Stage 16 Spoilers

[Westy]

My boy Levi is on the attack. Wooo hooo. He will probably crack and end up losing a half hour but he certainly isn't going to get anywhere just hanging around with the rest of the boys.

Attack Mother ****er Attack!

[golgiaparatus]

My boy Levi is on the attack. Wooo hooo. He will probably crack and end up losing a half hour but he certainly isn't going to get anywhere just hanging around with the rest of the boys.

Attack Mother ****er Attack!

Beat me to it. Go Levi Go!!! Hopefully he can hold on.

He has 2:00 on the Landis'/Klöden/Evans group.

EDIT: Over 3:00 lead now... 5:00 behind Rassmussen... That puts him within striking distance of Evans. If he keeps it up he could be back in it for a place on the podium.

[Westy]

Old Floyd is kind of on his own with a long way to go.

[golgiaparatus]

Old Floyd is kind of on his own with a long way to go.

Is he not with Evans and Klöden?

[golgiaparatus]

The Yellow group is gaining on Levi... he's running out of gas?

[robdamanii]

Floyd's tactics are interesting. Seems he's helping Axel Mercks just as much as Axel is helping him. Wonder if Floyd will make it to the end in one piece.

[douglas]

Old Floyd is kind of on his own with a long way to go.

MERCKX

[jacksonpt]

Good to see Rasmussen having a good day. Or, perhaps more accurately, the team giving him the go ahead.

I wonder, had he TTed better last year, if he would have been the team leader this year. I'm sure there's a lot more to team role than just a single TT, but that TT last year was disasterous.

[goofy]

looks like Levi is going to have a good finish today.

[DRB]

There goes Menchov, Pererio and Evans on the attack.

Landis does nothing.

[DRB]

But then again neither does Kloden.

[DRB]

and its back together again.

There goes the genius of T-Mobile again. Rogers goes with the little attack and Kloden and Mazzoleni chase it down for Landis.

T-Mobile is the biggest bunch of dunderheads in pro cycling.

[jacksonpt]

Landis in trouble???

[DRB]

Uh oh.... Landis pops and out the back.

[mogulskr]

Landis Cracks!! Oh Boy

[jacksonpt]

and its back together again.

There goes the genius of T-Mobile again. Rogers goes with the little attack and Kloden and Mazzoleni chase it down for Landis.

T-Mobile is the biggest bunch of dunderheads in pro cycling.
I remember that from last year... I thought it was just the lack of success from Jan. But apparently it's bigger than any one rider - they just don't know how to work as a team.

[narlus]

'landis has cracked!'

trouble for le jaune maillot

[douglas]

wheres dessel?

[mogulskr]

wheres dessel?

He's still with the chase group with the rest of the contenders.

[DRB]

Landis is losing time hand over foot.

Sastre is heading for yellow. Ivan who?

[jacksonpt]

Too bad for Landis. But from what I've seen, he's had virtually no support from his team. That's the one thing I remember about Lance's domination... he was always led out by his team so he could take over the very end of the race. I haven't seen Phonak do that sort of thing... seems like Landis has been doing a lot more of the work himself. Perhaps it's catching up to him now?

[golgiaparatus]

Landis is in deep sh!t. Poor guy, must feel bad to watch the yellow slip away, he's 8:00 down :( I think he's a goner.

Sastre and Levi... yeah, get'er done!

Klöden looks awful good. Didn't look this good yesterday.

[Cant Climb]

Landis is in deep sh!t. Poor guy, must feel bad to watch the yellow slip away, he's 8:00 down :( I think he's a goner.


Gutted :dead:

[Heidi]

Yah, I'm listening to Eurosport and this is just sad. :( Just like that, yellow is gone. GONE.

[mogulskr]

Pereiro will be in yellow. Landis is waaaaaaaaay back.

[Heidi]

Hey though, GO CHICKEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!

[Westy]

I can't remember when but a few stages ago Paul or Phil let out this little nugget.

"Riders seem to be getting tired this year, it is almost like they really aren't using drugs."

[jacksonpt]

GOO RASMUSSEN!!!

Poor Floyd - he's going to have lost over 10 minutes. Yikes. Sastre and Kloden could be the men to beat at this point...

[Ian F]

Not looking good at all... 10:05 back... might be out of the top 10? :(

[Westy]

The world is coming to an end. A frenchy is close to a podium spot.

[jacksonpt]

Awesome - Rasmussen not only won the stage but also took the polka dot jersey!

[Cant Climb]

Landis could do a big day tommorrow and a big time trail......10 minutes though, impossible with Sastre, Kloden, Evans sitting there though...

[robdamanii]

Hell.

If Landis had a team to support him, he'd still be in reach. Axel did a decent job of trying to do what he could, but he's only one man.

Doesn't look like Landis will see Yellow this year, unless something miraculous happens.

[Echo]

Hell.

If Landis had a team to support him, he'd still be in reach.
If Cadel had a team, Landis never would have seen the yellow.

[Cant Climb]

Did Phonak lose any riders to the Spanish inquisition....?
....used to be one of the strongest teams....

[DRB]

OGRipper almost called this last night.

[golgiaparatus]

Did Phonak lose any riders to the Spanish inquisition....?
....used to be one of the strongest teams....

I dont know but with the exception of Axel... Phonak is useless to Landis.

[Wumpus]

If Landis had a team to support him, he'd still be in reach. Axel did a decent job of trying to do what he could, but he's only one man.


If you don't have the legs, no matter how strong your team it ain't going to help you if you can't keep up. Floyd cracked. That is all there is.

Everybody seemed to forget how many times Phil and Paul said, "Lance has been isolated by T-mobile(Telekom), he is going to be in trouble without any help." Anybody remember how that worked out?

[golgiaparatus]

As I said before... I wanted Landis to take it but my money is on Klöden. My money is still on Klöden.

[Ian F]

If you don't have the legs, no matter how strong your team it ain't going to help you if you can't keep up. Floyd cracked. That is all there is.

Everybody seemed to forget how many times Phil and Paul said, "Lance has been isolated by T-mobile(Telekom), he is going to be in trouble without any help." Anybody remember how that worked out?

yep. Axel probably could have gained some time, but stayed with his leader.

8:08 back in 11th... Well, it was fun while it lasted...

[In8Racing]

Damn.

[sanjuro]

So much for Floyd's "I am going to ride conservatively" strategy.

Guy thought he was Lance Armstrong. Now he is going have to ride like a madman if he wants to stay in it.

Good for the race though to be so wide open...

[Jeremy R]

Teams don't win the tour.
A single set of strong legs do.
Landis was the strongest for the whole tour hands down.
Until today. :ouch:

I was watching it right up until Sastre attacked, and the other GC guys responded. I took one look at Floyd, then cut off my TV and left. It was not like one of those things where he just lost contact,
he was done. You could tell right away.:confused:
Sad day.

[sanjuro]

Teams don't win the tour.
A single set of strong legs do.
Landis was the strongest for the whole tour hands down.
Until today. :ouch:

I was watching it right up until Sastre attacked, and the other GC guys responded. I took one look at Floyd, then cut off my TV and left. It was not like one of those things where he just lost contact,
he was done. You could tell right away.:confused:
Sad day.
Strong riders and teams win tours. You might get an once in a lifetime ride, like LeMond's second tour win where he was on a weak team due to his return to cycling.

But for 5 of Lance's wins, he had guys like Heras and Landis motoring the front, which keeps the attacks to a minimum.

[MMcG]

so what's the breakdown in terms of GC riders.

Who's in Yellow and so on down the line?

[Echo]

so what's the breakdown in terms of GC riders.

Who's in Yellow and so on down the line?
www.letour.com :D

[Cant Climb]

But for 5 of Lance's wins, he had guys like Heras and Landis motoring the front, which keeps the attacks to a minimum.

Bingo....Floyd had to work his butt off a couple times already. Never thought he would crack this bad. Thought maybe he lose 2 minutes tops.

[golgiaparatus]

so what's the breakdown in terms of GC riders.

Who's in Yellow and so on down the line?

Pererio (sp) in yellow

Not sure what will happen in tomorrows stage but if it stays similar then Klöden and Evans and Pererio will be duking it out in the TT. They were all within a minute of eachother in the last TT.

[Jeremy R]

Strong riders and teams win tours. You might get an once in a lifetime ride, like LeMond's second tour win where he was on a weak team due to his return to cycling.

But for 5 of Lance's wins, he had guys like Heras and Landis motoring the front, which keeps the attacks to a minimum.

Lance was isolated in the mountains about a trillion times during his Tour victories. It simply did not matter if he was with 3 T-mobile guys or two CSC guys,. The strongest legs ride to the top.
Of course, it benefited him when his team was strong and could drop most of the other favorites before he even hit the front.
Teams can really help of course, but if you the strongest rider in the tour you can still win. What happened to Landis today was not about a weak team. He just expolded.

[The Toninator]

Attack Mother ****er Attack!

™ I haven’t received my royalty from the use of my phrase.

[Cant Climb]

Lance was isolated in the mountains about a trillion times during his Tour victories. It simply did not matter if he was with 3 T-mobile guys or two CSC guys,. The strongest legs ride to the top.

not so sure about that JR...i only remember Lance being isolated one time and he said afterwards "That wont happen tommorow".

He was isolated when HE decided to hop out of the draft and drop their asses though....

[Jeremy R]

not so sure about that JR...i only remember Lance being isolated one time and he said afterwards "That wont happen tommorow".

He was isolated when HE decided to hop out of the draft and drop their asses though....

Are you kidding?
You gotta think back to all those tours when Pantani was attacking was forcing Armstrong to chase all day. It even led to Armstrong cracking bad on that last climb up to Joux-plane that day.
Luckily his lead was already so huge that it did not matter.
Armstrong was alone a lot in his tour victories, but he always had the motor. The same with Indurain. He destroyed them with his legs.
If it was the the Team that really mattered, then Discovery would be leading the Tour right now.;)

[Cant Climb]

Are you kidding?

i overstated that by saying 'one time'..
..i dont rember the Pantani stage....
..... but i cant recall too many times when he didnt have Heras, Rubiera, Landis, Ekimov, Pena, Acevedo, Hincapie tucked next to him and systematically breaking the will of the peleton on his OWN terms. Landis has been left out to dry but thats no excuse for getting destroyed today.....

[Jeremy R]

i overstated that by saying 'one time'..
..i dont rember the Pantani stage....
..... but i cant recall too many times when he didnt have Heras, Rubiera, Landis, Ekimov, Pena, Acevedo, Hincapie tucked next to him and systematically breaking the will of the peleton on his OWN terms. Landis has been left out to dry but thats no excuse for getting destroyed today.....

Yeah, like I said, it was easier with a good team for sure.
And especially the last two years, it was a HUGE advantage for Disco, because they would drop most everybody but Basso before he even hit the front.
Landis had the Tour in the palm of his hand, and it just sucked to see that happen to him today. Oh well, they don't call it the hardest sporting event in the world for no reason.

[OGRipper]

Wow. When Landis popped it looked like he could barely turn over the cranks. I thought he was going to abandon. I feel horrible for him.

And yeah, he didn't have lots of his team guys around - just Axel putting up a valiant effort. But its not like he was alone in the wind, he was following wheels all day. Having team members set a high pace to soften the group and prevent attacks only works if you can stay on the wheels without getting into the red zone. Even if he had a guy like Heras to keep a high tempo, I have to ask if Landis would be able to follow and, if he could, if he would have anything left to make a final surge.

[jacksonpt]

Anyone have a link to the up-to-the-minute GC standings? WTF can't I find one???

[jacksonpt]

I wonder if Landis just bonked, or if his hip gave out. I've got to think it's an injury that would give him problems throughout the tour.

[The Toninator]

I wonder if Landis just bonked, or if his hip gave out. I've got to think it's an injury that would give him problems throughout the tour.
he bonked.

[The Toninator]

17:29 MERCKX HAS CAUGHT LANDIS AND IS TOWING HIS ONCE GENERAL TO THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN!!!


1 O. Pereiro (ESP) CEI 74:38:05
2 C. Sastre (ESP) CSC 74:39:55 + 00:01:50
3 A. Klöden (GER) TMO 74:40:34 + 00:02:29
4 C. Dessel (FRA) A2R 74:40:48 + 00:02:43
5 C. Evans (AUS) DVL 74:41:01 + 00:02:56
6 D. Menchov (RUS) RAB 74:42:03 + 00:03:58
7 M. Rogers (AUS) TMO 74:44:52 + 00:06:47
8 C. Moreau (FRA) A2R 74:45:08 + 00:07:03
9 L. Leipheimer (USA) GST 74:45:51 + 00:07:46
10 H. Zubeldia (ESP) EUS 74:46:11 + 00:08:06
11 F. Landis (USA) PHO 74:46:13 + 00:08:08
12 P. Caucchioli (ITA) C.A 74:51:32 + 00:13:27
13 F. Schleck (LUX) CSC 74:51:53 + 00:13:48
14 M. Boogerd (NED) RAB 74:51:57 + 00:13:52
15 M. Fothen (GER) GST 74:53:09 + 00:15:04
16 D. Cunego (ITA) LAM 74:55:51 + 00:17:46
17 A. Merckx (BEL) PHO 74:56:38 + 00:18:33
18 V. Karpets (RUS) CEI 74:57:02 + 00:18:57
19 T. Valjavec (SLO) LAM 74:57:26 + 00:19:21
20 J. Azevedo (POR) DSC 74:57:51 + 00:19:46
21 M. Rasmussen (DEN) RAB 74:58:53 + 00:20:48
22 D. Arroyo (ESP) CEI 75:06:35 + 00:28:30
23 F. Vila (ESP) LAM 75:09:21 + 00:31:16
24 C. Vandevelde (USA) CSC 75:11:08 + 00:33:03
25 B. Salmon (FRA) AGR 75:11:46 + 00:33:41
26 Y. Popovych (UKR) DSC 75:12:41 + 00:34:36
27 S. Calzati (FRA) A2R 75:12:42 + 00:34:37
28 J. Mercado (ESP) AGR 75:12:44 + 00:34:39
29 M. Bruseghin (ITA) LAM 75:15:33 + 00:37:28
30 C. Rinero (FRA) SDV 75:18:53 + 00:40:48
31 C. Brandt (BEL) DVL 75:19:04 + 00:40:59
32 R. Lobato (ESP) SDV 75:21:20 + 00:43:15
33 I. Parra (COL) COF 75:21:57 + 00:43:52
34 X. Zandio Echaide (ESP) CEI 75:24:44 + 00:46:39
35 I. Camano Ortuzar (ESP) EUS 75:27:50 + 00:49:45
36 P. Sinkewitz (GER) TMO 75:28:02 + 00:49:57
37 G. Guerini (ITA) TMO 75:28:24 + 00:50:19
38 S. Chavanel (FRA) COF 75:30:06 + 00:52:01
39 P. Fedrigo (FRA) BTL 75:30:22 + 00:52:17
40 G. Totschnig (AUT) GST 75:31:03 + 00:52:58
41 A. Botcharov (RUS) C.A 75:31:06 + 00:53:01
42 G. Hincapie (USA) DSC 75:31:23 + 00:53:18
43 J. Arrieta (ESP) A2R 75:31:29 + 00:53:24
44 I. Landaluze (ESP) EUS 75:32:34 + 00:54:29
45 S. Goubert (FRA) A2R 75:33:13 + 00:55:08
46 E. Mazzoleni (ITA) TMO 75:33:38 + 00:55:33
47 L. Lefevre (FRA) BTL 75:37:12 + 00:59:07
48 D. Moncoutié (FRA) COF 75:45:41 + 01:07:36
49 M. Astarloza (ESP) A2R 75:46:14 + 01:08:09
50 G. Simoni (ITA) SDV 75:49:57 + 01:11:52
51 S. Garzelli (ITA) LIQ 75:52:53 + 01:14:48
52 M. Dueñas (ESP) AGR 75:52:58 + 01:14:53
53 M. Sprick (FRA) BTL 75:54:17 + 01:16:12
54 K. Moerenhout (NED) PHO 75:59:02 + 01:20:57
55 E. Martinez (ESP) DSC 75:59:12 + 01:21:07
56 T. Lovkvist (SWE) FDJ 75:59:50 + 01:21:45
57 P. Halgand (FRA) C.A 75:59:59 + 01:21:54
58 M. Kessler (GER) TMO 76:00:36 + 01:22:31
59 D. Millar (GBR) SDV 76:01:49 + 01:23:44
60 J. Gomez Marchante (ESP) SDV 76:04:26 + 01:26:21
61 S. Honchar (UKR) TMO 76:05:13 + 01:27:08
62 C. Moreni (ITA) COF 76:06:51 + 01:28:46
63 J. Voigt (GER) CSC 76:11:58 + 01:33:53
64 F. Wegmann (GER) GST 76:14:17 + 01:36:12
65 M. Martin Perdiguero (ESP) PHO 76:14:27 + 01:36:22
66 S. Lang (GER) GST 76:16:39 + 01:38:34
67 S. Commesso (ITA) LAM 76:16:41 + 01:38:36
68 G. Verdugo (ESP) EUS 76:19:52 + 01:41:47
69 D. De la Fuente (ESP) SDV 76:20:19 + 01:42:14
70 D. Rous (FRA) BTL 76:20:50 + 01:42:45
71 C. Horner (USA) DVL 76:22:18 + 01:44:13
72 I. Isasi (ESP) EUS 76:24:00 + 01:45:55
73 S. Casar (FRA) FDJ 76:24:07 + 01:46:02
74 C. Da Cruz (FRA) FDJ 76:26:27 + 01:48:22
75 F. Ventoso (ESP) SDV 76:27:15 + 01:49:10
76 P. Padrnos (CZE) DSC 76:27:22 + 01:49:17
77 D. Zabriskie (USA) CSC 76:30:27 + 01:52:22
78 S. Gerrans (AUS) A2R 76:30:37 + 01:52:32
79 A. Ballan (ITA) LAM 76:33:43 + 01:55:38
80 C. Le Mevel (FRA) C.A 76:34:12 + 01:56:07
81 M. Calvente (ESP) AGR 76:34:31 + 01:56:26
82 B. Schröder (GER) MRM 76:34:42 + 01:56:37
83 E. Zabel (GER) MRM 76:36:56 + 01:58:51
84 J. Garate (ESP) QSI 76:37:03 + 01:58:58
85 A. Geslin (FRA) BTL 76:39:36 + 02:01:31
86 M. Quinziato (ITA) LIQ 76:39:39 + 02:01:34
87 T. Voeckler (FRA) BTL 76:40:06 + 02:02:01
88 P. Weening (NED) RAB 76:41:39 + 02:03:34
89 J. Rubiera (ESP) DSC 76:41:58 + 02:03:53
90 V. Ekimov (RUS) DSC 76:42:44 + 02:04:39
91 J. Posthuma (NED) RAB 76:42:49 + 02:04:44
92 J. Flecha (ESP) RAB 76:43:00 + 02:04:55
93 J. Pineau (FRA) BTL 76:43:43 + 02:05:38
94 C. Vasseur (FRA) QSI 76:44:01 + 02:05:56
95 P. Tiralongo (ITA) LAM 76:46:05 + 02:08:00
96 R. Ricco (ITA) SDV 76:46:23 + 02:08:18
97 M. Velo (ITA) MRM 76:47:08 + 02:09:03
98 B. Vaugrenard (FRA) FDJ 76:47:48 + 02:09:43
99 A. Moos (SUI) PHO 76:48:26 + 02:10:21
100 N. Portal (FRA) CEI 76:52:26 + 02:14:21
101 R. Grabsch (GER) MRM 76:52:38 + 02:14:33
102 C. Knees (GER) MRM 76:53:15 + 02:15:10
103 N. Jalabert (FRA) PHO 76:53:24 + 02:15:19
104 O. Freire Gomez (ESP) RAB 76:53:52 + 02:15:47
105 J. Rujano Guillen (VEN) QSI 76:54:16 + 02:16:11
106 R. Scholz (GER) GST 76:54:49 + 02:16:44
107 B. Eisel (AUT) FDJ 76:55:20 + 02:17:15
108 G. Larsson (SWE) FDJ 76:56:45 + 02:18:40
109 M. Aerts (BEL) DVL 76:56:51 + 02:18:46
110 D. Lopez Garcia (ESP) EUS 76:57:53 + 02:19:48
111 B. Grabsch (GER) PHO 76:59:32 + 02:21:27
112 W. Bénéteau (FRA) BTL 77:02:12 + 02:24:07
113 B. Tankink (NED) QSI 77:02:26 + 02:24:21
114 R. Hunter (RSA) PHO 77:03:59 + 02:25:54
115 L. Paolini (ITA) LIQ 77:04:15 + 02:26:10
116 J. Garcia Acosta (ESP) CEI 77:05:34 + 02:27:29
117 J. Van Summeren (BEL) DVL 77:05:40 + 02:27:35
118 R. McEwen (AUS) DVL 77:07:21 + 02:29:16
119 E. Gonzalo Ramirez (ESP) AGR 77:08:15 + 02:30:10
120 S. Hinault (FRA) C.A 77:08:37 + 02:30:32
121 S. Dumoulin (FRA) A2R 77:08:56 + 02:30:51
122 M. Albasini (SUI) LIQ 77:09:04 + 02:30:59
123 M. Mugerli (SLO) LIQ 77:09:12 + 02:31:07
124 V. Pena Grisales (COL) PHO 77:09:40 + 02:31:35
125 F. Brard (FRA) CEI 77:09:47 + 02:31:42
126 T. Hushovd (NOR) C.A 77:10:41 + 02:32:36
127 B. Wiggins (GBR) COF 77:12:19 + 02:34:14
128 C. Laurent (FRA) AGR 77:12:29 + 02:34:24
129 U. Etxebarria (VEN) EUS 77:12:37 + 02:34:32
130 J. Dean (NZL) C.A 77:15:02 + 02:36:57
131 S. O'Grady (AUS) CSC 77:16:26 + 02:38:21
132 P. Calcagni (SUI) LIQ 77:16:35 + 02:38:30
133 D. Righi (ITA) LAM 77:16:51 + 02:38:46
134 M. Tosatto (ITA) QSI 77:17:02 + 02:38:57
135 A. Charteau (FRA) C.A 77:17:55 + 02:39:50
136 P. Gilbert (BEL) FDJ 77:19:53 + 02:41:48
137 A. Coyot (FRA) COF 77:20:21 + 02:42:16
138 C. Mengin (FRA) FDJ 77:21:12 + 02:43:07
139 K. Carlstrom (FIN) LIQ 77:21:45 + 02:43:40
140 C. Coutouly (FRA) AGR 77:23:56 + 02:45:51
141 F. Pozzato (ITA) QSI 77:24:04 + 02:45:59
142 P. Wrolich (AUT) GST 77:24:16 + 02:46:11
143 S. Augé (FRA) COF 77:31:00 + 02:52:55
144 A. Hernandez (ESP) EUS 77:35:51 + 02:57:46
145 J. Casper (FRA) COF 77:39:48 + 03:01:43
146 G. Steegmans (BEL) DVL 77:42:55 + 03:04:50
147 W. Vansevenant (BEL) DVL 77:43:36 + 03:05:31

[Wumpus]

Anyone have a link to the up-to-the-minute GC standings? WTF can't I find one???

http://www.letour.fr/2006/TDF/LIVE/us/0/index.html

[Cant Climb]

And yeah, he didn't have lots of his team guys around - just Axel putting up a valiant effort. But its not like he was alone in the wind, he was following wheels all day. Having team members set a high pace to soften the group and prevent attacks only works if you can stay on the wheels without getting into the red zone. Even if he had a guy like Heras to keep a high tempo, I have to ask if Landis would be able to follow and, if he could, if he would have anything left to make a final surge.

I think he has been wearing down because of day after day after day of attacks. Some of which he couldnt respond to without the team. He just had to sit back and watch it go on, it has given alot of riders and teams the confidence to go on the offensive......today it all came to a head. Yesterday he led out and got to a waiting Axel who was lost in space and that allowed the guy behind him to get back on his wheel....

[The Toninator]

5 minutes ago<--------->Wumpus

[Wumpus]

5 minutes ago<--------->Wumpus

I was just providing what he asked for. Maybe you won't be around tomorrow to help out. :D

Anyone have a link to the up-to-the-minute GC standings? WTF can't I find one???

[OGRipper]

I think he has been wearing down because of day after day after day of attacks. Some of which he couldnt respond to without the team. He just had to sit back and watch it go on, it has given alot of riders and teams the confidence to go on the offensive......today it all came to a head. Yesterday he led out and got to a waiting Axel who was lost in space and that allowed the guy behind him to get back on his wheel....

True enough. But still, even if he had a team guy to mark the attacks, he would need to follow, and eventually the team guys drop off anyway. Either something went wrong (like a stomach thing, the hip, or who knows what) or he just didn't have the motor today. Totally understandable, just too bad.

Probably strayed too far from his "ride conservatively" strategy too. I mean, if he had been able to keep his usual pace he wouldn't have lost so much time. Instead he stayed with the contenders for as long as he could, then totally popped. If he was riding conservatively he would have let them go earlier and minimized his losses.

But I have to say, I don't ever want to play poker with Landis. His face gives nothing away. Makes me wonder how much he's been suffering so far - everyone's been saying he's not been under pressure because he always looks calm. Well, he looked calm today too, even when he was going backwards.

[The Toninator]

I was just providing what he asked for. Maybe you won't be around tomorrow to help out. :D

sorry had a whole bunch of those laying around and had to do something with them.
t

[The Toninator]

But I have to say, I don't ever want to play poker with Landis. His face gives nothing away. Makes me wonder how much he's been suffering so far - everyone's been saying he's not been under pressure because he always looks calm. Well, he looked calm today too, even when he was going backwards.
i wanted to say something yesterday but didnt wana look dumb but a 'strong' guy would have made the break instead of just gapping when they were attacking him yesterday. I dont think he had that good of a day yesterday which let to the crack today.

[Cant Climb]

Makes me wonder how much he's been suffering so far - everyone's been saying he's not been under pressure because he always looks calm. Well, he looked calm today too, even when he was going backwards.

He rides with no wasted motion, gives the illussion he's not suffering.
His upper body is silent.

Others guys get to rocking back and forth, bobbing their head, and frothing at the mouth.

[Jeremy R]

He rides with no wasted motion, gives the illussion he's not suffering.
His upper body is silent.

Others guys get to rocking back and forth, bobbing their head, and frothing at the mouth.

Yep, plus, he does not have that super quick acceleration, so even when he responds to attacks, he just spins back up to them as opposed to looking aggressive.
I honestly do not think he did anything wrong stategy wise.
He wasted as little energy as he possibly could leading up to today, and then just cracked like Anne Heche out of nowhere.

[Westy]

Yep, plus, he does not have that super quick acceleration, so even when he responds to attacks, he just spins back up to them as opposed to looking aggressive.
I honestly do not think he did anything wrong stategy wise.
He wasted as little energy as he possibly could leading up to today, and then just cracked like Anne Heche out of nowhere.


Must have bonked or got dehydrated, can't really come up with any other explaination on why he would lose it so bad. If he was just plain tired he could have minimized the loss. Well that or everyone else got a kilo of coke and some freshly picked adrenal glands at the feed zone.

[Cant Climb]

Well that or everyone else got a kilo of coke and some freshly picked adrenal glands at the feed zone.

or a couple pints of 'thick blood' last nite....

[Jeremy R]

Must have bonked or got dehydrated, can't really come up with any other explaination on why he would lose it so bad. If he was just plain tired he could have minimized the loss. Well that or everyone else got a kilo of coke and some freshly picked adrenal glands at the feed zone.

Yeah exactly, there is a big difference between not being able to hold onto a wheel for a stage and what happened to Landis today.
Take Menchov for instance, yesterday, he went off the back and suffered like a dog, but he only lost about a minute or so to Landis.
Today he must have rolled over a landmine.

[Cant Climb]

Yeah exactly, there is a big difference between not being able to hold onto a wheel for a stage and what happened to Landis today.
Take Menchov for instance, yesterday, he went off the back and suffered like a dog, but he only lost about a minute or so to Landis.
Today he must have rolled over a landmine.

I would bet dehydration. Has been very hot. His useless team :mumble: didnt shuttle up enough water bottles over the last week.

[Jeremy R]

I would bet dehydration. Has been very hot. His useless team :mumble: didnt shuttle up enough water bottles over the last week.


Could be, I did a two and half hour MTB ride last night out at Paris Mountain in the 96 degree heat, and I emptied a 100 oz bladder camelback in no time.
I could not even imagine how much those cats have to drink during a stage.

[robdamanii]

Could be, I did a two and half hour MTB ride last night out at Paris Mountain in the 96 degree heat, and I emptied a 100 oz bladder camelback in no time.
I could not even imagine how much those cats have to drink during a stage.

If you caught the post-race stuff on OLN, they showed Landis in the front seat of the team car, and he was downing bottle after bottle of fluid. It honestly looked like an alcoholic in a bar with free beer.

[sanjuro]

Are you kidding?
You gotta think back to all those tours when Pantani was attacking was forcing Armstrong to chase all day. It even led to Armstrong cracking bad on that last climb up to Joux-plane that day.
Luckily his lead was already so huge that it did not matter.
Armstrong was alone a lot in his tour victories, but he always had the motor. The same with Indurain. He destroyed them with his legs.
If it was the the Team that really mattered, then Discovery would be leading the Tour right now.;)
That's why I said 5 of his tours it made a difference. The first one Armstrong had to fend off Pantini, and last year's he was isolated frequently. I think guys like Popoych and Savoldelli do not have what it takes to be Tour contenders.

When Heras was racing for USPS, how many times did you see him leading Lance up the climbs? And, during the years with the Team Time Trial, USPS/Discovery won or lost only seconds.

But at some point, a team leader has to go on his own. Landis could not stay with the accelation, and off the back he went.

[Cant Climb]

Could be, I did a two and half hour MTB ride last night out at Paris Mountain in the 96 degree heat, and I emptied a 100 oz bladder camelback in no time.
I could not even imagine how much those cats have to drink during a stage.

Tonite i am riding some of the MTB trails Floyd raced on as a young'n 10-12 years ago......will weeping the whole way. :dead:

[OGRipper]

A few quotes from Landis:

"Sometimes you don't feel well, and sometimes it's on the wrong day," said Landis, who plummeted to 11th overall at 8:08. "Today was not a good day to have a bad day. What can I say?

"I don't think it was a problem of not eating enough. I just wasn't good from the beginning.... A lot of times I feel that way and I come around at the end. There was never a flat part for 15 minutes where I could recover. I think I would have been better off, but that's how it goes."

"I was struggling even on the climbs before that," Landis said. "I tried to hide it, but I wasn't good, and then on the last climb there was only a certain speed I could go, which wasn't very fast."

Cyclingnews.com has an interview: http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2006/tour06/?id=/riders/2006/interviews/floyd_landis_tdf306

[sanjuro]

Well, I read the interview, and it was all class: no complaints no whining and "What is he thinking?": the next two stages!

[Westy]

Well, I read the interview, and it was all class: no complaints no whining and "What is he thinking?": the next two stages!
Definately a class guy, no excuses like "my brakes were rubbing". A couple of my old school MTB friends raced with him back in the day and have nothing but good things to say about the guy. I couldn't stand to watch the end of the stage on my DVR.

[Silver]

That was a brutal bonk. I feel really bad for Floyd.

Here's hoping for a miracle tomorrow and then a huge TT...

[Westy]

That was a brutal bonk. I feel really bad for Floyd.

Here's hoping for a miracle tomorrow and then a huge TT...

As tragic as it was for Floyd today imagine how Kloden will feel if Freir holds on to yellow. He would have lost the race because they sat up while Freir was on a breakaway. The Jan himself couldn't have ****ed it up any better.

Edit: Whoops Freir Ferero, who ever that Oscar guy with the yellow shirt is.

[Wumpus]

As tragic as it was for Floyd today imagine how Kloden will feel if Freir holds on to yellow. He would have lost the race because they sat up while Freir was on a breakaway. The Jan himself couldn't have ****ed it up any better.

Edit: Whoops Freir Ferero, who ever that Oscar guy with the yellow shirt is.


Oscar Pereiro (Caisse d'Epargne)

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2006/tour06/tour0616/S-PEREIROGIALLOB3387.jpg

or

Oscar Freire (Rabobank)

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2006/tour06/tour065/JD_06TDFstg5013.jpg

[brungeman]

Definately a class guy, no excuses like "my brakes were rubbing". A couple of my old school MTB friends raced with him back in the day and have nothing but good things to say about the guy. I couldn't stand to watch the end of the stage on my DVR.

I have told this story a hundred times if I have told it once...

Here in Western PA a bunch of years back there were a few good races at some local ski resorts. My friends and I would race the beginner and sport class and then hang around to watch the "Pro" class... one year as we are watching the Pro's first lap here comes this "nobody" out of the woods first... He pulls a wheelie, takes one hand off the bar and waves to the crowd as he passed the start finish line... I swear he did it on every lap... he was just having a great time playing around and riding his bike! He was a kid having fun and riding strong. It really enhanced the party atmosphere of the "Fat tire fallout" weekend.

What a great rider and class act. I know it will be tough for him but I hope it comes around for him and he can climb back into a podium finish!

[The Toninator]

I have a shot of him wheeling up a short steep climb. I was like big deal i can do that. Same race this line was over heard "full postal? who does that guy think he is LA?" hahahahhahahhhahah.
then noticed 3 or 4 underweight guys standing around laughing at the guy. then chechu comes through, knob. It was cool meetting all of those guys. I wish i had known a little more about the 'team'. cuz i had plenty of time to hang out and talk with them.
i got some cool shots of lance at the race too.