Kloden.


Too bad that will never happen.

Vino's is gaining huge respect from me for toughing it out and then whipping ass like he did today. Tomorrow will be extremely entertaining.

Michael

Allow me to put my foot in my mouth.

Vino has never impressed me that much. I think Kloden is a stronger rider.

Why does everyone feel Vino is back because he put it all out there on one stage (the TT)?

Don't you think he might be hurting a little bit tomorrow? Did you see him limp off the podium?

If he can't recover, tomorrows stage is a bad one to be suffering on. He could loose huge chunks of time with those brutal climbs and a mountain top finish.

Same with the chicken. If he put too much into today's ride he could be hurting big time tomorrow.

Lots of climbing ahead and if you blow a gasket on one stage you may pay the next day.

I am digging this tour thought. Lot's of excitement with all the contenders out there.

Contador? Sure he can accellerate but hill climbing is about more than just being able to pop off the front for short periods. I would like to see him podium though.

\

No kidding!! If we have learned anything from last years tour it's that these guys suffer from a great day's effort.

The riders that I think will place well are Sastre, Levi, Cadell.

Evans did well in the TT but other than that they haven't burnt too many matches.

According to Rabobank, Ras will attack or cover everything today, once at the 2nd last mountain, and Menchov is working for Ras.

The first post shows the stage is expected to finish by 5pm. Is that local time in Paris?

Moreau is off the back near the base of the penultimate HC climb, lasting little longer than Boonen under pressure from Mayo's team. Moreau's form appears to have deserted him, perhaps blown away in the crosswinds.

Vino's off the back as well. Looks like he may be paying for his superhuman effort yesterday.

Judging by Vino's reaction to Moreau, David Millar should watch out for a water bottle to his spokes if he's passed by Vino :P

Popo = no KOM. I am disappointed.

Not a big fan of DM but since he hammered and dropped Vino he is okay in my book.

Rabo is looking strong today.

Richard

Holy Thong

who was saying the chicken has no chance at GC?? i'm watching him flap away from levi and evans and company!

omg what a stage ! where are all the pre race favourites now

Like I said... Contador.

Damn that was exciting.

One of the best stages I remember in a long time! How cheeky was soler offering the water bottle. Love it.

Guilty as charged.

I am now very impressed by Rasmussen.



What a great stage!!!!!!

Popo is a stud!!

I was wrong Contador is Discovery's GC man

Chicken is the real deal

Wow one of the best stages I have seen.

Richard

Great stage.

I've never understood the mindset that a lot of people has about Rasmussen and his climbing. He's won the KOM on more that one occassion. You don't do that by smoke and mirrors.

Contador is really starting to impress. Its looking more like a two man race. But its looking like the advantage might be with Contador. Disco is a stronger team that Rabobank.

The ratings are going to plummet with all of the Vino fan boys jumping off the bandwagon.:p

Vino is still on the moutain.

I can now pull my foot out of my mouth.

Typical Vino. Suicide mission yesterday came back to haunt him today.

Evans fell back but with two tough mountain stages left there is still a lot to sort out.

Levi is gaining my respect. He might podium if he doesn't crack on one of the next two stages.

Contador is the real deal.

We'll see tomorrow who burned too many matches.

This stage certainly says to me that Rasmussen is a better climber than those he beat... There was some doubt expressed about that status earlier :P

Kloden and Evans are still in it though. Probably won't lose more time tommorow.

I am SO glad they dropped Evans. He didn't attack once, just covered any moves. It was so annoying, so clingy. DO SOME WORK!!! And now, I think it's getting scary - if Ras can TT like he did yesterday and still put so much time on Evans in the mountains, I think he'll win the overall. I think his only real contenders are Evans and Contador, who is much like Rasmussen in a mediocre time trialist and a true climber.

But when is Astana going to realize that they're hurting themselves by letting Vino go crazy? If he'd relaxed a bit yesterday, he would've had a bit more juice to help Kloden. In hindsight, he likely wouldn't have had it either way, but he should've considered the team yesterday.

Well I am guilty of underestimating Rasmussen. I have repeatedly said I thought he would get a podium. I know he is a good climber, but he is also a savy GC contender. I didn't know he had it in him. He is managing the race very well.

Richard

That's the enigma that is Vino. How do you think T-Mobile felt about him?

When has he ever done that?