2010 Tour de France Thread

[4Mica]

I hope we have a great battle between Schleck, Evans, and Contador.

 

[RedLantern]

Originally Posted by Jokerman

Sure it make it sense. When you rely on winning by DOPING and then you try to win without it your not going to do good.

What does doping have to do with crashing? Secondly, so you're saying that he was doping last year, because he placed 3rd, but is not doping this year?

 

[Piobaire]

Don't let Jokerman troll the thread off. He clearly knows nothing about cycling, given his lack of knowledge on the substance issue, and makes zero sense on how/why Lance was spilled twice today.

Well, as we knew, the Tour started today. It's a shame Lance crashed twice as now we'll never know if he had what it takes to contend again. His tour is over. The finish was incredible. A two man sprint on a Cat 1 mountain? Fantastic. Sans Lance, but this Tour is shaping up to be a good one.

 

[oman]

quick PSA - world cup final in about an hour, champs

 

[RedLantern]

Originally Posted by Piobaire

Don't let Jokerman troll the thread off. He clearly knows nothing about cycling, given his lack of knowledge on the substance issue, and makes zero sense on how/why Lance was spilled twice today.

Well, as we knew, the Tour started today. It's a shame Lance crashed twice as now we'll never know if he had what it takes to contend again. His tour is over. The finish was incredible. A two man sprint on a Cat 1 mountain? Fantastic. Sans Lance, but this Tour is shaping up to be a good one.

I wonder how much having a rest day in between mountain stages affects the strategy? I would imagine it makes attacks less likely in that with the rest day in between no one would really be able to lay some multi-day fatigue on the opponents. To clarify, I would think that almost all of the GC riders would be able to fend off attacks from each other on one particular day, and with a rest day in between its not like the really elite guys would be able to capitalize on their superior recovery and conditioning on the following day.

With Lance out of the tour I would say that I'm rooting for anybody but contador at this point, but really I'm just hoping for some inspired performances and exciting racing!

 

[Piobaire]

Originally Posted by RedLantern

With Lance out of the tour I would say that I'm rooting for anybody but contador at this point, but really I'm just hoping for some inspired performances and exciting racing!

Yup, that about sums it for me. However, did that big Canadian stay high in the GC today? He was #3 yesterday but think he fell off on the climb. Of course, I'd love to see a Canadian be on the podium in Paris.

Schlek seemed pretty damn strong today and Contador obviously could not answer that last challenge. Contador has the team though.

 

[RedLantern]

Yeah, I don' t know why Contador didn't give chase today. I doubt it's that Andy Schlek is in better form than Contador, but especially with a rest day tomorrow, I don't understand why Contador wouldn't take the opportunity to assert his prowess. There's so much gamesmanship in cycling it's hard to know the reasoning. Personally, I don't recall seeing much outright competitiveness just for the sake of competitiveness from Contador in the past - maybe he figured that Andy isn't really the threat that his brother is and decided that he would just rather not take on the pain of a pursuit at that point?

 

[Piobaire]

It's official, Lance has conceded: http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/...-for-me_128132

Good to see him say he'll finish and ride for Levi. I've never much cared for Levi but glad to see Lance will support the team.

Go Ryder though. Would love to see a Canadian on the podium in Paris. He's who I am pulling for now.

 

[culverwood]

1.\tEVANS Cadel\t121\tBMC RACING TEAM\t37h 57' 09"\t
2.\tSCHLECK Andy\t11\tTEAM SAXO BANK\t37h 57' 29"\t+ 00' 20"
3.\tCONTADOR Alberto\t1\tASTANA\t37h 58' 10"\t+ 01' 01"
4.\tVAN DEN BROECK Jurgen\t101\tOMEGA PHARMA - LOTTO\t37h 58' 12"\t+ 01' 03"
5.\tMENCHOV Denis\t191\tRABOBANK\t37h 58' 19"\t+ 01' 10"
6.\tHESJEDAL Ryder\t54\tGARMIN - TRANSITIONS\t37h 58' 20"\t+ 01' 11"
7.\tKREUZIGER Roman\t44\tLIQUIGAS-DOIMO\t37h 58' 54"\t+ 01' 45"
8.\tLEIPHEIMER Levi\t25\tTEAM RADIOSHACK\t37h 59' 23"\t+ 02' 14"
9.\tSANCHEZ Samuel\t181\tEUSKALTEL - EUSKADI\t37h 59' 24"\t+ 02' 15"
10.\tROGERS Michael\t118\tTEAM HTC - COLUMBIA\t37h 59' 40"\t+ 02' 31"
11.\tGESINK Robert\t195\tRABOBANK\t37h 59' 46"\t+ 02' 37"
12.\tSASTRE Carlos\t91\tCERVELO TEST TEAM\t37h 59' 49"\t+ 02' 40"
13.\tBASSO Ivan\t41\tLIQUIGAS-DOIMO\t37h 59' 50"\t+ 02' 41"
14.\tWIGGINS Bradley\t31\tSKY PRO CYCLING\t37h 59' 54"\t+ 02' 45"
15.\tVINOKOUROV Alexandre\t9\tASTANA\t38h 00' 14"\t+ 03' 05"
16.\tROCHE Nicolas\t81\tAG2R LA MONDIALE\t38h 00' 20"\t+ 03' 11"
17.\tRODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joaquin\t77\tKATUSHA TEAM\t38h 00' 32"\t+ 03' 23"
18.\tLÖVKVIST Thomas\t37\tSKY PRO CYCLING\t38h 00' 39"\t+ 03' 30"
19.\tVALLS FERRI Rafael\t219\tFOOTON-SERVETTO\t38h 01' 36"\t+ 04' 27"
20.\tSANCHEZ Luis-Leon\t161\tCAISSE D'EPARGNE\t38h 02' 12"\t+ 05' 03"

 

[Frihed89]

Originally Posted by RedLantern

Yeah, I don' t know why Contador didn't give chase today. I doubt it's that Andy Schlek is in better form than Contador, but especially with a rest day tomorrow, I don't understand why Contador wouldn't take the opportunity to assert his prowess. There's so much gamesmanship in cycling it's hard to know the reasoning. Personally, I don't recall seeing much outright competitiveness just for the sake of competitiveness from Contador in the past - maybe he figured that Andy isn't really the threat that his brother is and decided that he would just rather not take on the pain of a pursuit at that point?

Contador had almost nothing to gain by attacking Schlek, when the latter broke away. Ten seconds? This is nothing. Contador contained the damage. That was relatively easy to do because the last climb was not that steep. I think he'll wait for a steep mountain top finish to try to assert his dominance, as he did last year.

 

[Luc-Emmanuel]

Originally Posted by Frihed89

Contador had almost nothing to gain by attacking Schlek, when the latter broke away. Ten seconds? This is nothing. Contador contained the damage. That was relatively easy to do because the last climb was not that steep. I think he'll wait for a steep mountain top finish to try to assert his dominance, as he did last year.
except he didn't look that well, believe it or not, he would have chased after andy schleck if he could.
Now, he could fare better ni the pyrÃ

nÃ

es, no doubt.
!luc

 

[Luc-Emmanuel]

Originally Posted by RedLantern

maybe he figured that Andy isn't really the threat that his brother is and decided that he would just rather not take on the pain of a pursuit at that point?
huh? Andy finished second last year, he's definitely a better climber than his brother Franck. He's probably the only one who could be a threat to Contador.
!luc

 

[culverwood]

I think the top three will be on the podium in Paris but in which order?

Contador, Schleck then Evans would be my bet. If Wiggins can make 4th again he will have done well.

 

[4Mica]

Originally Posted by Luc-Emmanuel

except he didn't look that well, believe it or not, he would have chased after andy schleck if he could.
Now, he could fare better ni the pyrÃ

nÃ

es, no doubt.
!luc

+1

 

[4Mica]

Originally Posted by Luc-Emmanuel

huh? Andy finished second last year, he's definitely a better climber than his brother Franck. He's probably the only one who could be a threat to Contador.
!luc

+1 again, except I think Evans can be a threat, he can time trial while Andy can't (and yes I know there is only one time trial this year).