Paris-Nice Stage 7: Nice-Nice

[ravens]

Of course Contador is superior. He deserves many tour wins however before you judge the Shack remember which month we are living.

I have very little doubt they will perform much much better come July. I think that has already been discussed (by Moose?) and I agree.

I think the versus coverage has a bit of a boomerang effect for those of us Americans who either never liked Lance, or in my case, used to like and now loathe him. The over the top shilling for shack creates a backlash in my own mind to just really despise anything that Sherwen and Co. are favoring and to reflexively be in favor of anything they oppose. Their distortions just beget more distortions. I get annoyed with myself for allowing these idiots to bug me.

I think my tone wouldn't be quite so anti-Lance/JB/Shack if they were a bit more sober in their assessments. For crying out loud, Sherwen and Roll were both pro-cyclists. They know better and CAN do better. It's a shame.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

I think my tone wouldn't be quite so anti-Lance/JB/Shack if they were a bit more sober in their assessments. For crying out loud, Sherwen and Roll were both pro-cyclists. They know better and CAN do better. It's a shame.

Same here. Without the incessant BS from the fanboys, I don't think I'd dislike Lance as mu.....wait, yeah I would. Never mind.

 

[peloton]

I am a AC fan. I was like you and wanted to watch the race on a large TV. I can't find my cable that hooks my laptop up to the TV which would have kept me away from Versus.

I should have known it was going to be bad when I saw on the versus website a clip of AC at the end of stage 3 i think, with a poll--should AC be disqualified--when he became upclipped and fell into Martin. Happily no responses to the poll.

In addition to all the other comments already posted...

I shook my head when in summary they mentioned that he won, but had made mistakes that will come back to get him when he races against the stronger teams in the Tour. According to Paul and Bob, He made a mistake when he crashed since he was too far back in the pack. He made a mistake when he attacked on the last day blowing apart the race. He made a mistake when he became unclipped and hit Martin.

They also showed how he had illegally drafted off the Rabbobank car to get back into the race after his crash.

If he is as dumb as the American press makes him out to be, how is he even smart enough to know when to turn when he is on course? He must get lost all the time when he is beating everyone to the top of hills. I bet he can't even find the team bus after the race.

I should preface this statement by saying that I am neither a Contador nor an Astana fan. I watched the race this morning on Sporza and I was impressed by Contador's performance. I suppose like all Americans I have been programed to believe that any race other than “The Tour” should be treated like a training session. Imagine my surprise after I finished watching the Versus coverage when I learned that Alberto may just be the worst bike racer of all time. At first I was a bit confounded at how a rider that not only one a stage a few days ago but also claimed the top spot on the podium could be so deficient. Fortunately Bob and Phil gave me a good education. Without Bruyneel, this Astana squad is doomed. Of course I am still trying to wrap my head around how an Astana rider also won today's stage in the Tirreno-Addriatico, but I am hoping that Bobke's blog will explain that for me as well.

Speechless.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Versus is a propaganda channel for Lance's team, whatever that is. Just because Sherwen and Roll are paid bob their heads in Lance's lap doesn't mean I have to listen to them slurp. Good thing there's cyclingfans. Versus should just stick to rodeos and fishing.

 

[ravens]

Versus is a propaganda channel for Lance's team, whatever that is. Just because Sherwen and Roll are paid bob their heads in Lance's lap doesn't mean I have to listen to them slurp. Good thing there's cyclingfans. Versus should just stick to rodeos and fishing.

Can't speak to fishing, but I love the rodeos. My wife and I will watch and rate each bull on nastiness and quantity/quality of snot from the bull.

Son loves that idiotic 'Whacked out Sports'. He's 9. I like it for the semi-nudity.

 

[peacefultribe]

I've been following cycling for too many years to say, and I remember When Paul and Phil did an incredible job as cycling commentators.

Paul and Phil used to know facts about everybody in the race, even if it was something as small as a rider having won a time bonus in a parking lot criterium before turning professional. They were like encyclopedias. It was equally impressive that they could critisize in a positive way. Remember when they used to mention that Claudio Chiapucci was 'impulsive' and didn't always think things through before attacking. It was said with good humor, and always followed up with something positive about the rider.

It is bizarre to me that Paul and Phil have become what they are today. It's like a nightmare, where you hope to wake up and hear the old Paul and Phil say something clever and unbiased. I wish there was a way to make it stop. It's almost as if they're playing some kind of sick joke on Americans. As an American, I feel deeply disturbed that this is happening, and that some people in this country aren't intelligent enough to see reality.

 

[theswordsman]

I should have known it was going to be bad when I saw on the versus website a clip of AC at the end of stage 3 i think, with a poll--should AC be disqualified--when he became upclipped and fell into Martin. Happily no responses to the poll.

That's their story? Contador and Martin bumped, and Alberto had to unclip and drop his leg to keep upright. It didn't cause the bump.

I just went for a look. 42% of respondents say that Contador should have been disqualified. Bobke said in the 7 second video that it's hard to tell why Contador got unclipped. If he had read any of the interview, he would know what happened, and that Alberto tried to get the same time as the winner but was turned down by race officials. Obviously they watched the tape to make that decision.

Even when I'm stuck watching a race on Versus online, I mute the sound and listen to Eurosport UK audio. I used to respect Phil & Paul (but never Bob Roll), but Armstrong "racing" again ruined it. They're still pushing the anti-Contador, pro Radio Shack propaganda for their own agenda. What a bunch of tools. I can't wait to hear (via you guys) what they have to say after the Tour de France.

 

[SoLogy]

That's their story

That's their story? Contador and Martin bumped, and Alberto had to unclip and drop his leg to keep upright. It didn't cause the bump.

I understand that Versus is trying to pressure the race organizers by saying they will not broadcast in America unless Contador agrees to ride this years Tour De France on a bike equipped with training wheels.

 

[BroDeal]

I understand that Versus is trying to pressure the race organizers by saying they will not broadcast in America unless Contador agrees to ride this years Tour De France on a bike equipped with training wheels.

I don't think they are worried. Afterall, Contador is not smart enough to win the Tour de France without Bruyneel.

 

[theswordsman]

I understand that Versus is trying to pressure the race organizers by saying they will not broadcast in America unless Contador agrees to ride this years Tour De France on a bike equipped with training wheels.

I heard that they were following up their skip the Giro completely to be strong at the Tour of California decision by skipping the Tour de France to focus on winning the more prestigious Österreich Rundfahrt on July 4

 

[Baited By Race Radio]

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[Publicus]

Race hasn't been over 24 hours yet and we are already being treated to what ifs and how if those what ifs come to pass it could mean doom, I say DOOM, for AC and Astana in July.

Not going to second guess Caisse's tactics or effort. They weren't strong enough to dislodge AC and Astana, but had a great Paris-Nice. Their team was very strong, almost Tour quality (which one couldn't say about Astana).

 

[theswordsman]

Just saying. There is no reason for anyone to get smug.

I don't think it's a question of being smug...certainly not Contador himself. But fans deserve to celebrate a hard-fought victory, and it WAS a victory. Jesus Hernandez & David De la Fuente had to be replaced at the last minute due to knee problems, with other strong riders like today's Tirreno-Adriatico stage winner Gasparotto and third place Iglinsky. As for the possibility that things could go wrong, well, he was on the ramp for the Prologue, on a bike he'd received the day before, when he realized his race radio didn't work and he'd have to do without. He lost time to Caisse D'Epargne and others because the Caisse Director Sportif spent six hours driving the stage looking for the exact spot where an attack could split the field. There was the crash where he landed sharply on his leg, but got up, grabbed Strangelj's bike, and rode like crazy to rejoin the group. He saw a one kilometer climb near the end of a stage an decided to sprint to gain a few seconds, either bumped or got bumped and had to unclip instead of pedal to keep from falling. Then there were days worth of attacks that he had to cover by some very strong riders. I personally am not looking towards the Tour, or being smug, but looking forward to the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya and wondering what it will take for him to win there.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Race hasn't been over 24 hours yet and we are already being treated to what ifs and how if those what ifs come to pass it could mean doom, I say DOOM, for AC and Astana in July.

Not going to second guess Caisse's tactics or effort. They weren't strong enough to dislodge AC and Astana, but had a great Paris-Nice. Their team was very strong, almost Tour quality (which one couldn't say about Astana).

I agree, Astana's tour team (I predict something like: AC, DDLF, Iglinskiy, Navarro, Perriro, Vino, Tiralongo, Hernandez and maybe davis) will be a lot stronger, and considering a near full-strength Caisse couldn't beat AC, it seems unlikely they are gonna beat him at the tour.

 

[ImmaculateKadence]

Race hasn't been over 24 hours yet and we are already being treated to what ifs and how if those what ifs come to pass it could mean doom, I say DOOM, for AC and Astana in July.

Not going to second guess Caisse's tactics or effort. They weren't strong enough to dislodge AC and Astana, but had a great Paris-Nice. Their team was very strong, almost Tour quality (which one couldn't say about Astana).

The Paris-Nice Astana squad was weak. If they put together a team like that for the Tour, every mountain stage will feature AC against probably two or more riders from Saxo, RS, Caisse, and Liquigas. He can't win the Tour that way.

 

[karlboss]

Contador won. How can he be criticized for that? Sure his team didn't have complete control at all times, but do you know what they had enough control to do? win.

I still say this tour is shaping up to be one of the best, for the lineup if not the course.

 

[SoLogy]

The Paris-Nice Astana squad was weak. If they put together a team like that for the Tour, every mountain stage will feature AC against probably two or more riders from Saxo, RS, Caisse, and Liquigas. He can't win the Tour that way.

I think Contador is beginning to realize that he is not as popular as other Tour contenders. I think he has been studying Lance and has finally learned from him. If the rumors I have been hearing are correct, this year the Astana team is going to consist of Contador and his 7 most active Twitter followers.

 

[Baited By Race Radio]

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[karlboss]

The Paris-Nice Astana squad was weak. If they put together a team like that for the Tour, every mountain stage will feature AC against probably two or more riders from Saxo, RS, Caisse, and Liquigas. He can't win the Tour that way.

Actually that would favor Contador. Explain to me how it wouldn't and you'll work out quickly why it would.

EDIT: not a weak team, but being with a select few and doubles from the top teams on a mountain top finish.

 

[BroDeal]

The Paris-Nice Astana squad was weak. If they put together a team like that for the Tour, every mountain stage will feature AC against probably two or more riders from Saxo, RS, Caisse, and Liquigas. He can't win the Tour that way.

No problem. Vino has the strength of ten grinches plus two.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

I still say this tour is shaping up to be one of the best, for the lineup if not the course.

+1 Anyone who get's a top ten at this year's tour is a great GT rider.

 

[Baited By Race Radio]

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[ImmaculateKadence]

Actually that would favor Contador. Explain to me how it wouldn't and you'll work out quickly why it would.

EDIT: not a weak team, but being with a select few and doubles from the top teams on a mountain top finish.

If he's in yellow, which I fully expect, there is no way he could answer attacks from all those teams by himself. It looked like he struggled to answer Sanchez and Valverde. What would happen if the brothers Schleck take off right after he answers Caisse?

Explain how it would favor him.

No problem. Vino has the strength of ten grinches plus two.

Is that with or without a fresh blood bag?

 

[flicker]

I have intuition of calamity for Alberto before or during Tour. I pray no but something tells me the cards are not in his favor. I pray this not true.

In the case of no Alberto I do not know who has the correct sensations in legs.

Something gives me this feeling. Hopefully not crash.

 

[flicker]

Maybe Luis Sanchez or Valverde win tour.