FL was tremendous, hip and all, but definitely think Armstrong, Ulrich, and Vinokourov would have taken FL easily.
But most important was the failure of the several Teams' management. Each of the top ten team managers the day of Landis' great stage should be fired. How they let Landis build such a big lead before responding, believing that he would crack as he did the day before, was just f..kin stupid. It was pure rope a dope. Their overconfidence allowed them all to be lulled into sense that winner would be decided on the final climb. Worse yet, it was their second time making the same mistake. Remember Pereiro picked up 30 mins on Landis and others because no one believed in Pereiro and still didn't until he wound up second overall. Hell the OLN crowd had him in Yellow for only a day.
Don't believe that LA and Ulrich run teams would ever had let a contender ride away unchecked. Hell, if Sastre had to do it over, he would have countered much earlier on Landis' great ride. Hell, he picked up four mins on the last climb alone.
Lastly have to wonder when Rabobank is going to take off Ramussen's training wheels off and let him ride. It is a waste to use him as a domestique that oh by the way hapens to win the Polka dot jersey.
Peace.
But most important was the failure of the several Teams' management. Each of the top ten team managers the day of Landis' great stage should be fired. How they let Landis build such a big lead before responding, believing that he would crack as he did the day before, was just f..kin stupid. It was pure rope a dope. Their overconfidence allowed them all to be lulled into sense that winner would be decided on the final climb. Worse yet, it was their second time making the same mistake. Remember Pereiro picked up 30 mins on Landis and others because no one believed in Pereiro and still didn't until he wound up second overall. Hell the OLN crowd had him in Yellow for only a day.
Don't believe that LA and Ulrich run teams would ever had let a contender ride away unchecked. Hell, if Sastre had to do it over, he would have countered much earlier on Landis' great ride. Hell, he picked up four mins on the last climb alone.
Lastly have to wonder when Rabobank is going to take off Ramussen's training wheels off and let him ride. It is a waste to use him as a domestique that oh by the way hapens to win the Polka dot jersey.
Peace.
