[OT] Any Tour de France Fans out there?
- Thread starter EOL
- Start date
johnsemlak
First Post
Thanks, EOL
Wow, quite exciting time trial. Ullrich was VERY impressive. Lance appaers to be really upset, but really, he shouldn't be, he finished second (just as last year) and defended his yellow jersey.
He'll have to really defend it against Ullrich in the mountains now, but I think (My very humble opinion follows) Ullrich won't mount up tremendous challenge in the Pyrennees.
Wow, quite exciting time trial. Ullrich was VERY impressive. Lance appaers to be really upset, but really, he shouldn't be, he finished second (just as last year) and defended his yellow jersey.
He'll have to really defend it against Ullrich in the mountains now, but I think (My very humble opinion follows) Ullrich won't mount up tremendous challenge in the Pyrennees.
johnsemlak said:
I wouldn't be to sure of that (these are of course my very) humble opinions. Lance is THE man to beat which means that most o0f the other teams are trying to beat US postal, so all the support Lance will get will be from his own team. I'm betting that Vinokoerov will be ruler of the Pyrennees. If Ullrich is able to get closer to Armstrong, the second time trial will decide the Tour de France (but these are just my guesses)
Christian Walker
First Post
I feel that if Lance does not tear Ulrich up in the mountains, then he is going to lose the Tour in the next ITT.
He really needs to drop the hammer.
Come on, Lance! You can do eet!
He really needs to drop the hammer.
Come on, Lance! You can do eet!
EOL
First Post
Did anyone see the interview with Lance at the end where he said he lost like 8 lbs on yesterday's stage becaus of dehydration? I'm not sure what to think. If he can beat Vino and only finish 7 seconds behind Ullrich (though loose an addition 12 because of the time bonus) while still recovering from that (and come in second on the time trial while going through it) then if he's ever at full power he's going to rip this race to shreds. If on the other hand there's something else going on and this weakness is chronic, not the result of one bad day on yesterday's TT then I don't see how he's going to beat Ullrich on the last TT. Of course that's actually when Ullrich wants to take the jersey because if he takes it before than I think his team is going to have a hard time defending it.
johnsemlak
First Post
Well, Lance sure better recover quickly....
I followed yesterdays mountain stage on the internet and when I saw that Ullrich had attacked and Lance coudn't respond I thought this was pretty much it for Lance. Luckily it appears Lance recovered a bit and minimized the damage, but he'll have to do better in the later Mountain stages.
When was the last time Lance was attacked in the mountains by a significant opponent and couldn't respond?
I followed yesterdays mountain stage on the internet and when I saw that Ullrich had attacked and Lance coudn't respond I thought this was pretty much it for Lance. Luckily it appears Lance recovered a bit and minimized the damage, but he'll have to do better in the later Mountain stages.
When was the last time Lance was attacked in the mountains by a significant opponent and couldn't respond?
Zarrock God of Evil
First Post
Lance doesn't look like a Tour-de-France winner this year. Both Indurain and Riis predict that he won't regain his title. Ullrich looks good and is a firm favourite to win the second time trial. Question is: how much damage will Zubielda, Mayo and Vinokourov inflict on Tourmalet and Luz-Ardiden tomorrow - I suspect crippling ....
-Zarrock
-Zarrock
EOL
First Post
Zubielda and Mayo obviously have a lot of incentive to win tommorrow since the race passes briefly through the Basque country (I believe) but unless they have an absolutely incredable day I don't see them as long term threats (they would have to put 6 minutes into Ullrich or Armstrong to have enough time to keep the yellow through the TT on friday.Zarrock said:
Vinokourov is a completely different story. I was suprised to see Ullrich and Armstrong let him go without a fight, but even with a similar performance tommorrow he'd have a tough time keeping yellow through the TT. But if he could have an above average performance tommorrow then who knows. I definitely think he's got a podium spot and I can see him possibly beating Armstrong or Ullrich for second but I really don't think he has what it takes to beat both of them.
Tactically I think Armstrong has done pretty well. Lots of people including Liggett said they thought Armstrong should have given the jersey to Ullrich so that he would have to defend it. Instead by sending Beltran up the road he made Ullrich's team ride at the front of the peleton the entire day anyway and didn't have to give up his 15 seconds.
Having said all that I think that if Lance doesn't have what it takes to attack tommorrow then he'll lose the tour to Ullrich in the final time trial.
Zarrock God of Evil
First Post
EOL said:
Vinokourov's great chance is that IF he takes the Yellow Jersey tomorrow, it will give him wings for the Time Trial (just look at Pantani in 1998). AND he only lost 30 seconds to Armstrong on the first one. Col de Tourmalet and Luz-Ardiden are so nasty that they can potentially rip huge gaps between one or more of the main rivals.
-Zarrock
johnsemlak
First Post
Just following the TDF on the internet as today's stage closes. Lance has attacked near the finish and gotten away...Looks like he might put some time on Ullrich. Vino is rreally falling back...
Go Lance!!
Go Lance!!
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