[ot] Tour de France

[8O]

Nicolas Roche, son of Tour winner Stephen Roche, does a race diary too - http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-s ... 38281.html - nice article about the practical details of yesterday's time trial.

[Magik]

Cavendish is so lucky he has the best lead out train in the world right now.

I have to say group sprints arn't even entertaining anymore. I would much rather watch a break and see 4 -5 nobody's who have been out on the road for 5 hours by themselves attack each other in the last KM. Or watch the 2 Schleck brothers!!!!!!!

And ya Bradley Wiggins has my support now. What he has done this tour is extremely impressive. although I hope both Schleck brothers get on the podium, I wouldn't mind seeing Frank in 4th and Wiggins 3rd.

[8O]

Cavendish is so lucky he has the best lead out train in the world right now.

I have to say group sprints arn't even entertaining anymore. I would much rather watch a break and see 4 -5 nobody's who have been out on the road for 5 hours by themselves attack each other in the last KM. Or watch the 2 Schleck brothers!!!!!!!

And ya Bradley Wiggins has my support now. What he has done this tour is extremely impressive. although I hope both Schleck brothers get on the podium, I wouldn't mind seeing Frank in 4th and Wiggins 3rd.

Yeah, those Columbia/HTC riders really do a great job for Cavendish and it's nice to hear in the post race interviews that he always thanks them for the hard work. I thought today they'd blown it with only Martin on the front with a long way to go... I still like the group sprints as the last couple where Cavendish has won, it was quite close and there's so much pressure on him, everyone knows how his team will try to play it, but despite that he still comes through to win!

But, liked the breakaway wins too - especially Nicki Sorensen's (well deserved for putting in so much hard domestique work) and the German guy the next day, who came over the line in tears!

Frank in 4th, Wiggins in 3rd? I'd like that too, but maybe Armstrong and Kloeden have other ideas...

[Magik]

I think Kloden blew it when he got dropped by Lance. If Franks feels good neither Lance or Kloden will be able to stick with him.

I fear Wiggins can't beat Lance in a climb though. Realistically I'm hoping for

# 1. Alberto Contador Astana
# 2. Andy Schleck Team Saxo Bank
# 3. Frank Schleck Team Saxo Bank
# 4. Lance Armstrong Astana
# 5. Bradley Wiggins Garmin - Slipstream
# 6. Andréas KlÖden Astana

[john doe by choice]

I know nothing about any of this, but I work for Shimano, and every day for the past week, it's been an A.M. party at work - 10x10 projetion screen, coffee, donuts, bagels, juice, fruit, and plenty of seats to watch the action for the first half of the day. Haven't bought lunch all week.

Nice... what are Shimano like to work for?

I work for a company under the Shimano umbrella - good company, killer employee purchase plan, but they're going through the same economic drought everyone is...cheaper to employ an army of temps than it is to hire full time staff with benefits. Doesn't really make a lot of sense to me, but whatever.

[8O]

^ Shimano make umbrellas now?


Cool - nice to hear they're treating you well.

[john doe by choice]

^ Shimano make umbrellas now?


Cool - nice to hear they're treating you well.

If they could make an umbrella that would:

a: fit on a helmet
b: not look stupid
c: increase rider speed

believe me, they'd do it

[nylarch]

I'd kind of like to see Lance podium...he's been very "pro" - knows he's not as fast as some of the "kids" (or at least is accepting it for the moment, I think he really deep down thinks he can still hang) so he's been working for the team when necessary, showing some of his old form at times and exciting the whole race. I think he deserves his success...

Will be interesting next year when he has his own team again. You know he's going to get a great team together and rumor is that Garmin is trying to sign Contador so the top 2 teams in cycling might be American which would be pretty cool (from my perspective at least).

[Magik]

I understand what you are saying but I don't appreciate Lance at all. Team Astana's leader was Contador, that was clear but Lance came out of retierment and becuase him and johan bruneal's(not sure how to spell the directors name)relashionship Lance was able to contend for the leadership of the team.

Some argue that when Contador was cought behind in a gap in an early stage which let Lance get 40 seconds to move ahead of Contador proved he deserved to lead the team but Contador had a much better prologue TT and showed he was stronger.

For a rider to volentarily join your team and chalange you for the team leader after 4 years of retierment is a dick move in my opinion.

Further more media made it look like Lance was being a good team player but He couldn't stay with the 'Kids' on the climbs, its not cuz he didn't try. Their were a few times when he was being the team player when Contador wasn't but in the Alps it was shown Lance couldn't stay with them.

And for all the disbelievers the TT results yesterday should be enough proof.

[8O]

Great stage today. Was kinda hoping for an attack by Wiggins, but in the end I was just really impressed that he held on to his 4th place. Fair play to Andy Schleck too, with his constant attacking to try to cause some disruption and maybe give his brother the chance to get the jump on Armstrong, but Lance is still damn strong. Don't expect any surprises tomorrow, so looks like the GC is decided. And Contador the deserved winner.

[v76]

Hey, in other words, are any of you guys into road riding? Show us your rides!

I'll post some pics later on... right now I'm riding a Colnago Krono w/ full DA, except UT cranks.

[8O]

^ a bit, just got a standard aluminium Trek w/ Ultegra for the road. Very plain, standard, vanilla, but rides really fast and is unbelievably reliable and resilient.

Took part in the Berlin Skoda Velothon this year, along with about 13000 others!



Off out for a spin tomorrow actually, only drawback of Berlin: there are no damn hills around here...

Mmmm... Colnago... nice... yeah, post pics...

[Magik]

I got a RC7 made by Blue. Got it in 2007




I will be picking up a Argon 18 E-112 TT bike this Spring



If my supplier has any frames my size I'll be picking up a cyclocross bike from Blue again this week. If not because he doesn't work for Blue anymore I'll be checking out the local stores!

[Magik]

BTW , how was the Berlin Skoda Velothon?

Do you just ride casually or do you also race?

[ThrowAway]

Christ this is a long race.