Could USPS intentionally try for 2nd place in the TTT? If CSC has the best time in the TTT, would the boys in blue let up a bit (assuming they could take 1st at full out) to let Voigt put on the yellow jersey, and have CSC defend it until the Pyrenees? (Assuming no change in current team rankings)
Because of the rules this year, the amount of time Armstrong could take out of his rivals in the TTT would only be at most 10 seconds more between coming in 1st or 2nd, no matter how much ahead of the second place team they arrive.
So for example instead of adding say 20, 30, 2'30 on his lead over Hamilton, Ullrich, Mayo, he'll only add 10, 20, 2'20. Might well be worth it to be able to take it easy until the Mountains!
Could USPS intentionally try for 2nd place in the TTT? If CSC has the best time in the TTT, would the boys in blue let up a bit (assuming they could take 1st at full out) to let Voigt put on the yellow jersey, and have CSC defend it until the Pyrenees? (Assuming no change in current team rankings)
Because of the rules this year, the amount of time Armstrong could take out of his rivals in the TTT would only be at most 10 seconds more between coming in 1st or 2nd, no matter how much ahead of the second place team they arrive.
So for example instead of adding say 20, 30, 2'30 on his lead over Hamilton, Ullrich, Mayo, he'll only add 10, 20, 2'20. Might well be worth it to be able to take it easy until the Mountains!
Ridiculous. They would never voluntarily give up time. Even if Lance only puts 10 seconds into his rivals it's still 10 seconds. Add that to the 15 his got on Jan and it's 25 seconds. Ideally, ride like they did in '03 and hope other teams fill in the gaps between Postal and rivals. You never know, C/A may pull another rabbit out of a hat.
Could USPS intentionally try for 2nd place in the TTT? If CSC has the best time in the TTT, would the boys in blue let up a bit (assuming they could take 1st at full out) to let Voigt put on the yellow jersey, and have CSC defend it until the Pyrenees? (Assuming no change in current team rankings)
Because of the rules this year, the amount of time Armstrong could take out of his rivals in the TTT would only be at most 10 seconds more between coming in 1st or 2nd, no matter how much ahead of the second place team they arrive.
So for example instead of adding say 20, 30, 2'30 on his lead over Hamilton, Ullrich, Mayo, he'll only add 10, 20, 2'20. Might well be worth it to be able to take it easy until the Mountains!
Ridiculous. They would never voluntarily give up time. Even if Lance only puts 10 seconds into his rivals it's still 10 seconds. Add that to the 15 his got on Jan and it's 25 seconds. Ideally, ride like they did in '03 and hope other teams fill in the gaps between Postal and rivals. You never know, C/A may pull another rabbit out of a hat.
Postal is going last. They'll know whether C/A pulls a rabbit out of it's hat. (Which wouldn't be a bad thing, let Hushovd keep the yellow and C/A fight to keep it all the way to La Mongie.) They'll know the finishing order and times for ALL the other teams before they cross the line. It's worth a maximum 10 seconds to let another team spend the energy riding at the head of the peloton reeling in / discouraging breaks for the next 7 stages.
insert "probably". Assuming that there aren't any awkward splits tomorrow with USP's third rider the wrong side of them - admittedly unlikely, but I would imagine that sending riders back to help Armstrong in the event of a late puncture or whatever would be more important than protecting the lead in the team classification.
insert "probably". Assuming that there aren't any awkward splits tomorrow with USP's third rider the wrong side of them - admittedly unlikely, but I would imagine that sending riders back to help Armstrong in the event of a late puncture or whatever would be more important than protecting the lead in the team classification.
Could USPS intentionally try for 2nd place in the TTT? If CSC has the best time in the TTT, would the boys in blue let up a bit (assuming they could take 1st at full out) to let Voigt put on the yellow jersey, and have CSC defend it until the Pyrenees? (Assuming no change in current team rankings)
Because of the rules this year, the amount of time Armstrong could take out of his rivals in the TTT would only be at most 10 seconds more between coming in 1st or 2nd, no matter how much ahead of the second place team they arrive.
So for example instead of adding say 20, 30, 2'30 on his lead over Hamilton, Ullrich, Mayo, he'll only add 10, 20, 2'20. Might well be worth it to be able to take it easy until the Mountains!
Ridiculous. They would never voluntarily give up time. Even if Lance only puts 10 seconds into his rivals it's still 10 seconds. Add that to the 15 his got on Jan and it's 25 seconds. Ideally, ride like they did in '03 and hope other teams fill in the gaps between Postal and rivals. You never know, C/A may pull another rabbit out of a hat.
Postal is going last. They'll know whether C/A pulls a rabbit out of it's hat. (Which wouldn't be a bad thing, let Hushovd keep the yellow and C/A fight to keep it all the way to La Mongie.) They'll know the finishing order and times for ALL the other teams before they cross the line. It's worth a maximum 10 seconds to let another team spend the energy riding at the head of the peloton reeling in / discouraging breaks for the next 7 stages.
This really would become a tactical affair if the stage to La Mongie immediately followed it.
