So, will Lance pull a Landis tomorrow?

[Cloxxki]

As in, losing a dozen minutes the one day only to win them back at the next mountain stage.
Would the competition disallow the old fart to ride off? They let Landis. And that's how Perreiro got his win also, a long escape.

Lance, if he fails to come up with proper excuses to quit prematurely, with have to try and safe face some way or another. To pull a Landis and NOT get caught doping in doing so, would be just his way to play the fans and media.

 

[Anonymous]

As in, losing a dozen minutes the one day only to win them back at the next mountain stage.
Would the competition disallow the old fart to ride off? They let Landis. And that's how Perreiro got his win also, a long escape.

Lance, if he fails to come up with proper excuses to quit prematurely, with have to try and safe face some way or another. To pull a Landis and NOT get caught doping in doing so, would be just his way to play the fans and media.

I think it would be a good tactic for Hog to put someone in an early move. I just don't think it will be LA. Horner maybe.

 

[CycloErgoSum]

It would make an utter mockery of the Tour yet again, and leave no one in any doubt as to Lance's old tricks.

Of course, it would serve the man's ego, so of course it will happen.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

A Landis-like attack from Lance tomorrow would confirm him as the most disgraceful and pathetic cheater this sport has ever known.

 

[this_is_edie]

but imagine how Phil & Paul would announce it? would they even see the irony if it did happen.

I don't think he will because imo he's already mentally out of the race. I'd be very surprised if Armstrong does finish the Tour.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Preview of what Phil and Paul will be doing if Lance attacks tomorrow.

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=1639879

 

[VeloCity]

but imagine how Phil & Paul would announce it? would they even see the irony if it did happen.

I don't think he will because imo he's already mentally out of the race. I'd be very surprised if Armstrong does finish the Tour.

Landis just bonked - that, comparatively speaking, is easy enough to recover from. But in Armstrong's case, tomorrow is probably the toughest stage of the Tour, and there's no way that he's going to be recovered from both the crash - it's in the following stages that the effects of a crash really start to set in, he's going to be stiff and sore - and the effort of just finishing yesterdays stage to do anything other than hang on, and even that's a very-best-case scenario. Plus it's supposed to be another very hot day which is just going to wear him down even more.

Realistically, I wouldn't be in the least bit surprised to see him lose another big chunk of time tomorrow, though not as much as yesterday. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't finish the stage, actually.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Realistically, I wouldn't be in the least bit surprised to see him lose another big chunk of time tomorrow, though not as much as yesterday. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't finish the stage, actually.

Why do you love cancer?

 

[Anonymous]

As in, losing a dozen minutes the one day only to win them back at the next mountain stage.
Would the competition disallow the old fart to ride off? They let Landis. And that's how Perreiro got his win also, a long escape.

Lance, if he fails to come up with proper excuses to quit prematurely, with have to try and safe face some way or another. To pull a Landis and NOT get caught doping in doing so, would be just his way to play the fans and media.

You think they will be serving Apples for breakfast? Sounds like wishful thinking.

 

[hrotha]

At least tomorrow only Muravyev and Rast will have to be kept from riding.

 

[redtreviso]

Its got to be tempting for Lance to shoot up a michelob bottle full of EPO and do a 99 Sestriere, afterall he is the 7 time champion of not ever testing positive.

 

[la.margna]

actually he needs to pull two "Landis" now...

maybe he is now focusing on a stage win on the Tourmalet, Ax or Mende to save his ego.

However, sad to see him lose the Tour this way. Would have prefered it in a different way. Particularly, as I was convinced he will be better than last year and finish on the podium.

Will this really be his last Tour then, is his ego allowing to leave this way?

Maybe, all the recent Landis stuff etc. has been impacting Pharmstrong more than we tought... It also shows the luck he had in those 7 wins to never really crash hard...

 

[Black-Balled]

...
Of course, it would serve the man's ego, so of course it will happen.

That is just silly talk.

 

[BroDeal]

Landis just bonked - that, comparatively speaking, is easy enough to recover from. But in Armstrong's case, tomorrow is probably the toughest stage of the Tour, and there's no way that he's going to be recovered from both the crash - it's in the following stages that the effects of a crash really start to set in, he's going to be stiff and sore - and the effort of just finishing yesterdays stage to do anything other than hang on, and even that's a very-best-case scenario. Plus it's supposed to be another very hot day which is just going to wear him down even more.

Realistically, I wouldn't be in the least bit surprised to see him lose another big chunk of time tomorrow, though not as much as yesterday. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't finish the stage, actually.

Actually I think Flandis dehydrated on stage 16. That is why he was so concerned about getting enough liquid during stage 17. Dehydration is a lot easier to recover from than bonking.

Armstrong can easily finish the stage. If he is hurting then he can ride in the autobus. If the day is searing hot then the autobus will form early and ride easy.

A good strategy for him might be to deliver a few bottles while the cameras are rolling so that he gets credit for being a loyal teammate. Phil and Paul praise him for it. Then he can slip back into a slow group and glass crank it to the finish.

 

[VeloCity]

Actually I think Flandis dehydrated on stage 16. That is why he was so concerned about getting enough liquid during stage 17. Dehydration is a lot easier to recover from than bonking.

Armstrong can easily finish the stage. If he is hurting then he can ride in the autobus. If the day is searing hot then the autobus will form early and ride easy.

A good strategy for him might be to deliver a few bottles while the cameras are rolling so that he gets credit for being a loyal teammate. Phil and Paul praise him for it. Then he can slip back into a slow group and glass crank it to the finish.

Crap, yes, of course, Landis was dehydrated.

Anyway, the main reason I think Armstrong might not finish is less physical and more that mentally he's done, cooked, and I just can't see him riding in the autobus for 5 hours or whatever just to finish.

 

[Mont Ventoux]

Maybe not tomorrow...

It would be surprising if he takes his one ball and just goes home like a sulky 5 years old.
His ego will be working overtime on this rest day, along with the Hog, they have to come up with a plan to "salvage" his Tour, and by great extension, his world wide cause.

Maybe that scene mentioned earlier with him carrying the water bottles will materialize, only this time he drops one in Alberto's front wheel on one of the mountainous hairpins, you know the one's that have a 500 foot drop just beyond the curb!!

Whatever he pulls, it'll be all about Lance, and should make for a very interesting Phil & Paul show.

 

[Anonymous]

Id like to see him dropped and end up in a group with Zabriskie & Micheal Barry

 

[Anonymous]

Id like to see him dropped and end up in a group with Zabriskie & Micheal Barry

That would be a wonderful conversation to hear. Cricket's.....

Z hit too much dubage in his high school days, hard to talks with someone who has trouble forming speech. LA is a asshat with a 2 ball ego. MB ....no idea what he is like.

 

[Lady Luck]

There is no way he will "do a Landis", whatever the means since Landis claims he is still innocent and he now only tells the truth.....

Armstrong wasn't even trying to limit the damage on GC - he clearly gave up completely.

There are two questions now. Will the other teams allow him to go for a stage win at some point? And secondly, will he be capable of doing that now that the bubble is burst?

To be an elite GC rider in the tour de france requires you to work your mind up to a state where pain that would seem absurd to most of us is just normal. But when that high level of focus goes they can quickly crumble, like Evans did last year, and there is no way back to that mental state.

I just hope that this doesn't happen to Armstrong, but I wouldn't be surprised. One casualty will likely be his final ITT - they say it's very hard indeed to dig deep unless you're right up there on GC or are a specialist with a chance of a win.

 

[Cobblestones]

Of course he will pull a Landis. 'We might as well win', remember? The Hog will rent a water truck and constantly spray Lance to cool him down (from behind, with considerable pressure). He will win by 200 min, thereby putting everybody else outside of the time limit. It will be glorious to behold.

 

[luckyboy]

If he does try and attack, the peloton should get some revenge for Simeoni..

 

[hrotha]

If he does try and attack, the peloton should get some revenge for Simeoni..

Too bad the peloton at large supported Armstrong that day.

edit: But it'd be AWESOME if Evans did it to him.

 

[sampraul]

Lance did not struggle yesterday. Yes, he got injured on the second crash, but when he realized he would not catch back on, he sat up, rode in, and saved energy. Unlike Landis, the other riders would not let LA go because he is a formidable opponent and they want him out of contention.

If LA is feeling okay on Tuesday, he'll help Levi as much as possible. If LA is not well, he'll hang out at the back with the sprinters, conserve energy, and ride fast enough to beat the cutoff.

 

[Lady Luck]

If he does try and attack, the peloton should get some revenge for Simeoni..

That will only increase the cycle of revenge. Armstrong thought he was getting revenge for his friend Dr Ferrari in the first place.

Revenge is bad.

 

[Lady Luck]

Lance did not struggle yesterday. Yes, he got injured on the second crash, but when he realized he would not catch back on, he sat up, rode in, and saved energy. Unlike Landis, the other riders would not let LA go because he is a formidable opponent and they want him out of contention.

If LA is feeling okay on Tuesday, he'll help Levi as much as possible. If LA is not well, he'll hang out at the back with the sprinters, conserve energy, and ride fast enough to beat the cutoff.

Yeah I agree. They will probably wait until the last week, when there is no way he can get back, to let him go for a stage win. But if he loses even more time before then, like tomorrow, then he might be allowed to do something this week.

But it depends what he tries to do. If he manages to escape with a few k to go, I don't think Astana will be bothered.