Stage 10 - Wednesday, July 14 2010, Chambéry - Gap, 179 km

[The Barb]

Any chance Lance was just trying to get into the breakaway and Champion thinking he was ruining his chances? From your description that's not what it sounds like, but I'm not watching it so I wouldn't know.

I don't think so, because as soon as Armstrong caught Champion he shut it down and waved at him to give it up. He had no interest in working to bridge himself.

Correction - just watched it again - at 141.9km to go - and he didn't actually wave him off but he shook his head and they exchanged what looked like heated words

It was kind of odd.

 

[The Hitch]

It reminded me of one of the latter stages in the Tour a few years back when there was a rider in the break (I can't remember his name) who had spoken out against doping. Armstrong, who was in yellow at the time charged out of the peloton and bridged to the break. Once he got there everyone knew the break had no chance and Armstrong said he would only drop back if the rider who had spoken out also dropped back to the peloton.

The message was clear ... speak out and I'll do what I can to make sure you never win.

Nasty, vindictive stuff.

That was Simeoni.

As i recall, Simeoni had spoken out specifically against a certain Dr Ferrari.

 

[Moondance]

Radioshack was just neutralizing the breakaway, cause Paulinho are in the lead group.

+1.... People need to calm down about Armstrong, seriously.

 

[Moondance]

This break is going to be out of the reach of the peloton if they don't undertake someting very soon.

 

[Cerberus]

Really slow pace perhaps Saxo is trying to lose the jersey. Best placed rider is 33 minutes back so that will take work, not hard work but still.

 

[Mellow Velo]

+1.... People need to calm down about Armstrong, seriously.

I'm sure the French won't mind, what it being their national day 'n all.

To us? C'est rien. Just a normal day at the races.

 

[joeyrobbo]

Just a quick question (as it seems to be the consensus in the press that Schleck is the best climber thus far, with AC yet to peak..) has Contador actually tried to attack yet? He's covered a few attacks, but as far as I can recall he hasn't actually tried to break free on his own yet?

If so, then how do we know Schleck is faster this year? 10 seconds on Sunday on a very slight gradient after Contador had just covered a couple of attacks doesn't really prove much.. and yesterday he couldn't drop him despite a couple of attempts.

Anyone else reckon that Contador is just waiting til the Pyrenees to open up?

 

[Jamsque]

Just a quick question (as it seems to be the consensus in the press that Schleck is the best climber thus far, with AC yet to peak..) has Contador actually tried to attack yet? He's covered a few attacks, but as far as I can recall he hasn't actually tried to break free on his own yet?

If so, then how do we know Schleck is faster this year? 10 seconds on Sunday on a very slight gradient after Contador had just covered a couple of attacks doesn't really prove much.. and yesterday he couldn't drop him despite a couple of attempts.

Anyone else reckon that Contador is just waiting til the Pyrenees to open up?

It's impossible to know, really. Contador didn't look too strained following Schleck's attacks on the Madeleine, but he might have been right on the rivet and close to cracking.

 

[movingtarget]

There is no reason for Contador to attack. Schleck will have to continue to attack him unless he's suddenly become a much better time triallist.

 

[sometriguy]

Just a quick question (as it seems to be the consensus in the press that Schleck is the best climber thus far, with AC yet to peak..) has Contador actually tried to attack yet? He's covered a few attacks, but as far as I can recall he hasn't actually tried to break free on his own yet?

If so, then how do we know Schleck is faster this year? 10 seconds on Sunday on a very slight gradient after Contador had just covered a couple of attacks doesn't really prove much.. and yesterday he couldn't drop him despite a couple of attempts.

Anyone else reckon that Contador is just waiting til the Pyrenees to open up?

He hasn't attacked yet. Everyone seems to think he had a bad day when he lost the 10s to schleck.

I personally think he looked really good yesterday and will be able to drop andy in the Pyrenees

 

[joeyrobbo]

Ain't gonna be much fun for Andy if he still only has 41 secs come the ITT.. knowing that Contador has got you in his sights on the straights, and at some point may well pass you.

Personally I can't see AC leaving it to the time trial.. think he'll try and attack at some point in the mountains in case he has a bad day in the ITT

 

[Wergeland]

As i recall, Simeoni had spoken out specifically against a certain Dr Ferrari.

From wiki:

Feud with Lance Armstrong

More famous is Simeoni's argument with Lance Armstrong. Simeoni was treated by doctor Michele Ferrari, who was also Armstrong's doctor. Simeoni testified in court that he began doping in 1993, that Dr. Ferrari had prescribed him doping products such as EPO and Human Growth Hormone in 1996 and 1997, and that Ferrari also gave him instructions on how to use these products.[3] In 2001 and 2002 Simeoni was suspended for several months for doping use. Armstrong reportedly called Simeoni a "liar" in an interview with the French newspaper Le Monde in July 2003. Simeoni lodged a charge of defamation against Armstrong and demanded €100,000. Simeoni announced that he would give any money awarded him to charity.

On the 18th stage of the 2004 edition of the Tour de France, Simeoni gapped up to a breakaway of six riders that posed no threat to Armstrong's leading position. Nevertheless, Armstrong followed Simeoni, which prompted Armstrong's rival T-Mobile Team to try to catch the breakaway. This would not only catch Armstrong but also eliminate the stage winning chances of the six riders in the original breakaway. The six riders implored Armstrong to drop back to the peloton, but Armstrong would not go unless Simeoni went with him and the two riders dropped back to the peloton.[4] Afterwards, Armstrong made a "zip-the-lips" gesture but later said that Simeoni "did not deserve" to win a stage. Two days later was the final stage, which is usually a slow stage in which the Tour winner (in 2004 it was Armstrong) already celebrates his victory. But in this stage Simeoni continuously attacked, to take revenge for what Armstrong did three days before, but was reeled in every time by Armstrong's team.[5]

Because Simeoni was a prosecution witness in legal proceedings against Ferrari at the time of Armstrong's move against him in the 2004 Tour, Italian authorities threatened to bring charges of witness intimidation against Armstrong. In March 2005 Armstrong was interviewed by the authorities, apparently without resolution. Armstrong had been indicted by Italian authorities in December 2005 and ordered to stand trial for defaming Simeoni on March 7, 2006. In April 2006, the defamation charges were dropped.[6]

 

[Dedelou]

He hasn't attacked yet. Everyone seems to think he had a bad day when he lost the 10s to schleck.

I personally think he looked really good yesterday and will be able to drop andy in the Pyrenees

agree + Contador is doing damage control each day he appears to be riding stronger and each day we have seen a major competitor dissapear from the challenge. Menchov remains a danger because he has beaten him in ITT. This tour is created with the Pyrenees as the "piece de resistance" I sort of believe that in some way all the contenders had hoped: first to take advantages of the difficulties of the first week. survive the alps and showdown in the Pyrenees. Some who counted to take time on AS and AC in the cobbles realized , with a bit of desperation, that they will have to battle these two in their terrain of choice. The tour is not over but Contador looks dangerous

 

[kurtinsc]

From wiki:

Feud with Lance Armstrong

More famous is Simeoni's argument with Lance Armstrong. Simeoni was treated by doctor Michele Ferrari, who was also Armstrong's doctor. Simeoni testified in court that he began doping in 1993, that Dr. Ferrari had prescribed him doping products such as EPO and Human Growth Hormone in 1996 and 1997, and that Ferrari also gave him instructions on how to use these products.[3] In 2001 and 2002 Simeoni was suspended for several months for doping use. Armstrong reportedly called Simeoni a "liar" in an interview with the French newspaper Le Monde in July 2003. Simeoni lodged a charge of defamation against Armstrong and demanded €100,000. Simeoni announced that he would give any money awarded him to charity.

On the 18th stage of the 2004 edition of the Tour de France, Simeoni gapped up to a breakaway of six riders that posed no threat to Armstrong's leading position. Nevertheless, Armstrong followed Simeoni, which prompted Armstrong's rival T-Mobile Team to try to catch the breakaway. This would not only catch Armstrong but also eliminate the stage winning chances of the six riders in the original breakaway. The six riders implored Armstrong to drop back to the peloton, but Armstrong would not go unless Simeoni went with him and the two riders dropped back to the peloton.[4] Afterwards, Armstrong made a "zip-the-lips" gesture but later said that Simeoni "did not deserve" to win a stage. Two days later was the final stage, which is usually a slow stage in which the Tour winner (in 2004 it was Armstrong) already celebrates his victory. But in this stage Simeoni continuously attacked, to take revenge for what Armstrong did three days before, but was reeled in every time by Armstrong's team.[5]

Because Simeoni was a prosecution witness in legal proceedings against Ferrari at the time of Armstrong's move against him in the 2004 Tour, Italian authorities threatened to bring charges of witness intimidation against Armstrong. In March 2005 Armstrong was interviewed by the authorities, apparently without resolution. Armstrong had been indicted by Italian authorities in December 2005 and ordered to stand trial for defaming Simeoni on March 7, 2006. In April 2006, the defamation charges were dropped.[6]

While Lance is a jerk...

Witness intimidation? For actions in a bike race? I sure hope there was more to it then that. While you can say it was "improper" for Lance to do what he did... any rider is within their rights to ride the race how they want. The race leader can try to ride in a breakaway. A rider is allowed to attack repeatedly on the last stage of the tour. Heck, Cervelo could have attacked when many of the riders had crashed on stage 2.

There may be unwritten consequences for such actions, but if it's not against the rules, I fail to see how you can call it witness intimidation. If a witness in a legal trial I was a part of entered a race I was in, and I marked all their attacks... that's illegal? I'm not allowed to race how I want because of a legal trial in no way related to the race?

Lance's actions were childish and spoke a lot toward doping... but they aren't any more illegal then any other bike racing tactic that might be viewed as "unfair".

 

[Roland Rat]

Beautiful climb. I'll add that to the list to ride some time.

Which bike would you have of the leading group? The Colnago for me.

 

[The Hitch]

Ain't gonna be much fun for Andy if he still only has 41 secs come the ITT.. knowing that Contador has got you in his sights on the straights, and at some point may well pass you.

Personally I can't see AC leaving it to the time trial.. think he'll try and attack at some point in the mountains in case he has a bad day in the ITT

I think for the top 10 the time gap will be 3 minutes between riders. No way in hell is contador catching schleck (course wise) on the tt. He came within about a minute last time and that was a better course for conti and i would expect, a better performance than contador will give this time (he beat canc for christ sake)

 

[Publicus]

So is it safe to say that Kloden is no longer the mountain man he use to be?

 

[Roland Rat]

So is it safe to say that Kloden is no longer the mountain man he use to be?

Indeed. Odd though, the usually wait until they've left Bruyneel's teams before losing their climbing ability.

 

[joeyrobbo]

What are the time gaps for the final TT (start wise?) 2 mins?

 

[nvpacchi]

Beautiful climb. I'll add that to the list to ride some time.

Which bike would you have of the leading group? The Colnago for me.

Certainly not the Trek or Kuota. All others are beautiful machines. Eddy Merckx for #1 choice.

 

[Moondance]

Just got an update from my uncle. He had lunch with Joop Zoetemelk mad and is now chugging along behind the peloton... Apparantly Koos Moerenhout is suffering badly.... He is dead to me now.

 

[Dominar]

Radioshack was just neutralizing the breakaway, cause Paulinho are in the lead group.

Shhhhh... they're on a roll.

 

[Roland Rat]

Just got an update from my uncle. He had lunch with Joop Zoetemelk mad and is now chugging along behind the peloton... Apparantly Koos Moerenhout is suffering badly.... He is dead to me now.

Harsh, I'm sure Koos is trying his best.

 

[The Hitch]

What are the time gaps for the final TT (start wise?) 2 mins?

like i said. 3 minutes.

 

[The Hitch]

Harsh, I'm sure Koos is trying his best.

beat me to it.