roadwarrior

Mechanical issues had a tremendous impact on the outcome. Pay attention.

roadwarrior

Yes, it was impressive considering he beat a lot of full time riders, of which Lance was not.

roadwarrior

lol...

rapidcarbon

uh ... where was Lance today?

OrionKhan

The big problem with Lance losing so much time today is what will Radioshack's strategy be for the rest of the season. I always thought it was odd that they basically set everything up to win the Tour of California and TdF (or maybe just podium). Well, they didn't win the ToC. Now, Levi will have to ride out of his a** to podium in the TdF. They don't really have typical classic riders that could go out on breaks and stage hunt. They don't have a sprinter. What do they do now? I'm betting that JB is wishing they hadn't burnt the Contador bridge down to the ground.

roadwarrior

Like sportswriters, I love second guessers as in this sport they are usually comprised of Cat V's that think 45 minutes plus two laps is a bike race with actual tactics.

Hezz

Some bad luck. 2 crashes and 1 delay. But I think he was not able to get his 1st week blood due to tighter security. Or his body cannot recover well enough to make it to the rest day were he might get his blood. Also, he's had about 5-6 crashes since the start of the tour. This adds a recovery load that makes it harder to recover. Everything has taken it's toll.

But I can't help but think that all the doping investigations and bad press stuff has gotten inside his head. I don't think that he has the concentration he used to due to having many things on his mind. So he might crash a little more. Essentially, his luck is running out.

The one thing that I don't think that Lance can do at his age is a Landis. Attack on a big mountain stage and take back 13 minutes and put himself back in contention. Tuesdays stage might be a good place to do it though. After a rest day. I would love to see him try it though. For the shear spectacle of bike racing.

rapidcarbon

I am not even a cat V

nvrlnd7

They are cooked as far as LA is concerned,but Levi still in the top ten.

Hezz

Agreed. And I don't think that Lance has it in him to try a huge attack. Though he should.

OrionKhan

During the post race interview, he said he was cooked just chasing to get back up to the group after the crash at the bottom of the climb. Age is starting kick in. He should stage hunt. Go out early with a breakaway. He can't climb with the best climbers anymore. But he could win a stage. He might be far enough down that he'd be let go on a break by the GC contenders.

reef58

I have a feeling Lance is going to make the GC riders suffer. If nothing else he holds a grudge. I have a feeling on one of these mountain stages he will set tempo for Levi, but more than anything to inflict pain. This is going to be an interesting race. Another out on a limb prediction. Hard tempo either Tuesday, or 16 or 17. The race will be shattered to pieces by Radio Shack really for no good reason, kinda like Sky today.

Richard

OrionKhan

May as well. They really don't have much to lose at this point. Might be the way to move up Levi. Just burn everyone up at the bottom and see who left pedaling.

USAZorro

Explain the tactics involved with Lance losing 12:00 to us then.

roadwarrior

Suggest you go back and look at the post to which I was responding. It'll be easier for you to figure it out.

USAZorro

Your response was considerably less than clear. Could take the comment on second-guessing at least two different ways.

Today, we saw what many of us were quite frankly a bit surprised didn't happen sooner. I don't know how this will be viewed years from now, but I suspect it will be remembered as the day it became obvious Lance was no longer at the top of his game. I can imagine him reacting in several different ways. I suppose what he chooses to do next will tell us as much about him as anything he's done up to this point. For the past year, I've thought that Lance was in denial about having a legitimate shot at winning a race like this. For his sake, I hope he can find a way to wind things down and maintain his dignity - possibly even do something to gain partial redemption. It's been one heck of a ride for him, but now, even he has to acknowledge, it's time to move on to whatever is next.

OrionKhan

Probably what's made the situation worse was LA making the podium last year. He hung in there and rode well. But his time gains were due Columbia splitting the peloton and the TTT. He never attacked and gained on his own. This gave LA and the legions of fanboys reason to believe he was serious threat to win. Sure it was an amazing effort by him. But in the end, LA was dropped climbs last year. He just had breaks going his way. Breaks are against him this year. No TTT. Now he's falling down the standing like a paralyzed falcon. Last year, he came back and said he would be more than willing to ride for someone else if another rider proved to be stronger. We saw how that turned out. Now, there is no doubt about his chances. Problem with TRS is that there really isn't a GC threat. Levi will ride well, but he's not a serious challenger. Kloden isn't looking great. What do they have left?

Fynn

I think Radio Shack is a fitting sponsor. A tired old worn out box store supporting a tired old worn out bicycle team.

Hezz

I'm not sure they will let him go off by himself on a break unless he looses another 10-15 minutes or so. Also, he might be to too banged up to try it until after the second rest period. If he does decide to go off on a break it will have to be a serious attack or very tactfully done. Another option RS could send four guys out early on a break and leave the rest to help Levi. Either they get away or they shatter the rest of the field.

OrionKhan

Probably right. But another bad day like stage 8 and Lance could end up down 20-25 minutes. Its hard to envision him pushing to set tempo for Levi knowing that he'll has to push into the red and blow himself up. Then casually ride up knowing he's loosing more and more time personally. I think he'll ride up with the leaders, but won't have anyone stay with him if he falters on the climbs. He'll have them stay with Levi.

gpsblake

Yea, it's possible that Radio Shack could steal a stage win and Levi could have the rides of his life and win the tour. Lance winning a time trial or being given a non-contested victory is possible.

As far as the team, 99.9 percent chance it will be defunct with no chance Radio Shack sponsors another team, especially with all it's corporate problems.

This was a one year deal with Radio Shack. Always has been.

Farby

i see lance going for a stage win. It's his last tour and he doesn't want to go out empty handed.

Tony N.

I'm new to this as well but it seems to me that there is no one in the RS team that can ride with Lance in any of the stages so far. So far with only a few exceptions, he is riding all alone, meaning no RS team members are even close to him except for one or two and then only for a short while (Levi and the guy that rode with him after 3 crash involvments yesterday). I saw the look on his face early last week as he hooked onto AC's wheel like a magnet. The look on AC's face as they climbed said it all. He could not shake him. Lance had the look of confidence and AC the look of shock. Things happen in racing that are often out of anyones control like L flatting with no team member in sight or even close (all were behind him by over 2 minutes) and crashes that break concentration. If this had happened earlier in his career would the nay sayers say he was a flash in the pan. If he were 25 and had the same thing happen as have occurred this tdf, the results would most likely be the same. All I'm saying is none of the riders that were involved or stopped by the same crashes as he was are anywhere near in contention. Just sayin................

Laggard

If Andy or Alberto wanted to drop LA on a climb, they could do it. He simply doesn't have the climbing legs anymore to stay with the elite when the hammer is down.

I believe LA also had a few teammates with him yesterday. Not in front pulling him like Astana but they were there.

gsteinb

radio shack isn't a box store.