No ifs, ands, or butts.

[email hidden] (Chris Zacho "The Wheelman"😉 wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

One things for sure, If Lance does win this year's Tour, no one will be saying "It's only because
(insert rider here) wasn't ihere!"!

He's really having to work for it this time!

He will have benefit from people riding for second place when first place is in sight - like Beloki
was doing when he came off.

In earlier years second was their only option.

Andrew Bradley

(Chris Zacho 'The Wheelman') said:

One things for sure, If Lance does win this year's Tour, no one will be saying "It's only because
(insert rider here) wasn't ihere!"!

The stage 1 crash took Levi Leipheimer out (8th last year in his first TdF), seriously injured Tyler
Hamilton (who was red hot coming in), and Beloki went down in stage 9. No riders may have been
"missing" technically, since crashes are part of the race, but three legit contenders were taken
out, and arguably the #2 and #3 podium finishers.

This is not to knock the race or Lance. I find it one of the most exciting and interesting since
Pantani beat Ullrich in '98. The l'alpe d'huez stage 8 was simply outstanding, one of the best I've
ever seen in 15+ years of serious TdF watching. The attacking of Lance has been great, and his
slightly diminished form has added so much excitement to the race.

Quoted message said:

He's really having to work for it this time!

Indeed. I wonder how dramatically he was affected by the dragging brake in stage 8?

This is beginning to remind me of Indurain's run. If anyone recalls, in his 5th, he wasn't the
dominating force of the first 4. In fact, he made a first week break away and picked up several
minutes, which his challengers were not able to overcome. Other than that, he was simply better, not
astronomically so as in years before. The next year going for 6 he wasn't close. I'd bet money Lance
won't win next year, based on the race so far anyway.

But yes, this is shaping up to be a classic Tour. Tyler Hamilton is making a ride that'll go down in
the annals. It's jaw dropping what he's doing and the pain he's enduring, sitting in 5th after stage
9. I think Vino has a very serious chance to take Lance. He looks awfully strong. I don't think Mayo
can last through the next mountains, but who knows. He is just getting better each year and may very
well dominate in the coming years.

Doug

Quoted message said:

He will have benefit from people riding for second place when first place is in sight - like Beloki
was doing when he came off.

You're saying Beloki was riding for second? I don't agree. He was quite aggressive in stage 8 and
even the lesser stage 9. He had already stated he'd consider not even riding the TdF again if he
didn't win this year, and at the least seriously reevaluate his future. The clear sense is that
Lance has fallen back within reach of the others now, and the next week in the mountains would have
been another Beloki attackfest. As it is, Vino and Mayo are dead serious about making a run. Vino
getting 40 secs in stage 9 is a worrying sign for us Lance backers.

I'm so sad about Beloki's crash. I want Lance to win, sure, but Beloki added so much to the race.
ONCE is neutralized now, which is a major blow to the tactics of the mountain stages and alters the
interesting tour strategy for the worse for us viewers.

Doug