*Spoliers* Tour de France talk *Spoilers*

Bugly

cjcp wrote:

AC in yellow tomorrow evening.

Could well be I wonder if Sparticus will fight to the end and make it difficult for Bertie?

cjcp

Bugly wrote:

cjcp wrote:

AC in yellow tomorrow evening.

Could well be I wonder if Sparticus will fight to the end and make it difficult for Bertie?

I think team orders will be for him to work for the Schlecks. If he had more time over the Astana chaps maybe he'd be allowed to fight.

Bugly

Said this another post in the race forum, Bertie has a lot more to lose then time if he attacks his teammate tomorrow and fails. If he gains time and the Maillot Juene then Lance will continue to plot in the background, if he attacks and doesn't gain time then I think he will be seen as the pretender to the throne by his teammates.

So if he goes I think he needs to go and really make LA suffer and wither, else he will be riding the tour without protection, something that he can ask Cadel Evans about.

cjcp

True. LA will continue to scheme until the penultimate stage is over and there's no chance of catching AC. Check out his post-stage interview yesterday on Eurosport - he's putting the pressure on Sastre and Evans, basically saying its ours unless you boys do something. Heh heh.

The other Spanish and Caisse riders might well offer AC help (see Eau Rouge's previous post), so he might not be completely exposed.

Oh, and you work some funky hours.

Bugly

cjcp wrote:

True. LA will continue to scheme until the penultimate stage is over and there's no chance of catching AC. Check out his post-stage interview yesterday on Eurosport - he's putting the pressure on Sastre and Evans, basically saying its ours unless you boys do something. Heh heh.

The other Spanish and Caisse riders might well offer AC help (see Eau Rouge's previous post), so he might not be completely exposed.

Oh, and you work some funky hours.

The other Spanish teams may help AC but I think they are as effective as Silence Lotte :x

I sincerely hope that AC succeeds in putting a stamp on the team but ...

Re work hours, not really but I do live in OZ so I am GMT +10 and I am down with the dreaded flu

Christophe3967

Coriander wrote:

Sorry, my system suddenly started behaving really wierdly.

I don't think LA's behaviour towards Filippo Simeoni was the action of a decent man, either. More information here:

http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2004/tour04/?id=results/stage18

So are either of them decent then? I am not a LA fan by any stretch - but as far as that particular incident goes, you could argue that he simply got on Simeoni's wheel and expected Kloden, Basso and Ullrich etc to follow him. Then it was LA that helped open the gap to 2 minutes whilst Simeoni was riding at the back of the bunch most of the time. When LA sat up as the group asked him to, it is pretty obvious that Simeoni didn't do so of his own accord, but the antipathy between them is understandable. Bear in mind that Simeoni's a convicted doper who broke his Ferrari relationship off when he felt he wasn't getting the results or the attention he was expecting. He then probably needed to assist the Italian prosecutors to ensure he received a lighter ban - and in those situations you may wish to deflect as much attention away from yourself as possible. So whilst I don't think it was the brightest thing LA ever did, I do see why he reacted. And he has expressed regret since.

,

cjcp

Bugly wrote:

The other Spanish teams may help AC but I think they are as effective as Silence Lotte :x

Chocolate teapot effective then?

Re work hours, not really but I do live in OZ so I am GMT +10 and I am down with the dreaded flu

Ah, I see. Whereabouts? Are you an ex-pat?

Flu? That's a bit pants. If it's man-flu, you should dial 999 (or the Oz equivalent) without further delay.

il_principe

cjcp wrote:

Bugly wrote:

The other Spanish teams may help AC but I think they are as effective as Silence Lotte :x

Chocolate teapot effective then?

Lotto are sh1te. Much to my delight as I hate Cadel. I see he's still a total prick. Ever the bridesmaid Cadel...

always_tyred

Il Principe wrote:

cjcp wrote:

Bugly wrote:

The other Spanish teams may help AC but I think they are as effective as Silence Lotte :x

Chocolate teapot effective then?

Lotto are sh1te. Much to my delight as I hate Cadel. I see he's still a total prick. Ever the bridesmaid Cadel...

Why don't you like him? - okay, his riding is dull as ditchwater but you have to admire it when he digs deep to keep up with better climbers.

And his interviews can be awesome. Its so much more entertaining than a media clone saying "this was beautiful" or something simpering and italian like that, or David-as Scottish-as-I-am-Millar saying "oh, I just didn't feel quite on it today?" (when DO you David - other than before 2003?)

Evans is the Andy Murray of cycling.

il_principe

Always Tyred wrote:

Il Principe wrote:

cjcp wrote:

Bugly wrote:

The other Spanish teams may help AC but I think they are as effective as Silence Lotte :x

Chocolate teapot effective then?

Lotto are sh1te. Much to my delight as I hate Cadel. I see he's still a total prick. Ever the bridesmaid Cadel...

Why don't you like him? - okay, his riding is dull as ditchwater but you have to admire it when he digs deep to keep up with better climbers.

And his interviews can be awesome. Its so much more entertaining than a media clone saying "this was beautiful" or something simpering and italian like that, or David-as Scottish-as-I-am-Millar saying "oh, I just didn't feel quite on it today?" (when DO you David - other than before 2003?)

Evans is the Andy Murray of cycling.

But he never really does interviews - he's always climbing into his car/the bus etc being a rude fecker. And yeah he's dull dull dull. Also has the most irritating voice since David Beckham.

always_tyred

Il Principe wrote:

Also has the most irritating voice since David Beckham.

Well, that's true.

Sewinman

I find it amazing that Lance is not going to be team leader and try and help AC. I mean it makes sense in the cycling world, but outside of that sphere people will find it very underwhelming....i mean lance is the main event, the real deal, the big ticket!...its what the people want to see! Go Lance, Livestrong etc...not bloody 'Bertie Contador' (who!?)

iain_j

Speaking of Lotto, where's Robbie McEwen this year?

I'd rather see the Cadel Evans media interviews with his amusing quirks than Armstrong with his bodyguards manhandling everyone out his way.

il_principe

iain_j wrote:

Speaking of Lotto, where's Robbie McEwen this year?

I'd rather see the Cadel Evans media interviews with his amusing quirks than Armstrong with his bodyguards manhandling everyone out his way.

'Cos Cadel doesn't behave like a tit:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9St8xiaKzA&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzHDmQP014w&feature=related

bigmat

Ironically, Cadel employed Lance's old bodyguard last year. This year he seems a lot more relaxed, was cycling round the tour village smiling away before the grand depart. He's on good form and may even attack at some point :shock: .

Will be interesting to see how Lance goes today. He hasn't really done anything to suggest that he could be top dog yet, although he's certainly done well.

cjcp

My uneducated guess is that LA will boss the team and ask Zubeldia and Popvych to sit at the front of the main group up the climb, sit third or fourth wheel back with AC and watch for (a) attacks by AC and (b) anyone else coming from behind.

biondino

Sewinman wrote:

I find it amazing that Lance is not going to be team leader and try and help AC. I mean it makes sense in the cycling world, but outside of that sphere people will find it very underwhelming....i mean lance is the main event, the real deal, the big ticket!...its what the people want to see! Go Lance, Livestrong etc...not bloody 'Bertie Contador' (who!?)

This post is a pisstake, right?

Stone Glider

I like Cadel Evans, he seems much more relaxed this year. He still has a sh*t team, what was all that about Charlie Wegelius not going on the tour when he was hired to help Cadel in the mountains?

In the pieces I have seen of interviews with him he comes over as a very shy person with limited media skills but a special talent for riding a bike. His courage could not be faulted but he had a torrid time last year.

Perhaps, with lowered expectations from the media and happier mindset we will have the chance to see what Cadel can do.

DonDaddyD

Cadel Evans looks like a smurf with action mans head.

Anyway, I got sneaky feeling this race might be a dull one chaps...

But what do I know....

el_presidente

iain_j wrote:

Speaking of Lotto, where's Robbie McEwen this year?

.

Crashed & broke his leg earlier in the season

Sewinman

biondino wrote:

Sewinman wrote:

I find it amazing that Lance is not going to be team leader and try and help AC. I mean it makes sense in the cycling world, but outside of that sphere people will find it very underwhelming....i mean lance is the main event, the real deal, the big ticket!...its what the people want to see! Go Lance, Livestrong etc...not bloody 'Bertie Contador' (who!?)

This post is a pisstake, right?

Nope.

il_principe

I think the Peloton have arsed this one up again. May well be too late now - bunch to contest the stage?

attica

Surely there must be someone in there who is going to leap up the GC if they keep this lead

shoulder_of_orion

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/klitschko

biondino

Sewinman wrote:

biondino wrote:

Sewinman wrote:

I find it amazing that Lance is not going to be team leader and try and help AC. I mean it makes sense in the cycling world, but outside of that sphere people will find it very underwhelming....i mean lance is the main event, the real deal, the big ticket!...its what the people want to see! Go Lance, Livestrong etc...not bloody 'Bertie Contador' (who!?)

This post is a pisstake, right?

Nope.

I'm not sure it's possible to take your opinion seriously when you haven't heard of the second most famous rider (and three-time grand tour winner, and world's best rider, etc. etc.), in the race.

Eau Rouge

Attica wrote:

Surely there must be someone in there who is going to leap up the GC if they keep this lead

The two best places guys on GC in the break are Nocentini, who was @3:13 this morning, and Pineau, two places further down, @ 3:17

If the break was to hold it's current lead, they woud take over the top 8 places!

attica

Cheers ER

Now I'm worrying about Cav, RC has just reported that he was ivolved in the crash a few minutes ago

Sewinman

biondino wrote:

Sewinman wrote:

biondino wrote:

Sewinman wrote:

I find it amazing that Lance is not going to be team leader and try and help AC. I mean it makes sense in the cycling world, but outside of that sphere people will find it very underwhelming....i mean lance is the main event, the real deal, the big ticket!...its what the people want to see! Go Lance, Livestrong etc...not bloody 'Bertie Contador' (who!?)

This post is a pisstake, right?

Nope.

I'm not sure it's possible to take your opinion seriously when you haven't heard of the second most famous rider (and three-time grand tour winner, and world's best rider, etc. etc.), in the race.

Of course i have heard of him. I was talking about the general public, the media etc. Lance is clearly a massive name and an 8th win would be massive...so I am suprised he is not number one in the team on pure economics.

You must be the grumpiest git on here!

attica

Sewinman wrote:

You must be the grumpiest git on here!

Of all the times to have a tiff, why do you wait until the first HC of the tour?

Sewinman

Attica wrote:

Sewinman wrote:

You must be the grumpiest git on here!

Of all the times to have a tiff, why do you wait until the first HC of the tour?

He started it!