posted Jul 3, 2009

Personally, I think this could be a 1986 all over again.

LA will be looking to go down the road either on his own or in breakaways at every opportunity to “help” AC. The other interesting dynamic for me will be thrown up right at the very start. AC is clearly a favourite for the opening TT (Spartacus aside), but as much as a win is worth, the cost may be greater than ever this year in terms of having to defend the maillot jaune from the start of the race. If he does win, then letting the lead lapse in a week over difficult terrain, as opposed to the more traditional flat start, will give rise to some potentially interesting breaks – perhaps a dangerous talent could do a Chiapucci (1990) and get a time gap that threatens to hold all the way to Paris.

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posted Jul 3, 2009

Cadel Evans is looking in fine form right now. His attacking performances in the prologue and mountain stages of the dauphine against Contador and Valverde were impressive.

I think Lance will do well...maybe top 5, with Evans, Contador, Sastre, A. Schleck and Leipheimer all likely to be 'up there' somewhere.

I'd like to see Leipheimer podium, but I think he may have focussed too much on the earlier part of the year (tour of cali and giro) for him to feature.

Basically, GO EVANS!!

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posted Jul 3, 2009

"His attacking performances"

5 stars!

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posted Jul 3, 2009

Simply competing in the Tour again will make him a winner. The accusations of substance use will be put to rest with a credible showing. I was and continue to be a fan. He brought pedallingn back to the sport.

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posted Jul 3, 2009

I agree with everything Omgidbi says about 1986 but we now have these wretched ear pieces and much more effective team control freakery.

Paradoxically, Lance was probably the main instigator...

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posted Jul 3, 2009

even without Lance the tour for the last 3yrs has been shrouded in controversy....his giant shadow never left it completely either...and it did somehow feel weird without him there and there was a sense of unfinished business with him too!

The one thing you can never do is write Lance off...he answered his critics before and with that steely eyed look he defied all with unmatched professionalism for 7yrs....
I dont see age a factor with him either...his physiology hasn't diminished that much which was just phenomenal before..his lung capacity and lactate threshold were incredible...i'm not saying he'll win this year but a 1-2 with Contador wouldn't surprise me.....i believe he'll want to prove the laws of science wrong and win the tour at 40, his tally might be 10 by then! Many will scoff and laugh at that statement but if Jeannie Longo can still keep winning races at the tender age of 50 then Lance can win with one leg!
I cant wait for the tour to begin...its like a renewed buzz.

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posted Jul 4, 2009

I believe Armstrong will go better than many people imagine.....I'm a big fan and always will be. To be the best you've got to have that little bit of arrogance!!

As for Contador.....2007 he didn't technically win it.If I remember correctly Michael Rasmussen was removed by his team with (again correct me if I'm wrong) a healthy lead. Yes he's won the Giro and the Spanish one but the Tour!!!!

Come on Lance

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posted Jul 4, 2009

Astana just put 4 guys in the top 10 at the Tour TT opener and all within 20 seconds of each other. I don't buy into the idea that this will make it easy for them to sort out. Let's assume that Contador take yellow in few days during the TTT. That's going to force the others, Armstrong included, to work and waste necessary energy early in "the" three week Tour. I not up on it, but is race radio out for the TTT? If so, how can Astana calculate a finish that keeps them out of the Yellow, but still in the race? Better to let Saxo Bank and Cancellara keep the jersey until the mountains.
Of course there's always surprises. So who really knows? I just can't help feeling Bruyneel is going to have to decide who the team's riding for early or end up being another Telekom.

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posted Jul 4, 2009

if astana find themselves with the yellow after the TTT then they probably won't work overly hard to keep hold of it although the Pyrenees stages are only a couple of days afterwards where they may look to take a grip on it.

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