Posted on 07/04/2009 8:09:14 AM PDT by Mom MD
Today is day one! Armstrong riding. Astana is back! Predictions? Other comments? Does someone have the ping list from last year?
I’ll miss a bit of it as I am taking my youngest daughter out for a hike. 70 degrees in Atlanta in July is too good to pass up. Will be DVR’ing it (and the British Open) though.
&0? That’s a tropical cool wave! heheh, 6 yo on a hike huh, pretty cute. Have fun.
great post!
Well, I am going to take a break and go wash the cars before they start the climb into Verbiers.
Expect to see some big fireworks on the climb since they have a rest day tomorrow. This is a good day to try and attack and put some time into the competition, and then let the legs recover tomorrow.
Should be one hell of a race up the mountain between Lance, Alberto, George, etc. I would imagine Nocentini will get completely shedded from the top of the GC today.
well crap, what timing..
I am off to church. the photos are gorgeous of the course
40km ‘flat’ ride across the valley, Astana will crank it up over that. Breakawat expected to be caught before the foot of Verbiers.
Spooky looking w/o many spectators, announcers said that Swit finally agreed to shut down roads a few yrs ago, and shut them down way early, ppl can’t get to good spots before the race.
Views are absolutely gorgeous.
For info:
Tom Boonen Abandons After 14 Stages
The Belgian champion, Tom Boonen, has abandoned the 2009 Tour de France. The winner of the green jersey in 2007 didn’t have a huge impact on the race once it was finally decided that he could be part of the peloton. His best stage place was 16th in stage 11. He was ranked 148th overall after 14 stages, 1h38’42” behind Nocentini.
Boonen was suffering from a stomach complaint and was ill overnight. There are now 163 riders in the peloton.
2’52’ gap, 22km to go to start of climb. Climb is 8.5km, 6,5-9%.
Liquigas still heading the peleton w/ Asrana’s help.
Down to about 2:30-2:40 as they hit the bottom of the climb to Verbiers. About 8-9 KM before they hit the ‘real’ climb.
What a story if Spilak can hold on. Basically dropped from the Tour, let back in on an official’s decision, and now a chance at a stage win. WOW.
The fireworks are set to begin now, beginning with the race into the start of the climb. Position is key here as gaps will begin to open up with the slower riders, and getting around them could cost valuable energy.
What was that about? Failed to make time cutoff, but they let him back in?
Peleton already beginning to shed riders and still 3-4KM to go before the main climb starts. Liquigas and Astana are setting a furious pace at the front.
He finished over 45 minutes back the other day. had some type of trouble and fell way back.
Police opened the road and let vehicles back onto it, which caused Spilak to have to basically ride extremely slowly on the shoulders of the road.
they determined he would have been able to stay within the time limit if not for that snafu, and let him back into the race.
The leaders are on the Climb!
Thanks, my live feed has gone dead for some reason.
Breakaway has been caught!
Hicapie and Sastre have been DROPPED already!
Nicontini is dropped.
The Shleck’s, Wiggins, van de Velde, Armstrong, Contador, Kloden are driving the train and shredding the field.
CONTADOR ATTACKS!!!!
Contador is away at 5KM to go.
Armstrong stays with Frank Shleck, Wiggins, Van De Velde, Kloden.
Andy Shleck chasing contador.
Contador is 30 seconds clears of Armstrong.
Andy Shleck is in between but struggling.
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