Tour talk -- Spoiler alert

[arielmoon]

Vino is impressive that is for sure.

Here's an interview with Andy Schleck - I like this guy. The interview is in English, starting at 0:21.
http://nos.nl/video/172720-its-not-e...y-schleck.html

Oh he so adorable!!

I am wondering about his strategy. He has been covering Contador's attacks but he needs more than a 31" buffer for the time trial. Realistically he needs several minutes!

[Eden]

My hubby figures Andy needs to wait until the *last* climb to make his move. If he gains time before then Berto will then attack him on the next one, so Andy's best strategy is to cover Berto until the last major climb and hedge his bets on being able to gain some time on that one. And also - that last climb is the Tourmalet - and its a doozy, so saving his energy and just marking Berto in anticipation of that day is probably not such a bad idea.

[tctrek]

Another rider turned himself inside-out today - wow, I didn't know Christophe Riblon but he rode his heart out. I like that the French are having a good tour and every day is an exciting race.

[loopybunny]

I'm still waiting for Levi Leipheimer to make a move. I really want to be able to say I've "ridden with" a Tour de France winner, not just that I've been dropped by the son of one.

[Skierchickie]

Who besides Andy Schleck could say "If anybody wants to drop me tomorrow, they'll have to be good", and just make me love him even more? I soooo want him to put some time on Contador. At his age - is it possible that he's the next Armstrong/Indurain/Merxx? His potential just seems unlimited.

On the other hand, I just can NOT trust Vino. Not after what he pulled a couple of years ago. The harder he pulls, the more days in a row, the less I trust him. Of all the dopers, I think I trust him the least. After his entire team got thrown out for doping, then he got himself on another team the next year, rode just like he's been riding for the past week, and - whaddaya know - got caught doping. To me that says he was determined to do it. Thrown out once already, but thought he could get away with it. Yeah, it's possible that he's clean now, but I have no reason to believe him. I think that as a cycling fan I feel more betrayed by him than by any of the others.

Go Andy & Levi!

[loopybunny]

On the other hand, I just can NOT trust Vino. Not after what he pulled a couple of years ago. The harder he pulls, the more days in a row, the less I trust him. Of all the dopers, I think I trust him the least. After his entire team got thrown out for doping, then he got himself on another team the next year, rode just like he's been riding for the past week, and - whaddaya know - got caught doping.

I asked yesterday, if Vino can ride like he has the last couple of days, why in the world did he ever dope?

Makes me wonder if he was honest and never did dope or if he's still doping. I don't trust him either. (Didn't he more or less admit to doping after that big win earlier in the year when everyone booed him?)

However, one of the biggest things that bothers me about him is his attitude. When he first came off of suspension at his first race he wore a jersey with a huge picture of himself on it that said "Vino forever" or something like that. Wow.