[Aberlour10]

The first week of the Tour has been finished ( still only few seconds between the main pretenders...), does anybody here is interesting in and follow the coverages?

Robert

[matmat]

isn't this just a competition between biochemistry labs?

[PassedOut]

Yes, I record it on Versus and watch during (a long) lunch, skipping the commercials and some of the repetitive stuff. It's a great event, but I won't make it to Paris this year for the last couple of days.

On the other hand, I'll be in the states to watch some of my family members race in a lesser event.

We should know more about Lance's condition after the mountain stage today.

[gwnn]

No way dude.

I'd be surprised if he finished the whole race.

[Aberlour10]

gwnn, on Jul 10 2009, 11:02 AM, said:

I'd be surprised if he finished the whole race.

He is a fighter. I think he will not quit even if he recognize not to have any chance.

Robert

[jdonn]

gwnn, on Jul 10 2009, 11:02 AM, said:

No way dude.

I'd be surprised if he finished the whole race.

Seriously?

[PassedOut]

Seems to me that Armstrong is still strong, but Contador's final move was really spectacular. Looks to me like Alberto stands to win the Tour.

[hotShot]

Well the tour rumor is, that the team strategy was to bring Armstrong to the lead today and let Contador overtake him later in the tour.
It's the impression of many that Armstrong could have followed Contador, but did not because you never help the competitors to close the gap to a teammate.

[Aberlour10]

PassedOut, on Jul 10 2009, 01:17 PM, said:

Seems to me that Armstrong is still strong, but Contador's final move was really spectacular. Looks to me like Alberto stands to win the Tour.

Team Astana seems to be a Real Madrid of cycling at the moment, they have another two "jokers" in this fight, A Klöden & L. Leipheimer. In my opinion, Contador should pay more attention to them than to Armstrong.

Robert

[gwnn]

jdonn, on Jul 10 2009, 07:25 PM, said:

gwnn, on Jul 10 2009, 11:02 AM, said:

No way dude.

I'd be surprised if he finished the whole race.

Seriously?

yea doesn't seem likely to me that his body resist to his mind's demands. it's more than possible that I'm wrong tho

[cherdanno]

Aberlour10, on Jul 10 2009, 11:00 PM, said:

PassedOut, on Jul 10 2009, 01:17 PM, said:

Seems to me that Armstrong is still strong, but Contador's final move was really spectacular. Looks to me like Alberto stands to win the Tour.

Team Astana seems to be a Real Madrid of cycling at the moment, they have another two "jokers" in this fight, A Klöden & L. Leipheimer. In my opinion, Contador should pay more attention to them than to Armstrong.

Robert

If I were a Real fan, I would take offense to that.
What's the list of suspected or convicted doping users on Real Madrid's roaster?

[kgr]

PassedOut, on Jul 10 2009, 08:17 PM, said:

Seems to me that Armstrong is still strong, but Contador's final move was really spectacular. Looks to me like Alberto stands to win the Tour.

My vote: Contador will win and Armstrong will end second

[Aberlour10]

cherdanno, on Jul 11 2009, 04:12 AM, said:

Aberlour10, on Jul 10 2009, 11:00 PM, said:

PassedOut, on Jul 10 2009, 01:17 PM, said:

Seems to me that Armstrong is still strong, but Contador's final move was really spectacular. Looks to me like Alberto stands to win the Tour.

Team Astana seems to be a Real Madrid of cycling at the moment, they have another two "jokers" in this fight, A Klöden & L. Leipheimer. In my opinion, Contador should pay more attention to them than to Armstrong.

Robert

If I were a Real fan, I would take offense to that.
What's the list of suspected or convicted doping users on Real Madrid's roaster?

Sure, there are probably more cheaters in cycling than in any other kind of sport.
But it's a stuff for another discussion.

My comparsion to Real, was meant.... both teams are picked with top stars, it's not always a guarantee for a success, we know it from football.
The classic hierarchy in a cycling team, one very strong captain, 2-3 loyal lieutenants and several hard working "dogsbodies", this is not a constellation we see in Astana squad. I wonder, how the team work will look like at the really hard mountain stages.

Robert

[kgr]

Aberlour10, on Jul 11 2009, 11:41 AM, said:

Sure, there are probably more cheaters in cycling than in any other kind of sport.

I'm not sure about that. There are more controls in cycling.

[Fluffy]

cherdanno, on Jul 11 2009, 09:12 AM, said:

Aberlour10, on Jul 10 2009, 11:00 PM, said:

PassedOut, on Jul 10 2009, 01:17 PM, said:

Seems to me that Armstrong is still strong, but Contador's final move was really spectacular. Looks to me like Alberto stands to win the Tour.

Team Astana seems to be a Real Madrid of cycling at the moment, they have another two "jokers" in this fight, A Klöden & L. Leipheimer. In my opinion, Contador should pay more attention to them than to Armstrong.

Robert

If I were a Real fan, I would take offense to that.
What's the list of suspected or convicted doping users on Real Madrid's roaster?

Real Madrid sucks Arend that's a known fact .

I know for sure that Guti gets cocaine, how he manages to change his urine at the doping tests I can just imagine. If he can get cocaine imagine what others might get without being traced.

[PassedOut]

Aberlour10, on Jul 11 2009, 04:41 AM, said:

The classic hierarchy in a cycling team, one very strong captain, 2-3 loyal lieutenants and several hard working "dogsbodies", this is not a constellation we see in Astana squad. I wonder, how the team work will look like at the really hard mountain stages.

Yes, the question of how the Astana team will hold together adds another most interesting dimension to this Tour. Seemed to me a good sign that Armstrong did not help Evans chase down Alberto.

[Aberlour10]

The first Hour of Truth comes soon, tomorrow, during the long climb to the famous Col du Tourmalet. (2115)

Robert

[hotShot]

Aberlour10, on Jul 11 2009, 07:58 PM, said:

The first Hour of Truth comes soon, tomorrow, during the long climb to the famous Col du Tourmalet. (2115)

Robert

Did you realize that after the the top of the Tourmalet there are 90 km downhill till the finish. Bad climber usually compensate by being great downhill racer. When it gets more flat a big field has the usual 1min./ 10 km advantage over any smaller group.

Trying to gain tomorrow is a wast of energy.

[Aberlour10]

hotShot, on Jul 11 2009, 02:08 PM, said:

Aberlour10, on Jul 11 2009, 07:58 PM, said:

The first Hour of Truth comes soon, tomorrow, during the long climb to the famous Col du Tourmalet. (2115)

Robert

Did you realize that after the the top of the Tourmalet there are 90 km downhill till the finish. Bad climber usually compensate by being great downhill racer. When it gets more flat a big field has the usual 1min./ 10 km advantage over any smaller group.

Trying to gain tomorrow is a wast of energy.

I did not write, it will be the deciding moment, but only the first serious test for individual performence. I think, many conclusions about the real personal trim can be drawn by observing this long climb.

Robert

[Aberlour10]

PassedOut, on Jul 11 2009, 08:28 AM, said:

Yes, the question of how the Astana team will hold together adds another most interesting dimension to this Tour.

The team works like a swiss clock till now. It seems they have full control about the race everywhere & everytime. Any single team is able to wear them down, the only way I see,,,,is to build a strong alliance between several squads and try it with coordinate attacks all the time. Carlos Sastre is asked about such a coallition, he meant, this will not happen in necessery size for sure... too many different interests between the teams.
Next week plain stages all the time, less chances for significant gains, these in Alps will be finish mostly with down hills, so maybe.. we will watch a real High Noon at the last 20 km monster climb to the finish on the summit of Mont Ventoux, a day before Paris.

Robert