View Full Version : Tour de France started today
I didn't know if anyone else was interested, but the TdF started today. Lance Armstrong is going for the 7th win in a row. He finished 2nd in the 1st stage, a Time Trial. Any other cyclists out there?
:bicycle:
Blue70
07-02-2005, 12:52 PM
Any other cyclists out there?
:bicycle:
I'm in no shape to exercise :rolleyes5: :icon_razz
I do hope Lance wins again :icon996:
formula
07-02-2005, 09:51 PM
i saw him win the first 3 from the top of the arc de triomphe in downtown paris...
go lance! :bananna2:
ZZ430
07-02-2005, 10:42 PM
I've followed cycling for many years, did a little club racing myself way back when.
I never miss the tour on TV,or the Giro and Vuelta either!
What a fantastic rider Lance is......
His critics though are trying everything they can to put a damper on this, the doping allegations for instance. HE'S NEVER FAILED A TEST!
Others say he devotes the entire season to Le Tour, and that's why he's so dominant. The truth is.,he trains harder, and has a better team around him.
In the short prolog TT today, he overtook and beat Ulrich by 66 seconds!
As a climber, nobody does it better over the long haul! Those little Spaniard riders better prepare to get shown his wheel again this year up the big passes.
He's no slouch in a sprint either when he wants to.
I guess you don't have to be a cyclist to live in Colorado Springs, but you may as well be!
Kenova
07-03-2005, 04:55 PM
It wasn't untill he (Lance) won his fourth of fifth that I started paying attention. I normally don't follow the cycling world, but Lance commands such respect for his for his accomplishments, despite some of the road blocks that life has thrown in the way.
It's been written that the secret to his success since fighting cancer has been his training. I've read that the normal training method is very intensive. When Lance ressumed cycling after the cancer, he didn't have the strength for the intensive training, so he trained slower but longer, thereby building up more indurance. Let's face it, when you're peddling your butt up a mountain strength doesn't meen a thing without endurance.
Ken
baz67
07-03-2005, 08:00 PM
They should rename it Tour de Lance.
jeffandre
07-04-2005, 06:01 AM
I love watching the Tour, especially when the final kilometers are tight with racers fighting for the lead at the end of each stage. Lance did kick ass when he gained 66 seconds on Ulrich! I hope he gets his 7th, and although he says he will be done I hope he races other events around the world. What a comeback from multiple cancers!!!
So far all three stages have been tight with a sprint finish. Well, except for the TT, which is a sprint from start to finish. It was awsome to see Lance catch, and pass, Ulrich in the TT. It was the first time anyone had caught Ulrich in a TT. Don't you know he was hatin' life!:bicycle:
jeffandre
07-04-2005, 10:03 AM
So far all three stages have been tight with a sprint finish. Well, except for the TT, which is a sprint from start to finish. It was awsome to see Lance catch, and pass, Ulrich in the TT. It was the first time anyone had caught Ulrich in a TT. Don't you know he was hatin' life!:bicycle:
I loved that TT last year, hope Lance can do it again. I hope he kicks butt in the hills again, I would love to see him go out in style with a field separation like never before. The cycling world will be fairly open once Lance stops doing the Tour de France. I hope another American can step in for a while...
scogin918
07-04-2005, 10:59 AM
i do mainly triathlons. Lance started down that same path and was really good at it. i think he moved to cycling full time because of the possibility of making the Olympics. At the time, triathlon was not an Olympic sport.
I do (did) Tri's too. This spring and summer have been so busy my training has suffered, so no Tri's this year. A good friend of mine is one of the original 15 Ironmen. Lance did great at triathlons, but he made a good choice. Lance brought awareness of cycling to the US.
ZZ430
07-04-2005, 02:15 PM
I guess you don't have to be a cyclist to live in Colorado Springs, but you may as well be!
Yeah, as you know, Colo Spgs is the hot bed of US amateur cycling, with the Olympic Training Center, and the headquarters of US Cycling.
We've had the world track championships here a couple of times.
Every day (year round), you'll see future champions training on the streets and mountains.
I started riding Colnago, Gios, Masi.....this was before the Shimano components got to be world class. All "Campy" was the thing back then.
I liked what the Italians could do with some Colombus tubing and a torch....that's what I call craftsmanship. Of course all the composites these days are lightyears ahead of anything we could dream of back then..
BTW, did you see Cipo at the Tour of Georgia when he raced a couple of years ago?
did you see Cipo at the Tour of Georgia when he raced a couple of years ago?
No, I wasn't able to get to any of the stages last year. I made sure to get to one this year, but I was close to the start and the peleton was just a big mass flying by! You couldn't make out who was who. It was cool to see, though. I wish I could have gotten to a mountain stage and parked myself on a climb.
Paddington
07-07-2005, 01:27 PM
Well I am going to buy some of Lance`s books I hear they are great.
malibu9in
07-07-2005, 02:20 PM
Imo he is one of the best atheltes ever. No b.s. drama like the nba and nfl
jeffandre
07-07-2005, 02:46 PM
Imo he is one of the best atheltes ever. No b.s. drama like the nba and nfl
Although to listen to the competitors there is defintely some drama going on, but there is also a lot more chivalry in cycling than one will ever find in the mainstream sports (football, baseball, hockey). I hope Lance wins by the largest margin yet! I also hope he does some other Tour events in the future, maybe one's that really focus on climbing and less on sprinting, if there are any that is.
scogin918
07-07-2005, 03:39 PM
I do (did) Tri's too. This spring and summer have been so busy my training has suffered, so no Tri's this year. A good friend of mine is one of the original 15 Ironmen. Lance did great at triathlons, but he made a good choice. Lance brought awareness of cycling to the US.
Same here. i'm trying to focus on getting this car done. I still run and have the Cannondale on the trainer to stay in shape, but no swimming whatsoever. i almost dread having to get back in the water when the time comes.
Damn True
07-11-2005, 11:39 AM
I am an absolutely rabid fan of cycling and do a bit of NORBA DH racing myself.
A couple of thoughts:
5 Americans in the top 20 as of today.
2 Americans have held the Yellow this year.
Lance is about to eclipse Bernard Hinault's record for days in Yellow.
France hosts the 2 greatest events in sport:
Tour de France
24 Hours of LeMans
(Honorable mention to Paris-Roubaix)
Other than that I pretty much have no use for the country.
We should take france away from the french and use it as a cycling training center and pastry shop!
Damn True
07-11-2005, 11:51 AM
LOL,
If I ever get absurdly wealthy I plan to move to Tuscany and host American Junior riders in the winter.
C'mon CA lottery!
You forgot the Paris to Dakar race. Unfortunately, two died on bikes this past year and it was Alfie Cox last year to ride it. Hope Lance does it again.
Damn True
07-11-2005, 12:05 PM
It dosent start in Paris any more.
http://www.dakar.com/2006/presentation/us/r1_parcours.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_Dakar_Rally
wantahertzdonut
07-14-2005, 07:11 AM
I'm more of a mountain biker but I'm glad that Lance has brought publicity to what is a very great sport. I've been riding all my life and competing since I was 12 (well I've stopped that now for a few reasons) but still ride at least a few times a week. I'd really like to see Lance get 7 although my fear is after he retires the sport will lose whatever bit of a spotlight that it has now.
I can only follow it so much, my local cable provider doesn't have OLN as part of it's regular programming. I need to step up 2 packages just to get one channel!
That's too bad. OLNs coverage is excellent. It's as good as any sporting event coverage I've seen. Great play-by-play from commentators that know the sport of cycling inside out. Camera angles that the riders themselves wouldn't even see. Like Lances face for instance! There are a few Americans that, while they won't take Lance's place, would be worth watching.
Jagarang
07-14-2005, 08:44 AM
Jim.....
You must pull some wicked launches off those sick crater lips! You don't need to worry about spending any extra cash on titanium or aluminum frames, that's sweet!
wantahertzdonut
07-15-2005, 10:13 AM
Jagarang- which Jim are you talking to? 69rs or me?
You're the one on the moon!:slap:
wantahertzdonut
07-18-2005, 10:44 AM
Ok, I was just making sure!
*now feels dumb* hahaha
Martin71RS
07-21-2005, 12:07 AM
NANTERRE, France, July 20th 2005
Lance Armstrong may be stripped of his seventh Tour de France title.
In a random check for banned substances, French authorities found three substances in Armstrong's hotel room that are banned by the French:
Toothpaste, deodorant, and soap.
J/K :lmao:
jeffandre
07-21-2005, 09:14 AM
I knew he was using something! He is the greatest endurance athlete of our time, too bad he is retiring after this race, wonder if he can race in the Olympics now? It has been very entertaining learning about team cycling over the past 5 years or so. I love it when Lance hangs with his main rivals and then pulls away ont he final climb to spread his time gap a bit, that has to be somewhat demoralizing.
Paddington
07-22-2005, 12:05 PM
This year a Norweagian has the green sprint jersey ,we are happy aswell.
Go Lance and Thor Hushovd
By now, we all know that Lance is "Da Man"!:icon996: :hail: :1st:x 7! It sucks that he is retired. He will be missed.
wantahertzdonut
07-27-2005, 06:03 AM
I agree, it will suck to see him gone. But I think he made a good move on retiring now. I'm surprised he came back to do a 7th because 6 wins is a feat in itself. Seven wins will be a record that will stand for a long, long time I'm sure. He chose to leave while he's on top and I think it's a good way to go. I'm just glad that he brought a lot of good attention to cycling in the US, now maybe people won't be so inclined to run me over when I'm out for a ride!
I'm hoping he'll start doing some of the classic races, and perhaps he'll do the olympics as well, but who knows. I'm sure we'll be seeing him doing commercials for Nike for a while if nothing else.
Sometimes when I'm riding, people will yell "Go Lance!" as they ride by! I can see how they would make that mistake, as Lance and I look similar in that we are both........male. I'm short and stocky (read fat) and ride old equipment. He isn't and doesn't. Oh well, his influence is felt.
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