Anyone? I haven't paid much attention to it the last few years, with all the drug suspensions and all, but I'm watching it this year with Lance back. Today's stage seven, first into the mountains was amazing to watch. Checking in on Versus in HD, where they show it live in the mornings, is great. Contador really took off today at the end. Can he beat out his teammate in Armstrong? Must admit it'll be strange to see two teammates battling it out.
A lot like Nascar I only watch the highlights hoping for a crash otherwise they are both unspectacular sports. If you've watched five minutes of either you've seen everything. That being said I hope an American wins just to piss off the French.
I watched it in 2003 (after I'd been laid off). First time I saw it was the in the mountains. Mind you I'm not a guy that would purposely watch it. But I have to agree, it was amazing. Thanks for reminding me it's on.
Today's stage was solid. Didn't think anything would happen with the leaders but when Armstrong's group pulled away from the yellow jersey's group, during the last climb, that was exciting. He managed to pull up even at the top and it was all together after that... minus the four at the front. Going downhill at the end was quite a thrill to watch still. Watching it live is way better than the old CBS coverage back in the 80's and 90's... where they'd only show highlights on the weekends.
Wow, last two race days have been epic. Contador on Sunday just annihilating the field, with Armstrong fading but still holding on to second... and then today, Lance turns on the magic, turns back the clock and bridges the gap back to the yellow jersey group when many started to count him out. Just a fantastic couple of days and I think we've got a few great days left. This really is good stuff!!
He's not giving himself much of a chance. And I think it's Contador's to lose, especially being on the same team, but you never know.
No wonder we haven't seen you in the Mains lately. I just thought you might be devastaed from seeing an American win the British Open
You know that the issue the French have isn't with any American riders - just ask Greg LeMond or Levi Leipheimer or George Hincapie or Bobby Julich. The issue is with Armstrong SPECIFICALLY.
Essentially, they didn't like his arrogance - which isn't a reason to dislike someone. But what they didn't like most of all was the issues surrounding the drugs and the way he treated people who had the temerity to question why he still continued to work with Michele Ferrari, who was discredited as a doctor who prescribed EPO to the riders he worked with. The way that Armstrong treated Christophe Bassons and Filippi Simeoni - especially Simeoni - who dared break the omerta of the peleton and talk about drug use. The way that a hugely respected lieutenant of Lance's, Frankie Andreu, whilst giving evidence said that Armstrong had admitted whilst in hospital that he'd used EPO, the way that almost all of that famed US Postal Team have failed drug tests - Tyler Hamilton, Floyd Landis, Andreu, etc - the way that Armstrong said the tour should be clean, then signed Ivan Basso to his team after a 2 year ban under Operacion Puerto - rumour is that Armstrong will announce Basso in his new team tomorrow night after the Annecy time trial. The connections Lance had TO Puerto and some other stuff.
And the way he "stole" the stage win from Andreas Kloden five years ago when he was already firmly in the yellow jersey and broke the code of conduct of the Tour didn't help either. The French hate that.
It's actually a coincidence. I've been lurking and saw the TdF thread ... didn't know Boomer had an interest in cycling ...
Thor Hushovd today was amazing for a sprinter... racing out to the lead on a mountain stage to gain sprint points for his green jersey. Paul Sherwin, one of the announcers on Vs with the line of the day: Hushovd took his green jersey to the laundry today to get the "stain" out. That was in reference to Cavendish saying that the green jersey now had a stain on it after Hushovd complained about a previous sprint in which Cavendish was later penalized for altering Hushovd's path. This is really the first time I've seen the race in it's entirety and it does fill up the time in July.
The tragedy of the Tour de France: As soon as Armstrong calls it a career (or isn't the same he used to be anymore), along comes Contador and turns the whole thing into the dreaded one man show again. A one man show with past connections to Fuentes, of course.
Indeed. The Schleck's inability to time trial is a killer because AC is so young it looks like he's going to dominate for years.
Well, if Andy Schleck manages the same miraculous transition from climber to full blown stage racer Contador managed in about one offseason, I see some potential there. Wink wink, nudge nudge, Epo a plenty
Love the tour de France. First one I watched was the first Indurain lost, 96 I believe. My father turned me on to it because of Indurain. Not an Armstrong fan. I have only watched one tour where the guy I wanted to win actually won (98 Pantani). I didn't like Bjarni Riis because he beat Indurain (then later admited he doped). Was pulling for Abraham Olano when Ullrich won (later pulled for Ullrich but he never could challenge Lance) and then suffered through the Armstrong years. Along comes Contador, and guess what, he's on Brunell's team. I really like the Schlek brothers, but there weakness in time trials and Contador's super human like riding is going to doom me for another decade.
Great stuff today, an unprecedented end to the TDF with a mountain top finish on the eve of the final day. Frank Schleck just couldn't get rid of Armstrong to take 3rd. And Wiggins scratched and clawed his way to hold onto fourth.
The Contador thing I find interesting re: drugs. I just don't know where I stand on it. It was a shame Andy kept stopping for Frank on Vontoux because AC was beginning to go into the red zone and Andy looked imperious. If he'd have set off after Martin and Garate as they came out of the woods, I think he could have won the stage and broken Contador, perhaps to the tune of a couple of minutes.
Love the TDF always make sure im on nights at work so I can watch the mountain stages. The one with the 4 Cat 1 and 1 Cat 2 peaks was just tremendous. I think Cavendish had an awesome tour , 6 wins is outstanding in only his second Tour. Wiggins performed way way above what anyone expected as did Armstrong who at times looked ****ed but still pulled out some fantastic results. Words cant describe how good Contador is , would he have beaten Armstrong at his peak with the team they both have ? Possible but who knows. Next year will be interesting with 2 or 3 "superteams" being created including the Radioshack and the Sky GB Team. At present you have to pick whatever team Armstrong and Contador are in but with the cash being thrown at the Sky team you never know. Le Tour is over , time for the first 2 months of the Scottish First Division then 6 months of lack of sleep for the Dolphins , 3 more of football then its back to TDF again Man I love sport
2010 is going to be great... I highly doubt that Contador is teamed up with Lance again on his new Radio Shack team. I'd expect Hincapie to join up, Brice Feillu was supposedly being recruited. I'd think Levi Leipheimer is in. Over the next few months I'm going to try to keep up with the movements and post them here. Anyone else is welcome to join in.
