Posted on 07/05/2005 10:12:15 PM PDT by nutmeg
Stage 5 - Wednesday, July 6: Chambord - Montargis, 183 km
Another of the Tour's early stages for the sprinters, there are plenty of green jersey points on offer over a stage with only one Cat 4 climb - it's mostly flat, fast riding, and a day for one of the fast men to enjoy some time in the yellow jersey. In 2004 it was Thomas Voeckler who spent 10 days as the darling of France in the yellow jersey over the opening stages. The route sweeps further north and heads closer to its entry into Germany, with plenty to look at throughout the scenic Loir-et-Cher region - not that the riders will have much time for that, as average speeds of around 40-45km/h will prevent most from enjoying the sights. Although on a different route last year, Cofidis' Australian rider Staurt O'Grady took stage 5 in 2004 in the wet, but in dry weather this year it will most likely come down to another showdown between McEwen, Cooke, Hushovd and Boonen, and anyone else who wants to join the party.
**Stage 5 results will be discussed in this thread**
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Heard it was mutual abandonment, not only him.
Looking for proof of steroid use -- test failures and the like.
When you've won six Tours (no better yet, when you can get a RIDE in the tour) then we should have another converstaion about this!!
Lance is a much better story than most athletes that work in the summer (aka baseball players)
Uh, she met him AFTER he was diagnosed with cancer. And they agreed to separate because she didn't want to travel to Europe for training and races. He is also the most drug tested athlete in history.
Wow, three for three wrong. Good job.
I've been away for a week, does every thread have the obligatory "I can't cheer for a man who leaves his wife" comment?
You may want to do some fact-checking next time:
1. Armstrong's marriage was over prior to dating Crow
2. Armstrong met his wife post-cancer
Didn't we do this last year? ;-)
What are the odds these people would feel the same way if he were dating Ann Coulter or Laura Ingram?
She gave him an ultimatum of career vs. marriage. Tehre was no abandonment, they're still on good terms, and he visits often in the off-season. takes steroids
And your evidence for that is? It's true he took steroids during testicular cancer recovery (i.e., while he wasn't competing), but he's the most drug-tested athlete in history, and doesn't have a single positive test for steroids.
13:18 - Peloton At Site Of Official StartThe peloton has come to a halt at the site of the official start. There is still no explanation for the stop.
13:10 - Riders Asked To Stop At 0km Mark
The race organizers have asked the riders to stop at the site of the official start. Usually the peloton just rolls out of the neutral zone and the start of racing is signaled when a white flag is dropped from the race director’s car. No reason has been given for the request today.
13:08 - Weather Conditions For Stage Five
The fifth stage will be raced in mild conditions. The temperature at the start is 16 degrees Celsius in the air and 24 degrees at road level. It is overcast early today and it’s likely to stay this way throughout the stage. The weather bureau says that there is a chance of showers during the 183km stage from Chambord to Montargis.
13:04 - One Climb In Stage Five
There is just one climb in the stage to Montargis. The category-four Cote de Bellevue is at the 180.5km mark. Points of 3, 2 and 1 are awarded to the first three riders over the line.
Yes. Just like every sporting thread has some curmudgeon who will take the time to post that he (almost exclusively a he) doesn't care about the sport in question.
Also to add to the list of things you are wrong about it isn't an actual steroid he is accussed of taking. EPO adds red blood cells and not testosterone.
You should invest in a fact-checker.
Once again -- prove that Lance is a drug user -- don't throw your opinion out there -- name a date and time where he was tested and failed.
Statistics say he is the most drug tested athlete in cycling and has never failed a test (over 150 times)
Until he's caught you've got only rumor, speculation and innuendo.
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