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THIS IS A TOUR STAGE THREAD - POSSIBLE SPOILERS TO FOLLOW!

I will say it now if yellow jersey (if it is not Evans) hasn't put more than a minute and a half on Evans he will win the tour here if not before

I believe this is the stage VDV is waiting for. He'll keep chipping away at his gap between Cadel, and then lay it all on the line on this stage.

I will say it now if yellow jersey (if it is not Evans) hasn't put more than a minute and a half on Evans he will win the tour here if not before

94 seconds. What do you think?

94 seconds. What do you think?

I think Sastre might end up wishing he had sprinted the last 50 meters on Alpe D'Huez....

I think Sastre might end up wishing he had sprinted the last 50 meters on Alpe D'Huez....

+1 I don't get why he'd waste a few seconds to celebrate the stage win...

94 seconds. What do you think?

Evans had 2:33 over Sastre in last year's time trial (55km)

Is Sastre 60 seconds better than last year? Is Evans 60 seconds worse?

Evans had 2:33 over Sastre in last year's time trial (55km)

Is Sastre 60 seconds better than last year? Is Evans 60 seconds worse?

In the words of Phil Liggett..."Sometimes when you wear the yellow jersey, you ride with the strength of 10 men." I know I'll be glued to the TV with a bag of cookies and enough lemonade to upset my bathroom routine.

Evans will win the tour here but not the stage. I will go with David Miller.

Sorry Suze, I will be pulling for Sastre but I just don't see it happening.

I'm just hoping VDV can pop a big one and move into the top 5 or better. Just remember the Rasman a few years ago, anything can happen on this final TT day, although getting to see someone throw their bike (or two) in frustration is a little bit of a long shot :)

Evans will win the tour here but not the stage. I will go with David Miller.

Sorry Suze, I will be pulling for Sastre but I just don't see it happening.

Yeah I know (sigh)....I always end up pulling for the underdog, the guy who everyone says has no chance. I know I will be crying in my lemonade, and yet there is that slightest possibility...

I am going for Cancellara for the stage win.

You know I think VDV will have a really good ride but to break into the top 5 will take an exceptional ride.

1. Carlos Sastre (ESP), CSC at 79:16min14sec
2. Frank Schleck (LUX), CSC at 1:24
3. Bernhard Kohl (AUT), Gerolsteiner at 1:33
4. Cadel Evans (AUS), Silence-Lotto at 1:34
5. Denis Menchov (RUS), Rabobank at 2:39
6. Christian Vande Velde (USA), Garmin-Chipotle at 4:41

Yeah I know (sigh)....I always end up pulling for the underdog, the guy who everyone says has no chance. I know I will be crying in my lemonade, and yet there is that slightest possibility...

I am going for Cancellara for the stage win.

I'm going to have to send you a box of Kleenex. First Cunego, now Sastre ;)

After the 2005 Tour I was in my LBS and I said to the owner that Evans would win a TDF before he retired.
Now if I had got a bet on with centrebet 4 years ago to that effect I would be a very nervous man at the moment.

In the words of Phil Liggett..."Sometimes when you wear the yellow jersey, you ride with the strength of 10 men." I know I'll be glued to the TV with a bag of cookies and enough lemonade to upset my bathroom routine.

That very well may be too much information ;)

But I will be glued to the TV as well. I've been following all this week through the ticker on Velonews, so I'm pretty happy I'll be able to watch this weekend.

Evans will win the tour here but not the stage. I will go with David Miller.

Sorry Suze, I will be pulling for Sastre but I just don't see it happening.

Agreed with the exception of Miller. I think that Cancellara may come out to play ...... but at the end of le Tour, it's hard to say.

... Brad

dear christian,

avg speed, 55km/h. come on, duder, haul ass.

cheers
phc

Agreed with the exception of Miller. I think that Cancellara may come out to play ...... but at the end of le Tour, it's hard to say.

... Brad

I thought of Cancellara too, I just think he's a little tired from dragging the bunch around. I think Miller's been sand bagging. Time to come out and play Mr Miller!

Whats the weather supposed to look like? A little rain or high wind could make things a little closer.

I'm going with Millar as well. Cancellara has been a beast so far; I just don't see how he can have anything left.

Sastre is going to have to be really aggressive; taking corners very tightly and accelerating hard. Best guess says he loses by 30 seconds, but I think the margin will be less than 15. I'm hoping he's as fresh as we think, and Evans is tired. Hard to say.

-bullseye

Evans on strategy for Saturday
RaceTimes, July 25

Cadel Evans spoke briefly after Friday's stage about his plans for the upcoming time trial, which most believe will decide who wears yellow in Paris. "The plan is pretty much to ride me hardest the first bit, give it me all until I catch Kohl, then let him lead me in".

You know I think VDV will have a really good ride but to break into the top 5 will take an exceptional ride.

1. Carlos Sastre (ESP), CSC at 79:16min14sec
2. Frank Schleck (LUX), CSC at 1:24
3. Bernhard Kohl (AUT), Gerolsteiner at 1:33
4. Cadel Evans (AUS), Silence-Lotto at 1:34
5. Denis Menchov (RUS), Rabobank at 2:39
6. Christian Vande Velde (USA), Garmin-Chipotle at 4:41

I'll make the bold prediction that VdV gains the 3:10 he needs versus one of the non-TTists to move into the top 5. I mean, one of those 3 has to blow up Rasmussen style, right?

Time trials are boring to me usually, but this one is gonna be nuts. Too bad VdV had that fall on the Bonnett

Cancellara can be used as a reference for Sastre, besides I bet he will try to win this TT. I dont see him as last year but he will be a top 5 tomorrow for sure. Kholh and Sastre TT the same but probably since this TT is longer Kohl will do better than sastre, im based in the fact that Sastre havent done a single thing this year (im being objective)

Evans should kick ass as VdV, sadly for VdV those 4 minutes is a lot of time. If i was Cadel or Christian I would put 300 grams tubulars tomorrow because a darn Flat can flip the dreams over.

Thanks.

Evans on strategy for Saturday
RaceTimes, July 25

Cadel Evans spoke briefly after Friday's stage about his plans for the upcoming time trial, which most believe will decide who wears yellow in Paris. "The plan is pretty much to ride me hardest the first bit, give it me all until I catch Kohl, then let him lead me in".

Wheel sucker. :rolleyes:

Wheel sucker. :rolleyes:

Is that legal? I mean if so, what is to stop F Schleck from waiting for Sastre, then helping him?

Is that legal? I mean if so, what is to stop F Schleck from waiting for Sastre, then helping him?
No, it's not legal; I don't think that's what he was implying. He's pretty much saying that Kohl is as fast as Sastre [probably not true], so if he gains two [or three minute man?] minutes from Kohl, he will have won the Tour.

-bullseye

I'm thinking for VDV if everything goes right, he might catch Kohl or Frank, but that would be the best he can hope for. (at least on paper)

I'm probably going to start watching around 9 or 10.

This is going to be pretty sweet. I'm hoping VDV can make it to the podium. I knew he wouldn't win the tour, but a podium would be nice. Lets hope Sastre grows some wings or Evans is really worn out from CSC's blistering pace for the last few days.

No, it's not legal; I don't think that's what he was implying. He's pretty much saying that Kohl is as fast as Sastre [probably not true], so if he gains two [or three minute man?] minutes from Kohl, he will have won the Tour.

-bullseye

nope. just busting balls for wheel suckin. not that i care, but it's a big fat slow pitch, easy to swing at

If there's a massive earthquake right after Wim finishes, he could end up winning. These so-called experts. :rolleyes: :innocent:

If there's a massive earthquake right after Wim finishes, he could end up winning. These so-called experts. :rolleyes: :innocent:

First he has to lose to Bernard Eisel. :D

All the help he can get (http://tour-de-france.velonews.com/article/80811).

All the help he can get (http://tour-de-france.velonews.com/article/80811).

It's not about the bike :thumb:





oh come on, somebody had to say it.

I'll make the bold prediction that VdV gains the 3:10 he needs versus one of the non-TTists to move into the top 5. I mean, one of those 3 has to blow up Rasmussen style, right?

I like the way you think, Justin! I'm going to have all my fingers and toes crossed for him! I mean, stranger things have happened, right?

I'm probably going to start watching around 9 or 10.

This is going to be pretty sweet. I'm hoping VDV can make it to the podium. I knew he wouldn't win the tour, but a podium would be nice. Lets hope Sastre grows some wings or Evans is really worn out from CSC's blistering pace for the last few days.

That would be totally sweet if he did!

Btw, cyclingfans.com has a start time list up. Depending on where you live, 10am might be too late.

Sally

It's not about the bike :thumb:





oh come on, somebody had to say it.

Tell it to the UCI (http://www.slowtwitch.com/mainheadings/techctr/ucirules.html). ;) :)

I like the way you think, Justin! I'm going to have all my fingers and toes crossed for him! I mean, stranger things have happened, right?



That would be totally sweet if he did!

Btw, cyclingfans.com has a start time list up. Depending on where you live, 10am might be too late.

Sally

I'm in PA, so I'll be fine. I want to see Fabian and Miller hit the TT too, so I wish they posted those times as well :(

I don't think any of the GC guys will win the stage. They are probably too tired. So I'm going to go for a good TT rider who is not in contention for the overall and has been able to save some energy, and is not from CSC; they did too much work.

How about Millar? Iván Gutiérrez could be another option. He has won the Spanish TT champs a few times. Otherwise, Bruseghin has not had to do too much and can turn in a good TT.

Not that I really know much about this or what the riders are capable of!

ahhhhhh i can't wait.

This is going to be so great to watch tomorrow

edit
In a few hours

I think this will be the final list in Paris :innocent:

1. Cadel Evans (AUS), Silence-Lotto
2. Denis Menchov (RUS), Rabobank
3. Carlos Sastre (ESP), CSC
4. Frank Schleck (LUX), CSC
5. Bernhard Kohl (AUT), Gerolsteiner
6. Christian Vande Velde (USA), Garmin-Chipotle

If VDV does an incredible ride he could jump into 3rd ;)

VDV will ride better than Kohl, Schleck and maybe even Sastre. He will turn himself inside-out and finish top 3. (my opinion)

OK, before the main protagonists start, here is my final GC prediction. Yes I am using my heart instead of my head so sue me. :lol:

Sastre
Evans - 4 seconds
Menchov - 22 seconds
Vandevelde - 1:17
Schleck - 1:51
Kohl - 2:12

What time (and timezone) is the TT set to start?

Miller...blah. What's wrong with him this year?

What time (and timezone) is the TT set to start?

It has already started. Not sure of the exact time, but France is 6 hours ahead of EDT and 1 hour ahead of British time.

Miller...blah. What's wrong with him this year?

He's riding clean. :D

He's riding clean. :D

That's for sure and a good thing, I just thought this course was perfect for him. I guess these a reason why we haven't seen much of him.

Cancellara crushed his time.

That's for sure and a good thing, I just thought this course was perfect for him. I guess these a reason why we haven't seen much of him.

Cancellara crushed his time.

I don't have the TV on yet...going to do that in about 20 minutes and use the Tivo...but I'm catching the early splits here: http://www.letour.fr/indexus.html

Seeing as how I picked Cancellara to win the stage (and he's at least beaten Millar), I think you owe me a beer. :D

What time (and timezone) is the TT set to start?

12:30 CET.

I don't have the TV on yet...going to do that in about 20 minutes and use the Tivo...but I'm catching the early splits here: http://www.letour.fr/indexus.html

Seeing as how I picked Cancellara to win the stage (and he's at least beaten Millar), I think you owe me a beer. :D

ahh, the secret betting contest screws me again. Enjoy. :thumb:
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