What a mistake giving Pereiro 29 minutes earlier in the tour.

Huge mistake! Or maybe that was their spin. Perhaps, Phonak just wasn't stong enough to control that break...

Hindsight = 20/20

29 minutes is too much for any rider at that point in the tour.

Hindsight = 20/20


As has been pointed out a few times he finished 10th both times he's been in the tour before.

If he take the Yellow into Paris he better thank Phonak for giving him the chance to be in the race.

Hindsight = 20/20

As a 7-time winner once said, "No gifts." How's that for hindsight?

This is gut-wrenching, and I'm watching it all unfold on letour.fr!!! I NEED A &*#^&@%ing TV!!!!!

DrPete

Yeah, its obvious, now, that Phonak wasn't strong enough to control the breaks. They spun like they weren't concerned. But its clear what happened. They couldn't bring him back.

One other thing, if Landis was saving his team for a situation like today, Phonak didn't look it outside of Axel. Maybe Floyd's saving it for tomorrow...:rolleyes:

This is gut-wrenching, and I'm watching it all unfold on letour.fr!!! I NEED A &*#^&@%ing TV!!!!!
You and me both!!

Wow, what a race, I can't wait to get home tonight and watch my recording. This has been great and tomorrow everything can flip again. No one knows who will win at this point.

As a 7-time winner once said, "No gifts." How's that for hindsight?

A 7-time winner was told "No gifts" by a 5-time winner.

One other thing, if Landis was saving his team for a situation like today, Phonak didn't look it outside of Axel. Maybe he's saving it for tomorrow...

Uh, but T-Mobile and CSC won't let Floyd get away like this. And it obvious that Phonak can't ride as a team with these big climbs.

A 7-time winner was told "No gifts" by a 5-time winner.

I stand corrected. Good advice still...

As much as it hurts to see Flandis going backwards, I am extrememly glad that there is no clear favorite anymore.
This truly has been one of the best Tours I've seen in a long time.

The Chicken takes the stage, nearly 10 minutes ahead of Kid Rock. Ouch.

Uh, but T-Mobile and CSC won't let Floyd get away like this. And it obvious that Phonak can't ride as a team with these big climbs.

Yep. I edited to emphasize sarcasm...:D

Boy, Phonak really looked pretty strong and cohesive... then the road turned upward.

Floyd's gonna have to work some magic on his own tomorrow if he wants any shred of hope to win the GC.

If not, I call dibs on the yellow BMC. :D

DrPete

Yep. I edited to emphasize sarcasm...:D

:beer:

Phonak Directors note to self *look for some consistent climbers* oh my man Landis is hurtin' large. Sastre is posessed.
Axel just hooked up with his boss, whata guy. too little too late I'm afraid.

As much as it hurts to see Flandis going backwards, I am extrememly glad that there is no clear favorite anymore.
This truly has been one of the best Tours I've seen in a long time.

The Chicken takes the stage.


There is the possibility that he may get it back in the TT . . .

Boy, Phonak really looked pretty strong and cohesive... then the road turned upward.

Floyd's gonna have to work some magic on his own tomorrow if he wants any shred of hope to win the GC.

If not, I call dibs on the yellow BMC. :D

DrPete

Yeah, that's a pretty bold statement by a team to break out the yellow bike. Looks like they won't need that anymore...

Is it just me, or does it look like Rasmussen gained a pound or two from last year's Tour?

There is the possibility that he may get it back in the TT . . .

. . . of his life, with a few seconds chopped off just for good measure. I'm a big Floyd fan, but this is dismal unless a miracle occurs tomorrow.

DrPete

Is it just me, or does it look like Rasmussen gained a pound or two from last year's Tour?

Yes, he DID increase his body weight by 36%. :D

DrPete

Dang. 176km in the lead. In the Alps. Me thinks Rasmussen can climb...

Flandis could also have more 'technical difficulties' before the TT.
I believe he is no longer in contention.

Pereiro back in yellow.

Yeah, that's a pretty bold statement by a team to break out the yellow bike. Looks like they won't need that anymore...

I'm not at a TV. Is Floyd riding a yellow bike? You would think he'd learn...

I'm not at a TV. Is Floyd riding a yellow bike? You would think he'd learn...

Yep, he's been riding one since he got the jersey.

I must admit I'm not a fan of the all yellow routine

holy cow! He might drop out of the top ten...

Wow, look how Velonew live is calling it:

5:23 PM Landis has now lost all hope of ever getting the yellow jersey back. Oscar Pereiro will be in yellow again tonight.

How disappointing. And there's still another big mountain stage tomorrow. At this point, I'm going to have to pick Kloden as number one when they roll into Paris.

Cadel, please pluck one from the chicken tomorrow.

Phonak Directors note to self *look for some consistent climbers*

Other note to self: *Never break out the yellow bike until the last day* (Assuming of course Floyd has the yellow jersey)

^^word^^ better yet don't make one at all

I'm not at a TV. Is Floyd riding a yellow bike? You would think he'd learn...

Looks like the handlebar tape and tires are yellow; I don't think the frame is yellow.

Flandis could also have more 'technical difficulties' before the TT.
I believe he is no longer in contention.

Pereiro back in yellow.

I think you are correct. Landis lost the TdF on todays stage.

Looks like the handlebar tape and tires are yellow; I don't think the frame is yellow.

The frame is yellow.

Looks like the handlebar tape and tires are yellow; I don't think the frame is yellow.

The frame is half yellow, part black and othe colors...

1 097 PEREIRO SIO Oscar CEI ESP
2 014 SASTRE Carlos CSC ESP 01' 50"
3 021 KLÖDEN Andréas TMO GER 02' 29"
4 035 DESSEL Cyril A2R FRA 02' 43"
5 061 EVANS Cadel DVL AUS 02' 56"
6 051 MENCHOV Denis RAB RUS 03' 58"
7 026 ROGERS Michael TMO AUS 06' 47"
8 031 MOREAU Christophe A2R FRA 07' 03"
9 041 LEIPHEIMER Levi GST USA 07' 46"
10 129 ZUBELDIA Haimar EUS ESP 08' 06"
11 071 LANDIS Floyd PHO USA 08' 08"
12 111 CAUCCHIOLI Pietro C.A ITA 13' 27"
13 015 SCHLECK Frank CSC LUX 13' 48"
14 052 BOOGERD Michael RAB NED 13' 52"
15 042 FOTHEN Marcus GST GER 15' 04"

How far the mighty have fallen..... 8 min Why O why was he climbing alone?

5:35 PM Landis finishes The yellow jersey crosses the line at 10:05

Any other words besides "cracked" for today's ride?

Even with their top guys out, CSC and T-Mobile have number 2 and 3 in the GC. Frak! (for all you BSG fans).

Landis is 11th overall 8:08 back

EDIT: Beat me to it

ooooh boy. 10 min down for the stage, almost 8 min down overall. That's a deep hole to climb out of.

Isn't Rasmussen the most androgynous rider on the Tour? He sure can climb, though - wonder if Rabobank is kicking themselves for holding Rasmussen back to support Menchov in the mountains until today?

Some serious magic needs to happen tomorrow... That's not a TT-able gap.

DrPete

Well, this race is real interesting now. Who knows what will happen tomorrow.

makes you wonder what he might have done this year with the kinda support Armstrong had... I think his team really let him down today

Landis is over 8 minutes back of Pereiro. Wow. He looked good yesterday. Kudos to Levi for going out there. He didn't have enough, but definitely more than Floyd...

http://www.letour.fr/PHOTOS/TDF/2006/RIDERS/71.jpg
couldn't gitRdone!

Yeah, its obvious, now, that Phonak wasn't strong enough to control the breaks. They spun like they weren't concerned. But its clear what happened. They couldn't bring him back.

Actually they were perfectly capable of bringing Perreiro back that day. They just deluded themselves into thinking that if they just cruised through it, they would be rested up enough to hang in the peloton in the alps. So team Phonak was no help that day (when they could of), and still no help today.

makes you wonder what he might have done this year with the kinda support Armstrong had... I think his team really let him down today

I'm not a Floyd hater, but even Lance had to fight it out on his own at times in the Alps. A strong team really helps, but there comes a time when either you have it or you don't. I don't think Landis had it today.

I wanna know where his team was, I'd be hangin' fire-ings over they're heads about now. They had better not be more than 3 bike lengths from Landis for the rest of the Tour. Man O man .... is the Phonak director pissed or what?

This stage really illustrates why this is a team sport.

Granted they have given the yellow to Pereiro, but Floyd cracking today would have put someone else in yellow anyway.

I'm wondering now if CSC or T-Mobile wish they had helped a bit that day to keep their contenders closer to the top of the GC?

It's all speculation.

This has been such an interesting Tour.