OK. I’m just getting my updates VIA computer. How did the stage go today? Did Disco let Rassmussen go? Did Lance want to give up the Yellow to Voigt? Is Voigt a real GC threat? How did Ulrick look? Who is the real leader of T-Mobile? Are they tactical geniuses or idiots?
How did the stage go today?
A great breakaway! Very nice riding by Rassmussen.
Did Disco let Rassmussen go?
Yes
Did Lance want to give up the Yellow to Voigt?
Most likely. Now CSC has to defend and Lance rides from behind in the big mountains (which is what he normally does).
Is Voigt a real GC threat?
No, but I’ll be these boys are VERY happy…
http://ironclm.typepad.com/photos/tour_de_france_2004/cimg0101.JPG
How did Ulrick look?
He crashed and his boys had to wait, but he got back in the peleton.
Who is the real leader of T-Mobile?
That will likely be sorted out on Tuesday.
Are they tactical geniuses or idiots?
Depends on whom you are asking.
Looked like nothing was going to stop Rassmussen. Props to him for a damn strong ride. Moreau and Voigt tried to reel him in all day but Rassmussen wouldn’t yield.
voigt isn’t going to roll over because Lance thinks he wants the jersey back.
He should just camp on Disco’s train, have Sastre (who could be a threat and is high up in the GC) take a flyer off the front, with Basso sitting on Voigt’s wheel. then if Disco covers the move, they get pulled up the mountain, if not and Sastre gets away, he can take the lead, put time into Lance, wina stage, multiple possibilities.
IF they do nothing, it saves Basso for another attack, tires the Disco team a bit, and Voigt keeps yellow.
Lots of possibilities. A day of rest will get the kamizaki rides tanks topped off.
Thanks! And, Rassmussen is on my team in the cyclingnews.com fantasy tour. 
They won’t “go crazy” to regain it Tuesday. This just means that they can follow the action, rather than have to dictate it, at least through Tuesday…If the big boys attack, Discovery can follow with the train and destroy them piecemeal. If they sit in…well, Lance is still leading all of the big contenders…no big deal…but his supporting cast don’t have to kill themselves sitting on the front to control the attacks…
Its not a matter of “waiting” till the Pyrenees…just waiting until somebody serious tries to take the jersey…then remind them who the boss is.
The problem is that after the other days balls up if he doesn’t dictate he could suffer a major flurry of attacks if people suspect the team is week. Better to show them a strong arm and think twice about trying it…
The problem is that after the other days balls up if he doesn’t dictate he could suffer a major flurry of attacks if people suspect the team is week. Better to show them a strong arm and think twice about trying it…
Just like what happened on the run-in to Alpe d’Huez a couple of years ago! No, wait…
It should be interesting, if nothing else. Tactically, Tuesday and Wednesday should be interesting. The dynamics between, CSC, Discovery and T- Mobile will be fascinating. Each team has options. However, I suspect that Armstrong and Co., will just sit back, and wait for things to happen. Cover breaks that need to be covered. Let no one up the road far enough to be a real threat on in the GC and race conservitivly as long as they can. It’s worked for 6 Tour de France’s, so why change now. Rarely, has Lance been in a situation where he is totaly isolated and had to go absolutly on the offensive. Sundays, stage was a Discovery/US Postal textbook example of how they do it. Lance just sat in behind the “team bus” for the whole stage from what I saw on TV. They knew exactly what was going on with Rasmusson, Voight and Moreau up the road at all times and kept the pace at exactly what they wanted to keep things in control.
I have to wonder what impact the radios have on this sort of thing. Years ago with no radio communication back and forth between the main break, a secondary break, the peloton and the team cars, I suspect that their was more opportunity to REALLY get away and do some damage on the GC. However, now breaks seem to be micro-controlled by the peleton I suspect as a result of direct and immediate radio communication between the riders and the team cars. It seems to enforce and reward the defensive and conservitive tactics that teams like Discovery have used very successfully. Not that there is anything wrong with this - it’s within the rules, it works and they win, so why mess with success.
Fleck