Stage 18: Morzine-Avoriaz - Mâcon 197 KMs

Didn't see a thread for today's action.

A large break of 17 riders right now has a 3 minute lead over the Peloton, but it doesn't contain any of the big GC contenders. Looks like none of the GC contenders will gain significant time on eachother today, probably all rest for tomorrow's ITT.

The breakaway was instigated by Liquigas rider Quinziato. It also includes: Martinez (Discovery), Zabriskie (CSC), Sinkewitz (T-Mob), Calzati (AG2R), Leipheimer and Scholz (Gerolsteiner), Flecha (Rabobank), Aerts (Davitamon), Tosatto (QuickStep), Isasi (Euskaltel), Hinault (Crédit Agricole), Moreni (Cofidis), Vaugrenard (FdJ), Pineau (Bouygues).

ABANDONMENT: What an apt time to put that last stat in, for Garcia Lopez of Saunier Duval has just pulled out of the race, the 14th retirement of this final week.

In fact, Lopez was not the 14th rider this week to abandon but the 15th after news comes in of the withdrawl of Rabobank's Oscar Freire just prior to today's stage.


Though it looks like I'm the only one watching today.

I'm watching too.....coverage just starting on Irish tv.
Can't believe Freire has abandonned. That's a real shame. Nice for Robbie Mc though.

The lead has stabilised but it is still the remaining six Saunier Duval riders who are doing all the hard work on the front of the peloton. They want it today. But for who? They have no sprinters, so I presume are eyeing a second breakaway attempt, maybe for Millar? Lampre are also pretty keen, despite the absence of their sprinter Bennati.


The breakaway is about 3'05 ahead of the Pelaton.

Dickhead we all get the text updates on the internet there is no need to paste them in... infact some of us can watch it live on TV so there really is no need to post this unless you have an comment to follow ?

it's true.

Why on earth are Saunier working? I understand Millar was in the original break, but WHY!? lol

Money ?

Yeah, I hate to hear that, just after he's hauled his carcass over the Alps
...

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"I must (deride me not) be somewhere where I can, without disaster, bicycle." Henry James, 1896

Why call someone a dickhead? Why not just write "Dude, we're already either getting the text updates or watching it live."

I mean really, I'm just curios, why go so far as to call someone a dickhead? When people read this thread, who do you think they're really going to think is the dickhead?

Whoa. Finally an Italian victory in the Tour de France this year. I was beginning to get worried...

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De Rosa Planet
Campagnolo Per Sempre!
PAOLO BETTINI CAMPIONE DEL MONDO x 2!

I completely agree. Why call people names or be uncivilised. No one is being forced to come here or read all of the posts. What's the point of being nasty about it? The person may have just been excited or trying to help out. Why be mean.

You guys are new to this forum. WBT is the way he is, unpleasant, all the time. He is routinely uncivilized and nasty. There is no telling what the psychology of the situation is, but he appears to be proud of his behavior. Presumably why he uses "trash" in his ID. You won't change him by being reasonable (or by doing anything else!) There are others like him in this forum.

But welcome! Enjoy picking your way around. Some good stuff here, then also wbt and the like.

LOL, they just got their cherry popped.

I've been called ****brain by WBT, so clearly, I am special.