Tour de France *** 2010 *** [LIVE THREAD]

Various incl letour.com / versus.com / steepjill.tv ^ | July 3, 2010 | Numerous - ongoing LIVE thread

[llevrok]

He will have Astana push the pace to try and completely take Andy’s legs away from him

I think that, in a nutshell, defines the difference between the two riders this year. Astana appears to be a deeper team

I will speculate that next year, with now two years of great performance by Andy, he will have a very strong team around him and will definitely challenge Alberto for the full Tour.

[luv2ski]

I am beginning to understand why people thought Lance was doping all those years. When I watch Contador climbing, I think to myself: “He must be cheating!” The fact that he's a Spanish rider just makes it that much more suspicious IMO. It just doesn't look natural. Everyone else has their tongue hanging out and he looks like he's out for a Sunday stroll.
It didn't look natural with Lance either but he had a different body when he came back from cancer. Contador hasn't had that life/ body changing experience.
Versus has been replaying some of the past epic stages. It is worth noting that the contenders in those tours (Lance's wins) all turned out to be dopers- Ullrich, Pantani, Vinokourov, Rasmussen, etc.
I am completely convinced that lots of the riders in this year's Tour are doping but for whatever reason, it is undetectable.

[llevrok]

When I watch Contador climbing, I think to myself: “He must be cheating!”

When I today's stage winner lead for 160km, I wondered if he too had been drinking Dr. Floyd's bug juice. Why did he ride so well just today?

The article at Velo News speculates upcoming problems for Lance (as if leMond is a saint!)

Greg LeMond Sees The End of Lance (Doping Investigation)

http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/07/news/greg-lemond-says-proble-could-end-lance-armstrong_129823

[commish]

I am completely convinced that lots of the riders in this year's Tour are doping but for whatever reason, it is undetectable.

I would have to agree, but I think it is every sport. The competitors are always one step ahead of testers. (for the most part) it is like they say in NASCAR - if you ain't cheatin' you ain't tryin'

[luv2ski]

Maybe you're right but I suspect that there are those who are not cheating- like Cadel, Levi and others who are trying to ride the race honestly and getting hammered. I am particularly suspicious of the Spanish riders after Operation Puerto...

[patriotspride]

” I will speculate that next year, with now two years of great performance by Andy, he will have a very strong team around him and will definitely challenge Alberto for the full Tour. “

Agree. Andy can’t take him on alone, and it also appears that if Astana gets shaken, that the other Spaniards will work to help Alberto....

[patriotspride]

” I will speculate that next year, with now two years of great performance by Andy, he will have a very strong team around him and will definitely challenge Alberto for the full Tour. “

Agree. Andy can’t take him on alone, and it also appears that if Astana gets shaken, that the other Spaniards will work to help Alberto....

[luv2ski]

Le Mond has become very tiresome as of late. Call me a sucker but I do not believe that Lance won any of his Tours while doping. He has been tested more than any athlete in history- at all times of day/ year/ season. They simply show up at his house or hotel randomly demanding blood and urine. I just don't see how he could possibly be dirty under those conditions.
Supposedly, they are interviewing a bunch of riders that may implicate some of the top pros and/ or directors. As long as they bring proof- Ok- but I am tired of the Floyd Landis/ Frankie Andreas (Betsy) type 3rd hand nonsense we have been treated to ever since Lance came back from cancer.

[luv2ski]

Andy and Contador riding on the same team makes no sense. Just like last year when Lance and Contador bristled at each other’s riding, Schleck is his team’s leader- he’s not going to ride for Contador (nor vice versa).
If one was a climber and the other a sprinter- maybe but they are both climbers.

[luv2ski]

How am I doin? We’re up to 670...

;-)

[luv2ski]

OK. Here's something else I want your opinion on- the advantage to riders in a pace line is obvious and well understood. When the stages are high mountain, though, what advantage is is to have your teammates with you except for morale? You can send them to the front to set a blistering pace a la Astana today to keep other teams from attacking you but you (AC) still have to ride at that pace, too. Why would you be any better positioned to attack your rivals if you have been riding just as hard as they have? I remember Lance complaining after a stage a few years ago b/c his domestique was riding too fast and Lance himself was having trouble keeping up.

Of course, having teammates with you is a morale booster but turning the pedals is the same regardless. They might be there for a bike change if the worst happened but if everyone stays upright, what is the advantage?

[Ready4Freddy]

Tour de France 2010

Stage 15 - Pamiers > > > Bagnères-de-Luchon - 187.5 km

Monday, July 19, 2010

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Route

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Profile of the Stage

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Profile of Last Kilometers

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Mountain Passes & Hills

•Km 30.0 - Côte de Carla-Bayle - 3.1 km climb to 4.1 % - Category 4
•Km 105.0 - Col de Portet-d'Aspet - 5.8 km climb to 6.8 % - Category 2
•Km 126.5 - Col des Ares - 6.1 km climb to 4.7 % - Category 2
•Km 166.0 - Port de Balès - 19.3 km climb to 6.1 % - Category HC

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(Graphics - letour.com)

[Ready4Freddy]

TdF 2010 Stage 15 graphics and previews are up!

Click the 'To' option to go to the start of the Stage 15 posts.

The Stage started at 12:15 local time CEST (6 hrs ahead of US EDT).

velonews.com - "Stage 15 may have more bark than bite. With four categorized climbs, including the hors category Port de Balès (19.3km at 6.1 percent), the top contenders are sure to try to shed a rival or two. But with a 20km downhill into Luchon, a GC shakeup is unlikely.

After 106km of the stage, riders will pass the white marble memorial to Fabio Casartelli, who died on the Porte d’Aspet descent in 1995. No doubt some of the peloton will take a moment to say a silent prayer for the young Italian’s soul. "

FReepmail me to get on or off the 2010 TdF Ping List.

[PeteB570]

Andy needs to get some time on Conti today or he can kiss yellow in Paris goodby.

[Ready4Freddy]

Today's HC climb

•Km 166.0 - Port de Balès - 19.3 km climb to 6.1 % - Category HC

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Left by the wayside?

It is a sure thing that some riders will lose Le Tour because they are not sufficiently skilled at descending. From the Port de Balès to Bagnères-de-Luchon, the bends are extremely delicate. What’s more, the foot of the Peyresourde slopes are only three kilometres from the finishing line, meaning there is no way of clawing back any ground lost. To date, the Port de Balès has only been climbed once by Le Tour, in 2007. Beforehand, there was not even any tarmac. It was specially laid for cycling races. This pass is magnificent, hard and not very wide. Once the riders reach the top, a good downhill rider can open up the gaps, for example Samuel Sánchez, because it really is a very technical descent. More importantly, there may well be a lot of riders left by the wayside.

(climbbybike.com)

[Ready4Freddy]

I suspect that you're right there, PeteB, although Stage 16 has two hors catégorie climbs and Stage 17 climbs Tourmalet again on Thursday.

[Ready4Freddy]

14:50 - 10 Escapees Crest Portet d’Aspet

The points for the second climb of the stage (at the 105km) mark were won by: 1. Voeckler (BTL) 10pts 2. Turgot (BTL) 9pts 3. Mondory (ALM) 8pts 4. Vandborg (LIQ) 7pts 5. Perez Arrieta (FOT) 6pts 6. Ivanov (KAT) 5pts

14:49 - Armstrong Following Gutierrez

At the front of the peloton we can see the polka-dot jersey (Charteau), the Spanish national champion (Gutierrez), the three-time winner of the green jersey (McEwen), the second Australian to wear the yellow jersey (O’Grady)... and the seven-time Tour champion (Armstrong). Will the Texan stop on the side of the road at the 109km mark to pay respect to his former team-mate Fabio Casartelli...? We’ll know the answer shortly.

14:45 - McEwen In The Front Row...

Robbie McEwen has been suffering through the 2010 Tour. He’s crashed more times than he wants to remember and although he sprinted to a few top five positions, he is usually one of the first to lose contact with the peloton on the climbs. Today he’s in the front row as the bunch makes its way up the Portet d’Aspet. The latest time check has his group 6’10” behind the 10 escapees.

[ironman]

Did a training camp last year and rode the last three climbs of today’s stage. First day we did the Port de Balès, a true monster, as hard as the Tourmalet. Last day the Col de Portet-d’Aspet and saw the Fabio Casertelli memorial, and did a mountain time trial on the Col des Ares. I think they will probably beat my time over the Col des Ares. :-)

[Mr. Blonde]

Looks like Saxo Banks turn to torch everyone on the climb. Again not sure what good it will do as even if Andy moves the descent allows AC a chance to minimize any losses.

[Mr. Blonde]

Schleck attacks and drops his chain. Damn the luck. Looks like he will be able to close the gap back though.