TdF stge 1 Monaco ITT, 15.50 km

[Sophistic]

There might be a little bit of rain today according to forecasts so Armstrong and Leipheimer might be speculating that the road will not be (as) wet at 4 pm.

 

[Epicycle]

I think Contador is going to win but I still like LL Sanchez as the dark horse. He can blitz the downhill like Savodelli did at the opening Giro TT in 2006.

 

[Mellow Velo]

I think I know the answer. Check out the weather forcast. Not great, a strong chance of heavy showers.
Clever move to split your leaders.
Question is: If it does rain, who gets the lucky break?

 

[issoisso]

By far the most underrated factor, that decides the winner in about half the time trials is the wind.

But not this time. This time it's all about the rain.

 

[Epicycle]

I think I know the answer. Check out the weather forcast. Not great, a strong chance of heavy showers.
Clever move to split your leaders.
Question is: If it does rain, who gets the lucky break?

edit that...I'm wrong. Does anyone have the start times? It looks like Armstrong and Leipheimer are going early.

 

[Animal]

Brilliant! A topic with no references to dope and no Lance bashing.

Armstrong is an arsehole. Happy now?

Anyway.

I'm looking forward to seeing this on a live web feed. Anyone know of any?

I mean I don't trust any of them nowadays, and it's just a big circus. But the circus is exciting!

 

[Bagster]

Dekker?? Hard to come second from the sofa.

1. Cancellara
2. Contador
3. Armstrong
4. Leipheimer/Evans

Darkhorse....Kloden

 

[Anonymous]

Armstrong is an arsehole. Happy now?

Anyway.

I'm looking forward to seeing this on a live web feed. Anyone know of any?

I mean I don't trust any of them nowadays, and it's just a big circus. But the circus is exciting!

in your inbox

 

[Pot Belgique]

1. Millar
2. Cancellara
3. Evans
4. Contador
5. Armstrong

 

[Animal]

in your inbox

Ooo!

In yours too!

 

[BroDeal]

1) Cancellara
2) Armstrong
3) Contador
4) Wiggins

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

1) Cancellara
2) Evans
3) Contador
4) Menchov
5) Armstrong

 

[lostintime]

I suspect it will be the Armstrong, Contador an Cancellara show, in no particular order. It would be fun to see Dave Zabriske take the Yellow jersey to throw a wrench in everyones best laid plans though. We could then see him in the TTT in yellow again.....would he crash and burn once more or excel?

Sastre and Andy Schleck may see some considerable deficits on the day. Menchov in the middle somewhere. I would even put Leipheimer in with the favorites, but it's not really a course for him, and he's got to be running on fumes at this point in the year.

Evans ...... he just gets no respect does he? He may surprise everyone, but not many will care.


I'm hoping for an English live feed for the US also. I check back here every hour http://www.steephill.tv/tour-de-france/#live.

 

[lucybears]

edit that...I'm wrong. Does anyone have the start times?

http://sport.ard.de/sp/tour2009/fahrer/starterliste_EZF.jsp

 

[Rechtschreibfehler]

1. Cancellara
2. Martin
3. Evans
4. Klöden
5. Menchov


I'm really looking forward to find out how Armstrong will do.
I still think he might hit close to his maximum in the last week of the Giro.
My feeling say's he'll get close to Top10 today but not more.

 

[Frosty]

I think it should stay dry in Monaco with the heavy showers/thunder affecting more inland areas. Armstrong going off that early does allow the Astana team to cover both bases though. However, I think that he is more interested in putting down his marker to let people know he is back.

In fact the tour weather says much the same thing

http://www.letour.fr/2009/TDF/LIVE/us/100/meteo.html

 

[Anonymous]

How was the start order determined?

I figure last year's winner goes last but other than that?

 

[Mellow Velo]

Teams just pick an order or strategy.
Quite clearly Astana are splitting their "names", so some will get the best of the weather which is forcast to deteriorate.

Watching the pre-race chat, outside the Casino and the current weather is.....
......nice!

 

[Anonymous]

Teams just pick an order or strategy.
Quite clearly Astana are splitting their "names", so some will get the best of the weather which is forcast to deteriorate.

Watching the pre-race chat, outside the Casino and the current weather is.....
......nice!

So did JB put Contador later so he would catch the rain?

 

[BroDeal]

Bob Roll looks a lot better with his hair buzzed.

 

[clydesdale]

Bob Roll looks a lot better with his hair buzzed.

Yeah...same mouth though. I always get tired of him pretty quickly.

 

[Anonymous]

Bob Roll looks a lot better with his hair buzzed.

I am torn, I could watch this in HD or through my computer so that I can listen to Eurosport. I'd put on just the Eurosport audio, but I am pretty sure it won't sinc up. I just detest those 4. I thought sports commentators were supposed to be subjective? HD rules though.

 

[BroDeal]

I am torn, I could watch this in HD or through my computer so that I can listen to Eurosport. I'd put on just the Eurosport audio, but I am pretty sure it won't sinc up. I just detest those 4. I thought sports commentators were supposed to be subjective? HD rules though.

I am currently thinking of going for the Eurosport. Even if it does not sync up it will be better than listening to the continuous Lance-a-thon. I don't think I can take much of Sherwin's "a certain man by the name of Lance Armstrong" schtick.

 

[Rechtschreibfehler]

So did JB put Contador later so he would catch the rain?

Well, I can Imagine a lot.
But I don't think so!
Usually the caiptans start last.
For Armstrong starting first of Astana I can think of two reasons:
1. put opponents under pressure with a lovely performance
2. fear of rain

 

[BroDeal]

Well, I can Imagine a lot.
But I don't think so!
Usually the caiptans start last.
For Armstrong starting first of Astana I can think of two reasons:
1. put opponents under pressure with a lovely performance
2. fear of rain

Fear of rain could be it. Both Armstrong and Leecheimer are starting a ways apart from Contador.