Now, let's talk some TOUR de FRANCE

And another question regarding another quote from the same article.

"Despite not being a threat in the general classification, the Italian was soon pulled back after Armstrong's bizarre counter-attack and even gestured in frustration when he saw the American at his side."

Why would the "Italian" be so upset at Lance? Just because Lance wouldn't let him win? That seems like a pretty childish attitude, doesn't it? Why would anyone think they have a right to win if they are not the best rider? It's like the Italian is saying, "Oh come on - let me win for a change". Am I reading this right?

 

that wouldnt happen in Lance's team. The reason Lance went by himself is because all the other racers knew what he was doing, and he would go back to the group afterward, and almost all support him, not the Italian. Plus the race is over now he is something like 4 minuets ahead in time(over 3 weeks,only 2 days left)if you are talking about another team, it is because The Tour is the biggest race of the year(most sponsorship,money)and a race win can generate money for the team. also if one person catches the break-away group he may have a team-mate he can work with. and another reason is, because it is such a long race, the riders in the lead group could still be 30 mins. behind the leaders, so they wont worry about them.

 

Regarding my first question about why let a teammate attack the pack, I wasn't talking about today's race, but just in general. I still don't understand the advantage to the team leader if he let's a teammate attack the lead group. It still leaves the team leader in the peloton.

 

thats because Lance should be professional and not concern himself with personal problems. if it was any other rider that far behind him in time, he would have just let him go. by Lance being their the Italian knew the other riders in that group would blame him when the other lead riders eventually decided that Lance wasnt coming back. Lance would only go back to the pack if the Italian came with him

 

Yes, I understand why Lance chased him down, and I agree that was probably not the right thing to do. But still, I don't think anyone has a right to complain about someone else not letting him win! No one has a right to win a race unless he is the best rider. Both are wrong here.

 

the only team that will not do that is Lance's, they are only there for him. other teams do it for the glory of a stage win.

 

you are right. but, its not the done thing. to a racer it is bizarre
EDIT the only reason he did it was because he does not like the man. nothing to do with racing

 

OK. Regarding today's race, if Lance were to have stayed in the breakaway group, why would that have prompted others in the Peloton to chase the breakaway group down? If your in the Peloton, and NOT in the breakaway group, your not going to win the stage anyway. So what does it matter where Lance is?

 

they are doing it for themselves, i think there's a song in there somewhere, to maybe get a win, and for the team to get the team noticed. but maybe not for their team leader.

 

because the riders that are 5-10 behind Lance have a duty to race him, it's their job. and the German racer Jan Ullrich, he is thought of as the greatest talent in the world, he's just not as strong mentally as Lance, has a very outside chance of beating Lance in the time-trial, when they set off by themselves and race against the clock tomorrow(today)

 

time-trial Lance and Ullrich, next stage...
http://www.sportsline.com/cycling/stages/details/19

 

I'm still trying to figure out where the US Postal Service got the money to sponser the Armstrong team in the first place.

big ed

 

Do you buy stamps?? I say that only half in jest. I think lot of folks in the ol' USA have asked your very question of themselves....and probably even louder to the USPS. The Service always carps about deficits and then requests rate increases; yet money magically appears for big-time sponsorship of pro bicycling.

Don't know whether or not there's a connection, but I did hear in Friday's TV coverage that the USPS is pulling out of Le Tour after this year.

 

So true! Been waiting for Detusch Post to begin sponsoring a team...

 

Not on the moon, but this Armstrong did it today again in France.

 

And it wasn't even close. Wow.

 

it was sad to see the French rider, Voeckler, lose his white jersey.
the white jersey

 

If he takes care of his body we will hear more from him the years to come.

 

you are probably right

 

Yeah, but he may need bodyguards in France.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1541&e=1&u=/afp/cycling_tour_fra

 

Miguel Indurain reigned so completely over the Tour that he won five in a row...
Indurain possessed an extraordinary lung capacity, a resting heart rate—28 beats per minute—that would qualify most humans as dead
Tour de France Living Legends

 

Dead....or not human.

 

A phenomenal athletic/psychological/medical achievement. It will take the rear view mirror of history to analyze it properly and put it into proper context.