SHACK ATTACK: Radioshack fail dismally!

[MacRoadie]

Maybe Lemond was right when he said LA's race would be done by the time he got to France.

Greg is a cycling shaman. He often speaks in metaphors.

 

[Hugh Januss]

Montana Loogie. Got bit*h slapped pretty good. Always love to see that happen.

Yeah, but so did The sHack!

 

[woodburn]

Some interesting insights from Horner. Sounds like the plan was to be more aggressive at the front.
http://blog.oregonlive.com/horner/2010/07/tour_de_france_stage_3_chris_h.html

 

[Hugh Januss]

I never did quite understand that. One day in Flanders, plus a half-day prior, was going to make this huge difference over 13k of pave'? 13k out of 3,642k in a three week race. Not preparing for riding the high mountains I can see, not "training" for 8 miles of cobbles, not so much.

Keep in mind too, that Contador DID spend a few days in April riding the cobbles with Oscar Pereiro and Peter Van Petegem, but he didn't do it in a race environment.

I didn't expect Contador to look quite as good as he did on the cobbles. For a while after FS's crash broke everything apart VS showed Contador about 3 different times and each time Phil would say "and this is the Contador group" and each time Contador was clearly riding straight through whatever group it was, and it was clearly a different group each time. I fully expected him to be able to stay with anyone, but for a good bit he was doing more than that.

Maybe he goes for Paris-Roubaix next year.

 

[bobs nob]

Yeah, but so did The sHack!

I really didn't mean to chase him away but since the tour started we have been treated to all maner of pompous self-righteous wannabe racers, never was's, has beens who keep treating us to the 'How dare you criticize these Gods!?!' attitude and it's just a distraction.

I am fed up. It's a freakin' forum and just because it's their religion I have to treat it the same. I am unimpressed with them. Their smugness drives people away and I think they like that.

 

[Anonymous]

I didn't expect Contador to look quite as good as he did on the cobbles. For a while after FS's crash broke everything apart VS showed Contador about 3 different times and each time Phil would say "and this is the Contador group" and each time Contador was clearly riding straight through whatever group it was, and it was clearly a different group each time. I fully expected him to be able to stay with anyone, but for a good bit he was doing more than that.

Maybe he goes for Paris-Roubaix next year.

There was one point where the overhead "tracker" was zeroed in on Armstrong, Phil was yapping about him and how well he was riding and then made some comment about wondering how far back Contador must be.

Contador was right on his back wheel.

Classic.

 

[scribe]

Some interesting insights from Horner. Sounds like the plan was to be more aggressive at the front.
http://blog.oregonlive.com/horner/2010/07/tour_de_france_stage_3_chris_h.html

That was everyone's plan. Saxo bank controlled masterfully with their big engines.

 

[ferryman]

I didn't expect Contador to look quite as good as he did on the cobbles. For a while after FS's crash broke everything apart VS showed Contador about 3 different times and each time Phil would say "and this is the Contador group" and each time Contador was clearly riding straight through whatever group it was, and it was clearly a different group each time. I fully expected him to be able to stay with anyone, but for a good bit he was doing more than that.

Maybe he goes for Paris-Roubaix next year.

Contador did look (at times) very comfortable. I think his time with Van Petegem has paid off. He sat back on the saddle and took what came and looked smooth in doing so. I'm not sure what happened in the last K with Vino burying himself with AC limping in

 

[Weapons of @ss Destruction]

Some interesting insights from Horner. Sounds like the plan was to be more aggressive at the front.
http://blog.oregonlive.com/horner/2010/07/tour_de_france_stage_3_chris_h.html

Interesting to see the transformation over the last couple of years into full-fledged Chris "Yes Man" Horner.

 

[ManInFull]

I didn't expect Contador to look quite as good as he did on the cobbles. For a while after FS's crash broke everything apart VS showed Contador about 3 different times and each time Phil would say "and this is the Contador group" and each time Contador was clearly riding straight through whatever group it was, and it was clearly a different group each time. I fully expected him to be able to stay with anyone, but for a good bit he was doing more than that.

Maybe he goes for Paris-Roubaix next year.

Yes, Contador's bridging to the LA group was very impressive. He was simply passing everybody on the road. I thought that he was going to catch Cancellera's group...

 

[Old School]

All in all, you are WEAK if you count on others to make a mistake so that you can win. A real rider trusts in his abilities to win, not BS mind games.

Lance is lucky to have gotten 3rd last year.

 

[Anonymous]

Interesting to see the transformation over the last couple of years into full-fledged Chris "Yes Man" Horner.

Funny what a steady (healthy) paycheck will do.

 

[Hugh Januss]

Contador did look (at times) very comfortable. I think his time with Van Petegem has paid off. He sat back on the saddle and took what came and looked smooth in doing so. I'm not sure what happened in the last K with Vino burying himself with AC limping in

I've heard broken spoke and/or rear flat. Combined with fast corners, a screaming crowd so Vino couldn't hear him, and Vino pulling till he was cross-eyed, I can see it happening without it being a sign of weakness. Or maybe 13K is Alberto's cobblestone limit?

 

[battery89]

The mechanical problem he suffered was the first thing he said after crossing the finish line. “I’ve gone the last 30 km with the rear wheel absolutely braked so at the end and that I had taken a fall, the result is not so bad”.

So yeah, unsure whether broken spoke and brake rubbing, or a flat.

Either way, he said he had it for 30km? If that's true (and the google translation could be way off), that's amazing.

 

[bobs nob]

Funny what a steady (healthy) paycheck will do.

I think this is something that every single on of us that works with a group of people (ie, we don't work alone) can relate to and unless you are the yes man, you have to just be disgusted by the yes men of the world in a very visceral and personal way.

Levi and Chris both have become toadies.

 

[hrotha]

The mechanical problem he suffered was the first thing he said after crossing the finish line. “I’ve gone the last 30 km with the rear wheel absolutely braked so at the end and that I had taken a fall, the result is not so bad”.

So yeah, unsure whether broken spoke and brake rubbing, or a flat.

Either way, he said he had it for 30km? If that's true (and the google translation could be way off), that's amazing.

Yep, that's what he said. Brake rubbing for 30 km.

Also, reading Horner's blog I'm somewhat depressed by Jani handing over his wheel to Levi.

 

[frizzlefry]

Funny what a steady (healthy) paycheck will do.

This applies to most of the NBA as well.

 

[turtlesoup]

this shows that the shack was trying to get by more on the HoG than on lance's remaining abilities. Only thing doing horribly did today is give riders like jani the chance to go out in a break in later stages and make a good showing so he can get a ride when the shack disappears in 2 years.

 

[Mach Schnell]

What a failure radioshack are! They failed badly today.

I suppose it is fashionable to wriggle with glee when The Shack falters, seriously though, I would hardly call todays debacle a "failure". Colosal bad luck more like it. It happens, sometimes more than seems right to some teams or riders. CVV seems to have had more than his fair share over the past few years, but I would hardly call his set backs failures.

 

[auscyclefan94]

LA was unlucky that he got a puncture but he really was not looking good anyway and probably would of been fished straight out the back of that group as they were going pretty well.

 

[unsheath]

Do you think they prepared for a mountain stages where Lance would be able to wheel-suck his way to a win because he had so much time on AC? Now, Lance will have to earn it if he is truly going to take it.

Are you able to reply without using the term 'Wheel Suck' in any of your posts? You Goose!!

 

[mastersracer]

LA was unlucky that he got a puncture but he really was not looking good anyway and probably would of been fished straight out the back of that group as they were going pretty well.

funny how he dropped Popo and bridged solo to a group after the wheel change...

 

[flicker]

I wish that I could wheel suck like Contador and Armstrong. I could make a good living sucking wheel like them!

 

[MacRoadie]

funny how he dropped Popo and bridged solo to a group after the wheel change...

You mean right after Popo had ridden himself into the ground for 15k trying to get Armstrong reconnected with Contador?

 

[auscyclefan94]

funny how he dropped Popo and bridged solo to a group after the wheel change...

he was on the rivot. unlucky yes but guys were riding away from him.