**official** Tour de France 2004 Thread

[3chordcharlie]

It's not your fault you got spoiled... but you do still have control of the topic subtitle right?

It can be hard to remember especially when there are people from several different time zones and such

 

[Ogg]

Originally posted by: Fausto

Originally posted by: kaizersose

Originally posted by: Fausto

Originally posted by: kaizersose
lance just took the 15th stage

Wow. Thanks for fvcking up my TV viewing later. Appreciate that.

:thumbsdown:

sorry man, as a sports update thread, i assumed that people were checking it for news. dont ya kinda assume spoilers?

I'd hoped people would link the stage results or something so I wouldn't just see "LANCE WINS"!!


Oh well, today was really a foregone conclusion anyway. Tomorrow will be very interesting since Lance could conceivably lose time to a few people.

SPOILER*****

As you know they finished stage 15 alittle early today so they decided to ride the next two stages as well.............

LANCE won stages 16 and 17 too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!w00t

He's so awesome. Id do him if Sheryl would get the hell outta the way :thumbsup:
Had to update everyone sorry for the losers at work

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: Ogg

Originally posted by: Fausto

Originally posted by: kaizersose

Originally posted by: Fausto

Originally posted by: kaizersose
lance just took the 15th stage

Wow. Thanks for fvcking up my TV viewing later. Appreciate that.

:thumbsdown:

sorry man, as a sports update thread, i assumed that people were checking it for news. dont ya kinda assume spoilers?

I'd hoped people would link the stage results or something so I wouldn't just see "LANCE WINS"!!


Oh well, today was really a foregone conclusion anyway. Tomorrow will be very interesting since Lance could conceivably lose time to a few people.

SPOILER*****

As you know they finished stage 15 alittle early today so they decided to ride the next two stages as well.............

LANCE won stages 16 and 17 too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!w00t

He's so awesome. Id do him if Sheryl would get the hell outta the way :thumbsup:
Had to update everyone sorry for the losers at work

***SPOILER****
















Ogg is a freak.

 

[C'DaleRider]

Fausto,

As you've surmised, just knowing Lance took the yellow today is not much of a spoiler. Rest assured, the way in which he took it and the tactics of the stage will make your viewing of the stage later today quite enjoyable, even if you know he took the yellow jersey.

Voeckler's 22 sec. lead over Lance was really a non-issue for today's climbs after seeing Voeckler's heroic stage 13 performance ..... he managed to hang on after 13 but barely, so 22 sec. essentially put Lance in yellow today barring a crash by Lance or Voeckler putting a gas-powered engine in his frame today.

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: C'DaleRider
Fausto,

As you've surmised, just knowing Lance took the yellow today is not much of a spoiler. Rest assured, the way in which he took it and the tactics of the stage will make your viewing of the stage later today quite enjoyable, even if you know he took the yellow jersey.

Voeckler's 22 sec. lead over Lance was really a non-issue for today's climbs after seeing Voeckler's heroic stage 13 performance ..... he managed to hang on after 13 but barely, so 22 sec. essentially put Lance in yellow today barring a crash by Lance or Voeckler putting a gas-powered engine in his frame today.

True. Tomorrow is the only real drama left in the Tour IMHO barring crashes and such. Lance should win the flat ITT later in the week and probably take time out of Basso if needed.

 

[C'DaleRider]

Originally posted by: Fausto

Originally posted by: C'DaleRider
Fausto,

As you've surmised, just knowing Lance took the yellow today is not much of a spoiler. Rest assured, the way in which he took it and the tactics of the stage will make your viewing of the stage later today quite enjoyable, even if you know he took the yellow jersey.

Voeckler's 22 sec. lead over Lance was really a non-issue for today's climbs after seeing Voeckler's heroic stage 13 performance ..... he managed to hang on after 13 but barely, so 22 sec. essentially put Lance in yellow today barring a crash by Lance or Voeckler putting a gas-powered engine in his frame today.

True. Tomorrow is the only real drama left in the Tour IMHO barring crashes and such. Lance should win the flat ITT later in the week and probably take time out of Basso if needed.

I was thinking the same myself.........the L'Alpse d'Huez TT is scary and the crowds have been rather, ummmmmmmm.....bothersome(?) this year. Much too close and almost dangerous to the riders. but Lance looks like he had chosen, again, the proper time to peak for the year and even if he doesn't win the TT, he'll not finish far enough behind Basso to change any standings.

I don't think Ullrich has anything for Lance.......again. Guess his time as leader of T-Mobile is coming to an end......still looks strong enough, I suppose, but probably the psychological damage Lance has put him through the last 5 Tours is maybe taking its toll. Funny, or maybe interestingly, it could have been Ullrich becoming the first 6 time Tour winner if Lance hadn't been around.

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: C'DaleRider

Originally posted by: Fausto

Originally posted by: C'DaleRider
Fausto,

As you've surmised, just knowing Lance took the yellow today is not much of a spoiler. Rest assured, the way in which he took it and the tactics of the stage will make your viewing of the stage later today quite enjoyable, even if you know he took the yellow jersey.

Voeckler's 22 sec. lead over Lance was really a non-issue for today's climbs after seeing Voeckler's heroic stage 13 performance ..... he managed to hang on after 13 but barely, so 22 sec. essentially put Lance in yellow today barring a crash by Lance or Voeckler putting a gas-powered engine in his frame today.

True. Tomorrow is the only real drama left in the Tour IMHO barring crashes and such. Lance should win the flat ITT later in the week and probably take time out of Basso if needed.

I was thinking the same myself.........the L'Alpse d'Huez TT is scary and the crowds have been rather, ummmmmmmm.....bothersome(?) this year. Much too close and almost dangerous to the riders. but Lance looks like he had chosen, again, the proper time to peak for the year and even if he doesn't win the TT, he'll not finish far enough behind Basso to change any standings.

I don't think Ullrich has anything for Lance.......again. Guess his time as leader of T-Mobile is coming to an end......still looks strong enough, I suppose, but probably the psychological damage Lance has put him through the last 5 Tours is maybe taking its toll. Funny, or maybe interestingly, it could have been Ullrich becoming the first 6 time Tour winner if Lance hadn't been around.

Lance took 2:02 out of Basso in the final TT last year.

I don't think he's got much to worry about at this point.

 

[dbk]

The race is pretty much over at this point.

 

[Qaabus]

Tommorow is going to be crazy.
1,2 million people on the 16km road to L'Alpe d'Huez.

 

[boyRacer]

Originally posted by: C'DaleRider

Originally posted by: Fausto

Originally posted by: C'DaleRider
Fausto,

As you've surmised, just knowing Lance took the yellow today is not much of a spoiler. Rest assured, the way in which he took it and the tactics of the stage will make your viewing of the stage later today quite enjoyable, even if you know he took the yellow jersey.

Voeckler's 22 sec. lead over Lance was really a non-issue for today's climbs after seeing Voeckler's heroic stage 13 performance ..... he managed to hang on after 13 but barely, so 22 sec. essentially put Lance in yellow today barring a crash by Lance or Voeckler putting a gas-powered engine in his frame today.

True. Tomorrow is the only real drama left in the Tour IMHO barring crashes and such. Lance should win the flat ITT later in the week and probably take time out of Basso if needed.

I was thinking the same myself.........the L'Alpse d'Huez TT is scary and the crowds have been rather, ummmmmmmm.....bothersome(?) this year. Much too close and almost dangerous to the riders. but Lance looks like he had chosen, again, the proper time to peak for the year and even if he doesn't win the TT, he'll not finish far enough behind Basso to change any standings.

I don't think Ullrich has anything for Lance.......again. Guess his time as leader of T-Mobile is coming to an end......still looks strong enough, I suppose, but probably the psychological damage Lance has put him through the last 5 Tours is maybe taking its toll. Funny, or maybe interestingly, it could have been Ullrich becoming the first 6 time Tour winner if Lance hadn't been around.

Yeah crowds like these guys... Mayo dropped out so ha... who gets the middle finger now?

 

[Supa]

Stage 16 L'Alpe d'Huez - record time up the hill: 37 minutes 35 seconds by Italian climber Marco Pantani in 1997


Armstrong is convinced that time will be beaten.

"Because it's a short time trial and not a long road stage, everyone will be fresher and so I'm sure times set will be the best ever," Armstrong said.

"There's something exciting about riding up l'Alpe d'Huez in the yellow jersey.

"I expect Ivan Basso to be strong and I think he'll be tough to beat. He's well prepared and has trained on the climb.

"But I have the good fortune of starting behind him, that's an advantage."

Basso has promised he will go all out to beat Armstrong in the time trial.

"I'll be going with my foot to the floor, full gas," he said. "I don't know if I can win but I'm going to try."




It's going to be a fun stage to watch tomorrow.

---

 

[Qaabus]

Originally posted by: Supa
Stage 16 L'Alpe d'Huez - record time up the hill: 37 minutes 35 seconds by Italian climber Marco Pantani in 1997


Armstrong is convinced that time will be beaten.

"Because it's a short time trial and not a long road stage, everyone will be fresher and so I'm sure times set will be the best ever," Armstrong said.

"There's something exciting about riding up l'Alpe d'Huez in the yellow jersey.

"I expect Ivan Basso to be strong and I think he'll be tough to beat. He's well prepared and has trained on the climb.

"But I have the good fortune of starting behind him, that's an advantage."

Basso has promised he will go all out to beat Armstrong in the time trial.

"I'll be going with my foot to the floor, full gas," he said. "I don't know if I can win but I'm going to try."




It's going to be a fun stage to watch tomorrow.

---

The record time is without the first 1,5km of the timetrial. You'll have to add about 1:50 to that time.

 

[Ogg]

Originally posted by: bR


Yeah crowds like these guys... Mayo dropped out so ha... who gets the middle finger now?

wow nice pic, so everyone really does love Lance!!!!:Q

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: Ogg

Originally posted by: bR


Yeah crowds like these guys... Mayo dropped out so ha... who gets the middle finger now?

wow nice pic, so everyone really does love Lance!!!!:Q

The Basque fans are freakazoids and are just pissy because Mayo had a meltdown.

 

[DingDingDao]

Armstrong just destroyed everyone in Stage 16. Passed Basso, has over 3:30 overall lead. Le Tour is over.

 

[Supa]

Armstrong just missed Pantani's record by 1.45 second.

But at least he destroyed the field today, the only one finished under 40 min.


---

 

[C'DaleRider]

Helluva stage and win for Lance.........

Maybe if anyone else in the upper echelon of riders would ever learn to spin instead of grinding, maybe they'd have a chance, too......but then again, maybe not.

I just love all the "people" who use the argument of "Lance has to be cheating with drugs because everyone else does it, too...." But when you counter with if everyone is doing it, it's actually just creating a level playing field because THEIR favorite rider is drugging, too, if EVERYONE is doing it, the argument changes to usually....."Well, my guy doesn't, just Lance and everyone else....just not my guy."

Yeah, right. Hell, that boy's bodily fluids have probably been the most tested fluids in history, including samples still remaining from 1999...........and those being repeatedly tested with newer and newer detection techniques that weren't envisioned back in '99, and still find NOTHING!!!

 

[hokiezilla]

Originally posted by: Supa
Armstrong just missed Pantani's record by 1.45 second.

But at least he destroyed the field today, the only one finished under 40 min.


---

Actually, the record which il Pirata set is for 13.8Km of the climb they did today. The climb they did today was 15.5km. Extrapolating, this would give Armstrong a time of 37:36 over the same distance as Pantani who covered it in 37:35*. Of course Pantani accomplished his record after racing about 190Km's just getting to the L'Alpe d'Huez climb.

*There is some debate on this. Francois Siohan, a climbing analyst claims that Pantani actually covered the 13.8Km ascent in 36:50 in 1995.

 

[C'DaleRider]

Originally posted by: hokiezilla

Originally posted by: Supa
Armstrong just missed Pantani's record by 1.45 second.

But at least he destroyed the field today, the only one finished under 40 min.


---

Actually, the record which il Pirata set is for 13.8Km of the climb they did today. The climb they did today was 15.5km. Extrapolating, this would give Armstrong a time of 37:36 over the same distance as Pantani who covered it in 37:35*. Of course Pantani accomplished his record after racing about 190Km's just getting to the L'Alpe d'Huez climb.

*There is some debate on this. Francois Siohan, a climbing analyst claims that Pantani actually covered the 13.8Km ascent in 36:50 in 1995.

But I think Pantani's record really doesn't compare to Lance's as Pantani didn't climb by himself....he did draft part way up.....much like all team leaders get help from teammates and competitors in mountain climbs. I believe that point was quite well illustrated today by Basso' performance. He'd managed to pace Lance throughout all the previous mountain stages seemingly easily, much to everyone's surprise. Yet, when he had to climb all by himself without any sort of help, he fell back over 2 minutes.

 

[freegeeks]

But I think Pantani's record really doesn't compare to Lance's as Pantani didn't climb by himself....he did draft part way up.....much like all team leaders get help from teammates and competitors in mountain climbs. I believe that point was quite well illustrated today by Basso' performance. He'd managed to pace Lance throughout all the previous mountain stages seemingly easily, much to everyone's surprise. Yet, when he had to climb all by himself without any sort of help, he fell back over 2 minutes.

there is not much drafting going on when climbing. Basso is getting tired and at the same time Ullrich is getting stronger (he always does in the 2nd part of the TdF)

anyway - Lance did one hell of a TT. I just hope that they put some fences next year.

 

[boyRacer]

The helicopter shot showed the signs painted on the road... "F*ck Lance"..."Lance Sucks"..."EPO Lance"...

...then I guess an American got his chance and painted... "Rip Their Balls Off Lance"... lol...

Well that he did.

 

[ZeroEffect]

I was laughing my ass off when i saw that sign on the road this morning.

Classic!

Lance is the man.

 

[Chello02]

Hah, thats funny.

And nice Sig. BTW.

 

[ZeroEffect]

It was also cool that he caught Basso right where someone

had painted on a big 'ole Texas flag... pretty neat.


...there were also those guys on the side of the road who

had used tree limbs as poles to wave the American flag with!

Classic


that mountain must have been one massive party last night.

 

[boyRacer]

Originally posted by: ZeroEffect
It was also cool that he caught Basso right where someone

had painted on a big 'ole Texas flag... pretty neat.


...there were also those guys on the side of the road who

had used tree limbs as poles to wave the American flag with!

Classic


that mountain must have been one massive party last night.

well considering how there were drunks spitting at lance... :frown: ...it must have been one hell of a party.