Thread Drift

[dachshund]

Sarah,

One thing I don't get with the Tour is that Floyd seems to be doing a lot by himself. Is this because he's just so strong sometimes that his own team can't keep up with him?

thanks, Amy

[maillotpois]

Well, he's had some problems with his team. Perdiguero would have been expected to stay with him in the mountains, but crashed. I find it absolutely amazing and wonderful how Axel Merckx has pulled himself together to stay with Floyd on some of these stages. Axel has never been a super great stage rider, more of a rouleur on the flats. But he dug deep and I was just so impressed. He's also got Nicolas Jalabert, who is a very solid rider.

Interesting, both Merckx and Jalabert both have family who are much more accomplished cyclists that they ever turned out to be. I wonder if they ever talk about that?

Anyway, I think the team has performed well in the flatter stages, and they really worked great yesterday, setting him up for the launch. I think they've done the best they could. Other teams, like T Mobile, have much more depth in terms of having a lot of very strong riders. But T Mobile's tactics consistently SUCK. They just can't get it right. CSC has both a strong team and a decent tactician - yesterday was the only time I have EVER hoped that Jens Voight wouldn't close a gap!

[dachshund]

Thanks!

It's cool to watch Floyd do so well while "staying seated". I know he can't stand much because of his hip. I can't either because of my back, so it's satisfying to watch him bomb along with all the other guys cringing and flailing away.

His coach is awful cute. I'm surprised that the "boy watchers" here haven't mentioned that. (Maybe they did and I didn't catch it.)

[chickwhorips]

His coach is awful cute. I'm surprised that the "boy watchers" here haven't mentioned that. (Maybe they did and I didn't catch it.)

i dont think they mentioned it, but i noticed that too. i like when he's interviewed, though have a hard time paying attention to what hes saying.

[kelownagirl]

Well, he's had some problems with his team. Perdiguero would have been expected to stay with him in the mountains, but crashed. I find it absolutely amazing and wonderful how Axel Merckx has pulled himself together to stay with Floyd on some of these stages. Axel has never been a super great stage rider, more of a rouleur on the flats. But he dug deep and I was just so impressed. He's also got Nicolas Jalabert, who is a very solid rider.

Interesting, both Merckx and Jalabert both have family who are much more accomplished cyclists that they ever turned out to be. I wonder if they ever talk about that.

I'd like to add that Axel's wife is from Kelowna so I always keep a pretty close eye him during the tdf. Kind of nice that he has a bigger profile this year. Today I rode the route that he usually does when he's here. Of course he probably does it twice as fast as me...