Official thread- TDF Stage 7 Barcelone - Andorre Arcalis 224km

[Anonymous]

More brilliant replies from the "king of the Internet"

Really man, you should be proud that Lance is almost strong enough to win. I mean, maybe you guys will get your wish and Contador will fall to his death or something. Then clearly Armstrong will be in a better position.

I do feel badly for Nike and Versus and fanboy nation, because there is a fortune in tee shirts NOT being made right now....not to mention flashy Versus promos with spinning wheels and lots of yellow. Dang.

 

[euphrades]

Oh - its obvious that Ac has gone against the team tactics today going on what both LA & JB said after the stage. It means - whether or not it is true that AC believes he is not getting team support.
Yes going against your DS is a big no no... but I dont think JB will be AC's DS for too long.

Yes- going against your team is a dangerous ploy even with his ability.

I dont think Kloden getting gaped is a major issue - Kloden and Levi are pretty much 'superdomestiques'.

Watching the post race comment from Levi makes me beleive that he wasn't too happy by AC attack either. Sounds like AC may have made a big mistake in keeping team unity.

 

[Anonymous]

Interesting note, had Astana folded and Contador gone to Slipstream, he would still have had two teammates in the final break......and he still would have dropped Armstrong.

Good ride by Wiggins and VDV!

 

[Anonymous]

Must we fill the forum and this thread with needless and juvenile jabs and barbs back and forth?

And no Thoughtforfood, pointing that out does not relegate me to moral equivalency. It just means there are people here who would love to read and talk about the tour sans people hurling insults back and forth.

Well, right now there are 3 other people posting about me. Now why is it that you did not address them?

 

[LinkAge]

Oh - its obvious that Ac has gone against the team tactics today going on what both LA & JB said after the stage. It means - whether or not it is true that AC believes he is not getting team support.
Yes going against your DS is a big no no... but I dont think JB will be AC's DS for too long.

Yes- going against your team is a dangerous ploy even with his ability.

I dont think Kloden getting gaped is a major issue - Kloden and Levi are pretty much 'superdomestiques'.

- He still his DS, if one of my works would have done something against my will, he will pay . I don't think it's gonna happen here because conti is a big(est) GC guy.
but I'm sure if JB could, he would have kicked his ***.

- nothing to say to that

-Klodi and LL are not the big players, but if they are up there, why not use them?
don't drop them, leave them up there and let the other GC guys deal with them.

I'm not a LA fan, but after today I hope conti won't win the overall , and for me the best end result would be if LL, Kloden or LA beat him
in my book, the team comes first!

 

[Bainreese]

Well, right now there are 3 other people posting about me. Now why is it that you did not address them?

....

Must we fill the forum and this thread with needless and juvenile jabs and barbs back and forth?

I addressed everyone who is taking part in the behavior. However, since every time I've seen someone bring it up, including myself, you make a post saying that posting about it puts them in the same boat, I thought I'd head you off at the pass.

Now please...let's talk about the Tour.

 

[byu123]

Watching the post race comment from Levi makes me beleive that he wasn't too happy by AC attack either. Sounds like AC may have made a big mistake in keeping team unity.

Neither was Kloden. Contador was penny wise but pound foolish. Gained 21 seconds and pi$$ed off the rest of the team.

 

[euphrades]

Neither was Kloden. Contador was penny wise but pound foolish. Gained 21 seconds and pi$$ed off the rest of the team.

I didn't see the comment from Kloden.....do you have a link?

 

[RightWingNutJob]

LOL@people proclaiming that the tour is already over.

 

[Anonymous]

Neither was Kloden. Contador was penny wise but pound foolish. Gained 21 seconds and pi$$ed off the rest of the team.

Its funny that nobody was pi$$ed at Contador's teammates increasing the gap just as the second group was only 18 seconds back on stage 3, but now EVERYONE on the team is against him.

Again, 3rd place is good. You guys should be happy.

I for one hope that Mr Armstrong cryptic prediction of just two people alone comes to fruition because Contador will drop him.

 

[Dr. Maserati]

- He still his DS, if one of my works would have done something against my will, he will pay . I don't think it's gonna happen here because conti is a big(est) GC guy.
but I'm sure if JB could, he would have kicked his ***.

- nothing to say to that

-Klodi and LL are not the big players, but if they are up there, why not use them?
don't drop them, leave them up there and let the other GC guys deal with them.

I'm not a LA fan, but after today I hope conti won't win the overall , and for me the best end result would be if LL, Kloden or LA beat him
in my book, the team comes first!

Well the tactic of pacing up the climb was fine - it is up for the other teams to attack. So, again the tactic of having Contador attack would be ok as long as its a team decision. But from what they said after the stage is that it was not the plan - Then I don't understand that tactic except that they are 'riding' for LA.
That could prove a dangerous ploy and a third dog could run away with the bone.

As for Kloden & Levi - the objective should be an Astana guy in yellow in Paris. Then you have to sacrifice your team and it appears that both have put aside any personal ambition to do just that.

 

[Wheels Go Round and Round]

Its funny that nobody was pi$$ed at Contador's teammates increasing the gap just as the second group was only 18 seconds back on stage 3, but now EVERYONE on the team is against him.

Again, 3rd place is good. You guys should be happy.

I for one hope that Mr Armstrong cryptic prediction of just two people alone comes to fruition because Contador will drop him.

You haven't been right yet so what makes this one any different?

 

[oncearunner]

I'm thouroughly enjoying this year's race so far. I did notice that LA seemed a little PO'd in general during the post stage interview, going off on a reporter who bumped into him. He's been in many a media scrum but I don't recall him ever going off like that which suggests he was acutely frustrated by something or other prior to that interview.

AC's attack does not really make sense to me either. I'm all in favor of the strongest guy winning but that seemed like a waste of energy that might be needed later on.

In any case this is shaping up to be a very interesting tour indeed.

 

[Bainreese]

I noticed the winner didn't zip his jersey at the end. A french guy should know better. Especially when he wasn't really in threat of being overtaken.

My thoughts on the whole AC thing was, if he was going to go and set things to rights....he should have gone sooner in the climb. Waiting till the last 2km really muted any real assertion of dominance over his other team members. In some regards, it almost seems as though his effort was not 'balls out' because of that fact.

The idea that he might have been going against his DS might have attributed to the late attack. But if he did have the form to go,...he should have went earlier. So either he didn't have the form, or his inexperience is showing again. I hope he does better next week.

 

[Anonymous]

Really man, you should be proud that Lance is almost strong enough to win. I mean, maybe you guys will get your wish and Contador will fall to his death or something. Then clearly Armstrong will be in a better position.

I do feel badly for Nike and Versus and fanboy nation, because there is a fortune in tee shirts NOT being made right now....not to mention flashy Versus promos with spinning wheels and lots of yellow. Dang.

Wow, for someone who despises Armstrong as much as yourself, you sure do seem to talk about him in 90% of your posts.

Secret man crush perhaps? It's ok if you want to come out of the closet.

 

[indurain666]

So why do you think AC needed to take time then?

mmm welll I don't know...perhaps...to get the yellow jersey and win the TDF??? but I am not sure..if thats such a good idea when you ride bicycles for a living...

 

[luckyboy]

I noticed the winner didn't zip his jersey at the end. A french guy should know better. Especially when he wasn't really in threat of being overtaken.

My thoughts on the whole AC thing was, if he was going to go and set things to rights....he should have gone sooner in the climb. Waiting till the last 2km really muted any real assertion of dominance over his other team members. In some regards, it almost seems as though his effort was not 'balls out' because of that fact.

The idea that he might have been going against his DS might have attributed to the late attack. But if he did have the form to go,...he should have went earlier. So either he didn't have the form, or his inexperience is showing again. I hope he does better next week.

He's ahead of Lance now, and way ahead of Menchov, Schlecks, Evans etc. I don't really see how he won't win. Unless he collapses majorly on one day.

 

[byu123]

I didn't see the comment from Kloden.....do you have a link?

Contador's break with the plan put Kloden off the back. He lost 27 seconds to the peloton. http://www.letour.fr/2009/TDF/LIVE/us/700/classement/

I thought Leipheimer would go off the back before Kloden.

 

[Bala Verde]

My thoughts on the whole AC thing was, if he was going to go and set things to rights....he should have gone sooner in the climb. Waiting till the last 2km really muted any real assertion of dominance over his other team members. In some regards, it almost seems as though his effort was not 'balls out' because of that fact.

The idea that he might have been going against his DS might have attributed to the late attack. But if he did have the form to go,...he should have went earlier. So either he didn't have the form, or his inexperience is showing again.

Well as Bruyneel said after the stage, he had expected Sastre to attack from the bottom of the climb. However, he also noticed that the wind was brutal on the flanks of Arcalis, which lead him to believe that any such effort would have been in vein and a waste of energy.

In that case, Contador's attack might have been quite well timed, only 2k before the end, and still putting a whopping 20s in on the opposition, who hadn't even come close to diminishing their deficit. He even extends his lead, almost 'effortlesly' in the last 2k, while drafting (according to Andy Schleck) a motor, and in the act, perhaps even demoralizes the other GC contenders

 

[dadoorsron]

Except put him in the best position to win the Tour.

No because you look at the GC time gaps and it really doesn't seperate him from many of the main leaders.

 

[byu123]

. . . putting a whopping 20s in on the opposition . . . while drafting (according to Andy Schleck) a motor . . .

Which proves little as to form and dominance vis a vis the other GC contenders who didn't have the benefit of drafting off the motorcycle.

 

[dadoorsron]

+1 I'm no LA fan but today he showed some class by sitting in and not working.

I'm not so sure that tomorrow will be as boring as some people think. The descent off the Col d'Agnes is super quick and it's a 60-70kph blast over the last 40kms or so to Saint Girons. If I were AC, I would be looking to repeat todays acceleration from about the false flat 2km from the summit and with one or two others with me (LLS? Payback time for the Dauphine from Caisse?) and 2-up TT to the finish. That would give AC total leadership of the team, the yellow jersey and a relatively easy die, barring any mishaps, to the Champs Elysee.

a solo ride off the front would get sucked up by the leading group That would be a waste of energy!

 

[dadoorsron]

He's ahead of Lance now, and way ahead of Menchov, Schlecks, Evans etc. I don't really see how he won't win. Unless he collapses majorly on one day.

If your team doesn't ride for you I can see him next to evans in the standings if he isn't careful.

 

[Bainreese]

Well as Bruyneel said after the stage, he had expected Sastre to attack from the bottom of the climb. However, he also noticed that the wind was brutal on the flanks of Arcalis, which lead him to believe that any such effort would have been in vein and a waste of energy.

In that case, Contador's attack might have been quite well timed, only 2k before the end, and still putting a whopping 20s in on the opposition, who hadn't even come close to diminishing their deficit. He even extends his lead, almost 'effortlesly' in the last 2k, while drafting (according to Andy Schleck) a motor, and in the act, perhaps even demoralizes the other GC contenders

That's certainly a very plausible analysis. And while I'm sure you are only trying to emphasis your point, I wouldn't ...at this point of the Tour, call 20 seconds whopping. It's really not that much considering this is only the first mountain stage and you have several more to go including another Time Trial to boot.

Any time is good time between you and the next guy. The question is how costly it was. The fact that the grade lessened over the last 2k made it less costly, but I wouldn't say an attack like that was almost effortless. 2k of uphill, even at that grade, after 220k of racing is a lot of effort in order to put the gap in he did. Then, if you take into consideration the political toll he's going to have to pay within the team if all the polemics we are hearing about the other riders not being happy with him are true.

I guess I was just saying that if he was going to pay that price...going a couple ks before that might have been better. A bit of armchair quarterbacking him....but

 

[Parrot23]

Graham Watson (photographer on the bike) said: "Leipheimer and Armstrong look a little fried now..."

Sure look it, but I don't know, because Watson is notoriously inaccurate in his assessments of people's form despite being right there. 3rd last pic:

http://grahamwatson.com/gw/imagedocs.nsf/updateframesetcall?openform&09tdfSt7