Tour de france

[Gregadd]

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.

 

[Steve Williams]

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

 

[Gregadd]

He has announced this will be his last. He has already retired once.

 

[Steve Williams]

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.

 

[Sharp 1080]

The mountain stages most likely will determine the podium in Paris.

 

[Steve Williams]

The mountain stages most likely will determine the podium in Paris.

Don't they always?

 

[MylesBAstor]

Don't they always?

Uh huh

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

 

[tonmeister2008]

Uh huh

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.

 

[Gregadd]

http://www.letour.fr/us/index.html 3man breakway for the start.
Lance gets same time. 3 crashes at the end.

 

[Gregadd]

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..


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

 

[Gregadd]

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/38077388/ns/sports-picture_stories/displaymode/1247/?beginSlide=1

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.

 

[Gregadd]

Classic tour pictures

 

[Gregadd]

Allessandro Petacchi won the field sprint in a short flat stage. No GC implications. Cancellera remains in yellow.

 

[Gregadd]

Cavendish won the field sprint for team HTC. A candidate for the Green Jersey. The sprinters have not had much to write home about.

 

[Gregadd]

Cavendish wins the sprint again. His top speed is just to good for the rest of the peleton. Lance remains 18th 2:30 behind the leader. His race may be almost over. Difficult to overcome that kind of lead over the top riders. If you try they just sit on your back wheel. Wind resistance remains the ultimate competitor.
http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/38077388/ns/sports-picture_stories/displaymode/1247/?beginSlide=1
http://www.letour.fr/indexus.html

After further thought I just can't count Lance out.

 

[Gregadd]

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

 

[Steve Williams]

How far behind is Lance now

 

[Gregadd]

How far behind is Lance now

3'16" behind the overall leader. Much closer to some of his actual rivals. Alberto Contador is fourth.

Full standings: http://www.letour.fr/2010/TDF/LIVE/us/700/classement/index.html

 

[Gregadd]

King is dead! Long live the king!

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.

 

[Steve Williams]

Yup

Kiss it goodby