Dominique, did you see today's stage in the Tour de France?

[Cazzie]

Should I gloat ? hmm, well yes... Bravo To Pierrick Fedrigo and Sandi Casar . Allez la France... French riders may not do a great Tour if you look at the "general" but gosh you see them ahead in 2010 ! Feels good.

to Barredo too who tried to pull a nice stunt, 30 km ahead against the wind after passing all the big ones, you need not only legs but also balls ! He almost succeeded !

Schleck stayed put with the excuse of a very weak team. Or does he think too much ? Thursday ?

Oui, bravo la France. A Frenchman will not wear Yellow, but surely the French lead the national competition for victories with six so far. Lance did his best and I still think if he has it after the rest day, he will go again Thursday. But Thursday will be the showdown between the heads of state in the tour.

It may come down to Saturday's time trial, but there will be huge attacks Thursday up the Tourmalet. It will be Andy Schleck's last chance to don the yellow. Watch out for Denis Menchov, his Rabobank team were in the peloton all day. Sanchez was able to catch up on the descents with his bravery, but Thursday's stage does not end on a descent. Huub, Gesink rode a brilliant ride today, but like Sanchez he used brave descents to catch the peloton. I fear he will be a lost man on the ascent of the Tourmalet Thursday.

Today's stage was not as dramatic as yesterday's, but it made up for it in sheer beauty. I hope Versus continues to offer Tour Tracker, it has been a most wonderful experience. On TV, one rarely sees the descents, they always focus on the parts of the race that may pertain to an overall change in position, meaning the ascents. Helicopter views are limited also. But on Tour Tracker, I see the race from beginning to end, beaucoup of the most wonderful backdrops from helicopter views along with many more motorbike cameras than on TV. One watches the race develop like a VIP tourist, today was just awe inspiring in the views. But I have to say, I was riveted to the screen yesterday during the descent down the Port de Bales, I having never in my life witnessed such a wicked, scary descent like that. I am going back when I get time today and watch the video of that again today, it makes me sweat! :d
Viva le Tour! Viva la France! :ernae:

Caz

 

[dominique]

You should see what I see as the French public television has bought the exclusive rights to ASO. When there're commercials on French TV, I switch to Eurosport where I see the same thing.

One of the great pleasures of the Tour which is not only a race but also a gigantic folk festival, is indeed the superb views from the two helicopters.

This year we've again Jallabert on a motorbike and Fignon in spite of his cancer as commentators.

Schleck looks really strong. May he be daring too. He'd also need some work from the Saxo Bank's to wither Astana's foot soldiers... Didn't get any today or yersterday when he needed it.

Amstrong did a really good show all along. I waited for him to try to breakaway in the last five km. He couldn't.

BTW you should've made a pro-cycling career. That where the money is . Rumor says that Cantador is asking 6 millions euros (7,8 M$) to switch from Astana.

 

[Cazzie]

BTW you should've made a pro-cycling career. That where the money is . Rumor says that Cantador is asking 6 millions euros (7,8 M$) to switch from Astana.

Oh non, I should have been a stand-up comedian, built up my act and given one final show at age 40 for $20,000,000.00!

Caz, who needs a bike ride during the rest day tomorrow, as I had none today due to the early start of the race coverage. The same can be said for Thursday. Tonight, the home baseball team returns for a six game stand. Two of my old HS buddies are meeting me this evening for the start at 7:00 PM. Normally this time of year, when I ride in the evening, I leave at 6:00 to 6:30 PM in order to get back by 8:00. So tonight it is over cycling.

 

[Cazzie]

Dominique, I am so excited I cannot sleep!

About tomorrow's stage and my coverage starts very early, 5:30 AM EDT.

Friday will be a neutral day for the sprinters that are left, but Saturday is yet another day that may decide the tour this year. The Pyreenees, usually shrouded in clouds and fog, have been very clear this year to mark the tour's 100th anniversary in them fabled chain.

I hope I can find a source that carries the Vuelta much like this, I would subscribe in a minute.

Caz

 

[dominique]

About tomorrow's stage and my coverage starts very early, 5:30 AM EDT.

Friday will be a neutral day for the sprinters that are left, but Saturday is yet another day that may decide the tour this year. The Pyreenees, usually shrouded in clouds and fog, have been very clear this year to mark the tour's 100th anniversary in them fabled chain.

I hope I can find a source that carries the Vuelta much like this, I would subscribe in a minute.

Caz

I cannot sleep either but only because I ride my bike too late in the day when it's cooler which is not conductive to a good sleep !

At 5:30 am EDT, it will be 13:30 pm for me I guess. I will be in a business lunch (even if I'm officially in vacation !) with an Israeli colleague then will rush back to my home to watch the stage .

Today should be decisive but don't we know all the result, Shcleck is strong, Saxo Bank is weak ? Tomorrow is going to be boring except maybe for the helicopter views (I don't care much for massive final sprints and that Cavendish guy doesn't impress me a bit) and the TT on the day after will be of course a great stage because the riders will be face to face to themselves after a grueling race this year !

EDIT

Huh ho what did you say about the weather ?

 

[Cazzie]

Aye! Yi! Yi! A wet day om the mountains, this tour has been gracious, but she goes out like she came in, a lion. The riders will face purgatory today. The wind is most varible, but it seems they will have a tail wind most of the day and up the Tourmalet, that is always welcome.

I hope it is a light rain, so that transmission of the race is possible. But indeed right at the moment, it is raining the full course saved for the very top of the Tourmalet.

Caz

 

[Cazzie]

Bravo, what a beautiful stage race. I am breathless and also very far behind in my daily chores, which I must now do. If you have not seen the outcome, I shall not say, but perhaps Alberto Contador is a gentleman after all.

Caz

 

[huub vink]

Caz, they are friends and even spend holidays together (see below). And remember Andy Schleck would perhaps not even have been on the second spot when the Ardennes stage had not been "neutralised" by his team mate Cancellara.

My fellow countryman Gesink has done well and will most probably remain in the top 10. Perhaps Mechov can make up enough time in the time trial to make it to the podium.

I was surprised to see Lance arriving way before Leipheimer. I had expected he would try to help his team mate.

Cheers,
Huub

 

[dominique]

So as the French saying goes "la messe est dite" (the mass has been said). Without much surprise, we know the 2010 Tour winner a little ahead of time .

Two great riders, a beautiful finish. I've the feeling that Contador had still some energy left to launch a swift counter-attack but why spend his forces as he is the favourite in the TT anyway ?

About the controversy of three days ago, one must remember that this is a huge mediatic event (in Europe at least) and that journalists blow things out of proportions. The consensus among the ones who know (ex-champs like Fignon or Jallabert) is that Schleck didn't suffer from a mechanical but made a mistake shifting gear while standing up on the pedals (how do you say "être en danseuse" in English ?) and that Contador could not let Sanchez and Menchov slip away.

A most beautiful Tour...

 

[huub vink]

A most beautiful Tour...

I fully agree. Although the winner isn't a real surprise, it was definitely a fascinating Tour until now.

The winner might be known, but the top 10 is so close, that the time trial will be exciting to watch. And Sunday, once they have reached Le Avenue des Champs-Elysées, will be fun to watch as well. despite the fact we all know it will end in a sprint as usual!

Cheers,
Huub

 

[dominique]

My secret wish was to see today a race so close between the two that the last stage wouldn't be the usual bore it has become over the recent years ! It was not meant to be but not by far . Superb duel. Mano a mano !

Menchov did good also and Schleck is indeed lucky that he did not do better in the Tourmalet !

 

[Cazzie]

It was beautiful dominique. Perhaps Andy needs a little wind tunnel testing to make his position more aerodynamic, he rides much too upright .

And yes, there was reason for Contador to fear Menchov the other day when he left with him and Sanchez in lieu of waiting for Andy after the chain slippage. His was the best TT by the heads of state by far and if he had made a little more time in the mountains, I am thinking the Maillot Jaune could have been his.

Next year's tour is building up as a spectacular event, let's hope the French give us a tour like this year's tour, but please, there must be a TTT, no grand tour is complete without it.

Caz

 

[dominique]

Perhaps Andy needs a little wind tunnel testing to make his position more aerodynamic, he rides much too upright .

Jallabert was saying on the French TV that AS who has a longish torso actually is a victim of a UCI regulation : the saddle must be a certain distance behind a vertical line drawn through the centre of the bottom bracket. His saddle is too close to the handlebar.

let's hope the French give us a tour like this year's tour

The cleaning of the French cycling from the dope scourge begins to show. We have good riders voracious for stage victories and breaking away more than most. Honestly I prefer Chartreau polka dots jersey to Virenque's.

please, there must be a TTT, no grand tour is complete without it.

Caz

A Team TT has already been officially announced for an early (2nd one I guess) stage !

 

[dominique]

A great tour. I only wish they'd reconsider the format of the last stage to avoid yet another massive sprint ! It'd be nice to see a breakway of few riders entering ahead the Champs Elysées...

Now, like every year, we have to face the same big question : what will I do tomorrow afternoon now that the Tour has ended !

Cazz, Huub, shall we officially close the 2010 Tour de France SOH thread now ?

 

[Cazzie]

Oui dominique, I shall be suffering from withdrawal tomorrow with no tour stage to se.

It was a beautiful tour and an exciting one. Who would have thought Andy Schleck would have put in the TT he did yesterday. As I mentioned after he had to abandon, Andy would miss his brother Frank. With Frank I feel they could have broken Contador this year in the mountains with Frank's consistent attacks.

But the winner is Contador and this year he really had to earn his Maillot Jaune.

Caz

Do you see any envy in this screen? :d

 

[dominique]

Oui dominique, I shall be suffering from withdrawal tomorrow with no tour stage to se.

It was a beautiful tour and an exciting one. Who would have thought Andy Schleck would have put in the TT he did yesterday. As I mentioned after he had to abandon, Andy would miss his brother Frank. With Frank I feel they could have broken Contador this year in the mountains with Frank's consistent attacks.

But the winner is Contador and this year he really had to earn his Maillot Jaune.

Caz

Do you see any envy in this screen? :d

They're human !

Contador says he had difficult days during the Tour, physically and psychologically. What made the difference at the end of the day is a greater maturity and greater tactical sense. I would hesitate to play poker with Contador

 

[huub vink]

Do you see any envy in this screen? :d

Yep, becoming second is always the worst place to end. But in this case Andy must be thinking "so close!"

It was a facinating Tour this year. Contador and Schleck were definitely the best with distance, Mechov was just the best of the rest. New talents like van der Broeck and Gesink are a promise for the future.

Hopefully this Tour was en example of what can be expected in the next years.

Saturday it is the Classico San Sebastian already. When I see the weather forecats I might sit in front of the television instead of on my own bicycle.

Cheers,
Huub

 

[Cazzie]

Well, in another month I can order the Vuelta over the Internet, so all is not lost. :d

I stayed off my bike today Huub, the heat index reached 113° F this afternoon at 3:00 PM EDT, 101° F actual. My body does not take heat like that anymore, I have to stay in and bask in the A/C. I have had motorsports racing all day anyhow, getting ready for the IZOD Indy race at Edmonton.

Storms are to pass through this evening late and tomorrow is to be some 10° F cooler, so if it is not wet in the morning, I shall ride then.

Caz