TdF Stage 4 TTT

[Artie Fufkin]

Great stage today, Discovery started out slow, but ramped it up at the finish to win the TTT for the third year in a row. CSC started out fast, but slowed down and they were not able to make up 2 seconds in the last few kilos. It was a bummer to watch Zabriskie go down 1.5K before the finish.

At this point it looks like the race is going to be betwen CSC and Disco, Basso and Julich should be tough to deal with. I still think from an individual rider standpoint that Vinokourov is going to give Lance the most problems. He seems to have the killer instinct that Jan lacks.

Results and GC:

Stage Result: 1 Discovery Channel Team 1.10.39
2 Team CSC + 0.02
3 T-Mobile Team + 0.36
4 Liberty Seguros - Würth Team + 0.53
5 Phonak Hearing Systems + 1.31
6 Credit Agricole + 1.41
7 Gerolsteiner + 2.05
8 Illes Balears-Caisse D'Epargne
9 Fassa Bortolo
+ 2.19 10 Liquigas - Bianchi + 2.26

General classification
1 Lance Armstrong (USA) Discovery Channel 9.59.12
2 George Hincapie (USA) Discovery Channel 0.55
3 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team CSC 1.04
4 Bobby Julich (USA) Team CSC 1.07
5 Jose Luis Rubiera (Spa) Discovery Channel 1.14
6 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Discovery Channel 1.16
7 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) T-Mobile Team 1.21
8 Benjamin Noval (Spa) Discovery Channel 1.26
9 David Zabriskie (USA) Team CSC
10 Ivan Basso (Ita) Team CSC

* Results courtesy of Cyclingnews.com

Stage 4 Report from CyclingNews.com

[TeleAl]

Do you think Vinokourov will have T-Mobile working for him?

I simply think they are not trying to beat Lance, but win other things,
the Team Category for one.

[TeleAl]

Ok, did not see other TDF Stage threads,
so I will hijack this one with some other stage questions.

Is McKeown out of Sprinter Category for being a dick?
What was his punishment?
I see they knocked him to 186th. Not sure what that means.

Is Zabriskie still in the race? How bad was his fall?

[Artie Fufkin]

Do you think Vinokourov will have T-Mobile working for him?

The fact that that question exists is why TMob has problems. I think there is a faction that still thinks that Jan has what it takes to be a GC contender, I think it is obvious he is not. I think there are others that see Vino as having what it takes to be on the podium. Because that division exists, there might not be 100% support for Vino, costing him a podium placing. This issue came up between Ulrich and Kloden last year. They need to commit to one guy. Discovery is so good because there is no doubt who the man is and the whole team is behind him. There was a rumor recently that Vino was talking to Disco for a spot on the team next year.

Bring on the Alps!

Edit: for TeleAl, McEwen was relegated for roughing up OGrady at the end of the Stage 3. I don't think I could try to lock up another rider at 35mph and not wreck. Fast Freddy is lurking on the left of the picture, it would be nice to seem him pick up a stage.

[Telephil]

Is Zabriskie still in the race? How bad was his fall?

Zabriskie will most likely still be there. I just heard on a webcast on cervelo's website that he got stitches in his leg and arm and is going to the hospital to get his X-rays on his ribs, but from the sound of things he'll still be able to race.

[Mr. Altagirl]

The fact that that question exists is why TMob has problems. I think there is a faction that still thinks that Jan has what it takes to be a GC contender, I think it is obvious he is not. I think there are others that see Vino as having what it takes to be on the podium. Because that division exists, there might not be 100% support for Vino, costing him a podium placing. This issue came up between Ulrich and Kloden last year. They need to commit to one guy. Discovery is so good because there is no doubt who the man is and the whole team is behind him. There was a rumor recently that Vino was talking to Disco for a spot on the team next year.

Bring on the Alps!

Edit: for TeleAl, McEwen was relegated for roughing up OGrady at the end of the Stage 3. I don't think I could try to lock up another rider at 35mph and not wreck. Fast Freddy is lurking on the left of the picture, it would be nice to seem him pick up a stage.

These guys may dress funny but they are tough men. That sprint was pretty hectic. Bowen is on fire for sure.

And Lance already has almost a minute on the field, amazing. It will be interesting to see if he tries to keep it or let's it slip until they reach the mountains. Great tour so far!

[teledave]

Zabriske's fall really sucked. I was looking forward to seeing whether or not he had what it would take to be a GC contender. He is a fantastic TT'er, but I (and most of the world I would presume) have no idea what kind of a climber he is. Add in the mystique of being only the 3rd American to wear the malliot jaune and suddenly there is a great interest in the Tour. After this crash, it is just Lance and the Discos all the way. Not that I am not pulling for him, but it would be nice to have an interesting race. Vinokurov will fail for the reasons above, normally Ulrich would be the leader and would be recieving the teams support unless he were to become lower placed than Vinko in the individual TT but since the TT is the next to last stage their will more than likely be some amount of dissension within the T-Mobile team. That equals poor mountain stages for both of them until the team aligns with one or the other, in the meantime if Armstrong is his normal self he puts minutes on both of them.

[TeleAl]

The indecision between Jan and Kloden last year was evident
the day Lance and Floyd(?) were racing against them
and Lance won
(the "il n y a pas des cadeaux" day).

Jan was working for Kloden.
And there was Zabel too,
another one the team was working for on Sprint finishes.

Correct me if I am wrong on this,
but, Jan was not the man the year he won.
During that race, he became the man.
After he argued to be the man, T-Mobile had a change of thought.

Seems a T-Mobile history.

[Tap]

unreal stage. i'll go so far as to say legendary. what a great story!

how does the yellow jersey go down 1.5 km from the finish and not 1 km? what a tough ride that would be.

and McEwen....wtf was he thinking head butting that guy? Roid rage, i say. Test him!

boy, you forget how big Jan is....he's a big boy. tough in the mtns.

love the Tour

[teledave]

Just saw that Julich was 4th in the GC. Could he be a contender this year? I'd love to see him on the podium in Paris, seems like all he has had is bad luck since he crashed on the downhill in the Alps (or Pyrennes?) 3 years ago.

[ak_powder_monkey]

This tour is rediculus although it seems that lance and discovory is dominating CSC looks incredible I think if T mobile were to solidly place vino as their number 1 guy he could get 2nd maybe 1st I think CSC should get the team title they look very stong I don't know if Jullich has what it takes to be a solid contender for the podium

[Artie Fufkin]

I think CSC should get the team title they look very stong I don't know if Jullich has what it takes to be a solid contender for the podium

Bobby J was on the podium in 1998, 3rd place, the best American placing post Lemond, pre Lance. He won Paris Nice this year and has shown good form, and has the potential for top 5, but CSC will likely be riding for Basso, but given Bobby Js 4th place in the GC it should be interesting to watch CSC's game plan develop.

[Woodsy]

bummer our boy from UT wnet down.
cool to see Lance and George 1-2.
think lance would let hime wear the tellow for a day for being one of the alll time best domestiques?
I mean Lance should be blowin this dood every night for all he has done.....