SHACK ATTACK: Radioshack fail dismally!

[Cerberus]

+1
Tyler Farrar top 10'd in the prologue so I guess that means he will be riding away from Alberto Contador.

I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt and asume you simply haven't read the thread carefully. I'll qute Spanky Wnaderlust saying pretty much the same as I've said repeatedly:

normally, a prologue tt can very strongly predict the form of the gc candidates. but it is not as simple as saying "fabian won the prologue, therefore i predict he will win the tour".

i mean, it is the "race against the truth" afterall, right?

if you subtract out the specialists. then, take the gc candidates. subtract out effective factors such as changes in weather, crashes, etc. this should give you a pretty good indication of the final podium. if you use proper judgement.

Farrar is simply not a GC candidate.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt and asume you simply haven't read the thread carefully. I'll qute Spanky Wnaderlust saying pretty much the same as I've said repeatedly:

Farrar is simply not a GC candidate.

No, I was just reffering to the end of pythons post about the prologue. I will make that more clear for people.

 

[python]

aus, dont get sucked into the worthless argument with the demonstrative, dishonest manipulator.

spanky wonderlust never said that a flat prologue is indicative of the future climbing success by armstrong. that's my main point.

he will misinterpret someone's words, as he did with mine, to score an agreement because he cant take a +1, to someone who exposed his incompetence.

 

[Cerberus]

No, I was just reffering to the end of pythons post about the prologue. I will make that more clear for people.

OK fair enough, I guess my argument with Python put me in an uncharitably mood. I'm sorry for the somewhat annoyed reply.

 

[shadowblue]

There's no strategy that would be a lock to work... but we can all think of things they could try.

They might only have a 5% (or less) chance of success... but we'd all benefit if they actually tried those things rather then what they'll likely do... ride conservatively, take advantage of others trying to do things to put time on them and end up with Lance in 5th and 2-3 others in the top 20 somewhere.

They could try to launch attacks with riders like Brajkovic or Horner early in some mountain stages to see if Contador can handle multiple climbs (some have said he's weaker if you make him work early in a mountain stage). Perhaps the peak 60K from the finish on stage 7, or the Columbiere on stage 9, or right off the bat on stage 16. RS has the riders to constantly send dangerous guys up the road... then send another after Astana pulls them back. If Astana burns off enough guys... perhaps one might stay away.

It probably wouldn't work... but there'd be an outside chance of success.

see the final stage of paris-nice, 2009, the day after contador bonked. disabuses that notion.

 

[BYOP88]

Ok if Lance didn't like a team mate winning last year, why are some thinking he'll be ok with one winning this year?

Now I don't know how Armstrong's mind works but if this is his last Tour he'd want to bow out with a win. I don't think he came out of retirement to get a 3rd and whatever he gets this year but to bump his total to 9.

 

[peloton]

Ok if Lance didn't like a team mate winning last year, why are some thinking he'll be ok with one winning this year?

Because they are delusional.

 

[Big Doopie]

I don't think he came out of retirement to get a 3rd and whatever he gets this year but to bump his total to 9.

...which is why he will stop at nothing to win. evidenced by his unbelievable (and i mean that in the literal sense) prologue. if he is allowed to "prepare" for all the key stages as he was able to do for the prologue, beware...

his prologue shows a great deal more power than last year (how, i don't know!?) and if he is the same weight, then he will be climbing better.

but it all depends on whether the uci will let him. they seem compliant as usual up until now.

 

[SoCalCyclingfan]

More than just bad luck

Lance was very unlucky to puncture at that particular moment. Nothing you can do about that, even the most passionate Lance hater has to concede that.

Forgive me if this has already been said (can't make myself read all the posts), but the punctures weren't the only issue. RS should have taken control from Saxobank before the majority of the pave. Either they made a bad decision to let Saxo ride tempo at front or they weren't strong enough to take over. But once they got stuck behind Frank Schleck's crash, they were screwed. Horner said himself that he and Levi had trouble rejoining traffic and got separated from Lance. Andy Shleck had 5 guys riding for him at that point. If RS had been at the front of the peloton where they should have been, Lance would have had plenty of support when he punctured -- both for a spare wheel and a few guys to help him catch up.

 

[MacRoadie]

Forgive me if this has already been said (can't make myself read all the posts), but the punctures weren't the only issue. RS should have taken control from Saxobank before the majority of the pave. Either they made a bad decision to let Saxo ride tempo at front or they weren't strong enough to take over. But once they got stuck behind Frank Schleck's crash, they were screwed. Horner said himself that he and Levi had trouble rejoining traffic and got separated from Lance. Andy Shleck had 5 guys riding for him at that point. If RS had been at the front of the peloton where they should have been, Lance would have had plenty of support when he punctured -- both for a spare wheel and a few guys to help him catch up.

I've yet to see 5 seconds of video where Levi is riding IN FRONT of Lance. He is constantly 2 or 3 wheels behind him and consistently coming in in a later group. I know there was some debate as to whether he was a "protected" rider, but so far he certainly doesn't look to be prepared to do any work for Armstrong.

Much of the same can be said of Horner. Half the time, the only way to find him is by looking for those yellow shoes. I think he popped to the front once in stage 2, before the crashes, but a no-show since.

About the only lieutenant who has consistently been there for Armstrong is Popovych (no surprise there).

 

[ulrikmm]

Forgive me if this has already been said (can't make myself read all the posts), but the punctures weren't the only issue. RS should have taken control from Saxobank before the majority of the pave. Either they made a bad decision to let Saxo ride tempo at front or they weren't strong enough to take over. But once they got stuck behind Frank Schleck's crash, they were screwed. Horner said himself that he and Levi had trouble rejoining traffic and got separated from Lance. Andy Shleck had 5 guys riding for him at that point. If RS had been at the front of the peloton where they should have been, Lance would have had plenty of support when he punctured -- both for a spare wheel and a few guys to help him catch up.

The punctures come more frequently when riders are tired and seek away from the centered, more elevated cobblestones. Riding in the dirt side of the road by the Radio Amateurs was a sign of weakness.

 

[SoCalCyclingfan]

I've yet to see 5 seconds of video where Levi is riding IN FRONT of Lance. He is constantly 2 or 3 wheels behind him and consistently coming in in a later group. I know there was some debate as to whether he was a "protected" rider, but so far he certainly doesn't look to be prepared to do any work for Armstrong.

Much of the same can be said of Horner. Half the time, the only way to find him is by looking for those yellow shoes. I think he popped to the front once in stage 2, before the crashes, but a no-show since.

About the only lieutenant who has consistently been there for Armstrong is Popovych (no surprise there).

Exactly. They all should have been in front of Lance IN FRONT of the other GC contenders. In years past, that's what they did in difficult terrain. Just agreeing with the original poster and arguing that "unlucky punctures" weren't the main issue. And this coming from a cycling fan that wants to see them succeed.

 

[Oldman]

I've yet to see 5 seconds of video where Levi is riding IN FRONT of Lance. He is constantly 2 or 3 wheels behind him and consistently coming in in a later group. I know there was some debate as to whether he was a "protected" rider, but so far he certainly doesn't look to be prepared to do any work for Armstrong.

Much of the same can be said of Horner. Half the time, the only way to find him is by looking for those yellow shoes. I think he popped to the front once in stage 2, before the crashes, but a no-show since.

About the only lieutenant who has consistently been there for Armstrong is Popovych (no surprise there).

I've gotta say this is biblical payback for throwing the challenge at Saxo and Astana. They talked large and came in small: when LA can't outride a 125lb newbie like Conta on the cobbles and the rest of the team was trailing him that's evidence they never had the strength to be a part of their own strategy. Hubris 101

 

[frizzlefry]

It was reported that LA, Levi, and Kloden all punctured. Not sure where in the race Levi and Kloden punctured, but that may have something to do with the separation of RS.

 

[eleven]

It was reported that LA, Levi, and Kloden all punctured. Not sure where in the race Levi and Kloden punctured, but that may have something to do with the separation of RS.

Jani punctured as well....but let's not bring any facts into a perfectly good rant.

 

[BYOP88]

Jani punctured as well....but let's not bring any facts into a perfectly good rant.

Well I heard/read that Jani had to give a wheel to Levi.

 

[lancewillwin8]

hahha all of you lance haters will be crying when the tour hits the high mountains and radioshack takes full control of the race and puts lance into yellow.

 

[hrotha]

hahha all of you lance haters will be crying when the tour hits the high mountains and radioshack takes full control of the race and puts lance into yellow.

I think if that actually happens I'll laugh among much eye-rolling.

 

[cyclestationgiuseppe]

hahha all of you lance haters will be crying when the tour hits the high mountains and radioshack takes full control of the race and puts lance into yellow.

Oh yeah...he's been climbing great so far this year...

He will get dropped a fat doughboy by....AS, AC, CE, I think even Menchov and Gesink as well if they can stay upright until then.

What if Levi is climbing better and not far down in GC...will he tirelessly work for a weaker rider? Hmmmm

 

[lancewillwin8]

Oh yeah...he's been climbing great so far this year...

He will get dropped a fat doughboy by....AS, AC, CE, I think even Menchov and Gesink as well if they can stay upright until then.

What if Levi is climbing better and not far down in GC...will he tirelessly work for a weaker rider? Hmmmm

Podium at tour de suisse means nothing to you? Schleck couldnt even get over the climbs at tour of california...cant wait until you sheepishly disappear when armstrong shows you why he has won the tour 7 times.

 

[auscyclefan94]

It was reported that LA, Levi, and Kloden all punctured. Not sure where in the race Levi and Kloden punctured, but that may have something to do with the separation of RS.

Yes, It was funny to hear the other day that horner basically said Lance is our main leader. RSH weren't really chasing overly hard at all as Lance , Levi, klodi were all down the back of the group.

 

[cyclestationgiuseppe]

Podium at tour de suisse means nothing to you? Schleck couldnt even get over the climbs at tour of california...cant wait until you sheepishly disappear when armstrong shows you why he has won the tour 7 times.

The profile on the "mountain stages" at the TDS were not even close to what is coming up the road.....wise up.

 

[hrotha]

cant wait until you sheepishly disappear when armstrong shows you why he has won the tour 7 times.

The investigation has just started, and anyway this is Clinic material so please, enough with the insinuations.

 

[lancewillwin8]

The profile on the "mountain stages" at the TDS were not even close to what is coming up the road.....wise up.

How about you wise up to the fact armstrong is stronger than last year when he finished third and this year he has the full support of a strong team.

 

[auscyclefan94]

How about you wise up to the fact armstrong is stronger than last year when he finished third and this year he has the full support of a strong team.

Nothing to say about the failure on the cobbles of radioshack?