**Unofficial** Tour de France 2006

[DaShen]

Originally posted by: Mursilis

Originally posted by: DaShen

Originally posted by: Mursilis

Originally posted by: Dirigible
I think you're right: Basso, followed by Ulrich with the best chances to win. After all his crazy attacks last year, I'm rooting for Vino.

In the OLN thingy yesterday Johan Bruyneel basically conceded they won't win, as did Danielson. That was pretty entertaining, and preferable to them lying about it.

Hincapie could surprise; after all, he won a mountain stage last year (stunningly). Discovery also has Popovych and Salvodelli, so I wouldn't say they're out of it. I think Bruyneel was just playing a little poker. Still, the favorite has to be Basso, assuming he's recovered from the Giro.

Hincapie is good, but lets be realistic here. Vino is cool. :thumbsup:

Years ago, I'd have thought the same way, but apparently he's climbing and time-trialing much better now. You never know. Last year was a pretty strong performance by him.

Very, very true, and in some of the races this year, he had a strong showing + he always had to live in the shadow of Lance before, but even still I am not sure if he has what it takes.

 

[DaShen]

I wonder how cheap Phonak jerseys are after this debacle...

BTW

Now I believe

1) Landis
2) Valverde
3) Leipheimer / Hincapie

Vino will be on that list too, if he has a team... poor guy

 

[Kenazo]

Originally posted by: DaShen

Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee
For the few interested: Google videos > Charlie Rose > L.Armstrong interview

It's free today & current.


...Galvanized

Thanks

BTW, Lance apparently is riding a lot of MTB lately and also doing triathlons.

Let's watch him quickly sign up for another TDF at the last minute.

 

[DaShen]

Originally posted by: Kenazo

Originally posted by: DaShen

Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee
For the few interested: Google videos > Charlie Rose > L.Armstrong interview

It's free today & current.


...Galvanized

Thanks

BTW, Lance apparently is riding a lot of MTB lately and also doing triathlons.

Let's watch him quickly sign up for another TDF at the last minute.

He wouldn't be prepared for it. Different training.

 

[mjh]

Ullrich and Basso both said that they plan to fight the charges. Mancebo is going to just retire, which obviously makes him look rather guilty. Poor Vino has completely gotten screwed. His team didn't have enough racers to start tomorrow, so the entire team has been forced to withdraw.

The top five will definitely look a bit more interesting after the TdF ends in three weeks.

 

[vegetation]

Poor Vino, he gets punished for not even being on 'the list'. It might be fun just watching the crowds this year. I imagine more than a few spectators having paid thousands of dollars to come see the Tour are not very happy campers right now.

 

[mjh]

Just a reminder to everyone: The race starts in an hour.

 

[vegetation]

Originally posted by: mjh
Just a reminder to everyone: The race starts in an hour.

Why aren't more people interested? Everyone realizes that an American (Floyd Landis) is likely to be the winner in this race? Floyd is a much kinder person than Lance Armstrong ever was..

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: vegetation

Why aren't more people interested? Everyone realizes that an American (Floyd Landis) is likely to be the winner in this race? Floyd is a much kinder person than Lance Armstrong ever was..

In all fairness, Floyd doesn't have Lance's compelling personal story, all-American name, or matinee-idol looks. I like Floyd but he always manages to look like a tamed farmboy on the bike. I'd love to see him win but I don't think there's any question a win in this particular Tour by Landis or anyone else would forever be accompanied by an asterisk. As for the "kindness" issue, it seems to me Lance's unprecedented run in the Tour is precisely because he's a driven, focused, monomaniacal person. I've always felt it was a little silly that he draws criticism for being highly competitive - if he weren't, he'd be just another Chris Horner - a talented pro who could never be truly successful on the big stage in Europe.

 

[GarfieldtheCat]

Anyone think Hincapie can actually win?

I was watching the prolgue on OLN this morning, and Phil kept saying that they thought he would do something special this year. I just don't see how Hincapie can hang with the climbers once they hit the mountains. I'd have to think Savoldelli or Azevedo would be better (maybe even Pop, but he's young)

 

[KarmaPolice]

hah with all the other big names gone..lance could glide his way to the win if he was in

 

[mjh]

Current top 5:

1 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole 8.17.00 (51.43 km/h)
2 George Hincapie (USA) Discovery Channel 0.00.73
3 David Zabriskie (USA) Team CSC 0.04.21
4 Sebastian Lang (Ger) Gerolsteiner 0.04.80
5 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 0.04.92

I don't think George will be able to win the TdF this year. I am sure he will be in the top 10 overall, but I don't see him being able to climb with the likes of Valverde, Landis, and Leipheimer.

 

[mjh]

Results from Stage 1:
1 Jimmy Casper (Fra) Cofidis 4.10.00
2 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto
3 Erik Zabel (Ger) Milram
4 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Lampre-Fondital
5 Luca Paolini (Ita) Liquigas

Overall:
1 George Hincapie (USA) Discovery Channel 4.18.15
2 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole 0.02
3 David Zabriskie (USA) Team CSC 0.06
4 Sebastian Lang (Ger) Gerolsteiner
5 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears

Hushovd received a nasty cut on his arm from a cardboard/plastic finger that a spectator had hanging over the barrier. We'll find out later today whether or not he'll be able to continue. It would be a real shame for him to go out like that.

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Originally posted by: mjh
Hushovd received a nasty cut on his arm from a cardboard/plastic finger that a spectator had hanging over the barrier. We'll find out later today whether or not he'll be able to continue. It would be a real shame for him to go out like that.

According to the caption on the pic of his arm over at BBC Sports, it was a spectator's

camera being shoved over the barrier near the finish line. Damn them! I remember

when Lance cought that stuffed animal or large hand bag :|


...Galvanized

 

[FrustratedUser]

Oh man! Hushovd injured. I don't get OLN so I am mising out


(Fsck Adelphia)

 

[da loser]

Originally posted by: Fausto
*sigh*

This is really sad to see. Doubly so in light of what's undoubtedly happening in baseball/football/etc that's not being addressed in the slightest.

what's happening in football?

 

[oboeguy]

I'm thrilled to see Hincapie in yellow. He was the local cycling wunderkind (sp?) in NYC when I was in HS (he's a little older). Love to see the local product succeed, go Georgie!!!

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser
Oh man! Hushovd injured. I don't get OLN so I am mising out


(Fsck Adelphia)

He clipped something a spectator was holding. They're saying it was one of those green PMU hands, but there was one shot where you could see something about the size of a camera go flying past his shoulder. I hope they can stitch him up well enough to finish the Tour.

 

[mjh]

It has been reported that he has received four stitches in his arm. Because the man is a true warrior he will most likely start tomorrow.

 

[morkus64]

Originally posted by: mjh
It has been reported that he has received four stitches in his arm. Because the man is a true warrior he will most likely start tomorrow.

Apparently so! He's the current leader!

 

[mjh]

Results from stage 2:

1 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto 5.36.14
2 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick-Step-Innergetic
3 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole
4 Oscar Freire (Spa) Rabobank
5 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Lampre-Fondital

Current GC results:

1 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole 9.54.19
2 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick-Step-Innergetic 0.05
3 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto 0.08
4 George Hincapie (USA) Discovery Channel 0.10
5 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 0.16

McEwen is simply an absolutely amazing sprinter. Matthias Kessler, a T-Mobile rider who probably wanted to get some morale back for the T-Mobile squad, seemed to have the win with about 250 meters left. Unfortunately for him, the sprinters managed to get back and simply eat him alive.

Congrats to Hushovd getting the jersey back.

 

[FrustratedUser]

Nice job. It sucks not being able to see this.

 

[LordMorpheus]

With pro cycling, either everybody is doping or nobody is doping.

If some were and some weren't it would be clear, you'd have two packs.

I'm sure there are one or two exceptional people who could compete clean against doping cyclists, but the whole situation seems very fishy to me.

 

[morkus64]

Originally posted by: mjh
Results from stage 2:

1 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto 5.36.14
2 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick-Step-Innergetic
3 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole
4 Oscar Freire (Spa) Rabobank
5 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Lampre-Fondital

Current GC results:

1 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole 9.54.19
2 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick-Step-Innergetic 0.05
3 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto 0.08
4 George Hincapie (USA) Discovery Channel 0.10
5 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 0.16

McEwen is simply an absolutely amazing sprinter. Matthias Kessler, a T-Mobile rider who probably wanted to get some morale back for the T-Mobile squad, seemed to have the win with about 250 meters left. Unfortunately for him, the sprinters managed to get back and simply eat him alive.

Congrats to Hushovd getting the jersey back.

It was good to see him get the jersey, though I'd rather George have it... I think he'll have it at the end when it really matters. It's interesting to see how he operates as a leader.

 

[DaShen]

Too bad about Hushovd. I hope he heals up soon.

Hincapie though is a beast right now. He isn't much of a climber from before, but this season he has shown promise in that department. There may be a chance for him yet.