Tdf 2008

[JoeTruth]

Semi-spoiler so don't read, if you don't want to know and want to be completely surprised...













Today's Stage 9 through the Pyrenees was the kind of racing I've been itching to see and haven't yet, until today. The attack on the last cat-2 climb by the Cobra (R.R.) was HUGE and very impressive. Wow, he's a force to reckon with in future on Le Tour, baring juicing and injuries, of course. People are taking notice of this kid and for good reason. Good stuff!
(Damn, I hope he's clean and pure. We don't need any more Schumacher stories this year or ever.)

Tomorrow's a HUGE day. Hope he saved some of that explosiveness and energy for it.

[scottay]

Yeah, I was rooting for him, need a new hero since Contador and Boonen are out. Finally some good racing.
But he's like 4 mins. back. Not worth chasing just yet. 10 days from now, I bet whole teams will be keeping him in check. Was it CSC who had three riders up front? I bet they could've caught him on the climb, but it wasnt worth the effort, he not a threat (YET!)

Like Vandevelde said, tomorrow will be the day of changes........

[jbh65]

tomorrow certainly could be an epic day. Will Cadel, Valverde show the field that this is their race? Will Vandevelde show he is in this to the end? Will team Columbia wilt under the pressure of the mountains?

Not since 1969 has rider won the Col du Tourmalet stage and won the overall yellow jersey in the same race.

[Man blong Gaua]

I am so very happy to have my internet connection back in action today! I was able to stop getting the bare essentials text message to my phone each day and spent the first hours of the morning catching up on all the action from the first 9 days of the tour via the VS channel online. There is nothing quite like the TDF Go Vandevelde!

[OffRoadie]

I was thinking today that it would have been super cool to have Boonen in the race this year and battling it out with Cavendish on the sprint stages. Quick-Step seems so pointless without Boonen, and Cavendish has won both true sprint finishes. What would happen it Boonen was there?

[Tedroy]

RR was really something today!

[roach]

Originally Posted by OffRoadie

... Cavendish has won both true sprint finishes. What would happen it Boonen was there?

Boonen would have got spanked. This is Cavendish's year.

[JoeTruth]

Favorite TDF expressions from Phil and Paul...

"He's cracked!"
"Heads of state are together"
"He's become unhitched"
"Oh, what do we have here, Paul!?"
"Their hitting him"
"He's taking a nature relief"
"He's climbed his way back"
"Phil: There he goes. He's attacking again! Paul: Actually, you're wrong, Phil. He's slipping off the back."

and last but not least...

"Just look at him climb up that mountain!!! He must've taken his EPO today!"

This years tour has been sort of dull. It's such a defensive tour with no one in the top 5 really attacking in the mountain stages. Damn it, legalize doping and let's see some serious accelerations again!

[Pain Freak]

I disagree Joe. I'm loving it as not one single rider stands out. I'm placing my mony on Andy Shleck next 4 years though. I just hope they can keep the brothers together on the same team.

Awesome climbing today. I couldn't help but wince when they showed the guys faces. Very happy for Carlos, talk about a pure climber! he just rode away from them.Probably strongest climber in the world right now (providing he passes the drug testing).

I'm now thinking our mountain biker representer Cadel Evans will not be able to make up the time needed in the TT to catch Carlos. There could be some more suprises coming up. 7 different yellow jersey riders so far!

[scottay]

" he's turning himself inside out....."
,
,

"he needs to find an autobus, because the train has left him...."
or something like that.
,

[ubermensch]

Originally Posted by Pain Freak

I disagree Joe. I'm loving it as not one single rider stands out. I'm placing my mony on Andy Shleck next 4 years though.

+3

The race is actually more exciting for me now (post lance era). And the drama doesn't bother me. I tune in to see people doing EXTRAordinary things, and the scandals make it that much more entertaining. I can see ordinary people doing ordinary things all the time.

Schleck vs. Basso in 09

[schleppp]

Originally Posted by roach

Boonen would have got spanked. This is Cavendish's year.

Cavendish is the best in the world with 200m to go! Not even close...

[ubermensch]

Originally Posted by schleppp

Cavendish is the best in the world with 200m to go! Not even close...

That's just what the commentators keep saying. Old McEwen is actually faster from what I see in the 200m. And if you count their pedal strokes during the sprint, both Boonen and Cav can only sprint with 15 or less pedal strokes. I've counted in the neighborhood of 18 from Hushovd and McEwen in some of their wins.

[schleppp]

Originally Posted by ubermensch

That's just what the commentators keep saying. Old McEwen is actually faster from what I see in the 200m. And if you count their pedal strokes during the sprint, both Boonen and Cav can only sprint with less than 15 pedal strokes. I've counted in the neighborhood of 18 from Hushovd and McEwen in some of their wins.

McEwen is my all time fav, but I don't think he can beat Cavendish all things being equal. At least not right now.

[JoeTruth]

I had not seen the final climb when I originally posted earlier and was not yet aware of the finish. I didn't read your post when you started talking about the days results. After seeing it now, I've had a change of heart.

Yes, Carlos was hot today and needed to attack as he needs a 2 minute buffer for what Cadel can do in the time trial come Saturday. That was a monstrous final attack and he went off! He's been in the top 10 since 2000-2001 so I wouldn't mind seeing him win. I'm also pulling for Cadel, just because he was so close last year and has worked so hard to get back to where he is now.

I forgot to acknowledge Andy Schleck earlier. That kid has been an anchor for Team CSC and his brother Frank. What a pure climbing machine who's always in the front of the pack! Him and his brother completely controlled the tempo during the last climb, minus the last 3 K's. Baring injuries and juicing, I can easily see him winning a tour or two in the next few years.

Saturday should be a hoot!

Originally Posted by Pain Freak

I disagree Joe. I'm loving it as not one single rider stands out. I'm placing my mony on Andy Shleck next 4 years though. I just hope they can keep the brothers together on the same team.

Awesome climbing today. I couldn't help but wince when they showed the guys faces. Very happy for Carlos, talk about a pure climber! he just rode away from them.Probably strongest climber in the world right now (providing he passes the drug testing).

I'm now thinking our mountain biker representer Cadel Evans will not be able to make up the time needed in the TT to catch Carlos. There could be some more suprises coming up. 7 different yellow jersey riders so far!

[dubjay]

Why does the TDF coverage on Versus have some many E.D. and male enhancement ads? Can't the sales folk find other advertisers?

[emfc]

All I notice is that annoying Saab Turbo commercial that they repeat themselves on. I am so sick on that commercial, good thing I Tevo and watch latter so I can fast forward through all the commercials.

[denmother]

Originally Posted by emfc

.., good thing I Tevo and watch latter so I can fast forward through all the commercials.

We're spoiled, we have Dish and a HD DVR unit. This is the only way I can watch TV any more (skipping commercials).

[JoeTruth]

Is there any other way to view the tube now-a-days? For those who don't utilize such technologies, you're really wasting precious time suffering through painful, redundant and exhausting commercials. Go Tivo/DVR technology!!!

Originally Posted by denmother

We're spoiled, we have Dish and a HD DVR unit. This is the only way I can watch TV any more (skipping commercials).

[ubermensch]

Originally Posted by JoeTruth

Is there any other way to view the tube now-a-days?

Two words: bit torrent.

Same idea as tivo/dvr, but with much better programming. It's the only way to watch obscure stuff, like the smaller European races, that we don't get here in the US.