Professional Cycling For the Fans - When will Voeckler give up the yellow jersey?

We all know his "knocks": He is too young, he's on a weak team, he can't climb with the elite cyclist, he has said that he is not on the same level as the favorites. Well, 9:35 is a lot of time. His team has been doing a fine job so far, and he has too.

Well, guys/gals what do you think. Is he sand-bagging, and planning on winning the Tour, or is he about to be smashed into the ground by the big dogs? What stage will he lose the yellow jersey?

I'm going with the odds and say after stage 13 there will be a new rider wearing yellow. Anybody disagree or agree?

I say after stage 12, there will be a new rider in yellow. Either Lance or Ullrich, but probably Lance.

9'35" is not a lot of time. Look at what Jan and Lance did in 2001 when they were down 35 minutes.

stage 13

I think the big guns are plenty capable of erasing 10'00" from this guy on the two climbs tomorrow.. but we'll see. Like I said in another thread, if not tomorrow then Saturday for sure.

Im with Voeckler in yellow all the way to Paris.

Incidentally, what's happening to Lance?

I really expected him to win stage 10 and today's 11,

could it be this is a strategy of his, saving himself to rocket to 1st place????

Corsaire

You must be joking.

Incidentally, what's happening to Lance?

I really expected him to win stage 10 and today's 11,

could it be this is a strategy of his, saving himself to rocket to 1st place????

Corsaire

Why would he win stages 10 and 11?

I would guess that Casar will take it on stage 13 and then lose it on the l'alpe d'Huez ITT.

Im with Voeckler in yellow all the way to Paris.

Now that is a bold prediction!

or is he about to be smashed into the ground by the big dogs?

Yes. I don't know the stage, but yes.

Incidentally, what's happening to Lance?

I really expected him to win stage 10 and today's 11,

could it be this is a strategy of his, saving himself to rocket to 1st place????

Corsaire

Why would lance want to win these stages, they aren’t hard enough and all his major competition and then some would able to stay with him fairly easily

I would guess that Casar will take it on stage 13 and then lose it on the l'alpe d'Huez ITT.

It is possible that Casar will take the Yellow tomorrow. I'm very curious how he and his team are handling his position right now. This is the biggest opportunity in his career so far. If he can keep his head and if he is physically peaking, he could show quite well.

It is possible that Casar will take the Yellow tomorrow. I'm very curious how he and his team are handling his position right now. This is the biggest opportunity in his career so far. If he can keep his head and if he is physically peaking, he could show quite well.

voeckler will be out of yellow this time tomorrow. he looked like he was suffering (like an animal) yesterday on the big climb. he came back to the group, of course. but he was hurting. maybe he's sandbagging, but if the big attack comes tomorrow (can't wait!), i don't think he can hang with it.

Im with Voeckler in yellow all the way to Paris.

Now that is a bold prediction!



I would have said that too, but according to my coworker working media relations at the Tour some of the riders and team staff are starting to talk about Voeckler holding on.

As it stands, lance has to pull down more than a minute a day on him to catch up. You and I both know that can happen on a single HC climb, but if Voeckler can hang just close enough just long enough Lance may run out of time.

We've seen GC riders like Armstrong and Ullrich put 10 minutes into very talented riders in one mountain stage.

Remember Simon and Kivilev in 2001? Great riders... had over 30 minutes on Armstrong before the mountains started. Did either of them get on the podium? No.

how many more days are in the race?

how many more days are in the race?I thought they kept racing until only one guy was left. Did they change the rules this year?

I thought they kept racing until only one guy was left. Did they change the rules this year?

waht do you mean only one guy left?

Friday's stage finishing on la Mongie will give us a new malliot jaune rider. Lance Armstrong or Roberto Heras.

waht do you mean only one guy left?

They race across Europe until only one guy remains. It sometimes takes months.

Now that is a bold prediction!

Yep, like Cunago in the Giro.