View Full Version : Stage 20: Antony (Parc de Sceaux) - Paris Champs-Elysées
Stage 20: Antony (Parc de Sceaux) - Paris Champs-Elysées, 152 km
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user0ne
07-13-06, 05:12 PM
Floyd Landis will win this tour !
alanbikehouston
07-20-06, 10:11 PM
There has been a tradition over the past decade that who ever has the yellow jersey the night before the final stage gets to take the day off...just drink champagne and celebrate all the way to Paris.
But, if the top two or three riders are within thirty seconds or so of each other when this last stage begins, there will be pressure to actually have a bike race today. And, if that happens, the Tour might get settled in the last mile, with the top contenders for the yellow jersey sprinting for the finish line.
Anyone who says bike racing is boring has not been paying much attention over the past week.
There has been a tradition over the past decade that who ever has the yellow jersey the night before the final stage gets to take the day off...just drink champagne and celebrate all the way to Paris.
But, if the top two or three riders are within thirty seconds or so of each other when this last stage begins, there will be pressure to actually have a bike race today. And, if that happens, the Tour might get settled in the last mile, with the top contenders for the yellow jersey sprinting for the finish line.
Anyone who says bike racing is boring has not been paying much attention over the past week.
In a close tour, tradition goes out the window. Unless there is a winner by bigger margins than we've seen Lance win by, there will be attacks on the yellow Sunday, particularly in a tour prone for upheavil.
I expect attacks on the way to Paris. If Landis gets the yellow in stage 19 and someone in 2-4 attacks him on the way into Paris I expect him to toss his champagne over his shoulder, drench his head in water and go after them full bore.
If Landis some how isn't in yellow after the ITT, expect him to TT all the way to Paris in one last bid to win. The man wants to win. Period.
dentext
07-22-06, 08:45 AM
Conventional wisdon is that Floyd can TT his way to a 3 min lead. If Oscar gets it down to half that...and there are about 30 max bonus sec in the sprints...it makes every bit of sense to race to the end.
If they make it a good show and Floyd still takes it..well that makes us all a little bit less likely this summer to get put in the ditch by a pickup that "didn't see that bike"
Corsaire
07-22-06, 09:37 AM
Yeah, but what if Pereiro attacks to get 60" back tomorrow, he could still spoiled Floyd's party?
Corsaire
I don't see any of the GC guys attacking tomorrow.
user0ne
07-22-06, 09:47 AM
Yeah, but what if Pereiro attacks to get 60" back tomorrow, he could still spoiled Floyd's party?
Corsaire
would never happen.
if they were not good friends its still not "supposed" to happen, but Oscar will stay 2nd with a big :D
would never happen.
if they were not good friends its still not "supposed" to happen, but Oscar will stay 2nd with a big :D
There's more bonus time available than Oscar has on Klondig. Not sure T-mobile wants to concede another Yellow to preserve a 1990's "tradition" when the Tour has never been this close since the final day ceased being a time trial.
Not even sure if Oscar will concede the yellow without making him earn it tommorrow.
Last year Vini fought to get those two seconds plus tiebreakers over Levi for 5th.
I don't see any of the GC guys attacking tomorrow.
Agreed, ain't gonna happen.
Corsaire
07-22-06, 12:38 PM
Agreed, ain't gonna happen.
As far as I'm concerned the race is not over until a rider crosses the finish line in Paris, remember
Vino last year, he didn't take crap from anybody: "ain't over until is over". I would attack to gain
60" if you ask me...
Corsaire
My money is on Kloden attacking. He's got the team to do it.
This is his big shot.
georgiaboy
07-22-06, 01:34 PM
I would love to see an attack. Maybe the last stage lacks panache, right French? ;)
Ritterview
07-22-06, 04:03 PM
What's to keep Klöden and T-Mobile from attacking? Kloden must be thinking that both he and Serguei Gonchar beat Landis in the time trial today, and T-Mobile is chock full of talent such as Michael Rogers. If they take off could Landis and Phonak keep up?
Dolomiti
07-22-06, 04:54 PM
What's to keep Klöden and T-Mobile from attacking? Kloden must be thinking that both he and Serguei Gonchar beat Landis in the time trial today, and T-Mobile is chock full of talent such as Michael Rogers. If they take off could Landis and Phonak keep up?
It wouldn't just be Phonak chasing. It would be at least a few teams.
Kris Flatlander
07-22-06, 05:42 PM
I'll pick something strange to happen like a break with Hincapie and Levi in it, that'd be so cool.
lhbernhardt
07-22-06, 05:44 PM
Nobody's gonna attack because the time trial today (Saturday) has pretty much sorted ever'thang out. The only attacks will be for sprint bonus points/time, and there's not enough time bonuses to benefit anyone's position (as there was for Vinokourov).
And besides, the final stage of the Tour is the unofficial World Championship for Road Sprinters. Everybody in the world is going to be watching that finish. If anybody attacks, there is no doubt all the team riders on Davitamon, Milram, C-A, FdJ, Liquigas, and Cofidis are gonna be HOT on their heels to bring them back before they hit the Champs d'Elysees. Even though he's got the green jersey sewn up, I don't think Robbie's gonna want to see anybody else cross that line first in Paris.
Go, Robbie, go!
- L.
Davitatom-Lotto will chase b/c even though McEwan has Green locked up he sure wants to win on the Champs. Milram will chase b/c Zabel wants a shot on the Champs. QuickStep will join the chase b/c Tossatto wants a shot on the Champs......
And of course Perriero's (sp?) team will chase b/c 2nd is better than 3rd.
T-Mobile is strong but on a short flat stage that would be a tall order.
:beer:
Braveheart
07-23-06, 12:44 AM
Betting on this being a sprinter's day - don't think the T-Mobsters or OP have the panache to attack. Floyd would hunt them down like wounded prey anyways if they tried. This boy wants the Mellow Johnny bad.
blue_neon
07-23-06, 01:59 AM
There is always the risk of a crash or a horrific mechanical failure in the last 10kms for Flandis... Unlikley i know but anything can happen!
Can't wait for the stage tonight!
user0ne
07-23-06, 06:14 AM
As far as I'm concerned the race is not over until a rider crosses the finish line in Paris, remember
Vino last year, he didn't take crap from anybody: "ain't over until is over". I would attack to gain
60" if you ask me...
Corsaire
did you see the "break away" where all the teams were sprinting for a Landis photo op ? :p
Braveheart
07-23-06, 06:30 AM
OLN just showed the French police that guide the racers around the road barriers have given up their usual white warning flags with flags with a picture of Phlying Phloyd himself on it.
rufvelo
07-23-06, 07:30 AM
There is always the risk of a crash or a horrific mechanical failure in the last 10kms for Flandis... Unlikley i know but anything can happen!
Can't wait for the stage tonight!
True. Risk of crash is always there, especially when the pace really picks up. Plus a mechanical. While his rivals are usually required to wait for him and show some pro etiquette, last 10-20K they may or may not. Even with a bike change, Phonak may not be able to pace him back at 60kph.
OrionKhan
07-23-06, 08:55 AM
Class move for them congradulating Ekimov!
user0ne
07-23-06, 09:24 AM
Class move for them congradulating Ekimov!
that was very cool.
GO POPO !!!
user0ne
07-23-06, 09:53 AM
Nice job Thor
CONGRATS FLOYD LANDIS !!!
Floyd Landis will win this tour !
deltabear
07-23-06, 09:53 AM
Wow !!
a_fire_inside
07-23-06, 09:54 AM
It's all over. Where's EURO at? He's been laying low for a while.
OrionKhan
07-23-06, 09:56 AM
Great sprint by Thor. I thought Robbie has that won sewn up.
'nother
07-23-06, 10:02 AM
Pretty nuts with Robbie and Thor at the last bit! But Thor really laid into it, great job.
rufvelo
07-23-06, 10:04 AM
So Thor gets the first and last win of TdF2006! And Landis got it done!
Braveheart
07-23-06, 10:09 AM
Was Thor the AG2R rider who had the mechanical earlier on one of the preceding laps?
cooleyjb
07-23-06, 10:28 AM
I'm so happy that all the American dreams failed.
Maybe you guys could go back to golf and sailing now? Cheers. Nah, leave the light on.
I know this wasn't posted here but it was posted after Landis cracked on the final climb of the day.
How bout them limey Brits? ;)
NomadVW
07-23-06, 10:40 AM
I love it if this is what it feels like when American dreams fail.
Dubbayoo
07-23-06, 11:12 AM
McEwen has no shot if he hits the front with more than 50-75 meters to go. He can't do a long sprint.
I'm so happy that all the American dreams failed.
Maybe you guys could go back to golf and sailing now? Cheers. Nah, leave the light on.
Thanks, Euro.
We did it in golf today as well...in England. Go Landis!!! Go Woods!!!
la_raza
07-23-06, 12:02 PM
It's all over. Where's EURO at? He's been laying low for a while.
Don't bother him, he's busy feasting on crow and his own foot. In addition to haggis and kidney pie.
Maybe he should be supporting Brits more and bust on Americans less next year.
It's all over. Where's EURO at? He's been laying low for a while.
yup, looks like I am going to have start baiting her again.:D
G. Bucci
07-23-06, 03:09 PM
Don't mean to stir it up BUT, Caisse d'Epargne and T Mobile lost the race before Phonak won it.
That stage where they let Landis get away is one that they won't forget. To wait till the last climb of the day to chase him down? The were eyeing each other, Pereiro and Kloden, before they were worried about Landis and by then it was too late.
Just my opinion. Let's hear more.
Winnipeg
cooleyjb
07-23-06, 03:57 PM
Don't mean to stir it up BUT, Caisse d'Epargne and T Mobile lost the race before Phonak won it.
That stage where they let Landis get away is one that they won't forget. To wait till the last climb of the day to chase him down? The were eyeing each other, Pereiro and Kloden, before they were worried about Landis and by then it was too late.
Just my opinion. Let's hear more.
Winnipeg
Haven't numerous riders said they couldn't hang with Landis as he pedaled away from them?
It wasn't that they let him get away. He just went away.
Did you see or hear something else that would lead you to believe they decided he wasn't worth following. You don't let pre-race favorites go out on breakaways. They do it on their own.
daytonian
07-23-06, 04:05 PM
Wasn't it Phonak who giveth 30 min. to Pereiro originally. They shouldn't have but they did.
There's lots of we shouldn't have but we did. It shook out the way it shook out and Floyd won.
Crack'n'fail
07-23-06, 04:44 PM
Did you guys see Levi ride ahead and jump onto the sidewalk and stand with the crowd and applaud the peloton as they rode by?
user0ne
07-23-06, 05:51 PM
Did you guys see Levi ride ahead and jump onto the sidewalk and stand with the crowd and applaud the peloton as they rode by?
I got a kick out of that :lol:
Ill Mitch
07-23-06, 05:52 PM
good job Floyd :beer:
cooleyjb
07-23-06, 06:23 PM
Did you guys see Levi ride ahead and jump onto the sidewalk and stand with the crowd and applaud the peloton as they rode by?
Yeah, at first I thought that's a bit brash until I realized he was having fun. :beer:
I have to say that they way the tour finished with people having fun on the ride into town was the way I like to see it end. They just finished a pretty grueling race, they deserve to have fun.
I have to say that they way the tour finished with people having fun on the ride into town was the way I like to see it end. They just finished a pretty grueling race, they deserve to have fun.
Agree they deserve to enjoy themselves on the last run but it sure made for boring viewing until they got near the end.
Wilchemy
07-23-06, 06:47 PM
That last stage was made especially boring this year with the green jersey also sewn up prior to the stage. It meant that only the lasst few minutes were going to be exciting.
Congrats to Robbie McEwan for another green tour result & to "Chicken" Rasmussen for hsi back to back spots.
And props to Landis. Gutsy effort to come back from his "bad day" result to win in the end.
user0ne
07-23-06, 06:59 PM
That last stage was made especially boring this year with the green jersey also sewn up prior to the stage. It meant that only the lasst few minutes were going to be exciting.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder :p
I loved the finish ...
The pictures of riders together
Ekimov gettin to have his moment
Levi goofin off
whos picture did Mickael Rasmussen have over his face ???
good times :D
McEwen has no shot if he hits the front with more than 50-75 meters to go. He can't do a long sprint.
Definitely hit out from too far in the most coveted stage, uphill on cobbles. Either nervous or massively over-confident. Ironically, he should know exactly how to win in Paris.....would be kicking himself.
Thor was soooo strong. Gapped 'em by the line.
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