Radioshack in top team position

[shouldawouldacoulda]

Compared to stage wins or leaders jerseys it is almost a consolation prize, but it's still a classification in the TdF. There is a lot of racing to go, of course, but I find it kind of cool that the "retirement" guys are doing well as a whole.

You may be surprised to know this is actually a very prestigious category amongst the teams - mostly for its PR value. It provides substance for when they claim ' we are the best team ' and it puts the entire team on the final podium in front of the world's media - the pictures they get are usually fantastic!

Those pictures are heavily used in their main sponsor book, and throughout their marketing collateral

Because its become so coveted, its pretty hotly contested-as we're seeing in this Tour between GCE and RSH and as we saw at the ToC between GRM and RSH. Granted, no one sets out to win it as a primary objective...

I find it adds a really interesting layer to watching the race play out.

 

[Parrot23]

...The "strongest" team in the world, has then done it's job; packing riders in the 10th to 20th positions.

That's kind of what I was wondering about, how these averages distort the reality of who really are the strongest teams (requires a podium contender to support)....LOL

You may be surprised to know this is actually a very prestigious category amongst the teams - mostly for its PR value.....Those pictures are heavily used in their main sponsor book, and throughout their marketing collateral

Ha, ha! This gives a neat twist to the business aspects of Novitzky's investigations. Easy to forget these teams are commercial entities. This sudden "odd" stress on the team classification by the principals (and Lance's twits about Nissan ads etc. in middle of Tour!) is a good reminder of them trying to leverage sponsor money--while Novitzky's checking if they've also leveraged it through fraud .

 

[Benotti69]

..(and Lance's twits about Nissan ads etc. in middle of Tour!) is a good reminder of them trying to leverage sponsor money--while Novitzky's checking if they've also leveraged it through fraud .

what has he been dumping on Nissan????

 

[Parrot23]

Ha, ha! He was using Twitter to post about the great Nissan ads he filmed at an earlier stage of the Tour (filmed in the area beforehand, ie. months ago maybe). Several Twitters in a row. Must be getting the big bucks from Nissan.

Some folks might say he could have used a NISSAN on the last climb yesterday.....but I think he's maybe saving himself for stage 15, the Casartellii stage.

If Alberto really wants to stamp his authority over Shack he should follow Lance's wheel that day like a leech to take the win when/if Lance is wanting to engage in some "stage" melodramatics for viewing audiences.

(*Problem is it's before critical stage 16, but then Lance might think they will let him ride away then on 15)

 

[sublimit]

Oh yeah, people always remember the winner of that all important team classification.

Except I cannot remember which team won last year, um or the previous 25 years or um....ever.

Epic Fail.

Cycling followers will know it means nothing but unfortunately people less clued up on racing will think the Radioshack team are the best team in the world, but you just have to see the funny side.

Trying to get Shack riders in breaks to protect their position in the classification is quite sad and pathetic. If Sky did that I'd disown them.

 

[Bustedknuckle]

Lol at Armstrong dropping 3'30 today. Not really contributing to the Team GC is he...

Yep, so much for LA being a 'super domestique' for Levi..Lance is happy sitting in the autobus..at the back, looking at the pretty girls..he's just enjoying the TdF 'fondo'.

 

[workingclasshero]

I think he's maybe saving himself for stage 15, the Casartellii stage.

If Alberto really wants to stamp his authority over Shack he should follow Lance's wheel that day like a leech to take the win when/if Lance is wanting to engage in some "stage" melodramatics for viewing audiences.

(*Problem is it's before critical stage 16, but then Lance might think they will let him ride away then on 15)

you've just put me in a poor mood

 

[Mick OBRIEN]

Word choice

CN - you refer to Landis' "revelations."

Poor choice of words. There is a huge difference between allegations and revelations. Landis' long overdue admission of his own drug use and lying are not to be equated with his allegations issued to mollify his own guilt.
"Yes, I am guilty, but so is everyone else" is an ongoing attempt at self-justification; it is far from contrition.

Yes, I bought his book, read it and believed it. And that is a revelation, not an allegation.

 

[hrotha]

CN - you refer to Landis' "revelations."

Poor choice of words. There is a huge difference between allegations and revelations. Landis' long overdue admission of his own drug use and lying are not to be equated with his allegations issued to mollify his own guilt.
"Yes, I am guilty, but so is everyone else" is an ongoing attempt at self-justification; it is far from contrition.

Unless it is, you know, the truth.

 

[craig1985]

Post more please.

 

[bobs nob]

On a positive note. It is nice to see the fanboys have learnt about a new, albeit insignificant component of a professional stage race.
They can add this to their CVs, which previously just consisted of the yellow jersey competition.

Lance has worked hard, early on each stage to chase down every Caisse attempted breakaway, before going out the back.

The strongest team in the world, has then done it's job; packing riders in the 10th to 20th positions.

Which such an excellent performance, I would not be surprised if Nicolas Sarkozy didn't offer to make them all French citizens.

Surely you recall a banned troll-fanboy was the one who first made that an inside joke.

I think their sponsor has made it known that they didn't spend millions of dollars on them to have a leprechaun/alien come in 6th and Lancey Legend come in 32d. So you better bring home SOMETHING. ANYTHING.

The farce is made complete with versus taking up the call and constantly touting this epic battle of mediocrity as something exciting to track.

Team GC is like kissing your sister and everyone knows it. This has got to be humiliating for them to have to chase the b00by prize.

Like I said. Fraudioshack has become a farce and a parody of themselves.

 

[hrotha]

Wait, they actively fought for the ToC team GC? Words fail me.

 

[ManInFull]

Surely you recall a banned troll-fanboy was the one who first made that an inside joke.

I think their sponsor has made it known that they didn't spend millions of dollars on them to have a leprechaun/alien come in 6th and Lancey Legend come in 32d. So you better bring home SOMETHING. ANYTHING.

The farce is made complete with versus taking up the call and constantly touting this epic battle of mediocrity as something exciting to track.

Team GC is like kissing your sister and everyone knows it. This has got to be humiliating for them to have to chase the b00by prize.

Like I said. Fraudioshack has become a farce and a parody of themselves.

I agree. Who cares about Team GC? Versus is simply a LA/RS mouthpiece.

 

[Cobblestones]

I agree. Who cares about Team GC? Versus is simply a LA/RS mouthpiece.

All the important classifications have podium girls. Without podium girls, no one cares.

 

[bobs nob]

All the important classifications have podium girls. Without podium girls, no one cares.

A podium girl in a hideous black polyester pantsuit is too good for team GC.

My God, can they please up their budget for podium girl fashion next year? Or just have 'em come out wearing nothing. No budget required.

 

[richwagmn]

Honestly, I'm happy for Kloden, Horner, Jani, and some of the other riders.

I find Leipheimer completely uninspiring, but I can appreciate the careful and calculated way he rides.

As far as Lance...well, Big Tex packed it in today and dropped another 3:30 to Contador. He's really helping out the team classification. Solid work there.

Say, on how many stages that really counted did Lance contribute to the team GC?

This. If he's riding for Levi as a domestique, why isn't he by his side at all times? What would LA have thought of his domestiques soft pedaling on climbs like that.

 

[flicker]

This. If he's riding for Levi as a domestique, why isn't he by his side at all times? What would LA have thought of his domestiques soft pedaling on climbs like that.

not the type of climb a rider needs escort. you follow cycling, that is not a pacing climb!

 

[hrotha]

not the type of climb a rider needs escort. you follow cycling, that is not a pacing climb!

It is however a "damn I punctured - here take my wheel" kind of climb.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Say, that was nice of Lance to contribute to the team classification. LOL.

 

[metaCYCLE]

another magnificent day for the shack juggernaut!

 

[Big Doopie]

i just want to thank armstrong for doing this tour where he is under so much scrutiny that he obviously can't do the things he did in the past. being dropped by the peloton on a hill, etc. shows us what we really missed during those 7 years of fraud.

 

[scribe]

i just want to thank armstrong for doing this tour where he is under so much scrutiny that he obviously can't do the things he did in the past. being dropped by the peloton on a hill, etc. shows us what we really missed during those 7 years of fraud.

I don't think so. I think RS is working to place their energies behind Levi in the Pyrenees. It is probably pretty satisfying to see Lance slagging off in stages, but this is very normal for non-GC riders.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

I don't think so. I think RS is working to place their energies behind Levi in the Pyrenees. It is probably pretty satisfying to see Lance slagging off in stages, but this is very normal for non-GC riders.

LOL @ Lance now being a non-GC rider after having an entire team built around him.

Hey did you hear RS is leading the team classification? No thanks to Lance apparently.

 

[Cobblestones]

I don't think so. I think RS is working to place their energies behind Levi in the Pyrenees. It is probably pretty satisfying to see Lance slagging off in stages, but this is very normal for non-GC riders.

Did you see today when Levi went ahead through the cars. For a moment he had no teammate then he had one. Thats about 4 less than the non-GC rider has on the same team when he has to pee.

 

[scribe]

Did you see today when Levi went ahead through the cars. For a moment he had no teammate then he had one. Thats about 4 less than the non-GC rider has on the same team when he has to pee.

Maybe I didn't have the perfect bird's eye that you had, so I don't have as much an opinion about it.