http://http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/38077388/ns/sports-picture_stories/displaymode/1247/?beginSlide=1Lance is fourth in the prologue time trial ahead of rival Alebrto Contador (6th). They have a few miles left to go. Stage 1 8:30am EDST on the Versus network. Lance Armstrong rides for Rat Shack.
He is an amazing athlete regardless of his recovery from stage 4 testicular cancer. There are certainly better than Lance this year and depending on how he finishes perhaps he may be riding his last TDF
My son was in Europe last year and happened to be on the Champs-Elysees the day the TDF finished. He has some shots of Lance and Contador only a few feet from him.
There was a great show a year or two ago on the Discovery Channel about how they design the bikes for the teams. What I find cool is that they use different bikes for the time trials and other bikes for climbing. The time trial bikes would never be stable enough for climbs! Another point was out of every 10 bikes, there are only two exception bikes (kinda sounds like cartridges ya think?); those go to the top two riders on the team and the others get the "ordinary" bikes
There was a great show a year or two ago on the Discovery Channel about how they design the bikes for the teams. What I find cool is that they use different bikes for the time trials and other bikes for climbing. The time trial bikes would never be stable enough for climbs! Another point was out of every 10 bikes, there are only two exception bikes (kinda sounds like cartridges ya think?); those go to the top two riders on the team and the others get the "ordinary" bikes
Looks like cycling is another hobby common to this group. I don't seem to find time to ride much these days, but it used to be my biggest passion after audio and music. A few years ago, I visited the Trek factory in Wisconsin over Christmas and saw some of the bikes that Lance rode in his victories.
Lance gets same time. He crashed. Minor injuries. Rain hit while the peleton was descending a mountain. Lots of crashes. The yellow jersey was caught out. The lone breakaway took the stage the yellow jersey. In protest of the dangerous conditions the the peleton crossed the line together. Second place was determined by photo because ties are not allowed..
Todays race was basically a replica of Paris-Roubaix aka The Hell of the North(cobblestones or pave). Armstrong lost a minute to Contador. Thor Hushovd won the sprint finish. Cancellera in yellow.
Quick Step had a great day holding both the Polka Dot,King of the Mountain Jersey and Chavenlle in yellow with a solo breakaway. He went on to win the stage. That's Polka dot , Yellow,and a stage win. That's almost as good as it gets for a team that specializes in winnig the one day classics. Lance moved up to 14th and looks fresh.
The mountains start tomorrow. Even non -cycling fans can enjoy seeing world class riders humbled by the moutain passes. http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/38077388/ns/sports-picture_stories/displaymode/1247/?beginSlide=1
After an early crash Lance Armstrong lost 11 minutes to his rivals. Radio Shack had a rider Levi Lephiemer in the lead group. That means if Lance could have kept up he would have a chance. His career is over.