Tour de France 2009

[Iceaxe]

So what.... am I the only person on this forum watching the Tour de France? :ne_nau:

This is fun.... Lance is back..... and todays race was sweet.... I won't spoil it for those of you that have to watch the rerun tonight..... but today was great.... not the usual giant pack and sprint to the finish line you normally get on a flat stage.

I'll be up at the crack o' dawn tomorrow to watch the team time trail which is one of my favorite events. Good to see it back after a four year absence. :2thumbs:

:popcorn:

[tallsteve]

I'm a Tour junkie, too! Today's stage finish was amazing. Kudos to Lance for being attentive and motoring out with the late breakaway. Props also to my man Hincapie for getting Cavendish to the line. Maybe I've always liked Hincapie because he's a tall, lanky guy like me. This is his 14th Tour!

[asdf]

I wish it would start raining I enjoy watching them ride in the weather. Also excited for the team time trials :2thumbs:

[TreeHugger]

LOVE the Tour! Watch it every day - usually twice! ONce in the morning and then again when my husband gets home! haha...

We were fortunate enough to be on the Champs'Elysee (sp?) when Lance won his sixth race.. that was awesome!

[live2ride]

I too am a big tour follower, can't wait to see wat Astana does with all the weapons they have and who comes out to be the leader? Can lance do it one last time or is contador gonna shine and Lance stick to his guns and just be a volounteer and a work horse? What a great tour this year!@!

[Iceaxe]

The team Time Trial today was fun to watch... I will not post a spoiler for those who are planning to watch it tonight.

Interesting in the pre-race interview when Lance said something to the effect of.... maybe this team has more than one leader....

So when do they hit the first mountain stage?

:popcorn:

[devo_stevo]

Anyone who thinks that Lance is there to ride in support of anyone is fooling themselves. Don't get me wrong, I like the guy and everything, but he is nobody's domestique. Read his book if you haven't already. Lot's of insight into who he is and what life is about to him. Basically, he's on this planet to kick everybody's butt in the Tour de France.

Typically, the mountain stages are in the 2nd week of the race. I love watching those. It's where the real men come to the top of the pile.

[DiscGo]

Do they still do the Tour de France? I thought Lance Armstrong retired. :haha:

[Iceaxe]

So I went and looked it up.... The first three high mountian stages are Friday, Saturday and Sunday...

And I just noticed this little tid-bit.... [i]Mont Ventoux on the day before the Champs-

[cachehiker]

[quote=Iceaxe][i]Mont Ventoux on the day before the Champs-

[DiscGo]

I just read that Lance Armstrong is doing the race this year. That kind of kills the comment I had made, but in my defense I don't really have television so I had no idea.

[devo_stevo]

I just read that Lance Armstrong is doing the race this year. That kind of kills the comment I had made, but in my defense I don't really have television so I had no idea.

I actually thought that your previous comment was a great jab at washed up athletes that come back out of retirement. Admitting that you had no idea is just not cool man. :haha:

[tallsteve]

I got to watch the DVR'd recording of the tour late last night after I got home from our group ride. I loved this stage! Was it just me or did it seem Lance was at the head of the eschalon more than anyone else? I was happy to see Dave Z. crack the top ten overall standings but once they hit the mountains, that won't last.

[Deuce]

Yes Tallsteve, I think LA knew from the team car that there was a solid chance at yellow and took some long pulls.

Have watched everyday. Some live, some TiVo..... It has been a GREAT first 5 days.

Interested to see how LA holds up in the mountains & think it is Contador's race to lose.

That said, GO LANCE!

[live2ride]

Bring on the mountains tommorow!! If lance goes on to win he will have done what no other sports figures have done when they made a return, WIN. not jordan, etc this will pencil him in as possibly the best athelete out there. Alegedly..

[Iceaxe]

Mountains up next.....

:popcorn:

[tallsteve]

I'm psyched!

[live2ride]

Getting i nteresting for astana, is lance here for the support or will he want to take over now that he is.... OH wait I will not spoil it for those who don't know the outcome of the first mtn stage today. Was pretty good!

[Deuce]

Cavs is wicked fast..... C-H is working amazing for him at the end of the sprint stages....

Good to see Farrar show some emotion when just losing today..... That has to be frustrating to be that close on a stage that you could win.....

[Deuce]

Back from WA.....watched today's TiVo'd tour.....DAMMIT. Though I guess not really a surprise, I sure did REALLY want Lance to surprise.

Alberto is a MAD CLIMBER. Still really hope Lance can dig deep and pull podium.....I am not betting on top 5. Kloden pulled him the entire last 10K or whatever it was and dropped him at the end.

[devo_stevo]

I have to say that Contador looked like the guy to beat yesterday. Incredible job. I have to say that I was a bit surprised at first that Lance didn't go with him when he attacked. I guess that's what happens when you are 37 years old and you took 3 years off.

I'm still hoping for a podium finish for him though. It's going to be tough though. That Bradley Wiggins looked good yesterday and he could do some damage.

The race isn't turning out the way I hoped. I wanted it to be all Astana on the podium at the finish with Lance, Alberto and Levi. Then Levi got broken and Lance just doesn't have the legs to beat Contador. Oh well, he still kicks some serious butt for an old guy and he would hand me my butt on any day of the week on those climbs. Either way, VIVA LANCE!

[live2ride]

Prety impresive for a 37 year old guy who has been out of the sport for 3 years and to come back and hand a bunch of 20 year olds there ass was nice. The race isn't over yet and I am pretty sure anyone within 3-5 minutes back still has a chance to win, who knows who will wreck tommorow or what happens in the time trials. makes for a great race!

[Deuce]

Lance bridging the gap today was COOL STUFF.... The Schleck brothers both looked stunned....:roflol: He passed Frank like he was standing still.....

What a feel good day for Armstrong fans.....

Jens Voigt crash was brutal..... :eek2:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eY6ljmQfvjI

[tallsteve]

Yeah, Armstrong's move to bridge the gap was inspiring. More impressive to me was Salt Lake's own, Dave Zabriskie, hanging with the leaders until the end. Zabriskie isn't known for his climbing ability.

[cachehiker]

I bike commuted yesterday so I was able to stop at the local tavern and watch yesterday's stage with no risk of a DUI after drinking beer for three hours. Seeing Jen's crash on youtube just doesn't do it justice. He hit the ground HARD!

[Deuce]

No pulling away from Lance Armstrong.... What an amazing performance! PODIUM!

[live2ride]

Yeah I was glad he reached the podium, what a good comeback! Next year aught to be interesting with the new team? I wonder what ringers he is gonna have on the team?

[tallsteve]

I read yesterday somewhere that Lance's new team will be backed by Radio Shack. I didn't realize Radio Shack was doing all that well. Regardless, it will be interesting who he chooses as teammates. Will Hincapie return to ride alongside? What about Leipheimer? Will he be able to get Bruyneel? All questions I want answers to!

[live2ride]

I read yesterday somewhere that Lance's new team will be backed by Radio Shack. I didn't realize Radio Shack was doing all that well. Regardless, it will be interesting who he chooses as teammates. Will Hincapie return to ride alongside? What about Leipheimer? Will he be able to get Bruyneel? All questions I want answers to!

Yeah I cant wait to hear this!