Tour de France 2009 [LIVE THREAD]

[Mom MD]

Today is day one! Armstrong riding. Astana is back! Predictions? Other comments? Does someone have the ping list from last year?

[leilani]

Yeah, I'm sure you're quite right about that although I missed the actual meltdown. Immediately after I posted conceding the issue & the floor to our host so the tour thread could continue about cycling, I removed myself & by the time I found out how badly things had continued to deteriorate despite my departure it had already been pulled. From what little I have been filled in on, I'd just as soon not know the actual specifics myself. ;-(

Still it seems like we oughtta get credit for just the posting count. Like you said, there were a lot of cool background contributions - Bay's wonderful story about his breakfast with Phil Liggett, for example - I wish we could get that back.

[Mr. Blonde]

I felt like there was less “to” this tour than in the past. It felt like there were few chances for things to really change, maybe because of how few times they ended up on big climbs, or maybe it was something else.

I think it was the dominance of Astana. The Schlecks could have potentially made a move if one team didn't have such a stranglehold. Think if they had been able to isolate Contador on their own. Then things might have been different.

Pinged everyone else to share this photo:

Lance with who will probably always be considered the greatest no matter what others do, Eddie Merckx. I would just post it in here, but it didn't show up in preview so just head over to twitpic.

[leilani]

Oh wow, thanks, that's great! Worth re-uploading:

[Mr. Blonde]

Glad you got it to work. I just got the question mark box when I did it.

[leilani]

Well, I can’t ever get twitpics to work either (does anybody else here know the secret to that?), so I just did a screencap & uploaded it myself directly to get it onthread.

[lainie]

I agree, and I felt a little twinge of satisfaction at Phil's comments at the start of today's final stage. He basically said the same thing that you did (as well as others of us who felt that some stages didn't quite equal the hype, though it was fun to watch as always).

Regarding the Schlecks, they said he needs to be a little more cut-throat, ruthless and selfish. Working to keep his brother in the running might have cost him his own glory. But they're young & learning, just like all of us. Kinda. Not so young anymore here. :)

[alfa6]

Not to mention the cardio benefits of cycling...

and the wine :-)

Regards

alfa6 ;>}

[Mr. Blonde]

You have to wonder if it is almost a safety mechanism for Andy to have Frank with him. By appearances at different times they both looked strong enough to make a one man breakaway (assuming they could find a time when Astana’s big guns were all napping) but wouldn’t do it alone. It seemed like on their attacks one looked stronger than the other. So either they will both need to feel it at the same time, or they just need to admit it is OK to go alone.

Granted a lot can happen in a year, but I think next years Tour will live up to the expectations of this year. Contador will again be the most gifted rider in the tour, but I think things will change a lot with him being on a new team. I fully expect Radio Shack to be the strongest team, and certainly the wiliest. If the Team Time Trial remains and Contador’s team isn’t the strongest they could definitely put him under pressure.

I think the Alps will likely be accurately described from a line in Rounders, “It’s like the nature channel... you don’t see Piranhas eating themselves, do you?” Radio Shack and the Schlecks will be riding to neutralize Contador first and sort out the rest later.

[Ready4Freddy]

Regarding the Schlecks, they said he needs to be a little more cut-throat, ruthless and selfish.

And needs to learn how to time trial. A real Achilles heel for young Andy, there. Trouble is, he's built like a climber, don't know if he can add that arrrow to his quiver.

Decent team, though, lord knows what Contador is going to end up with next year.

[Ready4Freddy]

Tour de France 2009

FINAL RESULTS

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION

---

1. CONTADOR Alberto 21 ASTANA 85h 48' 35"
2. SCHLECK Andy 31 TEAM SAXO BANK 85h 52' 46" + 04' 11"
3. ARMSTRONG Lance 22 ASTANA 85h 53' 59" + 05' 24"
4. WIGGINS Bradley 58 GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM 85h 54' 36" + 06' 01"
5. SCHLECK Frank 36 TEAM SAXO BANK 85h 54' 39" + 06' 04"
6. KLÖDEN Andréas 23 ASTANA 85h 55' 17" + 06' 42"
7. NIBALI Vincenzo 95 LIQUIGAS 85h 56' 10" + 07' 35"
8. VANDE VELDE Christian 51 GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM 86h 00' 39" + 12' 04"
9. KREUZIGER Roman 93 LIQUIGAS 86h 02' 51" + 14' 16"
10. LE MEVEL Christophe 106 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 86h 03' 00" + 14' 25"
11. ASTARLOZA Mikel 61 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 86h 03' 19" + 14' 44"
12. CASAR Sandy 101 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 86h 05' 54" + 17' 19"
13. KARPETS Vladimir 161 TEAM KATUSHA 86h 07' 09" + 18' 34"
14. NOCENTINI Rinaldo 87 AG2R LA MONDIALE 86h 09' 20" + 20' 45"
15. VAN DEN BROECK Jurgen 17 SILENCE - LOTTO 86h 09' 25" + 20' 50"
16. GOUBERT Stephane 85 AG2R LA MONDIALE 86h 11' 04" + 22' 29"
17. SASTRE Carlos 1 CERVELO TEST TEAM 86h 14' 56" + 26' 21"
18. BOTCHAROV Alexandre 162 TEAM KATUSHA 86h 18' 08" + 29' 33"
19. HINCAPIE George 74 TEAM COLUMBIA - HTC 86h 22' 02" + 33' 27"
20. CHAVANEL Sylvain 151 QUICK STEP 86h 22' 44" + 34' 09"
21. KNEES Christian 185 TEAM MILRAM 86h 23' 23" + 34' 48"
22. ROLLAND Pierre 148 BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM 86h 26' 19" + 37' 44"
23. ROCHE Nicolas 89 AG2R LA MONDIALE 86h 26' 55" + 38' 20"
24. GERDEMANN Linus 181 TEAM MILRAM 86h 27' 10" + 38' 35"
25. FEILLU Brice 174 AGRITUBEL 86h 29' 49" + 41' 14"
26. SANCHEZ Luis-Leon 118 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 86h 30' 02" + 41' 27"
27. ZUBELDIA Haimar 29 ASTANA 86h 32' 09" + 43' 34"
28. MONFORT Maxime 77 TEAM COLUMBIA - HTC 86h 32' 29" + 43' 54"
29. MOREAU Christophe 171 AGRITUBEL 86h 33' 08" + 44' 33"
30. EVANS Cadel 11 SILENCE - LOTTO 86h 33' 59" + 45' 24"

[Ready4Freddy]

Tour de France 2009

FINAL RESULTS

POINTS (SPRINTS)

---

1. HUSHOVD Thor 6 CERVELO TEST TEAM 280 pts
2. CAVENDISH Mark 71 TEAM COLUMBIA - HTC 270 pts
3. CIOLEK Gerald 182 TEAM MILRAM 172 pts
4. ROJAS Jose Joaquin 117 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 145 pts
5. FARRAR Tyler 53 GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM 136 pts
6. ROCHE Nicolas 89 AG2R LA MONDIALE 122 pts
7. FREIRE Oscar 44 RABOBANK 119 pts
8. PELLIZOTTI Franco 91 LIQUIGAS 104 pts
9. CONTADOR Alberto 21 ASTANA 101 pts
10. KLÖDEN Andréas 23 ASTANA 89 pts
11. MONDORY Lloyd 86 AG2R LA MONDIALE 89 pts
12. DUQUE Leonardo 124 COFIDIS LE CREDIT EN LIGNE 87 pts
13. SCHLECK Andy 31 TEAM SAXO BANK 87 pts
14. WIGGINS Bradley 58 GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM 85 pts
15. IVANOV Serguei 165 TEAM KATUSHA 79 pts
16. RENSHAW Mark 78 TEAM COLUMBIA - HTC 77 pts
17. CANCELLARA Fabian 33 TEAM SAXO BANK 74 pts
18. BANDIERA Marco 132 LAMPRE - N.G.C 71 pts
19. BONNET William 143 BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM 70 pts
20. HUTAROVICH Yauheni 104 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 70 pts
21. BENNATI Daniele 92 LIQUIGAS 69 pts
22. ARMSTRONG Lance 22 ASTANA 68 pts
23. PINEAU Jérôme 156 QUICK STEP 66 pts
24. CHAVANEL Sylvain 151 QUICK STEP 63 pts
25. HINCAPIE George 74 TEAM COLUMBIA - HTC 63 pts
26. DUMOULIN Samuel 123 COFIDIS LE CREDIT EN LIGNE 60 pts
27. LEMOINE Cyril 191 SKIL-SHIMANO 59 pts
28. TRUSSOV Nicolaï 168 TEAM KATUSHA 57 pts
29. SCHLECK Frank 36 TEAM SAXO BANK 56 pts
30. MARTIN Tony 76 TEAM COLUMBIA - HTC 55 pts

[Ready4Freddy]

Tour de France 2009

FINAL RESULTS

KING OF THE MOUNTAINS (CLIMBER)

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1. PELLIZOTTI Franco 91 LIQUIGAS 210 pts
2. MARTINEZ Egoi 64 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 135 pts
3. CONTADOR Alberto 21 ASTANA 126 pts
4. SCHLECK Andy 31 TEAM SAXO BANK 111 pts
5. FEDRIGO Pierrick 144 BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM 99 pts
6. KERN Christophe 126 COFIDIS LE CREDIT EN LIGNE 89 pts
7. SCHLECK Frank 36 TEAM SAXO BANK 88 pts
8. ASTARLOZA Mikel 61 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 86 pts
9. GARATE Juan Manuel 45 RABOBANK 86 pts
10. CASAR Sandy 101 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 84 pts
11. VAN DEN BROECK Jurgen 17 SILENCE - LOTTO 76 pts
12. CHAVANEL Sylvain 151 QUICK STEP 67 pts
13. NIBALI Vincenzo 95 LIQUIGAS 66 pts
14. FEILLU Brice 174 AGRITUBEL 64 pts
15. WIGGINS Bradley 58 GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM 57 pts
16. ARMSTRONG Lance 22 ASTANA 51 pts
17. MARTIN Tony 76 TEAM COLUMBIA - HTC 48 pts
18. RIBLON Christophe 88 AG2R LA MONDIALE 46 pts
19. HAUSSLER Heinrich 5 CERVELO TEST TEAM 45 pts
20. KLÖDEN Andréas 23 ASTANA 38 pts
21. MONCOUTIE David 121 COFIDIS LE CREDIT EN LIGNE 38 pts
22. EVANS Cadel 11 SILENCE - LOTTO 35 pts
23. NOCENTINI Rinaldo 87 AG2R LA MONDIALE 34 pts
24. FRÖHLINGER Johannes 184 TEAM MILRAM 32 pts
25. VOECKLER Thomas 141 BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM 31 pts
26. SANCHEZ Luis-Leon 118 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 26 pts
27. GUTIERREZ José Ivan 115 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 26 pts
28. HUSHOVD Thor 6 CERVELO TEST TEAM 25 pts
29. PEREZ MORENO Ruben 67 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 24 pts
30. KUSCHYNSKI Aleksandr 94 LIQUIGAS 24 pts

[Ready4Freddy]

Tour de France 2009

FINAL RESULTS

YOUTH (UNDER 25 @ Jan 1)

---

1. SCHLECK Andy 31 TEAM SAXO BANK 85h 52' 46"
2. NIBALI Vincenzo 95 LIQUIGAS 85h 56' 10" + 03' 24"
3. KREUZIGER Roman 93 LIQUIGAS 86h 02' 51" + 10' 05"
4. ROLLAND Pierre 148 BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM 86h 26' 19" + 33' 33"
5. ROCHE Nicolas 89 AG2R LA MONDIALE 86h 26' 55" + 34' 09"
6. FEILLU Brice 174 AGRITUBEL 86h 29' 49" + 37' 03"
7. VELITS Peter 187 TEAM MILRAM 86h 35' 10" + 42' 24"
8. SORENSEN Chris 37 TEAM SAXO BANK 86h 38' 22" + 45' 36"
9. MARTIN Tony 76 TEAM COLUMBIA - HTC 86h 43' 39" + 50' 53"
10. TROFIMOV Yury 149 BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM 86h 57' 58" + 1h 05' 12"

[Ready4Freddy]

Tour de France 2009

FINAL RESULTS

TEAM (TOP 3 RIDERS)

---

1. ASTANA 256h 02' 58"
2. GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM 256h 25' 33" + 22' 35"
3. TEAM SAXO BANK 256h 31' 32" + 28' 34"
4. AG2R LA MONDIALE 256h 34' 45" + 31' 47"
5. LIQUIGAS 256h 46' 29" + 43' 31"
6. EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 257h 01' 03" + 58' 05"
7. FRANCAISE DES JEUX 257h 04' 46" + 1h 01' 48"
8. COFIDIS LE CREDIT EN LIGNE 257h 08' 32" + 1h 05' 34"
9. TEAM KATUSHA 257h 16' 55" + 1h 13' 57"
10. AGRITUBEL 257h 23' 36" + 1h 20' 38"
11. CAISSE D’EPARGNE 257h 26' 03" + 1h 23' 05"
12. TEAM MILRAM 257h 27' 08" + 1h 24' 10"
13. SILENCE - LOTTO 257h 27' 36" + 1h 24' 38"
14. TEAM COLUMBIA - HTC 257h 32' 52" + 1h 29' 54"
15. BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM 257h 35' 57" + 1h 32' 59"
16. CERVELO TEST TEAM 257h 43' 06" + 1h 40' 08"
17. RABOBANK 258h 02' 43" + 1h 59' 45"
18. QUICK STEP 258h 42' 59" + 2h 40' 01"
19. LAMPRE - N.G.C 260h 02' 01" + 3h 59' 03"
20. SKIL-SHIMANO 263h 05' 50" + 7h 02' 52"

[Ready4Freddy]

What if we want to root for another team in next year’s tour as well?

Start a thread if you think there's any interest in it.

Not much point in starting a thread if it's an existing team, since there won't be that much to talk about.

You could start a thread for the Binney & Smith Team, tho. ;)

RS is just starting out, that'll make the process interesting.

[VicVega]

Thanks all so much for keeping me updated on the tour. It was great to get all the photos and updates.

Happy for Lance, he proved himself well after a 3.5 years off. Wonder if he will run the NY Marathon this year.

See all you guys next year.

[lainie]

(I think a “Tour de France” thread would probably work better than a “Radio Shack Team” one, is what I was getting at...) :)

[Ready4Freddy]

I think a “Tour de France” thread would probably work better than a “Radio Shack Team” one

Each in their own time.

Look for a Vuelta a España thread coming to a Free Republic near you, August 29, 2009.

A Giro d'Italia thread, May 6, 2010.

And a TdF thread, too, July 3, 2010, same bat channel.

[luv2ski]

There are tapas in those musettes! ;-)

[luv2ski]

The scenery wasspectacular this year! I always think it's beautiful but this year was exceptional. I wondered if it was b/c of HD.

My only disappointment was that the day they went into Barcelona it was overcast and rainy. One of my sons lived in Barcelona his junior year and it quickly became one of my all time favorite European cities. His apartment was only about 50 yds from the point where they turned onto the Passeig de Gracia the first day and started the stage the following day.