Posted on 07/02/2010 11:30:15 AM PDT by Ready4Freddy
This was a dissapointment after both teams had strong starts. HTC didn’t have a GC contender (Cavendish wearing #111), and Garmin lost theirs (Christian Vandevelde) to injury after Stage 3:
16. GARMIN - TRANSITIONS 271h 13’ 07” + 3h 18’ 07”
17. TEAM HTC - COLUMBIA 271h 20’ 26” + 3h 25’ 26”
Both teams were heavy on trialers and sprinters and not much else.
” He acted unsportsmanlike, but in the end won on a sportsmanlike margin.”
Understand your view, but in my mind they were so evenly matched that I don’t think he would have gained time on Andy during the chain stage.
We will never know, and things stand as they are, so I’ll recognize Alberto as the winner, but to me not a true champion.
” The RadioShack team has won the team prize in its first start in the Tour”
Good for the US team and US cycling.
Also, a brief shot of Lance chatting up Andy, may mean he’s already recruiting him for next year.....
Lance, make sure you also add Frank.
One of 3 US Teams, actually, Garmin and HTC being the other two.
RSH probably has a higher % of US riders on their TdF squad, but that is likely to change.
” I agree in fact Andy may have gained time, but it seems he still would have lost with his performance yesterday. “
I’m thinking Andy wouldn’t have gained time, but also wouldn’t have lost his lead at the time.
Given that, and the performance of both he and Alberto, Andy wins....
In any case, it’s a moot point, as reality is Alberto is the Winner, and history will record it that way.
Enjoy the exchanges, and respect your take on the situation.
:) :) :)
LOL! Too funny! I figured it was a long shot. He’s a nice kid- friend of a friend of my son’s.
16:35 - Peloton In Paris
The bunch is about to arrive on the Champs-Elysées. There are then eight laps of the 7km circuit before the finish. The forecast rain is holding of and the clock will keep on ticking until the finish - which would not have been the case had it been wet for the peloton’s arrival (as the jury would have taken the time for general classification on the first crossing of the line on the Champs-Elysées).
Intermediate sprints coming up in ~8 & 27 km:
16:37 - Astana Lead Peloton To Finishing Circuit
As is tradition, the team of the race leader is at the front of the bunch as it arrives for the finishing circuits. Once the peloton crosses the line for the first time, we should see the Lampre, HTC-Columbia and Cervelo teams shift into overdrive because the green jersey has not yet been decided.
Meant to ping you to this.
” One of 3 US Teams, actually, Garmin and HTC being the other two.”
Thanks Freddy. Hope the others get stronger in coming years...
I loved it when he coined the phrase. Aussies have to have the most coulouful version of the English language! lol:
16:42 - Matt Lloyd (Continued)
The Australian coined the phrase “bleeding carrots” – a term that he used to describe the Euskaltel team in the first week. “The only thing I couldn’t understand about the race,” he told LeTour.fr, “is that you could be riding along on a nondescript section of road, and there they’d be lying on the ground like a bleeding carrot. Often they would crash but they seemed to do it again to make sure that their wounds didn’t heal…”
I saw George had a flat. :(
Thank you for doing the thread, Freddy! Great job keeping it current and keeping us all attached to the daily commentary. I loved it!
I get the feeling that Petacchi, Thor, and Cav are going to eschew the intermediate sprints and go for all the marbles at the end.
Sure hope it doesn’t get wet before the end...
OMG, Matt Lloyd has a second career waiting for him on the standup circuit if he wants it.ROFL.
16:53 - 23rd – Lance Armstrong (RSH)
He’s won the title seven times and Lance Armstrong had little more to proof about his cycling panache after the 2005 race when he declared that he was officially retired. Then, at the end of 2008 he announced his comeback. He finished third in the Tour last year and helped his team at the time, Astana win the TTT in Montpellier. (Continued…)
16:53 - Lance Armstrong (Continued)
The Boss was back in the bunch again this year and this time he experienced misfortune. In the stage to Morzine-Avoriaz, he crashed early but got back on the bike… only to crash again twice before the finish. He lost over 10 minutes on the second day in the mountains and declared his race for the title was “over”. But he found the inspiration to go on the attack again later in the Tour. On the road to Pau he put himself in an escape group and finished sixth… (Continued.)
16:54 - Lance Armstrong (Continued)
This is to be the last day of racing for the leader of the RadioShack team. He will return to the podium at the end of the stage to collect the prize along with his team-mates for winning the team classification in the 2010 Tour. It’s the second time that he’s been on a team that’s won this prize.
Thanks for the daily threads R4F, other commitments kept me tied up for most of the Tour but I was able to keep a pretty good track though the postings.
And to all the commenters thanks for the many insightfull comments as well as the occasional knee slapper:-)
Regards
alfa6 ;>}
Have you seen your statue yet?
They just showed it!
As in 1200 hours.
As in 1200 posts!
Bwaahahahahah.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.