Professional Cycling For the Fans - Stage 13: Miramas - Montpellier

Lance... or how to lead GC without winning a single stage... I know, I know, what I'm saying is stupid but being this the first bike race I watch I just thought Lance was so famous because he actually came in first... that is in front of the other racers.

Just ignore my ignorance...

Sorry, I can't.

Did it occur to you that Lance, having won SIX TdFs in a row, might actually have a strategy that works, w/o having to win the most stages? The guys winning these flat stages do so for team and individual glory and sprint points, not to compete for the GC, b/c the truth is, expending that kind of energy on the flat stages just about insures that they lose 10, 20, or 30 minutes or more in just about every one of the mountain stages.

The TdF is a very different animal. If you're looking to see the winner of a classic race also be the one to finish first in the stage race, better you follow the one-day classics, instead of the TdF.

Lance... or how to lead GC without winning a single stage... I know, I know, what I'm saying is stupid but being this the first bike race I watch I just thought Lance was so famous because he actually came in first... that is in front of the other racers.

Just ignore my ignorance...

Lance's first goal is to wear the yellow jersey in Paris. That is probably his second goal, and his third goal. As Leo Durocher said "Winning is not the best thing...it is the ONLY thing."

Many riders who don't have the slightet chance of finishing in the top fifty riders in Paris ride all out to win a stage or two. Then, many stage winners quit the Tour, exhausted, and claiming to be injured.

And, the sprinters love to hide behind the Peloton until the last mile of the easy stages, then race flat out for two minutes. Rack up lots of stage wins, while working just two minutes per day. But, most of the sprinters quit before the mountains, or before getting out of the mountains. If sprinters make it to Paris, the sprinters usually rank around 100 or around 120 in the GC among the 140 surviving riders.

However, Lance wouldnt mind winning a couple of stages. He is likely to go for a "win" on Sunday. And, unless he breaks a leg this week, he will win the final individual time trial. He also ran the second fastest time trial in 102 years of Tour history in the opening stage. Those three stages, plus the yellow jersey, would make a nice retirement gift.

The Sunday stage is tougher than all of the "sprinter's stages" combined. None of the top sprinters will finish among the top ten riders in Sunday's stage. Many of the sprinters won't finish on Sunday at all.

Shut up, Alan. You never miss a chance to slam incredibly talented riders just because they don't finish high in the GC. We'll hate to see you go at the end of the month.

If sprinters only work "two minutes" on flat stages, that must mean that during those stages Lance does not work at all. What an easy day.

Anyway, it would be sad if the tour winner did not win a single stage. That's just wrong.

Oh yeah, most sprinters don't quit right before the mountains. Shows how little you really know.

I'm a little disappointed in Horner. He should wear a red 86 tomorrow but he basically made the same faux paux in Philly this June. He waited too long in Philly, he was in a 3 man break and let Wherry (sp?) get away in the last mile. Today, He let the peloton catch the break by waiting too long. It was a great effort and maybe the best ride of the Tour (Vino?) and I can only dream of being 1 /100th of the athlete that he is but DAMN. He was so close. It's a shame that this is first tour, with more experiance I have to believe he would have won today.

Oh Yea, one more thing another great lead out by Fast Freddy and still finished 3rd.

Anyway, it would be sad if the tour winner did not win a single stage. That's just wrong.


Yeah, like when Greg Lemond won it. What a loser.

Anybody think there was a little bit of "in your face, Chris Horner!" by Fast Freddy?

Anyone a fan of McEwen's "swerve all over the road in the last 100 meters" tactic? ;)
Look to the left, swerve right, to make it look incidental ;)

Definitely, but not as much as I like him headbutting O'Grady at 40mph.

Some folks are saying "the 2006 Tour will be boring without Lance". Instead, fans ought to be excited about this new generation of Tour riders who are just beginning to develop their full potential.

This Tour is not as exciting as it could be BECAUSE Armstrong/Discovery is in it. It wasn't surprising that Armstrong rode an excellent ITT or that Discovery rode an excellent TTT; it certainly should not have surprised anyone that Armstrong/Discovery planned to make a statement on the first hard day in the mountains; or that Discovery would find a way to get the maillot jaune, then give it up, then get it back after it blew the race apart; it should not be surprising that Discovery is riding at the head of the peloton, stifling the dangermen.

So instead we are tossed bits of excitement like Discovery's weakness at the Col de la Schlucht, Rassmussen's epic ride to Mulhouse, and Vino's daring raid to Briancon. In between, Armstrong rode behind the Discovery In-Line 8 to the attacking point platform that Armstrong used to regain the Yellow, and put his nemeses in serious time deficits. Valverde, who showed class by staying with and beating Armstrong for the stage win, provided some hope for an exciting Tour but his knee gave out on him.

Tomorrow, we can expect something like today's stage with a group of riders who go through an approval process conducted by Discovery before they are allowed to go off the front (this time, Rassmussen will not be given an ok). Discovery will set the tempo and with Hincapie and Chechu setting the tempo on the beginning of the Port de Pailheres, the dangermen won't attack. They'll ride tempo to the foot of the Ax-3-Domaines, and haul Armstrong to the launching point where he'll turn on the turbos to win another stage and extend his GC lead. I hope I'm wrong, but if I see Hincapie riding at the front on the Pailheres without being attacked, then I'll know the contest for the Maillot Jaune has turned into a yawner.

Yeah, like when Greg Lemond won it. What a loser.

Point taken. Though I never said Lance was a loser. Just that in my opinion a tour winner should win at least one stage.

Point taken. Though I never said Lance was a loser. Just that in my opinion a tour winner should win at least one stage.

That would probably change the dynamics quite a bit on all these bunch sprints - if the TdF rules said you HAD to win a stage, in order to win the GC.

I expect Lance will still take a stage - either Sat. or Sun.'s climbs, and/or the ITT. But he doesn't have to, to me, to earn the MJ.

I hope I'm wrong, but if I see Hincapie riding at the front on the Pailheres without being attacked, then I'll know the contest for the Maillot Jaune has turned into a yawner.

Hahaha yeah that would be pathetic, and funny in a way. Hincapie pulling the pace on %10 grades while no one can manage to attack Armstrong.
I can't help but see many attacks coming on that climb though. Really depends on how Discovery rides, like you say.


Point taken. Though I never said Lance was a loser. Just that in my opinion a tour winner should win at least one stage.

While I don't think they should have to get a stage win, I can relate in finding it a little sour if they don't. Perhaps it will happen sometime in the near future (with more riders showing one great day and other bad days, while a consistant rider prevails). In a way maybe it could be seen as an impressive showing of tactical perserverance... like if the rider isn't clearly the best, but plays their tactics well.

Just a note on how hard they worked yesterday.

We were about 104 Km from the finish. Dead flat road, Km long straights, some shade here and there. I was amazed at how slowly the lead five were going when they passed!

It was 34 degrees most of the time where the car was parked (in the shade), and that plus the effort of pulling out eight minutes or more on the peloton really drained the leaders.

When we watched the TV coverage later, it seemed like Voeckler took at least seven bottles of water after that point - three at a time on occasion. It may seem glamorous, but it is very hard work.

Oh ... yes I would, if I could. :D

Point taken. Though I never said Lance was a loser. Just that in my opinion a tour winner should win at least one stage.

If he paces himself out of a mountain stage win, he'll be saved for the TT. He'll win at least one mountain or TT stage.

This is a hardliners thread. But, I thought there was more to the the Tour de France than the yellow jersey? To me winning one stage and ending up with the jersey is pretty weak. As a plan that is. All that says is that you are real good at comming in second alot. I say those guys that go out and fight for the other jerseys is more sporting.

yeah way better to turn it into a popularity contest than an event based on cumulative time. maybe we can give style points like in ski jumping?

Oh Yea, one more thing another great lead out by Fast Freddy and still finished 3rd.

Phenomenal lead out. Freddy has excellent form. He must have gone 500m and didn't blow up. Awesome.

Lance's first goal is to wear the yellow jersey in Paris. That is probably his second goal, and his third goal. As Leo Durocher said "Winning is not the best thing...it is the ONLY thing."

Many riders who don't have the slightet chance of finishing in the top fifty riders in Paris ride all out to win a stage or two. Then, many stage winners quit the Tour, exhausted, and claiming to be injured.

And, the sprinters love to hide behind the Peloton until the last mile of the easy stages, then race flat out for two minutes. Rack up lots of stage wins, while working just two minutes per day. But, most of the sprinters quit before the mountains, or before getting out of the mountains. If sprinters make it to Paris, the sprinters usually rank around 100 or around 120 in the GC among the 140 surviving riders.

However, Lance wouldnt mind winning a couple of stages. He is likely to go for a "win" on Sunday. And, unless he breaks a leg this week, he will win the final individual time trial. He also ran the second fastest time trial in 102 years of Tour history in the opening stage. Those three stages, plus the yellow jersey, would make a nice retirement gift.

The Sunday stage is tougher than all of the "sprinter's stages" combined. None of the top sprinters will finish among the top ten riders in Sunday's stage. Many of the sprinters won't finish on Sunday at all.

We will have to start calling you Willis, like in 'What you talkin' about...".

McEwen... He will be reinvigorated that Boonen is gone.

*toot toot my own horn*