2009 TDF : Stage 4 : Tuesday 7 July : Montpellier > Montpellier : 39kms
- Thread starter limerickman
- Start date
Well it looks like Menchov is totally out of the running, Cadel Evans an outside hope at best. Sastre is looking like a slim chance. Only Lepheimer, Contador, Armstrong and the Schlecks look like they are in contention. Sp Armstorng has ensured that he really only has 1 person to really worry about.
If I was Bruyneel I'd beat the team into submission for Armstrong unless he cracks. That would give me an 8 TdF winner. Then I'd go on to try and do it again with Contador afterwards.
hehehehehhehee
If I was Bruyneel I'd beat the team into submission for Armstrong unless he cracks. That would give me an 8 TdF winner. Then I'd go on to try and do it again with Contador afterwards.
hehehehehhehee
It reminded me years of U.S. Postal when contenders of Lance were a few minutes down before the start of the mountains. I guess it is almost certain that one of Astana boys will be the winner.
A.Schelck is 1.41 down
F.Schelck is in 2.17
Sastre is in 2.44
Evans is in 2.59
Menchow is in 3.52
This list could be continued...
A.Schelck is 1.41 down
F.Schelck is in 2.17
Sastre is in 2.44
Evans is in 2.59
Menchow is in 3.52
This list could be continued...
Like I said, Bruyneel should now support Lance absolutely unless the little devil cracks and then he swaps his allegiance to Contador who has plenty of time to grab successive wins. Even Lance can't have an ego so big that he thinks he can win it a 9th or 10th time.
Mind you I guess theres still an outside chance that he cracks hugely in the mountains or drop multiple minutes to Contador and other big names. Something tells me thats not going to happen though.
Mind you I guess theres still an outside chance that he cracks hugely in the mountains or drop multiple minutes to Contador and other big names. Something tells me thats not going to happen though.
Stage 4 and way soon to call this race. Armstrong has led a charmed life, as far the tour goes, with few problems such as major crashes or illness.
I counted out Landis and the next day he was on top and after the end of the race in the crapper so we will see but way to soon to make a call, at least for me.
I counted out Landis and the next day he was on top and after the end of the race in the crapper so we will see but way to soon to make a call, at least for me.
nonns said:
why should Bruyneel support Lance absolutely?
Contador has shown himself to be the best TTr and we know he's the best climber in the race... should Riis support Cancellar just because he's ahead before a single mountain has been climbed? sorry man but you comment just don't make any kind of sense. Lance still has a lot to prove.. he wasn't able to consistently stay with the big boys at the Giro... there is absolutely NO reason Bruyneel should put full stock in Armstrong at this point in time. Contador won the Giro after being called up while sitting on a beach with one weeks notice last year... we know what he can do... we know what Armstrong WASN't able to do last month... so i'm not understanding you logic (or lack there of) here..
this changes nothing.. Lance is still plan C,D, or E... Contador is still plan A... stop sucking on Lance's nutts so hard.. all the blood is rushing from your brain and you're not thinking right..
Menchov and Evans can safely go home now an pick up their participation ribbon at the door... their tours are effectively over..
i disagree with the other poster... Andy Schelck is still very much in the game... still a factor for the win (he just cannot have his bad day that he always has.. he's like ullrich or something), Roman Kreuziger and Nibali i still consider dark horses... other than that it looks like all Astana.
actually, i still, for whatever reason think that Sastre, even though far down, can still pull out a podium finish... maybe a win is out of the question now, but he showed some flashes at the Giro that he still has legs.. i think he's going to do some damage at some point.
i disagree with the other poster... Andy Schelck is still very much in the game... still a factor for the win (he just cannot have his bad day that he always has.. he's like ullrich or something), Roman Kreuziger and Nibali i still consider dark horses... other than that it looks like all Astana.
actually, i still, for whatever reason think that Sastre, even though far down, can still pull out a podium finish... maybe a win is out of the question now, but he showed some flashes at the Giro that he still has legs.. i think he's going to do some damage at some point.
I totally agree with you.nonns said:
But where are those mountains? I don't understand why Arcalis is rated as H.C. climb because it's steepest part is quite short. 1st cat Verbier could be even harder because it is steeper and it's main part is almost as long as Arcalis'. I don't think it is possible to drop Lance at Arcalis and Verbier if he is form and it seems than Lance is form. Apart from those there are only two mountain stages left. I think everyone except Astana hates the route...
Lance was quite good during the third week of Giro. He has become better only better since then.
doctorSpoc said:
I am not as you seem so keen to point out engaging in ******** with LA.
I don't think you read my previous message properly. All I was saying was if Bruyneel was to do that then he could well end up with a TDF 8 times champion on his hands together with the prospect of being able to do much the same thing again with Contador. What a record for a team Director. As for whether its the smart play thats a different question. The smart play is undoubtedly to support Contador but if LA could pass it off with a 1/2 LA/Contador and mebbe Lepheimer as 3 what a record for Bruyneel. An 8 times champ, a 2 times champ and another talented guy.
If the team put their full support behind LA he has a good chance of winning especially with Contador supporting him. The fallback would be Contador takes over if LA falters. Contador then knows that he has Bruyneels undivided support in future.
As for Contadors performance in Italy. Of course he did brilliantly. Are you saying he hadn't been training prior to it???? C'mon get serious. LA had had his training massively curtailed and was riding it with bolts through his neck. He's old and he is tyring to get back into one of the toughest sports in the world. Don't be such an LA hater that your view becomes one sided. Personally my favourite for this race is Contador but I'd like to see LA win an 8th.
Anyway its exciting stuff.
guncha said:
Quite. In fact none knows quite how he's improved since the Giro. He's been suspiciously quiet. He's already successfully nullified Contadors first advantage over him. Bruyneel seems to be lining up a 1/2/3 for Astana.
A lot of the big climbs also dont appear at the end of stages but in the middle so much of the advantage that could be built in a stage is lost. I still struggle to believe that a 38 year old (even one with the class of LA) whos been out of the sport for 4 years can win an 8th race but he's very very focussed and determined. Yesterday proved just how canny he is. The other major names needed shooting for failing to watch for breaks properly.
Let's get one thing straight - there is no chance of Contador acting as a super domestique for Armstrong. AC is there to win the race, with or without the support of LA. There is nothing left between these two but animosity - anything said to the contrary is a public relations exercise to appease the sponsors.
Reverse the position of the names in the Para above and it is equally true unless Armstrong folds in the mountains and he has to use the "working for the team" excuse to save face.
These are two ruthless riders but with completelty different personalities. Armstrong revels in the mind games, the politics and the "my **** is bigger than yours" ego wars. Contador just focuses on riding his bike and is quiet and unassuming off it.
Unless someone messes with Contador's food, sabotages his bike or he comes down in an accident there is now way he won't be able to gain all the time he needs in the Pyrenees to ensure he is the clear leader come the Alps. Armstrong will enjoy the foreplay until then.
Reverse the position of the names in the Para above and it is equally true unless Armstrong folds in the mountains and he has to use the "working for the team" excuse to save face.
These are two ruthless riders but with completelty different personalities. Armstrong revels in the mind games, the politics and the "my **** is bigger than yours" ego wars. Contador just focuses on riding his bike and is quiet and unassuming off it.
Unless someone messes with Contador's food, sabotages his bike or he comes down in an accident there is now way he won't be able to gain all the time he needs in the Pyrenees to ensure he is the clear leader come the Alps. Armstrong will enjoy the foreplay until then.
trouble with all this astana love fest is that barney r is just as good a ds as bruyneel. i'm wondering if riis isn't being the fox just burning off astana's legs chasing spartacus for lance's coveted yellow jersey. barney knows that canc will wilt in the pyrennees, but astana is chasing that hare rabidly. pyrennees and then unleash andy schleck? part two of the drama is how much attention is on astana and their leadership quandary. less of a focus on the leader's team.
Hey I agree with you.
Reversing the names will not make it equally true. If it was Contador or Lepheimer first then he would have a second time winner of the tour de france and a 7 times winner of the tour de france not an 1 time winner and an 8 times winner. Which is better is your guess
Reversing the names will not make it equally true. If it was Contador or Lepheimer first then he would have a second time winner of the tour de france and a 7 times winner of the tour de france not an 1 time winner and an 8 times winner. Which is better is your guess
guncha said:
are you smoking crack? have you actually looked at the profile? the Arcalis climb is preceded by ~50km of uphill before the climb starts proper.. this will be a huge test..
is that comment a joke or something?
To doctorSpoc
Can't you answer by saying I don't agree with you rather than by immediately taking an attacking stance?
Its quite easy you know and much more pleasant.
I must confess having looked at the Arcalis profile I agree that it has to be one of the defining stages of the race mainly because it ends in a slight incline :->.
Can't you answer by saying I don't agree with you rather than by immediately taking an attacking stance?
Its quite easy you know and much more pleasant.
I must confess having looked at the Arcalis profile I agree that it has to be one of the defining stages of the race mainly because it ends in a slight incline :->.
This Tour de France has not even started in real terms.
And yet there are some who think that it is all over.
You only have to look at the histroy of the race to know that this race is far from over.
And yet there are some who think that it is all over.
You only have to look at the histroy of the race to know that this race is far from over.
Yes LA or Conti could crack or crash but barring misfortune it been made a lot harder for the others and they had the hill to climb. They're going to have to work like dingbats to pull it back. LA and AC have a huge advantage to go into the mountains with.
Menchov is almost certainly out of it. Evans has a huge mountain to climb.
Menchov is almost certainly out of it. Evans has a huge mountain to climb.
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