Into the home stretch
I've enjoyed the style of the last two stages. Each time, the peloton took it easy for 3/4 of the race, allowing a big breakaway to get a ton of time. Each time we were treated to two races, first for the stage, then for the podium in Paris. Ullrich and Basso are riding with a mission, so the leaders are having to ride hard to keep up rather than just ride cruise control to the final time trial.
Marcos Serrano did in stage 18 what Oscar Pereiro didn't do in stage 15. He attacked a few km from the finish to drop the better sprinter. If you're the better climber, use your advantage. Serrano did; Pereiro didn't. Liberty gets a stage win and Roberto Heras had nothing to do with it.
In the race for the podium Ullrich and Basso were at it again. This time they got a 37 second gap on Rasmussen. At the start of the day Rasmussen's lead on Ullrich was almost 3 minutes, and I was pretty sure Jan would make that up in the time trial. Now that it's down to 2:12, I think it's a lock. Two years ago Ullrich and Armstrong were riding an epic time trial because they were only separated by a minute. I think this time they'll repeat it and flirt with the time trial record. Lance will be gunning for a signature stage win to top off his career. Ullrich will be aiming for the podium and one last chance to beat Armstrong at something. They're going to do a great race on Saturday.
Telekom had a man in the breakaway. This time Kessler didn't crash and puncture a lung, so he vaults Telekom back into the lead in team time. I think Discovery will beat them in the time trial, but they won't make up 9 minutes.
In response to the talk about Hincapie & Pereiro, I'll add a little more. Yes, Hincapie took advantage of Pereiro by sitting on his wheel, but it's not as though he drafted off him in a windy, flat stage. It was up a mountain--Pereiro's turf. If Hincapie agreed to work together, then he did Oscar rotten. Tough noogies. If you can't drop a sprinter-turned-mountain domestique on the incline, it's your fault. Pro cycling is the most cut-throat of all sports. Sometimes the guys have great sportsmanship, other times Vinokourov attacks after a crash in the peloton (see stage 17). Remember Savoldelli's stage win? He tried to use Sebastien Hinault to stay ahead of the chasers. When he saw them closing in because Hinault couldn't keep the pace, he attacked him. Not a dirty move, just competitive. 'Cause at the moment of truth, selfishness rules.
Here's an interesting fact. So far 14 different men have won individual stages in this Tour. For ten of them, it was their first ever TdF stage win. In fact, the last 5 have all been first time winners.
Oh, and Oscar Sevilla has always been a fine domestique.
Marcos Serrano did in stage 18 what Oscar Pereiro didn't do in stage 15. He attacked a few km from the finish to drop the better sprinter. If you're the better climber, use your advantage. Serrano did; Pereiro didn't. Liberty gets a stage win and Roberto Heras had nothing to do with it.
In the race for the podium Ullrich and Basso were at it again. This time they got a 37 second gap on Rasmussen. At the start of the day Rasmussen's lead on Ullrich was almost 3 minutes, and I was pretty sure Jan would make that up in the time trial. Now that it's down to 2:12, I think it's a lock. Two years ago Ullrich and Armstrong were riding an epic time trial because they were only separated by a minute. I think this time they'll repeat it and flirt with the time trial record. Lance will be gunning for a signature stage win to top off his career. Ullrich will be aiming for the podium and one last chance to beat Armstrong at something. They're going to do a great race on Saturday.
Telekom had a man in the breakaway. This time Kessler didn't crash and puncture a lung, so he vaults Telekom back into the lead in team time. I think Discovery will beat them in the time trial, but they won't make up 9 minutes.
In response to the talk about Hincapie & Pereiro, I'll add a little more. Yes, Hincapie took advantage of Pereiro by sitting on his wheel, but it's not as though he drafted off him in a windy, flat stage. It was up a mountain--Pereiro's turf. If Hincapie agreed to work together, then he did Oscar rotten. Tough noogies. If you can't drop a sprinter-turned-mountain domestique on the incline, it's your fault. Pro cycling is the most cut-throat of all sports. Sometimes the guys have great sportsmanship, other times Vinokourov attacks after a crash in the peloton (see stage 17). Remember Savoldelli's stage win? He tried to use Sebastien Hinault to stay ahead of the chasers. When he saw them closing in because Hinault couldn't keep the pace, he attacked him. Not a dirty move, just competitive. 'Cause at the moment of truth, selfishness rules.
Here's an interesting fact. So far 14 different men have won individual stages in this Tour. For ten of them, it was their first ever TdF stage win. In fact, the last 5 have all been first time winners.
Oh, and Oscar Sevilla has always been a fine domestique.
posted by uberschuck at 12:06 AM
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