2010 Tour of the Gila

[alberto.legstrong]

PZ = Phil Zajicek?

Pat Zajac?

 

[Publicus]

It isn't confirmed yet, but Armstrong's unofficial time was 35:59, so he lost over a minute to Tom Danielson - not even counting the other riders. I'll be interested to see if he is TTing any better in California in a couple of weeks.

That would be . . . well a bit surprising if true.

 

[Beech Mtn]

According to somebody on twitter (can't remember who, I think it was one of the Trek-Livestrong U-23 guys), Lance did a lot of pulling yesterday in all that huge wind. If that's so, he was probably fried for today's TT.

Honestly, I don't think he looks fat or out of shape anymore, which is too bad - Fat Lance was good for entertainment value. He still looks elderly though - partly because he is carrying so little fat right now, IMO.

 

[santacruz]

Dude I'm stoked for that 21 yr old kid Sergent!! I was just thinking how unreal it seems for him to beat someone like Levi who is on good form for ToC, and I was imagining some horrible scenario where someone messed up their stopwatch or something and he actually didn't even come close to beating Levi, ha ha... it's pretty unreal right?? I mean, if he can beat Levi by that much in a TT... doesn't that mean he could be a total bad *** and win ToC??? woo!!

 

[Berzin]

He looks bloated because he’s using a supplement that makes him look that way.

HgH and cortico-steroids are the only "supplements" (LOL!!!) that cause bloating as severe as what Armstrong is exhibiting.

 

[Choocher]

I think they both look great but that thing in the middle looks hideous.

That's what she said.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Is the course exactly the same?

Yes. The TT course is always exactly the same for Gila.
Only difference is the wind.

FWIW, LA didn't look anywhere as, well, large as the photos on here appear. I was there watching the pros in the morning. Lance looked in pretty good shape, actually. Leaner than last year at Gila.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Then again, maybe I spoke too soon. I thought his girlfriend was pregnant, not him.

 

[Publicus]

Yes. The TT course is always exactly the same for Gila.
Only difference is the wind.

FWIW, LA didn't look anywhere as, well, large as the photos on here appear. I was there watching the pros in the morning. Lance looked in pretty good shape, actually. Leaner than last year at Gila.

Thanks. And I think he looks really lean which is why I'm surprised that he's not doing better.

 

[maltiv]

Then again, maybe I spoke too soon. I thought his girlfriend was pregnant, not him.

He really is quite fat. Interesting. His position doesn't look great either. Perhaps his back can't handle it.

This looks slightly more aerodynamic...

 

[Publicus]

Then again, maybe I spoke too soon. I thought his girlfriend was pregnant, not him.

I'm going to chalk that up to belly breathing. He definitely looked leaner in his pre-race photos.

 

[Polish]

"The Bluff"

Are any of you guys old enough to remember "The Bluff"?

Stage Ten, I believe, 2001 Tour de France.

Sitting in the family room watching live extended OLN coverage.
Hours and hours.
Lance is hurting. Hurting bad. Grimaced contorted face.
Uncle Phil was worried.
I distinctly remember thinking:
"oh well, it was fun while it lasted...2 tour Victories in a row is cool"

And then came Alpe d'Huez and the gotcha - "The Look".
I yelled as loud then as the day I watched Dwight Clark's "The Catch"!

So, what is my point? No point really.
But I will not be suprised if Lance struggles and winces through May and June

"The best move of the day, and one that displayed even more audacity, was the elaborate ruse that put Armstrong into a position of strength well before L'Alpe d'Huez appeared above his handlebars. If it were not for The Bluff, there would have been no Look.

The plan was hatched by Armstrong and team director Johan Bruyneel early in the race. Knowing that the other teams closely monitored the Tour TV coverage for race intelligence, Armstrong pretended to be suffering early in the 120-mile stage. He stayed close to the lead pack as it rode the first two peaks, but he showed a pained look on his face."

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/cycling/2003-07-11-the-look_x.htm
.
.
.
.

 

[Publicus]

Are any of you guys old enough to remember "The Bluff"?

Stage Ten, I believe, 2001 Tour de France.

Sitting in the family room watching live extended OLN coverage.
Hours and hours.
Lance is hurting. Hurting bad. Grimaced contorted face.
Uncle Phil was worried.
I distinctly remember thinking:
"oh well, it was fun while it lasted...2 tour Victories in a row is cool"

And then came Alpe d'Huez and the gotcha - "The Look".
I yelled as loud then as the day I watched Dwight Clark's "The Catch"!

So, what is my point? No point really.
But I will not be suprised if Lance struggles and winces through May and June

"The best move of the day, and one that displayed even more audacity, was the elaborate ruse that put Armstrong into a position of strength well before L'Alpe d'Huez appeared above his handlebars. If it were not for The Bluff, there would have been no Look.

The plan was hatched by Armstrong and team director Johan Bruyneel early in the race. Knowing that the other teams closely monitored the Tour TV coverage for race intelligence, Armstrong pretended to be suffering early in the 120-mile stage. He stayed close to the lead pack as it rode the first two peaks, but he showed a pained look on his face."

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/cycling/2003-07-11-the-look_x.htm
.
.
.
.

Yeah. That sounds right. Sandbagging. Bluffing.

 

[Polish]

Yeah. That sounds right. Sandbagging. Bluffing.

I thought you would like that

 

[BikeCentric]

I'm going to chalk that up to belly breathing. He definitely looked leaner in his pre-race photos.

There is no question that his legs ARE very lean.

But that torso bloating he's got going on is just really weird. Whatever it is, it doesn't look healthy.

 

[El Oso]

He really is quite fat. Interesting. His position doesn't look great either. Perhaps his back can't handle it.

He's had a back problem for a long time now (I believe he injured it in a crash sometime around 2000-2002) and always has had that hunch, but his position looks way too high. I would think with all the yoga he claims he does he could get lower. Certainly not a new and improved position as alleged: http://ttbikefit.com/blog/?p=808

 

[karlboss]

Then again, maybe I spoke too soon. I thought his girlfriend was pregnant, not him.

It's his breathing, its always been like this. To see how lean he is check his legs, like all season, carrying a little too much to be a tour weight has time to lose it, though it does bring into question how hard he's been working. I'd still say his power has been down all year for a tour contender ...Still thinking if he rides for the win position 3-5.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I think what is more worrying for RS is that levi got beaten by a U23 at Gila. He'd be wanting to find some form by now.

Looking at the pics, LA is no way near a good fitness. He's struggling and he knows it.

 

[Publicus]

Well this was the position he was supposedly working on in the tunnel:

Here he is at Murcia:

and today:

 

[Publicus]

I think what is more worrying for RS is that levi got beaten by a U23 at Gila. He'd be wanting to find some form by now.

I think it was the wind and the equipment choices really for Levi. He looks like he's really coming on right now. I'm curious if he can hold it beyond ToC.

 

[sportzchick]

Sorry to inturrup the Lance Armstrong show but can I make a note of another good day from Fly V

Hopefully things will fall into place and us Aussies can have our own Pro Tour team

 

[r.avens]

I think it was the wind and the equipment choices really for Levi. He looks like he's really coming on right now. I'm curious if he can hold it beyond ToC.

LL will hold it together just fine until there is a tough tdf mountain stage at which point he will crack like that giant egg on top of his neck.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

How long does it take for them to produce full results, ffs

 

[Beech Mtn]

How long does it take for them to produce full results, ffs

Unfortunately this is not unusual for US races - it takes forever to get the results posted.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Since Gila has other categories as well, I believe they're waiting until all categories are finished before posting the results. There are something like 700 racers here.

I think Publicus and others are right about the breathing part. I don't think anyone finishes where Lance did in RVV being completely out of shape.

But yes, Fly V is having a great Tour of the Gila. Nice to see them doing so well!