2008 Tour De France : Stage 1 Brest - Plumelec 195 km Saturday, July

[TheDarkLord]

The fireworks have started!!! Nice.

Will Valverde nail it? Yes, he has!

First Schumacher attacked, then it looked like Kim Kirchen may get it, and then finaly Valverde surged forward. Nice finish!

 

[Crankyfeet]

****... 35 points to thumper...

 

[thoughtforfood]

Hincape have a shot today?

No, no he doesn't

 

[Crankyfeet]

No, no he doesn't

I like Valverde's chances myself.

 

[thoughtforfood]

I like Valverde's chances myself.

ROFLMAO!

 

[TheDarkLord]

****... 35 points to thumper...

Well both of you have two of your picks in the top ten. Not bad. Unfortunately for you Cranky, thunder's picks are placed higher than yours.

 

[thoughtforfood]

I have to say that Valverdi looks like he may have come here to beat the hell out of everyone.

 

[Crankyfeet]

I'm surprised they didn't give Piti a couple of seconds lead after winning by about 15-20 yards.

 

[thoughtforfood]

I'm surprised they didn't give Piti a couple of seconds lead after winning by about 15-20 yards.

...he is Spanish

 

[Crankyfeet]

Well both of you have two of your picks in the top ten. Not bad. Unfortunately for you Cranky, thunder's picks are placed higher than yours.

Well.. I would have had Valverde... but I gave him first pick... cause he needs that advantage. (And I needed an excuse in case I lost... )

 

[Crankyfeet]

I have to say that Valverdi looks like he may have come here to beat the hell out of everyone.

You're probably right... but this stage suits him and he looked impressive last year on the first mountain stage... never to be seen again for the rest of the race.

Having said that... he is going to be serious about winning this year.

 

[thoughtforfood]

Well.. I would have had Valverde... but I gave him first pick... cause he needs that advantage. (And I needed an excuse in case I lost... )

...hey I picked Cancellara...and then pontificated about Hincape's chances.....next I will surmise that possibly Tommy D would be lighting it up if he were here....

 

[Crankyfeet]

...hey I picked Cancellara...and then pontificated about Hincape's chances.....next I will surmise that possibly Tommy D would be lighting it up if he were here....

I thought Rasmussen might have a chance with the climb at the finish.

 

[thoughtforfood]

You're probably right... but this stage suits him and he looked impressive last year on the first mountain stage... never to be seen again for the rest of the race.

Having said that... he is going to be serious about winning this year.

Yea, he is going to have some problems from Cadel (I think) in the high mountains and TT, but the guy is riding to dominate, and I like seeing that.

 

[TheDarkLord]

I'm surprised they didn't give Piti a couple of seconds lead after winning by about 15-20 yards.

Looks like he got 1 second over the others.

 

[Powerful Pete]

Mamma mia, what a win by Valverde. He is in top shape. Whoa.

Interesting seeing some other people with GC ambitions - like Evans, Riccò and Schleck right up there at the end. Good signs for the rest of the Tour.

Too bad about Soler, who came in something like 3.5 minutes down. Apparently he is quite badly beaten up.

 

[Crankyfeet]

Yea, he is going to have some problems from Cadel (I think) in the high mountains and TT, but the guy is riding to dominate, and I like seeing that.

Yeah... he is Cadel's opposite.

I suppose when he is leading the race in the Pyrennees... the Italians will come out with some damning OP Valverde evidence... and we will have a repeat of last year's scandal.

 

[Powerful Pete]

I'm surprised they didn't give Piti a couple of seconds lead after winning by about 15-20 yards.

They gave him 1 second in the final standings.

 

[thoughtforfood]

Soler lost over 3 minutes. Unless he thinks he has a shot at GC (only having 2 riders come to pull him back tells me not.) Should put him in good position for the polkadot when the real mountains start.

 

[Powerful Pete]

Yeah... he is Cadel's opposite.

I suppose when he is leading the race in the Pyrennees... the Italians will come out with some damning OP Valverde evidence... and we will have a repeat of last year's scandal.

LOL. Yes, we are all pretending that OP ended...

But I continue to wonder whether Valverde has a GT in him without a jour sans. I think he will blow up on one of the mountain stages...