*Spoliers* Tour de France talk *Spoilers*

18911131437

Comments

  • Bugly
    Bugly Posts: 520
    cjcp wrote:

    AC in yellow tomorrow evening. :wink:

    Could well be I wonder if Sparticus will fight to the end and make it difficult for Bertie?
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    Bugly wrote:
    cjcp wrote:

    AC in yellow tomorrow evening. :wink:

    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.
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • Bugly
    Bugly Posts: 520
    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
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    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. :)
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • Bugly
    Bugly Posts: 520
    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 ...

    :D 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
    Christophe3967 Posts: 1,200
    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
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    Bugly wrote:
    The other Spanish teams may help AC but I think they are as effective as Silence Lotte :x

    Chocolate teapot effective then? :)
    :D 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.
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • il_principe
    il_principe Posts: 9,155
    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? :)

    :lol: 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
    always_tyred Posts: 4,965
    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? :)

    :lol: 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
    il_principe Posts: 9,155
    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? :)

    :lol: 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
    always_tyred Posts: 4,965
    Also has the most irritating voice since David Beckham.
    Well, that's true.
  • Sewinman
    Sewinman Posts: 2,131
    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
    iain_j Posts: 1,941
    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
    il_principe Posts: 9,155
    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
    bigmat Posts: 5,134
    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
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    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.
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • biondino
    biondino Posts: 5,990
    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
    Stone Glider Posts: 1,227
    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. :)
    The older I get the faster I was
  • DonDaddyD
    DonDaddyD Posts: 12,689
    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....
    Food Chain number = 4

    A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game
  • el_presidente
    el_presidente Posts: 1,963
    iain_j wrote:
    Speaking of Lotto, where's Robbie McEwen this year?

    .

    Crashed & broke his leg earlier in the season
    <a>road</a>
  • Sewinman
    Sewinman Posts: 2,131
    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
    il_principe Posts: 9,155
    I think the Peloton have arsed this one up again. May well be too late now - bunch to contest the stage?
  • attica
    attica Posts: 2,362
    Surely there must be someone in there who is going to leap up the GC if they keep this lead
    "Impressive break"

    "Thanks...

    ...I can taste blood"
  • biondino
    biondino Posts: 5,990
    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
    Eau Rouge Posts: 1,118
    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
    attica Posts: 2,362
    Cheers ER

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

    "Thanks...

    ...I can taste blood"
  • Sewinman
    Sewinman Posts: 2,131
    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
    attica Posts: 2,362
    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?
    "Impressive break"

    "Thanks...

    ...I can taste blood"
  • Sewinman
    Sewinman Posts: 2,131
    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!