Tour de France

[Bavarian Motorist]

Originally Posted by lotusland

That comment only applies to the US of course. And is probably very age-dependent as well. Greg Lemond really cracked the USA open for Tour coverage back in the '80s. There were a lot of interesting figures back then and there were some great years. This was Bob Roll's generation also.

It would not get nearly the same coverage, ergo less people would know about it.

[over40]

Originally Posted by paulhastings

Alright I have to disagree on the baseball thing having grown up playing the game. For sure the sport has been desimated with illegal substance but, they are certainly athletes. Cyclists are athletes but, mainly endurance not much else to it. For sure, some are better then others in bike handling. Now try and hit a 95 mbh fastball with a round bat! So, certainly not huge on the endurance but, serious eye/hand coordination. The game is not as simple as it may seem. Consider a top hitter fails 70% of the time.

Don`t discount the chess game that needs to go on in each cyclist`s mind. Should I attack now? Who is that guy that just attacked? Is he a threat? How much distance is remaining? Are there hills? Is the guy that just attacked a climber? A break away specialist? (Jens Voigt is great BTW) If I attack here today how much will I suffer tomorrow? Is there an important stage tomorrow? A very small sample of the thinking that has to go on in a cyclists head. Oh, and all while in Oxygen debt.

People often discount cyclists as athlete saying its just riding a bike, there is no sport to it. Well there is quite a bit more than meets the eye.

[RENDERMAN]

Go Lance!!!

YouTube - kraftwerk- tour de france

[paulhastings]

Don't get me wrong. I certainly appreciate cyclist's as athletes and understand there is a lot going on other then turning the cranks. These guys are phenomenly fit and it's got to take a lot of heart and determination to push yourself that hard when your body is just screaming to quit. The Tour d' France is likely the most difficult athletic challenge there is.

We were fortunate to have the Tour of California finish in San Diego this year. Seeing these guys ride by is phenomenal. They make something I would be possibly get out of the saddle for like it's not there at all! And do it at a rediculous pace!

Originally Posted by over40

Don`t discount the chess game that needs to go on in each cyclist`s mind. Should I attack now? Who is that guy that just attacked? Is he a threat? How much distance is remaining? Are there hills? Is the guy that just attacked a climber? A break away specialist? (Jens Voigt is great BTW) If I attack here today how much will I suffer tomorrow? Is there an important stage tomorrow? A very small sample of the thinking that has to go on in a cyclists head. Oh, and all while in Oxygen debt.

People often discount cyclists as athlete saying its just riding a bike, there is no sport to it. Well there is quite a bit more than meets the eye.

[kgalgas]

Originally Posted by over40

People often discount cyclists as athlete saying its just riding a bike, there is no sport to it. Well there is quite a bit more than meets the eye.

What makes an athlete and athlete and a sport a sport-
-Is a marathon a sport as runner just has to run. In the TDF, the cyclist basically run a marathon every day.
- Is an race car driver an athlete as all they have to do is push a car to it's limits. In the TDF the rider is the driver, the engine and suspension. The bike is just the classie, drive train, and wheels.
- What about golf, bowling, etc.

When I watch sporting events I look at the participant some of which I would not consider them athletes, they do not push their body's to the limit, endure phyiscal pain, your body is telling you no and your mind is telling go, have to make quick decisions when you can't even think straight as you mind is taking in so many messages, it has to decide which to take action consider and which to ignore.

A true sport takes in both athletic ability and competition (sport). The why I look at it the fatter or bigger they are the lesses of sport it is. Some the sports require very limited physical movement.

[TTP]

If you believe what Mellow Johhny and Astana are feeding the media, then I don't think Johan really has full control of the team and I don't think an overall leader has been determined within Astana.

Contador's Attack Not Part Of Astana Plan | Cyclingnews.com
VeloNews video: Armstrong says Contador attack was unplanned - VeloNews

Again this could just be Astana keeping all the teams off-balance. But with such a stron team do they really need to?

I'm predicting a Ventoux showdown between Contadador and Mellow Johnny to determine the ultimate winner. And I'm still going with Contador for the V.

[lotusland]

Originally Posted by TTP

I'm predicting a Ventoux showdown between Contadador and Mellow Johnny to determine the ultimate winner. And I'm still going with Contador for the V.

A real Ventoux showdown between LA and AC would be the ultimate end. That is what I am talking about, a contest like that is much larger than any kind of team plan or manager. That kind of legendary battle is observed and hopefully enjoyed, not managed. And I'll take Lance.

[fitfan]

they played their hand it is plainly obvious. Lance was hired to protect contador in the mountains - thats the way they rode, thats what happened. until lance could not cover the attacks and contador began to cover them and then just took off.

looks like they are setting up to keep lance on the podium, and if he keeps this up (riding solid) he will be on the podium. won't suprise me if in the later stages the team starts to protect lance a little more and use him a little less.

if your never sure who the team selection is - just look to see who is sitting on who's wheel, lance was protecting contador all the way up. didn't suprise me, since everyone knows contador is astana's selection - lance is the back-up plan (assuming he rides well)

[lotusland]

Hey, we're both in San Diego. If AC bests LA then I will buy you a beer! Hinault had some good comments about this duel...I'm with him.

Originally Posted by fitfan

they played their hand it is plainly obvious. Lance was hired to protect contador in the mountains - thats the way they rode, thats what happened. until lance could not cover the attacks and contador began to cover them and then just took off.

looks like they are setting up to keep lance on the podium, and if he keeps this up (riding solid) he will be on the podium. won't suprise me if in the later stages the team starts to protect lance a little more and use him a little less.

if your never sure who the team selection is - just look to see who is sitting on who's wheel, lance was protecting contador all the way up. didn't suprise me, since everyone knows contador is astana's selection - lance is the back-up plan (assuming he rides well)

[fitfan]

sure yea! ...i can't drink beer though, makes me puke! but i am sure some other settlement containing vodka could be reached!

final stage party at my place if you guys want?!?!

will be sad for this tour to end - its edge of the seat nail bitting thrill ride stuff !!

[mopho]

It's a good thing I don't have a real job, it's a pretty big commitment to watch this

[lotusland]

Originally Posted by fitfan

final stage party at my place if you guys want?!?!

That would be cool but I am going to the stargazing event that Saturday. The penultimate stage would be the one for a party...if there are fireworks they will be on that stage.

We should get all the SD cyclists together for a ride sometime.

[fitfan]

i usualy ride swamis on sat morning - we can ride and then watch the stage on sunday. paul hastings on here and few other might join in - not a hard ride, just like 30 miles @ 18mph tempo kinda thing around rancho santafe (i live in carmel valley) shower here, watch the stage and podium!

place bets on final stage win too! double or nothing

[TTP]

Not Tour related but interesting news and has an F1 connection.
Alonso plans cycling team with Alberto Contador - F1technical.net
----

According to reports in the Spanish and Italian press, Renault F1 Team driver Fernando Alonso is planning to set up a professional cycling team. Alonso would like Alberto Contador, who won the Tour de France in 2007, as leading man for the team which would be backed by Santander.

Alonso is a huge cycling enthusiast as he recently trained with 2008 Tour de France winner Carlos Sastre and his team. The Spaniard was also present during the kick-off of the Tour de France 2009 at Monaco and followed the first stage of the three-week race in a chase car.
----

Anywho, what are your podium pics for this year's Tour?

Mine:

1) Contador
2) Armstrong
3) Liepheimer

[fitfan]

^^ the carbon on my bike was engineered by alain prost - the f1 connections have long history, lotus as well.

i don't think it will be an astana sweep, too hard to protect that much of a team - there is strong talent on other teams to put pressure on and make (for example) levi work for contador too much.

would be cool though - i am rooting for your podium...

[mopho]

Sucks about Levi Leipheimer breaking his wrist and having to withdraw



Apparently, two riders were shot today

COLMAR, France (Reuters) - Police are hunting two teenagers after Tour de France riders Oscar Freire of Spain and New Zealand's Julian Dean were shot and slightly injured during Friday's stage, officials said on Saturday.

"This is the work of a pistol or an air gun," Colmar prosecutor Pascal Schulz told a news conference.

"According to one of the riders, (the shots) would have been the work of two youths aged between 16 and 17 who were hiding behind a tree."

Freire, from the Rabobank team, was hit in the right thigh by a small shot during the 13th stage from Vittel to Colmar but the injury did not hamper him.

Dean, part of the Garmin team, was hit on the index finger.

Both riders started Saturday's 199-km stage to Besancon.



An investigation had been opened into a possible crime of voluntary violence with a firearm -- an offence that carries a three-year prison sentence and a fine of 45,000 euros, officials said.

Also it seems a woman was killed after being hit by a police motorcycle, she was crossing the street

[TTP]

Originally Posted by fitfan

^^ the carbon on my bike was engineered by alain prost - the f1 connections have long history, lotus as well.

i don't think it will be an astana sweep, too hard to protect that much of a team - there is strong talent on other teams to put pressure on and make (for example) levi work for contador too much.

would be cool though - i am rooting for your podium...

Yup a bit optimistic on the sweep. Now that Levi is out...

Schleck on podium?

[fitfan]

Originally Posted by TTP

Yup a bit optimistic on the sweep. Now that Levi is out...

Schleck on podium?

..well kloden is no slacker

but yeah - schleck, vandeveld, sastre all solid podium contenders. and there are so many strong young riders too(maybe because it has so far been an "easy" tour)

suprised hincapie road so flat the last 30k or so, guess he had nothing in the tank, i was expecting him to really blow out the last 20k and he just sat in the group taking turns... totaly unable to chase down the attacks?! not the george of years past. everyone knew the russian would be solid and the kiwi was not working and resting, he let them both just go - oh well... you only get yellow if you deserve it!

bummer about levi.... oh well - that guy has the worst luck, him and cadel evans should start a tour de france bad luck club.

[Surferjer]

That settles that. Lance is merely a good rider now. 5 years ago he would have paced Contador and then smoked him in the last few kilometers. Yes, very impressive riding by Lance, but Contador is in a class by himself now.

[TTP]

Great day of racing.
General classification after stage 17
1 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana 72:27:09
2 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 0:02:26
3 Fränk Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 0:03:25
4 Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana 0:03:55
5 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana 0:04:44
6 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream 0:04:53
7 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas 0:05:09
8 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin - Slipstream 0:08:08
9 Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Française des Jeux 0:09:19
10 Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 0:10:50

Looking at the times and know that the TT is coming up I'm fully expecting Frank to drop out of the podium spot. Now will Lance, Wiggins, or Kloden slot up to third or even 2nd after stage 18. Very intersting battle for 2 and 3 spot. Andy will try to mitigate loss in 18 since he's not traditionally fast in TT as well (especially flat). Looks like it's gonna be a battle down to Ventoux as predicted, but probably only for 2 & 3 spots. Contadar is showing great form.