Originally posted by BadBadNeil
A lot of the climbers take it easy though of the first races hanging with the middle of the peloton, up until about stage 13 when the mountains begin. They let the sprinters get their green jersey points and conserve energy
This year it seems almost like the Tour committee is trying to prevent lance from winning again. They removed a flat time trial in the middle to give pure climbers a better chance(with the flat time trials lance would blow pure climbers away), they keep talking about drug allogations with US Postal(distracting lance and his team) and they limited the team trial to only a 2 min 30 second highest advantage over rival teams(which US postal has won most of the last 5 years by wide margins). Seems like a big coincidence to me.
The thing about Lance is that he is a climber. He may not be one of those super-lightweights that have nothing to tow up with them in terms of bodyweight, but he has shown in the past that he has no trouble trouncing in the mountains. What suprised me is how well he did in todays individual time trial, because as he has said before he is not a sprinter. It's pretty incredible that the man who has won the tours in the mountains goes out the first day and gets second in a time trial where he has struggled the past two years. He is a man on a mission.
Jul-04-2004 01:35
BadBadNeil
Supreme tranceaddict
Registered: Dec 2003
Location: CT, USA!
quote:
Originally posted by NeoPhono
The thing about Lance is that he is a climber. He may not be one of those super-lightweights that have nothing to tow up with them in terms of bodyweight, but he has shown in the past that he has no trouble trouncing in the mountains. What suprised me is how well he did in todays individual time trial, because as he has said before he is not a sprinter. It's pretty incredible that the man who has won the tours in the mountains goes out the first day and gets second in a time trial where he has struggled the past two years. He is a man on a mission.
Hes actually a pretty darn good sprinter as well, hes well rounded like Jan Ullrich. The ones that don't win the tour are the pure sprinters because they can't hang in the mountains, and the pure moutain climbers because they can't hang in the time trials. Often times as we know lance holds back on the early stages and leaves it to the sprinters when I'm sure he has the capability of winning or coming in top 3 in many sprint stages with only perhaps the best able to beat him like Baden Cooke, Bradley Mcgee, and Robbe McEwen. After all he often wins the individual time trials and last year I believe was the first year that he lost one which was to Jan Ullrich early on.
I hate having to read about the tour, I need to find a bar that shows it
Jul-04-2004 02:50
shoXx
IDM addict
Registered: Jun 2001
Location:
Damn, I just love the tour. Can't wait for the second stage later today. I really hope Thor Hushovd will keep the green jersey, or perhaps take over the yellow one.
While you're waiting for the second stage, enjoy Kraftwerk's Tour de France Soundtracks - brilliant.
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when there's no more room in hell, the dead will walk the earth
Jul-05-2004 08:43
MisterOpus1
Grumpy Old Fart
Registered: Dec 2001
Location: Kansas City
The greatest athlete in the world today takes his rightful spot with an incredible team time trial. The 3rd fastest time, in the rain no less!
___________________
Whence September dusk grows crisper still,
with leaves all crimson conquered,
I yearn to shout,
and dance about,
and stick pickles in my honker...
Jul-07-2004 19:24
NeoPhono
Übermensch
Registered: Sep 2003
Location: In Orbit
I can't wait to see the novice American sports media go balistic when Lance loses the yellow jersey until the mountains come up (at which time he'll proceed to destroy the field). There's no way he's going to attemp to protect that jersey for the the entire tour...although it is nice to see him in yellow this early. He looks to be in incredible shape, and Team Postal is simply amazing, completely destroying the competition today. The other teams should be thanking the tour for the new TTT rules or they'd all be in worse shape then they're in.
I can't wait for the Olympics now, the US has a cycling dream team.
Jul-07-2004 22:41
Psiweaver
I DJ 120,000 Massives
Registered: Jul 2003
Location: Culver City United States
The thing thats great about Lance is that no matter what the circumstances are he'll just dig deep inside of himself and pull out a victory when he needs one. HE's an awesome guy if you've ever met him in person. Very humble.
Jul-08-2004 01:48
BadBadNeil
Supreme tranceaddict
Registered: Dec 2003
Location: CT, USA!
I hate the new rules with the team time trial but they still won and thats great. Mayo is now past 4 minutes back so now Lance has a cusion in case Mayo takes a stage in the mountains.
Tyler Hamilton's team was VERY strong today too, only 1 minute back after losing 4 riders and having flat tires. Ullrich is about 50 seconds back I think so that will be good entering the moutains as he most likely will shadow Lance in the moutains like he did last year and wait for multiple teams to attack him. Roberto Heras's team I think was a surprise in coming this high.
Personally I think Tyler Hamilton is Lance's biggest rival right now and then Ullrich especially with two big players not in the tour and 3 far back due to the crash.
Jul-08-2004 02:39
imokruok
Lawyers, guns, and money
Registered: Aug 2003
Location: Los Angeles, CA / Milwaukee, WI
Coverage starts on OLN in a few minutes. It will be nice to see Lance in yellow again today, although I doubt he'll be able to keep it for the whole rest of the tour.
I agree with the other posts here - this event is exciting every single day, and is probably the most underrated event in sports. Not only do you get to watch great athletes battle it out, but the scenery is absolutely beautiful, and it's so great to see so many dedicated fans from all over the world all along the route.
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FLUSHED THE JOHNS!
Jul-08-2004 12:21
torontotrance
I hath returned
Registered: Apr 2001
Location: Toronto
As I've said in recent years, unless Armstrong has a breakdown or breaks a leg (the TDF 2004 is his). No rider can match him in anything and Armstrong is just better than the rest. It was funny to hear Jan Ulrich claiming it was unfair with Armstrong, lol, I guess the german is jealous that Armstrong is so much better than he is.
Jul-08-2004 22:14
Steven Hays
VioletCrownSessions
Registered: Mar 2003
Location: Austin, TX
Armstrong is a God here. Everyone rides bikes around here and there are signs everywhere of support. Its crazy. Wouldn't doubt it for a second if he won.
