Posted on 07/26/2008 5:45:12 AM PDT by green iguana
TdF ping!
41 riders left to start. Eric Zabel leaves next. Best time so far 1:06:09, but the really good guys go last.
Isn’t the final stage pretty much only ceremony? I mean even when Lemond came back in the final TT didn’t it just stand on the last day?
Usually, yes. When Lemond won on the final TT, it was the last day.
But I think if today ends with Sastre, Evans and/or others within a few seconds of each other, we could see a contested last stage. Hasn’t happened in a while.
Fabian Cancellara, the current World Champion (he gets to wear a jersey with pretty rainbow sleeves...) has set the standard to beat. Now 1:04:12 - a full 1:16 ahead of David Millar.
When Lemond beat Fignon in the Individual Time Trial, it was on the last day ride into Paris! I haven't seen another end day ITT since so the organizers may now prefer the spectacle of the peleton doing the circles in downtown Paris over just a brief finish of individuals.
That day has to go down as one of the best in the history of the Tour - Loved it.
But I do think the winners deserve a chance for a victory lap in Paris - so having the last ITT the day before makes sense. I still miss the TTT.
I think you are right about the final time trial.
Watching the peloton circling the Champs-Elysées in Paris with a sprint finish is way more exciting than watching the end of a time trial. A time trial does add suspense to the finish, but isn’t so fun to watch.
10 riders left to start...
No change in the current top 5. Cancellara might win this...
Except that Cavendish withdrew just before the Alps IIRC
Regards
alfa6 ;>}
Vandevelde is on the course! Go Christian!
The last ten may have something to say about that
Vandevelde is currently doing 70kmh
Yeah, I spoke to soon. 70 kpm... he’s going downhill...
Kohl just fell off the ramp
? poss podium finish for Vandevelde?
kpm? kmh, whatever...
That is kinda fast. :) Be nice to see an American on the podium. He will have to keep that pace up to do so though.
sorry, typing while watching
not working out too well for me
I have to leave to take my daughter to her Sat morning class - will have to watch on DVR
Shumacher just took the lead!
I’ve never seen anyone fall off the ramp before...
Vandevelde would need the ride of his life, and very bad rides by 3 others to have a chance.
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