Just a quick update from down South: Lance has won today’s stage-3 of the Tour De Georgia in a bunch sprint finish at over 43MPH. So much for the old tri-guys lacking leg speed!
Wasn’t it more of a late attack? I’d say based upon his results at the Amstel Gold Races of the past couple yeras that he lacks a sprint. Or atleast a Sprint on the flats. I think this was a fast downhill sprint.
Matt
The lead out trains just fell apart in the closing few hundred meters and left the front of the bunch wide open for the line. LA pretty much stayed in the saddle and rolled across in a big gear… looked like a TT finish to me. Ivan Dominguez was out of the saddle and sprinting hard but ran out of real estate for the 2nd day in a row. This moved Lance up in the GC so he’ll get an earlier start in this afternoon’s TT, which may give him an edge as the afternoon winds pick up.
I’ll try and post some pic’s of the TT bikes from the pit area later on if I’m getting a good connection.
-lw
Lacks a sprint compared to who? Do you mean when racing the best in the world he doesn’t dominate on a sprint?
If Armstrong is in a 4 man break at the end of a World Cup type race he will get 4th 90% of the time.
I disagree. Bunch sprinters are often times different than breakaway riders. If Lance were in the top four coming into a field sprint, I agree he’d get 4th place 90% of the time. 4th place in a break is completely different.
Here’s the play-by-play for anyone who’s interested:
Remember that Lance was considered to be a sprint threat out of a breakaway group early in his career, that is how he scored his first TDF win. His slower sprint is due to him not focusing on that particular aspect of his riding.
From what I saw of the reports, it seemed he powered up the last 400m climb so strongly that none of the sprinters were up there, and Dominguez was probably too shelled from the finishing circuits to really challenge Lance. If Lance is strong enough to demolish the field like that on a 400m climb, then the other riders could be in for a world of hurt when the real climbs begin.
KR
And in contrast, Ullrich got dropped by the pack at Fleche Wallone yesterday rather early on, and has pulled out of Liege-Bastogne-Liege this weekend. Armstrong and Ullrich: the consummate professional and the consummate underachiever.
I’m happy to seems some of the smaller teams mixing things up and holding their own. As the race progresses I’m guessing that some of them might get shelled. But for now, this race has been a pleasant surprise.
I wonder if he was trying to keep himslef safe and at teh same time lead out hincapie for the win. Hincapie finished 4th.
Of course all of the main GC guys were in the top 10.
Matt
Maybe he’s starting to work on his sprint ability to get some of the top 3 time bonuses at the tour – maybe he thinks this will be the year when every second counts?
Dan
Yeah, maybe as a last hurrah at the tour he’s planning on winning all three jerseys.
Anybody know what’s up with Ullrich - he hasn’t shown any form so far this year. Very surprising. I hope he pulls it all together by July and we see the predicted battle. Beloki seems to be having trouble getting back to form also, but that’s to be expected given the severity of his injuries.
All three would be quite a feat! If he wanted, I’m sure he could get the Polka Dot but I’m not so sure of the Green.
Anyway, my hope is that Basso will be able to put in strong performance (he’s got a strong enough team behind him) and challenge for the podium.
Dan
"Armstrong and Ullrich: the consummate professional and the consummate underachiever. "
Yes, Ullrich is a real loser. I mean he’s only won the Tour and the Vuelta once, and he only has one Olympic gold medal. I’m sure he wishes he was as good as Ken and myself.
Seriously, how do you know if somebody is overachieving or underachieving? Armstrong and others like to talk about Ulrich being talented but lazy, but I have never seen any evidence that Ullrich possesses more natural ability (higher VO2 max, etc.) than Armstrong or anybody else.
True. I think much of the critcism heaped on Ullrich is unfair. Nobody else really comes close to those two when the tour comes around. It’s always funny to hear how he’s not a climber when there’s really only one guy I’ve ever seen who goes up a mountain faster on a consistent basis, and we all know who that is. Ullrich has had the misfortune of racing during an era when there’s just simply one guy who’s better. Otherwise, you’re watching one of the greats. Both of these guys time trial as fast as anyone in history, and they outclimb everyone else. If you can, go back and watch the 2001 tour - they were incredible.
I was kidding about the three jerseys, btw. I don’t think Basso can be a threat until he learns to time trial - I must admit; however, I’ve paid little attention to his results this year so maybe Bjarne’s helped. It’s about time Tyler started showing some form too come to think of it. I think the one week races in June will be very telling.
(Who called Ullrich a loser?)
With your own statements you confirm my assertion that he is an underachiever. He has shown his ability to be the best in the world, yet he seems to be incapable of doing what it takes year in, year out, in season and off-season, to consistently perform up to his own abilities. He now has about two months to whip himself into shape, whereas Armstrong will be able to fine-tune his preparation and hit the Tour in peak condition.
So, you believe that nobody has a right to criticize someone else if the critic can’t do as well or better? If not, what reason are you using for comparing me or you to Ullrich? Neither I nor anyone else on this list are comparing themselves to him. What’s your point?
I’ve been told that Ullrich has the ability to win Grand Tours, and at least one Olympic Gold Medal. He has done these outstanding feats with pretty lousy training methods.
Since he’s bigger than Armstrong, and can climb steady-state pretty much as well as Armstrong, he therefore puts out more power than Armstrong (witness his ability in the TT).
Keep in mind that “sprinting” in pro road racing is a bit of a misnomer. A “sprinter”, usually has to race hard aerobically for 3 - 5 hours and then be in the right position to have a chance of winning.
We may be splitting hairs here. Lance can likly power-up with the best of them - Cipo included. The difference may be in the actual jump and acceleration and then Cipo may be able to go a half a percent faster, but at that level of racing, that can be the difference. True bunch sprinting, of the kind that Cipo specializes in is a specialty. Also there are significant team tactics at work.
Not sure where I am headed with this. Just some thoughts.
“With your own statements you confirm my assertion that he is an underachiever. He has shown his ability to be the best in the world, yet he seems to be incapable of doing what it takes year in, year out, in season and off-season, to consistently perform up to his own abilities.”
Ah, but how do you know he did not “overachieve” to gain these victories? Most of which came prior to the Lance era.
"So, you believe that nobody has a right to criticize someone else if the critic can’t do as well or better? If not, what reason are you using for comparing me or you to Ullrich? Neither I nor anyone else on this list are comparing themselves to him. What’s your point? "
My point is that a bunch of geeks typing a way at a computer have no place in insulting the guys who are out there seating and bleeding. You know that old saying about the guy who goes out and tries his best, while the other guy sits back and finds nothing but faults?
"I’ve been told that Ullrich has the ability to win Grand Tours, and at least one Olympic Gold Medal. He has done these outstanding feats with pretty lousy training methods. "
Lousy training methods? How do you know? It seems to me he is following about the same routine as every other Division I rider.
"Since he’s bigger than Armstrong, and can climb steady-state pretty much as well as Armstrong, he therefore puts out more power than Armstrong (witness his ability in the TT). "
How do you know he doesn’t work harder in time trials than Armstrong, or make use of a better position? Their power outputs in racing do seem to be pretty close but Ullrich always seems to suffer more.
And don’t forget the courage necessary to be a top sprinter. Laurent Jalabert was one of the best in the world until his famous crash - he completely re-invented himslef after that admitting he had lost the edge.