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

[mambo#5]

I was extremely disappointed in Kruezinger, really thought he could be a dark horse for a podium spot.

That acceleraation by Contador was absolutely sick!!! He was to just free wheel around that first bend he was going so fast. This Tour looks like a 2 speed tour. Contador at one speed, everyone at another.

that is true, but I don't know that he can sustain the effort for an extended period. He looked in pain at the end, and he only really work for 2 kms.

 

[Cobblestones]

Wonderful ride by Feillu, and great for Nocentini to grab the yellow.

The polka-dot podium girls look like they've bunny ears

We also learned who's the omega bitch among the Astana 4. Kloden had to drag LA, while LL was drafting.

Contador attacking the Astana train was a surprise. I guess he waited for a good time to counter, but there was no serious attack by anybody, so he did what he had to do.

Some of the hopefuls disappointed a bit. Nibali, Kreuziger, Kirchen. Good ride by Wiggins, Martin, VdV, Frohlinger. Of the favorites, at least Evans attacked, but never got any gap. Schlecklet and Sastre held on to the peloton but were invisible otherwise. They lost more time.

 

[frizzlefry]

Look if you don't like Lance thats fine but at least speak with intelligence in your head not your ***. By saying that you show you are a "hater" with no class.

Lance said yesterday that if Alberto goes and none of the other teams can follow he will sit in and do the team mate thing. He did exactly that.....for that I respect him.

I don't think Lance can accelerate like Alberto can....I really don't think he could back in the day. Alberto has acceleration that is amaxing. I think Lance could have pulled the time into less than 20 seconds but he did the right thing by making the others do the work.

Perfect work for Astana....Contador gains more time, Armstrong and Leipheimer don't lose any time on the other contendors......

LMAO, Dude I am a LA/Astana/Disco/USPS fan, but I can see the writing on the wall. No one can match AC or they would have.

 

[Wheels Go Round and Round]

No way. If LA could have gone, he would have. He will have to play teammate from now on. No one can stay with AC.

drugs are more rampant on this thread than in the peloton

 

[schnebit]

I think it's just as easy to read that the other way around.

In a sport where grand champions used to be burnt out by their early thirties, we now have a bloke, rapidly closing in on his 40's, trying to follow Contador's acceleration......

Maybe a tad too much Hollywood in this script.

Anyone that thinks that Lance can't accelerate should watch any TdF from 1999 - 2005.

 

[whiteboytrash]

I love how CNN report the story; (CNN) -- Seven-time champion Lance Armstrong was denied the yellow jersey again as unknown home rider Brice Feillu won a dramatic seventh stage of the Tour de France.

Feillu was part of a breakaway group which included Italian Rinaldo Nocentini, who ended Friday as an unlikely race leader after ending up in fourth place on the 224 kilometer stage from Barcelona to Arcalis.
_______________________

err what about Contador ?

 

[Wheels Go Round and Round]

No doubt... what happened to the Lance-spanking that everyone was predicting a few days ago?

yep... I'm sure they will have a ton of excuses..... Lance easily rode the climb today, no problem with the accelerations. Would have been great to see Contador on the other team for some real action

 

[Captain Kirk]

Didnt even see Sastre and Mechov in the thick of the action, but results show they came in on Armstongs wheel...17 and 18.

 

[Carl0880]

that is true, but I don't know that he can sustain the effort for an extended period. He looked in pain at the end, and he only really work for 2 kms.

Agree, but with that kind of acceleration, all he has to do is follow wheels up any mountain, then when he feels good or see opportunity, then take off. When a Top GC rider gets a big gap, even if they tire towards the end, they usually don't get caught. The tough part is getting that gap, which he can.

When Iwatched him attack, it reminded me a little of Pantani. Came out of the middle, and just flew by everyone.

 

[msjett]

Cadels attack showed he had no gas in the tank. Astana countered it quickly. If team astana was not in the race Cadel would be a serious contender. Since Astana is here he is a conteder for top 10.

He still is a serious contender....Contador had a strong team in 07 and didn't win it by that much...And anything can happen to any of the riders...look how many falls there have been in the last 2 stages alone. No one is guaranteed to win, not even Contador nor Armstrong.

 

[Wheels Go Round and Round]

I think LA hatred is clouding some folks' perspective on the race Funny, if Lance had been the one who attacked and not AC, ppl would have been *****ing about how bad a team mate he was.

BINGO!!!

it's funny the double standard that exists here

 

[frizzlefry]

BINGO!!!

it's funny the double standard that exists here

That is true.

 

[Zen Master]

I think it's just as easy to read that the other way around.

In a sport where grand champions used to be burnt out by their early thirties, we now have a bloke, rapidly closing in on his 40's, trying to follow Contador's acceleration......

Maybe a tad too much Hollywood in this script.

No no no Lance could beat Bertie but he just don't want to be a bad teammate !?!

Hilarious !!!

 

[grimpeur]

LMAO, Dude I am a LA/Astana/Disco/USPS fan...

I like the way you now have to qualify your allegiances before making a comment that may be construed as the slightest bit anti-LA. So you won't get flamed by the pro-LA crew.

 

[perico]

The man I'm most impressed with, along with Contador?

Christian Vande Velde. Nobody mentions him, but it looks like his form is good enough now, and will get better and better. After that sick crash in the Giro, it looked like everyone was going to write him off before the race even began (deja vu of 2008). Yet, he looks to be on form, and will get better and better as the race goes on. After a so-so opening TT, I'd expect him to see a drastic improvement by the later one, and is once again... a contender.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

What's funny is that anyone who says anything critical of Armstrong even in the slightest is a "hater" using a double standard.

If I say that I think it would have been smarter for Contador to attack about 3-5km before he did, does that make me a "Contador hater"?

 

[Wheels Go Round and Round]

Anyone that thinks that Lance can't accelerate should watch any TdF from 1999 - 2005.

haters have a very hard time seeing through the hate haze

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

The man I'm most impressed with, along with Contador?

Christian Vande Velde. Nobody mentions him.

True. I think everyone wrote the guy off, though he did look like he was coming into form in Stage 1. If he plays his cards right, and flies under the radar like he is, he could find his peak right around the time of the Ventoux.

 

[dadoorsron]

He still is a serious contender....Contador had a strong team in 07 and didn't win it by that much...And anything can happen to any of the riders...look how many falls there have been in the last 2 stages alone. No one is guaranteed to win, not even Contador nor Armstrong.

Contador in 07 is not the rider of 09. better at the tt and has just as good kick in the mountians.

 

[TRDean]

I think the Contador attack was in the plans. I think the plan was for one or the other to attack. Armstrong didn't because he couldn't...Contador did and got time. I don't care what LA says...if he can't win the Tour he will make himself out into the greatest teamate that anyone has ever seen.. The PR machine is already in overdrive. Paul Sherwin "And Lance Armstrong is being the ultimate teammate by siting on the wheels". What about the other Astana guys? Are they not ultimate teammates too? Just so everyone knows I will admit to being a self proclaimed HATER!!

Disappointing that some of the younger riders couldn't make a mark...but just happy that it shows their age. Bad days do happen and it is to be expected.

 

[euphrades]

I am hoping that we dont hear Alberto complain that Lance and LL are close to him in the GC when they finish in Paris.

 

[dadoorsron]

I think the Contador attack was in the plans. I think the plan was for one or the other to attack. Armstrong didn't because he couldn't...Contador did and got time. I don't care what LA says...if he can't win the Tour he will make himself out into the greatest teamate that anyone has ever seen.. The PR machine is already in overdrive. Paul Sherwin "And Lance Armstrong is being the ultimate teammate by siting on the wheels". What about the other Astana guys? Are they not ultimate teammates too? Just so everyone knows I will admit to being a self proclaimed HATER!!

Disappointing that some of the younger riders couldn't make a mark...but just happy that it shows their age. Bad days do happen and it is to be expected.

When have you seen any rider in the tour that has or rode on good teams not sit on wheels. That is what you do.

 

[Wheels Go Round and Round]

I think the Contador attack was in the plans. I think the plan was for one or the other to attack. Armstrong didn't because he couldn't...Contador did and got time. I don't care what LA says...if he can't win the Tour he will make himself out into the greatest teamate that anyone has ever seen.. The PR machine is already in overdrive. Paul Sherwin "And Lance Armstrong is being the ultimate teammate by siting on the wheels". What about the other Astana guys? Are they not ultimate teammates too? Just so everyone knows I will admit to being a self proclaimed HATER!!

Disappointing that some of the younger riders couldn't make a mark...but just happy that it shows their age. Bad days do happen and it is to be expected.

ROFLMAO... so what YOU would rather have heard Sherwin say would be more like this......" and Armstrong being the **** of a rider that he is , was seen chasing down his own bloody team mate and then spitting on him as he went by."

sound about right?

 

[El Imbatido]

haters have a very hard time seeing through the hate haze

And fanboys have a very hard time seeing the elephant in the room. I have to admit though elephants aren't the easiest animals to spot They do tend to blend in.

 

[Zen Master]

Anyone that thinks that Lance can't accelerate should watch any TdF from 1999 - 2005.

Hellooooooooooooooo !?? Is There Anybody Hooooooooooooooome ?!!

That was 4 years ago my dear Pharmstrong fanboy, you need to stop living in the past