Let the race REALLY begin

On Thu, 15 Jul 2004 10:50:55 -0500, Gary <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Mayo says he wants to win Friday! They ain't gonna let him go even as
far behind as he is. Should make for some fireworks!
Gary

They'll let him go for the last few hundred meters. Personally, I'm
hoping this Tour doesn't turn out to be an "everyone keeps together on the
climbs" Tour, as that would mean the only exciting stages would be the
ITTs.

--
Bob in CT
Remove ".x" to reply

The Miguel Indurain Tour de Borings, except he crushed riders in the ITT
so even they were boring.

Quoted message said:

I'm
hoping this Tour doesn't turn out to be an "everyone keeps together on
the climbs" Tour, as that would mean the only exciting stages would be
the ITTs.

Quoted message said:

They'll let him go for the last few hundred meters. Personally, I'm
hoping this Tour doesn't turn out to be an "everyone keeps together on the
climbs" Tour, as that would mean the only exciting stages would be the
ITTs.

Can't happen. No way to reliably make up 9+ minutes on the final two TTs.
4 minutes, maybe. I think the final selection will occur Saturday.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

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

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

They'll let him go for the last few hundred meters. Personally, I'm
hoping this Tour doesn't turn out to be an "everyone keeps together on

the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

climbs" Tour, as that would mean the only exciting stages would be the
ITTs.

Can't happen. No way to reliably make up 9+ minutes on the final two TTs.
4 minutes, maybe. I think the final selection will occur Saturday.

Don't you mean "initial" selection from the GC contenders, or do you think
it will all happen in 1 day?

Quoted message said:

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Can't happen. No way to reliably make up 9+ minutes on the final two

TTs.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

4 minutes, maybe. I think the final selection will occur Saturday.

Don't you mean "initial" selection from the GC contenders, or do you think
it will all happen in 1 day?

Both. Neither. Maybe! OK, it's an old cliche, but I think a lot of people
will drop off the chart on Saturday; I think the top 5 GC for the 'Tour will
be found in the top 10 at the end of that stage. Tomorrow the carnage will
hopefully begin, but when I look at the profile, it doesn't seem like it's
all that awful. If it finished at the top of the Tourmalet, that would be
one thing, but it's as if they intentionally neutered the stage (at least
partly due to logistical reasons, as there really isn't enough room at the
top of the Tourmalet to stage a finish).

Remember that the climb to LaMongie comes after a descent off the Aspin, so
there will be an opportunity to regroup.

OK, just checked out Saturday's stage again.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2004/tour04/?id=stages/stage13 Ouch! If
you have the opportunity to see it at one of the movie theaters (via the
Tyler Hamilton gig, info found at
http://www.tylerhamiltonfoundation.org/tdf25.html), I wouldn't pass it up.

--Mike Jacoubowsky
Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReaction.com
IMBA, BikesBelong, NBDA member

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

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

They'll let him go for the last few hundred meters. Personally, I'm
hoping this Tour doesn't turn out to be an "everyone keeps together on

the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

climbs" Tour, as that would mean the only exciting stages would be the
ITTs.

Can't happen. No way to reliably make up 9+ minutes on the final two

TTs.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

4 minutes, maybe. I think the final selection will occur Saturday.

Don't you mean "initial" selection from the GC contenders, or do you think
it will all happen in 1 day?

Quoted message said:

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com