Guest

Stage 20: Antony (Parc de Sceaux) - Paris Champs-Elysées, 152 km

user0ne

Floyd Landis will win this tour !

alanbikehouston

There has been a tradition over the past decade that who ever has the yellow jersey the night before the final stage gets to take the day off...just drink champagne and celebrate all the way to Paris.

But, if the top two or three riders are within thirty seconds or so of each other when this last stage begins, there will be pressure to actually have a bike race today. And, if that happens, the Tour might get settled in the last mile, with the top contenders for the yellow jersey sprinting for the finish line.

Anyone who says bike racing is boring has not been paying much attention over the past week.

meb

In a close tour, tradition goes out the window. Unless there is a winner by bigger margins than we've seen Lance win by, there will be attacks on the yellow Sunday, particularly in a tour prone for upheavil.

cuda2k

I expect attacks on the way to Paris. If Landis gets the yellow in stage 19 and someone in 2-4 attacks him on the way into Paris I expect him to toss his champagne over his shoulder, drench his head in water and go after them full bore.

If Landis some how isn't in yellow after the ITT, expect him to TT all the way to Paris in one last bid to win. The man wants to win. Period.

dentext

Conventional wisdon is that Floyd can TT his way to a 3 min lead. If Oscar gets it down to half that...and there are about 30 max bonus sec in the sprints...it makes every bit of sense to race to the end.
If they make it a good show and Floyd still takes it..well that makes us all a little bit less likely this summer to get put in the ditch by a pickup that "didn't see that bike"

Corsaire

Yeah, but what if Pereiro attacks to get 60" back tomorrow, he could still spoiled Floyd's party?

Corsaire

Devil

I don't see any of the GC guys attacking tomorrow.

user0ne

would never happen.
if they were not good friends its still not "supposed" to happen, but Oscar will stay 2nd with a big

meb

There's more bonus time available than Oscar has on Klondig. Not sure T-mobile wants to concede another Yellow to preserve a 1990's "tradition" when the Tour has never been this close since the final day ceased being a time trial.

Not even sure if Oscar will concede the yellow without making him earn it tommorrow.

Last year Vini fought to get those two seconds plus tiebreakers over Levi for 5th.

KeithA

Agreed, ain't gonna happen.

Corsaire

As far as I'm concerned the race is not over until a rider crosses the finish line in Paris, remember
Vino last year, he didn't take crap from anybody: "ain't over until is over". I would attack to gain
60" if you ask me...

Corsaire

tekhna

My money is on Kloden attacking. He's got the team to do it.
This is his big shot.

georgiaboy

I would love to see an attack. Maybe the last stage lacks panache, right French?

Ritterview

What's to keep Klöden and T-Mobile from attacking? Kloden must be thinking that both he and Serguei Gonchar beat Landis in the time trial today, and T-Mobile is chock full of talent such as Michael Rogers. If they take off could Landis and Phonak keep up?

Dolomiti

It wouldn't just be Phonak chasing. It would be at least a few teams.

Kris Flatlander

I'll pick something strange to happen like a break with Hincapie and Levi in it, that'd be so cool.

lhbernhardt

Nobody's gonna attack because the time trial today (Saturday) has pretty much sorted ever'thang out. The only attacks will be for sprint bonus points/time, and there's not enough time bonuses to benefit anyone's position (as there was for Vinokourov).

And besides, the final stage of the Tour is the unofficial World Championship for Road Sprinters. Everybody in the world is going to be watching that finish. If anybody attacks, there is no doubt all the team riders on Davitamon, Milram, C-A, FdJ, Liquigas, and Cofidis are gonna be HOT on their heels to bring them back before they hit the Champs d'Elysees. Even though he's got the green jersey sewn up, I don't think Robbie's gonna want to see anybody else cross that line first in Paris.

Go, Robbie, go!

- L.

Walter

Davitatom-Lotto will chase b/c even though McEwan has Green locked up he sure wants to win on the Champs. Milram will chase b/c Zabel wants a shot on the Champs. QuickStep will join the chase b/c Tossatto wants a shot on the Champs......

And of course Perriero's (sp?) team will chase b/c 2nd is better than 3rd.

T-Mobile is strong but on a short flat stage that would be a tall order.

Braveheart

Betting on this being a sprinter's day - don't think the T-Mobsters or OP have the panache to attack. Floyd would hunt them down like wounded prey anyways if they tried. This boy wants the Mellow Johnny bad.

blue_neon

There is always the risk of a crash or a horrific mechanical failure in the last 10kms for Flandis... Unlikley i know but anything can happen!

Can't wait for the stage tonight!

user0ne

did you see the "break away" where all the teams were sprinting for a Landis photo op ?

Braveheart

OLN just showed the French police that guide the racers around the road barriers have given up their usual white warning flags with flags with a picture of Phlying Phloyd himself on it.

rufvelo

True. Risk of crash is always there, especially when the pace really picks up. Plus a mechanical. While his rivals are usually required to wait for him and show some pro etiquette, last 10-20K they may or may not. Even with a bike change, Phonak may not be able to pace him back at 60kph.

OrionKhan

Class move for them congradulating Ekimov!