Official thread TdF Stage 15 Pontarlier - Verbier - 207.5 km

[Carl0880]

Serious??

Just to give you an idea, I was at a friends house watching todays stage, and he came out asked how Lance did, and then he asked about Hincapie, and Itold him he proabbly was 5-6 minutes back today and he asked, "what the hell happened to him, he just moved up to 2nd yesterday." Even after I explained about him being allowed to be in a breakaway that finished minutes up, and that you can't make that effort and be effective on a mountaintop finish the next day, he still could not comprehend that Hincapie was never a contender. Most Americans believe that you should be dominating, and always be up there. No appreciation for the strategy involved in it.

Example 2

When i told him that I fully expect Cavendish by the end of his career to be the all-time leader in TDF stage wins due to his dominance at this time, he asked where he was in the race, he was appalled because I told him " no where close, but it doesn't matter" He couldn't comprehend how you can win 4 stages and not be leading the race.

Welcome to what true cycling fans in the US has to deal with

 

[RigelKent]

Wow, Carl. You found a guy who knew a name in the peloton other than Armstrong?

 

[frizzlefry]

Oh, sorry. I'm new here. Didn't realise it was a juvenile forum

You have got a lot to learn!!!!

 

[hfer07]

It is fair to call the today's results a "reality check for LA"?
I know JB is going to keep pushing the LA card as much as he can, but it is fair to sacrifice Kloden's chances?

 

[Zen Master]

Looks like Contador is the team leader...for now.

Contador said in his post-race interview that he hopes that Astana team will finally come back to him !?

 

[euphrades]

Carl, cycling has come a long way...I remember watching the 1990 Tour and my uncle saying how can Lemond be the winner if he didn't win a single stage....I rolled my eyes. Be glad your friend knew more than two riders.

Now keep in mind alot of other countries don't seem to get American football. I understand the game but don't understand why its so popular.....

 

[euphrades]

It is fair to call the today's results a "reality check for LA"?

Lance actually said that in his interview with Frankie...

 

[Padeiro]

Again, showing humility after you have been humiliated is not really that hard to do.

I think he might have thought he still had it but was rudely awaken today. I think he was genuinely blindsided by how his form isn't as good as he believed it was. And I don't think I would exactly put it as being humiliated. The man is almost 38, was out of cycling for almost 4 years. I think he thought too highly of his form, but given his palmares and history, I would've too. Reality is a rude slap in the face sometimes!

 

[luckyboy]

AC doesn't even need them now the way he's riding

 

[SpeedWay]

Oh, sorry. I'm new here. Didn't realise it was a juvenile forum

Give it a chance. It's cheaper than going to the circus and the characters are just as entertaining.

 

[klodifan]

It is fair to call the today's results a "reality check for LA"?
I know JB is going to keep pushing the LA card as much as he can, but it is fair to sacrifice Kloden's chances?

I think had Levi been in the race, he would have stayed with Lance, and Klodi would have been with Wiggins group, at least.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Contador said in his post-race interview that he hopes that Astana team will finally come back to him !?

Isn't that in the same direction that Armstrong is moving?

 

[MKirilenko]

btw. 5.6kms to finish AC attacked and gained 1,35mins over LA. That gives 17secs per kilometre! Nice

 

[BroDeal]

Come on, guys. Don't be fooled. Armstrong rode easy today so he get get two rest days in a row. He will sock it to everyone hard in the last week. It is all part of Bruyneel's master plan. Just wait. That upstart Contador won't know what hit him.

 

[Amsterhammer]

Give it a chance. It's cheaper than going to the circus and the characters are just as entertaining.

One of today's better lines.

 

[titan_90]

Just to give you an idea, I was at a friends house watching todays stage, and he came out asked how Lance did, and then he asked about Hincapie, and Itold him he proabbly was 5-6 minutes back today and he asked, "what the hell happened to him, he just moved up to 2nd yesterday." Even after I explained about him being allowed to be in a breakaway that finished minutes up, and that you can't make that effort and be effective on a mountaintop finish the next day, he still could not comprehend that Hincapie was never a contender. Most Americans believe that you should be dominating, and always be up there. No appreciation for the strategy involved in it.

Example 2

When i told him that I fully expect Cavendish by the end of his career to be the all-time leader in TDF stage wins due to his dominance at this time, he asked where he was in the race, he was appalled because I told him " no where close, but it doesn't matter" He couldn't comprehend how you can win 4 stages and not be leading the race.

Welcome to what true cycling fans in the US has to deal with

I have totally given up trying to explain the sport to my friends and family. It's so infuriating explaining things to them 4 or 5 times and they still don't get it.

 

[RigelKent]

I think had Levi been in the race, he would have stayed with Lance, and Klodi would have been with Wiggins group, at least.

I think history--and his own admissions--have shown that what Klodi CAN do and what he wants to do may be two different things.

 

[Carl0880]

Carl, cycling has come a long way...I remember watching the 1990 Tour and my uncle saying how can Lemond be the winner if he didn't win a single stage....I rolled my eyes. Be glad your friend knew more than two riders.

Now keep in mind alot of other countries don't seem to get American football. I understand the game but don't understand why its so popular.....

I think he knew Cavendish because I talk about him a ton (Kinda have to when the guy wins stage after stage).

American Football is popular because of the phyiscal hitting. America loves excess. Thats why steroids in baseball has been given a pass, because as long as you hit those long home runs, most Americans don't care.

Back to the race today......

Outside of Wiggins, the biggest surprise was sastre being unable to hold the group at the beginning of the climb. Maybe a bad patch??? It unfolded as I expected, Contador attacked, A. Schleck followed but couldn't get there, and everybody else was blanketed across 30 seconds.

Kudos to Kloden, he worked a ton today. Plus, give many kudos to mr. SPilak, who had to be let back in the race for his performance today.

 

[Futuroscope]

1. AC
2. Schleckette
3. ????

i think wiggins will ride a monster TT and thus be able to hold schleck behind him ...but i could be wrong if schleck puts massive time into wiggins on mount ventoux.

 

[luckyboy]

i think wiggins will ride a monster TT and thus be able to hold schleck behind him ...but i could be wrong if schleck puts massive time into wiggins on mount ventoux.

I really don't think Schleck will be able to make up the time he loses on the TT

 

[Dr. Maserati]

Just to give you an idea, I was at a friends house watching todays stage, and he came out asked how Lance did, and then he asked about Hincapie, and Itold him he proabbly was 5-6 minutes back today and he asked, "what the hell happened to him, he just moved up to 2nd yesterday." Even after I explained about him being allowed to be in a breakaway that finished minutes up, and that you can't make that effort and be effective on a mountaintop finish the next day, he still could not comprehend that Hincapie was never a contender. Most Americans believe that you should be dominating, and always be up there. No appreciation for the strategy involved in it.

Example 2

When i told him that I fully expect Cavendish by the end of his career to be the all-time leader in TDF stage wins due to his dominance at this time, he asked where he was in the race, he was appalled because I told him " no where close, but it doesn't matter" He couldn't comprehend how you can win 4 stages and not be leading the race.

Welcome to what true cycling fans in the US has to deal with

My favourite is a quote from Hincapie - when he would go home to NY and explain he was a pro bike rider and that he was on the same team as Lance Armstrong, people would say "Lance has a team"!

 

[Carl0880]

i think wiggins will ride a monster TT and thus be able to hold schleck behind him ...but i could be wrong if schleck puts massive time into wiggins on mount ventoux.

I am not quite sure about Wiggins riding the monster time-trial. Is he capable, yes.. There is a big difference though riding the final TT after spending most of the last week in the gruppeto, and riding the TT after being in the front group on those stages. We have no history to go off in terms of him competing for GC and the final TT.

Obvious the same statement will go for the Ventoux finish for him. Wiggins is the definate wild-card, he could podium, or he could fall down to 10-15th place. We just don't know.

 

[El Imbatido]

When did he talk 'massive ****', I think all he said was he'd come here to try and win, which is what most of the GC riders came to do didn't they ?

The point trying to be expressed here is that he came to a team that already had a GC man and basically tried to take over. NO class in that. he knew ol uncle Bruyneel would help him tho.

 

[Raggamuffin]

AC only has to start blowing the top of his index finger and he really has that 'Shooter McGavin' victory salute sorted. How NAFF! Great ride nonetheless

 

[Darrylc]

Come on, guys. Don't be fooled. Armstrong rode easy today so he get get two rest days in a row. He will sock it to everyone hard in the last week. It is all part of Bruyneel's master plan. Just wait. That upstart Contador won't know what hit him.

To me it looked like Contador rode easy too.It did not look very easy for Lance, unless i was looking at someone else.