Tour de France [Archive] - Pro-Touring.com

Damn True

07-13-2006, 09:20 PM

Totally geeked for cycling in general, and especially the TdF.

Man it was beautiful watching Landis and Leipheimmer today.

It would be better if the big 3 (Basso, Ulrich, Vino) were here but thus far the mountain stages have been more interesting than I had expected.

Levi is a great guy and I'd love to see him win, but I don't think he quite has what it takes to impose HIS will, so to speak, on the rest of the Peloton.

My pick is Landis.

Kloden blew up early but he climbs better in the Alps than the Pyrennes. He may be a threat, but not a big one.

Menchov looked really good today too. But I don't think Rabo has enough riders to control a race for a crack at the CG.

Damn True

07-14-2006, 06:50 AM

I love it when there is an American in Yellow on July 14th.

TonyHuntimer

07-14-2006, 07:19 AM

The TDF? Is that some kind of a 24hr enduro on Huffy's?

I've got a fever and I gotta have more tricycle bell.

:)
Tony Huntimer
RaceHome.com

Damn True

07-14-2006, 07:28 AM

Blasphemy!

ZZ430

07-14-2006, 03:57 PM

Hey! I remember a thread about the TDF last year too!

You might remember I'm a HUGE cycling fan, and still follow the pro races very closely.

After Lance did the impossible the last 7 years, I'm looking for another American to step up....Landis has his own team now and looks great!

He's a great climber and decent in the TTs and flat stages too.

Levy is right up there also.

Let's talk cycling! :headbang:

69rs

07-16-2006, 09:31 AM

My whole schedule of life has changed since last year. I was able to follow every day online live last year. I've only been able to catch a few reruns on OLN this year. :crying:

ZZ430

07-16-2006, 12:21 PM

Too bad Cipo is no longer racing TDF. I saw he was there as an announcer(?)

Love him or hate him, I think nobody has ever sprinted the last 100m with that speed! And the famous lead-outs by his team are legendary.

Zabel still looks quick too with his new team...riding Colnago! :1st:

(I've gotten over him being a former East german rider) :pat:

In the GC, I think Landis will be on the podium in Paris.

Damn True

07-16-2006, 01:07 PM

Cipo was amazing. He still holds the world record for speed on a flat surface set when he won the WC at Spa. I don't recall the exact figure but it was over 75kph. 78 I think

Not a nice guy though. I honestly think that Giovani Lombardi (Cipo's main leadout guy) was soley responsible for the last 4 years of Cipo's career. He was the only person who could keep Cipo's attitude in check. I saw Gio pull Cipo away on no less than 3 occasions and "straighten him out".

TonyHuntimer

07-16-2006, 01:35 PM

Blasphemy!

:seizure: ROFL!

Tony Huntimer
RaceHome.com

scogin918

07-16-2006, 03:28 PM

Vino did get hosed. All of those guys should still be riding until they are proven guilty, not before. If found guilty, then take away their wins. Out of the American riders that are left, LAndis looks best. What happened to Hincapie?

mpozzi

07-16-2006, 06:48 PM

Goooooo, Floyd.

Mary Pozzi

Damn True

07-17-2006, 04:13 PM

Just watched stage 9 off the Tivo.

Man that sprint was a mess.

Cipo & Giovani Lombardi could make a mint teaching some of these teams how to setup a leadout and sprint.

ZZ430

07-17-2006, 07:22 PM

Just watched stage 9 off the Tivo.

Man that sprint was a mess.

Cipo & Giovani Lombardi could make a mint teaching some of these teams how to setup a leadout and sprint.

How true! Those guys looked like amateurs out there.

Did you get a chance to see stage 14 yet?

On a fast descent, it wasn't pretty when Rik Verbrugghe (Cofidis), crashed hard over the guardrail while avoiding David Canada who crashed in front of him. Rik suffered a compound fracture of his femur. It was sticking out......rough way to go for sure.

David is also out with a collarbone.

Damn True

07-17-2006, 07:38 PM

Well I wouldn't call the sprinters ameteurs, but many of the teams definitely need some help in regard to leading out their man.

Damn True

07-18-2006, 10:25 AM

L'alp d Huez today!

ZZ430

07-18-2006, 07:19 PM

Landis back in yellow. To stay?

L'alpe d Huez is a killer....I remember a couple of years ago when they did a TT up there. Lance was spat on and harassed by Jan's fans.....somebody even pulled the cap off his head. He still won. That made some people mad.

Totally classless :box:

Roadrage David

07-19-2006, 06:21 AM

question fore the tdf ecsperds who was the GREATEST ever!!!!

ZZ430

07-19-2006, 07:00 AM

question fore the tdf ecsperds who was the GREATEST ever!!!!

Interesting.

I just saw a poll at Cycling News that asked that very question. Lance Armstrong was named by about 2/3 of the responders.

I voted for Eddy Merckx.....

Damn True

07-19-2006, 07:52 AM

Best climber - Fausto Coppi
Best sprinter - Mario Cipollini
Best Grand Tour Rider - Armstrong

But, Eddie Mercyx could do all of the above and win on any given day in any race/stage in the world.

scogin918

07-19-2006, 08:21 AM

So much for Landis. It looks like a Spaniard will win the Tour this year. It looks like Landis just didn't have enough gas for two grueling stages in a row.

Damn True

07-20-2006, 07:13 AM

Yes, yesterday Landis collapsed like a wet Saltine cracker. It was really sad to watch.

But today......I won't be a spoiler but someone was channeling Eddie Mercyx. Get home, watch le tour! Today was one of the most spectacular things I've ever seen.

ProStreet R/T

07-20-2006, 07:19 AM

scogin918

07-20-2006, 11:22 AM

I am more than happy to eat my words of yesterday. Landis IS THE MAN!

Damn True

07-20-2006, 11:25 AM

I am more than happy to eat my words of yesterday. Landis IS THE MAN!

Don't worry, you are in fine company. Phil Ligget, Paul Sherwin, Bob Roll and damn near anyone that watched stage 16 agreed.

We are all happily wrong. That was as close to a Mercyx or Coppi performance as any of us are likely to ever see.

The finest day of cycling I have ever witnessed.

cupcar

07-20-2006, 01:49 PM

:woot: count me in also i'm a cycling fan and i will be glued to the tube tonight.... if the dog is not taking up all the couch. mike.

Roadrage David

07-20-2006, 09:01 PM

Best climber - Fausto Coppi
Best sprinter - Mario Cipollini
Best Grand Tour Rider - Armstrong

But, Eddie Mercyx could do all of the above and win on any given day in any race/stage in the world. eczackly Eddie Mercs in contrarly to Armstrong would runn ""every race"" in europe tour the France Italy Spain runn all the races in belgium holland ecetera ecetera he practicaly was never off season HE WAS AND STILL IS THE GREATEST EVER:worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship:

Roadrage David

07-20-2006, 09:16 PM

ps and a big ps Landis comback performance was legendary seldom in the history of the TDF (whith the ecseption of a handfull)did we see sutch a display of personal comback greatness.. this is the stuff you only see in hollywood movies. landis was prased by 30 year old vet sportcomentators as a ecseptional racer. what he did yesterday afther his massif loss of the day before is just as great as winning the TDF imagine how his performance will be rated if he actualy winn the TDF................

Damn True

07-21-2006, 09:12 AM

Well if the first ITT is any indication he will in all likelyhood win.

Landis beat Sastre (by 1:10) and Pierero (by 1:30) handilly despite the fact that he changed bikes TWICE. If he does at least that well Saturday we will be hearing "The Star Spangled Banner" on the Champs Elysees for the EIGHTH year in a row. Something that makes me really rather happy.

Roadrage David

07-21-2006, 09:46 AM

and get this Eddy Merxs was the only one who betted a considereble amount of money on landis!!!winning yesterday against all ods, said on dutch tv bij michal bogaard from robobank.............

Damn True

07-21-2006, 09:50 AM

Eddy aparently had an extended conversation with Landis the night before.

Roadrage David

07-21-2006, 10:37 AM

hahahahahahahhah probely yes plus the old master hase the eye for it

Damn True

07-21-2006, 10:39 AM

Well his son Axel is one of Floyds domestiques, and the director sportiff for Phonak said that an extended private conversation had taken place between Eddie and Floyd

scogin918

07-22-2006, 05:21 AM

Speaking of Axel, I have a new-found respect for him. He truly showed what teamwork is all about by not leaving his team leader behind to suffer all alone. I hope Landis includes a big thank you to Axel should he go on to win tomorrow.

Damn True

07-22-2006, 05:26 AM

I'm watching the ITT right now! Can't wait to see how this all turns out.

Axel is a good domestique. With a father such as his he certainly has a source of info on how to do things "the right way."

mpozzi

07-22-2006, 02:46 PM

Landis is GONNA WIN!!!! Great time trial today.

Just stay upright, dude!!

Mary Pozzi

Damn True

07-22-2006, 10:07 PM

Oh man that was freakin fantastic!

Greg LeMond - gets shot and wins the Tour de France with birdshot still in his back.
Lance Armstrong - survives CANCER in his brain, lungs, and testicles and grabs SEVEN Tour de France victories.
Floyd Landis - has a hip that is litteraly rotting inside his body and wins the Tour de France.

The sport of cycling is about suffering. Winners are those who are best able to overcome suffering. Who better to exemplify this fact than LeMond, Armstrong and Landis?

mpozzi

07-23-2006, 09:12 AM

Hey True,

Got a question????? In the TV commentary yesterday, they said that Perrero (sp??) could sprint today and make up the deficit to win but that it wouldn't be in good taste. Curious to understand why the TdF folks wouldn't allow this to happen, or Perrero's team either?

Awesome finale today and both Dave and I watched it. He's hooked, too. How someone didn't crash near the end was beyond me.

Mary Pozzi

ZZ430

07-23-2006, 10:08 AM

Mary, It's an unspoken rule not to attack the yellow jersey on the last day. Professional etiquette I guess.

USA #1!!

Edit: I just saw you asked True, oops.

mpozzi

07-23-2006, 03:44 PM

Hi Don,

No problem answering and thanks. Great Tour. I read the Landis article in Sports Illustrated a few weeks ago and it gave readers a good understanding of this guy and how he got to be so good.

Thanks again,
Mary Pozzi

ProStreet R/T

07-27-2006, 10:46 AM

And now it starts....

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2006/jul06/jul27news3

BonzoHansen

07-27-2006, 10:51 AM

Uh-oh.....

neki67

07-27-2006, 10:55 AM

Damn True

07-27-2006, 10:59 AM

Jury is still out. They need to test the "B" sample. I think we still live in a society where one is innocent until proven guilty. Sadly, WADA, the IOC and UCI often don't think the same way.