Armstrong's Discovery Channel teammate and 2005 Giro d'Italia winner Paolo Savoldelli was there for a while on the final ascent and told Alessandra Di Stefano of RAI-TV, "We were tired when we got to the base of the final climb. We tried to get rid of (maillot jaune) before but it just didn't happen. On the final climb, I closed a gap on Vinokourov and could have stayed there but Armstrong told me to back off. I wasn't even one of the riders who were supposed to stay with (Armstrong) today. I don't think that Lance could follow the attacks of Vinokourov because he was so strong...today things didn't go well but that's because it was a really fast stage (45.706 km/h avg.) with a high rhythm."
Cmon If they were that desperate to get rid of it I'm sure Vinokourov would have been willing to take it... but noooo.. every time he tries they stop him!
Armstrong might not like wearing yellow at this point in this race but he does not want it to go to TMO as that would cause them to organize and support one GC. He would likely be happy to give it to a Zabrinski or other non-favorite.
Ken
"Bounty Bob" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Armstrong's Discovery Channel teammate and 2005 Giro d'Italia winner Paolo Savoldelli was there for a while on the final ascent and told Alessandra Di Stefano of RAI-TV, "We were tired when we got to the base of the final climb. We tried to get rid of (maillot jaune) before but it just didn't happen. On the final climb, I closed a gap on Vinokourov and could have stayed there but Armstrong told me to back off. I wasn't even one of the riders who were supposed to stay with (Armstrong) today. I don't think that Lance could follow the attacks of Vinokourov because he was so strong...today things didn't go well but that's because it was a really fast stage (45.706 km/h avg.) with a high rhythm."
Cmon If they were that desperate to get rid of it I'm sure Vinokourov would have been willing to take it... but noooo.. every time he tries they stop him!
