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

[Anonymous]

I have been committed....

you have been NOTHING but wrong since the tour started.... so what makes you think you are right now?

And you have been right? Oh wait.......

Hey, I hear they have a nice set of steak knives for 3rd place. Maybe he will get the full dinette set if he moves up one spot?

 

[Anonymous]

I have been committed....

you have been NOTHING but wrong since the tour started.... so what makes you think you are right now?

By the way, when 90% of your posts are about me, I would suggest that your pontifications about what will and will not happen are just a smoke screen. You obviously have a hard on for me. I guess living "on the edge" means cyber stalking.

 

[richwagmn]

How ignorant is espn, two dickheads, just said that nobody gives a crap about cycling unless lance is racing, I am so glad I have spanish citizenship so I can say I am spanish this shows the ignorance of US sports media. But anyway I was not surprised by LA but he has been impressive coming out of retirement to 4th in the tour, contador not a huge attack but the speed, nobody could follow that acceleration, and it was a good performance considering how hard it is to make up time on a section that was not steep, to gain 18 seconds against a group of favourites is impressive, I hope some more attacking goes on today though, but I think evans is screwed.

It's no surprise that the US, in general, doesn't care about pro-cycling. Same with soccer. Just too many other big sports unique (more or less) to the US.

Doesn't affect my love for the sport at all.

 

[frizzlefry]

So if Contador attacks on Sat or Sundays climb, does LA let him go or does he try to follow?

 

[RightWingNutJob]

So if Contador attacks on Sat or Sundays climb, does LA let him go or does he try to follow?

LA lets him go. He has people planted up the rode on 10 mile intervals with spike strips.

 

[frizzlefry]

LA lets him go. He has people planted up the rode on 10 mile intervals with spike strips.

.........

 

[Anonymous]

So if Contador attacks on Sat or Sundays climb, does LA let him go or does he try to follow?

The worst part of that question is that because none of the mountains are finishing climbs, any attack would be neutralized most likely.

Here is one scenario that could very well play out. Contador falls on a fast descent. Descending for time has worked before, and I will give LA one thing, he can handle a bike better than Contador. Someone goes balls out on a descent, and I can foresee the chase causing those with sketchier bike skills some problems in the forms of gaps or falls. I hope that is not the case, but it wouldn't be the first time.

Then, Armstrong wins and has to come back next year to prove he can beat Contador fair and square...and we suffer fanboys for another 3 weeks again.

 

[frizzlefry]

The worst part of that question is that because none of the mountains are finishing climbs, any attack would be neutralized most likely.

Here is one scenario that could very well play out. Contador falls on a fast decent. Descending for time has worked before, and I will give LA one thing, he can handle a bike better than Contador. Someone goes balls out on a descent, and I can foresee the chase causing those with sketchier bike skills some problems in the forms of gaps or falls. I hope that is not the case, but it wouldn't be the first time.

Then, Armstrong wins and has to come back next year to prove he can beat Contador fair and square...and we suffer fanboys for another weeks again.

Armstrong would wait for him.

 

[aermet]

Good question frizzlefry. I thought about what tactics would need to unfold in order to favor either AC or LA in the upcoming mtn stages. Fortunately, there will be many other factors, other attacks, probably a break up the road, that it will come down to spur of the moment decisions. On a very primitive level, one could think that the first who attacks shall leave the other teammate to sit behind on others wheels, which would mean that potentially, 2 competing riders would need to attack earlier than ideal in order to relegate the other to subordinate position. However, a tour climbing stage is so long and difficult that it would not seem so easy. It's also BS, as written before, that one NEVER chases a teammate in a break. On a solo break, that makes sense, but in a break with others, there are certainly times when you will work to bring it back. One can also try to bridge up to a teammate off the front or in a break either solo or with another rider of no threat if they are able.

 

[aermet]

Armstrong would wait for him.

Not a chance-unless it's after AC has put a lot of time into all others including him and there is no way to pass him on GC.

 

[frizzlefry]

I dont think either one will want to lose time to other, being that they are only 2 seconds apart. I think if one goes the other will try to mark him. The question is if LA can mark AC.

 

[Anonymous]

I dont think either one will want to lose time to other being that they are only 2 seconds apart. I think if one goes the other will try to mark him. The question is if LA can mark AC.

I think LA can mark him on all but the steepest slopes.

 

[horseman]

I think that AC has the edge on LA, but I must admit I didn't expect Armstrong to be performing as well as this, there is no doubt about it he is still very good.

 

[RightWingNutJob]

I think LA can mark him on all but the steepest slopes.

I just hope they come out swingin. That would be great, although I hope LA had time to read my packing heat thread.

 

[RightWingNutJob]

I think that AC has the edge on LA, but I must admit I didn't expect Armstrong to be performing as well as this, there is no doubt about it he is still very good.

Agree, it would have been interesting to see what would have happened if LA had tried to bridge the gap to AC. I'm sure we will find out soon though.

 

[indurain666]

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.

This is crap, saw the stage, didnt draft. Wait and see my Lance fans, wait and seee

 

[aermet]

I participated in a tour pool with some close friends. I had 2nd pick, since AC was chosen and I could not pick LA as there was just no way to tell what his condition would be. (I chose Cadel solely based on his consistency in the last few years) It does not surprise me that he is doing so well. He is a very gifted athlete, trains like nobody's business, and knows how to ride his bike. That so many put so much emphasis on the fact that he is 37 is overrated. Endurance is generally better for long stage racing as one gets older, and VO2 max does not decline appreciably at his age versus peak. I would guess less than 8% or so at his age from peak.

 

[LargusMeans]

Contador is not a fool, he knows the traditions of teams and the yellow jersey, if LA got that jersey today, LA would have then become the team leader and the only remaining chance he would have had to beat LA would be the TT. Contador is a 3 time GT champion for a reason, he knew that after LA's time gain on stage 3, he had to get back that time today, period, end of story. Now he has placed himself at the front of the team again and once he pulls on the yellow, that will be game over for LA. LA knows this, hence why he was ****ed off and used the media for his passive aggressive war with AC.

LA-"That wasn't really to the plan, but I didn't expect him to go by the plan, so [it was] no surprise."

For a champion like LA, that is a pretty pathetic statement to make. Sorry but not everybody is going to roll over and let him win, especially AC who has his own ambitions of glory.

LA needs to stop playing this media game, I cheered for him for 7 straight tours, but I'm feeling different about this one. What did he honestly expect the winner of all 3 grand tours was going to do??

 

[aermet]

Contador is not a fool, he knows the traditions of teams and the yellow jersey, if LA got that jersey today, LA would have then become the team leader and the only remaining chance he would have had to beat LA would be the TT. Contador is a 3 time GT champion for a reason, he knew that after LA's time gain on stage 3, he had to get back that time today, period, end of story. Now he has placed himself at the front of the team again and once he pulls on the yellow, that will be game over for LA. LA knows this, hence why he was ****ed off and used the media for his passive aggressive war with AC.

LA-"That wasn't really to the plan, but I didn't expect him to go by the plan, so [it was] no surprise."

For a champion like LA, that is a pretty pathetic statement to make. Sorry but not everybody is going to roll over and let him win, especially AC who has his own ambitions of glory.

LA needs to stop playing this media game, I cheered for him for 7 straight tours, but I'm feeling different about this one. What did he honestly expect the winner of all 3 grand tours was going to do??

While you have a good point with regards to team plans and etiquette, I don't agree here. Just because a teammate has the yellow, that does not make them team leader throughout the race. Fabian is one example.

Also, the rules in this tour are completely different. If there was no contract binding AC to Astana, he would probably be in the same boat that the Garmin, or other team riders are in in relation to GC time (presuming he would be on Garmin) and he would be needing to attack Astana to win.
What I'm saying is that until either AC or LA sees that there is no chance for either one of them to win overall, they will ride for themselves and we shall see a soap opera tour with regards to normal team tactics-of course under the guise of team unity and all is hunky dory.

 

[frizzlefry]

LA-"That wasn't really to the plan, but I didn't expect him to go by the plan, so [it was] no surprise."

For a champion like LA, that is a pretty pathetic statement to make. Sorry but not everybody is going to roll over and let him win, especially AC who has his own ambitions of glory.

What was he supposed to say to the question that was asked? No comment? They you guys would blackball him and say he is ahole cause he doesnt talk to the media. You cant have it both ways.

 

[Anonymous]

What was he supposed to say to the question that was asked? No comment? They you guys would blackball him and say he is ahole cause he doesnt talk to the media. You cant have it both ways.

That is the best part about being a hater, we can!

 

[RightWingNutJob]

While you have a good point with regards to team plans and etiquette, I don't agree here. Just because a teammate has the yellow, that does not make them team leader throughout the race. Fabian is one example.

Also, the rules in this tour are completely different. If there was no contract binding AC to Astana, he would probably be in the same boat that the Garmin, or other team riders are in in relation to GC time (presuming he would be on Garmin) and he would be needing to attack Astana to win.
What I'm saying is that until either AC or LA sees that there is no chance for either one of them to win overall, they will ride for themselves and we shall see a soap opera tour with regards to normal team tactics-of course under the guise of team unity and all is hunky dory.

If from what everyone is saying that its already over and AC is going to win, then I think we need for them to attack each other. It would be pretty boring to see AC ride into Paris with no competition same with LA. If they are the only ones left in contention, then they should fight it out.

 

[Cobber]

What was he supposed to say to the question that was asked? No comment? They you guys would blackball him and say he is ahole cause he doesnt talk to the media. You cant have it both ways.

Well... there is a 3rd option. He could have said "Alberto showed that he is clearly the strongest man in the race. He attacked today and looked really good"

 

[byu123]

The worst part of that question is that because none of the mountains are finishing climbs, any attack would be neutralized most likely.

Here is one scenario that could very well play out. Contador falls on a fast descent. Descending for time has worked before, and I will give LA one thing, he can handle a bike better than Contador. Someone goes balls out on a descent, and I can foresee the chase causing those with sketchier bike skills some problems in the forms of gaps or falls. I hope that is not the case, but it wouldn't be the first time.

Then, Armstrong wins and has to come back next year to prove he can beat Contador fair and square...and we suffer fanboys for another 3 weeks again.

Descending abilities is one area where we know Armstrong is better than Contador. TT so far = Contador. Climbing = . .??? Did today really answer that question?? There are three stages where abilities as a descender could make some time . . . especially if its only 2 seconds. I can see LA making up the 2 seconds on descending alone on some of the descents in these stages . . . . 13, 16, 17
http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showthread.php?t=1961

 

[Cobber]

Descending abilities is one area where we know Armstrong is better than Contador. TT so far = Contador. Climbing = . .??? Did today really answer that question?? [/url]

Oh come on..... what evidence do you have from the last 3 years that Armstrong can climb better than anyone else in the pack? Opening prologue he was off the pace. Giro he was off the pace. Today???