"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Le Tour: The Race Thread

Okay the "It's going to be a looooongggg tour" thread he's devolved into some sort of cross between car talk, bike racing and a debate about Robin Williams v Ben Stiller soooooo...

Damn good race so far wouldn't you say? I can't remember the last time the big guns had to care so much so early. I still think come this weekend we will see the true contenders stamp their mark but this has been a truely great first week.

As dramatic as the TTT was the course kind took the beauty of the disciplne. The end result was f'n exciting though!

certainly does seem like some people might have to adjust their thinking a little now that they are so far down.

Cadel is in serious trouble. So much so, that I actually feel a bit sorry for him. Too bad Chris Horner couldn't have jumped teams after finding out he wasn't in Astana's plans. Cadel could use the support.

Yes, I can't remember being this excited about the TdF before the end of the first week.

Yeah Sastre is like 3' down already?? Those TT's and the breakaway stage have really mixed things up early. This is a sharp contrast to the Giro.

Yes, I can't remember being this excited about the TdF before the end of the first week.


+1. The last time I remember feeling like this was when Cippolini added the fun to the flat stages.

I was just taking to Racer Ex this morning about how these guys have had to race their bikes every day this Tour. The TTT has made that even more important. The "contenders" who lost out yesterday are going to have to go all out starting now to get back into contention.

Gesink looks to have hurt his wrist.

I was just taking to Racer Ex this morning about how these guys have had to race their bikes every day this Tour. The TTT has made that even more important. The "contenders" who lost out yesterday are going to have to go all out starting now to get back into contention.

how is that different from any recent Tour?

Gesink is definitely hurting.

field is split

peloton snaps again.

make that explodes. 5 groups.

Boonen in one of the latter groups thanks to a flat

I love the wind, it's like rolling a dice in the middle of a generally flat, boring stage.

When the coverage shows place names they have numbers in brackets - what are they referring to? e.g. "Collioure (66)"

Phil said it's something like the county (he used a different word) number. I assumed it had nothing to do with the race.

national roads, departmental roads, etc.

like I95, US1, M6, etc.

I was just taking to Racer Ex this morning about how these guys have had to race their bikes every day this Tour. The TTT has made that even more important. The "contenders" who lost out yesterday are going to have to go all out starting now to get back into contention.

Who called the TTT as a possible deal breaker BTW.

Some quick thoughts:

If you're Columbia, with the fastest sprinter in the bunch, on the eve of a TTT you might win why, would you have your guys destroy themselves to split the field? Oh, that's right, no GC guy. Nevermind.

You think Hincapie put a bug in someone's ear about that BTW?

Fabian is looking like Indurain. I agree with Roche. Leanest, strongest, and smartest he's ever been

We will see how fast Andy can really climb

I don't think Lance and AC are going on vacation together anytime soon, with Lance going to visit Offthebackistan in a few days, that's just as well.

Speaking of Lance, anybody see his test results posted? Or am I the only one with a memory longer than 1 week?

TT bikes go around corners just fine.

I feel sorry for Cadel then I realize he re-signed with Lotto when he could have bailed. In Flemish I understand "Lotto" means a blank, dumb expression

Speaking of Cadel, "You don't even give me guys that can sit in?" His riding all but one of his teammates off his wheel at the end of the TTT was raising a white flag with a giant middle finger in it at his team.

Laugh at Menchov all you want, he's got three Grand Tour wins. Besides, if you are a GT contender on Rababonk, you must crash in a time trial. It's the law

I feel sorry for Cadel then I realize he resigned with Lotto when he could have bailed. In Flemish I understand "Lotto" means a blank, dumb expression

I had to read this three times before i figured out what you meant.

Laugh at Menchov all you want, he's got three Grand Tour wins. Besides, if you are a GT contender on Rababonk, you must crash in a time trial. It's the law
:lol:

-bullseye

Speaking of Lance, anybody see his test results posted? Or am I the only one with a memory longer than 1 week?

They're posted on the LIVESTRONG blog. http://www.livestrong.com/lance-armstrong/blog/tag/testing/

http://community2.livestrong.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/12/7/9cfd0d35-c300-4191-87ab-876900af77d0.Full.jpg

Who called the TTT as a possible deal breaker BTW.

Some quick thoughts:

If you're Columbia, with the fastest sprinter in the bunch, on the eve of a TTT you might win why, would you have your guys destroy themselves to split the field? Oh, that's right, no GC guy. Nevermind.

You think Hincapie put a bug in someone's ear about that BTW?

Fabian is looking like Indurain. I agree with Roche. Leanest, strongest, and smartest he's ever been

We will see how fast Andy can really climb

I don't think Lance and AC are going on vacation together anytime soon, with Lance going to visit Offthebackistan in a few days, that's just as well.

Speaking of Lance, anybody see his test results posted? Or am I the only one with a memory longer than 1 week?

TT bikes go around corners just fine.

I feel sorry for Cadel then I realize he resigned with Lotto when he could have bailed. In Flemish I understand "Lotto" means a blank, dumb expression

Speaking of Cadel, "You don't even give me guys that can sit in?" His riding all but one of his teammates off his wheel at the end of the TTT was raising a white flag with a giant middle finger in it at his team.

Laugh at Menchov all you want, he's got three Grand Tour wins. Besides, if you are a GT contender on Rababonk, you must crash in a time trial. It's the law

at your age, i'm surprised you can remember that far back. :innocent:

You think Hincapie put a bug in someone's ear about that BTW?



Speaking of Lance, anybody see his test results posted? Or am I the only one with a memory longer than 1 week?


I believe Hincapie tipped off Lance. As for his test results, my wife (an RN) was looking at some blood test of his that was posted online the other day and remarked "his blood levels are completely normal".

Phil: "...carrying Cavendish, for what would be a probable certain victory."

The guy is gold.

Phil: "...carrying Cavendish, for what would be a probable certain victory."

The guy is gold.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1a/Pyrite_3.jpg/240px-Pyrite_3.jpg

So, are we going to see another break win today?
Looks like it, huh?

another break win?

when in this tour has a break won?

1 minute per 10km, this could work

FDJ seems to be trying to break up the chase.

another break win?

when in this tour has a break won?

stage 3? :innocent:

1' @ 6k to go... I doubt this comes back

So much for "working well together."

ouch, the Lampre guy got tossed hard... he looked totally dejected in that last shot.

The split on stage 3 saw nearly 15% of the field in the front group. not sure if you classify that as a "breakaway" or a split.

BBT... what a jump! that was a crazy combination of an awesome jump and a total non-response by the other guys in the break

The split on stage 3 saw nearly 15% of the field in the front group. not sure if you classify that as a "breakaway" or a split.

agreed- that is a grey zone

well done Titi.

Must be Bastille day.

Amazing.

If there's anyone who deserves a stage it's Voeckler. I'm happy to see him win.

Amazing.

Voeckler still can't believe it

Voeckler's first Grand tour stage? Didn't he wear the yellow for a while in 2005/6?

sporza has been interviewing farrar fairly often. his dutch isn't bad.

Voeckler's first Grand tour stage? Didn't he wear the yellow for a while in 2005/6?

yellow? yes. stage? no.

btw - it was in '04.

Voeckler's first Grand tour stage? Didn't he wear the yellow for a while in 2005/6?

They said that he had indeed worn the yellow w/o ever having won a stage.

Merci.

Gessink (sic?) just coming in. Bad tour for the Rabo boys.

Gesink

The peloton was pretty close to catching up! Nice finish.

Bravo to Voeckler, what a strong way to win. Not just sitting in like "the fastest man in the world".

Not just sitting in like "the fastest man in the world".

you say that like it's easy.

Not easy, but easier than breaking away right?

apples and oranges.

you say that like it's easy.

From the sofa it's all easy...