Tour de France

[Alpedhuez55]

Originally Posted by stormin

Every time someone crashes it makes me think about how lucky Lance was to win 7 Tours.

Lance never even got a Flat in the 7 years. I think he crapped Horse shoes

The crashes he was in luckily did not take him out of it. But he has great handling skills. The best example was when Beloki crashed in front of him and he rode down the grass through the switchback. I think he injured his back a little in beginning of his 5th tour win in a crash. Also I thing he had a bad crashin in the offseason in either 1999 or 2000.

Luck plays a role here though. I wonder if Basso and Ulrich get two or four year bans, if he would give it a try niext season?

[mosesbotbol]

Team captains are generally guarded and the time differences between the sprinters and the rest of peleton may only be a few seconds, so unless you’re going for points, it makes sense to stay out of trouble. It’s funny how tire pressure keeps rearing its head in TdF. If it’s not a time trialist on 19mm at 140 psi in the rain (Tyler Hamilton) or just inflating the tires too high when the pavement is 130 degrees…

Lance has been quite lucky to go 7 tours without a flat. Tubulars are the way to go! I don’t think he is average at handling skills; he’s not too fast on the downhills, but any of those guys who are pros are just too good.

[Marathon]

Interesting tour so far. Johann is keeping his cards hidden by sending everyone back for water and not giving a clear indicator of who the team leader is. Or, maybe he hasn't made up his mind yet.

What do you guys think of the lack of a TTT in this year's tour?

[Bigwaved]

Originally Posted by Marathon

Interesting tour so far. Johann is keeping his cards hidden by sending everyone back for water and not giving a clear indicator of who the team leader is. Or, maybe he hasn't made up his mind yet.

What do you guys think of the lack of a TTT in this year's tour?

He may be waiting to see who has the legs on the first mountain stage. It is an interesting tour that is shaping up.

The teams that are already shorthanded, such as T-Mobile, are going to suffer mightily.

[stormin]

Originally Posted by Marathon

Interesting tour so far. Johann is keeping his cards hidden by sending everyone back for water and not giving a clear indicator of who the team leader is. Or, maybe he hasn't made up his mind yet.

What do you guys think of the lack of a TTT in this year's tour?

I think Discovery has a great strategy in keeping everyone guessing. By having all those fellas in the top 10 the other teams are forced to react to any attack involving Discovery riders.

I have a question for you cyclists. Last year when it rained there were a lot of flats. The commentator said that was normal. i have asked all my cyclist friends and they don't know, but why would you be more prone to flats in the rain? Do they run with lower air pressure and hence more pinch flats?

I'm really happy they put the Alpe Dehuez back in this years Tour. Kick ass climb!

I kind of like the fact there's no team time trial this year. Opens it up for strong riders who don't have the strongest teams.

[Marathon]

Originally Posted by stormin

I kind of like the fact there's no team time trial this year. Opens it up for strong riders who don't have the strongest teams.

Every year people complain about the fact that a strong rider without a good TT team can lose time in the TT, and I really see their point. I'm not sure how I feel about it from a purist, competitive, may the best man win, point of view.

From a spectator's point of view, I absolutely love watching it, and am disappointed it's not in this year's tour.

[Alpedhuez55]

Originally Posted by stormin

Last year when it rained there were a lot of flats. The commentator said that was normal. i have asked all my cyclist friends and they don't know, but why would you be more prone to flats in the rain? Do they run with lower air pressure and hence more pinch flats?

I think there is more debris that can get washed onto the roads. They run street sweepers before the stage, but they cannot get everything. Pressure probably is a little lower too and I think you are right about the pinch flats.

It does not help that they run the lightest and softest tires you can get. Some teams do better than others. Disco has had good luck with flats, but CSC's tires seemed prone to them.

[stormin]

Originally Posted by Marathon

From a spectator's point of view, I absolutely love watching it, and am disappointed it's not in this year's tour.

Haha, they just played a clip with Lance discussing this (TTT) and his opinion was exactly the same as yours! You're in pretty good company. Have you been talking to him lately?

[mosesbotbol]

I love the TTT and think it’s an elemental part of TdF. Too bad it’s not here this year. Although a top rider can loose time; they can gain time somewhere else. It was disgusting last year watching CSC abandon the yellow jersey on the TTT and their morale suffered accordingly; never abandon the yellow jersey, no matter who on the team is wearing it.

TTT I don’t think is a real deficit for the strong rider, as that rider still needs fast guys to lead him to Paris, needs a coordinated team that works like one rider, and the TTT pushes those facets to the extreme. You can’t win the TdF and have a lousy bunch that can’t TTT.

[Bigwaved]

Originally Posted by Bigwaved

He may be waiting to see who has the legs on the first mountain stage. It is an interesting tour that is shaping up.

The teams that are already shorthanded, such as T-Mobile, are going to suffer mightily.

Not in the TTT, but in support of their GC contender.

[stormin]

I agree, you need a strong team to shepherd you to the finish. Sometimes people may think your team is too strong and that may hurt you as well like 2004 when T-Mobile had Ulrich and Kloden. Many thought that Kloden's strong run split the team. Personally I think that maybe Ulrich doesn't have the personality to dictate his will over a strong team. He's too nice a guy. Lance always had a great team but I think he has an edge to him and there was never any doubt about why the other riders were there. Lance was even famous for exerting his will over the entire peloton. Lance was at his best when he would reel in an attack by someone he didn't like. He would counter attack even when it wasn't a smart strategic decision, just to spite the cyclist he didn't like. That gives you some insight into his personality.
Do you think that may be Discovery's Achilles heal this year? Hincappie has been #2 for too long. Plus the fact that there are at least 3 riders on the team who could be number 1.

[mosesbotbol]

Originally Posted by stormin

Do you think that may be Discovery's Achilles heal this year? Hincappie has been #2 for too long. Plus the fact that there are at least 3 riders on the team who could be number 1.

If Discovery wants to win, they should keep Hincapie no. 2; he's too good as no. 2. Let the next guy who has the best legs be the leader. We'll see who that is in a week or so.

[Marathon]

Originally Posted by stormin

Haha, they just played a clip with Lance discussing this (TTT) and his opinion was exactly the same as yours! You're in pretty good company. Have you been talking to him lately?

Yep; he was at the house a couple of nights ago. We drank a few Shiner Bock's, smoked a couple of Padron 1964's and talked about the tour.


I agree with the Hincapie as no. 2 assessment. Although I would love dearly to see him win the TdF, I also think he is at his best in a no. 2 role. Obviously I don't know yet who has the best legs, but I would probably have to pick Salvodelli as the team leader.

[Alpedhuez55]

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

It was disgusting last year watching CSC abandon the yellow jersey on the TTT and their morale suffered accordingly; never abandon the yellow jersey, no matter who on the team is wearing it.

Zabriskie was not even their back up team leader. Sastre and Jullich were ahead of him on their depth chart. If they went back for him, it probably could have cost Basso the podium.

[mosesbotbol]

Maybe Basso could've won if they didn't abandon the yellow jersey wearer, as it the tradition? Who knows... Lance slowed down and waited on the TTT when Cruz crashed a couple years before that.