|
|
Post by Aussie Rob on Jul 1, 2009 12:33:20 GMT -5
Ok, so no one really got into the Giro thread, but it wasn't being broadcast on TV here, so that makes some sense.
The tour though! Starts on saturday! Anyone else in the club a cycling fan? Anyone else itching for the opening TT? I can't wait! We have the possible Lemond/Hinault inter-team battle between Lance and Alberto. Cadel again riding well. A.Schleck looking to improve on last year. Menchov coming off a Giro win and in good form. Mick Rogers is there too who i personally think is a dark horse this year. Can Sastre repeat without Saxo (formerly CSC) blowing up the peloton? Will CVdV prove himself to be a real GC contender? Will Levi surprise all? (i doubt it).
Anyway, who do you have as your top 5? Mine looks something like this -
1) Contador
2) Evans
3) A. Schleck
4) Rogers
5) Armstrong
I know the smart money isn't on him, and i have him at number 5, but i'd really love Lance to get up and win again because i really believe that he is riding for something bigger than himself, and i feel that's worthy. My mother in law is battling chemo right now (about half way through her treatments) and for the first time I'm getting an up close look at cancer, and i don't like what i see. F cancer.
If you haven't already seen this, you really should watch it for a variety of reasons (ill leave it up to you which reason fits).
|
|
|
|
Post by sidmcmahon on Jul 1, 2009 19:12:12 GMT -5
The tour is definitly my favorite thing to watch on TV. Verus does an excellent job of showing just about the entire race, every stage. It is so nice to be able to watch an entire race and not just the 10 minutes of high lites. I plan to tape all the stages and watch on trainer rides.
Aussie- you have picked all the favorites but I just have a hunch on Lance. Hard to bet against him.
|
|
|
|
Post by Tim Edwards on Jul 1, 2009 20:38:14 GMT -5
It will be a huge battle between Saxo and Astana. Who wins depends on whether Johan can keep all his superstars working as a team or if we have another Greg Lemond vs. Bernard Hinault in the making!
My money is on the Schleck brothers pulling an upset. How can they climb so well?
|
|
|
|
Post by erinj on Jul 1, 2009 22:16:59 GMT -5
i am totally excited to watch...paul sherwen just does it for me...that guy could talk me in to leaving my husband and running away with him  here is my little monkey, born during the tour 2 years ago...obviously she will be pulling for contador to win again...her first tour de france was spent watching tivoed stages while nursing in the middle of the night...her second she was mesmerized by all the "born from jets" commercials...e.v.e.r.y. time...we'll see how she watches this year...  (is it terrible that i'm gonna let/make my kid watch so much t.v. every summer?) eta: oh, and did you see that i put her in her own maillot jaune for the pic? |
|
|
|
Post by Aussie Rob on Jul 1, 2009 22:29:22 GMT -5
Shes watching sport though Erin, you're forgiven I like Andy as a contender Tim, i don't think Frank is quite as talented as his brother. The only reason i dont have Andy winning it all is because he doesn't have a very good TT. Maybe it's improved this year....and it will have to be if he wants to beat Cadel who can hang on the climbs, and Alberto who can push the pace on them AND TT with the best GC guys. |
|
|
|
Post by MattCollister on Jul 2, 2009 10:11:00 GMT -5
Do it up right. Get out a warm beer and ...
Drink once when Bobke pokes himself in the eye.
Drink twice when Bobke pokes someone else in the eye.
Drink once when Liggett refers to the leaders as the "heads of state." As in, "we'll see the heads of state take command of this peloton in the Alps."
Drink once when Sherwen refers to contact between bikers as "Argy Bargy".
Drink once when Liggett says something that sounds somewhat homoerotic. As in, "the morning dew glistens off the boys' bronz-ed legs."
Drink twice if you wonder why there's someone dressed like a Xerox repairman on the winner's stage and you realize it's just Bernard Hinault.
Drink once when you hear the name Craig Hummer.
Drink once when Liggett or Sherwen wax nostalgic about the old days. Drink twice if that nostalgia includes their own athletic careers.
Drink once when Liggett pronounces "Liquigas" as "Leaky-Gas."
Drink once when you hear either Liggett or Sherwen use any of the following phrases:
- Left-tenant,
- On the rivet,
- Dancing on the pedals,
- Hotting up,
- Pedaling squares,
- A spot of bother,
-Exploded the peloton,
- Sullied,
- A MASSIVE gear
- Dig deep into his suitcase of courage,
- Dragging a carcass (as in, "And Big George Hincapie finally drags his carcass to the top of the Col d' Tourmalet."
- He's cracked,.
Drink twice when they refer to what the leader wears as anything other than a "Yellow Jersey" or Mailliot Jaune." Examples may include, "The golden fleece" "The golden tunic" or "The golden bough".
Drink twice if Liggett calls the winner before the end of the race, only to have another biker come up from behind and beat that person.
|
|
|
|
Post by Aussie Rob on Jul 2, 2009 10:23:18 GMT -5
It is somewhat entertaining watching poor old Phil lose his mind bit by bit, live on TV |
|
|
|
Post by philjolliff on Jul 2, 2009 10:50:58 GMT -5
Danielle and I always enjoy watching the Tour every single night for a month after we DVR the long version of it that is on in the morning. Last year we played FANTASY CYCLING on Versus.com and had a ton of fun. Figured some members of the club might get a kick out of it as well, so I started a league for us (side bets are encouraged, I know Danielle and I will probably be betting dog poop clean-up duty on the outcome). Go to www.versus.com and click on Tour De France on the top banner. Then click on "Versus Fantasy Cycling Challenge" down near the bottom left of the web page and register. Once registered join the group I've created: League Name: Cleveland Tri Club League Password: cleveland I gotta pick Cadel Evans and Contador as my favorites to win the Tour - however, I also think/hope some way Lance climbs himself into contention.... |
|
|
|
Post by Tim Edwards on Jul 2, 2009 22:47:49 GMT -5
Matt,
That is so funny - you have definitely been watching Paul and Phil as long as I have. My daughter refers to him as Uncle Phil when she hears his voice!
You forgot two euphemisms:
"Up with the zip." at the end of a race and "Look at the carnage!" when a crash occurs.
Can we come over and watch with you if we bring a beer truck?
|
|
|
|
Post by erinj on Jul 5, 2009 14:12:21 GMT -5
wow....craig hummer is from akron...i didn't know that...i looked him up on wikipedia...he is annoying me less this year than years past, but i guess this is only day 2, he still has time... and as arrogant as mark cavendish is (and he IS), i still find him kind of charming in his serious, grateful to his team, and youthful way...i am gonna have a hard time picking between him and tyler to root for....but thanks cavendish for the 105 points today! right now, you're still my boy! |
|
|
|
Post by Aussie Rob on Jul 5, 2009 14:40:34 GMT -5
You can root for Tyler all you like, he just isn't fast enough to beat Cav. The way Tyler sat on Cav's wheel through the lead-out, and then seeing Mark literally just ride him off his wheel in the last 100 was utterly impressive. He just rode away like it was nothing. As far as I'm concerned, as long as he can do that, then I'm ok with a little bit of arrogance....he's the fastest man in the world on a bike; hands down. What does everyone think of the race so far? I know nothing happened in terms of GC today, but what of the prologue? I thought Lance would hammer the opening TT and do better, but i think we saw what we already knew though....Alberto is on fire. Levi surprised the hell out of me though....i would laugh and laugh if he suddenly killed this race and both Armstrong and Contador ended up riding in support of him after all the hubbub about the both of them going head to head. |
|
|
|
Post by philjolliff on Jul 6, 2009 8:02:25 GMT -5
It was impressive watching Cavendish's team with the lead-out, they set him up perfectly. The thing I like about Cavendish is when his team sets him up like that he doesn't disappoint. He delivers.
Erin - you beat our butts in week 1 but I took it to you in week 2 thankfully. Good thing weeks 1-4 are "practice weeks." That means others still have time to join!!!
As far as the prologue, I don't think there were many surprises. The team time trial is what I'm most looking forward to. Lance made an interesting point when he said that they have 4 GC contenders on Astana, out of a possible 8 riders who could win the GC in the entire field. The team time trial doesn't have that "maximum" time loss so weak teams could REALLY be hurt this year. It will be cool to see how it all shakes out after that.
|
|
|
|
Post by Brandon on Jul 6, 2009 13:10:38 GMT -5
Lance shakin' things up a bit today! Just a little drama for the TTT tomorrow morning.
|
|
|
|
Post by Aussie Rob on Jul 6, 2009 13:50:02 GMT -5
It was nice to see the break stick for a change, thanks in large part to Columbia trying to keep Cav and Rogers up there. Very astute riding by Lance to get in on that. Rogers is my dark horse in this race. It'd be sweet to see an aussie i actually like do well  |
|
|
|
Post by Brandon on Jul 7, 2009 10:23:22 GMT -5
Lovin' the TTT. Lance in yellow?
|
|
|
|
Post by philjolliff on Jul 7, 2009 12:04:13 GMT -5
Lovin' the TTT. Lance in yellow? Wow. Lance as close to being in yellow as you can get without actually being in yellow. I thought he had it when they were 41 seconds up on Saxo Bank at the last time check. |
|
|
|
Post by Aussie Rob on Jul 7, 2009 13:40:42 GMT -5
What a great stage, complete game changer. Top 4 GC guys all Astana, and none of the other contenders even close at this point. Cadel is done i'd say unless he does something amazing/crazy in the mountains. Menchov has had it.
Looks like it's down to -
Lance
Alberto
Andreas
Schleck
Rogers
Martin
(bolds are the guys i think really have a shot)
|
|
|
|
Post by Brandon on Jul 7, 2009 14:07:28 GMT -5
Do you really think Lance has it in him, at his age, to maintain for the entire tour? I suppose we'll see when they hit the mountains. I'm just not sure he'll dominate there like he did in the past. And his TT abilities aren't what they were.
|
|
jbird
Olympic Member
"It's good to be alive'
Posts: 99
|
Post by jbird on Jul 7, 2009 14:33:56 GMT -5
The fact that I'm the same age and have a 3yr old son battling cancer going on three years. I am proud of his unreal effort not only on the stages in the Tour, but also for the over 300 million his fondation has raised to beat cancer for good. God bless you Lance.
|
|
|
|
Post by Aussie Rob on Jul 7, 2009 14:50:04 GMT -5
Do i really think he will win? No.
Do i think he is perhaps the hardest man in the peloton aside from Jens? Yes.
Do i think that will become a factor when the going gets really tough? Probably.
As long as Lance is sitting near the top of the GC board, i'll have a hard time saying he doesn't have a shot. Although anyone that knows anything expects Alberto to beat the tar out of him when they go uphill.
Consider it though, who else in the GC now can climb as well as Lance has showed in the past, and still throw down a good TT? Andy can obviously out climb lance but cant TT as well. Rogers never seems to TT well in a GT and i don't think he can climb as well. Kloden perhaps can, but he's riding support for either Lance or Alberto and will have to burn too many matches to win himself. Levi will fade.
Perhaps the only guy who is close enough on GC that isn't on Astana is Martin, and he's on a team that seems more concerned with burning themselves up for stage wins than for digging in for the 3 week long haul of supporting a GC rider, then defending the jersey in the mountains.
|
|
|
|
Post by kenb321 on Jul 8, 2009 10:27:54 GMT -5
non-spoiler, but a first time stage winner. Tears as he crosses the finish line
|
|
|
|
Post by Aussie Rob on Jul 8, 2009 10:33:09 GMT -5
As far as spoilers go in this thread, i think they're fine! I know if i haven't seen the days action yet i wouldn't be going into "The Tour de France Thread" Great stage, i love it when the break sticks and the tenacity and suffering of 180km alone pays off. |
|
|
|
Post by kenb321 on Jul 8, 2009 11:05:34 GMT -5
did they average 36 mph for this stage. I am amazed, if so.
|
|
|
|
Post by Aussie Rob on Jul 8, 2009 11:28:13 GMT -5
Averaged 26-27. 200 odd k, 4.5 hours.
It got to about 60km/h (37mph) when they dropped the hammer trying to bring the break back, but that blows even some pro level riders away.
|
|
|
|
Post by erinj on Jul 9, 2009 15:15:29 GMT -5
yeah phil i forgot to get on and change my team in time so i have biffed the last three days!
hopefully i got it all squared away for tomorrow!
my heart broke for david millar today...so close, yet so far!
|
|
|
|
Post by Aussie Rob on Jul 9, 2009 15:53:51 GMT -5
He lost big time too.
Big balls mean big success or big time losses. Good for him for trying though.
|
|
|
|
Post by Aussie Rob on Jul 10, 2009 11:19:49 GMT -5
What a great stage! The way Contador can accelerate is really kind of scary; leaving even Andy unable to really respond. Lance looked good too, but i think he was served notice today...."you're strong Lance, but I'm stronger where it counts." Poor Cadel, willing to attack, but no team to help him, and everyone looking to mark him. I hope the pay is good, because i can't imagine any other good reason to stay with Lotto, and i think a couple of decades down the road he'll look back with regret that he took money over a better team and never won the Tour when he had the chance.
What a great ride by the winner though...awesome to see a virtual nobody come out and smash a stage to win.
|
|
|
|
Post by erinj on Jul 10, 2009 11:31:51 GMT -5
awesome...my $5 salary to brice feillu really payed off today!...
i think lance looked itchy to respond and was probably begging andy, cadel, and wiggins to respond so he could chase, but had to be a team player...i think he was dying inside having to play defensive...not a spot he's used to!...he looked good, i bet he could have played with contador...
|
|
|
|
Post by philjolliff on Jul 10, 2009 11:33:01 GMT -5
Definitely awesome to see the breakaway succeed and Nocentini come out of nowhere to get the yellow jersey.
Contador looked unstoppable as he left the others in the dust and rode up that last climb at the end. That said, I don't feel that Armstrong needed to chase him down, so it will be a mystery if he actually could have. He was with all the other GC contenders, and there are 2 more days of mountains before the rest day.
Erin - did you actually start Brice Feillu? If you did, wow - nice pick.
|
|
|
|
Post by Aussie Rob on Jul 10, 2009 11:40:05 GMT -5
No way to know if Lance could have gone with Alberto or not, but there is no way in hell Armstrong would have been dumb enough to try and bridge and drag Andy and Cadel up to Alberto's wheel.
Personally i don't think anyone can match contador's accelerations, but this situation allowed Lance some plausible deniability by just pretending he was just being a team player when in actuality he couldn't bridge any more than Andy could....and i believe Schleck is the second best climber in the race. If he couldn't do it (and he tried) i doubt Lance could.
|
|
