Methos

He is having a great tour, but I would argue for previous tours. Just my opinion. This arguement/discussion though is better off over a couple of cocktails.

I was standing up in our office here listening to it live as it wound down to the end. My coworkers just shook their heads. They obviously aren't as much of a fan as I am . Great finish though. I was rooting for Landis. He deserved it out of all of them. But that's racing.

Piratello

Nein, ich meine den ekelhaften Stricher aus Texas, dem das EPO aus der Nase tropft.

Piratello

Thanks Marty,

can´t believe this $hit...

Cheers
Marcus

Corsaire

C'est la vie Piratello, Auf Videsen

Corsaire

hollow

Ha ha! How sad. I like Jan and enjoy seeing him do well, but sour grapes are so...well...sour. (Don't think his statement needs a translation).

Laggard

Thanks moderator dude.

Twehttam

Now THAT is disgusting.

Piratello

jetz heul nich ...

RacinGator

Sounds like it's time for you to cry

ChipRGW

I guess East Germans have NEVER had any doping scandals.

Er war wertvoll er ist jetzt ein Troll

Systran translated it. You'll probably get the point.

Devil

Perhaps we should discuss the East German program from where Jan Ullrich originated?

RacinGator

I think it's so funny that the Europeans regularly refer to Americans as being arrogant, but refuse to accept that Lance can beat them at their own game without doping. Pot meet Kettle. My Father in law is German, should be an interesting conversation this weekend.

Corsaire

Armstrong really wanted Landis to win, but when he let him go on the last down hill, unfortunately he didn't live up to the task, though he tried, then it was when LA had to take charge to snatch it from Kloden a meter to go. Only if Landis would've succeeded in his push to the finish line , LA would've gladly sit back, what a gentleman!
Corsaire

allgoo19

I wonder what LeMond will be saying after all this, more dope or better dope? I think if Lance kept using dope to win three stages in a row, he would be dead by now.

brent_dube

LeMond will start talking about how he not only would have won in 85, 87, and 88... but that he would have won in 91 and 92 if it wasn't for EPO
LeMond - Virtual 8 time TDF winner! Just second behind Merckx, who hold the Virtual Record of 15 TDF wins (according to Hinault)
hehe!

shokhead

Was that blow up thing thrown into LA's path or just got away. I could'nt tell from the replay and nobody said anything. I dont think he's doping but even if he was,man o man,LA is a fricken stud on the mountains and he's got a hell of a team. Did anybody see espn poll of LA,Bonds,few others.Who's the top and LA got it buy over 70%. I was suprised. Maybe others are starting to pay attention to cycling or maybe its just the TDF and all will be forgotten after Sunday.

ron m

It's called, among other things, a "Thunder Stick". Banging 2 thundersticks together is supposed to create a loud clapping sound, louder than would be possible with only your hands.

cytoman

have to hand it to the Posties. Perfect strategy, no other GC contenders could match them. Where were all the predicted attacks by Ullrich and Basso? I think they watched USPS the last 2 weeks and said what's the use, every breakaway that's mattered has been reeled in, the tempo has been incredible (even the TV commentators have said the stage is ahead of schedule), who's got the legs for a long, even short, breakaway?

Go Lance and the Blue Train! Well deserved win.

Smoothie104

("Armstrong had nothing but praise for Landis, who really put on a show today, and is rumored to be in discussions to leave US Postal and head his own team next season:

No gifts - though perhaps a hint of regret as he dedicated the win to Landis, whom he called "the man of the day."
"I hoped he could ride a fast descent and win the stage. But it did not happen," Armstrong said. "Floyd seems to be getting better and better every day. Today was his best day ever. That's why I really wanted him to win the stage, I think he wanted it and needed it.

"For me he deserved to win, and for that matter I should dedicate this win to him.")


Yeah, If you want Floyd to win, maybe you should do some work next time. Just kidding, sort of.




Lance Armstrong to Floyd Landis, as they crested the day's last climb, with 8 miles to ride:

“How bad do you want to win a stage of the Tour de France?” “Real bad,” came Floyd’s reply. “How fast can you go down a hill?” “Real fast!” “So,” concluded Armstrong, “run like you stole something!”

don d.

Gotta give kudos to the "other American", the third team leader from America in this tour, Levi Leipheimer. He rode a strong race today to knock Caucchioli out of 9th. Saturday he should "leip" over Sastre for 8th. If he can maintain his position, this will be his 3rd top ten placing in a Grand Tour, and his 2nd top ten at the TDF.

Considering the health problems he has overcome in the last two years, he deserves high praise.

Bike666

Essen Sie Scheiße

boze

that finish was crazy.

lance tried to do right by floyd though, which is cool - and today was the first day he could really afford something like that.

that catch at the line man.. whew! six and a half hours and then that! damn.....

don d.

Just a question for all you people in TV land: Did Lance give Landis a leadout for the sprint in the final kilo? The way www.cyclingnews.com reported the race, Landis took a flyer from 2k out, which is a pretty classic setup move for another teammate in a break, in this case Lance. It forces the other break members to chase and allows the teammate to sit in, which Lance did on Ullrich's wheel.

I just figured if he wanted Landis to win he would have given him a leadout like Ullrich gave Kloden or like Kloden gave Ullrich the other day.

I know Lance said he wanted Floyd to win, but he also said he gifted a stage to Basso and today he said he hasn't given any gifts to anyone this tour. Is there an emoticon for confused?

brent_dube

Landis pulled up to about 250-300 meters from the line, and Armstrong took it from there. Ullrich was right on Armstrong's wheel as Landis pulled off, but Ullrich couldn't stay with him.

Armstrong had fresher legs, and Landis was also cooked from chasing down Kloden. There was no chance for a leadout, and it would have been a bad idea anyway.

I don't think Kloden led out Ullrich the other day... it was more like Kloden led out Basso and Armstrong.

Armstrong was probably playing a mental game in saying that the stage to Basso was a 'gift'. (some reports I read didn't even publish it with that wording) It was probably a 'gift' in the sense that he didn't try to win the stage for recovery benefit.

TXCiclista

I think Landis went too early. Had they been closer to the line, I think it's certainly possible Armstrong would have given Landis a lead out. OTOH, I'm not sure Landis necessarily could have taken it in a semi-sprint anyway. I think Armstrong was hoping Landis would break away while he sat on Ulrich or Kloden's wheel. I don't think a win for Landis was the plan from the start. That was "on road" strategy and I think by the time they came up with it, Landis had been in the "protect Lance" mindset so long that he was spent. Armstrong probably knew this and was hoping Landis could break away earlier. When they came to the bottom of the last climb and the pack was till there, I think Landis' hopes of a win were pretty much over. Perhaps if he had waited to jump closer to the line or they had waited on Kloden to jump then reeled him in and counter-attacked. I think this was new territory for Lance strategically and he wasn't quite sure how to handle it. He *wanted* Landis to win but hadn't been a domestique for so long, he'd forgotten how to do it. Given that Landis was toasted from his effort earlier, a break away on the downhill was probably his only hope...