Let the cop-outs begin!

Tony said:

psycholist wrote in message ...

Quoted message said:

"David Wuertele" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Jamie> Bring on the excuses!

Remember when Lance pulled the wool over Telekom's eyes at the base of
Alpe D'Huez by, as Oracle of Truth Phil Ligett exclaims, "pretending
to be in difficulty"?

Well that's exactly what he has done on Ventoux. It is a feint.
Lance wants Mayo and Hamilton to think he's lost it. It is so obvious
it just might work.

:-)

Rope-a-dope is what I believe Muhammed Ali called the technique.

Yes, and look where it left Ali long term. Lance is cooked whenever it gets
hot, so the weather will again play a major role this year...

He's got to learn someday that those water bottles aren't just for
ballast. I suffer in the heat as well, probably my dutch roots and can
go through two litres on a 60 mile ride, easily, and still come home
dehydrated. But give me a cold, rainy day and I'm like the Energizer
rabbit.

Richard Adams said:

Though both Mayo and Hamilton beat JVV's old record.

There is a brand new, smooth road surface, and I read the wind was in the
right direction (or "favorable"😉.

"Mike Jacoubowsky" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Now, if LA would have won today, or finished very closely behind Mayo,
Lance obsessed lovers would have said, "That's Lance. He's ready for
his 6th!"

However, since he finished nearly 2 min down, I'm sure we'll see most
noddles say, "Well, the Tour is still 3 weeks away and he wouldn't want
to peak too soon."

It's ok, don't get your shorts in a wad!....the chamois might get stained!

Bring on the excuses!

Who needs excuses? It's going to be one heck of a race. Lance will have

Lance will have the Postal TTT which will be the Tour's best, however
one cannot gain 5 minutes in the TTT this year.

What is it (Steve?) 3 minutes max?

-Ken

Best five for the Tour:
Lance, Mayo, Tyler, Jan, Heras

then: Guttierez, Sevilla, Simoni (Giro was too easy!), and Levi L.

Quoted message said:

the benefit of being a vastly superior tactician, so I think Mayo will have
a bigger effect on Jan. The wildcard, in my book, remains Vino. Vino could
pull something out of a hat on a mountain stage and still be competitive
enough in a TT to hold onto a lead.

Lance, Jan, Vino, Tyler, Mayo... this could be a legendary TDF. I still say
that Lance is most "likely" to win, but put his odds under 50%.

Think I'm gonna have to get me a Tivo before the start!

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

Ewoud Dronkert <[email hidden]> wrote in news:40c8e2cf$0$563
[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Richard Adams said:

Though both Mayo and Hamilton beat JVV's old record.

There is a brand new, smooth road surface, and I read the wind was in the
right direction (or "favorable"😉.

Is that what Vaughters told you? 😉

Quoted message said:

Lance will have the Postal TTT which will be the Tour's best, however
one cannot gain 5 minutes in the TTT this year.

What is it (Steve?) 3 minutes max?

2:30, if I recall correctly.

Quoted message said:

-Ken

Best five for the Tour:
Lance, Mayo, Tyler, Jan, Heras

Sorry, I just can't post a top-5 that doesn't include Vino, and I can't see
removing anyone else to make way for Heras. Vino's had a very steady rise
to the top, nothing meteoric, no sudden unexpected victories that came from
nowhere. I watched him ride over the top of the Tourmalet, a fair distance
behind the leaders, on the Luz Ardiden stage. But he calmly rode himself
back up to the leaders, as if it was his job and it was simply time to get
to work. Very impressive, in an Armstrong sort of way. And, unlike many
others, when interviewed he never acts as if the world (or his team) owes
him something. I'm thinking Jan is holding Vino back, and if something
happens to Jan...

Quoted message said:

then: Guttierez, Sevilla, Simoni (Giro was too easy!), and Levi L.

Are you choosing Simoni for sentimental reasons or because you really think
he has a shot? He's not the youngest kid on the block out there. As for
Levi, I just don't know. Does anybody *really* know how good he is? Last
year was pretty dreadful, making the prior year (in particular the Vuelta
performance) look a bit out of place. But you can't get onto the podium
without having something. Maybe this will be his big come-from-nowhere
year. I can't picture other teams being too worried about him, and maybe
that will give him his chance.

Too bad Cunego's so young... *that* would be quite the wildcard!

--Mike Jacoubowsky
Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReaction.com
IMBA, BikesBelong, NBDA member

Quoted message said:

From: leif_ericson [email hidden]

Quoted message said:

Live report on Cyclingnews said that a crazed fan punched him in
the stomach.

When did Ken start doing live coverage for Cyclingnews?
Bill C

Ewoud Dronkert said:

Richard Adams said:

Though both Mayo and Hamilton beat JVV's old record.

There is a brand new, smooth road surface, and I read the wind was in the
right direction (or "favorable"😉.

I don't know how they pave roads in Provence, but I do find fresh
blacktop to have more rolling resistance than the seasoned stuff.

"K. J. Papai" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Mike Jacoubowsky" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Now, if LA would have won today, or finished very closely behind Mayo,
Lance obsessed lovers would have said, "That's Lance. He's ready for
his 6th!"

However, since he finished nearly 2 min down, I'm sure we'll see most
noddles say, "Well, the Tour is still 3 weeks away and he wouldn't want
to peak too soon."

It's ok, don't get your shorts in a wad!....the chamois might get stained!

Bring on the excuses!

Who needs excuses? It's going to be one heck of a race. Lance will have

Lance will have the Postal TTT which will be the Tour's best, however
one cannot gain 5 minutes in the TTT this year.

I predict Liberty Seguros will win the TTT, and Phonak will be top-5.

-Sonarrat.

"Richard Adams" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Ewoud Dronkert said:

Richard Adams said:

Though both Mayo and Hamilton beat JVV's old record.

There is a brand new, smooth road surface, and I read the wind was in the
right direction (or "favorable"😉.

I don't know how they pave roads in Provence, but I do find fresh
blacktop to have more rolling resistance than the seasoned stuff.

....Especially when it's hot.

-Sonarrat.

Richard Adams said:

I don't know how they pave roads in Provence, but I do find fresh
blacktop to have more rolling resistance than the seasoned stuff.

The work was done in the early spring, I think that's enough time to
settle in. About the wind being "favorable", I read that in
fr.rec.sport.cyclisme, but there's a lot of dumbasses there.

Ewoud Dronkert said:

Richard Adams said:

I don't know how they pave roads in Provence, but I do find fresh
blacktop to have more rolling resistance than the seasoned stuff.

The work was done in the early spring, I think that's enough time to
settle in. About the wind being "favorable", I read that in
fr.rec.sport.cyclisme, but there's a lot of dumbasses there.

What are you saying about rbr?

"Richard Adams" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Tony said:

psycholist wrote in message ...

Quoted message said:

"David Wuertele" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

>Jamie> Bring on the excuses!
>
>Remember when Lance pulled the wool over Telekom's eyes at the base of
>Alpe D'Huez by, as Oracle of Truth Phil Ligett exclaims, "pretending
>to be in difficulty"?
>
>Well that's exactly what he has done on Ventoux. It is a feint.
>Lance wants Mayo and Hamilton to think he's lost it. It is so obvious
>it just might work.
>
>:-)

Rope-a-dope is what I believe Muhammed Ali called the technique.

Yes, and look where it left Ali long term. Lance is cooked whenever it

gets

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

hot, so the weather will again play a major role this year...

He's got to learn someday that those water bottles aren't just for
ballast. I suffer in the heat as well, probably my dutch roots and can
go through two litres on a 60 mile ride, easily, and still come home
dehydrated. But give me a cold, rainy day and I'm like the Energizer
rabbit.

You'd think Lance would be okay in the heat, coming from Texas, which is not
exactly known for cold weather. As for his 'feint', that gimp act he pulled
on the Alpe won't work again. That kind of thing only works once He really
did look like he was suffering in the photos I saw of the TT, and since
everyone else was suffering I think it was genuine. Who wouldn't suffer in
that heat, with the thin air?

I'm just the opposite of you. I thrive on the warm weather- I live for july!

"Mike Jacoubowsky/Chain Reaction Bicycles" <>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Lance will have the Postal TTT which will be the Tour's best, however
one cannot gain 5 minutes in the TTT this year.

What is it (Steve?) 3 minutes max?

2:30, if I recall correctly.

I think that's right, 2'30".

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Best five for the Tour:
Lance, Mayo, Tyler, Jan, Heras
-Ken P.

Sorry, I just can't post a top-5 that doesn't include Vino, and I can't see

Vino is on T-Mobile so he'll be giving up his best chances
helping our Der Kaiser.

Quoted message said:

removing anyone else to make way for Heras. Vino's had a very steady rise
to the top, nothing meteoric, no sudden unexpected victories that came from
nowhere. I watched him ride over the top of the Tourmalet, a fair distance
behind the leaders, on the Luz Ardiden stage. But he calmly rode himself
back up to the leaders, as if it was his job and it was simply time to get
to work. Very impressive, in an Armstrong sort of way. And, unlike many
others, when interviewed he never acts as if the world (or his team) owes
him something. I'm thinking Jan is holding Vino back, and if something
happens to Jan...

Quoted message said:

then: Guttierez, Sevilla, Simoni (Giro was too easy!), and Levi L.

Are you choosing Simoni for sentimental reasons or because you really think
he has a shot? He's not the youngest kid on the block out there. As for

Just that Simoni ought to at least make top ten. If Levi makes a top
ten
then THAT will be stupendous and something anyone can always be super
proud of.

Quoted message said:

Levi, I just don't know. Does anybody *really* know how good he is? Last
year was pretty dreadful, making the prior year (in particular the Vuelta
performance) look a bit out of place. But you can't get onto the podium
without having something. Maybe this will be his big come-from-nowhere
year. I can't picture other teams being too worried about him, and maybe
that will give him his chance.
Too bad Cunego's so young... *that* would be quite the wildcard!

We'll see about Cunego in 2006 -- he'll be ready for the Tour then.

We've seen a few flash in the pans at Giro and Vuelta the past 3-4
years.

-ken p.

Shock of shocks! LANCE reads RBR:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2004/jun04/dauphine/index.php?id=stage5/cycling-fra-dauphine-arm-66

(he's not wearing white socks)

<SHOCK>

"K. J. Papai" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Shock of shocks! LANCE reads RBR:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2004/jun04/dauphine/index.php?id=stage5/cycling-fra-dauphine-arm-66

Quoted message said:

(he's not wearing white socks)

<SHOCK>

They're still the wrong length. BTW, Armstrong has slipped to near even
money for this year's Tour post-Dauphine Stage 4.

http://bestbetting.com/Default.aspx?group=1140738
http://static.betshop.com/static/allc-new.asp?e_grp=2857

On 06/11/2004 02:45 PM, in article
[email hidden], "K. J. Papai"

Quoted message said:

Shock of shocks! LANCE reads RBR:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2004/jun04/dauphine/index.php?id=stage5/cycl
ing-fra-dauphine-arm-66

(he's not wearing white socks)

<SHOCK>

They're still too freakin' long/high though ...

--
Steven L. Sheffield
stevens at veloworks dot com
veloworks at worldnet dot ay tea tee dot net
bellum pax est libertas servitus est ignoratio vis est
ess ay ell tea ell ay kay ee sea aye tee why you ti ay aitch
aitch tee tea pea colon [for word] slash [four ward] slash double-you
double-yew double-ewe dot veloworks dot com [four word] slash