[PassedOut]

Today the race clarified. Barring accidents, Alberto should win.

[Aberlour10]

Irresistible ride by Contador, Armstrong is still strong, but by far not strong enough.
It occurs to me that without Klödens asistance at the last kilometers he would loose more than 1,5 minutes to Alberto.

[cherdanno]

Aberlour10, on Jul 19 2009, 12:45 PM, said:

Irresistible ride by Contador, Armstrong is still strong, but by far not strong enough.
It occurs to me that without Klödens asistance at the last kilometers he would loose more than 1,5 minutes to Alberto.

Strong? I think we should measure him by the standard he set for himself. He wanted to win the tour. Without the team trial and the accidents on the third stage, where would he be placed now?

[hotShot]

Aberlour10, on Jul 19 2009, 06:45 PM, said:

It occurs to me that without Klödens asistance at the last kilometers he would loose more than 1,5 minutes to Alberto.

Klöden left Armstrong about 200 m before the the finish line. This was enough for him to gain a 6 sek. lead.

[hotShot]

cherdanno, on Jul 19 2009, 08:29 PM, said:

Aberlour10, on Jul 19 2009, 12:45 PM, said:

Irresistible ride by Contador, Armstrong is still strong, but by far not strong enough.
It occurs to me that without Klödens asistance at the last kilometers he would loose more than 1,5 minutes to Alberto.

Strong? I think we should measure him by the standard he set for himself. He wanted to win the tour. Without the team trial and the accidents on the third stage, where would he be placed now?

Well he's in 2nd Place now.
That is at lot better than other so called favorites like Menchov, Sastre or Evans.

And I think he said he would not take a guaranteed 3rd Place, so if he can make 2nd or 3rd that would be within his measure too.

[PassedOut]

Aberlour10, on Jul 19 2009, 12:45 PM, said:

Irresistible ride by Contador, Armstrong is still strong, but by far not strong enough.
It occurs to me that without Klödens asistance at the last kilometers he would loose more than 1,5 minutes to Alberto.

Yes. Even with Leipheimer having to withdraw after his crash, the Astana team is very strong.

Armstrong will work hard to get a team victory, even though he won't get yellow. He certainly is a still very strong, but can't beat Contador. I think it's amazing that he's still this good at his age and after the long layoff. But time marches on for us all.

[se12sam]

Probable order in General Classification:
1. Alberto Contador
2. Andy Schlek
3. Bradley Wiggins
4. Lance Armstrong

The problem with Wiggins is that his team of domestiques is not as strong as Astana. And Andy Schlek is too talented to be kept down for long.

Having said that, one has to admire Lance for what he has achieved in this Tour. I would have thought he will burn out, but he is still in contention for a podium. And though he was outclassed on the climb to Verbier yesterday, he surely played a very intelligent and team-oriented part earlier in the Tour on stage 7 when he shepherded Wiggins and others as Contador made the break.

[el mister]

Seeing Alberto hit that climb was a thing of beauty - Anyone who has ever turned the pedals in anger, at any level, can appreciate what a supremely stylish and strong bike rider Contador is. Armstrong was v impressive, for 37 years of age, but he said himself after the stage 'Days like this really find out who is the strongest - I give myself a B minus'

Wiggins is riding out of his skin - a podium spot would be an amazing achievement. He will melt the timetrial later this week, so he just needs to hang in there over the remaining Alpine stages. Easier said than done.

It was disappointing to see the race officials relegating Cavendish the other day. Execrable decision on numerous levels, and has effectively decided the green jersey in an office, rather than on the road. It makes Thor look weak, as well, given that he put in a formal complaint. Cav will flatten him on the Champs Elysee.

[Aberlour10]

Did you notice that Carlos Sastre lost immediately contact to the top group at the beginning of the the final climb? Within seconds this distance grew up, it seemed clearly, he was not able to follow anyone of them...but this experinced and sly "fox" did not look to anyone, he climbed his own holding steady tempo and then cashed them one by another, finished far before Armstrong, Klöden & Co. Well done!

Robert

[PassedOut]

I too found Sastre's finish amazing and wonderful, as was that of the Schleck brothers. Considering how difficult it is to bicycle up a long mountain road even at much slower speeds, it's just breathtaking to see racers accelerate up a steep grade at the end of an already grueling ride.

[cherdanno]

hotShot, on Jul 19 2009, 02:38 PM, said:

cherdanno, on Jul 19 2009, 08:29 PM, said:

Aberlour10, on Jul 19 2009, 12:45 PM, said:

Irresistible ride by Contador, Armstrong is still strong, but by far not strong enough.
It occurs to me that without Klödens asistance at the last kilometers he would loose more than 1,5 minutes to Alberto.

Strong? I think we should measure him by the standard he set for himself. He wanted to win the tour. Without the team trial and the accidents on the third stage, where would he be placed now?

Well he's in 2nd Place now.
That is at lot better than other so called favorites like Menchov, Sastre or Evans.

And without the crash and the team trial he would be pretty much exactly where Sastre and Evans are.

[vuroth]

Apparently Evans said that yesterday was his worst day ever in the TdF. Apparently that would INCLUDE the crash that might have cost him the tour last year?

Sorry I missed this thread for so long. I love the tour dearly, and have only missed a few minutes so far.

Armstrong couldn't hold anyone's wheel at the end of the Vervier climb. Sastre has a better chance to win than he does.

V

[PassedOut]

vuroth, on Jul 20 2009, 09:49 AM, said:

Sastre has a better chance to win than he does.

Armstrong looks stronger than Sastre to me, but I fully expect Contador to win. Nice teamwork by Astana today.

[Aberlour10]

This stage profile for tomorrow promises a lot of action. Even if nothing dramatic and deciding will happen, once is sure, this will be pretty exhausting in view of the individual time-trial next day.

[se12sam]

Wow! Look at the latest standings:
1. Contador
2. Andy Schleck
3. Frank Schleck
4. Lance Armstrong
5. Andreas Kloden
6. Bradley Wiggins

So, Andy has reached his destiny position. Now Wiggo has to somehow find the strength to beat the others in Individual time trial by a wide-enough margin.

[vuroth]

Aberlour10, on Jul 21 2009, 02:59 PM, said:

This stage profile for tomorrow promises a lot of action. Even if nothing dramatic and deciding will happen, once is sure, this will be pretty exhausting in view of the individual time-trial next day.

Sastre got caught out by the acceleration on Vervier. After that, he was either the fastest or second fastest guy up the mountain, after Contador.

I was surprised to see him get caught out again on Petit Saint Bernard. After all, Sastre won last year using his uphill acceleration.

I've PVR'd today's stage, so I may be a bit out of date.

[Aberlour10]

Very strong performance by Schleck Bros. and fairly done by Contador>>>not to sprint and let Frank win, he has done a lot of work in the leading.

Robert

[PassedOut]

Aberlour10, on Jul 22 2009, 11:21 AM, said:

Very strong performance by Schleck Bros. and fairly done by Contador>>>not to sprint and let Frank win, he has done a lot of work in the leading.

Robert

Yes, it was right for Contador not to contest the finish. Would have been better for the Astana team, though, if he had not dropped Kloden just before the summit.

[cherdanno]

Did Armstrong let go of the attack at the second summit because he didn't want to help Wiggins? Or because he wasn't able to? If the former, did he do the right thing? Clearly he would have been a stronger helper for Contador against the Schlecks than Kloeden today.

[Aberlour10]

cherdanno, on Jul 22 2009, 01:33 PM, said:

Clearly he would have been a stronger helper for Contador against the Schlecks than Kloeden today.

I don't agree with it. Klödens work today was not spectacular but effective, he did not leave Contador for a second till a few kilometers to the last top, and at this moment Contador did not need him anymore. Alberto talked with Klöden about tactic short before he attacked the Schlecks, he recognized very fast (said in interview) that he has any chance for escape today. I can't imagine that Armstrong would be able to help him more in this situation.

Robert