Tour de France

[Damn True]

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]

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

[TonyHuntimer]

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]

Blasphemy!

[ZZ430]

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!

[69rs]

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.

[ZZ430]

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!

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

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

[Damn True]

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]

Blasphemy!

ROFL!

Tony Huntimer
RaceHome.com

[scogin918]

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]

Goooooo, Floyd.

Mary Pozzi

[Damn True]

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]

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]

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]

L'alp d Huez today!

[ZZ430]

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

[Roadrage David]

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

[ZZ430]

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]

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]

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.