Tour de France 2009

[Pumpkin Becki]

True, and now he's being very vocal about intending to win. Its certainly going to make life on the Astana team very hard for everyone else. I still can't help thinking that there is some smoke and mirrors stuff going on with them though - is Lance really the leader but they are just making out that Contador is, so that should Lance fail to win overall, it wouldn't reflect to badly on the management.

[bobleponge]

This years tour will be about Armstrong until he falls too far out of contention (if that happens). You dont have to be in yellow today to be in yellow on the podium in Paris. Any stage bike race is a very tactical affair.
He has spoken very little to the press, as usual, preferring to Twitter. If he stays out of yellow for the first week to 10 days, although the media interest in him will be intense, it wouldnt be quite as bad as if he were in yellow.
From Armstrongs comment the other day "7 times tour winner=respect" there are clearly 2 team leaders. His move on the day that Columbia split the peleton has put pressure on Contador to do something. I agree pretty much with Matt, I just dont think he will be strong enough in the mountains to stay with likes of Contador et al, but .......
Manda, I suggest you pop to Specsavers, as clearly Elvis is on the moon in a red London bus.

[Matt.]

I looked at the future stages and tomorrow (friday) is an early mountain top finish. This may well be the first shoot out for contention. The interview contador gave yesterday showed he's had enough of the leadership contest so I wouldn't be suprised to see him go for it and try to claim yellow early on. But who knows maybe the old man has still got it and I'd love to see a really close battle right to the end. As for the differences its the 19 seconds between Lance and Alberto that matters. Unfortunatly I think the TTT has put paid to challenges from most of the original contenders which is a shame. I originally thought the TTT was a good idea now I'm not so sure and feel its just down to Astana now pretty much.

The one second for Cancellara will be long gone after Friday so I'd say its Lance looking over his shoulder not the other way round. Still I'm glad Cancellara has had the yellow as he seems such a nice bloke especially compared to most tour riders. Plus he really lead his team over the last few days.

[smallblueplanet]

...He has spoken very little to the press, as usual, preferring to Twitter. If he stays out of yellow for the first week to 10 days, although the media interest in him will be intense, it wouldnt be quite as bad as if he were in yellow...

Lol! I can't see how it would have been greater than just missing out on the jersey by less than a second? That's actually far more unusual and far more likely to lead to 'wild speculation' than actually taking the jersey is!

You following Lance on Twitter then? I'm not a fan tbh.

But I am following David 'Bumble' Lloyd (BumbleCricket) on Twitter much more fun!

[bobleponge]

But he "isnt" in yellow, thus the media interest "is" less.
No, I have never seen/read/watched (I dont know what it is) a Twitter but I do know thats how he mainly speaks to the press these days. Bumble is genius, generally unintentionally I reckon, bit like Hong Kong Phooey.
Matt, I dont like the TTT for the same reasons. Too many people can be taken out of the competition. Still think there are more than 2 possibles though, and it only takes 1 good/bad day in the mountains for things to change completely.

[smallblueplanet]

But he "isnt" in yellow, thus the media interest "is" less.

I disagree that the media interest was/is less, no-one was 'really' expecting it from Armstrong and so to get so close...better than winning it for story-line tbh. Even on the Beeb they mentioned it, whereas just an ordinary stage win...how much attention does that get in comparison?

[bobleponge]

And I disagree with you, but thats why we love sport.

[bobleponge]

What a stage

[LostGoddess]

I think this is the best TdF I have seen so far, although we've only been watching it for 3 years. I remember when I was younger i used to hate the tour because they took The Tube off to show the Tour! But it is totally addictive and so exciting. Definately the best first week of the Tour I have seen, some really interesting shakedowns within the teams and between the favourites. Pity Millar couldn't just hold out that bit longer yesterday.
Anyone watching the ITV4 coverage? I think it is better than Eurosport and more easy to decipher the commentary!

[Pumpkin Becki]

I stick with ITV4 too Lost Goddess, I tried Eurosport once, but they just waffled all day about their pets - boring!!

[bobleponge]

Whats the concensus on Armstrong not going with Contador a couple of days ago?
He said afterwards that he could have, but it wouldnt have been right for the team.

Personaly I dont think he gives a rats bottom for the team, and that he just couldnt go.