Tour de France 2005

[The Shaman]

I can't stand McEwen either. Pretty amazing he disputes the ruling based on that photo above .

Stuey did crowd McEwen, but that's pretty much just Robbie's bad luck for being out-of-postion - the head-butt was over the top.

I'm still sad to see him relegated - when he loses the points competition, I want it to be because he was beaten fairly so that we don't have to listen to a year of him complaining about being jobbed by the jury.

For the Green Jersey I've long been partial to Stuart O'Grady, but he just doen't have it for all out sprint finishes. He's got to make some breakaways and steal some stage victories.

I like Stuey too - some of his battles against Erik Zabel in the Tour were awesome in years past. I was hoping to see more from Brad McGee in the early stages, but he really hasn't been a factor. FDJ seems to be leading out too early and Lotto and Quickstep are taking advantage.

Stage 13 is going to be interesting this year I think - it's the perfect stage for a breakaway. I'm hoping Juan Antionio Flecha gets a stage win this year (after just missing last year) so that we can see his "drawing the bow" salute at the finish.

I'm sad that Petacchi decided to sit out the Tour - with fewer hills this time I thought he'd actually be able to contend for green this year. Hopefully the rest will make him even faster for the Vuelta and the WCs.

 

[The Shaman]

I't's great that a lot of americans are getting more intersted in cycling, the more the merrier!

I only wish you guys wouldn't be so good at it!

Still looking for the next Joop Zoetemelk?

 

[johnsemlak]

I't's great that a lot of americans are getting more intersted in cycling, the more the merrier!

I only wish you guys wouldn't be so good at it!

Well, with this being Lance's last year (he currently says--but maybe he'll pull a Steven Gerrard-esque flip flop), let's see what happens to both American interest in cycling and American success in it. It's going to be very difficult for Americans to continue to have anywhere near the success Lance has, and though there are a few riders doing well (Floyd Landis and Zabriskie perhaps most significant), they're going to pale in comparison.

I also don't really know how much us Yanks will follow the sport post-Lance. I'll be tuned in each July, but I imagine lots of Americans will loose interest if there isn't an American in the mix for the GC.

Of course, even I'm the quintessential American cycling fan. I follow the Tour de France every year, and ignore the sport for the rest of the year. I wish I could get out on my bike more often--I don't live in a good city for it.

 

[The Shaman]

I also don't really know how much us Yanks will follow the sport post-Lance. I'll be tuned in each July, but I imagine lots of Americans will loose interest if there isn't an American in the mix for the GC.

Sad but true.

I've been a cycling fan since Greg LeMond broke into the peloton, and I follow races pretty closely both in Europe and the states - it's gotten much easier to do in the last five to ten years thanks to the Internet and increased television coverage. (No more looking for a few stats stuffed in the back of the sports section or waiting a month for the glossy mags to hit the news stands for photos and commentary.) I think more big domestic races like the NY and SF GPs and the Tour of Georgia are also a great step toward developing American cycling.

"After Lance" is going to be a challenge for USA Cycling, though, no question. For a little while it looked like Tyler Hamilton was going to break through as an American sports icon - and that didn't end well. Dave Zabriskie, George Hincapie, Floyd Landis are all solid racers and will be for some years to come, but that's all they are: good bike racers. Lance's personal story is so compelling that it carries him onto another plane entirely. Unfortunately in America it's not enough to be really good - an athlete is also expected to be a 'personality'. While we have some good bike racers in the peloton, I don't see an American Mario Cippolini anywhere on the radar.

 

[johnsemlak]

Any comments on this stage. Looks like another flat one, though slighly hillier than previous ones. Another mass sprint finish with Hushvold (sp?), McEwan, O'Grady, and Boonan?

 

[The Shaman]

With four categorized climbs, I think we'll see a breakaway by whoever is interested in winning the KOM jersey this year - my money is on one of the French riders, like Thomas Voeckler, Sylvain Chavanel, or Pierrick Fédrigo, having a go at it.

If Richard Virenque hadn't retired last year, I'd bet the farm on him!

And I agree that it will end with another bunch sprint - Boonen v. McEwen seems to be shaping up as the interesting sprint matchup.

 

[Timothy]

Still looking for the next Joop Zoetemelk?

yups, we still are. But I'll be content if the Rabobank team gets to win 1 or 2 days and Mentsjow will be riding in the top 10 (although no sign of that happening yet)

 

[The Shaman]

But I'll be content if the Rabobank team gets to win 1 or 2 days and Mentsjow will be riding in the top 10 (although no sign of that happening yet)

Denis Menchov has a good career looming ahead of him.

Ugly finish today - Vino looked good on the attack. A very aggressive move. I think we know who won the internal battle for team leader at T-Mobile...

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

I would just like to state for the record that I have been watching what little coverage existed in the US of the Tour for years pre- Lance. ABC used to usually cover the final day (in about an hour as I recall). I loved watching it and wished I could see more. American as a top finisher or not, this race is an amazing feat and worth following.

I'm going to be buying my own bike soon after years of not riding at all. Of course I won't be racing or anything, just a little exercise and maybe sometimes riding to work, but watching the race always makes me want to ride a fast bike. Too bad the really nice bikes cost so much more than I can afford.

 

[The Shaman]

Stage 6, Troyes - Nancy

No lack of fan support for cycling in Europe...

The break appears...

...and the rain came down...

Vino attacks...

The agony of defeat...