Tour de France

[Marathon]

It's an interesting question: how much lost time is team morale worth? Having never been in that situation, I can't say, but I would guess that, given the importance of a quality supporting cast when the road heads up, it might have been worth it to wait.

[stormin]

Great conversation fellas, I love it!


I like it on the broadcast when they show the heartrate and power output. I have several friends who have the Polar heartrate monitor that will give you the chronological printout with altitude. Too bad none of my pals has the attachment to measure the power output. I would like to compare the pros with the weekend warriors. They say the boys are pushing over 1,000 watts at the finish line sprints. It always amazes me how effortless it is to ride in the peloton vs a breakaway.

[mosesbotbol]

Originally Posted by stormin

Great conversation fellas, I love it!

I would like to compare the pros with the weekend warriors. They say the boys are pushing over 1,000 watts at the finish line sprints.

The pros are in a different league. I know when I had a Specialized unit that was HRM and bike computer in one, that I would put out similar HR to the pros but be at 16 mph, not 22-24 mph, not in the big chainring, not after 100 km... A big difference.

To the non-riders; the pros ride at a pace similar to the Kenyons do in running marathons, but it do for 3 times as long and 6+ days a week... It's truly mind boggling how elite these guys are.

a 32 BPM resting heart rate speaks for itself.

[Alpedhuez55]

Originally Posted by 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.

THat crash with Postal was a lot earlier and they had a chance to make up the lost time. They were better off with everyone on the team in the fold to post the best time.

If the Zabriskie crash happenned 10 KM into the time trial they probably would have waited for him, but if he could not keep in touch with the team, they have to leave him behind. Basso was and should be the main focus of the tour for them.

CSC was on the either the last or second to last last turn when Zabriskie crashed. The Yellow was lost the second Zabriskie fell. Zabriskie lost about a minute and a half on the stage. If CSC had waited for him the whole team would have lost at least a minute. My guess is Basso would have questioned the team's loyalties and rightfully so, if they waited for Zabriskie so close to the end.

Even with the crash, team still had a chance at winning the TTT. If they had to wait for an already lost Yellow Jersey, they would think that it cost them the stage win. There is no way that helps team morale.

If anything, they made a mistake in letting Voigt get in the breakaway and taking the Yellow a few days later. The next day he lost the yellow and the day after that did not make the time cutoff and they lost another teammate to support Basso.

CSC made the right move in finishing without Zabriskie.

[hoosier]

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

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.

Lance was one of the better descenders in the peloton. He learned from Sean Yates, who was one of the best, when they rode together with Motorola. Yates could descend like a stone and I remember reading that Lance would follow his wheel on descents during training rides. I just don't think Lance ever really pushed the envelope on the descents in the Tour because he didn't need to risk losing the Tour to prove his descending skills.

Now Salvodelli...that dude can bomb the descents. Such a great nickname, too. Il Falco.

[Marathon]

Originally Posted by hoosier

Lance was one of the better descenders in the peloton. He learned from Sean Yates, who was one of the best, when they rode together with Motorola. Yates could descend like a stone and I remember reading that Lance would follow his wheel on descents during training rides. I just don't think Lance ever really pushed the envelope on the descents in the Tour because he didn't need to risk losing the Tour to prove his descending skills.

Now Salvodelli...that dude can bomb the descents. Such a great nickname, too. Il Falco.

Lance does have descending skills. As opposed to some others previously mentioned in this thread (cough-Jan-cough). Remember his trip over the embankment a few years ago?

[Alpedhuez55]

It still looks up in the air. Landis, Evans, Menchov & Kloden seem to be the only of the to contenders moving in the right direction. It iwll be intersting to see how strong T-mobile will be. Maybe Jan should have stuck with their team Dr. and he could have avoided the whole Op Puerto deal. They have 6 of the top 15 riders!!!

[Bigwaved]

Originally Posted by Alpedhuez55

It still looks up in the air. Landis, Evans, Menchov & Kloden seem to be the only of the to contenders moving in the right direction. It iwll be intersting to see how strong T-mobile will be.

I was surprised by some less than stellar ITT times by some solid time trialers today. It is hard to get a read on this tour so far.

[Alpedhuez55]

Originally Posted by Bigwaved

I was surprised by some less than stellar ITT times by some solid time trialers today. It is hard to get a read on this tour so far.

I think Levi is still out on the course. What a disappointment.

THat was a tough break for Jullich. Though the team should have scouted that corner better. The placement of the barriers made it look like there was more room on the corner than there really was. I saw a couple of other riders almost catch the curb there.

I never considered Hincape a serious contender. Both Paulo & Popo finish higher in the GC.

[mosesbotbol]

If Landis can show in the first mountain stage, what he showed today in TT, he’s going to be tough to beat. His concentration and composure are dead on. I still feel Hincapie will be a No. 2 for Popo or Paolo. CSC is done for this TdF at this point. Maybe a stage win but no Podium. T-Mobile is going to be the same battle with Discovery. The spread is not too huge among the leaders, so it’s still wide open as far as I am concerned.

[Bigwaved]

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

If Landis can show in the first mountain stage, what he showed today in TT, he’s going to be tough to beat. His concentration and composure are dead on. I still feel Hincapie will be a No. 2 for Popo or Paolo. CSC is done for this TdF at this point. Maybe a stage win but no Podium. T-Mobile is going to be the same battle with Discovery. The spread is not too huge among the leaders, so it’s still wide open as far as I am concerned.

Landis showed some form today, but I am with you as far as this being wide open. The first mountain stage may show who has the legs to take them home.

[God]

I'm going with Landis... I think this is his year...

If Basso was still in it I would have given him a 50/50 shot... but if is guilty of the doping then he deserves what he gets... if not then I really feel sorry for him.

The guy I most feel sorry for is Alexandre Vinokourov... I would have also given him a 50/50 shot this year... I think he would have been Basso's biggest rival...

[Alpedhuez55]

Originally Posted by Bigwaved

Landis showed some form today, but I am with you as far as this being wide open. The first mountain stage may show who has the legs to take them home.

Landis has had good form all season. Without Basso & Ulrich in the tour, he was the favorite. He climbed good in events leading up to the tour. Hopefully Phonak will be strong enough to support him. T-Mobile is looking good now, but we will have to see if one of their riders emerges as a leader.

I cannot wait for the stages on Wednesday and Thursday. THis will be a fun tour to watch!!!

[mosesbotbol]

Originally Posted by Alpedhuez55

Landis has had good form all season.

Landis now needs a hip replacement at the end of of TdF. I hope he can keep his winning ways to till the end of the race... I won't win cigars if he wins, but to get another American victory, I suffer.

I think the hip is going to be an issue in the mountains, but I am not his doctor, so don't listen to me...

[Alpedhuez55]

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

Landis now needs a hip replacement at the end of of TdF. I hope he can keep his winning ways to till the end of the race... I won't win cigars if he wins, but to get another American victory, I suffer.

I think the hip is going to be an issue in the mountains, but I am not his doctor, so don't listen to me...

Wow, I just read the article.

http://www.velonews.com/tour2006/new...s/10326.0.html

This is really going to make for an antersting tour. I am pulling for Landis. Hope he can make it through the tour. He would have been better off not letting this be known til after the tour if he could have though.