I think Ras will try to stay with a group if they can keep a decent pace. There is 4000m or so of climbing on this stage (and the next one), though not as steep as the last one. The best climbers from yesterday, aren't necessarily the same on this stage. I think this stage will look a lot like 9 for ras... a few contenders dropped but not all. Mayo might need to win this one if he keeps his job for next year :P

Anyone know where I can get some live audio from TDF? The Eurosport audio today seems to be in french.

Vino!!!!! almost 6min lead over the top... ras and contador the only two from the group with legs again... joining hincapie over the top... :) this could be a good race..

Indeed!!!

... Brad

Rasmussen and Contador are in class of their own. Rasmussen made marking Contadors attacks look relatively easy. Seems fairly done and dusted now.

< begin rave >
but but but, Ras cannot win the tour. I don't like him. He is ugly.

Why can't anyone make McNuggets out of him, please?

</ end rant >

Now will Vino lose 6 mins tomorrow?

Vino is done for GC... maybe in another break wednesday though

I'd say he's fishing for stage wins now. Perhaps why he took yesterday 'easy.'

or he solos and wins by 20+ minutes and gets back in contention.. :)

honestly I think Contador will win the tour and disco will use their success to land a sponsor.

Where is the reason (other than versus not being able to stop shilling for disco) to believe that he can grab those 2:30 whenever he wants? First it was "Ras can't TT", then it was (most weirdly to me) "He's not a good climber" (WTF?), now it's just some vague and nebulous sense of the inevitability of Disco's win. I'm a bit confused... I know a good deal can happen, but it seems like Contador has so far ensured that no one else is catching up Rasmussen in the time trial.

I also don't see where contador was failing to push today, it seemed as if he was giving everything he had to try and pull away and make some time.

I suppose it will wait until the Aubisque in a couple of days.

Gosh I hope so. As much as I hate to admit it, I like that team, and it ain't because of Lance. Prolly more cos I'm a fairweather fan of ANY sport 'cept for Baseball, which I don't get .. (I'm a foreigner).

:beer:

hmm.. i havent been able to hear what the commentators have been saying, i've been stuck with broadcasts in french/german.

Contador is a much better time trialist than Rasmussen (He has actually won one before!!ha), and it will really show on this next TT, it will be flat and fast.
Rasmussen looked pretty strained a few times today.. I think he will be out of gas by the end of the week.

God do i love watching that kid Contador. Ras was able to mark him(this time), but I think as Contador grows more race savy he will put those moves on earlier and gain time gaps on Ras. If im Bruyneel, I put team Disco stratight to the front on 16 and set a pace to destroy the field, then let Levi shepherd Contador as far as he can and then let the kid see if he can gap Ras and have a chance to catch him in the final TT.

Contador is gaining confidence every climb. I think he can really win this thing...but he'll need one special stage 16 to do it.

Does anyone know if a rookie has ever won the TdF.

He is not a rookie.

He attacked when the road got steep

Before that Rasmussen had 2 teamates with him.

Richard

I knew I should have been more clear.

A rookie in the TdF...

BTW....I have been absolutely blown away by the effort Pop has given team Disco these past 2 days. What a rider he is.

Yes he has won, but not quite the same as the two monsters in this grand tour.

STAGE 5B IN VUELTA AL PAIS VASCO (PT) - 9.3 km (ITT) - 8 April (2005)

STAGE 8 IN TOUR DE POLOGNE (2.2) - 19 km (ITT) - 14 September (2003)


Much better time trialist than Rasmussen? Contador only took 37 seconds out of him on Saturday and now is down 2.23. I would think that he'll have to take a good chunk of time back Wednesday to have a chance of catching the Chicken in the next ITT. Who knows, lotsa racing left.

He rode the tour in 2005.

You are right Popo is a beast of a man. My favorite rider.

Richard

Keep in mind the speed for the ITT was slow by tour standards due to the conditions. If it had been dry the gap would have been bigger. Vino's time may not have been top 10 if the roads were dry. Rasmussen had drying roads.

That being said Contador and Evans are on the margin. If the time gaps remain the same as they are now then after the time trial I bet 3 guys are within one minute of each other.

I am a Basso fan, but thank god he didn't ride this year. It would have been a yawner.

Richard

Alberto Contador

2005 Liberty Seguros - Würth Team
Victories SETMANA CATALANA (2.HC) - 670 km - 21-25 March

THE COMBINATION COMPETITION IN SETMANA CATALANA (2.HC) - 670 km - 21-25 March

STAGE 4 IN TOUR DE ROMANDIE (PT) - 150.2 km - 30 April
STAGE 5B IN VUELTA AL PAIS VASCO (PT) - 9.3 km (ITT) - 8 April
STAGE 3 IN SETMANA CATALANA (2.HC) - 157 km - 23 March
STAGE 5 IN TOUR DOWN UNDER (2.HC) - 147 km - 22 January


No. 3 Vuelta al Pais Vasco (PT) - 745 km - 4-8 April
The Young Riders' Competition in Tour de France (PT) - 3610 km - 2-24 July

No. 4 Tour de Romandie (PT) - 660 km - 26 April-1 May
The Mountains Competition in Paris-Nice (PT) - 950 km - 6-13 March


No. 5 The Young Riders' Competition in Paris-Nice (PT) - 950 km - 6-13 March

Stage 7 in Deutschland Tour (PT) - 173 km - 21 August
Stage 5a in Vuelta al Pais Vasco (PT) - 93 km - 8 April


No. 15 Paris-Nice (PT) - 950 km - 6-13 March


No. 18 Deutschland Tour (PT) - 1520 km - 15-23 August

How is he eligable for the White Jersey then? I thought that was only for 1st time tour riders.

It is for riders under 25.

Richard

After stage 13 Vino was 5.10 behind Chicken. Today Vino rolled over the line 5.31 mins before Rasmussen and Contador. Ugh, if he had just clung onto the Rasmussen group yesterday in the Pyrenees, he would be way up on the GC somewhere closely behind Chicken, right? Hindsight is so depressing. :-(

Guess I'm rooting for Kloeden or Rasmussen. Contador is amazing, but I don't like Disco.