Ouch

too bad Landis didn't listen to all the experts on RBR and ride with
more panache yesterday. then we'd be in for a real treat.

Michael said:

It's just too painful to watch.

Hey, Floyd did his best but it wasn't good enough, that's all. What
we're seeing this year in the Tour is a vast contrast to the past 15
years or so, where the winner is determined early and rides an
amazingly steady and controlled race. Instead, we're seeing a real
physical struggle with no clear "knockout" winner. Looks like the last
few days are going to be extremely uncertain, exciting, and eventful.

BTW, Floyd has nothing to apologize for. He rode a smart strategy,
knowing his own strengths, limits, and weaknesses. All the RBR
second-guessers and naysayers can now focus on Pereiro, Sastre, Cadel,
Kloden, Dessel, et. al.

<[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hey, Floyd did his best but it wasn't good enough, that's all. What
we're seeing this year in the Tour is a vast contrast to the past 15
years or so, where the winner is determined early and rides an
amazingly steady and controlled race. Instead, we're seeing a real
physical struggle with no clear "knockout" winner. Looks like the last
few days are going to be extremely uncertain, exciting, and eventful.

BTW, Floyd has nothing to apologize for. He rode a smart strategy,
knowing his own strengths, limits, and weaknesses. All the RBR
second-guessers and naysayers can now focus on Pereiro, Sastre, Cadel,
Kloden, Dessel, et. al.

I suppose. But this an historical collapse, my friend.

< > BTW, Floyd has nothing to apologize for. He rode a smart strategy,

Quoted message said:

knowing his own strengths, limits, and weaknesses. All the RBR
second-guessers and naysayers can now focus on Pereiro, Sastre, Cadel,
Kloden, Dessel, et. al.

yeah very smart...not taking time off his rivals when he had to.

Marc said:

too bad Landis didn't listen to all the experts on RBR and ride with
more panache yesterday. then we'd be in for a real treat.

Because Landis would've lost more time today?

--
Bob in CT

mimoso said:

< > BTW, Floyd has nothing to apologize for. He rode a smart strategy,

Quoted message said:

knowing his own strengths, limits, and weaknesses. All the RBR
second-guessers and naysayers can now focus on Pereiro, Sastre, Cadel,
Kloden, Dessel, et. al.

yeah very smart...not taking time off his rivals when he had to.

He was right at the front yesterday, and despite his appearance, it was
proabably a maximum effort. Even that was too much and left him nothing
for today. Where he left those extra 10 minutes he needed today, I'll
leave to expert 3 week stage racers like yourself.

Michael said:

<[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hey, Floyd did his best but it wasn't good enough, that's all. What
we're seeing this year in the Tour is a vast contrast to the past 15
years or so, where the winner is determined early and rides an
amazingly steady and controlled race. Instead, we're seeing a real
physical struggle with no clear "knockout" winner. Looks like the last
few days are going to be extremely uncertain, exciting, and eventful.

BTW, Floyd has nothing to apologize for. He rode a smart strategy,
knowing his own strengths, limits, and weaknesses. All the RBR
second-guessers and naysayers can now focus on Pereiro, Sastre, Cadel,
Kloden, Dessel, et. al.

I suppose. But this an historical collapse, my friend.

That's a good question - I wonder if Benjo knows of any similar
collapse for a leader so late in the Tour. I can't recall of one since
the early '80's.

Michael said:

<[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hey, Floyd did his best but it wasn't good enough, that's all. What
we're seeing this year in the Tour is a vast contrast to the past 15
years or so, where the winner is determined early and rides an
amazingly steady and controlled race. Instead, we're seeing a real
physical struggle with no clear "knockout" winner. Looks like the last
few days are going to be extremely uncertain, exciting, and eventful.

BTW, Floyd has nothing to apologize for. He rode a smart strategy,
knowing his own strengths, limits, and weaknesses. All the RBR
second-guessers and naysayers can now focus on Pereiro, Sastre, Cadel,
Kloden, Dessel, et. al.

I suppose. But this an historical collapse, my friend.

Or not. Let's see what he looks like tomorrow and on the TT.

Have we not learned that this thing just isn't over until it's over.

Ron

exactly

it was sarcasm

Bob in CT said:

Marc said:

too bad Landis didn't listen to all the experts on RBR and ride with
more panache yesterday. then we'd be in for a real treat.

Because Landis would've lost more time today?

--Bob in CT

mimoso said:

< > BTW, Floyd has nothing to apologize for. He rode a smart strategy,

Quoted message said:

knowing his own strengths, limits, and weaknesses. All the RBR
second-guessers and naysayers can now focus on Pereiro, Sastre, Cadel,
Kloden, Dessel, et. al.

yeah very smart...not taking time off his rivals when he had to.

So, a minute or two yesterday would have helped today? Right.

Greg

--
"All my time I spent in heaven
Revelries of dance and wine
Waking to the sound of laughter
Up I'd rise and kiss the sky" - The Mekons

Quoted message said:

Michael wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I suppose. But this an historical collapse, my friend.

That's a good question - I wonder if Benjo knows of any similar
collapse for a leader so late in the Tour. I can't recall of one since
the early '80's.

Fignon

Sonic Hedgehog:

For Floyd, it's over.

Mark VandenBerghe

"RonSonic" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Wed, 19 Jul 2006 15:37:46 GMT, "Michael" <[email hidden]>
wrote:

Or not. Let's see what he looks like tomorrow and on the TT.

Have we not learned that this thing just isn't over until it's over.

Ron

[email hidden] wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Michael said:

I suppose. But this an historical collapse, my friend.

That's a good question - I wonder if Benjo knows of any similar
collapse for a leader so late in the Tour. I can't recall of one since
the early '80's.

Cadel Evans in Giro a couple of years ago (I think SaLvodelli won that
one).

NS

"G.T." <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

mimoso said:

yeah very smart...not taking time off his rivals when he had to.

So, a minute or two yesterday would have helped today? Right.

Well no, it's after the fact.
The thing is he was talking as if he's won 3 Tours already,
as if he's the man to beat, when in fact he hasn't won any Big tour yet.
So he had to take time off while he was feeling good.

mimoso said:

"G.T." <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

mimoso said:

yeah very smart...not taking time off his rivals when he had to.

So, a minute or two yesterday would have helped today? Right.

Well no, it's after the fact.
The thing is he was talking as if he's won 3 Tours already,
as if he's the man to beat, when in fact he hasn't won any Big tour yet.
So he had to take time off while he was feeling good.

He should have put the hammer down on the Alp. Judging from his
pedalling action, and the spurt at the end (he looked pretty spunky) he
had more in the tank.

I dont think he had bad legs today, I think he bonked. Probably very
very nervous/attentive on the cat 2, and then with that mental descent
there was no time to feed, and then a LONG way to the finish (that was
only a cat 1?).

Similar to Lance on JP, pantani was attacking, Lance had to have his
brain turned on to the race, not just looking at GH's backside. Didnt
eat.

You could see Flandis's rpms were way down going thru town. He has
been mr. spinner till then. I cant believe the t-mobs didnt pick up on
him riding iffy on the cat 2 when they had what, 6 guys? Could have at
least made the tempo up and down/spurts and attacks to make him hurt.
What good is 6 guys if you ride steady tempo with Flandis in tow until
you only have 2 or 3 guys? What good are the numbers then? Use em
before they blow. God, for a team with that much money and talent they
can make a hell of a mess of things.

Meanwhile, OP looked really good all day, as he did last year as well,
IIRC. I always liked him and wondered why they let him go last year.
He rode with PANACHE last year in an otherwise boring TDF. Good on
him.

Back to the topic, if Flandis bonked, he should be good tommorrow,
possibley even the best climber, as he seems to have been past days.
His only chance is to hit out early and try to slay people. Get a gap
and hold it down the Morzine. He certainly is able to hold a gap
downhill. Or even build one. But it will take massice cahones to make
that happen, and based up previous years, no body has that anymore.

He should be able to make 1:30 on people in an inspired TT if he didnt
damage himself today, best case. So winning is out but if he attacks
hard, he can redeem some honor.

He needs to ask himself, what would HINAULT do in this situation?
Reach down past that dodgey hip and grap a pair. Hinault would destroy
people tommorrow. Just for sport.

Levi - what a lame break. At least he tried, but he seemed so timid
the whole time. Riding 85%. Looked like he didnt believe in himself.
Surprise, it didnt work. At least that texan [censored] had self
confidence.

Still, that was good TV.

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Michael said:

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hey, Floyd did his best but it wasn't good enough, that's all. What
we're seeing this year in the Tour is a vast contrast to the past 15
years or so, where the winner is determined early and rides an
amazingly steady and controlled race. Instead, we're seeing a real
physical struggle with no clear "knockout" winner. Looks like the last
few days are going to be extremely uncertain, exciting, and eventful.

BTW, Floyd has nothing to apologize for. He rode a smart strategy,
knowing his own strengths, limits, and weaknesses. All the RBR
second-guessers and naysayers can now focus on Pereiro, Sastre, Cadel,
Kloden, Dessel, et. al.

I suppose. But this an historical collapse, my friend.

That's a good question - I wonder if Benjo knows of any similar
collapse for a leader so late in the Tour. I can't recall of one since
the early '80's.

Neither do I. Usually such collapses of monumental proportions are earlier
in the Tour, like Merckx in 1975, Hinault in 1986, Indurain in 1996 or
Ullrich in 1998. I don't count Lemond Alpe d'Huez 1989. That was a rather
small one.

Benjo

benjo maso said:

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Michael said:

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
> Hey, Floyd did his best but it wasn't good enough, that's all. What
> we're seeing this year in the Tour is a vast contrast to the past 15
> years or so, where the winner is determined early and rides an
> amazingly steady and controlled race. Instead, we're seeing a real
> physical struggle with no clear "knockout" winner. Looks like the last
> few days are going to be extremely uncertain, exciting, and eventful.
>
> BTW, Floyd has nothing to apologize for. He rode a smart strategy,
> knowing his own strengths, limits, and weaknesses. All the RBR
> second-guessers and naysayers can now focus on Pereiro, Sastre, Cadel,
> Kloden, Dessel, et. al.

I suppose. But this an historical collapse, my friend.

That's a good question - I wonder if Benjo knows of any similar
collapse for a leader so late in the Tour. I can't recall of one since
the early '80's.

Neither do I. Usually such collapses of monumental proportions are earlier
in the Tour, like Merckx in 1975, Hinault in 1986, Indurain in 1996 or
Ullrich in 1998. I don't count Lemond Alpe d'Huez 1989. That was a rather
small one.

Benjo

JFB in 1987? He looked like a big favorite after the Ventoux TT.

Bret

"Bret" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

benjo maso said:

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Michael wrote:
> <[email hidden]> wrote in message
> news:[email hidden]...
> > Hey, Floyd did his best but it wasn't good enough, that's all. What
> > we're seeing this year in the Tour is a vast contrast to the past 15
> > years or so, where the winner is determined early and rides an
> > amazingly steady and controlled race. Instead, we're seeing a real
> > physical struggle with no clear "knockout" winner. Looks like the
> > last
> > few days are going to be extremely uncertain, exciting, and
> > eventful.
> >
> > BTW, Floyd has nothing to apologize for. He rode a smart strategy,
> > knowing his own strengths, limits, and weaknesses. All the RBR
> > second-guessers and naysayers can now focus on Pereiro, Sastre,
> > Cadel,
> > Kloden, Dessel, et. al.
>
> I suppose. But this an historical collapse, my friend.

That's a good question - I wonder if Benjo knows of any similar
collapse for a leader so late in the Tour. I can't recall of one since
the early '80's.

Neither do I. Usually such collapses of monumental proportions are
earlier
in the Tour, like Merckx in 1975, Hinault in 1986, Indurain in 1996 or
Ullrich in 1998. I don't count Lemond Alpe d'Huez 1989. That was a rather
small one.

Benjo

JFB in 1987? He looked like a big favorite after the Ventoux TT.

Sure, but de day after - when he lost the yellow jersey - he didn't have a
collapse. During a climb he had a flat at the worst possible moment and was
immediately attacked by Delagdo, Mottet and Roche. He had to wait far too
much time for his teammates to organize the pursuit and after a chase of
more than 100 km he had lost four minutes - and the Tour.

Benjo

"jerry in vermont" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Similar to Lance on JP, pantani was attacking, Lance had to have his
brain turned on to the race, not just looking at GH's backside. Didnt
eat.

For you, JP should mean only one thing. Or is it seasonal?