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Each summer I try to clear time for the Tour de France. This year my life has not cooperated. Work and other things have kept me busy; too busy to watch and comment on the tour as usual.
A couple of interesting thoughts. First, Schelck is one interesting bearer of the maillot jaune. Towards the end of the stage today he sent Paul and Phil into paroxysms of shock when he dropped back to the team car. Surely he was injured? Or perhaps had a mechanical? What other possible reason could Schleck have for drooping back? Laurent Fignon thought doing so was “playing with fire.” So what was he doing? He was hungry and thirsty and decided to get some chow and a water bottle. Hard to believe. That is the job of a domestique! It is surprising, and it does risk a fall, or missing an attack etc. Very weird.
The other weird thing was watching Schleck and AC doing track stands as they marked each other going up the climb. In some ways it seems foolish, a s they had a lead on the remaining peloton of leaders and their little stunts allowed the group to catch them again and even to pass them, which is how Menchov got back in to the top three. But IMO, their posturing for each other shows just how dominant the two of them are in this race. While there are many interesting story lines still developing here, there is only a two-man race for yellow. Andy and AC are closely matched in the mountains. AC will still try to show something, but he is ultimately counting on the final ITT to carry him to victory.
Finally, an article about Lemond caught my eye and I thought it was worth mentioning. Lemond has been very critical of Armstrong for the last 7 years or so. Lemond has been subpoenaed to testify in a grand jury proceeding. IN this article he predicts the investigation is serious and will bring Armstrong to an end, whatever that means. None of this is new. He has been a bitter over the hill rider for a few years now. IN this article, linked below, there are other interesting claims, such as:
1. Contador is a dopeur (based on the fact that he has climbed faster than anyone else ever)
2. Armstrong has been ‘threatening’ Landis and his friends if he revealed the truth
3. Even though he clearly has strong opinions and feelings, he had NOT decided if he would appear for his testimony
4. Armstrong might or might not participate in the investigation
5. Armstrong implies that LEMOND doped in 1989, presumably in order to win the final ITT against Fignon! Just imagine if that was true.
Lance is sitting up in the stages and claims the investigation is not bothering him, but it is hard to imagine it wouldn’t.
Tomorrow the Pyrenees continue. Maybe AC or Andy will try something big.
http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/...mstrong_129823
A couple of interesting thoughts. First, Schelck is one interesting bearer of the maillot jaune. Towards the end of the stage today he sent Paul and Phil into paroxysms of shock when he dropped back to the team car. Surely he was injured? Or perhaps had a mechanical? What other possible reason could Schleck have for drooping back? Laurent Fignon thought doing so was “playing with fire.” So what was he doing? He was hungry and thirsty and decided to get some chow and a water bottle. Hard to believe. That is the job of a domestique! It is surprising, and it does risk a fall, or missing an attack etc. Very weird.
The other weird thing was watching Schleck and AC doing track stands as they marked each other going up the climb. In some ways it seems foolish, a s they had a lead on the remaining peloton of leaders and their little stunts allowed the group to catch them again and even to pass them, which is how Menchov got back in to the top three. But IMO, their posturing for each other shows just how dominant the two of them are in this race. While there are many interesting story lines still developing here, there is only a two-man race for yellow. Andy and AC are closely matched in the mountains. AC will still try to show something, but he is ultimately counting on the final ITT to carry him to victory.
Finally, an article about Lemond caught my eye and I thought it was worth mentioning. Lemond has been very critical of Armstrong for the last 7 years or so. Lemond has been subpoenaed to testify in a grand jury proceeding. IN this article he predicts the investigation is serious and will bring Armstrong to an end, whatever that means. None of this is new. He has been a bitter over the hill rider for a few years now. IN this article, linked below, there are other interesting claims, such as:
1. Contador is a dopeur (based on the fact that he has climbed faster than anyone else ever)
2. Armstrong has been ‘threatening’ Landis and his friends if he revealed the truth
3. Even though he clearly has strong opinions and feelings, he had NOT decided if he would appear for his testimony
4. Armstrong might or might not participate in the investigation
5. Armstrong implies that LEMOND doped in 1989, presumably in order to win the final ITT against Fignon! Just imagine if that was true.
Lance is sitting up in the stages and claims the investigation is not bothering him, but it is hard to imagine it wouldn’t.
Tomorrow the Pyrenees continue. Maybe AC or Andy will try something big.
http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/...mstrong_129823
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