2009 Tour de France*SPOILERS*

**BizJetGuy** · 07-01-2009 04:12 PM

This one should be interesting...

Any pre-race smack? I don't have much to contribute other than I have more interest in the race this year than I have recently. Yes, Lance has something to do with that.

**ptlcb1** · 07-01-2009 04:20 PM

This years race will be hyped up more than it normally is, with Lance coming back. Should be a good one if he is on his game!

**Shenders1** · 07-02-2009 07:02 AM

It should be a very interesting race, regardless of who you're cheering for - Everyone enjoys TTs, and I believe there are three this year, along with the return of the team TT, my personal favorite.

While I'd love to see Cadel Evans move up one step on the podium this year, it's going to be tough for him as Silence-Lotto just doesn't have the depth it probably needs. And on the other side of the continuum is Astana, stacked like no team we've ever seen before: Contador, Leipheimer, Klöden, and Armstrong!

Other GC contenders: Menchov just won the Giro, so you can't count him out, Christian Vandevelde is becoming a well-rounded threat, Fabien Cancellara, or perhaps one of the Schleck brothers.

I'm looking forward to it.

**BizJetGuy** · 07-02-2009 07:20 AM

Originally Posted by Shenders1

on the other side of the continuum is Astana, stacked like no team we've ever seen before: Contador, Leipheimer, Klöden, and Armstrong!

It's going to be very fun watching the Astana drama as some capable (and large ego'd) racers vie for GC leader within the team. How do you tell any of those talents that their role is to be a domestique?

It's early days but I don't see how anyone can beat them in the TTT.

**CBRVFR** · 07-02-2009 10:08 AM

I think Armstrong is crazy to subject himself to the tender mercies of the French organizers and the armies of attention-seeing local police officials and politicians.. They're convinced he was a cheat, and I put nothing past them in their quest to discredit him.

**BizJetGuy** · 07-02-2009 10:44 AM

Originally Posted by CBRVFR

I think Armstrong is crazy to subject himself to the tender mercies of the French organizers and the armies of attention-seeing local police officials and politicians.. They're convinced he was a cheat, and I put nothing past them in their quest to discredit him.

Between the proverbial "rock and a hard place"...

How hard do they push to discredit when that one man brings so much attention (and revenue) to the event? I've no hard numbers but I'm willing to bet that his presence in the race will up the viewership several points - at least on this side of the pond.

I'm very interested to hear the European perspective on this. And I don't mean the French media.

**luvtolean** · 07-02-2009 12:09 PM

Originally Posted by BizJetGuy

Between the proverbial "rock and a hard place"...

How hard do they push to discredit when that one man brings so much attention (and revenue) to the event? I've no hard numbers but I'm willing to bet that his presence in the race will up the viewership several points - at least on this side of the pond.

I'm very interested to hear the European perspective on this. And I don't mean the French media.

I don't think the French care about all that....an American, a swaggering Texan at that!, has come to their house and kicked their ass too many times.

**BizJetGuy** · 07-02-2009 12:37 PM

but he's old and vulnerable now

**proto** · 07-02-2009 02:52 PM

He won't win. Too late. The desire might be there but legs past their best.

It's not just the French that find him difficult to like. Just about everyone finds him difficult to like, it's much easier to loathe him.

Undoubtedly an amazing athlete, we may never see his like again, but nobody this side of the pond will be cheering for him. No one ever did.

Now Greg LeMond, he was always my favourite. Even the froggies loved him. Top bloke

You might find this article about LA interesting (it's by no means negative):

The many faces of Lance Armstrong | Sport | The Observer

**TAZ** · 07-05-2009 10:08 PM

Originally Posted by proto

He won't win. Too late. The desire might be there but legs past their best.

This is why I hope he DOES win. He's already proven himself an amazing specimen/athlete/competitior - seven times in a row. Doing it again after a few years away would be over the top...just ridiculous. (And frickin' awesome, to be honest.)

But I agree; I think a win is pretty unlikely.

**CBRVFR** · 07-05-2009 10:10 PM

Team Time Trials Tuesday!!!!

**luvtolean** · 07-06-2009 05:13 PM

Lance had him a good day, thanks to staying awake when Team Columbia went!

Tour-Sharp Armstrong roars into contention - Cycling - Yahoo! Sports

**Bacchus** · 07-06-2009 10:05 PM

So who will be the "chosen one" - Lance or Alberto? Probably still too early to know, but I think this is gonna be a great show!

And that Cavendish is a frigging animal!!

**CBRVFR** · 07-06-2009 10:25 PM

I'm taping the TTT - mark posts with SPOILER for stage discussions, OK?

**BizJetGuy** · 07-07-2009 06:24 AM

Originally Posted by CBRVFR

I'm taping the TTT - mark posts with SPOILER for stage discussions, OK?

When do you plan to watch? I'll postpone any comments until said time...

**CBRVFR** · 07-07-2009 07:43 AM

Best solution: I'll just stay out of here until I see it

**proto** · 07-07-2009 07:46 AM

I couldn't believe it when Cavendish and Renshaw touched wheels and the whole squad ended up in a tangled heap.

**BizJetGuy** · 07-07-2009 07:50 AM

Originally Posted by proto

I couldn't believe it when Cavendish and Renshaw touched wheels and the whole squad ended up in a tangled heap.

**luvtolean** · 07-07-2009 10:33 AM

Astana rocked the TT...

**BizJetGuy** · 07-07-2009 11:42 AM

It still amazes me how this event, weeks long, can be determined by fractions of a second. The old man looked good today.

**luvtolean** · 07-07-2009 01:06 PM

Originally Posted by BizJetGuy

It still amazes me how this event, weeks long, can be determined by fractions of a second. The old man looked good today.

Yeah, in my original post I thought he'd gotten the yellow, just missed. They were super strong!

**proto** · 07-07-2009 03:16 PM

Two Brits and two Americans in the five man Garmin 'squad'

Zabriskie - US time trial champion
Millar - Olympic time trial champion (sort of)
Wiggins - World pursuit champion

Wiggins has lost a stack of weight last few months, now looks skeletal, and has declared his intention of securing a high GC position in Paris. He might do it too.

BTW, Wiggins holds the UK national competition record for 10 miles, with an astonishing 17m 58s. You do the maths!!

**CBRVFR** · 07-07-2009 10:23 PM

That was really exciting!

WHat a team - this is shaping up to have some drama, indeed. I'd be amazed if Armstrong can hang with Candalora in the mountains, but he's surprised me before.

**BizJetGuy** · 07-09-2009 10:44 AM

Standard fare since the TTT but I believe business is about to pick up. Stage 7 on Friday should turn up the drama wick.

**luvtolean** · 07-09-2009 10:47 AM

Slickery finish today, not much happening as you say...can't wait to see how the old man, and tied for race leader does in the mountains!

**deftones156** · 07-10-2009 09:14 AM

I'm by no means a Lance groupie, but just the fact that he can compete with and beat so many athletes that are 10 or even 15 years younger than he is says a whole lot about his prowess as a bike racer. Love him, hate him, don't really care about him--it's still damned impressive.

**luvtolean** · 07-10-2009 09:27 AM

Andorra is beautiful.

**ONEvcs** · 07-10-2009 10:18 AM

Originally Posted by luvtolean

Andorra is beautiful.

And their official laguage is Catalan, and they don't pay taxes.

**luvtolean** · 07-10-2009 10:34 AM

Originally Posted by ONEvcs

And their official laguage is Catalan, and they don't pay taxes.

As they said, a "tax haven"...one of the places we'll have to investigate if we ever have the money for a vacation property. Kind of a long flight though...

**ONEvcs** · 07-10-2009 10:50 AM

Originally Posted by luvtolean

As they said, a "tax haven"...one of the places we'll have to investigate if we ever have the money for a vacation property. Kind of a long flight though...

If you like snow and skiing, it's the perfect place.
Real estate is probably just as expensive as San Diego, if not more, though.

On the positive side, you'd be only a few hours drive (four at most) from the north-eastern cost of Spain and the south-eastern cost of France.

A high percentage of the population speaks some English.

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