Tour Down Under

biker jk said:

Hard to argue with that statement but I'm sure Adolf [censored] would have received as much "publicity" were he alive today.

Crude comparison

http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=JoYwqKZ_2CA

A complete and utter [censored] up by Columbia last night.

Fortunately it wasn't the real thing. But let's hope they get their [censored] together for when the real stuff starts.

To have 4 - 5 riders leading the peloton into the final lap and then launching too early was a poor judgement.

However, it's their first race of the year so they are getting used to each other. Should set up Greipel tomorrow and Maybe Eisel on Wednesday as he can climb. Signs are good for Columbia. Very good

This Lance [censored] has gone on long enough. It's getting out of control now. The sooner the egomaniac gets busted, the better off the sport will be. As I say. He's the biggest drug cheat in the history of the sport. He has had his moment in the sun. He should have stayed in retirement where he belonged.

BTW, Rogers was fine after the race. No crash. Just disappointed the hard work didn't pay off. They all were.

Grater said:

A complete and utter [censored] up by Columbia last night.

Fortunately it wasn't the real thing. But let's hope they get their [censored] together for when the real stuff starts.

To have 4 - 5 riders leading the peloton into the final lap and then launching too early was a poor judgement.

However, it's their first race of the year so they are getting used to each other. Should set up Greipel tomorrow and Maybe Eisel on Wednesday as he can climb. Signs are good for Columbia. Very good

This Lance [censored] has gone on long enough. It's getting out of control now. The sooner the egomaniac gets busted, the better off the sport will be. As I say. He's the biggest drug cheat in the history of the sport. He has had his moment in the sun. He should have stayed in retirement where he belonged.

BTW, Rogers was fine after the race. No crash. Just disappointed the hard work didn't pay off. They all were.

Second time in as many weeks columbia have got it wrong, but your right better to sought it out now rather than later, shouldn't feel to bad though they certainly weren't outdone by an amateur this time [img]cyclingforums.comicon10.gifOpen ↗[/img]

Scotttri said:

Second time in as many weeks columbia have got it wrong, but your right better to sought it out now rather than later, shouldn't feel to bad though they certainly weren't outdone by an amateur this time [img]cyclingforums.comicon10.gifOpen ↗[/img]

You'd be mistaken in calling Pete an amateur...

Grater said:

A complete and utter [censored] up by Columbia last night.

Fortunately it wasn't the real thing. But let's hope they get their [censored] together for when the real stuff starts.

To have 4 - 5 riders leading the peloton into the final lap and then launching too early was a poor judgement.

However, it's their first race of the year so they are getting used to each other. Should set up Greipel tomorrow and Maybe Eisel on Wednesday as he can climb. Signs are good for Columbia. Very good

Agreed - bad organisation on the part of Columbia.
I'm hoping to see the extended highlights this evening on TV !

Bike N Ski said:

As of last week, you can add his coach to the list of liars since he's had to "water down" Lance's originally training plan because obviously an old man that got this fit that fast had to be training harder than everyone else:

[left][font=Verdana]Well, the improvements I’m seeing are roughly equal to what I saw before he retired. Neither age nor three years out of professional cycling seem to be slowing him down. In fact, he’s improving so rapidly that he’s ahead of schedule. Initially I thought the short timeline between Lance’s announcement and his return to ProTour competition would make it difficult for him to be in decent shape for racing, but now I’m actually having to back him off a bit so he’s not too fit too early. [/font][/left]

At least they all lie consistently, or if you please, are consistent liars.

[left][/left]

ewww

1 André Greipel (Ger) Team Columbia - High Road 3.45.27 (37.258 km/h)
2 Baden Cooke (Aus) UniSA
3 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team Saxo Bank
4 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Team Katusha (hit a camera and cut his arm about 150m out form the finish line)
5 Jacopo Guanieri (Ita) Liquigas
6 Allan Davis (Aus) Quick Step
7 Willem Stroetinga (Ned) Team Milram
8 Timothy Gudsell (NZl) Française des Jeux
9 Luca Barla (Ita) Team Milram
10 Andréa Grendene (Ita) Lampre - N.G.C

JAPANic said:

1 André Greipel (Ger) Team Columbia - High Road 3.45.27 (37.258 km/h)
2 Baden Cooke (Aus) UniSA
3 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team Saxo Bank
4 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Team Katusha (hit a camera and cut his arm about 150m out form the finish line)
5 Jacopo Guanieri (Ita) Liquigas
6 Allan Davis (Aus) Quick Step
7 Willem Stroetinga (Ned) Team Milram
8 Timothy Gudsell (NZl) Française des Jeux
9 Luca Barla (Ita) Team Milram
10 Andréa Grendene (Ita) Lampre - N.G.C

Grater called Geipel, yesterday.
Hats off!

Nicholas Roche finished in 12th spot as well.
Good result.

and basso takes 55th in argentina. have to admit, this race holds my attention more than the tdu, if only for the hills that san luis offers

Voigt may try a break today. Lloyd too.

In the end today's stage won't be a bunch sprint with the sprinters I don't think. If the reports I'm hearing are right, it's a tough course. I'll be there at Stirling today when they pass through a few times and then finish there. I expect guys like Voigt, Lloyd, Rogers, Sanchez, Lowe to do stuff today. Maybe Sanchez and Lowe wait till Saturday but someone like Lloyd and a determined Rogers keen on success will attack today.

Grater said:

Voigt may try a break today. Lloyd too.

In the end today's stage won't be a bunch sprint with the sprinters I don't think. If the reports I'm hearing are right, it's a tough course. I'll be there at Stirling today when they pass through a few times and then finish there. I expect guys like Voigt, Lloyd, Rogers, Sanchez, Lowe to do stuff today. Maybe Sanchez and Lowe wait till Saturday but someone like Lloyd and a determined Rogers keen on success will attack today.

Well the stage was won by Davis. Got away in the last climb and won by a few metres over Brown and O'Grady.

Lloyd was on the attack in the stirling circuit but couldn't hang on.

I didn't like what Columbia did today. I reckon they should have put someone in the breakaway group so it was up to the others to do the work. They tried to put Greipel and Eisel in there but no way would the peloton let that escape. They should have put Hansen or Henderson in the break rather than preserve Greipel's lead and set him up for the win. They must think he might be able to hang on and catch the bunch or finish about 10 odd seconds behind on Saturday. A lot of energy was spent setting up a sprint that was highly unlikely on that circuit. Went to a sprint but they had noone to drive Greipel to the line.

Grater said:

Well the stage was won by Davis. Got away in the last climb and won by a few metres over Brown and O'Grady.

Lloyd was on the attack in the stirling circuit but couldn't hang on.

Good win for Davis.

He's been a pretty consistent sprint performer - but his form had dipped in recent months.
Good to see him back.
looking forward to the highlights.

BTW Paul Kimmage interviewed on Irish radio yesterday morning, was asked about the return of Armstrong.
Kimmages view was that AUS $1m helped persuade him to come back.
Kimmage went on to say that the sport had tried to make amends after Puerto and the last thing it needed was the return of the most famous dope test failure since Festina.

Say cheese
[img]photos-a.ak.fbcdn.netn642961615 1395976 6306.jpgOpen ↗[/img]

Stage one youtube clipjp.youtube.comwatchOpen ↗

24th story down on the main sports page...

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/

Cycling is getting there... 😕

Jono L said:

Say cheese
[img]photos-a.ak.fbcdn.netn642961615 1395976 6306.jpgOpen ↗[/img]

Caption contest. Here is my entry.

Team Columbia won the prize for best pumpkin at the UCI Halloween Party

Jono L said:

Say cheese
[img]photos-a.ak.fbcdn.netn642961615 1395976 6306.jpgOpen ↗[/img]

CAPTION

"this cycling without a saddle lark. I'd love to get me hands on whoever suggested it"

You all Jinxed Greipel.

He is now sitting in the hotel with a disclocated shoulder. [censored]! There goes our stage wins. Hopefully we either a) put someone in the break tomorrow or b) set it up for Renshaw or c) set it up for Rogers on Saturday. I like both a and c at the moment as whilst it would be nice setting it up for Renshaw, he has no hope in winning overall.