TDF Stage 7

[TeleAl]

There was a crash on a RR crossing today
(as well as another close to finish).
Not sure if anyone else noticed it, but Lance was making a move
just before the crash, while the camera was stuck focused on the middle of the Pelaton.
My point is, it appeared Lance got himself out of the dense zone
in order to cross the RR tracks with his wheels perpendicular to the rails.
Seems he made a good decision.

Not much else to note except that
Discovery is wearing 2 jerseys at the moment.

Yellow to Lance.
White to Popovych.
Hadn't noticed it before.

This weekend starts the hills.
Saturday:


Sunday:

[Artie Fufkin]

Not sure if anyone else noticed it, but Lance was making a move just before the crash, while the camera was stuck focused on the middle of the Pelaton. My point is, it appeared Lance got himself out of the dense zone
in order to cross the RR tracks with his wheels perpendicular to the rails.
Seems he made a good decision.

I know that there are 180 some other racers, but I was surprised that Phil or Paul didn't mention that. I was wondering why Lance began to sprint on the right side of the peloton for no reason, but when I saw the tracks it made sense. That is why Disco/Lance are so good, nothing is left to chance. You know that Johan Bruyneel was on the team radio before the tracks telling Lance to get to the front to stay out of trouble.

There should be some great racing this weekend. Right before the last few kilometers Vinokourov was right on Lance's wheel. I have a feeling were are going to see a battle between those two.

[p-tex]

I like Lance and all and it is amazing all he has done for US Cycling but the Only Lance Network is really missing the boat by seemingly focusing only on Lance. What happens to "joe six pack's" interest in the Tour or cycling in general when Lance retires. It just be nice to hear more about the other riders and their strategies.

I read that CSC and/or TMobile tried to make break away on Stage 5 but Lance and Disc. prevented it. You heard no mention of that on OLN but after I read that and saw the race reply that evening, it is pretty clear. Anyway I really enjoying the tour but would like to hear more that Lance this and Lance that....thoughts?

[Artie Fufkin]

I read that CSC and/or TMobile tried to make break away on Stage 5 but Lance and Disc. prevented it. You heard no mention of that on OLN but after I read that and saw the race reply that evening, it is pretty clear. Anyway I really enjoying the tour but would like to hear more that Lance this and Lance that....thoughts?

CSC and TMob are two of the main rivals of Disco, Disco wants to win the TdF and to win they have to control their rivals and the race.

If it were not for Lance we would not be getting this great coverage(except the Trout) in the United States, if it were not for Lance it is possible that interest in road racing in the US would have withered post Lemond. OLN focuses on Lance because they are an American network and Lance is the best American hope to win the race.

I think the Lance story is great, though I have interest in the TdF beyond Lance and interest in other races(their are two Disco riders in the top 10 of the GC in the Tour of Austria right now).

Lance is a one in a lifetime athlete, who has brought alot of attention to cycling in the US because of his ability and his life story. Unfortunately there will be a drop off in road racing interest after he retires, OLN focusing on other riders is not going to change that.

[Beaver]

I thought Lance retired after winning last year.

[smmokan]

Why the hating on Lance? Without what he's done for the sport, OLN (much less anyone else) wouldn't even show the Tour. Personally, I like seeing what the best rider in the tour's history does throughout the race. Granted, it'd be nice if we could see some of the other top riders a little more, but you can't have your cake and eat it too.

[Woodsy]

While I agree the coverage here is very lancenetric, I doubt that it will dramatically fall of as we will have American riders contending for a while now with Levi, Jullich, and who knows maybe Zabriskie or Hincampie.

Lance is a brand beyond the sport, but the legacy of interest in racing shold live on, if not to the same degree.
'mericans are always up for a jingoistic cheer.

[p-tex]

Who's hatin' on Lance? I didn't see that anywhere here. I think Lance has been great and said as much. I was simply pointing out that OLN dedicates more of their airtime to Lance than I would prefer and was looking for more complete coverage of the Tour.

As soon as Lance stops racing, you can count on some of support in America for cycling to dry up - especially if Disco picks a non-American as the "new" Lance (ie - Popovich). I like the guy but he won't generate the same interest. The more coverage we can have about other American cyclists the better for the sport and for continued interest here in the states.

[UTdave]

As soon as Lance stops racing, you can count on some of support in America for cycling to dry up - especially if Disco picks a non-American as the "new" Lance (ie - Popovich). I like the guy but he won't generate the same interest.

Agreed. I think most Americans think of Discovery as an American team and want the team leader to be American. The question is who is the next American GC threat? I wouldn't be surprised if Landis went back to Disco and they tried to make him their GC guy. We may see what Zabriskie has also he's already more than proven himself in the TT if he can climb he could become the next American GC threat. Is it just me or is Zabriskie as crash prone as Tyler Hamilton? He's crashed twice in the tour and the only time I ever saw the guy in person was when he crashed into the SUV in Mill Creek Canyon 2 years ago and broke his arm.

[Artie Fufkin]

As soon as Lance stops racing, you can count on some of support in America for cycling to dry up - especially if Disco picks a non-American as the "new" Lance (ie - Popovich). I like the guy but he won't generate the same interest. The more coverage we can have about other American cyclists the better for the sport and for continued interest here in the states.

I agree.

At this point there is not an American cyclist that is going to get the interest of the casual fan, Landis, Leipheimmer, Julich, Hincapie are getting to the end of their careers. Tyler was going in the right direction until his doping was uncovered. Even though Lance was a world champion, winner of the USPRO, San Sebastian and the Tour du Pont before cancer, I doubt many people(outside of the cycling community) knew or cared about him. But once he got cancer, beat it and won the TdF there was a story for the average person to be interested in.

What do the two most famous American cyclists, Lemond and Armstrong, have in common other than TdF wins and both being former world champions? Both have almost died and have come back to the top of the sport. I think the human interest story is what creates most of the interest in Lance outside the cycling community, that's not a bad thing.

There are alot of great American road racers, it just might be awhile before we see the next Lemond or Lance.

[TeleAl]

If I may suggest (off the Lance topic) for futuristic tour coverage:

1) get that info on their speedometers routed online.
I want to know how fast the riders are going.
2) give me a cadence count too.
3) heart rates, respiratory rates too.
4) altimeter readings too, temperature, etc--I want it all.
5!) rig the ear pieces wireless through the speedometer so they don't have to wear wires and press buttons in their shirts. The mic could be mounted in the speedometer. All controls on the steering wheel!

Is Motorola reading this?

I know I am pipe dreaming here, but the science is fascinating too. And teams would surely use this data to enhance their riders' performances. And, in the age of tech, in the age of immediate response, this would make the tour even more interesting.

Just some stuff I think about when watching the tour.

[peterslovo]

I've really been routing for the breakaways...like yesterday's German rider (could you imagine leading the tour, by yourself, into your home country?), but moreso in the previous stage when the FDJ rider Christophe Mengin (I think that's right- he apparently grew up 10 miles from the finish line) led the pack by mere seconds (with T-mobile on his heels) but wiped out in that final turn into the final stretch.

It always seems like the breakaways get caught on these flat stages, even when they get 8'30" up on the peleton. I want to see the breakaway succeed!

I think we might see some breakaways in today's stage that are more successful since the tour is starting to enter the mountains.