2009 TDF: Stage 3 : Monday 6 July : Marseille > La Grande-Motte : 196kms - Page 3

im very interested in the lead cancellara has now built, the way hes climbing now and with the form he has, he could hold yellow for a very long time. maybe untill after verbier

Cancellara will be out of yellow tomorrow.

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Lance Armstrong’s Last Words, August 10, 2007 - “We're proud of our record. We won eight Tours, a Vuelta, a Giro and other races and not one positive test," Armstrong said. “I’m not sure if there are many other teams who can say that right now. Couple that with our ethical record, despite all the gossip and nonsense that goes on.”

Petacchi won nine(!) in 2004 Giro!

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Harry

I don't know that Astana is a slamdunk to crush Saxo in the TTT.

He may survive the TTT but I dont see him surviving the first mountain stage in yellow.

Finally a post that made sense. Thats all todays stage proved, that and a great deal of luck. And what has been said about the three Astana riders helping out columbia does make sense to. Potentialy leaving Cancellara in Yellow a bit longer certainly wont hurt Astana, their riders wont have to do as much at the front wich will leave them fresher. And in the scheme of things 20 or so seconds is nothing.

Sean Kelly tipped Cancellara to win the 2009 Tour de France.

I think Canc is ridiing very well this year.

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.."But finally the last thing I’ll say to the people who don’t believe in cycling, the cynics and the sceptics. I'm sorry for you. I’m sorry that you can’t dream big. [I]I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles. You should believe in these athletes, and you should believe in these people. I'll be a fan of the Tour de France for as long as I live. And there are no secrets - this is a hard sporting event and hard work wins it" - Armstrong 2005 TDF
morelike hypocrisy.

That's true!
(I'd forgotten that).

Cavendish won a brace of stages at 2008 Tour de France, 2009 Giro and now he's off again at Tour de France 2009.
As well as winning MSL 2009.
Very very consistent.

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.."But finally the last thing I’ll say to the people who don’t believe in cycling, the cynics and the sceptics. I'm sorry for you. I’m sorry that you can’t dream big. [I]I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles. You should believe in these athletes, and you should believe in these people. I'll be a fan of the Tour de France for as long as I live. And there are no secrets - this is a hard sporting event and hard work wins it" - Armstrong 2005 TDF
morelike hypocrisy.

Whether one believes LA has taken drugs or not the truth is we don't know. We also don't know if Evans,Contador,Lepheimer,Schleck,Rogers or any of the others are on the juice. Whether they have or haven't, winning a Tour de France is a monumental achievement demanding training, concentration, panache and tactical skills bar none. The drugs only help they don't make up for not being a quality person. A donkey on drugs is a pony not Red Rum.

Yesterday LA proved that whilst his power might be down his tactical sense was in gear unlike most of the other favourites. He was in the right place at the right time. I would have thought that with a run in to the finish sitting with or near the Cavendish train was the right thing to do and it kept him near the front and out of trouble. He has already stated that he has found the return to the peloton and close riding unnerving - he said it takes some getting used to when you've been away for a while.

He also put some effort in at the front driving the break. I thought it was quite impressive. He showed class. He deserved the outcome. I think that the other favourites deserved a balling out for being cretinous and missing a move like that.

Anybody who suggests that he might have done a deal with Cancellara or any of the American riders might be right but then are they going to pretend that the Spanish riders wouldn't have done the same - I think thats naive.

Anyway whilst I think LA is a somewhat difficult character and may not be the most likable person in the world he deserves some credit for the efforts he made yesterday it added to the entertainment factor (I don't think he's going to win though). Cavs win was another stonker. May he win all the flat stages.

None is mentioning Bradley Wiggins who also seems to be doing very well. He's improved a lot.

Point taken.

It just seems to me that Cavendish is winning stages in various GT's - and he's winning them with relative ease.
He's head and shoulders above all of the opposition at present.

A guy like Renshaw couldn't put a glove on Cavendish yesterday.

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.."But finally the last thing I’ll say to the people who don’t believe in cycling, the cynics and the sceptics. I'm sorry for you. I’m sorry that you can’t dream big. [I]I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles. You should believe in these athletes, and you should believe in these people. I'll be a fan of the Tour de France for as long as I live. And there are no secrets - this is a hard sporting event and hard work wins it" - Armstrong 2005 TDF
morelike hypocrisy.

He is in a league of his own, one wonders if a very experienced McEwen would have any sought of chance against Cavendish

You've misunderstood Kelly. He was talking just about Monaco TT and Yellow jersey after it. I don't believe he had that much beer to think on GC.

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"Soldiers! Heroes!

The supreme command has erased our regiment from its records. Our regiment has been sacrificed for the honor of Belgrade and the Fatherland. Therefore, you no longer have to worry for your lives - they do not exist anymore.
So, forward to glory! For King and country! Long live the king! Long live Belgrade! "

Thor Hushovd seems to be the only contender for Green, but he's already 14 points or so behind so will have to scrap really hard. Also he's going to have to beat Cav in a couple of finishes. If Cav wins another couple of stages, which he could easily do in this opening week all he has to do is survive until Paris and he's got that Green jersey, no problems.

As for the split in the pack, Armstrong was the only major GC contender up there. I think Astana know that Kirchen, Rogers, Canc, Gerdemann don't really pose any sort of threat to Contador so why not get Armstrong a bit of extra time against the people who can drop him the mountains? Contador had all the people who really threatened him marked in the second group so they didn't need to chase back to a bunch of people who Contador will destroy on Ventoux.

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"Hope is the first step on the road to dissapointment."

Do you really think Contador will destroy the likes of Sastre et al on the Ventoux? These guys all look pretty strong to me right now. A few slips of concentration. A bit of grit shown by the other contenders and he might well find it hard to take significant time out of them.Actually another thought which has just occurred to me is that a lot of the mountain stages don't seem to end in a mountain so what you build up over the major climbs you then lose in the rest of the stage. Will he benefit so much. I think this is shaping up to be a cracking Tour de France. All kudos to the organisers.

Should be great, but I cant help remembering the tour 2 years ago, no one who didnt get done for drugs could match it with contadoper in the mountains, and now he's improved ( questionably ) out of site in time trialing, as much as I dont like him, it will be hard to see anyone beeting him unless Lance finds form from 4 years ago.

Which kinda sux when you want Evans to finally win.........highly unlikely I know