Paris-Nice: STAGE 4 - Maurs -Mende 173.5 km

[python]

All points towards my belief LA ain't gonna be seen anywhere near France in July

i dont know.

contador has something to learn........some respect for older riders. if he does, we'll see texas. may be not

 

[Jamsque]

So what do we reckon will go down tomorrow, then? Looks like the best chance so far for a break to go all the way, and there are plenty of people far enough back on GC who could give it a go.

 

[tgsgirl]

Small wonder we didn't see Pharmstrong at Paris-Nice. He'd have to build a shoe closet in his a$$ courtesy of Contador.

No wonder at all. Lance isn't going to have the Conti vs. Armstrong showdown any sooner than it has to be. There'd be much less hype around the real thing if Conti smacks Lance around on seven* different occasions before they both get to TdF.

*random number

 

[Publicus]

If you see how much everyone else is suffering compared to him- his performance is mighty impressive this early in the season

I think that's right. This has been a rough 4 days for Paris-Nice for him--between the weather and his fall. I doubt he's 100% healthy, and certainly not on peak form. That being said, he's that much better than the rest of these guys when the road heads upward.

I just hope Astana is prepared to defend for the next 3 days.

 

[skippy]

That's a very tough stage. Lance must be doing some very hard training to compensate.

Alberto to smash it up with one leg.

Alberto certainly delivered today as did the others of the " Spanish 3 muskateers"!
Lance is sitting in the sun whilst the spaniards grind out the work but he will train to peak at the tour.

Off subject Tomorrow the Winter Paralympic Games begin in Vancouver with many TV channels not broadcasting see http://www.parrabuddy.blogspot.com for program details and note the times are in Vancouver so check the timing as i got up an hour late to enjoy the Opening of the Olympic!

Enjoy the efforts of truly amazing athletes some of whom served our nations before in "Harms Way"!

 

[Colm.Murphy]

All points towards my belief LA ain't gonna be seen anywhere near France in July

There is only one reason for him to be racing and you suggest he will not be attending the dance?

It does not seem to be his style to concede by not showing up..

 

[Publicus]

Levi's excuse

And that is why he will never win a GT. What a b!tch statement.

 

[Francois the Postman]

Did you see him cross the line? He wasn't even breathing hard. I am pretty sure he is just here for the racing miles, he hasn't looked like he is trying at all.

Yeah, I saw that.

"Just for the miles, not racing" is my definition of a gadamn awful start of the season, if last year you were the bloke splitting the Spaniards on the podium, on a stage like this. (and #2 overall, if memory serves me well).

Seriously downgraded his ambitions here then. That might be for obvious reasons. It doesn't impress me (not that that matters).

 

[Publicus]

I have to say, if I were one of his competitors in the peloton, this is not the kind of statement you want to read after a guy shells the field:

"I had some doubts about my rivals before today's stage and it remains open," Contador continued. "As for myself, I felt good but not super. I didn't feel good at the bottom of the final climb. I had to fight hard for position."

 

[thehog]

I have to say, if I were one of his competitors in the peloton, this is not the kind of statement you want to read after a guy shells the field:

We need a new thread: "How much will Lance get smashed by at this years Tour?"

 

[Hugh Januss]

We need a new thread: "How much will Lance get smashed by at this years Tour?"

A lot. Contador looks at ease and in control at all times.
Enough with the 'finger bang bang' already though, it almost makes me want to agree with Polish, and I'm really not comfortable with that.

 

[franciep10]

I have to say, if I were one of his competitors in the peloton, this is not the kind of statement you want to read after a guy shells the field:

That's exactly what I thought he didn't have the classic Contador acceleration he just rode away from everybody else. Everybody fears his acceleration but if he has the ability to do that against a quality field when he is not at his best then the peloton better be worried.

 

[cyclopeon]

...he didn't have the classic Contador acceleration he just rode away from everybody else. ...

A difference between not having and not using... why lay down a massive acceleration when a nice steady ride-away will do? especially since his legs had been bare for about the past 20+km !! (I was shivering just watching it all...)

 

[cyclopeon]

Granted, I am the worst bike handler on the planet and I understand they are pros, but whew!

Don't count on it, I could give you some pretty stiff competition at falling down unaided!

 

[cyclopeon]

( grey jersey ) ... At least Armstrong's is half done already.

Hah, brilliant obs. I was wondering why that (non-)colour...

 

[theyoungest]

The fun part is, this stage finish will also be in the Tour, if I'm not mistaken. This Tour is climbier than I initially thought. I only looked at the mountain stages, and this one isn't counted among them.

 

[Colm.Murphy]

finger bang.

now that is funny.

 

[Anonymous]

Closing Stages

 

[Publicus]

A difference between not having and not using... why lay down a massive acceleration when a nice steady ride-away will do? especially since his legs had been bare for about the past 20+km !! (I was shivering just watching it all...)

Maybe it's the 2009 race in his head. He's holding something in reserve for the last two stages, which I suspect will be wall-to-wall attacks from Caisse/Katusha/Liquigas. Frankly, whatever happens, this is great practice for Astana in advance of the Tour. He's not going to see a field this deep until July and if they can successfully defend over the next 3 days, that bodes well for their chances in July.

 

[sandman]

It's also great practise for Astana, start training for defending the leaders jersey now!

 

[cyclopeon]

Maybe it's the 2009 race in his head. He's holding something in reserve for the last two stages, which I suspect will be wall-to-wall attacks from Caisse/Katusha/Liquigas. Frankly, whatever happens, this is great practice for Astana in advance of the Tour. He's not going to see a field this deep until July and if they can successfully defend over the next 3 days, that bodes well for their chances in July.

+1 Absolutely.

 

[cyclopeon]

AC is inexperienced and has a lot to learn, so I'm not going to put him on my podium

Too busy winning races to read all the pearls of tactical wisdom on the forums of the world. I like a guy who's willing to try things, knowing mistakes will be made but ready to learn from them.

 

[Angliru]

What is Jens! talking to AC about?

"Please don"t hurt me!"

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

It didn't look as though Contador went in the red at all. In fact, I'm not sure he went in the orange.

 

[Angliru]

Are we back to this already? I hoped Contador would not be as dominant this year, I find watching him ride away from people and then cruise to the summit solo so. damn. boring. , especially since he does it every race he is in.

I personally love it oh so much! How and why did you expect it to change, especially this early in the season? I expect Andy Schleck to sort of make things interesting but this is as it is for the forseeable future.