Professional Cycling For the Fans - There, any speculation is over (spoiler alert)

I think most are impressed with LA's performance. What's really irritating is the blind devotion to the notion that he should have been the No 1 rider on Astana. For those who watch more than the the TdF each year with any objectivity, it was fairly obvious that the answer was no. It could be argued that LA isn't the 3rd strongest rider on the team. Kloden could have rode away from LA today. And he could be sitting 2nd overall. But he instead, stayed back and paced Lance up to the top.

Are you sure this ever existed, or is that just in your mind? LA hatred is blinding.

You are a jerk........

And with that said, now I am right twice in my life and odds are your response will "be verification"

Remember there is no betting on this forum!

Lance did not even try to keep up when Alberto broke away. If you look at his face, he was not even really pushing horribly hard, and his reaction as he crossed the finish, he could have done better. The simple fact is that he did not have to do so. He is in second, and there are still several mountain stages (including the Ventoux), in addition to an ITT. Do not count Lance out yet. He has come out in support of AC, but AC is young, and has already bonked once on a Grand Tour this year. He might repeat that.

Yea he is so good that he decided to just let other riders close to him in hte GC ride away from him instead of catching their wheels!

Are you kidding me? Did you see the same stage as the rest of us? Lance suffered on that climb and simply couldn't do it. Did you even see his face? Every interview afterwards confirms this.

He may have let Contador go but he most certainly could not have joined Schlecke or Sastre.

By the way, what GT did he bonk in? This is the first one he's done this year.

OOpsss

Are you sure this ever existed, or is that just in your mind? LA hatred is blinding.

Hey, I'm not a LA hater. I've rooted hard for the guy. I'm just realistic. There are people out there that think LA is just waiting for Mt. Ventoux to make a move. I think Lance is riding extremely well. He looks a lot better now than he did a couple of months ago at the Giro. But he has yet to show the old firepower on the big climbs that make a difference at the grand tours. And its fairly obvious. He can tempo up, but he can't explode on an attack like he used to. He said it himself yesterday after the stage.

He's very fortunate to be in the position that he's in now. He road a decent opening TT, finished 10th (fourth on his own team). He caught a break when Columbia blew up the peloton. He gained time by being on Astana during the team time trial. He hasn't gained time on his rivals by his own riding ability. Stage 15 was a day of reckoning. He got dropped by the elite climbers. Lance will be very hard pressed to stay in a podium position.

But we still have people thinking or trying come up with an explanation as to why Lance is waiting to really make his move and could still win yellow. They conveniently ignore the facts as they are happening. You can want Lance to win. You can hope that Lance wins. But its damn near impossible to raise a reasonable argument as to why you think he's going to win after what has transpired. That's the blind devotion of a fanboy.

Lance hasn't got the legs of Contador, Schleck or Sastre. But, he's awfully close. "A wet bag of sand"? If so, there's about a hundred and seventy other riders in the TDF that wish they could climb as well as a wet bag of sand.

Lance hasn't got the legs of Contador, Schleck or Sastre. But, he's awfully close. "A wet bag of sand"? If so, there's about a hundred and seventy other riders in the TDF that wish they could climb as well as a wet bag of sand.

The whole "wet bag of sand" was a troll remark obviously. And Lol at the suggestion by someone else for having an "old rider jersey." The guy is still in 2nd place for crying out loud, :roflmao2:

I think the old rider jersey idea is kinda cool. Over 35 jersey "The Black Jersey" sponsored by Geritol.

Richard

Lance hasn't got the legs of Contador, Schleck or Sastre. But, he's awfully close. "A wet bag of sand"? If so, there's about a hundred and seventy other riders in the TDF that wish they could climb as well as a wet bag of sand.

Like a bag of wet sand is quantifiable.

Sheeeeesh.


:rolleyes:

Are you sure this ever existed, or is that just in your mind? LA hatred is blinding.

Seriously? Perhaps you meant LA love is blinding?

Is his the first post you have read in these forums? For the last month there have been thread after thread and post after post about how Lance is #1 and is just waiting for the opportunity to show it.

Lance hasn't got the legs of Contador, Schleck or Sastre. But, he's awfully close. "A wet bag of sand"? If so, there's about a hundred and seventy other riders in the TDF that wish they could climb as well as a wet bag of sand.

I decided to do a little adjusting. Give Lance the time of the 10th placed team in the TTT, then take away the 40 seconds he gained by making the Columbia Break.

He still comes out in 13th place one second ahead of Cadel Evans.

Still pretty well placed, and the things I did are a bit biased against him as he would have been a positive influence on the TTT of just about any team.

I dislike the pushing of Lance in either direction, he is not a God, but he is a very very good rider.

I think Lance is riding extremely well. He looks a lot better now than he did a couple of months ago at the Giro. But he has yet to show the old firepower on the big climbs that make a difference at the grand tours. And its fairly obvious. He can tempo up, but he can't explode on an attack like he used to....
Don't forget this is the first real mountain stage, too. In some ways, the Giro almost seems like it's tougher than the TdF this year, e.g. more mountain-top finishes, a rather nastily long and mountainous TT, courses so difficult the entire peloton protested, less than ideal weather, and Astana without 2 of its powerhouse riders.

Lance is doing well so far in part because he did fairly well in the opening TT, and was in the right spot on a windy day (which is part luck and part skill). Put him on a serious hill, and even with Klöden pulling him, he got chewed while Contador danced to the finish....

Don't forget this is the first real mountain stage, too. In some ways, the Giro almost seems like it's tougher than the TdF this year, e.g. more mountain-top finishes, a rather nastily long and mountainous TT, courses so difficult the entire peloton protested, less than ideal weather, and Astana without 2 of its powerhouse riders.

Lance is doing well so far in part because he did fairly well in the opening TT, and was in the right spot on a windy day (which is part luck and part skill). Put him on a serious hill, and even with Klöden pulling him, he got chewed while Contador danced to the finish....

exactly

Depends on how the next few days will turn out.

Thing is, it looks like Contador doesn't need anyone to pull him - the man does solo accelerations - so Kloden can focus on helping Armstrong. Had Leipheimer been around, it would have been better but given that Contador might be a great climber in the making, I guess LA can have much help rom Kloden.

I don't think there's anything 'in the making' about Contador's status as a fantastic climber.

I don't think there's anything 'in the making' about Contador's status as a fantastic climber.

We knew what kind of a climber he was two years ago when he was able to keep up with Rasmussen - and there were serious questions regarding Rasmussen, but none regarding Contador.

Uhh you sort of conveniently ignored Contador's name turning up with the doping operation

Uhh you sort of conveniently ignored Contador's name turning up with the doping operation

And he's been cleared every time.

Want to talk about Armstrong doping allegations?

Jesus, can't we discuss any talented rider without some tw@t showing up and screaming doping!!!??? Just go away junior member.

Here is my grassy knoll theory.:p

If he can stay within 2 minutes by the ITT and pick up 30 to 40 seconds there, then all he will have to do is light the candle real hard for one day on Ventoux. He was playing rope a dope on stage 15, to take away all suspicion on him.:notamused::twitchy::eek:

Do not count Lance out yet. He has come out in support of AC, but AC is young, and has already bonked once on a Grand Tour this year. He might repeat that.

Yeah, what a young, inexperienced moron to bonk in a GT. Lance would never have done something that dumb. Oh, WAIT... :rolleyes:

Something tells me neither of them will make that mistake again. Neither will Andy Schleck.