2008 Tour De France Stage 15 - Sunday, July 20: Embrun - Prato Nevoso, 183km

Crankyfeet

I was joking first.

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b1_

I only hope the rest of the field think that too, but somehow I don't think they're that stupid.

Evans has slotted into a nice position. I don't think he would be unhappy about 8 seconds and the pressure of yellow on someone else's shoulder. If he could get some help from Popovich all the better - he was there for a while today.

Right, so how many are gonna be ejected from the Tour for doping in the next 24 hrs? 1, 2, 4, or 8 riders?

Powerful Pete

Yup. I much prefer a Tour (or Giro, or Vuelta for that matter) where it is not clear who is going to win from day 1. Let me repeat: this is a great Tour.

Indeed. Must be a good programme.

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ad9898

As I said earlier, Schleck in yellow and Evans won't win the tour. I've seen all I need to see today, Evans will lose the required 2-3 mins before the time trial. As for Frank Schleck, if Sastre wasn't up the road Frank would have put a minute into Evans today.

Crankyfeet

Why are Garmin being promoted as America's new team? It seems like Columbia and Garmin are equal heir apparents. And Columbia have performed arguably much better than Garmin with four stage wins and Kirchen wearing colored jerseys.

The Garmin promotion on Versus appears like Garmin paid Versus off... or Versus have some equity in the team or something...

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Powerful Pete

I think it is funny, because Evans never changes his riding style... he just sits in there and waits for others to drop off.

I do not think Popo will do much for him... who will he ride for next year anyway?

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Crankyfeet

So ya flip floppin back now?

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classic1

That actually looked real. Even if it wasn't entirely clean it looked like pre-EPO, like 1989. Generally it was blokes yo-yoing on and off the group, stop-start, attacks that didn't look extraterrestrial, nobody climbing at 32km/h.

Evans looked farking terrible on the last climb. For such a bad day he didn't loose much time. Tough boy. Hopefully thats the bad day out of the way and he improves after the rest day. He needs to improve big time as his team is friggin useless.

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“I am the punishment of God...If you had not committed great sins, God would not have sent a punishment like me upon you.”
Genghis Khan

stilesiii

I think the coverage of both teams has been fairly equal, when Kirchen was in yellow coverage was all columbia. The coverage for Cav was very positive.

I think now that Vande Velde has a chance at a podium in the GC, he will be the focus the rest of the way.

I just wish the hog wasn't going to be commentating. I don't need to hear the sour grapes.

Powerful Pete

I agree on the usefulness of his team, and am curious to see how he holds up on Tuesday...

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b1_

Just to remind everyone Evans is not Climber Extraordinaire. He can climb, but others can climb better, so rarely are you going to see him dominate going up hill.

How he looked today was pretty much what I expected. He can hold his own on the climb, then time trials.

Another thing is he will get stronger the older the Tour gets. I'm hoping he gets away like he did in 2005 on one of the last stages; one with some decent climbs and flat run to the finish.

It's going to be an exciting week.

ad9898

I fear that was Evans on a good day and yeh Cranky I flip flopped, I thought Evans was a better rider, I said he would have a bad day in the mountains but I still think that is to come.

Crankyfeet

Has there been a worse supported TdF winner in memorable history... if Evans manages to win hypothetically? Asking the cycling historians.

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classic1

Deep bruising and abrasions can take a while to get over and effect your performance. Tthe worst of the bruising can take 48 hours to come out, then reduces over time. Ferrari even reckons bruising and abrasion effects VO2 max as the body tries to repair itself. The evil bastard has tested it. Sometimes you can fall, loose a little skin and it has zero effect, then another time you have a similar fall and it knocks the shit out of you. Its just luck. Personally I think the first rest day came just in time for Evans and I think this one has as well.

__________________
“I am the punishment of God...If you had not committed great sins, God would not have sent a punishment like me upon you.”
Genghis Khan