[OT] Any Tour de France Fans out there?

[Christian Walker]

Amazing stage - one that will go down in tour history. I was so impressed with how everyone sat up and allowed Lance to regain his composure. They knew he was going strong, and they knew that waiting might give him the victory, yet they honored the yellow jersey by not attacking.

My favorite tour to date! Even if Lance loses...what an epic battle!

 

[Zarrock God of Evil]

Poor Ullrich. Finally he changes strategy and attacks on the second-last mountain and then he is punished for attacking too early. Had he waited things would have been very different...

Just shows how important it is to keep doing what you're good at in bicycling.

Too me this will be the third best Tour I've seen. My favourite was Riis' victory in 1996 when he, Telekom and Festina finally broke Indurain's stranglehold on the race and restored the tradition of the "attacking yellow jersey". The secondbest race was watching Pantani, a true mountain rider (probably the greatest of all times), crush the time trial specialists (and everyone else) in the Tour (taking more than 8 minutes on the favourites on Alpe d'Huez and shattering the record for that mountain) back in 1998.

-Zarrock

 

[GamerMan12]

I am glad that Armstrong finally won a stage, it was looking like he would win the Tour without winning an individual stage, and that would have left a sour taste in the mouth. Not that him winning the Tour is a foregone conclusion.

The person that has impressed this tour is Ullrich - with poor preparation coming into the tour and all of the US Postal people saying that he was the big threat, just seemed a recipe for disaster - yet he has done well and a better timed attack yesterday, may have seen him win the stage.

On the other hand overall Ullrich has come from a distant second to a close second.

I would like to see a real race into Paris, with say a couple of seconds gap between Armstrong and Ullrich, now that would make an interesting race finale.

GamerMan12

 

[johnsemlak]

Wow, what a Tour this is turning out to be.

Despite his falter yesterday, Ullrich is much stronger than I thought he would be.

I wonder if he or Armstrong will be doing any attacking in the three days before Saturday's Time Trial, or will they just let Saturday decide it.

My predition for Saturday is that Ullrich will not repeat his awesome performance, he won't have the legs for it, and plus his earlier time trial was a simply perfect ride that was unrepeatable He may win, but by a much smaller margin.

 

[Christian Walker]

Hey John,

I think that Ullrich and Lance will simply wait until Satruday to mash, although Vino might have other ideas...

I think you're right: Ullrich will not repeat his TT performance. Lance's health has imporved and he will ride very, very strong.

 

[Christian Walker]

T is for Tyler.
That's good enough for me!

T is for Tyler.
That's good enough for me!

What else start's with T?
I dunno.

What else starts with T?
I dunno.

But T is for Tyler.
That's good enugh for me!

Go, Tyler Hamilton!
You ROCK!

 

[johnsemlak]

Awesome performance by Hamilton.

Well, I guess there won't be much Yellow Jersey action till the time trial on Saturday. I'll definitely be in front the the TV for that.

Should be some interesting competition for Green jersey points the next couple of days.

 

[Hawklord]

Hamilton's had an amazing Tour!

It makes you think though, if he's riding this well with a broken collar-bone (and judging by his face yesterday in absolute agony at times).

How well would he be doing if he were fit?

 

[johnsemlak]

I'm about ready to go somewhere to watch the TT.

Well, the tour pretty much rides on this . Will Armstrong hold on to his precious lead?

It appears Ullrich and Armstrong will start at about 4 pm CET, which is 10 am EST.

Go Lance!

 

[Hawklord]

Well this Tour certainly has it all. Certainly one of the best and most exciting since Lemond/Fignon....

After all the excitement it comes down to the Time Trial and Ulrich falls off the bike !

Poor guy!

Still I think Lance would have held him anyway, looks like no 5 for Mr Armstrong.

Nice for us Brits that David Millar won the stage especially as he's suffered so much over the last week.