Le Tour DE France Baby! [Archive]

C.P.

June 29th, 2004, 02:14 PM

I've always loved how Bobke pronounces tour DAY france - too funny.
So, I haven't heard from the faithful forum tour followers in a while. I have been out of touch with the usual OLN coverage - but with a little catching up seems like a few things have changed - I'm out of touch, and so it's news that Ulrichs team mate vinicourof (sp?) is out with injury, and at the brew pub sunday PK mentioned David Millar was caught doping - and also out.
So have the stakes changed? I expect a good race - but am really looking for the uphill time trial (L'Alp Duez) to really be the contest to watch...climbers battle for sure...anyone know how tyler's team is looking?

ArmOnFire

June 29th, 2004, 02:34 PM

Dude, VeloNews.com for the latest on racing and the tour DAY france.

This is all from memory, so don't take it as entirely truthful.

Tyler's team is looking good, took 1st place at the Tour de Swisse (? can't remember) last week, or so.

Jan-He could set a record this year as well, 6 runner up finishes

Iban Mayo- awesome climber, just beat Lance by 2 minutes at the Duphine Liberie climb of Ventoux, I think he beat Lance here in last years tour. He can time trial as well.
But his team is all Basque region riders (not good at TT, very good climbers), but a rule change this year has something about only a 2 minute loss on the TTT. This will help them.

Let's not forget Roberto Heras, ooh!!! Good climber, weak team.

Millar-yup, admitted after 2 days of interogation, funny, he has never tested positive for EPO, and has said all along that he never used drugs. I don't know if this is going to make Lance look bad, as he has always denied it, and never tested positive.

USPS-did not pick Victor Hugo Pena for the tour roster, hmmm?

The sprints should be exciting, with Super Mario, Zabel, Cooke, o'Grady, Pettachi, etc.

This tour should be VERY exciting, I can't wait!

ArmOnFire

June 29th, 2004, 02:51 PM

Here you can see Iban kicking Lance's @$$

Notice how Jan isn't doing anything, typical no emotion.

C.P.

June 29th, 2004, 02:53 PM

Hey Thanks for the tip - man that velonews site is anoying - lots of flashing ads...lots of articles to sort through though.
Go Tyler!

gungywump

June 29th, 2004, 03:20 PM

Names to watch:

Armstrong ~ U.S. Postal (also watch Americans Hincape and Floyd Landis)
Hamilton ~ Phonak (probably the strongest overall team; also watch Oscar Sevilla and Jose Enrique Gutierrez)
Leipheimer ~ Rabbobank (another American team leader; team not so strong for overall but should win stages; also watch Michael Boogerd, Erik Dekker, Michael Rasmussen, Marc Wauters, and Robert Hunter. All can win stages)
Julich ~ CSC (4th American team leader and a VERY strong team; also watch Carlos Sastre, Ivan Basso, Jens Voigt, Nicki Sørensen, Jakob Piil)
Roberto Heras Hernandez ~ Liberty Seguros (It will be interesting to see how Lance's former 'Lefttennant' will push his former leader in the mountains. Heras could wind up in yellow in Paris. Team is built to win overall and protect Heras. American Christian Vandevelde is on board)
Iban Mayo ~ Euskaltel - Euskadi (with no Beloki . . . Mayo will be the best Basque climber this year)
Ullrich ~ T-Mobile (Should be a top GC contender again; Zabel will contest the sprints with leadout man Nardello)
Pettachi ~ Fassa Bortolo (Top sprinter in the world and he has his A game this year. Broke the all time stage win record in the Giro this year winning 9 of 21 stages and getting pipped at the line in 2 others. Virtually unbeatable. Should win 3 or 4 stages the first week)
Cippolini ~ Domina Vacanze (The Lion King. This will be that last Tour and I think the last race of one of the greatest bike racers of the past 15 years. I predict Cippolini will win 1 and maybe 2 stages but, he will not make it to Paris and will retire from cycling before August)

Other names to watch for stage wins, mountains, or personal glory:

Magnus Backstedt ~ Alessio-Bianchi
Stuart O'Grady ~ Cofidis - Le Crédit Par Téléphone
Patrice Halgand, Thor Hushovd ~ Crédit Agricole
Aitor Gonzalez Jimenez ~ Fassa Bortolo
Baden Cooke, Bradley McGee ~ Fdjeux.com
Robbie McEwen, Axel Merckx, Rik Verbrugghe ~ Lotto-Domo
Juan Miguel Mercado, Michael Rogers, Paolo Bettini, Tom Boonen, Richard Virenque ~ Quick Step-Davitamon (VERY strong group of individual riders any could win stages. Boonen is one of my favorites and I would love to see him take a stage in his maiden tour.)
Gilberto Simoni, Stefano Casagrande, Salvatore Commesso ~ Saeco (I would have included Simoni with the big guns up top but I've been less than impressed this year. No Cunego for the tour after his Goiro win. Simoni may be bluffing about his form and could be a huge suprise in Paris should win a mountain stage.)

Those are all the names to watch. Also, ON DEMAND!! All stages will be available through On Demand starting the day after the stage. So if you miss it you can watch at your lesiure.

GO TYLER!!!

;)

MrsCouch

June 29th, 2004, 03:57 PM

Tyler's team is looking good, took 1st place at the Tour de Swisse (? can't remember) last week, or so.

Actually, i don't think Phonak raced the Tour de Suisse, but they did finish first in the Dauphine Libere, with Tyler finishing second behind Mayo and before Lance.....

I also read http://www.cyclingnews.com for updates.....

Great to see so many new Tyler fans :D

EVIL BOTA

June 29th, 2004, 04:01 PM

Here you can see Iban kicking Lance's @$$

Notice how Jan isn't doing anything, typical no emotion.

Even though it looks like he's kicking lance's A$$,Lance got up and beat his A$$.

June 29th, 2004, 04:21 PM

I'm still waiting for Comcast to turn on OLN. Last year it came on right before the tour, havent see it yet.

They better turn it on or I'll have to mooch off other folks to watch

Big Game

June 29th, 2004, 04:22 PM

GO TYLER!!!

That sick son of a $&%#* (no offense to his mother, of course) is going to win it all. Well not it all of it....mostly just the GC

gungywump

June 29th, 2004, 05:15 PM

Actually, i don't think Phonak raced the Tour de Suisse, but they did finish first in the Dauphine Libere, with Tyler finishing second behind Mayo and before Lance.....

I also read http://www.cyclingnews.com for updates.....

Great to see so many new Tyler fans :D

Yes, Phonak DID race the Tour de Suisse and they DID win the team classification. I beleive that Phonak is the best overall team in this years tour followed by CSC then Postal.

And . . . I am no 'NEW' Tyler fan.

I predict 4 Americans will be in the top 10 following the Prologue.
Armstrong
Hamilton
Leipheimer
Julich
With Floyd Landis and George Hincape also inside the top 20.

My two buzz words for this tour are 'Americans' and 'Austrailians'.

T Grimble

June 29th, 2004, 05:22 PM

I'm still waiting for Comcast to turn on OLN. Last year it came on right before the tour, havent see it yet.

They better turn it on or I'll have to mooch off other folks to watch

I am not claiming responsibility but...last year I called Comcast and sent emails almost every day for weeks asking (begging, pleading) for OLN. I have had OLN since last years tour. You have some catching up to do AA. Better get on the phone.

CouchingTiger

June 30th, 2004, 09:16 AM

gungywump

July 3rd, 2004, 07:04 PM

I predict 4 Americans will be in the top 10 following the Prologue.
Armstrong
Hamilton
Leipheimer
Julich
With Floyd Landis and George Hincape also inside the top 20.

My two buzz words for this tour are 'Americans' and 'Austrailians'.

I was expecting a little more out of Leipheimer and Tyler but, 6 Americans in the top 20 isn't bad. ;)

1 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Fassa Bortolo
2 Lance Armstrong (USA) US Postal p/b Berry Floor
3 José I.Gutierrez Palacios (Spa) Illes Balears - Banesto
4 Bradley McGee (Aus) Fdjeux.com
5 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole
6 Oscar Pereiro (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems
7 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team CSC
8 Christophe Moreau (Fra) Crédit Agricole
9 Bobby Julich (USA) Team CSC
10 George Hincapie (USA) US Postal p/b Berry Floor
11 José Enrique Gutierrez (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems
12 Angel Vicioso Arcos (Spa) Liberty Seguros
13 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Rabobank
14 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC
15 Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor) Team CSC
16 Jan Ullrich (Ger) T-Mobile Team
17 Floyd Landis (USA) US Postal p/b Berry Floor
18 Tyler Hamilton (USA) Phonak Hearing Systems
19 Viatcheslav Ekimov (Rus) US Postal p/b Berry Floor
20 Andrea Peron (Ita) Team CSC

T Grimble

July 6th, 2004, 12:36 PM

How about Fabian Cancellara!
Talk about living the dream. In his first appearance to the Tour he wins the Prologue. The commentators want you to believe that Lance didn't get beat and are down playing Cancellara's effort but I have to tell you, that guy rode his heart out and beat the best at their own game. Not only did he win the Jersey but he successfully defended it in the first stage. Now, none of this means anything in the grand scheme of the tour and he is definitely not a contender but consider just for a minute how he must be feeling right now.

ArmOnFire

July 6th, 2004, 12:55 PM

Yup, he's on track to get the white jersey

joe

July 6th, 2004, 03:14 PM

OLN is throwing three TDF viewing parties in Boston. Whether Comcast turned OLN on at your house or not, come out to watch a stage, play some trivia, and get hang out with your friends.

You ca get more info here:
http://www.nemba.org/yabbse/index.php?board=18;action=display;threadid=4274

gungywump

July 6th, 2004, 05:53 PM

Yup, he's on track to get the white jersey

Boonen should get it. At least that's what I hope, he's one of my favorite riders. One of the great young talents that Postal let go instead of holding back. I think Armstong is good about mentoring young talent like that. First Tyler Hamilton, then Levi Leipheimer and Tom Boonen and now Roberto Heras(although good before his stay at Postal) have all benefitted from the Lance. :)

T Grimble

July 7th, 2004, 10:29 AM

Cobbles Rock (pun intended).

I never fully understood or at least appreciated the role of cobble stones in a bike race until last night. They add strategy to an otherwise simple stage. In the classic races they add challenge but in a long stage race they create huge gaps. I can’t believe that in one stage, Iban Mayo’s chances have been nearly eliminated. Just shows you how tenuous each stage really is. Looking forward to tonight’s team time trail.

-Tom

ArmOnFire

July 7th, 2004, 11:50 AM

All I have to say is WOW!!
Posties beat Phonak by over a minute in TTT!
New rules says only 20 seconds of it will count.
Kinda sucks, but oh well.
Lance may have done a fake out, lil bit o' acting getting beat by Mayo up Ventoux a few weeks ago.

God I love this race!

T Grimble

July 7th, 2004, 12:09 PM

Doh!!!!
Shouldn't have read that last post.
Kind of ruins the suspense for those of us who have to wait until evening to watch the race.

July 7th, 2004, 12:16 PM

yeah, stop posting the results before we get home and pop in the tape!!!! >:(

MTBME

July 7th, 2004, 12:40 PM

"stop posting the results before we get home and pop in the tape!!!! "

Who's got time for all that. Just go to

http://www.letour.fr/2004/us/index.html

minimize on the desktop, and keep yourself up to date with events as they unfold in real time. Nothing like it. Of course its kinda slow at work right now ;)

Mt.A TODD

July 7th, 2004, 12:49 PM

I couldn't wait till I got home, so I cheated and listen to live audio today.

Which is the only reason I've checked out this thread, my wife is on strict orders to keep her mouth shut and not say a word till I'm done watching OLN. So far its its worked out great, I wonder if I can convince her the tour doesn't end till December?

Jisch

July 7th, 2004, 12:52 PM

This argument happens every year over at MTBR. I suggest if you don't want the outcome "spoiled" don't read a post about TDF during the day. From watching the flame wars over there, there is no way you are going to control everyone. And that way those of us who follow online (and don't have OLN) can type freely - isn't that what the internet is all about? ;D

Just my $0.02
John

ArmOnFire

July 7th, 2004, 12:59 PM

Sorry, I'm addicted to it.
Wife hates it, and can tell by the sound of my voice how the stage went that day.
She likes to watch at night, but there are so many places on the net to find out whats going on.
I never get anything done in July.

MTBME

July 7th, 2004, 01:29 PM

I was layed off last summer and was able to watch all the stages from begining to end. Nothing got done in my house for a whole month. If I got up real early, I could check out what Kelly was wearing on Regis & Kelly. Yeah, it was that kind of summer.

T Grimble

July 7th, 2004, 01:42 PM

How about a good compromise regarding same day release of information.

I propose that we don't put results in the subject line and we warn people at the beginning of the message if you are going to reveal anything that might spoil it for those of us who prefer to watch in the evening. As it is I have to avoid so websites for fear of hearing results. At least I don't have to avoid any US major media sites. Tour de What? Oh that thing that Lance boy from Texas does.

-Tom

errollthin

July 7th, 2004, 05:30 PM

Hey norm I am having that same summer. but I did not catch the coveradge today so that blows it for me also. GO TYLER!!!!

If_Rider

July 8th, 2004, 08:59 AM

How about Phonak!! Coming back to take second after all the problems they had! Makes you wonder what the outcome would have been had thay had a clean race.

Does Lance try to keep the yellow now or just stay at the front and play it cool??

Awesome race so far !!

MTBME

July 8th, 2004, 09:12 AM

Lance will continue to do what has brought him success for the last 5 years. He will remain focused on only those riders that are a threat to him. If that means letting the yellow jersey sit on somebody elses back for a few days, than so be it. He will save his bullets for the mountain stages and the time trials. In the end, Lance should be the favorite to wear the yellow again but... anything can happen between now and then.

ArmOnFire

July 8th, 2004, 10:06 AM

Phonak was impressive, finished with only 5 riders.

USPS picked Noval (who got dropped yesterday) over Pena.
I think Johan screwed up there.

The new rule ( 2nd=20 sec, 3rd= 30sec , etc.) is almost an insult to those teams, I'm not too sure I would be thankful for it. Can you imagine what kind of bitchin will go on if Lance is beat by a margin that was given to the other teams?

I agree, Lance will let someone else wear it for a while.

The stage after Alpe d'Huez TT is a real killer, Ventoux before the halfway point of the stage, few other cat 1 climbs.

I'm glued to OLN......

ArmOnFire

July 8th, 2004, 10:24 AM

Just read this on Euro sport.com, regarding the new rules for the TTT.

"While the team's time will be taken from the fifth rider to finish the trial, lagging riders can be penalised further.

Anybody deemed to be isolated from the rest of his team will be saddled with his own time. 45 minutes spent eating lunch will be penalised in full."

ArmOnFire

July 16th, 2004, 11:27 AM

WOW!!
What a stage (12). I was glued to my monitor.
The wife was watching at home and called me it was so good.

Voelker keeps his yellow, the dude is 25!

Viva la Lance.

LeMond and his comments are ubsurd!

Tomorrow should be good too.

MTBME

July 16th, 2004, 11:44 AM

Yeah, I was following it on my monitor also. Irritating when you get down to the final few kilometers and you can't seem to refresh the screen fast enough. The bandwidth must get overloaded. Im surprise Voelker is still in yellow. Looks like he might be hanging around a while. Otherwise everything is going Lances way. What did LeMond have to say? I must have missed it.

ArmOnFire

July 16th, 2004, 01:46 PM

link to LeMond's comments:

http://www.eurosport.com/home/pages/V4/L0/S18/E6912/sport_Lng0_Spo18_Evt6912_Sto613945.shtml

Ouch!!!

MTBME

July 16th, 2004, 02:08 PM

Sounds like sour grapes to me >:(

Makes me want to toss out my LeMond road bike. Were still innocent until proven guilty. They've been trying to find some dirt on Lance for a long time.

ArmOnFire

July 16th, 2004, 02:46 PM

Agreed, did anyone see what Lance said about the media raiding his hotel room as he was leaving? He stated his big concern now is that after 6+ years of not finding anything on the most tested athlete in the world, that they would start planting evidence.
That would suck.
It's tough being number 1.

MTBME

July 16th, 2004, 03:12 PM

I wonder what's going on in the brain trust at USPS?

If Voelker doesn't come back down to earth soon, he could be trouble? He's not fading as fast as most expected.

Basso looked real strong today and may need constant attention.

Is Jan Ulrich done, or did he have an "off" day?

If so, will KLÖDEN Andréas of T-Mobile fill Jan's cleats?

Will Lance have an off day?

Will I get this stain off my shirt? Oh sorry, now I'm rambling ::)

ArmOnFire

July 19th, 2004, 11:03 AM

Voekler is very impressive, guy has heart
Basso and Lance, the new showdown, although I got the feeling they were working together both days and not really contesting the finish when the other won.
Jan stated he will work for the team, i.e. work for Kloeden

p_coutermarsh

July 19th, 2004, 11:56 AM

This week will be the test. I really like Lance's chances. He is in a position to distance himself and crush the spirits of his rivals with the Alps coming up.

CouchingTiger

July 19th, 2004, 12:44 PM

radair

July 19th, 2004, 01:24 PM

I'm keeping Wednesday's work schedule free so as to watch the Alp d'Huez TT live. I think Lance will put the serious hurt on what few competitors remain, although Basso has shown himself to be a serious contender.

Postal has been awesome on those mountain stages. The big stage Thursday will basically be the end of the race.

This stuff almost makes me want to ride a road bike.

gungywump

July 19th, 2004, 02:36 PM

I think that on Saturday we saw the realization that the USPS TEAM is un-stopable. They are cool, calculated and mythodical. They came into the tour with a plan which they have stuck to and it's working. Until someone else can put a TEAM together with that much depth, talent and organization I see USPS continuing their dynasty.

That said, I think this makes the tour a little less interesting. The only real race we see is in the final 1.2km when Armstrong finally loses his last team mates. Rather than the two or three man races on the entire final climbs that we saw in the past, it seems to be a USPS tag team against the one or so remaining klingons.

That last few kilometers is pretty exciting though!

-Couch

Couch, I agree completely.
The biggest key to Postal's domination of Friday and Saturdays stages is in the meticulous and PRACTICED game plan. Postal can execute their strategies to perfection because everyone is comitted to it. Lance and the entire tour team have actually pre-ridden the key stages together in the momths leading up to the tour. Friday and Saturdays stages were basically replays of their TRAINING rides. It goes beyond the team director saying on the morning of the race this is what everyone is going to do. Every Postal rider knows well in advance exactly how far he is expected to stay with Lance and how hard they are going to push the peloton because the route is comitted to memory.
TEAM is definately the element winning this years race. And, in all my years of watching and following the tour I have never seen some much psychological damage done to the elites in the sport. When Postal crossed over the 5th climb on Saturday with all 9 Posties driving the front of the remaining peleton after a monumental effort on Friday; the Tour was over. How can you compete with that? Answer: YOU CAN'T!! Not this year anyway.
Although the effort of Postal has been impressive overall this has been a boring tour. Lance hit it on the head with his comments about the first week needing a long individual TT. Should go Prologue, Sprint, Sprint, Team TT, Sprint, Sprint, TT. I mean we had to wait 12-13 days to get the first real showdowns to happen. Voekler has been an interesting story but it has been created by the structure of the race. I'd rather see the GC contenders all up at the top after the first rest day and have the entire last 2/3rds of the race for them to attack each other. It seems like the whole race has been 2days and now we have less than a week left. I'm feeling a little gipped. ;)

slowride

July 19th, 2004, 02:51 PM

Especially when you take into account to dramatic 2003 TdF, this year has been pretty boring. And now, except for the threat from Basso, the race is essentially over. I was really hoping things would be close between Lance, Jan, Tyler and possibly Heras or Mayo going into tomorrow's ITT.

I am not a big Lance fan, nor am I a hater... I do like to see a race though.

ArmOnFire

July 20th, 2004, 10:51 AM

16 H 44 - Armstrong Wins Again...!
Lance Armstrong has outsprinted Ivan Basso for the victory of stage 15. This is the American's 20th stage win in the Tour de France.

16 H 43 - Leipheimer Dropped
Leipheimer is out of contention. There are four riders in the lead group. The stage continues to be led by Kloden... Basso is sprinting for the line. He is matched by Lance...

16 H 42 - Which One Of Five?
With 800m to go Kloden continues to set the pace ahead of Ullrich, Basso, Armstrong and Rasmussen...

16 H 41 - The Lead Group With 1km To Go
There is less than 1km to go in the stage. In the lead group are: Kloden, Ullrich, Armstrong, Basso and Leipheimer. Kloden is leading Ullrich...

16 H 40 - Azevedo Dropped
Azevedo is now long in the lead group. Neither is Rasmussen... the pace is now being set by Kloden. Behind him is Ullrich, then Basso, then Armstrong...

MTBME

July 20th, 2004, 11:00 AM

Listen to you guys. What does Lance have to do. Ride tomorrows ITT on a tandem with Cheryl Crow on the back to even the playing field? Christ, now that six looks in the bag, should we start talking about seven! Oh the French press will be going crazy. You gotta love it.

ArmOnFire

July 20th, 2004, 11:34 AM

Ride tomorrows ITT on a tandem with Cheryl Crow on the back to even the playing field?
-MTBME
That might not be a bad idea!

MTBME

July 20th, 2004, 11:44 AM

Damn she's got great form on that bike. Lance must be giving her all his best riding tips. Hey... shouldn't that be a Subaru in the background?

gungywump

July 21st, 2004, 08:01 AM

I'm writing this in GREAT anticipation of Today's stage. This is unbelievable. A TT up L'Alpe Du' Huez! This is going to be monumental!

C.P.

July 21st, 2004, 10:09 AM

What a big day - I've been waiting for this stage the whole race...Imagine being in NYC in times square where OLN is broadcasting the race LIVE on the BIG Screen today.
Here's a staggering view...

C.P.

July 21st, 2004, 12:15 PM

EVIL BOTA

July 21st, 2004, 12:29 PM

LANCE IS A FRICKIN MACHINE!

Luckybikes

July 21st, 2004, 01:25 PM

WOW That satge is insane

MTBME

July 22nd, 2004, 08:29 AM

Either Lance has gotten better with age or everybody else is just punching the clock. Unless Lance falls asleep in the saddle, were looking at a very anti climatic finish in Gay Paree.

ArmOnFire

July 22nd, 2004, 09:18 AM

I just read the Heras dropped out, his reason, basically because he can't win or podium, what a freaking loser, glad you left the team aye bud?
Riders dropping out of the tour make the race boring.
I hope Gilberto Simoni and Virenque battle it out for the last mountain stage.

Lance is amazing!
Read the Chris Carmichael OLN daily diary of dissecting the Alpe d'Huez time trial, he describes what Lance will do for a warm up that day. It's more than I do in a week. But Lance gets paid to that, I get paid to...post in this forum?

slowride

July 22nd, 2004, 10:31 AM

The whole race has been anticlimatic.

Luckybikes

July 22nd, 2004, 10:49 AM

Iam thinking when Lance wins mass riots are gogin to break out all over France.

ArmOnFire

July 22nd, 2004, 11:24 AM

Riots?-yup, especially after today!

17 H 20 - The Top 10 In Stage 17
The top 10 in the 17th stage of the 2004 Tour is:
1. Lance Armstrong (USP) 204.5km in 6h11'52" (32.995km/h)
2. Andreas Kloden (TMO) at st
3. Jan Ullrich (TMO) at 01"
4. Ivan Basso (CSC) at 01"
5. Floyd Landis (USP) at 13"
6. Axel Merckx (LOT) at 1'01"
7. Levi Leipheimer (RAB) at 1'01"
8. Carlos Sastre (CSC) at 1'02"
9. Mickael Rasmussen (RAB) at 1'02"
10. Georg Totschnig (GST) at 1'02"

17 H 17 - Armstrong The Unstoppable...
It doesn't matter if it's a climb, a time trial or a sprint, Lance is unstoppable this year. He has just taken the lead away from Kloden in the closing 25 meter of the 204.5km 17th stage.
We await confirmation of the minor places but it seems that Ullrich was third, Basso fourth and Landis fifth.

17 H 15 - Lance Wins Again!
Lance has chased down Kloden and won the stage! The yellow jersey caught the German champion in the final 25m to win his 4th stage this year.

17 H 14 - Kloden Lead By 75m
Kloden has an impressive lead on Landis, Armstrong, Ullrich and Basso. There are 500m to go and it looks like the German champion will win the 17th stage...

17 H 13 - Landis Attacks!
Landis has attacked the lead group. He has been chased down by Ullrich. Less than 1km remains in the stage and now Kloden has bolted!