Official Tour de France thread...

[KnightofNi]

holy maloley...i expected a shake-up on the GC today, but that was not quite what i was expecting.

vandevelde is looking strong. let's hope he can keep it going and keep his team with him.

do you think it will coem down to the final time trail?

[ducpenguin]

holy maloley...i expected a shake-up on the GC today, but that was not quite what i was expecting.
vandevelde is looking strong. let's hope he can keep it going and keep his team with him.
do you think it will coem down to the final time trail?

Don't say anything yet...I have to wait to get home to watch it!  How exciting though...now at least I can expect the unexpected.
I am not sure how the climbs are going to affect this group...I don't really see anyone on Garmin or Columbia being strong enough in the mountains...I hope that I am wrong!  Vandevelde does look good and was in a good position yesterday.  I do think that the final TT will have a huge inpact on the GC outcome...can't wait!

[KnightofNi]

i was following along with velonews.com

ii need to have the updates. it makes watching it knowing wha'ts developing a bit more interesting at times. it also let's me know what parts i need to watch, and what parts i can miss.

[ducpenguin]

I think Vs. has got it down pretty good...2 hours of replay, and they usually are pretty informative.  I hope Vandevelde can hold on for a podium finish!

[erik822]

I'm rooting for Hushovd. I think he has an outside shop of getting the yellow if every single GC contender gets booted for doping or forgets to show up.

Other than that I'm hoping Hushovd gets the green jersey.

[KnightofNi]

I'm rooting for Hushovd. I think he has an outside shop of getting the yellow if every single GC contender gets booted for doping or forgets to show up.

Other than that I'm hoping Hushovd gets the green jersey.

if a sprinter could win the yellow that would be great.

he would also need everyone that isn't on his team or a sprinter to drop out so he woulnd't get left so far behind in the mountains. then he might have a shot at yellow.
he can prob pull out the green since kirchen isn't really going for it (at least he wasn't, he might switch tactics now that he is so far behind) he just needs to get out there for the sprints.


i'm having visions of the entire credit agricole team sneaking into the other teams rooms and shutting off their alarm clocks and spiking their water. 
everyone but vandevelde that is...i would love to see another american in yellow going into paris.

[ducpenguin]

i'm having visions of the entire credit agricole team sneaking into the other teams rooms and shutting off their alarm clocks and spiking their water. 
everyone but vandevelde that is...i would love to see another american in yellow going into paris.

After what they did to Astana...I just pray that it is an american or an american team that wins it!
I think you may be right about Kierchin, heck of a sprinter and what about Mark Cavendish...is he fast or what!

[KnightofNi]

wasn't pretty much the entire team indicted along with vino?

i'm suprised more teams weren't kept out of it.


i was watching highlights the other day and they showed cavendish's win in stage 5. he was still pulling away at the line
i forsee another stage win in his future if he can get a couple of teammates to lead him out. i don't think he is a contender for the green though. mainly because kirchen is placed better in the standings by about 40 pts (and in 2nd place overall too) it would be easier to make kim sprint and get him the points than it would be to make up the deficit and then hold the lead. they prob aren't going to get to contest for many intermediate sprints since there will be a break so they can't rely on that to up the total too much.

i'm fine with kirchen gettign green and vandevelde getting yellow. it would be great is hincapie could actually have a good tour and take first in something. even a stage win would be nice for him.

[ducpenguin]

wasn't pretty much the entire team indicted along with vino

Yea...that is why it is crazy...no one on the team was there last year.  They are all new and under new management, having them tested twice as much as required.

I too would like to see Hincappie win a stage, or at least finish well...this may be his last tour.

As far as Keirchin and Cavendish, I think you are right...Keirchin will probably end up with the green.  And Cavendish was pulling away at the line, and had his hands up!

[sbrguy]

After what they did to Astana...I just pray that it is an american or an american team that wins it!
I think you may be right about Kierchin, heck of a sprinter and what about Mark Cavendish...is he fast or what!

the only reason why cavendish is winning is that all the fast sprinters aren't there or are aging.

the only really fast guy in the tour for spinters is mcewen and he is getting too old to be fast as its apparent he doesn't have the speed that he used to have, much like zabel and friere.

the fastest guy out ther but not currently riding is obviously petacchi but with his doping suspension he isnt' there. but if he was there cavendish wouldn't be pulling away from him at all.

thor is good but remember he wasn't winning agains mcewen or petacchi in either of their primes.

[sbrguy]

geez if cadel evans isn't the most boring cyclist to watch i dont know who is, the guy has not ever went on the attach.

before you say you shouldn't have to, that is what made armstrong/landis/contador so fun to watch each of those guys would attack in the mountains to basically put the smack down on the other contenders to basically break them, which made it fun to watch.  i don't see evans doing htat at all.

with any luck maybe vande velde will do that to hopefully move a couple of spots, he has to attack like crazy if he wants to even have a shot at winning the tour.

[Desmostro]

...
I too would like to see Hincappie win a stage, or at least finish well...this may be his last tour.
...

I wish there was a "Best Domestique"  jersey. That guy works for such little glory. Everyone expected him to win everything once Lance was gone. But that's just not George. He's an 'all-around' talent and he's the best at that. 

[KnightofNi]

I wish there was a "Best Domestique"  jersey. That guy works for such little glory. Everyone expected him to win everything once Lance was gone. But that's just not George. He's an 'all-around' talent and he's the best at that. 

he hands out water bottle's like nobody else 
he's not a great climber so unless he can change that soon, he doens't have a shot at the yellow.

Yea...that is why it is crazy...no one on the team was there last year.  They are all new and under new management, having them tested twice as much as required.

I too would like to see Hincappie win a stage, or at least finish well...this may be his last tour.

As far as Keirchin and Cavendish, I think you are right...Keirchin will probably end up with the green.  And Cavendish was pulling away at the line, and had his hands up!

it's the team, and the organizers don't want a team that was indicted to come back so easy. the casual observer won't know that the entire team has changed. they will only see the same color and team name that got booted for doping.

geez if cadel evans isn't the most boring cyclist to watch i dont know who is, the guy has not ever went on the attach.

before you say you shouldn't have to, that is what made armstrong/landis/contador so fun to watch each of those guys would attack in the mountains to basically put the smack down on the other contenders to basically break them, which made it fun to watch.  i don't see evans doing htat at all.

with any luck maybe vande velde will do that to hopefully move a couple of spots, he has to attack like crazy if he wants to even have a shot at winning the tour.

haha. he's playing it safe. we'll see how things work out tomorrow and after the 2nd rest day. there is usually a big break after rest days anyways, so we'll see how things shake out. and no, he doesn't have to attack, just defend. although attacking would be a great way to make sure you put your rivals behind you. once again, we'll see how things shake out.

i'm waiting for the alps to see vandevelde make his move. there will probably be a group that takes off on stage 16, but i doubt a lot of the GC men will bury themselves because of the next day. i'm hoping for demolition on the slopes of galibier and croix de fer, then a good lead built up on alpe d'huez. that's going to be a long, hard day in the saddle.

despite what i would like to see, i think it's going to come down to the final time trial.

it would be wonderful to see a sprint for the yellow in paris though. (screw tradition...ATTACK!)

[ducpenguin]

My God!!!!!  When will they ever learn...more negative publicity due to f*ck!ng MORONS!!!!

[KnightofNi]

My God!!!!!  When will they ever learn...more negative publicity due to f*ck!ng MORONS!!!!

it's not as rediculous as the last few years, but it's still bad.
i accept that there will always be dopers and people on steroids no matter what the sport.

it sucks more because S-D was doing pretty well this year. let's hope the rest of them aren't doping too.

i was explaining the doping thing to my g/f who doesn't follow or really like biking. her commetn was this
"wait, it's still going on? how long is this race? jesus, no wonder they dope. the race is too damn long!"