Posted on 07/22/2005 10:14:20 PM PDT by nutmeg
Stage 20 - Saturday, July 23: Saint-Etienne - Saint-Etienne ITT, 55 km
The showdown! All things being equal (and even with a few inequalitites) the individual time trial should provide a great spectacle at the end of a gruelling three weeks - Armstrong thrives in this race against the clock, and his dominance is well documented. But if we have a situation like 2003, this could be the clincher for the leader going into the stage, or it could provide the challenger with a whisker of hope. Here's hoping the weather stays fine and we get Ullrich out firing and witness Basso's improvement in time trialling, which has also been well-documented. The distance suits Armstrong, but the undulating terrain suits Ullrich's ability to push the big gears and power along. A surprise may be in the works, but chances are it'll come down to these two, regardless of where they are on GC - but it's also likely they'll both be at the pointy end of the field.
Please FReepmail me if you want on or off my Tour de France 2005 list.
ping
This is Lance's last time trial in his last Tour de France (unless he changes his mind, of course). It doesn't make sense for him to leave anything at all in reserve in this penultimate stage of the race. I'd like to see him give every last ounce of his strength and produce a time trial for the ages, one that will perhaps never be topped. I wonder whether he's thinking something like that. Hope so.
Lando 
LOL! :)
AMEN to that, Lando!
And on that note, I'm heading to bed now also so I can be up at 8:30am ET to watch Le Tour. These Individual Time Trials are always interesting... I don't want to miss a minute of it.
Thanks again for posting the article, regardless of the many ridiculous comments. I've been involved in discussions on FR about Lance Armstrong and the TDF for at least three years now, and I've seen 'em all before. (Except for that one comment about "he gave himself cancer with steroids"???)
Have a good night... :o)
That would be cool... we'll find out in a few hours! :o)
bttt
What time is Lance expected on the course? I believe there is a two-minute delay between each rider? That means he'll probably start well past 9:30am EST, although I don't know how many riders are still in the field.
Yes, Sheryl Crow's cluelessness is monumental, no doubt about it.
He's due to take off close to 9 AM CDT, I think. But tune in earlier just in case.
Thanks a lot for all the Tour threads.
Today should be a classic!
I just came close to getting banned with my response to that numbn*ts who's obviously never done a day's exercise in his life!
Man, I can't stand self-righteous creeps like that.
Actually this is the tour. The leader after today will not be passed. That is the tradition of the event. Sunday is a party and for show only. No racing on Sunday.
Yeah, I read that. Good to have you on still.
Please, let's keep these threads dedicated to sports.
For those who are interested in discussions on marriage counceling and such like I'm sure there is plenty to find on Dr Phil or Ophra forums.
what channel on tv has the race?
The last week has been such a bore!!! Lance, all Lance. Nobody else is trying anything, there is no fighting spirit in them. They should have just given the prize to Lance last weekend, because it has been so boring since then. What a joke of cycling greatest race!
When is this thing over ?
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