Professional Cycling For the Fans - Question about last year's TDF
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bailcash09
06-19-07, 04:22 PM
Ok... this is really delayed but just got to thinking today... Last year I only got to watch the first few days of the TDF before I had to leave for summer camp. No TV's allowed there...:mad:
Last I checked Hincapie was in like the top 5 ( he took 2nd in the prologue) and then a couple weeks later (still at camp) I get to a computer and check the standings. I looked and looked and finally found Hincapie in like 40th place. I was really disappointed because he worked so hard for Lance, and started well, I was rooting for him to go al lthe way.
Anyway...what happened? Why did he drop so far in the overall standings? Thanks.
Bacciagalupe
06-19-07, 05:04 PM
Last I checked Hincapie was in like the top 5 ( he took 2nd in the prologue) and then a couple weeks later (still at camp) I get to a computer and check the standings.... Anyway...what happened? Why did he drop so far in the overall standings? Thanks.
Basically, you caught the early stages. They don't mean much, except to the sprinters (green jersey) because riders are finishing very close to one another. The hill stages (and to a lesser extent the TT's) really make the race, as there are bigger time gaps.
In Hincapie's case, I believe he finished over 20 minutes out after Stage 11, which effectively knocked him out of contention. I don't think anyone expected Hincapie to win anyway, just American media puffery. He's an excellent classics rider, but the long stage races are a different story altogether.
bailcash09
06-19-07, 05:14 PM
I don't think anyone expected Hincapie to win anyway, just American media puffery. He's an excellent classics rider, but the long stage races are a different story altogether.
I didn't think he would win, but I was hoping he would. I thought I could realistically hope for a top 5 or top 10 finish though. Oh well.
classic1
06-21-07, 08:17 AM
I have a question too. Who won?
bailcash09
06-21-07, 01:22 PM
Not Landis. I would love to think he didn't, but to me it seems impossible that he didn't. I agree he could have gritted his teeth and taken charge, but 10 minutes (this is the right number right?) on a solo breakaway? Granted, I didn't watch it and I don't know all the facts, but it doesn't look good. As far as who technically won, who knows? It's not fair to him because no one will remember him winning, it will be Landis that they will remember. Whoever won got robbed if Landis did dope. Landids got robbed if he didn't.