Tour talk -- Spoiler alert

[Zen]

As for Lance, he's been pretty quiet lately, on the bike and off. He hasn't even been helping with the team's fight for the team classification. I'm wondering if he was more seriously hurt during that crash in the Alps then they let on.

I think his ego is bruised more than whatever he hurt in the Alps.
It's not the All About Lance Show anymore.

[ny biker]

I think his ego is bruised more than whatever he hurt in the Alps.
It's not the All About Lance Show anymore.

Eh. It's certainly possible, but given his position as owner of the team, I don't think it's most likely.

[ny biker]

And here we have Bikesnob's take on today's stage:

Having actually ridden over fallen human beings in order to secure triple-digit placings, I lack sufficient integrity to criticize Contador.

[Zen]

What's really amazing about Andy is that at one point he was 45 seconds back and in the end only 8 seconds from Berto.

[Blue_Fedora]

What's really amazing about Andy is that at one point he was 45 seconds back and in the end only 8 seconds from Berto.

He just "ran out of road"... had there been an extra km or two, he could've made up all 45.

[channlluv]

Yeah, did you SEE that ride uphill just passing these world class riders like they were...me! Damn, that was impressive.

But what would make a chain skip like that? I heard someone mention grinding through the gears or something like that.

And I love how Voekler was bowing and honoring the crowd on his way in. Vive la France!

Roxy

[Blue_Fedora]

Yeah, did you SEE that ride uphill just passing these world class riders like they were...me! Damn, that was impressive.

But what would make a chain skip like that? I heard someone mention grinding through the gears or something like that.

And I love how Voekler was bowing and honoring the crowd on his way in. Vive la France!

Roxy

Not sure what Any did since I haven't watched the video yet but from personal experience I can't count how many times I have dropped MY chain. For me it happens when I'm already in one chain ring and all the way at the highest or lowest gear there and try to keep going. When it finally stopped happening to me I thought it had just been me repeatedly making a rookie mistake or not paying attention or what have you. And then a couple of weeks ago it happened AGAIN. At first it sounds like the gear just won't "catch" and then I keep fiddling with the shifter trying to make it catch and then, well, that's that... welcome to chain-dump city

My heart was in my stomach listening to the coverage on yahoo uk eurosports... I'm almost afraid to actually watch the coverage. Such a gut wrenching feeling

I predict it will light a fire in Andy and he'll be on a mission now.

[Zen]

I predict it will light a fire in Andy and he'll be on a mission now.

I guess you haven't seen Andy giving this post race interview

[XMcShiftersonX]

And here we have Bikesnob's take on today's stage:

Having actually ridden over fallen human beings in order to secure triple-digit placings, I lack sufficient integrity to criticize Contador.

Ha! That's hilarious

[Zen]

That Andy just keeps getting cuter and cuter (to me, anyway)
http://twitter.com/andy_schleck?source=onebox

[berkeley]

Well, I was ABC before today, and that hasn't changed. lol

GO ANDY!

[Aggie_Ama]

Contador is a hell of rider but far from a professional. Let's not forget last year he attacked his own teammate and claimed his radio wasn't working. In cycling there is "the gentlemen's agreement" you don't attack on a wreck or mechanical. Who wants to win knowing it was a slipped chain that got it? It wasn't his legs that got yellow and he will have to sleep tonight knowing that. Never liked Contador, like him less now.

Love Vroomen's quote, that is what I would have wanted to say. Andy's interview was a classy as he can be, I would have wanted to hit Berto with my bike! If he had beat Schleck on his skill I would have respected his talent, not this year. If he wins it is tarnished in my eyes.

[ny biker]

Alberto has posted an apology on youtube.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/cont...ogy-to-schleck

[tulip]

Whew, that was exciting! I'm so happy for yet another French win! Yesterday's was fantastic, and today with Voekler was just great, too. Where are all the French-haters now??

I think if Contador was a more likable character (I still don't get the hate, but whatever), we wouldn't hear so many complaints about how he took advantage of the situation. It did not happen at the beginning of the race, but near the end. The Lance-musette crash was at the base of Tourmelet; today was at the top--big difference.

That Sammy Sanchez is a crazy descender. Now if Andy had had Sammy to follow down, he would have made up more time.

[tulip]

What's really amazing about Andy is that at one point he was 45 seconds back and in the end only 8 seconds from Berto.

Well actually, he was 31 seconds ahead overall to start, and ended up 8 seconds behind. From my accounting, that means he lost 39 seconds. So if he was 45 seconds behind Alberto on the climb/descent today, that would really mean that the biggest gap was 14 seconds overall (and he ended up 8 seconds behind, so he did make up some lost time), since he started with a 31 second lead. You make it sound like he made up 37 seconds, which he did not. He actually lost 39 seconds.

I like Andy alot, and would love to see him win the whole thing, but Alberto is a professional and very talented. You've got to give him credit.

As for Lance...is this Lance racing clean? With such a dramatic decline, that's just about all I can think of to explain it. Kindof puts a damper on the all that Lance-Alberto hype that was stuffed down or throats at the beginning of this. I hope it's not true, but I see no other explanation, unless he just totally slacked and ate cake and ice cream instead of training.