Stage 14 TDF : Agde - Ax-3 Domaines : Spoiler

wolfix

I do not think T-Mobile has any problem. LA is simply a great rider. T-Mobile isolated him today so it was a tactically brillant day for T-Mobile. There is a reason LA has 6 yellows and it isn't because T-Mobile has bad tactics. It's because LA is a great rider. In the end , it comes down to the legs, not tactics.
I will admit that before today I was of the opinion that Godefrood has said things in the public forum that should be kept behind closed doors. But maybe Godefrood's words has inspired Ullrich to ride.
I was a Ullrich fan before the TDF domination of LA's. Being an American I have come to appreciate LA in his approch to the TDF. But Ullrich has taken the 2nd spot at the podium a few times. If this year continues with a LA podium dance, and Ullrich comes thru, he will have an outstanding TDF record in the past 8 years. What other rider's name has been mentioned as often as Ullrich's ??? [LA excepted]
Ullrich is a class rider. He is way above all the other TDF pretenders. He will hand Vino & company their asses on a silver Colnago next year.

limerickman

I didn't see todays stage (I'm about to watch the live tape from Europsort today, now).
But I caught the description of the stage and it seems from what I read that TM
did put a good attack in today and Basso rode very well also.
Georg Totschnig was always rated as a fine climber : i well remember him and Luttenburger in the mid-1990's competing against Indurain in the twilight of his career and GT was an exceptional climber back then too.

I agree with Wolfix, JU's a classy rider and a TDF powerhouse :
The JU of 1996/7 was really exceptional : and although he failed to realise his earlier win by being beaten by Pantani and then LA in the TDF, JU's record as a cyclist is exceptional.

musette

A strategy to isolate LA is only one part of an overall strategy to try and get time on him. The problems to overcome in step two of this process involve the following:

-- LA can use other team leaders who want to get onto the podium or take time on third party cyclists as his cohorts (e.g., Basso from last year; Mancebo, Valverde, Rasmussen on an earlier stage; JU, Basso in this stage to gain time on Rasmussen). This is a very signfiicant advantage that JU has as well, but this advantage is better utilized by a cyclist that does not need to gain time on other cyclists, that just needs to defend.

-- People need to gain time on LA; he has the benefit of being able to sit back, especially with his strong ITT skills, and see how things pan out.

-- LA is very consistent (except for 2003) and very strong. If he can always handle things on his own (with Bruyneel), how are people going to gain time on him?

-- LA's team, while not always with him this year, is nonetheless is very strong team. There is no question of loyalty, or desire to help him.

jhuskey

That is a good theory, but it is wrong. The only problem is that they are being out classed by a better rider.
How many DC's were across the line in front of T-Mobile?
Lance is just a damn machine.
I know for a fact what there tactics are and were today and they would have worked on most riders, and I don't know of any other tactics that would have against Armstrong,but it was a good try.
Lets see who has legs in the morning.

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Sobriety is over rated!

MJtje

Do you think T-Mobile can repeat this HUGE effort?? Still this is a too hard stage to blow everthing up on the first mountain........that would be really kamikaze!

Guess we'll see.....

Powerful Pete

Well, what has T-Mobile got to lose? I doubt that saying that Jan coming in at the end of the tour in 4th or 5th is a success. Why not try to ' blow up the race ' and see how the cards fall?

That's what I would suggest...

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

davidbod

Hats off to T-Mobile for bringing the race to Armstrong yesterday and giving us the best days racing in a long time. Hats off to Armstrong for defending and overcoming. Now lets have a repeat performance please.