Call him reckless, un-disciplined, whatever you will, but I think he added the most excitement to this year’s tour. I would guess half the tour miles he was out there riding by himself. Even if he was part of the break-away, he’d break-away from them. Front or back, he spent a lot ot time alone. Sure, he doesn’t have a lot of results to show for it, but imagine what he could do if he had a team that was helping him. Even though he was only fighting for 5th, I really think he put the race in the tour this year. I would love to see him get on a team that lets him live up to his potential. Thoughts?
Exactly! I don’t think he could be reigned in. My guess is that is why Disco isn’t interested in him. Too much of a free spirit for their regimented program
He certainly was exciting to watch this year as always. He is just an attack style type cyclist.
My only problem is that he rode for a contract and not his team. Kloden made reference to this when he said during the Tour that he would never ride with Vino ever again and that he (Vino) was only out for himself.
Vino had a job to do and that was to support Jan and he didn’t do that. All of this is evidenced by his actions including letting his team management know and announcing it, that he would not be back next year. This references his mind set.
I certainly appreciate him as a cyclist and he is a lot of fun to watch, no doubt.
Hes exciting, but is he disciplined enough or could he control himself enough to win the tour? I couldnt see him beating Jan or Basso at their best. I was bummed that he knocked Levi out of 5th. Isnt it customary that the race for GC is over after stage 20?
Definately exciting, the most exciting rider in the Tour this year for me. He’s a terrible teammate though. Could Ullrich have done better on some of those climbs with Vino’s help instead of Vino riding for himself? Most likely. He seems to have the type of attitude that will probably never allow him get anywhere near his true potential.
Isnt it customary that the race for GC is over after stage 20?
Vino’s not into “customary”, that’s for sure; since there were just 2 seconds separating he and LL entering the stage, I think it’s one of those “anything goes so long as the Maillot Jeune is not put into harm’s way” kind of deals.
So Vino takes on Gerolsteiner 1-on-4, including Leipheimer and they still couldn’t dispatch him; then he takes the overall stage win. Amazing guy, unbelievable strength, even more unbelievable balls to do some of the things he did (or tried to do) this year. Since we don’t know all the ins and outs as to the internal workings of T-Mobile, we’ll perhaps never really know what kind of “team” guy Vino really is. After all, wasn’t there a stage (forget which one) where he attacked and in essence his own team chased him down?
Obviously something was very wrong with the team mechanism at T-Mobile, but they did win the overall team race this year. Who is to blame? Will we ever know?
Oh yeah, but I forget, this year’s tour was boring as hell…
**imagine Lance 1’’ behind Ullrich before the last stage…do you think Lance would care about traditions??? Hell no! **
I got distracted and didn’t finish with the other thoughts I had when posting, but you did it for me…the “tradition” certainly wouldn’t hold if overall GC winner is in doubt. It is a generally flat stage so hard to make up minutes, but seconds definitely can be had (as we saw yesterday).
From what I have read this “tradition” of the last stage being largely ceremonial is a relatively recent one, like within the last 20 years or so?
Sure, he doesn’t have a lot of results to show for it, but imagine what he could do if he had a team that was helping him.
Not a lot to show for it?!? Two stage wins, including out thinking the sprinters in Paris, and 5th overall? I’d say that’s a hell of a lot to show for it!
I love Vino! It was great watching le tour, “…there goes Vino…there he goes again…”
Me too. Reminds me of Claudio Chiappuci (sp??). What alot of fun he was to watch. Made stages exciting…and boy could he come down a mountain. One tour he had Liggett and Sherwin fearing for his life as he dropped down a mountain.
Wow, what a great comeback! I’ll bet you spent a lot of time thinking up that…time you could have been coming up with something intelligent…oh, wait I forgot who I was talking to…nevermind.
