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

Dropped like a bag of wet sand.

Contador is amazing. I'm sure he is the leader of Astana now. LA is still at #2.

Wiggins is really surprising - he is a revelation!

Cue up the fanboy exodus...

I still think all that controversy with LA was race tactic prepping for AC's launch today.

I still think all that controversy with LA was race tactic prepping for AC's launch today.

+1 its called keep them guessing and ride hard.


Still a top ten finish, at age thirty seven is not exactly dropped like a bag of wet sand when he still stays in the number 2 spot.

The big question is, should there have ever been any speculation?

Contador is amazing. I'm sure he is the leader of Astana now. LA is still at #2.


The Contador/Armstrong leadership drama was a ploy for needed vigor to a pretty meandering first half of the tour. Their rivalry seems almost contrived, meant to play upon the jealous viewership of American audiences.

The Contador/Armstrong leadership drama was a ploy for needed vigor to a pretty meandering first half of the tour. Their rivalry seems almost contrived, meant to play upon the jealous viewership of American audiences.

Do you think it was tactics from the start? I think so too.

The big question is, should there have ever been any speculation?

If you've actually been following cycling for the past few years since LA left, NO. I'm really surprised at how many people that didn't realize how good Contador is.

The real rivalry to come with be Contador v A. Schleck.

The big question is, should there have ever been any speculation?

No. It has been obvious from the start.

Not a fanboy here.... But.....

2nd place, after 15 stages, to a man 10 years younger. 3 years off the tour. 37 years old. A seriously broken Collar Bone less than 6 months ago.

Personally, I'd say that's quite an accomplishment.

Don't get me wrong, LA is doing great. I didn't think he would get top ten, but I do think he has no hope of a podium.

Do you think it was tactics from the start? I think so too.

Probably, but like they said - leaving the card in play in case of the unexpected. Lance is riding great but it looks like he's liking being the "road captain" of the winning team.

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.

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 am not a fanboy, but I am not so sure he wont get a podium. Lance will put time in on AS, FS, CS and others in the time trial. Only one mountaintop finish left. It may be close. BW, CE & others run good time trials, but they may not put enough time in on LA in the mountains. Should be interesting.

Richard



Don't get me wrong, LA is doing great. I didn't think he would get top ten, but I do think he has no hope of a podium.

The big question is, should there have ever been any speculation?

Speculation about what?

I suspect they may have played it up, but I am sure Lance had aspirations to win. He got smaked by a dose of reality today.

Richard


Probably, but like they said - leaving the card in play in case of the unexpected. Lance is riding great but it looks like he's liking being the "road captain" of the winning team.

Dropped like a bag of wet sand.

Brilliant.

Now, back to watching the Cubs...

Cubs rule!

:thumb:

I'm an idiot!

:thumb:

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.

In the making? Contador has been flying up mountains for the last few seasons.

In the making? Contador has been flying up mountains for the last few seasons.

I meant a really great one - and that takes longevity. On current form of course, he is right up there with the likes of Pantani. Performance such as Angliru '08 and what happened today are examples.

I still think all that controversy with LA was race tactic prepping for AC's launch today.

at least that's the way lance will spin it. if that was the tactic -- and i don't believe it was -- it was stupid and unnecessary when you have the top rider in the world on your team.

arriba alberto!

ed rader

Probably, but like they said - leaving the card in play in case of the unexpected. Lance is riding great but it looks like he's liking being the "road captain" of the winning team.

I've never heard that term before, but it wouldn't surprise me. Hearing George talk it sounds like the same role is what has invigorated him in the last few years with Columbia. He mentioned that three years ago he thought he might be in his last year of racing, but he is loving his time with Columbia.

I've never been on a cycling team, but I have been the oldest guy on other teams, and it is fun to be the crafty veteran who gets to teach the talented youngsters.

i don't think all the AC LA controversy was just smoke n mirrors... i think LA really believed his own hype and felt like he had the legs to win it... and i think today as many here had predicted, brought the man back down to earth. he struggled... and without kloden being so faithful, he would have lost more time. LA's post race interview was funny. he looked very disappointed and gave a little snippet about already having 7 yellow jerseys at home. everyone knows that... it just made him sound a little bitter. on a side note, i was very sick of hearing phil and paul talk about how great LA was doing for being 37 and out of racing for 3 years. ok, we've heard it, we know it, we acknowledge it... but lets not judge his performance on the tour now with that caveat in bold. i'm sure every rider in the peloton has overcome some adversity to be where they are at now.

Contador dominated and will probably win the tour, but things can happen, a crash illness or a bad day in the saddle.

I think Lance showed that although he is still amazing he doesn't have that pop from a few years ago.

Kind of bummed that this tour looks like a one day wonder. I was hoping for an epic battle on Ventoux and it looks like that won't happen.

lowlife, the fact is, people are turning in to watch Lance have a go at this tour. You may not like the commentary, but they are giving the bulk of there audience what they want. Sure other riders have overcame other obstacles, but a 7 time winner coming back after a 3 year layoff at the age of 37? I think that is worthy of comment. Besides, how else do you frame the story here on out to keep the audience?

I think Armstrong can do himself a big favor by coming out in support of Contador (he's beginning to do so), and pledge to support him as the team leader. It will do wonders to reinvent his image as a winner to a mentor, and help him transition to team owner/manager aka father figure. LA already said that he was 'on the limit' - against an on-form Contador, even the Armstrong of the early 2000s would have a tough time. By ditching his claims to TdF #8, LA can win over new fans. He just has to get his competitiveness in check.

I'd say at the least that LA is the backup if AC has issues or falters for some unexpected reason.

I do think LA will podium. He will not settle for 4th.

I think that is worthy of comment.
worthy of comment yes, but worthy of repeated comment... no... after awhile it begins to morph from praise to excuse and i bet LA would prefer that commentators not say that he is climbing superbly for a 37 year old or frame his performance in that context.

as far as keeping the casual observers interest in the tour... i don't know what all the big fuss is about. if people are tuning out now b/c lance is no longer a GC threat, then whatever... they are more lance fans than they are cycling fans, so really, you don't need those types to promote and grow the sport. its like the easter and x-mas only catholics...

worthy of comment yes, but worthy of repeated comment... no... after awhile it begins to morph from praise to excuse and i bet LA would prefer that commentators not say that he is climbing superbly for a 37 year old or frame his performance in that context.

as far as keeping the casual observers interest in the tour... i don't know what all the big fuss is about. if people are tuning out now b/c lance is no longer a GC threat, then whatever... they are more lance fans than they are cycling fans, so really, you don't need those types to promote and grow the sport. its like the easter and x-mas only catholics...

Now all the Contador fanboys will come out with a lot of I told you so's.

I guess it is time to turn off the tour and go do something more exciting like watch paint dry!

Now all the Contador fanboys will come out with a lot of I told you so's.

I guess it is time to turn off the tour and go do something more exciting like watch paint dry!

Maybe you could keep "marking words"....... that could make the rest of the TDF interesting for you?

Maybe you could keep "marking words"....... that could make the rest of the TDF interesting for you?

Nah, you Contador fanboys can have your sandbox back!

I liked how your boy was punching at fans on the way up. Real classy!

Now according to Ed Rader isn't this his 6th or 7th grand tour win in a row?

Jeez why all the hate? AC is better. That is just how it is. No biggie. You seem to be taking it worse than LA himself.

Richard


Nah, you Contador fanboys can have your sandbox back!

I liked how your boy was punching at fans on the way up. Real classy!

Now according to Ed Rader isn't this his 6th or 7th grand tour win in a row?

Nah, you Contador fanboys can have your sandbox back!

I liked how your boy was punching at fans on the way up. Real classy!

Now according to Ed Rader isn't this his 6th or 7th grand tour win in a row?

why don't the lance fan boys lobby versus to create a best old rider jersey to add to the tracker?? that way lance will lead a category and all the fans will come streaming back...

If you've actually been following cycling for the past few years since LA left, NO. I'm really surprised at how many people that didn't realize how good Contador is.

The real rivalry to come with be Contador v A. Schleck.

Hah, I just started a thread on that, and I pointed out the problem with this...Schleck isn't a good at TT.

Jeez why all the hate? AC is better. That is just how it is. No biggie. You seem to be taking it worse than LA himself.

Richard

No hate, just a response to the haters and Lance bashers on this board. You seem to be gloating a lot. AC is riding great. I never said LA was better than AC at this point in their careers.

Although AC is in the drivers seat, there is still a long ways to go.

I still don't think contador will win 7 tours.

Yea and lance is an american. I don't get it. Besides he is real old.

I'd say at the least that LA is the backup if AC has issues or falters for some unexpected reason.

I do think LA will podium. He will not settle for 4th.

I'm not sure whether it really matters whether he will "settle" for it or not. He probably didn't want to "settle" for acknowledging AC as the team leader either. Fact of the matter is, if he doesn't have it, he doesn't have it. If today was any indication (which it was), I just don't see how LA is going to stay in the top three after Ventoux, even with an amazing ITT. As others have said, if it wasn't for AK, he wouldn't have even finished where he did, and now that AC is the clear team leader, no one has any reason to sit back and carry Lance up Ventoux.

P.S. I'm not an LA fanboy, but I'm not a hater either. I looked up (and continue to look up) to the guy for a long time, and thought what he did for American cycling was great. But his time at the top is clearly over, and it's time to pass the baton. it really is a joy to watch someone like AC climb and accelerate the way he does.

Here is why I think Lance has a podium shot. It was a very small group when Contador went. Evans, Sastre, and many others had been dropped by the blistering pace. In hindsite it was good they were dropped. It gave them time to recover.

The riders clearly stronger than Lance are Frank and Andy, Contador, Wiggins, and maybe Sastre. It appears if Wiggins keeps riding like he has been he will move Lance into third. If there were no ITT coming up then Frank and Andy would likely pass him to. The problem is the advantage they gain in the mountains will likely be negated during the ITT.

Then comes Evans. He appears to be a little stronger than Lance, but due to the TTT he is in a big hole.

I think it is a 50/50 shot Lance keeps third.

Richard


I'm not sure whether it really matters whether he will "settle" for it or not. He probably didn't want to "settle" for acknowledging AC as the team leader either. Fact of the matter is, if he doesn't have it, he doesn't have it. If today was any indication (which it was), I just don't see how LA is going to stay in the top three after Ventoux, even with an amazing ITT. As others have said, if it wasn't for AK, he wouldn't have even finished where he did, and now that AC is the clear team leader, no one has any reason to sit back and carry Lance up Ventoux.

Nah, you Contador fanboys can have your sandbox back!

I liked how your boy was punching at fans on the way up. Real classy!

Now according to Ed Rader isn't this his 6th or 7th grand tour win in a row?

LOL.......

He is not my "boy"....... I am a chicken man fan (for the record)

all I did was state my opinion on what today's outcome would be a few days ago. I post that I thought AC would pick up 40 seconds or more on the the other GC riders and you start some silly "mark my words" stuff.

At this point, I've had enough of this thread. A pox on both your houses.

I'm just looking forward to Tuesday and watching Astana remain dominant.

Here is why I think Lance has a podium shot. It was a very small group when Contador went. Evans, Sastre, and many others had been dropped by the blistering pace. In hindsite it was good they were dropped. It gave them time to recover.

The riders clearly stronger than Lance are Frank and Andy, Contador, Wiggins, and maybe Sastre. It appears if Wiggins keeps riding like he has been he will move Lance into third. If there were no ITT coming up then Frank and Andy would likely pass him to. The problem is the advantage they gain in the mountains will likely be negated during the ITT.

Then comes Evans. He appears to be a little stronger than Lance, but due to the TTT he is in a big hole.

I think it is a 50/50 shot Lance keeps third.

Richard

I don't know. Evans and Sastre were dropped, but they came back to drop LA. I'd say all of those who finished ahead of LA today have a better shot at the podium than him.

You might be right, but they sure didn't gain much time on him, and they are way back. It will be close unless Lance has lost it mentally now.

Richard


I don't know. Evans and Sastre were dropped, but they came back to drop LA. I'd say all of those who finished ahead of LA today have a better shot at the podium than him.

I don't know. Evans and Sastre were dropped, but they came back to drop LA. I'd say all of those who finished ahead of LA today have a better shot at the podium than him.

I think if all Lance had to focus on was second place, and he knew who he had to beat and where he had to do it...well, I just don't see Sastre or Evans booting him off the podium. That's a whole different thing from the race today.

Hah, I just started a thread on that, and I pointed out the problem with this...Schleck isn't a good at TT.

My comment was about the years to come. Definitely not about this Tour. Contador wasn't a great TT guy either. But he's made himself one. Andy is 24, I think. He's got a lot of upside.

LOL.......

He is not my "boy"....... I am a chicken man fan (for the record)

all I did was state my opinion on what today's outcome would be a few days ago. I post that I thought AC would pick up 40 seconds or more on the the other GC riders and you start some silly "mark my words" stuff.

I already congratulated you on another thread. Still looking for verification that you were right once in your life!

I already congratulated you on another thread. Still looking for verification that you were right once in your life!

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

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

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.