Quoth Simoni: <"I'm a good climber and I'll try to cause Armstrong some problems in the mountains.
"In the four Tours Armstrong has won, he's always had an easy ride to Paris because he's never faced real climbers.
"The riders who have finished on the podium such as Beloki, Ullrich and Moreau are all riders who are good in time trials but they are much weaker than Armstrong in the mountains.
"If we can get him in a trap, perhaps we can make him panic and then who knows what might happen.>
Um, "bring it on, let's have a bike race". May the best man win. --Tom Paterson
"Davide Tosi" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
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Bart said:
"Tom Paterson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Um, "bring it on, let's have a bike race". May the best man
win. --Tom
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Paterson
"Maybe Simoni can win a stage, if LANCE looks the other side" -- Eddy Merckx
Considering the high probablities that Hamilton may crash on a
Pyrenées
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downhill, Simoni has good chances of ending up 2nd at 7-8' behind
Lance
I don't think you're going to see Hamilton crashing anymore. I do think that we're going to see Simoni being burned off on the flats before the climbs and then we'll hear him sniveling about how he is having a bad day.
"Bart" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
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"Tom Paterson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Um, "bring it on, let's have a bike race". May the best man win. --Tom
Paterson
Some factors to consider:
Armstrong:Since Lance is the defending champion he has a big advantage. On the otherhand it's hard to get a definitive picture of Lance's form until he enters the Dauphiné Liberé. Lance is also one of the most disciplined riders that the sport has known.
Simoni:As for Simoni, I doubt that his team can win on their own. If Simoni is to challenge Lance then he will have to gang up with some of the Italians and other riders and attack Lance in the mountains. One big factor is this year is that neither Garzelli or Simoni was in last years tour.
Ullrich:As for Ullrich I think he will see how good he is and mainly stick to winning some stages.
In the end however I think that Lance will most likely win this tdf. Lances will challenge probably come next year.
Quoted message said:
"Maybe Simoni can win a stage, if LANCE looks the other side" -- Eddy Merckx
"Heinz Getzler" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
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"Bart" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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"Tom Paterson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Um, "bring it on, let's have a bike race". May the best man win. --Tom
Paterson
Some factors to consider:
Armstrong:Since Lance is the defending champion he has a big advantage. On the otherhand it's hard to get a definitive picture of Lance's form until he enters the Dauphiné Liberé. Lance is also one of the most disciplined riders that the sport has known.
Simoni:As for Simoni, I doubt that his team can win on their own. If Simoni is to challenge Lance then he will have to gang up with some of the Italians and other riders and attack Lance in the mountains. One big factor is this year is that neither Garzelli or Simoni was in last years tour.
Ullrich:As for Ullrich I think he will see how good he is and mainly stick to winning some stages.
In the end however I think that Lance will most likely win this tdf. Lances will challenge probably come next year.
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"Maybe Simoni can win a stage, if LANCE looks the other side" -- Eddy Merckx
Simoni challenges Lance to the Giro.......the Giro means nothing to Lance.....so why would he even care. Lance will laugh all the way to the bank........what a good boy!
"Bob Schwartz" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
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I like Simoni, too. I like his confidence, and I hope what he says is
true. I
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am tired of the "blue train" escorting armstrong halfway up the last
mountain
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of a stage. Let's have a bike race between men, and see what happens.
If you ever get a chance to see Leth's masterpiece "Stars and Watercarriers" pay special attention to the "Road of Pain" segment. LANCE's blue train strategy is the classic technique to destroy your opponents in the mountains. Indurain used it, and Leth documents how Merckx used it to decimate the competition in the Giro.
I think people forget the strength of the teams that Banesto brought to the Tour in support of Indurain. When he finally failed in 1996 it was not just chance that that was also their weakest squad after the Amaya guys left. In 1996 he was left alone time after time at critical points of the race, something that never happened when Perico was riding as his lieutenant.
In my view that is where Simoni is talking out of his ass. He does not have the team to challenge LANCE,
Simoni's problem will be his time trialing.
He'll fall behind in the time trials, then he will be obliged to create separation in the mountains. He'll have to ride LANCE off his wheel. good luck, he'll need it.
"Just a Cyclist" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
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"Heinz Getzler" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
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"Bart" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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"Tom Paterson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > Um, "bring it on, let's have a bike race". May the best man win. --Tom Paterson
Some factors to consider:
Armstrong:Since Lance is the defending champion he has a big advantage. On the otherhand it's hard to get a definitive picture of Lance's form until he enters the Dauphiné Liberé. Lance is also one of the most disciplined riders that the sport has known.
Simoni:As for Simoni, I doubt that his team can win on their own. If Simoni is to challenge Lance then he will have to gang up with some of the Italians and other riders and attack Lance in the mountains. One big factor is this year is that neither Garzelli or Simoni was in last years tour.
Ullrich:As for Ullrich I think he will see how good he is and mainly stick to winning some stages.
In the end however I think that Lance will most likely win this tdf. Lances will challenge probably come next year.
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"Maybe Simoni can win a stage, if LANCE looks the other side" -- Eddy Merckx
Simoni challenges Lance to the Giro.......the Giro means nothing to Lance.....so why would he even care.
I was referring to Simoni challenging Lance in the tdf..
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Lance will laugh all the way to the bank........what a good boy!
Armstrong:Since Lance is the defending champion he has a big advantage.
I fail to see what advantage being a defending champion provides anyone, considering the defending champion is the most heavily marked man in the race.
"Kyle Legate" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
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Heinz Getzler said:
Some factors to consider:
Armstrong:Since Lance is the defending champion he has a big advantage.
I fail to see what advantage being a defending champion provides anyone, considering the defending champion is the most heavily marked man in the race.
There are some big advantages: First and foremost confidence. The psychological advantage is almost incalculable for a defending champion. Lance knows what it takes to win a tdf. Experience is also a big plus. Psychological warfare is also a big plus as well. There is a lot of mind games in the TDF and it gives the Lance another big plus.
Bob Schwartz <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
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If you ever get a chance to see Leth's masterpiece "Stars and Watercarriers" pay special attention to the "Road of Pain" segment. LANCE's blue train strategy is the classic technique to destroy your opponents in the mountains. Indurain used it, and Leth documents how Merckx used it to decimate the competition in the Giro.
Telekom tried (unsuccessfully) to use it one day in 2001.
Bob Schwartz <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
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If you ever get a chance to see Leth's masterpiece "Stars and Watercarriers" pay special attention to the "Road of Pain" segment. LANCE's blue train strategy is the classic technique to destroy your opponents in the mountains. Indurain used it, and Leth documents how Merckx used it to decimate the competition in the Giro.
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Telekom tried (unsuccessfully) to use it one day in 2001.
On the final climb there was a lot more blue than pink at the front. On the lower slopes it was the blue guys that were driving the pace. So one might presume that earlier in the race Telekom was writing checks that their legs couldn't cash. There is always that risk in racing.
"Kyle Legate" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
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I fail to see what advantage being a defending champion provides anyone, considering the defending champion is the most heavily marked man in the race.
There are some big advantages: First and foremost confidence. The psychological advantage is almost incalculable for a defending champion. Lance knows what it takes to win a tdf. Experience is also a big plus. Psychological warfare is also a big plus as well. There is a lot of mind games in the TDF and it gives the Lance another big plus.
Absolutely right. Armstrong is very well versed in effective intimidation of his opponents. In simpler language, he knows how to put the fear of Lance into them. *Every* year he wins (or nearly so - Hautacam 2000) the first big mountain stage and leaves his opponents saying things like "we are racing for second place". Watch the tapes, many actually say that.
Showing no signs of weakness since 2000 on La Plagne (sp?), he's already built up the "fear factor" in his opponents. That makes it much harder for them psychologically.
Regards, -- Mark Janeba remove antispam phrase in address to reply
Bob Schwartz <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
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Dan said:
Bob Schwartz <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
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If you ever get a chance to see Leth's masterpiece "Stars and Watercarriers" pay special attention to the "Road of Pain" segment. LANCE's blue train strategy is the classic technique to destroy your opponents in the mountains. Indurain used it, and Leth documents how Merckx used it to decimate the competition in the Giro.
Quoted message said:
Telekom tried (unsuccessfully) to use it one day in 2001.
On the final climb there was a lot more blue than pink at the front. On the lower slopes it was the blue guys that were driving the pace. So one might presume that earlier in the race Telekom was writing checks that their legs couldn't cash. There is always that risk in racing.
[email hidden] (Dan) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
Quoted message said:
Bob Schwartz <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
Quoted message said:
If you ever get a chance to see Leth's masterpiece "Stars and Watercarriers" pay special attention to the "Road of Pain" segment. LANCE's blue train strategy is the classic technique to destroy your opponents in the mountains. Indurain used it, and Leth documents how Merckx used it to decimate the competition in the Giro.
Telekom tried (unsuccessfully) to use it one day in 2001.
The lesson of that day is; a great champion can win with or without a strong team and use his opponents team in his favor. The strongest always wins.
Status as defending champion is a disadvantage. The performance strengths that allowed him to win 4 times are what gives him the advantage.
"Heinz Getzler" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
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"Kyle Legate" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Heinz Getzler said:
Some factors to consider:
Armstrong:Since Lance is the defending champion he has a big advantage.
I fail to see what advantage being a defending champion provides anyone, considering the defending champion is the most heavily marked man in the race.
There are some big advantages: First and foremost confidence. The psychological advantage is almost incalculable for a defending champion. Lance knows what it takes to win a tdf. Experience is also a big plus. Psychological warfare is also a big plus as well. There is a lot of mind games in the TDF and it gives the Lance another big plus.
[email hidden] (Heinz Getzler) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
Quoted message said:
"Bart" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
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"Tom Paterson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Um, "bring it on, let's have a bike race". May the best man win. --Tom
Paterson
Some factors to consider:
Armstrong:Since Lance is the defending champion he has a big advantage.
USPS team: With the addition of Beltran USPS will have a team that can defend against any attacks in the mountains. I really don't think there is any team that can challenge Lance in the mountains with his team. Like I said before Lances opponents only chance is to work together and to attack Lance.
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On the otherhand it's hard to get a definitive picture of Lance's form until he enters the Dauphiné Liberé. Lance is also one of the most disciplined riders that the sport has known.
Simoni:As for Simoni, I doubt that his team can win on their own. If Simoni is to challenge Lance then he will have to gang up with some of the Italians and other riders and attack Lance in the mountains. One big factor is this year is that neither Garzelli or Simoni was in last years tour.
Ullrich:As for Ullrich I think he will see how good he is and mainly stick to winning some stages.
In the end however I think that Lance will most likely win this tdf. Lances will challenge probably come next year.
Quoted message said:
"Maybe Simoni can win a stage, if LANCE looks the other side" -- Eddy Merckx
"Heinz Getzler" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
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[email hidden] (Heinz Getzler) wrote in message
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"Bart" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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"Tom Paterson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > Um, "bring it on, let's have a bike race". May the best man
win. --Tom
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Paterson
Some factors to consider:
Armstrong:Since Lance is the defending champion he has a big advantage.
USPS team: With the addition of Beltran USPS will have a team that can defend against any attacks in the mountains. I really don't think there is any team that can challenge Lance in the mountains with his team. Like I said before Lances opponents only chance is to work together and to attack Lance.
I predict It won't work out that way (cooperation vs. LANCE).
They'll ride against each other, trying to protect their minor placings. The TdF is such a big deal that the directors will not risk losing GC spots reaching for the pie-in-the-sky, especially trying to beat their head against the wall in the strong support team that you mention.
Even ONCE wouldn't attack, trying to set up a teamate, competing teams will be infinitely less likely to cooperate.
[email hidden] (Heinz Getzler) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
Quoted message said:
Some factors to consider:
Armstrong:Since Lance is the defending champion he has a big advantage.
USPS team: With the addition of Beltran USPS will have a team that can defend against any attacks in the mountains. I really don't think there is any team that can challenge Lance in the mountains with his team. Like I said before Lances opponents only chance is to work together and to attack Lance.
We shouln't emphasize the importance of the teams too much either. One strong rider can do a lot of damage, however 'protected' the other team leaders may be. We all know how it looks in the end of the most difficult mountain stages. Then it's man against man. Unless you have Heras at your side. :-) (ONCE-Eroski also had three strong riders last year.)
-- «Wänn i de Schwitz s Volk redet, händ d Politikär ruhig sii.»
