Tour de France '04
Posted by: ErikL on 03 July 2004
Go Tyler, go!
I hope the Spaniards on Phonak can help him through the mountains, and that he avoids another broken clavicle. Plus he's 34 and I get the feeling it's now or never!
I'm tired of Armstrong and Ullrich, but if Hamilton can't do it I'd be amused to see Ullrich as Armstrong's little wench yet again.
I hope the Spaniards on Phonak can help him through the mountains, and that he avoids another broken clavicle. Plus he's 34 and I get the feeling it's now or never!
I'm tired of Armstrong and Ullrich, but if Hamilton can't do it I'd be amused to see Ullrich as Armstrong's little wench yet again.
Posted on: 17 July 2004 by ErikL
quote:
Originally posted by Ludwig:
Articles I've read say Tyler's back is really bothering him.
Well,
Posted on: 17 July 2004 by Dan M
Yep, that sucks -- I was hoping he'd get a break this year.
Posted on: 17 July 2004 by Tim Jones
Hey Paddy - every time people talk about road racing on this board, you pop up with your sad refrain as if no one's ever heard it before.
Yes, people in cycling take drugs. But people in athletics take drugs, and people in football take drugs. Does this mean we should boycott the Olympics and the World Cup? Some of us love this sport just as much as others love their football and their cricket. Why don't you leave us to enjoy it?
Speaking of personal insults:
Have you done much world-improving this week?
Tim
Yes, people in cycling take drugs. But people in athletics take drugs, and people in football take drugs. Does this mean we should boycott the Olympics and the World Cup? Some of us love this sport just as much as others love their football and their cricket. Why don't you leave us to enjoy it?
Speaking of personal insults:
quote:
Originally posted by Patrick Dixon:
Tim,
Keep pushing paper and let someone else improve the world.
Have you done much world-improving this week?
Tim
Posted on: 18 July 2004 by Bob Edwards
Although I ride as much as I can, I'm pretty naive/ignorant when it comes to racing, esp. the Tour. But it really does seem like only Basso can challenge Armstrong for the win, and I've read that Basso is not a great time trial rider....
Are there any other real threats to Armstrong, barring accident/illness/etc?
Best,
Bob
Are there any other real threats to Armstrong, barring accident/illness/etc?
Best,
Bob
Posted on: 18 July 2004 by bhazen
quote:
... Brioches La Boulangère...Voeckler...Chiappucci...Virenque...
I think I see why most Americans don't get into cycling events...can't pronounce the places & names!!!
Posted on: 18 July 2004 by Dan M
ABC coverage rant...
Argghhhh, it's enough to make me want to subscribe to cable! What's with the rock music during the stage coverage? Each time Lance attacks, we get an electric guitar climax. And this anouncer who is capable of spewing 30 or 40 cliches a minute. And did you see the coverage of todays stage? -- you couldn't blink or you'd miss it. Green or polka dot? Wassthat? Sheesh. Judd, if you watched todays coverage, please don't judge the Tour by this drivel.
cheers
Dan
Argghhhh, it's enough to make me want to subscribe to cable! What's with the rock music during the stage coverage? Each time Lance attacks, we get an electric guitar climax. And this anouncer who is capable of spewing 30 or 40 cliches a minute. And did you see the coverage of todays stage? -- you couldn't blink or you'd miss it. Green or polka dot? Wassthat? Sheesh. Judd, if you watched todays coverage, please don't judge the Tour by this drivel.
cheers
Dan
Posted on: 19 July 2004 by Tim Jones
Sean Kelly's commentary on Eurosport is great.
Electric guitar climaxes?
Tim
Electric guitar climaxes?
Tim
Posted on: 19 July 2004 by nap-ster
All this talk about Mr Armstrong.
I suggest you read BOTH of his books and then make have a think about what is going on. Wouldn't it be nice to think that he is clean......hmmmmmm. By the way his main training aid is altitude and attitude.
Roll on Lance
I suggest you read BOTH of his books and then make have a think about what is going on. Wouldn't it be nice to think that he is clean......hmmmmmm. By the way his main training aid is altitude and attitude.
Roll on Lance
Posted on: 19 July 2004 by Dan M
quote:
Originally posted by Tim Jones:
Sean Kelly's commentary on Eurosport is great.
Yes, it keeps me sane -- I listen to the audio over DSL live in the morning. What worries me is if the ABC coverage were someones only exposure to the Tour.
cheers,
Dan
Posted on: 20 July 2004 by Rockingdoc
quote:
Originally posted by Bruce Woodhouse:
a) I apologise
b) I think I'll just get a new cassette
c) Might persuade my LBS to swap it as it is pretty new. Otherwise, bugger!
I'd keep it, you might get fitter
The other thing (which I've done) is to drop a few teeth on the front small chain-ring.
Posted on: 21 July 2004 by Berlin Fritz
Why don't they swap shirts at the end like any normal International sportsmen ?
Fritz Von Pennyfarthing
Fritz Von Pennyfarthing
Posted on: 21 July 2004 by Tim Jones
Felt really sorry for Ullrich on st15 - there was a chance that he could stay away and as LA himself said "if I'd been on my own I would have been in trouble".
Hope Ulle does well today.
Tim
Hope Ulle does well today.
Tim
Posted on: 21 July 2004 by Tim Jones
damn.
Posted on: 21 July 2004 by undertone
quote:
Originally posted by Dan M:
_ABC coverage rant..._
Argghhhh, it's enough to make me want to subscribe to cable! What's with the rock music during the stage coverage? Each time Lance attacks, we get an electric guitar climax. And this anouncer who is capable of spewing 30 or 40 cliches a minute. And did you see the coverage of todays stage? -- you couldn't blink or you'd miss it. Green or polka dot? Wassthat? Sheesh. Judd, if you watched todays coverage, please don't judge the Tour by this drivel.
cheers
Dan
Well, now that Lance is bang'n a big rock star, the networks (who never have a GOOD original idea) are working overtime to converge the music biz with bike racing. Rock with Roll?
Read this:
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/print/CTVNews/1090162422275_31?hub=Entertainment&subhub=PrintStory
Posted on: 22 July 2004 by Justin
I think he should drop out in protest:
http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsPackageArticle.jhtml?type=sportsNews&storyID=551318§ion=news
Tour director says fans spat at Armstrong
Wed 21 July, 2004 19:44
L'ALPE D'HUEZ, France (Reuters) - Tour de France director Jean-Marie Leblanc has admitted he had seen fans spit at five-times champion Lance Armstrong during the 15.5-km time trial to L'Alpe d'Huez.
Leblanc also said the swarming crowds on the twisting climb on Wednesday had frightened him as riders, including Armstrong, were forced to weave through excited fans who jumped out on to the road.
"I was scared too and I felt relieved when we reached the section with barriers," Leblanc told Reuters after stage winner Armstrong described the stage as a "bad idea" and hit out at some German fans.
"Until this morning, everybody thought this time trial was a good idea and now we realised it was not so.
"There were lots of aggressive fans surrounding the riders and I even saw two idiots spit at Lance Armstrong."
"Unfortunately I doubt you can put barriers on the 14 kilometres of the climb," he added.
Armstrong, who stormed to victory nearly a minute ahead of his closest challenger Jan Ullrich and now looks set for a record sixth Tour win, urged organisers to think seriously about holding another time trial at the ski resort.
"I don't know if that's such a good thing for the Tour de France. I don't think it's safe. I think organisers should watch out," said the American.
Judd
http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsPackageArticle.jhtml?type=sportsNews&storyID=551318§ion=news
Tour director says fans spat at Armstrong
Wed 21 July, 2004 19:44
L'ALPE D'HUEZ, France (Reuters) - Tour de France director Jean-Marie Leblanc has admitted he had seen fans spit at five-times champion Lance Armstrong during the 15.5-km time trial to L'Alpe d'Huez.
Leblanc also said the swarming crowds on the twisting climb on Wednesday had frightened him as riders, including Armstrong, were forced to weave through excited fans who jumped out on to the road.
"I was scared too and I felt relieved when we reached the section with barriers," Leblanc told Reuters after stage winner Armstrong described the stage as a "bad idea" and hit out at some German fans.
"Until this morning, everybody thought this time trial was a good idea and now we realised it was not so.
"There were lots of aggressive fans surrounding the riders and I even saw two idiots spit at Lance Armstrong."
"Unfortunately I doubt you can put barriers on the 14 kilometres of the climb," he added.
Armstrong, who stormed to victory nearly a minute ahead of his closest challenger Jan Ullrich and now looks set for a record sixth Tour win, urged organisers to think seriously about holding another time trial at the ski resort.
"I don't know if that's such a good thing for the Tour de France. I don't think it's safe. I think organisers should watch out," said the American.
Judd
Posted on: 22 July 2004 by P
I always thought Sheryl Crow had Balls.
P
P
Posted on: 23 July 2004 by Tim Jones
There have often been intense crowds of fans on the climbs (eg Chiapucci/Bugno/Indurain in ? 92). And they have frequently been very nasty (punching Merckx in ? 75) and/or very stupid (knocking Guerini off his bike on the Alpe in 99).
Perhaps it's getting worse. I think LeB Blanc will be taking this into greater account in the future - not least because Lance, the Tour figurehead, seems to get the worst of it.
Tim
Perhaps it's getting worse. I think LeB Blanc will be taking this into greater account in the future - not least because Lance, the Tour figurehead, seems to get the worst of it.
Tim
Posted on: 23 July 2004 by Phil Barry
The USPS teamwork and ability has been fantastic. Certainly Lance has been helped tremendously by his team, but hasn't everybody else at the top of the GC been tugged along as well?
Sure, we can wonder where Lance'd be in GC without his team, but his performance on Alpe d'Huez - especially after the Pyrenees and the 1st day in the Alps - has to make one think he has some amount of talent and drive.
Whether Lance uses drugs or not, certainly his performance has been sublime.
Eddie Merckx is not under a cloud of drugs, is he? I assume there were rumors, but he was clean, wasn't he?
Lance isn't as complete a racer as EM was, and being spit on is far less damaging than being beaten by a fan. I consider EM to be a 6-time winner of the Tour, given what I understand about his history.
Everybody who finishes the Tour has fantastic courage, talent, drive, and work ethics - but Lance and USPS are hors categorie.
Regards.
Phil
Sure, we can wonder where Lance'd be in GC without his team, but his performance on Alpe d'Huez - especially after the Pyrenees and the 1st day in the Alps - has to make one think he has some amount of talent and drive.
Whether Lance uses drugs or not, certainly his performance has been sublime.
Eddie Merckx is not under a cloud of drugs, is he? I assume there were rumors, but he was clean, wasn't he?
Lance isn't as complete a racer as EM was, and being spit on is far less damaging than being beaten by a fan. I consider EM to be a 6-time winner of the Tour, given what I understand about his history.
Everybody who finishes the Tour has fantastic courage, talent, drive, and work ethics - but Lance and USPS are hors categorie.
Regards.
Phil
Posted on: 23 July 2004 by keef
Are riders still stuffing tea bags up their bums, and if so, does that make them Lipton Tea Lovers? And what happens if you take yours with cream and sugar...or even a lemon wedge?
How many riders who go tea bagging wear Depends? What is best tea for riding, black oolong, green, or what? The endorsement possibilities seem endless.
How many riders who go tea bagging wear Depends? What is best tea for riding, black oolong, green, or what? The endorsement possibilities seem endless.
Posted on: 23 July 2004 by Tim Jones
quote:
Everybody who finishes the Tour has fantastic courage, talent, drive, and work ethics - but Lance and USPS are hors categorie.
Regards.
Phil
Phil - I don't disagree, but from time to time LA's attitude is not worthy of his ability. What was the point of stage 18's petulant outburst? He should have allowed that break to go, but insisted on following Simeoni and mixing off-bike feuds with on-bike racing.
Tim
Posted on: 23 July 2004 by Justin
quote:
Originally posted by keef:
Are riders still stuffing tea bags up their bums, and if so, does that make them Lipton Tea Lovers? And what happens if you take yours with cream and sugar...or even a lemon wedge?
How many riders who go tea bagging wear Depends? What is best tea for riding, black oolong, green, or what? The endorsement possibilities seem endless.
Is that right? For the Caffiene? As I understand it, the bit of tissue north of the anoderm is one of the best sites for absorption in the body. That's why I don't hide my crack up there anymore.
judd
Posted on: 24 July 2004 by Berlin Fritz
They really should swop shirts at the end like real sportsmen do !
Fritz von Raleighisinessex
Fritz von Raleighisinessex
Posted on: 24 July 2004 by Tim Danaher
So what was THAT all about yesterday?
"Protecting the interests of the peloton", my arse.
Cheers,
Tim
_____________________________
Os nid Campagnolo yw hi, dyw hi ddim yn werth ei marcho...
"Protecting the interests of the peloton", my arse.
Cheers,
Tim
_____________________________
Os nid Campagnolo yw hi, dyw hi ddim yn werth ei marcho...
Posted on: 24 July 2004 by Tim Jones
Tim D -
I think....Lance called Simeoni a liar because of something Simeoni said about Dr Ferrari. Simeoni took Lance to court. Dunno about the outcome.
On st18 there was a break - a potentially successful one. At some point Simeoni rode off the front to try to catch it. LA, determined that Simeoni should not get any Tour glory, sat on his wheel, and when they caught the break said "either Simeoni is not part of this break, or my team will reel it in."
As you say, LA wan't "protecting the interests of the peloton". Seems to me he frequently either confuses or disguises his own interests with those of "cycling as a whole".
Tim J
I think....Lance called Simeoni a liar because of something Simeoni said about Dr Ferrari. Simeoni took Lance to court. Dunno about the outcome.
On st18 there was a break - a potentially successful one. At some point Simeoni rode off the front to try to catch it. LA, determined that Simeoni should not get any Tour glory, sat on his wheel, and when they caught the break said "either Simeoni is not part of this break, or my team will reel it in."
As you say, LA wan't "protecting the interests of the peloton". Seems to me he frequently either confuses or disguises his own interests with those of "cycling as a whole".
Tim J
Posted on: 24 July 2004 by John Sheridan
quote:
Originally posted by Tim Jones:
On st18 there was a break - a potentially successful one. At some point Simeoni rode off the front to try to catch it. LA, determined that Simeoni should not get any Tour glory, sat on his wheel, and when they caught the break said "either Simeoni is not part of this break, or my team will reel it in."
As you say, LA wan't "protecting the interests of the peloton". Seems to me he frequently either confuses or disguises his own interests with those of "cycling as a whole".
Tim J
Funny, I wasn't aware that Lance was obliged to let breaks succeed. This sort of thing happens all the time - it's just that it's not usually quite so obvious.