Criterium International - The showdown

[auscyclefan94]

Not sure how Alberto could help Vino win this race...unless Alberto backpedals during the ITT

Alberto's decision to ride the Fleche-Wallonne, however, should be cool!
Who else can match Alberto on the final climb up the Mur de Huy?

We may be seeing an "Eddy-like" year this year with Alberto - one in which he WINS half or more of every race he starts. Kind of special.

I'm not so sure that Fleche Wallonne will be a straight forward accelerate and ride away from your opponents win for alberto. I think he could do well but classics can sometimes be tatically out of your hands. Should do well though.

Conti should win. Nice short tt and MTF should seal the deal.

 

[BikeCentric]

But it was being presented here as a move just to trump Armstrong, when in fact it's more likely because the Paris Nice was harder than expected for AC. This is interesting because most of the top riders at the Paris Nice are also going for the Tour - they were all in the same boat. It shows it may not be a walkover is AC is only marginally ahead of them.

As for honesty - I think most riders are fairly honest about how their form is. Armstrong was honest when he said that he needed more races to get up to form. I've also seen he has been playing down his chances of beating Contador in a very realistic manner. It's usually the media and frankly internet forums spinning things where things get distorted.

Folks, this guy is BPC/Arbiter/Sprocket01 etc.

The troll is back.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Anyone have a startlist?

I know AC, LA, LL and CE are riding but who else?

 

[Big GMaC]

Ignore List.

PROTIP: http://www.youtube.com/user/dimspace#p/u/2/6MdxElRjunQ

 

[thehog]

Halfway through a stage Armstrong will yell at the cameras, "Screw you guys! I'm going home."

Did you ever read Coyles book "War"?

He recounts a story whereby in the early season races at the start line the feeling is always much more relaxed than say at a GT. Most of the riders spend the time saying hello to each other and giving each other a "pinch" around the waistline. This "pinch" is a test to see how much bodyfat a rider is carrying and as a simple assessment to how much work a rider has been doing and if they've been enjoying the off season more than they should have.

Looking forward to Alberto giving Lance a pinch but I'm not sure he's fingers have the span to cover the width of Armstrong gut!

 

[Mellow Velo]

that isn't a backdown. It's clear LL is on better form so why wouldn't he lead?

That is the best Armstrong put-down I've read in weeks!

 

[python]

The 3 part stage race is low on the fizz but there's a 7.7km ITT which should allow Contador to show who's boss.

Masterstroke by Alberto knowing Lance will attempt to build the tension for July and will now have to face off eariler.

http://www.letour.fr/2010/CRI/COURSE/us/le_parcours.html

Question now - Does Lance have the ball to turn up and face his the one man who can destroy him. Is he man enough?

masterstroke indeed.

that boy is both smart and has good advisers.

 

[issoisso]

Haha, that means I'm posting in the future. Stay tuned I will let you know who wins MSR before it's run

Just make sure to do it before betting closes

 

[progressor]

I'm starting to think there has to be a better cycling forum than this one, this constant, endless, completely ridiculous and utterly boring anti armstrong dribble is getting worse. As for that wigans garbage

Anyone know a forum somewhere in the middle? I'm not any more interested in bunch of pro armstrong zealots than the anti armstrong zealots who are increasingly dominating and destroying this place.

Feel free to give some suggestions without the predictable 15 year old level insults.

 

[craig1985]

Nobody has ever forced you to read the Lance threads. Just give them a wide berth like I do with the vast majority of them.

 

[BroDeal]

I'm starting to think there has to be a better cycling forum than this one, this constant, endless, completely ridiculous and utterly boring anti armstrong dribble is getting worse. As for that wigans garbage

Anyone know a forum somewhere in the middle? I'm not any more interested in bunch of pro armstrong zealots than the anti armstrong zealots who are increasingly dominating and destroying this place.

Feel free to give some suggestions without the predictable 15 year old level insults.

Does Biker Fox have a forum? It might be more your style.

 

[Ferminal]

I'm starting to think there has to be a better cycling forum than this one, this constant, endless, completely ridiculous and utterly boring anti armstrong dribble is getting worse. As for that wigans garbage

Anyone know a forum somewhere in the middle? I'm not any more interested in bunch of pro armstrong zealots than the anti armstrong zealots who are increasingly dominating and destroying this place.

Feel free to give some suggestions without the predictable 15 year old level insults.

Use the ignore button!

I'd say it's more pro contador atm.

But of course people are going to have a dig at the guy who made himself in the public limelight.

 

[progressor]

Use the ignore button!

I'd say it's more pro contador atm.

But of course people are going to have a dig at the guy who made himself in the public limelight.

Whoa that's a lot of ignoring

 

[Francois the Postman]

So when LL is on better form at the TdF, Lance is going to play SuperDom for him?

I suspect yes. The moment it becomes clear that this is the only face saving way out of 2010. The problem will be to have LL in form for this grace+twitter-for-the-team exit route.

 

[Tangled Tango]

I suspect yes. The moment it becomes clear that this is the only face saving way out of 2010. The problem will be to have LL in form for this grace+twitter-for-the-team exit route.

The problem for them is the very real chance of no results for either LA, LL, AK or anyone else on the Shack, except for TdC. I think LA will work as hard as possible to make it a good show at the Tour with JB and himself working the press/twitter train according to what they view as his chances in relation to AC and other rivals. That may means saying LL is the leader one day or Kloden another, but let´s not kid ourselves who the real leader will be at the Tour.

 

[mr. tibbs]

The stage profiles are up at the Le Tour website. Stage one is 175.5 kilometers with four climbs then a mountain finish with 14.2 kilometers at 6.2% on the Col de l'Ospedale. It's gonna be sweet!

http://www.letour.fr/indexCRI_fr.html

Dern. Looks like a beautiful stage.

How many comparable days will we see in July? I'm counting one, maybe two (14 & 17). There could have been a few more, but for the 20-or-so kilometers ASO always tacks onto the end of so many of their mountain stages.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

I'm starting to think there has to be a better cycling forum than this one, this constant, endless, completely ridiculous and utterly boring anti armstrong dribble is getting worse. As for that wigans garbage

Anyone know a forum somewhere in the middle? I'm not any more interested in bunch of pro armstrong zealots than the anti armstrong zealots who are increasingly dominating and destroying this place.

Feel free to give some suggestions without the predictable 15 year old level insults.

The RadioShack forums might be what you seek, grasshopper.

 

[Francois the Postman]

The problem for them is the very real chance of no results for either LA, LL, AK or anyone else on the Shack, except for TdC. I think LA will work as hard as possible to make it a good show at the Tour with JB and himself working the press/twitter train according to what they view as his chances in relation to AC and other rivals. That may means saying LL is the leader one day or Kloden another, but let´s not kid ourselves who the real leader will be at the Tour.

After last year's Tour I thought RadioShack might put in a decent showing, with Lance top 8 maybe just, which I would find admirable given (team) age and competition. After the initial signs of how it's coming together for Lance & Co, I'm have revised my expectations down so far that I stopped caring if they show up or not.

I now think the whole team will be a trailing side show with the word "rivalry" too embarrassed to come out and play. And I would be surprised if this summer will show us something different than a racing legend reduced to a pathetic media circus, only able to make an impact off-road. A sideshow that will only entertain and captivate part of the English-speaking planet earth, and a well-known reporting duo. And probably get in the way of showing the good stuff.

Which for once could be glorious. The moment we get down to serious business: Spain, Luxembourg (if fit) and the boys in green. And with a bit of luck a couple of blue/orange dudes in the mix. And a champ who wants to ride. I'm hoping this will be the first Tour in years that will actually entertain and live up to the hype of being the greatest GT of 'em all.

To be frank (re:Showdown). I wonder if Lance actually features in Contador's thoughts much, if at all. I suspect this showdown is something that will keep those who like to see Lance put in his place a lot, but is accidental nevertheless.

PN was hard racing, and I still think that Contador doesn't look in a shape he is totally comfortable with. There will be several other names than Lance that give him some thought though. "Some" being the operative word.

But it looks like Contador's Tour preparation has become a bit more serious than the playground he had lined up. Crit Int is taking it easy, a bit, in a way. Making the inevitable pill much harder to swallow for Lance, as it will be handed out by a guy who is taking the gas OFF the pedal. Rather than by someone who is looking for a fight with a guy who no longer matters.

It all feels like it is slowly dawning on Lance that 2010 isn't shaping up like he had dreamt it would at all. And to top it off, he will now be in a showdown with someone who isn't even looking at him for a showdown. And Lance is looking the weaker one going into it. I suspect Contador is starting to get under his skin in the most wonderful ways. It is no longer about Lance, and he knows it.

 

[Bike Rider]

I'm starting to think there has to be a better cycling forum than this one, this constant, endless, completely ridiculous and utterly boring anti armstrong dribble is getting worse. As for that wigans garbage

Anyone know a forum somewhere in the middle? I'm not any more interested in bunch of pro armstrong zealots than the anti armstrong zealots who are increasingly dominating and destroying this place.

Feel free to give some suggestions without the predictable 15 year old level insults.

Well I just hope that Contador gets more respect if he is still riding the tour in 2021.

 

[Bike Rider]

I'm starting to think there has to be a better cycling forum than this one, this constant, endless, completely ridiculous and utterly boring anti armstrong dribble is getting worse. As for that wigans garbage

Anyone know a forum somewhere in the middle? I'm not any more interested in bunch of pro armstrong zealots than the anti armstrong zealots who are increasingly dominating and destroying this place.

Feel free to give some suggestions without the predictable 15 year old level insults.

Well I just hope if Contador is still riding the Tour in 2021 he receives a little more respect.

 

[BikeCentric]

Well I just hope if Contador is still riding the Tour in 2021 he receives a little more respect.

As long as he doesn't disrespect the sport by doing things like starting childish games with his heir apparent and then make a mockery of the sport by showing up to races fat and out of shape in mid-March, then he'll still get plenty of respect.

 

[rhubroma]

After the way Contador had been treated last year by the Lance brigade at Astana, he must relish in the thought of being able to reverse that disagreeable intimidation factor which had always been the modus operandi of the so called The Boss whenever facing his adversaries like Simeoni, though not his real rivals, like Ullrich, with the difference, however, that AC isn't actually trying to be intimidating though do to his unquestionable athletic prowess and superiority is.

 

[mr. tibbs]

As long as he doesn't disrespect the sport by doing things like starting childish games with his heir apparent and then make a mockery of the sport by showing up to races fat and out of shape in mid-March, then he'll still get plenty of respect.

Well...as for the "fat" thing, I've always made fun of chubby pros, especially Ullrich, who was my favorite and who is responsible for getting me hooked on cycling. (But I still made fun of him.)

 

[dsut4392]

What I would like to see AC do at CI...

...is exactly what he did at the Dauphine last year to Evans. Sit on LA and suck his wheel, and help some other rival win the race by pacing him if LA tries a move (CVV would be perfect for maximum annoyance factor, but LLS more likely given nationalist sentiment and form).

AC has already shown us he has race-winning form this season. Seeing him throw a potential victory away just to thumb his nose at the 'rivalry' would be priceless!

Not that anyone I'm seriously expecting LA (or LL) to have the form to try anything...

 

[richwagmn]

The 3 part stage race is low on the fizz but there's a 7.7km ITT which should allow Contador to show who's boss.

Masterstroke by Alberto knowing Lance will attempt to build the tension for July and will now have to face off eariler.


http://www.letour.fr/2010/CRI/COURSE/us/le_parcours.html

Question now - Does Lance have the ball to turn up and face his the one man who can destroy him. Is he man enough?

Dude, you make me laugh.