I am not a huge lance fan, but he just proved that he can still climb with the best of them. Maybe he showed just enough to shut the haters up!
Not a fan of Lance either, but you have to say chapeau to him today
Andy Schleck looked grea, but that was the least comfortable I have seen AC all tour
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I agree, Lance haters have a nice big plate of crow to eat! IMO it looked like Lance was getting better & better in the mountains every day. Who knows about next year!
I am an unapologitic Lance fan. It was quite impressive indeed. I wanted to see Lance win this year but, honestly, never thought he had a chance (not with after such a long break from competitive cycling).
Today showed and confirmed several things:
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AC is a machine. Period.
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Andy S is one to watch.
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Lance is incredible. He hung well with the best in the world.
I look forward to seeing many years of incredibly fighting b/t AC and Andy S, with Lance and Radio Shack mixing it up. It should be REALLY fun next year.
I wanted him to win also but a lot of the Lance hate/opposition was against those who wrote ridiculously stupid things like it was in the bank for him.
Lance haters have a nice big plate of crow to eat
And the Lance loving AC haters?
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And the Lance loving AC haters?
Oh no! You just made this into a 200 post thread 
On your marks…fight!
All the top GC contenders performed like machines today and perfect teammates. AC looked calm and comfortable, covering every break but not attacking so LA could stay close. AS attacked the hell out of AC, and tried to help out his bro, who clearly did not have the legs. LA did what he needed to do, hung on Frank and Wiggin’s wheels. It was a great day of racing.
It would have been really interesting to watch a true mano a mano showdown between AS and AC though. They both looked like they were head and shoulders above everyone else.
The only slight dissappointment today was Kloden, he didn’t have the gas to stay with them. I guess that is what happens when you are the chief domestique for AC and LA.
Lance was very impressive today as well. Next year’s tour should be interesting, with a team built strictly to support him.
You said it quite well.
AC is a beast, even if I don’t enjoy him as a rider. No one pressed him this year.
I can’t wait til next year when AC, Lance, and AS go head to head!
I think one thing that spoke well of him this year was that he moderated any disconnect the press attempted to leverage between him and Contador. Now, in fairness, Bruyneel may have played some degree of moderating role here.
The fact does remain that it didn’t descend into a full-on soap opera and it remained an elegant tactical battle fought out in a textboook manner. I enjoyed it.
Another thing I liked to see was Frankie interviewing Lance. A new detante’?
Overall the performances we’ve seen this year and sportmanship as well as the rivalry has been very animated and… well, *sporting. *The banter between Cavendish and Hushovd over the sprints. It was a gentleman’s tussle. Well played. Drama, danger, competition…
The time trial at the end was a bit of a yawner- too short. A fine Tour though. Lots to speculate about early on, lot to dream about. I loved it. Sat there with tears in my eyes a few times- such a beutiful contest- spectacle. In all of society our expression through sport can speak so well of us- and also so poorly. It’s a microcosm of life, and this one was a positive reflection on the triumphs, struggles, failures and demi-dramas. I loved it.
Er, maybe the “hating” is *about *the perfomance, not negated by the performance…
And yes, I’m for Cancer, so don’t even bother to ask…
I used to dislike him, but have warmed to him considerably after this tour. He’s definitely been the smartest rider and has come across very well in interviews.
I enjoyed watching Lance ride during his reign. However, he converted me to a fan after I watched every stage of the Giro and Tour. Chapeau Lance!
I was really hoping LA would overtake Andy on the Ventoux. Why? 2nd place will be awarded the win in about 4 months…after they bust AC. The best climber beats the best TT’er…in a TT! Hmmm. The code expression from the competitors after these performances used to; he was surprisingly strong today.
The code expression from the competitors after these performances used to; he was surprisingly strong today.
There are various levels of code. My favourite is:
“A superhuman ride” (translates to) he’ll test positive after the stage
I enjoyed watching Lance ride during his reign. However, he converted me to a fan after I watched every stage of the Giro and Tour. Chapeau Lance!
I was really hoping LA would overtake Andy on the Ventoux. Why? 2nd place will be awarded the win in about 4 months…after they bust AC. The best climber beats the best TT’er…in a TT! Hmmm. The code expression from the competitors after these performances used to; he was surprisingly strong today.
why do people keep saying that when he’s bee a career TT guy? He wasn’t surprisingly strong at all, at least compared to the rest of the podium. Are people suprised when Levi has a good TT?
Contador played nice today but I wish he didn’t. Ventoux is a legend and deserves to be won by champions. Instead of seeing A. Schleck and Contador duke it out for the stage - it goes to a hack journeyman in a breakaway. I was so disappointed.
Contador racing for himself easily catches him.
Dave in VA
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Yes, the top guys could have caught and won, but I was glad to see the fight between Martin and Garate, and one of those who worked all day (and Rabobank) take the win.
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I was almost with Phil and Paul, screaming for Wiggy by the end.
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Lance did great, rode smart as always.
-Fun tour in the mtns, and it was nice to hear that Cav apologized to Thor, and recognized his strengths. Still should be a good sprint tomorrow.
The sprint tomorrow will be quite heated - interesting how Phil and Paul were bringing up the last time an American featured on the Champs (1987 if I recall?).
Anyone else bust out their old Bob Roll footage every June in prep for his commentary? That guy I used to dislike but have only warmed to those great teeth…
And what is a “block” headwind? Seriously, is there any other?
he can climb with the best of them, save two…
=)
I am not a huge lance fan, but he just proved that he can still climb with the best of them. Maybe he showed just enough to shut the haters up!