey was all torn up.

And I am still of the ABC club, maybe it's me being a Lance fan (and fan of many others), but mostly he drive me crazy. (Each to there own!) But I DO admit, he is a darn gifted cyclist!

K