Tour de France 2009 [LIVE THREAD]

[Stat-boy]

Older brothers always the smartest!

[green iguana]

Nike-Livestrong iTeam

Still a bit long, but I like it!

[Ready4Freddy]

lol, spoken like a true... older brother, no doubt! ;)

[Ready4Freddy]

iTeam

Copyright that immediately! Great idea.

[Ready4Freddy]

I don't think he will step away in the same way as he did last time.

I was thinking that as I typed the previous post. With his experience, fame and acumen, there could be a 'Lance's team' for years to come.

[Ready4Freddy]

Oracle is rumored to be the tech company involved.

[Ready4Freddy]

Tour de France 2009

STAGE 18 - Annecy > > Annecy - 40.5 km

Thursday, July 23, 2009

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Individual time-trial - A sporting perspective

In this gorgeous setting, the Tour’s last time-trial often marks the end of the struggle. But the 2009 Tour is not over yet because the loop around Lake Annecy is approximately just 40 km long, and above all because the final battle is still to come.

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Stage 18 Preview
By Paul Sherwin

The individual time trial is habitually held on the last weekend of the Tour de France, however this is not a normal Tour. The organisers have planned a route to keep the suspense all the way to the last weekend and have traced a beautiful time trial route of 25 miles around Lake Annecy four days before the end.

It will be important as it comes the day after two tough days in the mountains where the race standings have changed dramatically. Somehow I think it will reform the standings again before the final showdown on the slopes of the Mont Ventoux on Saturday.

There is a slight climb on the course but it should suit a specialist in this individual discipline. Lance Armstrong will try and use this test to move himself back into a podium position but for the individual victory it should suit Olympic Champion Fabian Cancellara.

Don't underestimate Alberto Contador either as he is the recently crowned time trial champion of Spain. The revelation of this year's Tour Bradley Wiggins will be dreaming of using this stage to pull himself back to the foot of the podium. It will be a great day to add the excitement of today.

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View of the Town of Annecy

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(Stage Preview - versus.com; All else - letour.com)

[Ready4Freddy]

Tour de France 2009

STAGE 18 - Annecy > > Annecy - 40.5 km

Thursday, July 23, 2009

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Profile of the Stage

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Profile of Last Kilometers

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Route

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Mountain Passes & Hills

Km 28.5 - Côl de Bluffy - 3.7 km climb to 6 % - Category 3

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(Stage Preview - versus.com; All else - letour.com)

[lainie]

Is Astana ever going to officially declare a team GC contender?

[Ready4Freddy]

Hi, lainie! Apparently not. I think AC has already done that himself. ;)

[Ready4Freddy]

Thanks, Baynative. I’d heard that rain was forecast. Hopefully not too slippy slidy.

[lainie]

I was thinking that, too. But I also couldn’t help but notice that if he’d wanted to, he could have kept up the attack and blown further away from the Schlecks. So he clearly made a bad/stupid/novice move, but I don’t know if he deserves the drubbing he’s getting exactly. Also, Kloden couldn’t keep up. With the Schlecks or with Lance after Lance came to his rescue. So there’s that.

And Contador still did gain a bunch of time over his nearest rivals.

Interesting that there are t-storms in tomorrow’s forecast.

[PeteB570]

And they are riding - at least one at a time. 15 were in the last time I checked. Big spread on time.

[PeteB570]

Was gone too long.

40 riders in now. 7’56” was the spread.

Wishing Lance a very good ride today.

[PeteB570]

67 riders now in. Still holding at 7’56”

[Ready4Freddy]

Aprox 2 hrs before the leaders go off. First one will be

Christian Vande Velde — 4:26 p.m. (10:26 EST)

[PeteB570]

Thor and Mark C with both in at just over 5’ off the best pace so far. I think 8” and 13”.

[Ready4Freddy]

Those are good performances.