Stage 8: Pforzheim - Gérardmer [Archive]

ljb61

07-08-05, 12:07 PM

Discovery will be watching Vino, can't see him slipping away. He is gutsy enough to try however. Mayo and Valverde are far enough back on GC to be let go, but Armstrong likes to make a move on the first day in the mountains. I'll say Valverde for the win, Armstrong second, putting time into his main rivals.

Devil

07-08-05, 01:00 PM

I'm pulling for Vino on this one. Not sure if he'll manage to get the win, but there's always hope.

gcasillo

07-08-05, 02:41 PM

Good looking profile. A legit chance for a breakaway, perhaps from the KoM contenders. I think Rasmussen makes his mark here. The Rabo boys have spread the KoM points between Dekker and Kroon, and if Rasmussen is going contend for the maillot pois, he might as well start here.

Rasmussen
Jaksche
Moncoutié

97 Teran

07-08-05, 04:38 PM

Vinokourov
Or maybe McGee or Valverde if there is a bunch at the line

McGee's at least done some early lead outs for Cooke & Eisel, but it'd be nice to see Valverde have some presence in this Tour at some point. I suppose he wouldn't be let away in a breakaway, leastways not unless he lost some serious time to the GC hopefuls. But he's supposed to be able to sprint exceptionally well for a GC guy. Let's see some proof on the biggest stage the cycling world has.

Dolomiti

07-08-05, 06:19 PM

That flat section before the final climb is so long, I'm thinking a break will have a big enough gap at the base of the climb to make it to the end.

A group will attack before the end of those early climbs and build a huge lead. Who will be in it though? Perhaps McGee or Garzelli??
If the GC group catches the break, probably Valverde will win ;)

skinnyone

07-08-05, 07:23 PM

Vino will break, gereolsteiner will make the chase.. a rabobank rider will win the stage...

TomM

07-08-05, 07:46 PM

When will we start to see Ullrich listed as a contender?

TheKidd

07-08-05, 07:48 PM

I'll take Chechu as the darkhorse

Devil

07-08-05, 07:50 PM

When will we start to see Ullrich listed as a contender?
For overall victory, he is still a contender.

Devil

07-08-05, 07:54 PM

Here's who I'd like to see put some time into the field:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v366/tornvictor/vino_sierraitt.jpg

alanbikehouston

07-08-05, 10:06 PM

Lance said today: "The race is about to start". Ullrich's website: "Now the real Tour begins."

The "serious" contenders have relaxed most of the past week, watching the "Tom Boonen Show. But, over the next five days, it will become apparent if Basso, Ullrich, and Vinokourov are in good enough physical condition to win the Tour, and have the will power to win the Tour. Lance has already answered "yes" to both of those questions.

Lance does not need to win this stage (or any stage). Just like the next stage, and the one after that, his primary goal is to finish ahead of Basso, Vinokourov, and Ullrich. And, of course, they are gonna do their best to eat up his lead.

Let the games begin.

my58vw

07-09-05, 12:06 AM

Lance in a breakaway :lol: (ya right).

I agree, some of the GC contenders are going to try and put some time on the field.

meb

07-09-05, 01:13 AM

What kinda gear these guys gonna have in the final descent?

classic1

07-09-05, 06:00 AM

O'Grady or Davis might get over the last climb, although McGee or Valverde does seem more likely.

If Friere was riding he would have been a shoe in.

Dolomiti

07-09-05, 07:19 AM

With 60km to go, it looks like Flecha's big chance to me ;)

Devil

07-09-05, 07:35 AM

Looks like the break won't last.

skinnyone

07-09-05, 08:31 AM

Telekom is attacking...

skinnyone

07-09-05, 08:34 AM

KLOEDEN... WOW..... What a catch...

Bikeophile

07-09-05, 08:36 AM

This stage is turning out to be awesome! ATTACKS!

Cipo

07-09-05, 08:40 AM

Kindof strange to see Lance responding all by his lonesome. Where's his Disco posse? Great action!

kerank

07-09-05, 08:41 AM

What happened to the GREAT Team Discovery???? LA is alone and will probably be OK... today, but he will crack in later stages if his team can't hang! This will be exciting!

skinnyone

07-09-05, 08:41 AM

This stage is turning out to be awesome! ATTACKS!

Friggin A... Esply that one bit with all the playas responding...

skinnyone

07-09-05, 08:43 AM

What happened to the GREAT Team Discovery???? LA is alone and will probably be OK... today, but he will crack in later stages if his team can't hang! This will be exciting!

I think LA responded to Vino more than anyone.. disco is probably content on losing the Y jersey today...

Devil

07-09-05, 08:46 AM

Anybody who thought that the Tour was over after stage 1 was, today, proven wrong. Anything can and will happen.

Bikeophile

07-09-05, 08:47 AM

Their probably saving their legs for the real mountains... ;)

Bikeophile

07-09-05, 08:47 AM

WOW...It's going to be a close finish!!!!!

Devil

07-09-05, 08:48 AM

Yeah, that's why Discovery left Lance to fend off the attacks by himself on a category 2 climb.

Bikeophile

07-09-05, 08:49 AM

Who Won??? Too Close!

Dolomiti

07-09-05, 08:49 AM

Discovery disapearing on a cat 2, and the contenders attacking. All signs show to some brilliant stages to come.

What was Ill Beleares thinking? As if it was too hard for them to close the gap?

Bikeophile

07-09-05, 08:50 AM

Yeah, that's why Discovery left Lance to fend off the attacks by himself on a category 2 climb.

I know I was kidding...I am super surprised that they all fell back

Devil

07-09-05, 08:51 AM

Sounds like Klöden won. Hell yes.

GO T-MOBILE! CRUSH LANCE!

Devil

07-09-05, 08:52 AM

Guess not. Good win for Weening.

skinnyone

07-09-05, 08:52 AM

Sounds like Klöden won. Hell yes.

GO T-MOBILE! CRUSH LANCE!

The photo finish says Weening... but Kloden catching him at the top of the climb was awesome.. The look on weenings face was something like 'mother******'

Bikeophile

07-09-05, 08:53 AM

OLN just said Weening won

Devil

07-09-05, 08:54 AM

The phot finish says Weening...
Yeah, I'm just going by what cyclingnews is saying. I wasn't able to catch the broadcast for this one.

Bikeophile

07-09-05, 08:54 AM

What an awesome stage! 5hours of coverage tomorrow!!

skinnyone

07-09-05, 08:55 AM

Yeah, I'm just going by what cyclingnews is saying. I wasn't able to catch the broadcast for this one.

Yeah it was close... Dude... you working on a Saturday...

Laggard

07-09-05, 08:56 AM

That's what t-mobile will have to do to beat Armstrong. Have one guy attack, when Armstrong closes that gap you then have someone else attack. Repeat as needed.

Great stage.

Bikeophile

07-09-05, 08:58 AM

they just showed the slo motion replay of the finish...That was a dead heat! I don't know how they picked a winner...even frame by frame it looked like a complete tie to me.

Devil

07-09-05, 08:58 AM

That's what t-mobile will have to do to beat Armstrong. Have one guy attack, when Armstrong closes that gap you then have someone else attack. Repeat as needed.

A carbon copy of Alpe d'Huez in 03, basically. Except everyone needs to be doing it, not just T-Mobile (like they did today, they should do at Courcheval on Tuesday).

From the descriptions, Lance sounded extremely vulnerable.. I am overjoyed.

KennethToronto

07-09-05, 08:58 AM

Oh yea what an AWESOME STAGE!!! And tomorrow is going to be another marathon session.

So much for the predictions of another Tour de Bore. :) :)

Laggard

07-09-05, 09:00 AM

There goes Georgies top-5 finish.

Dolomiti

07-09-05, 09:01 AM

Amazing how Discovery disapeared, considering the expectations on how well they would support. Even though those attacks really ment nothing... did Vino for example actually think he could ride away and keep an advantage on Armstrong on this lesser climb with a long gradual descent to the finish? I guess it doesn't hurt to test the rivals and their teams.

Devil

07-09-05, 09:02 AM

There goes Georgies top-5 finish.
He'll make it up at Courcheval. I predict an attack from George, dropping the rest of the field BIG TIME. George wins the stage by 10' at the very least.

skinnyone

07-09-05, 09:03 AM

Horner was in the top 10 at the top of the mtn... He seems to be in form and nobody in Sauner-Duval seems to be making a splash..

Bikeophile

07-09-05, 09:06 AM

Devil

07-09-05, 09:10 AM

Lance wasn't really in trouble at all from what I saw...He just stuck with Ullrich...and only responded to Vino's attacks...He was riding well though.

CSC started to attack on the climb (basso and Julich) but they didn't keep it up...

Courcheval is totally going to be a kickbutt stage...I wouldn't be surprised to see Discovery attack...Thats the way Armstrong can counter the attacks...Attack himself.
I don't know. Lance couldn't attack at all last year (I sincerely believe it wasn't that he didn't have to attack, it's that he couldn't - he even said he was going as hard as he could, but Basso stuck with him - he was never alone on any mountain stage), and I doubt he'll be doing any attacking this year. CSC, T-Mobile and Illes Balleares have the potential to crush Lance, and I for one hope nobody will be riding for second place this year. If Vino, Basso, Ullrich, Valverde, Sastre, Julich, hell even Landis and Horner and Evans go all out, they should be able to derail the Lance machine.

Dolomiti

07-09-05, 09:12 AM

I don't know. Lance couldn't attack at all last year (I sincerely believe it wasn't that he didn't have to attack, it's that he couldn't - he even said he was going as hard as he could, but Basso stuck with him - he was never alone on any mountain stage),

He had no teamates on La Mongie, when he was with an elite group of about 10 climbers... during which he attacked and only Basso could follow.