TdF Stage 1...
07-04-09, 07:33 PM
#53
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I wonder how much Andy will be thanking Cancellara for putting their team in yellow. Assuming they defend, it'll mean a lot of work up front for everyone (except Andy). Will the team be ready for the mountains?
I reckon they'll let a breakaway go tomorrow and let the sprinters' teams decide if they want to reel it in or not.
I reckon they'll let a breakaway go tomorrow and let the sprinters' teams decide if they want to reel it in or not.
07-04-09, 08:35 PM
#54
Peloton Shelter Dog
Oh stop. Three weeks, 2200 miles, plenty of opportunities for anyone to crash, bonk, detonate, miscalculate, etc.
Lance may not be the fittest guy in this race. But I can assure everyone, he is the smartest guy in this race. And he's close enough to the top that yes, of course he has a chance.
Whether I'd bet on that depends on the odds I could get from the bookies. I would put Lance's chance of being on the podium as 1 in 5, his chances of winning 1 in 10 or less. But you don't write off a racer with Lance's resume completely unless you're....
naive.
Lance may not be the fittest guy in this race. But I can assure everyone, he is the smartest guy in this race. And he's close enough to the top that yes, of course he has a chance.
Whether I'd bet on that depends on the odds I could get from the bookies. I would put Lance's chance of being on the podium as 1 in 5, his chances of winning 1 in 10 or less. But you don't write off a racer with Lance's resume completely unless you're....
naive.
07-04-09, 08:49 PM
#55
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Oh stop. Three weeks, 2200 miles, plenty of opportunities for anyone to crash, bonk, detonate, miscalculate, etc.
Lance may not be the fittest guy in this race. But I can assure everyone, he is the smartest guy in this race. And he's close enough to the top that yes, of course he has a chance.
Whether I'd bet on that depends on the odds I could get from the bookies. I would put Lance's chance of being on the podium as 1 in 5, his chances of winning 1 in 10 or less. But you don't write off a racer with Lance's resume completely unless you're....
naive.
Lance may not be the fittest guy in this race. But I can assure everyone, he is the smartest guy in this race. And he's close enough to the top that yes, of course he has a chance.
Whether I'd bet on that depends on the odds I could get from the bookies. I would put Lance's chance of being on the podium as 1 in 5, his chances of winning 1 in 10 or less. But you don't write off a racer with Lance's resume completely unless you're....
naive.
i thought they were talking about cancellara
?ed rader
07-04-09, 08:55 PM
#56
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question: Mark Cavendish 3:20 back from the lead. Is this because he was going easy to save himself for sprinting stages? or is he really that bad at time trials? I mean he came in 4th from last of 178 riders?
Anyone have any insight?what did i miss?
Anyone have any insight?what did i miss?
07-04-09, 08:58 PM
#57
Peloton Shelter Dog
07-04-09, 08:59 PM
#58
Peloton Shelter Dog
07-04-09, 09:01 PM
#59
Mitcholo
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Cav is actually a really good time trialist. I'm guessing he was just saving himself.
Stephen Roche seems to believe that Cancellara has a chance at a Top 5 finish. I agree, but I tihnk he'll be closer to the Top 20.
Stephen Roche seems to believe that Cancellara has a chance at a Top 5 finish. I agree, but I tihnk he'll be closer to the Top 20.
07-04-09, 09:05 PM
#60
Senior Member
He wants to maximize the number of stage wins and finish the tour by making all the time cuts. His GC time is irrelevant. Wasting effort on a TT with no time cut would not help him tomorrow when it counts.
07-04-09, 09:11 PM
#61
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Spoilers do not go in thread titles, period. During the week I won't be able to watch the stage until I get home, I can't exile myself from bikeforums all day, what else am I supposed to do when I am bored?
07-04-09, 09:14 PM
#62
Batüwü Creakcreak
07-04-09, 09:21 PM
#64
The Recycled Cycler
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Didn't Lance used to rule the TT's?? When was last TdF he finished 10th in a TT?? I honestly don't know, I just thought he was a pretty dominant TT rider in the years he won.
07-04-09, 09:35 PM
#65
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Cav seems to have a hard time with hills compared to the rest of the pro peloton. This TT had it's share of climbing so I suspect Cav just didn't have the stamina on some of those long climbs.
I expect him to win some stages and with the bonuses he'll make up lost time from the hilly stages. I don't seem him being any sort of GC threat though.
I expect him to win some stages and with the bonuses he'll make up lost time from the hilly stages. I don't seem him being any sort of GC threat though.
07-04-09, 09:41 PM
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He's also 37 years old and hasn't raced in 4 years; not too shabby for what he's doing. Still a top 10 pro in the world. He also doesn't have an entire team working for him anymore which will make it that much harder.
07-04-09, 10:31 PM
#67
Resident Alien
07-04-09, 10:47 PM
#68
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07-04-09, 10:48 PM
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I don't get why Phil keeps saying Cavendish is the fastest man in the bunch...other than the fact he's a Brit. He racks up all his wins when Petacchi isn't in the race. You put Petacchi, Boonen, McEwen and Cav in a 300m straight line sprint and Ale-jet slays all.
07-04-09, 10:52 PM
#70
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"During his reign as Tour champion, Armstrong never finished lower than third in a time trial, except once, when he placed seventh in one in 2003."
https://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200....ap/index.html
07-04-09, 11:19 PM
#71
Resident Alien
Cancellera ripped the field apart on quite a few long climbs last year for the team. Several times he was on the front drilling it for long periods. So it's not a surprise that he then dropped some big chunks of time. That was what he was supposed to do. That's different than just blowing up following wheels.
He's almost exactly the same size as Indurain. Same giant motor. Shown durability in the GT's.
After all the work last year he won the final TT (I throw out CERA fueled Shumaker). And the Swiss tour has several Cat 1 and one HC climb. He beat Kreuzieger, Kloden, both Schlecks, and a lot of other climbing talent in that one.
He's rested and obviously flying right now. And he looks leaner than I've ever seen him.
If Riis decides to keep him protected for a while, he could be a big surprise. If they use him like last year, then no. Ain't likely but I wouldn't dismiss it as nonsense.
Last edited by Racer Ex; 07-04-09 at 11:22 PM.
07-05-09, 01:32 AM
#72
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from teammates, i gotta go with cavendish. two years ago or before, i woulda gone with mc ewen. would only go with boonen if there were cobbles or a significant rise at the finish.
07-05-09, 06:56 AM
#73
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I think he will but it will go a lil something like this.
Contador: Necesito agua
Armstrong: Say what?
Contador: Necesito agua
Armstrong: Johan, what's he jaw jacking about?
Bruyneel: Alberto, ¿qué es lo que usted necesita
Contador: Necesito agua!
Bruyneel: Lance, he wants water
Armstrong: Well alrighty then....hey Levi, go fetch us some of that necessary agua while I mind the store.
Contador: Necesito agua
Armstrong: Say what?
Contador: Necesito agua
Armstrong: Johan, what's he jaw jacking about?
Bruyneel: Alberto, ¿qué es lo que usted necesita
Contador: Necesito agua!
Bruyneel: Lance, he wants water
Armstrong: Well alrighty then....hey Levi, go fetch us some of that necessary agua while I mind the store.
07-05-09, 07:06 AM
#74
Gluteus Enormus
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They failed to educate their new public. VS was so Postal/Disco centric that it became a joke. Yes it's a business. Yes it's about money. What about longevity?
Phil, Paul, and Bob are knowledgeable and entertaining enough to watch. Phil and Paul should update their repertoire. Their references and perspective are very dated. Bob should ease up on the flag waving and cover all of the riders and teams in contention. He has the "street cred", now he should put it to good use. It's OK to have favorites but enough cheerleading already. They have used the LA angle to get people to watch. Now they should do something to keep them watching after LA retires again and fades away.
07-05-09, 08:05 AM
#75
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WOW. I can't believe you guys have read soooo much into one very short (historically) TT. Friggen race has another 7 stages until it will start to get interesting.
Personally I still think LA and Bruyneel have more than a simple back up plan if AC falters for even a moment. Curious to see how much they will work LA. (Personally I think Bruyneel won't use LA as a domestique but will send him on an attack to wear down other teams, and if LA is able to make time, it could spell trouble for AC)
Personally I still think LA and Bruyneel have more than a simple back up plan if AC falters for even a moment. Curious to see how much they will work LA. (Personally I think Bruyneel won't use LA as a domestique but will send him on an attack to wear down other teams, and if LA is able to make time, it could spell trouble for AC)
