Lance’s last hurrah was a bit sad. For the last few days before the stage he had been hanging at the back of the peloton, clearly planning doing something and clearly saving his legs for the effort. Even though TRS says that Levi is now the leader, the team was no more concerned about Levi’s ultimate place than it was about how may water bottles popo was going through each day. TRS was actually focused on Lance’s last ride.
When you are a great athlete, nay, a world-class elite athlete, and your skills begin to fade, do you become satisfied with moral victories? Do you become happy with competing, whether or not you win? Or do you just put a happy face on the situation and become a bitter old Lemond, I mean man?
Lance got into the break early and stayed away for the day. That he was able to stay away had less to do with anyone gifting him the escape than it id with his and his other escapees low GC standings and the desire of the big boys to have a quasi-rest day.
ON the last climb of the day, Lance made his big move. One more time he rose from the saddle and began his rhythmic dance on the pedals. One more time he willed himself to grab the day by the throat and ride away from the bunch. But it didn’t happen. Instead the other riders were able to stay with or near him. Moreover, the other riders weren’t guys named ullrich or mayo or even contador or Schleck, the guys were barredo and cunego.
Once over the Aubisque, Lance sat on the back of the break. He rarely did much work that was shown on the cameras (despite Phil saying he was doing his share, he clearly wasn’t). I imagined that the other riders were perplexed by his presence. He was, after all, the greatest Tour rider of his generation and yet there he was, with them, and unable to drop them. I think they subconsciously decided to ignore him and pretend he would go away. The dissonance was too great.
As the break came to the finish, Lance tried to sprint. It reminded me of the time he sprinted at the line and pipped Kloeden some years ago. This time, however, he wasn’t even an after thought. Fedrigo, cunego, and the rest all sprinted by and past him without much trouble. With about 50 meters to go, Lance sat up. It was finished. IN the end, Lance didn’t compete until the line, he didn’t even play into the result. He sat up and let it go.
Kudos to Chris Horner, a super domestique for hanging with Lance and doing whatever he could to help him win one more time. Horner deserves a bonus. More kudos to Barredo, who broke on his own and came THAT close to winning.
What happened to Didi Senft this year? I have only noticed him once on the road. Has anyone else seen him? It just isn’t right without the devil jumping on the shoulder.
How about a few huzzahs for Big Bert Grabsch, who has a thin two minute lead in the lanterne rouge competition. Given the size of Bert’s legs, I am guessing he builds on this lead over the Col de Tourmalet tomorrow.
The queen stage is upon us. The day begins with a cat 4 warm up followed by two cat one climbs and then the hors categoire Col De La Tourmalet. Schelck, with much candor, admitted that he must put time into Contador on the Tourmalet or he will not have a chance to win. He even admitted he needed a LOT of time. I doubt he can do it. But who knows? Maybe AC’s chain will break. Check your predictions and see if you have any chance for the victory.
After tomorrow there is a relatively flat roller giving the sprinters one last chance to shine before Paris, and then the ITT, which will set the order for the Champs Elysees.
When you are a great athlete, nay, a world-class elite athlete, and your skills begin to fade, do you become satisfied with moral victories? Do you become happy with competing, whether or not you win? Or do you just put a happy face on the situation and become a bitter old Lemond, I mean man?
Lance got into the break early and stayed away for the day. That he was able to stay away had less to do with anyone gifting him the escape than it id with his and his other escapees low GC standings and the desire of the big boys to have a quasi-rest day.
ON the last climb of the day, Lance made his big move. One more time he rose from the saddle and began his rhythmic dance on the pedals. One more time he willed himself to grab the day by the throat and ride away from the bunch. But it didn’t happen. Instead the other riders were able to stay with or near him. Moreover, the other riders weren’t guys named ullrich or mayo or even contador or Schleck, the guys were barredo and cunego.
Once over the Aubisque, Lance sat on the back of the break. He rarely did much work that was shown on the cameras (despite Phil saying he was doing his share, he clearly wasn’t). I imagined that the other riders were perplexed by his presence. He was, after all, the greatest Tour rider of his generation and yet there he was, with them, and unable to drop them. I think they subconsciously decided to ignore him and pretend he would go away. The dissonance was too great.
As the break came to the finish, Lance tried to sprint. It reminded me of the time he sprinted at the line and pipped Kloeden some years ago. This time, however, he wasn’t even an after thought. Fedrigo, cunego, and the rest all sprinted by and past him without much trouble. With about 50 meters to go, Lance sat up. It was finished. IN the end, Lance didn’t compete until the line, he didn’t even play into the result. He sat up and let it go.
Kudos to Chris Horner, a super domestique for hanging with Lance and doing whatever he could to help him win one more time. Horner deserves a bonus. More kudos to Barredo, who broke on his own and came THAT close to winning.
What happened to Didi Senft this year? I have only noticed him once on the road. Has anyone else seen him? It just isn’t right without the devil jumping on the shoulder.
How about a few huzzahs for Big Bert Grabsch, who has a thin two minute lead in the lanterne rouge competition. Given the size of Bert’s legs, I am guessing he builds on this lead over the Col de Tourmalet tomorrow.
The queen stage is upon us. The day begins with a cat 4 warm up followed by two cat one climbs and then the hors categoire Col De La Tourmalet. Schelck, with much candor, admitted that he must put time into Contador on the Tourmalet or he will not have a chance to win. He even admitted he needed a LOT of time. I doubt he can do it. But who knows? Maybe AC’s chain will break. Check your predictions and see if you have any chance for the victory.
After tomorrow there is a relatively flat roller giving the sprinters one last chance to shine before Paris, and then the ITT, which will set the order for the Champs Elysees.
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