Stage 18 TDF : Albi - Mende: Spoiler

Originally Posted by whiteboytrash

I think its over the top but Riis is saying Basso is better than Armstrong on the climbs......

Riis had just received new evidence to back up his thesis on the Côte de la Croix-Neuve, where Basso forced Armstrong onto the defensive on today’s 18 stage of the Tour between Albi and Mende. On the 3.1km, 10.1% ramp which provided Thursday’s grandstand finish, only Armstrong, Cadel Evans and Jan Ullrich could follow Basso on slopes which on paper looked too steep to suit the Italian’s slow- burning attacks. Basso didn’t drop Armstrong but he did convince Riis and many neutral observers that Armstrong may be retiring just as the balance of power is shifting in Basso’s favour, at least when the road tilts uphill.

“Armstrong had to ride on the defensive,” Riis told journalists at the Aérodrome de Mende this evening, a few hundred metres from where Basso had cruised home in 14th position. “We had planned to try something this morning. Ivan executed the plan to the letter. He may not have dropped Lance but I think that he is the strongest man on the hills now. Once, he might have hesitated to attack on that finale, but not now. When you feel as strong as Ivan does at the moment, confidence comes naturally.

“He may not dropping Armstrong, but now he knows that he can hurt him,” Riis concluded.

A few metres away, team CSC motivational guru BS Christensen could scarcely conceal his delight at Basso’s positive performance. “He has no Armstrong complex anymore. He doesn’t even look at him anymore. He looks straight ahead and goes…”

Basso’s new-found focus was evident when, asked whether he had been surprised to see Cadel Evans keep pace with him, Armstrong and Ullrich on the Croix-Neuve, he replied deadpan: “I didn’t even notice him.”

“I wanted to try something today because it was my last chance – the last summit finish. I’m not taking my second place for granted,” Basso, still one minute clear of third-placed Michael Rasmussen on GC, continued. “The Tour’s not over until the Champs Elysées on Sunday. Before that there’s a very important time trial in Saint Etienne on Saturday. Did I feel stronger than Lance on the climb? I don’t think that the answer to that question really matters…”

He may be on his way to becoming a better climber than LA, but Basso still has some work to do if he is to become a better quote merchant.

Originally Posted by limerickman

Where to begin ?
It seems to me that Riis and/or Basso are trying to pull the wool over our eyes here.

I think Basso hasn't been any more aggressive than he was last year - namely
he is only interested in consolidating his place on the podium instead of having the confidence to try to overhaul LA.

I saw Basso answering some questions on Eurosport tonight and he was trying to talk up his willingness to have a go at LA.
I don't think that is on the cards, if his demeanour was anything to go by.

Originally Posted by Ullefan

You never know, if Basso has a bad day and Jan has a very good day, then that 2nd is still possible although far-fetched.

Originally Posted by jhuskey

Not likely! It would be a fluke. I believe that GC contenders will ride a safe stage in 19 and go for all on Saturday.
Jan has ridden am amazing race. Take away Lance, take away two crashes and you got Jan with his second win. I still maintain he was in very good form this year. Just my opinion of course but Basso is coming of age and the writing is on the wall.

All in all a good tour.

Originally Posted by limerickman

Where to begin ?
It seems to me that Riis and/or Basso are trying to pull the wool over our eyes here.

I think Basso hasn't been any more aggressive than he was last year - namely
he is only interested in consolidating his place on the podium instead of having the confidence to try to overhaul LA.

I saw Basso answering some questions on Eurosport tonight and he was trying to talk up his willingness to have a go at LA.
I don't think that is on the cards, if his demeanour was anything to go by.

Originally Posted by whiteboytrash

I saw that as well... it appears that Riis does all the hardtalking on Armstrong and Basso just says he trying........ he has been good this year but everytime he attacks L.Armstrong is right on his wheel... even if there was another week of mountain stages I still can't see him taking a minute out of armstrong let alone 3..........

Originally Posted by rejobako

Excellent re-cap, L-man. I never really considered the possibility that Heras and Beloki, having underperformed early in this Tour, might have simply decided to use it as training for the Vuelta on their home turf. I'd love to see Beloki have a good result there -- he's worked so hard for so little since his horrifying tumble in 2003.