TDF Stage 16 - Tuesday, July 20 2010, Bagnères-de-Luchon - Pau, 196 km

[nia O'Malley]

to be fair even in this country, lance armstrong is the number 1 name associated with road cycling, or tour de france cycling ( most people wont know there is road racing beyond the tdf) and this is a very anti american country.

The coverage in the newspapers of the tdf, even today will go something like this.

"The stage from y to z was won by rider a. He finished the race in x hours. the yellow jersey of race leader remains with rider b. He is n seconds ahead of riderc c. Britains Bradely Wiggins lies in p place. Lance Armstrong is h th."

Well.......here in Ireland he does get mentioned as he is after all an english speaking 7 times winner, and besides they keep filming him on the motorbikes so you can't just ignore him, but I can assure you that he comes after Kelly and Roche anywhere in this country, and even after Nicolas Roche (I don't speak irish so the commentary flies over my head as it's on the irish speaking channel, but I can count how many times names are mentioned ), which is only natural and normal.
At the stage finish, they don't look where Armstrong is, they look where Nicolas finished, and how he fares in the GC. Same last year. Tons of names are mentioned for hours, Armstrong doesn't particularly features in it, more than any other.

Maybe the difference is Ireland had real champions, and England hasn't had any for ..... a long time? Anything but the french, that type of attitude

 

[lilyprotector]

When the group of 4 were away (Kloden, Contador, Frank and Andy), Lance didn't work... because he didn't feel like any of them were a threat for 3rd... which is all he could hope for at that point in the tour. He let Vandevelde and Wiggins burn out chasing... then dropped them (and Nibali) on the last climb.

my memory of this stage differs...how could lance not have felt that frank and andy were a threat for third when andy ended up moving in front of him after this stage? and at this point, lance was gunning for 2nd. klodi was hoping for 3rd. post this stage, don't remember if frank moved ahead too or was just within striking distance of third (think it was the latter) but it became a battle. when klodi got dropped after contador attacked (losing his chance for 3rd), contador, frank and andy rode off pushing lance out of 2nd. my memory of this stage is that lance could not go off to minimize the damage being done by frank and andy to his gc standing because he was with wiggo and could not drop him. pulling him with him would have pulled a gc threat to the mj on his team so he didn't until he dropped wiggo, and then he rode with fury to try to shut down as much of the gap that the schlecks had gained. i have no doubt la was playing terror-torture level mind games with ac, but to me, he did the right thing when he did not take off until he could dump wiggo despite the schlecks gaining all that time on him.

 

[rhubroma]

I know. Its completely out of proportion... He rode a good stage today.
.

Yea, but it's kind of pathetic, that a seven time winner has been reduced to a side-show act. And he came here to win his 8th Tour! What was he thinking?

 

[marinoni]

Chapeau!

Well.......here in Ireland he does get mentioned as he is after all an english speaking 7 times winner, and besides they keep filming him on the motorbikes so you can't just ignore him, but I can assure you that he comes after Kelly and Roche anywhere in this country, and even after Nicolas Roche (I don't speak irish so the commentary flies over my head as it's on the irish speaking channel, but I can count how many times names are mentioned ), which is only natural and normal.
At the stage finish, they don't look where Armstrong is, they look where Nicolas finished, and how he fares in the GC. Same last year. Tons of names are mentioned for hours, Armstrong doesn't particularly features in it, more than any other.

Maybe the difference is Ireland had real champions, and England hasn't had any for ..... a long time? Anything but the french, that type of attitude

Good post and congrats to Roche for a great race so far. I was a big fan of his father's and after Lemond, Sean Kelly is probably my favourite rider all-time. I remember reading a story by Bob Roll of a race where he twice caused Kelly to crash. As the pack was going by a graveyard, Kelly said to him something like " You make me crash again, I'm going to put you in that churchyard!" After years of listening to Roll's blather on Versus, I wish he had.

 

[Big GMaC]

Yea, but it's kind of pathetic, that a seven time winner has been reduced to a side-show act. And he came here to win his 8th Tour! What was he thinking?

He has a lot to learn

 

[Polish]

Still some booing for AC.
.

Sorry, but I predicted months ago that Alberto would be boo'ed during the Tour. Boo'ed by the fans.

If for nothing more than being too dominating - the same way Eddy and Lance were boo'ed during their respective heydays.

However, it did take longer into the Tour than I expected. Probably because it took longer than I expected for Alberto to grab Yellow.

 

[Apostate]

Sorry, but I predicted months ago that Alberto would be boo'ed during the Tour. Boo'ed by the fans.

If for nothing more than being too dominating - the same way Eddy and Lance were boo'ed during their respective heydays.

However, it did take longer into the Tour than I expected. Probably because it took longer than I expected for Alberto to grab Yellow.

Well predicted. But at least Alberto has the hardcore Lance haters on their side for no other reason than he had a tiff with him. All the endless moralising about fair play goes out the window if they can somehow big up somebody who beat Armstrong. That's how consistent they are.

Anyway, interesting that your thread was closed down but this troll thread below from Scott is alive and kicking....

 

[reigarc]

As for the booing situation, someone who was at the actual stage finishyesterday, posted that the vast majority of the booing was done by americans. I am not actually making this up, it's buried in the stage 15 thread

Really?? they were booing in english? american english? stupid americans...

 

[Polish]

Anyway, interesting that your thread was closed down but this troll thread below from Scott is alive and kicking....

Yes, the unwritten rules about what/who gets deleted are interesting!

They delete your account so often, you should reach 100 names soon.
Does it bother you that they make you change names so often?

 

[Anonymous]

Yes, the unwritten rules about what/who gets deleted are interesting!

They delete your account so often, you should reach 100 names soon.
Does it bother you that they make you change names so often?

Look, girlfriends exchanging messages on the forum. That's cute.

 

[kukiniloa]

Evil Alberto

Really?? they were booing in english? american english? stupid americans...

I don't need evidence to accept this as fact.

All of these Livestrong fanboys who are totally gay for Lance simply hate Contador!!

For what reason they lavish such attention on this guy I cannot fathom!

I've remarked before in this forum on how Contador just isn't worthy of such strong emotions.

Can someone explain why all the Lance lovers hate Contador so much? I don't get it.

After all, Lance was the one who polarized Astana last year. Who sent the team cars to the airport, leaving Contador at the hotel before the final Tour time trial without a ride. What gives?

 

[Thee_chisa]

i bet someone else has noticed this but in case you haven't:

the stage

111 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo 0:34:48

overall

27 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo 0:37:18

 

[Thee_chisa]

he says it bronchitis and that this tour is "nothing but mountains"

 

[The Hitch]

he says it bronchitis and that this tour is "nothing but mountains"

as opposed to that pancake flat giro he won

 

[Ferminal]

For all those who said it would be boring pat youselves on the back, for the following, hang you heads in shame


















Oh and this was the best

( i know you couldnt predict Basso would be ill, no one could, but it is funny to read at this point)

Clearly I was being OTT sarcastic, although in the first hour I thought it could come true!

 

[knewcleardaze]

So Frankie asked Johann Bruyneel what his tactics were and Johan said something to the effect that because Fedrigo made the selection, they were screwed because he was just stronger.

Which tells me what I suspected - RS had no plan, and weren't willing to expend the energy to do anything.

Why rest for days in the mountains if you're not willing to win when you do get in the break?

Answer: Irrelevant. This team isn't interested in winning anything.

To state the obvious, interest and ability are two different things. This was just another money grabbing exercise by LA and JB.

 

[Azdak6]

I don't need evidence to accept this as fact.

Here, I've got just the group for you to hang out with:

http://www.sarahpac.com

 

[Kwibus]

he says it bronchitis and that this tour is "nothing but mountains"

With nothing but mountains he meant that it's the way the Tour feels for him. Also the flat stages seem to go uphill all the time. That's what he's saying. So it doesn't really go uphill all the time, just that he's having a bloody hard time this Tour

 

[craig1985]

If Bbox don't get a new sponsor, after the Tour, and season that they have had, I'm not sure what else they can do.

 

[The Hitch]

If Bbox don't get a new sponsor, after the Tour, and season that they have had, I'm not sure what else they can do.

win the tour

 

[kurtinsc]

my memory of this stage differs...how could lance not have felt that frank and andy were a threat for third when andy ended up moving in front of him after this stage? and at this point, lance was gunning for 2nd. klodi was hoping for 3rd. post this stage, don't remember if frank moved ahead too or was just within striking distance of third (think it was the latter) but it became a battle. when klodi got dropped after contador attacked (losing his chance for 3rd), contador, frank and andy rode off pushing lance out of 2nd. my memory of this stage is that lance could not go off to minimize the damage being done by frank and andy to his gc standing because he was with wiggo and could not drop him. pulling him with him would have pulled a gc threat to the mj on his team so he didn't until he dropped wiggo, and then he rode with fury to try to shut down as much of the gap that the schlecks had gained. i have no doubt la was playing terror-torture level mind games with ac, but to me, he did the right thing when he did not take off until he could dump wiggo despite the schlecks gaining all that time on him.

Lance knew at that point he couldn't go with Andy. It was clear that Contador was winning and Andy was getting second. Everyone watching the race knew that.

He thought Frank would do much worse then he actually did in the ITT. I did too... when Frank finished the Annecy stage I was sure he'd take the time back that he needed on Ventoux to get on the Podium

Your memory is simply wrong.


Lance NEVER tried to drop Wiggins until he made the move that actually dropped him. Going INTO the stage, he talked about what his goal for the day was... putting time into Wiggins.

Lance brought contenders BACK to Contador earlier in the climb... his ride simply had nothing to do with keeping Contador in yellow... his actions simply don't fit that sort of motivation.

He wasn't "trying to close the gap"... he was trying to wident the gap to Wiggins... who he viewed as his chief worry for the podium... not Frank.

Lance never played the "good teammate" to Alberto. Several times he led the chase to close down a Contador break. Once on Verbier, and earlier in the Grand Bornand stage before Contador made it away. I firmly think Lance still thought of himself as a team leader while Contador was the unruly teammate going up the road against orders.

 

[alberto.legstrong]

I don't need evidence to accept this as fact.

All of these Livestrong fanboys who are totally gay for Lance simply hate Contador!!

For what reason they lavish such attention on this guy I cannot fathom!

I've remarked before in this forum on how Contador just isn't worthy of such strong emotions.

Can someone explain why all the Lance lovers hate Contador so much? I don't get it.
After all, Lance was the one who polarized Astana last year. Who sent the team cars to the airport, leaving Contador at the hotel before the final Tour time trial without a ride. What gives?

Please tell me you can work that one out on your own. Even if you aren't sure right now. I know you can do it. I believe in you.

 

[alberto.legstrong]

Lance knew at that point he couldn't go with Andy. It was clear that Contador was winning and Andy was getting second. Everyone watching the race knew that.

He thought Frank would do much worse then he actually did in the ITT. I did too... when Frank finished the Annecy stage I was sure he'd take the time back that he needed on Ventoux to get on the Podium

Your memory is simply wrong.


Lance NEVER tried to drop Wiggins until he made the move that actually dropped him. Going INTO the stage, he talked about what his goal for the day was... putting time into Wiggins.

Lance brought contenders BACK to Contador earlier in the climb... his ride simply had nothing to do with keeping Contador in yellow... his actions simply don't fit that sort of motivation.

He wasn't "trying to close the gap"... he was trying to wident the gap to Wiggins... who he viewed as his chief worry for the podium... not Frank.

Lance never played the "good teammate" to Alberto. Several times he led the chase to close down a Contador break. Once on Verbier, and earlier in the Grand Bornand stage before Contador made it away. I firmly think Lance still thought of himself as a team leader while Contador was the unruly teammate going up the road against orders.

he did go against orders. Orders issued by Lance thru JB.

 

[nia O'Malley]

Yeah...he tried to do a Hinault on Contador. Only as it turns out, he's not Hinault.

And people say AC has no personality or champion scope. He proved different last year.