The scene was set for a fun showdown for stage honors. But Ullrich made two mistakes today. He crashed out of his challenge for a second stage win in the 2003 event; and it's highly likely that he did this because he chose to stay in bed and watch a video tape of the course instead of doing a reconnaissance ride as Armstrong did at 8.30 in the morning. How can you judge what pace is safe on a treacherous turn when you've only seen it on television?
<snip>
It is a legitimate question, but I'm surprised to see that on the official website.
would have had a shot at winning the stage itself.
"Kurgan Gringioni" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
Quoted message said:
The scene was set for a fun showdown for stage honors. But Ullrich made
two
Quoted message said:
mistakes today. He crashed out of his challenge for a second stage win in the 2003 event; and it's highly likely that he did this because he chose
to
Quoted message said:
stay in bed and watch a video tape of the course instead of doing a reconnaissance ride as Armstrong did at 8.30 in the morning. How can you judge what pace is safe on a treacherous turn when you've only seen it on television?
I doubt he automatically would have been able to judge pace by sitting in the passenger seat of a car or even pre riding the course several months ago, unless it was raining then, too. The changes in the physical characteristics of the road (wet grip) and sitting in an enclosed 4 wheeled vehicle differ too much from riding a bike in similar conditions to get a grasp of the edge of safe riding speeds that Jan needed yesterday.
That said, it wouldn't have hurt Jan to have driven the course yesterday. IMO, there is useful information you could gather by driving the course such as anticipating the direction of upcoming turns or noteworthy paint stripes, I just don't think it would have prevented the fall that did occur.
"Carl Sundquist" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
"Kurgan Gringioni" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
Quoted message said:
The scene was set for a fun showdown for stage honors. But Ullrich made
two
Quoted message said:
mistakes today. He crashed out of his challenge for a second stage win
in
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
the 2003 event; and it's highly likely that he did this because he chose
to
Quoted message said:
stay in bed and watch a video tape of the course instead of doing a reconnaissance ride as Armstrong did at 8.30 in the morning. How can you judge what pace is safe on a treacherous turn when you've only seen it
on
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
television?
I doubt he automatically would have been able to judge pace by sitting in the passenger seat of a car or even pre riding the course several months ago, unless it was raining then, too. The changes in the physical characteristics of the road (wet grip) and sitting in an enclosed 4
wheeled
Quoted message said:
vehicle differ too much from riding a bike in similar conditions to get a grasp of the edge of safe riding speeds that Jan needed yesterday.
That said, it wouldn't have hurt Jan to have driven the course yesterday. IMO, there is useful information you could gather by driving the course
such
Quoted message said:
as anticipating the direction of upcoming turns or noteworthy paint
stripes,
Quoted message said:
I just don't think it would have prevented the fall that did occur.
Didn't Armstrong ride it? Reread the snippet from letour.com
Talent wise Ullrich probably has more than Lance but it been painfully obvious that Lance still works a hell of a lot harder than Jan. He needs to dump is Director and sign on with Barney Rice.
Carl Sundquist said:
"Kurgan Gringioni" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
Quoted message said:
The scene was set for a fun showdown for stage honors. But Ullrich made
two
Quoted message said:
mistakes today. He crashed out of his challenge for a second stage win in the 2003 event; and it's highly likely that he did this because he chose
to
Quoted message said:
stay in bed and watch a video tape of the course instead of doing a reconnaissance ride as Armstrong did at 8.30 in the morning. How can you judge what pace is safe on a treacherous turn when you've only seen it on television?
I doubt he automatically would have been able to judge pace by sitting in the passenger seat of a car or even pre riding the course several months ago, unless it was raining then, too. The changes in the physical characteristics of the road (wet grip) and sitting in an enclosed 4 wheeled vehicle differ too much from riding a bike in similar conditions to get a grasp of the edge of safe riding speeds that Jan needed yesterday.
That said, it wouldn't have hurt Jan to have driven the course yesterday. IMO, there is useful information you could gather by driving the course such as anticipating the direction of upcoming turns or noteworthy paint stripes, I just don't think it would have prevented the fall that did occur.
