2009 TDF stage 17 - Bourg-Saint-Maurice Le Grand-Bornand 169.5 km - Page 2

watching the schleck brothers and contador on these slopes is like watching cats toy with mice. unreal what they're doing to all the other riders.

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"Kick over the statues and the tyrants die. Wave bye bye to their heroes with a hammer."
--The Redskins, Kick Over the Statues

He's gone but I agree, he didn't have to attack. Could have stayed and help Kloden. Maybe Kloden is going to drop back now and help Armstrong.

Good stage! First place is a lock up with the exception or illness or a crash.

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Dope,when training and talent just aren't enough.

Ou est Sastre?

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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.

sort of quintessential armstrong-ride right past the guy who dragged his ass up the mountain on sunday just to put time into him. klodi needs a new team.

__________________
"Kick over the statues and the tyrants die. Wave bye bye to their heroes with a hammer."
--The Redskins, Kick Over the Statues

Wow the Schlecks did it! Riis is the man... so much for the Astana juggernaut.. Alberto attacking was a huge tactical mistake.

now that is racing.. big risk taking and effort!

where did sastre finish?

__________________
.."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.

Definitely not his year in Le Tour. As far as Kloden, he has always played second except the one year that Ullrich was ousted directly before the race.
He does te job he gets payed for and unfortunately it is getting late in his career to find a team leader position with a pro tour team.

__________________
Dope,when training and talent just aren't enough.

thanks.

I thought today might be Sastre's day.

Imagine if he had stayed at Saxo?

__________________
.."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.

not thinking that klodi could be a team's top rider, just thinking that lance might have helped drag klodi over the line.

__________________
"Kick over the statues and the tyrants die. Wave bye bye to their heroes with a hammer."
--The Redskins, Kick Over the Statues

way back 7:47 back... he actually started the festivities attacking 2-3 times at the bottom of the Col de Romme but just didn't have it.. Schlecks brought him back.. then he dropped out of the front group.. then he flatted on the Col de la Columbier.. then he must have just given up.. tough tour for him.. he tried.. he just didn't have the legs...

Not in the pecking order of the team I guess.
Lim, Sastre finished well back but I am not sure how far.

__________________
Dope,when training and talent just aren't enough.

Astana still in a good position to posibly sweep the podium. It's going to be close. How much time do you think Kloden, Lance, and Wiggins can make up in tomorrow's TT?

Results
1 Fränk Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 4:53:54
2 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana
3 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank
4 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas 0:02:18
5 Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana
6 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana 0:02:27
7 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream 0:03:07
8 Christophe Moreau (Fra) Agritubel 0:04:09
9 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin - Slipstream
10 Rémi Pauriol (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne 0:06:10
11 Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Française des Jeux
12 Maxime Monfort (Bel) Team Columbia - HTC 0:06:12
13 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas
14 Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale
15 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Team Katusha
16 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Silence - Lotto
17 Sandy Casar (Fra) Française des Jeux
18 Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi
19 Stéphane Goubert (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:06:15
20 José Luis Arrieta Lujambio (Spa) AG2R La Mondiale 0:06:19
21 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Quick Step 0:07:01
22 Sébastien Minard (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne 0:07:47
23 Matthew Lloyd (Aus) Silence - Lotto
24 Sylvain Calzati (Fra) Agritubel
25 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Cervelo Test Team
26 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin - Slipstream
27 Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) Team Katusha

Schlecks dust Astana off of the podium.. Andy should be able to keep his 2nd but Frank will likely have to fight for his 3rd place.. maybe loosing it in the TT then gaining it back on Ventoux

General classification after stage 17
1 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana 72:27:09
2 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 0:02:26
3 Fränk Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 0:03:25
4 Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana 0:03:55
5 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana 0:04:44
6 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream 0:04:53
7 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas 0:05:09
8 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin - Slipstream 0:08:08
9 Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Française des Jeux 0:09:19
10 Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 0:10:50
11 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas 0:10:52
12 Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale 0:11:38
13 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Cervelo Test Team 0:11:39
14 Sandy Casar (Fra) Française des Jeux 0:11:52
15 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Team Katusha 0:12:08
16 Stéphane Goubert (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:15:29
17 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Silence - Lotto 0:17:23
18 Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) Team Katusha 0:19:20

thanks for the detailed description, doc.

Didn't see the stage live today.........so I appreciate the update, if not the result!

Thanks

__________________
.."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.