Icon134 0 #1 July 6, 2006 So since Lance Armstrong retired last year after winning his 7th Tour... is the Tour de France no longer worth watching (cause you don't get to see a guy who almost died come back and dominate one of the most difficult races in the world) or is the sport itself interesting enough to watch that some of y'all are still following the tour this year? ScottLivin' on the Edge... sleeping with my rigger's wife... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
simplyputsi 0 #2 July 6, 2006 I am following it some, but am not familiar with the names so much. My roommate is a avid cyclist and can tell you what is going on and what most of the cyclist have done in their career. I watch it because I'm amazed at the speed they go and how they make it look like a sunday ride in the park. I was familiar with some of the names of the guys that got booted out.Skymama's #2 stalker - Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumpjunkie2004 0 #3 July 6, 2006 Lance who? Just kidding of course : ) I never followed it before - so this year will be no different.Jump, Land, Pack, Repeat... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jakee 1,534 #4 July 6, 2006 Quote So since Lance Armstrong retired last year after winning his 7th Tour... is the Tour de France no longer worth watching (cause you don't get to see a guy who almost died come back and dominate one of the most difficult races in the world) or is the sport itself interesting enough to watch that some of y'all are still following the tour this year? Some (not me) would say it was less worth watching back when Lance dominated every year. If you look at who's left in the field this year (after the drugs scandal) there is no one you could point to and say 'he's probably going to win this year'. I'm kinda dissapointed at the course this year (not nearly enough mountains) but I'll still be watching itDo you want to have an ideagasm? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
simplyputsi 0 #5 July 6, 2006 they haven't gotten to the mountain stages yet from what I understand. That will be next week. Bye bye sprinters, hello climbers and most likely the ones that will be leading from then on.Skymama's #2 stalker - Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChrisL 2 #6 July 6, 2006 Quote So since Lance Armstrong retired last year after winning his 7th Tour... is the Tour de France no longer worth watching It wasnt worth watching before Lance Armstrong retired IMO __ My mighty steed Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jakee 1,534 #7 July 6, 2006 Quote they haven't gotten to the mountain stages yet from what I understand. That will be next week. Bye bye sprinters, hello climbers and most likely the ones that will be leading from then on. No they haven't, but when they do there won't be much. 2 days in the high pyrennees, 3 or 4 in the alps, nothing in the massif central. Last year spent much more time in the hills. The winner of this tour won't be a pure climber, they'll have to be able to hold their own on the mountains but the long time trial stages will have a big hand in deciding this race.Do you want to have an ideagasm? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lindercles 0 #8 July 6, 2006 But it's got everything we need in a sport! Crashes, injuries, men in tight shorts, steroid scandals... How could we *not* love it?! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NWFlyer 2 #9 July 6, 2006 Quote men in tight shorts, Is there something you want to share with us?"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shunkka 0 #10 July 13, 2006 it`s very intresting even if Lance is not in the game at the start i thought that Hincapie will win... now i dont know what to say maybe menchov... maybe landys.... maybe anyone nice tour by the way ------------------------- "jump, have fun, pull" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masterrig 1 #11 July 13, 2006 It's been tying-up OLN for 2-weeks now! I have to wait till next month before they broadcast the PBR again! Chuck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
simplyputsi 0 #12 July 20, 2006 LANDIS BABY LANDIS!!!!!!!!!!!!! GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!Skymama's #2 stalker - Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jakee 1,534 #13 July 20, 2006 This race is just so good! The last stage of the mountains and still no one knows who's going to win. If there was one more stage in the alps I would bet on Sastre, but he might lose time on the TT. Landis is 'probably' still out of it in the overalls. I'm happy to wait and see what happens though - the Time Trial is going to be such a battle! (And what about Rasmussen yesterday, 1st over all 4 peaks and the solo stage win. Phenomenal riding.)Do you want to have an ideagasm? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
simplyputsi 0 #14 July 20, 2006 Rasmussen was awesome yesterday. Did you see LANDIS WON!!!!! I can't believe I am stuck at work and can't see it on tv till tonight. I caught some before I left for work and was like ohhhh this is gonna be a good one. Unbelievable!!! TT is definitely going to be all out. Got to root for Landis at this point. Could be his last tour ever because no one knows if he'll make it back after the hip replacement.Skymama's #2 stalker - Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Remster 30 #15 July 20, 2006 Landis turned up the heat early in the stage today. Won it andsomely but couldnt claw back the yellow. He's 30 secs behind Perrero, with Sastre in between them. He better be in good shape for the Trial Saturday!Remster Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
simplyputsi 0 #16 July 20, 2006 I saw that, 30 seconds!!! After yesterday I thought no way he makes that up, but maybe, maybe there is a chance. I'm like going crazy here. This tour just got a whole lot better and it was good already!!!Skymama's #2 stalker - Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jakee 1,534 #17 July 20, 2006 Quote I saw that, 30 seconds!!! After yesterday I thought no way he makes that up, but maybe, maybe there is a chance. I'm like going crazy here. Well damn. The last time splits I looked at were half way up the final climb and Sastre was looking to have a couple of minutes on Landis in the overall standings, Landis must have given it everything to the summit and on the descent. Still, how many riders are kicking themselves to have let Pereiro regain half an hour on the road to Montelimar in stage 13. The way this tour has been raced I wouldn't even be surprised to see one of the contenders in a breakaway on the Champs ElyseeDo you want to have an ideagasm? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Remster 30 #18 July 20, 2006 At the top of the HC climb, Landis had 5:07 on Sastre. At the finish, he had 5:40. He really let loose on the downhill too. He's got quite the aerodynamic shape from his time trial expertise.Remster Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
simplyputsi 0 #19 July 20, 2006 Quote The way this tour has been raced I wouldn't even be surprised to see one of the contenders in a breakaway on the Champs Elysee Now that we be awesome, and I'll be on the road that whole day. arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhSkymama's #2 stalker - Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jakee 1,534 #20 July 22, 2006 Greg LeMond, Lance Armstrong......... Floyd Landis! Well done USA, well done Floyd - not bad for a guy with no hip eh? This was a great Tour with epic performances from so many at different stages in the race: Hushovd, McEwen, Honchar, Perreiro, Rassmussen, a lot of riders can be very proud of themselves on the Champs Elysee tomorrowDo you want to have an ideagasm? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shunkka 0 #21 July 22, 2006 that`s my top best rider - oscar pereiro yellow jersey - floyd landis - polka dot jersey - la fuente best stage winner - floyd landis - amazing brake in mountains best sprinter - robbie mcewen biggest disappointment - george hincapie and boonen ------------------------- "jump, have fun, pull" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jakee 1,534 #22 July 22, 2006 Interesting, here's mine. Best rider. McEwen - I'm not usually a big follower of the points competition but his domination of the sprints this year was total. Deserving Winner. Landis - Until he cracked he had seemed the smoothest rider in the mountains, his comeback next stage was brilliant as was his TTing. Polka Dot. Rassmussen - De La Fuente played the game of picking up big points on smaller climbs early in the race. Rassmussen went out and took the toughest stage of the Tour by the nuts, after having spent several days slogging his guts out for his team captain. Best stage win. I can't decide, Rassmussen, Landis and also Frank Schleck for the way he so gracefully out climbed from Cunego right at the summit of Alpe d'Huez. Class. Sprinter. McEwen - Who else? Biggest Disapointment. All the Directeur Sportifs!! - Who was in charge of Team Phonak when Perreiro was 30 minutes in front of the peleton? What were Bjarne Riis of CSC and the boss of T-Mobile thinking when Perreiro was pleading with Sastre and Kloden et al to chase down Landis before he got too much of an advantage? Some of the tactical decision were just unfathomable but hey, I suppose it made the fight for the lead that much closer.Do you want to have an ideagasm? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kelpdiver 2 #23 July 22, 2006 Quote No they haven't, but when they do there won't be much. 2 days in the high pyrennees, 3 or 4 in the alps, nothing in the massif central. Last year spent much more time in the hills. The winner of this tour won't be a pure climber, they'll have to be able to hold their own on the mountains but the long time trial stages will have a big hand in deciding this race. So did you eat these words yet? Devastating mountain stages, at least for non doped riders. Landis couldn't do a thing on Wednesday, the rest couldn't on Thursday. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #24 July 22, 2006 Yeap.... it went through here (La Clusaz) ther other day. The crowds on the street were great and just partied. Som local kids had made up a banner with a riders name on and when he cam past he waved to them - that was a cool thing to do. I'm not big into it it, but my mate is... she has followed it big time...... something about hunk fit blokes in shorts... dont know what she's on about. . (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jakee 1,534 #25 July 22, 2006 Quote So did you eat these words yet? Lets see, Kloden beat Sastre off the podium by 1'45" because he took 4'40" off him in the 2 TTs. Pereiro is in 2nd after losing half an hour in the pyrennees, Floyd Landis is 59" ahead of Pereiro because he took 3' off him in the TTs. But yeah, the mountain stages in this years tour were very tough. Still think there should have been more of them thoughDo you want to have an ideagasm? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
