Tour de France (R)

soccerman · 07-20-2005, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RSL Punk

But I would like to see another American in yellow on the podium in Paris. Like next year. And while I'd like it to be George, I wouldn't cry if it were Floyd, or Levi, or Dave Z, or Fred R, or even Bobby J. Just as long as no one's riding for Cofidis. :mad1:

I think Popovich is supposed to be the next team leader, so I don't think Mr. Hincapie will be winning the tour any time soon.

rabble-rabble · 07-20-2005, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RSL Punk

There were at least a couple of the years Merckx won that he also finished with the green and polka-dot jerseys. Which would be pretty much impossible today.

Would have been a treat to have been able to watch Eddie ride. All we can do now is look at footage. With all due respects to Lance, Eddie was second to none in the annuals of cycling.

freedom · 07-21-2005, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soccerman

I think Popovich is supposed to be the next team leader, so I don't think Mr. Hincapie will be winning the tour any time soon.

Rumor has it that Vino is going to be the next Discovery Channel leader--he announced he's leaving T-Mobile this year. . .

Rover · 07-21-2005, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freedom

Rumor has it that Vino is going to be the next Discovery Channel leader--he announced he's leaving T-Mobile this year. . .

Saw this posted on cyclingnews:

'Vinokourov to leave T-Mobile

Alexander Vinokourov is leaving the T-Mobile Team as of the end of the season. The 31 year old Kazakhi informed the management of the team of his decision a few days before the end of the Tour.

"Alexandre wants the chance to win the Tour as captain of a team," said Team manager Olaf Ludwig. "We are sorry for his decision, but understand his reasoning."

Vinokourov has been courted by several big teams, and there is speculation that he may end up at Cofidis or Ag2r next year. Discovery Channel director Johan Bruyneel denied that his team was interested in signing the attacking T-Mobile rider. "We want someone who can win the Tour. Vinokourov isn't one of them," he said. (bold added)'

Maybe a negotiating ploy? Probably not. I'd say the DT team leader frontrunners are Savoldelli or Popovych, but this is cycling and who knows what will happen in ten months?

rabble-rabble · 07-21-2005, 12:55 PM

Vinokourov has said that he would only want to change teams if he went to Discovery. Sounds like Discover doesn't share the same eagerness for Vino to wear the blue and white. Lance has been a treat to watch and cheer for, but it will be very interesting to see how the tour unfolds in the coming years after his retirement.

Hopefully OLN will retain its commitment to televising the tour in Lance's absence.

Rover · 07-21-2005, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rabble-rabble

Hopefully OLN will retain its commitment to televising the tour in Lance's absence.

Hopefully more than their commitment to the Giro or the Vuelta.

The Giro has always been my favorite Grand Tour, so the loss off coverage the past two years hasn't gone over very well.

RSL Punk · 07-21-2005, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rabble-rabble

Vinokourov has said that he would only want to change teams if he went to Discovery. Sounds like Discover doesn't share the same eagerness for Vino to wear the blue and white.

Yeah, Vino's too much of a loose cannon for Johann's tastes, I think. Every move he's tried to make on Lance this year has been a random flyer--he doesn't seem to have the head for tactics that a team leader needs. And if Johann/Disco are about anything, it's tactics. Which, of course, is what you have to have more than anything--well, legs come into it of course--in order to win the Tour.

rabble-rabble · 07-21-2005, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RSL Punk

Yeah, Vino's too much of a loose cannon for Johann's tastes, I think. Every move he's tried to make on Lance this year has been a random flyer--he doesn't seem to have the head for tactics that a team leader needs. And if Johann/Disco are about anything, it's tactics. Which, of course, is what you have to have more than anything--well, legs come into it of course--in order to win the Tour.

I thought there were 2 stages in the Alps that really showed why Lance is one of the best strategic races around. When Vino was starting to get tired near the end in one stage, Lance told a teammate to attack and they gained about 5 minutes on Vino by the end of the stage with short period of intense effort. The next day, Vino came back strong and went out on a breakaway. He worked his a$$ off the entire day and gained an entire 90 seconds on Lance for his 5+ hours of intense effort.

I should note I'm a big fan of Vino though. Hope he does well whoever he races for next year.

dysko · 07-21-2005, 11:11 PM

You know I think that Vino is a bad fit for Disco... look at a certain kid wearing a white jersey... that kid could become a great team leader. Give the team to George for a year and then turn it all over to Popovych.

Rover · 07-22-2005, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dysko

You know I think that Vino is a bad fit for Disco... look at a certain kid wearing a white jersey... that kid could become a great team leader. Give the team to George for a year and then turn it all over to Popovych.

Popovych has what it takes. You never know in cycling, but he should be the heir to Armstrong.

So who from Discovery is going to win the Vuelta? 👍