Stage 8: Station des Rousses - Morzine-Avoriaz 189km

[BroDeal]

Yes, Armstrong sure has something to prove after winning seven tours...we're about to find out if he had real guts.....then we might actually respect him....

Oh please.

If he had done it without Dr. Ferrari then he would be worthy of respect. As it is, he is worthy of nothing but contempt. It does not take guts to cheat.

 

[Anonymous]

But when he said he was not good enough and worked for Contador last year, he got no credit. When he sent the team up the road today, after people had started to complain he was holding them back, he got no credit. You people always find another little test.

You seem to take pleasure from pretending you are morally superior to people that are much tougher mentally and psyically than yourself. That says more about you than it does about Armstrong.

Wow, I was thinking that you would post like a real member after your whining PM to me the last time you got banned. Guess you as big of a loser as I suspected. Reported. Ignored. Toodles psycho!

 

[roundabout]

Shame that other than Rodriguez noone wanted to attack early. Opportunity lost. There'll be a different Contador after the "rest" day.

 

[Thee_chisa]

If Contador had crashed at the same moment, do you believe he would have finished in the front group? Hmmmm?

This is too easy, I should really quit it. Just had to take down a few of the trolls.

yes contador would have still finished where he did

 

[jaylew]

Agree with TFF, Lance should stay in and ride for LL. I think even many LA fans will be disappointed in him if he quits now.

 

[Climbing]

Remember all that talk about what a weak team Astana is, and how Radioshack got all the good riders. That was so long ago...

It'll be interesting to watch RS ride for Levi. Horner seems to be the second strongest rider on that team, then Kloden. I could see Levi finishing in the top five, if the team works 100% for him. I don't see Levi getting ahead of Menchov though, and certainly not Contador, Evans or the Schlecklet. Basso is still a big question mark for me. The last few days of the race should be fun.

Basso interviewed before the stage said he didn't feel as expected at all and was suffering.
Today he stayed there, so this must be a good sign for his third week.

 

[Nikoloz]

interesting day, hot pace.

think the winners today are schleck, conta (doesn't have yellow but still close), sanchez (the closest he will be getting to the podium), leipheimer (now the #1 guy in shack), kreuzinger (showed he is the strongest).

losers

wiggins, larry, hesjdal, kloden, nico roche.

kloden is always starting tour this way...

he shows his power in the second part of tour...

I hope he will be in podium this year...

 

[luckyboy]

Any word on whether Wiggins got the hunger knock or if he was just dropped?

 

[jaylew]

If Contador had crashed at the same moment, do you believe he would have finished in the front group? Hmmmm?

Absolutely.

 

[Anonymous]

I love your adam myerson quote. It's just so virile. It makes you seem like a macho, macho, macho man. But I'm sure you're a cat 1 boy. Your name defines irony.

How would you be able to judge irony?

 

[Thee_chisa]

Any word on whether Wiggins got the hunger knock or if he was just dropped?

i think he had a bad day, no fringale as far as i can work out,.

 

[Cobblestones]

What a fun stage to watch (and trying to catch up with the thread).

The last kms were very interesting. Maybe a small tactical mistake by Bertie when he covered the first two attacks by lower placed riders and then couldn't reign in Schlecklet?

ETA: and klodifan is back!

 

[Larrybud]

How would you be able to judge irony?

I can't really. I'm just a poor fisherman looking for a big fish. Unfortunately every time I cast the best I can do is hook a minnow. I probably should just fire up the motor and head to another part of the lake where the big fish are a swimmin'.

 

[BroDeal]

i think he had a bad day, no fringale as far as i can work out,.

Vaughters called it when he said that Wigans can do well on a stage that has the climbing at the end.

The stages that have lots of real climbing before the final climb do not suit him. He will die in the Pyrenees.

 

[badboyberty]

So the real revelations of today:

Krueziger was way stronger than Basso.
Samu Sanchez has some form.
Andy Schelck can ride without his brother.
Astana seemed stronger than Saxo and the Shack, with Vino playing perfect teammate.
Contador is beatable.
Wigans is 2nd Division.
Footon want the polka dots.
Gesink's injuries aren't terminal.

And there comes a point in everyone's life when it's probably a good idea to stay home and drink a beer...

 

[bobs nob]

What a fun stage to watch (and trying to catch up with the thread).

The last kms were very interesting. Maybe a small tactical mistake by Bertie when he covered the first two attacks by lower placed riders and then couldn't reign in Schlecklet?

ETA: and klodifan is back!

I think AC was not going to be baited to cover each attack this early. Also as it flattened a bit, it did not play to his strength. I hope he gets a quality rest day in.

 

[Anonymous]

I can't really. I'm just a poor fisherman looking for a big fish. Unfortunately every time I cast the best I can do is hook a minnow. I probably should just fire up the motor and head to another part of the lake where the big fish are a swimmin'.

Dude, your trollkraft is weak. I give lessons, but only to the best students...sorry.

 

[BroDeal]

I can't really. I'm just a poor fisherman looking for a big fish. Unfortunately every time I cast the best I can do is hook a minnow. I probably should just fire up the motor and head to another part of the lake where the big fish are a swimmin'.

Sounds like someone with a little minnow is jealous of the big boys with their--umm--big fish. You might try Enzyte, Bro. Or maybe Extenze.

 

[badboyberty]

i think he had a bad day, no fringale as far as i can work out,.

Sky aren't feeding him enough whale blubber and rice cakes?

 

[Delicato]

Looking forward to see the Planet Armstrong today.

And what about that "The Duellists" commercial?

 

[39*23t]

Evans has worn the leader's jersey in the last 3 GT's. Not a bad accomplishment.

I think that might actually be a first. Can not think of any other rider who has worn the leaders jersey in three consectutive tours

 

[Publicus]

What a fun stage to watch (and trying to catch up with the thread).

The last kms were very interesting. Maybe a small tactical mistake by Bertie when he covered the first two attacks by lower placed riders and then couldn't reign in Schlecklet?

ETA: and klodifan is back!

He rode a very tactically smart race up until that point. I was surprised that he jumped over to close down Kreuziger. He wasn't a threat to him and should have let someone else do it. And that, I think, is his weakness. He is a competitor. Hopefully Martinelli makes it clear to him tonight that he wasted energy covering those early attacks.

 

[sometriguy]

I think that might actually be a first. Can not think of any other rider who has worn the leaders jersey in three consectutive tours

Didn't contador win 3 straight GTs?

 

[editedbymod]

That's not certain at all. We saw how he struggled when Schleck attacked. If he and his team had had to chase back on right at the bottom of the first climb, certainly more of his team would have blown, and that in turn would have had a psychologcial effect. Given how he finished I think he could well have lost at least a bit more time.

What did it for LA was trying to stay in the front group right after chasing back on. He should have waited and used the energy to make it back on the dissent.

To be honest. You can tell. He really didn't want to be at the Tour since stage 2. He couldn't be bothered. Rightfully so.

 

[BroDeal]

I bet RBR is like the Cambodian killing fields. That place should be good for a yuck or two.