TdF Stage 20

[Artie Fufkin]

I can't believe Le Grand Boucle is almost over, GC as of Stage 19:

General classification after stage 19

1 Lance Armstrong (USA) Discovery Channel 81.22.19 (41.664 km/h)
2 Ivan Basso (Ita) Team CSC 2.46
3 Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank 3.46
4 Jan Ullrich (Ger) T-Mobile Team 5.58
5 Francisco Mancebo (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne 7.08
6 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Gerolsteiner 8.12
7 Cadel Evans (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto 9.49
8 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) T-Mobile Team 10.11
9 Floyd Landis (USA) Phonak Hearing Systems 10.42
10 Oscar Pereiro Sio (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems 12.39
11 Christophe Moreau (Fra) Credit Agricole 13.15
12 Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) Lampre-Caffita 15.13
13 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Discovery Channel 15.53
14 Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 17.26
15 Oscar Sevilla (Spa) T-Mobile Team 20.06

I do not think there is any doubt that Lance will win this stage, as it is his last chance for a stage win. Based on the 1st stage the only person close to him, Zabriskie, is out of the race. Basso will definitely hold onto 2nd. Rasmussen is cooked and will drop out of the top 5. I predict Levi has the TT of his life and moves into 3rd, unlikely, but it would be cool to see two Americans, former teammates on the podium.

[Duker]

My prediction for paris is

1 lance
2 basso
3 jan
4 Rassmussen
5 Liephiemer
6 Vino
7 Mancebo
8 landis
9 evans
10 Oscar p.

[Telephil]

My prediction for paris is

1 lance
2 basso
3 jan
4 Rassmussen
5 Liephiemer
6 Vino
7 Mancebo
8 landis
9 evans
10 Oscar p.

agreed..

[peterslovo]

They're predicting nice weather (albeit a bit warm) for the TT tomorrow, and rain for Sunday! Would suck to ride into Paris in the rain. Things would be interesting if it rained tomorrow for the TT instead (think Jan has fond memories of TT in the rain ?)

But as for the final overall classifications, I think I also agree with above...

[truth]

Bittersweet to say the least, the last dance, the end of an era. Vive Le Lance!

[teledave]

How bad would it suck to be Michaell Rasmussen today? You're already not a great TT'er, and then crash and have mechanical issues while wathcing your dream of a podium finish in Paris evaporate. I was really hoping he would put in an inspired ride and make the podium after the way he came from nowhere and was immediately written off by the talking heads as a non-contender but has held onto 3rd until today.

Good to see Bobby J put in a good perfromance today though, I'd like to see him make a big jump in the GC after today.

Edit: Rasmussen just crashed again. WTF? He must be mentally shot at this point. At least he still has the KOM.

[TeleAl]

Rasmussen still holds the Dots. Not bad.
Too bad he had issues today, including a fall.
But, all those issues came after Jan was ahead of him (ie. he off podium).
He'll be back.

Lance...nuff said.

Anyone predict an attack from the top contenders for the Yellow?
If not, at what km will the Champagne be flowing?

[bklyn]

Ok experts -
What happened to Rassmussen? Was it physical, mental, both?

[truth]

Anyone predict an attack from the top contenders for the Yellow?
If not, at what km will the Champagne be flowing?

Never happen, there is too much respect for the jersey and for the man wearing it. Tomorrow will be Lance's day. Watch for a break away to win the green jersey though. The top 10 GC will be on cruise control.

[truth]

Ok experts -
What happened to Rassmussen? Was it physical, mental, both?

His physical weakness in the TT caused a massive mental implosion. I felt bad until the second crash...then it was pretty funny.

[L7]

Ok experts -
What happened to Rassmussen? Was it physical, mental, both?

For a former world champ on the mtn bike you would expect exceptional bike handling skills. I think we've seen although his skills are good a twitchy time trial bike is still another animal altogether and he may lack the time in a saddle on one.

As well although he rode stellar over all I thought it might come down to whether he had it in him for an entire 3 weeks.

Combo of both mental and physical I think. Lacking the experience on that sort of bike and in that sort of race. Once the first crash happened a total mental meltdown likely occured. Not sure what all the issues of the bike changing and wheel moving were all about but that second crash was sheer panic and the near crash in the hair pin was poor execution as well.

His mental state likely wasn't helped by nagging doubts about his physcal abilities 3000+km in.

Certainly would have been a better story to see him ride clean and finish at least in the top 5 if not hold his podium spot.

On the other hand the precision and flat out performance of Lance and Jan was something to see. They both knew exactly what was their sustainable pace was (unlike Basso) and exactly where they needed caution and where they could take some risk.

Lance usually comes out on top but those guys have great respect for one another and can both turn it on huge. That rivally will be missed.

Why does OLN not ever interview Ullrich? Does he speak no English at all? I can't imagine that at this point.

[L7]

If not, at what km will the Champagne be flowing?

I say about 50 km in or shortly after.

[Artie Fufkin]

Great Stage, great win by Lance, going out in style. Another strong showing by the Americans, 4 placed in the top Ten and Levi got in to the top 5 of the GC. Jan definitely looked strong, hopefully he can build on this year and show up and try to get back in yellow next year.

Congrats to Chris Horner for a good showing in his first tour(by finishing his first tour he accomplished something that Lance was not able to do). He had some aggressive rides and got his name out there. He showed he that he has potential to be a TdF stage winner.

Results Stage 20
1 Lance Armstrong (USA) Discovery Channel 1.11.46 (46.4 km/h)
2 Jan Ullrich (Ger) T-Mobile Team 0.23
3 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) T-Mobile Team 1.16
4 Bobby Julich (USA) Team CSC 1.33
5 Ivan Basso (Ita) Team CSC 1.54
6 Floyd Landis (USA) Phonak Hearing Systems 2.02
7 Cadel Evans (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto 2.06
8 George Hincapie (USA) Discovery Channel 2.25
9 Francisco Mancebo (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne 2.51
10 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne 3.05


General classification after stage 20

1 Lance Armstrong (USA) Discovery Channel 82.34.05 (41.762 km/h)
2 Ivan Basso (Ita) Team CSC 4.40
3 Jan Ullrich (Ger) T-Mobile Team 6.21
4 Francisco Mancebo (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne 9.59
5 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Gerolsteiner 11.25
6 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) T-Mobile Team 11.27
7 Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank 11.33
8 Cadel Evans (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto 11.55
9 Floyd Landis (USA) Phonak Hearing Systems 12.44
10 Oscar Pereiro Sio (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems 16.04

[vanilla gorilla]

tough day for rasmussen. two crashes and 4 bike changes?

[Duker]

I was pretty close, Just needed to switch Rassmussen and mancebo.

[Artie Fufkin]

Lance usually comes out on top but those guys have great respect for one another and can both turn it on huge. That rivally will be missed.

Why does OLN not ever interview Ullrich? Does he speak no English at all? I can't imagine that at this point.

OLN is obviously going to focus on Lance, even his interviews were pretty short, it did seem like there were not alot of interviews with other riders, even American riders.

Here is a great quote from Lance on Jan, it shows the kind of respect Lance has for him:

"Added Armstrong: "Jan's special. He's a special guy; to me, he's still the scariest guy. He needs to come to the Tour not in a lot better shape, but a little better shape. He has the package, but it's just the first 10 days; if he changes that, he wins."

I would like Jan to win the Tour again, that it would be incredible for some one to win it 9 years after their first, he can do it. He just needs to hire Lance as his coach/consultant.

Edit: Here is a great take on the Stage and Lance's career from Graham Watson off of thepaceline.com:

"What a great champion Lance is – and what a brilliant way to end your cycling career! Today, we were gifted with the fortune to see this legendary cyclist in action, at his best, for one final time. And Lance really was at his best, his very best, in beating a rejuvenated Jan Ullrich who would have won the stage but for an epic comeback by Lance when it most mattered. This was like going back to 2000 when Lance had yet to win a stage but then beat Ullrich by about the same time as today, 23-seconds. Only then Lance was always in front of the German – today he found that extra boost to his adrenalin after hearing he was well behind Ullrich before the final climb. Strangely, my images of Lance today show little sign of the flat-out aggression we have so become accustomed to seeing when he is really going for it – instead there was something of an angry face that he was being asked, one last time, to push himself into the red in order to win. But win he did, and in style, and we can now begin to close the final chapter in Lance’s final Tour de France.

It is not often that a Tour de France champion gets a standing ovation in the packed media-room after a stage. But that is what happened today when Lance made the traditional visit to the press-centre on the eve of his crowning glory in Paris. He’s done this seven times now, but there has never been the response he got today after closing the informal press-conference he is obliged to hold for the world’s media. There were the anticipated questions regarding all topics of his career and his impending retirement. But as he rose to leave the applause broke out with force, and he found himself squashed in from all sides as even the most hardened journalists wanted to wish him ‘au revoir’ and wish him well for the future. His beaming smile said it all back to them – he was happy to win this stage, happy to resume his rivalry with Ullrich one last time, and will be very happy to sign off for good tomorrow afternoon in Paris. And that’s just what he’ll do, less than 24 hours from now – leave the Tour de France as the abdicating King, and with the message to his successors that they will never be as good as he…he proved that today."

[TeleAl]

So, let me get this correct:
Did Rasmussen fall before all those bike issues?

I saw the fall after the bike issues were in progress, and now I hear some saying a 2nd fall. I wondered why he had bike issues the first time, but it was never clear from the coverage. The fall after his bike issues started was clear as they showed it a couple of times after it happened.

Bad day no doubt, but he should be very content with his tour.
There is no shame in wearing the Dots!

[TeleAl]

Congrats to Chris Horner for a good showing in his first tour(by finishing his first tour he accomplished something that Lance was not able to do). He had some aggressive rides and got his name out there. He showed he that he has potential to be a TdF stage winner.

First tour for him, Saunier Duval, and SCOTT bikes.
Knowing some people involved in all that, it was fun to cheer for them.
They had a good showing in the early stages, getting their name known.
I'm looking forward to their return next year.

[L7]

[QUOTE=TeleAl
I saw the fall after the bike issues were in progress, and now I hear some saying a 2nd fall. I wondered why he had bike issues the first time, but it was never clear from the coverage. The fall after his bike issues started was clear as they showed it a couple of times after it happened.

[/QUOTE]

He had a fall pretty early on a fairly benign corner on dry pavement. Just went over sideways. Then he may have flatted and they put a wheel on then he was starting in a big gear and pulled the wheel over apparently and pulled his wheel off but they gave him a new bike instead. The into the ditch one leg out and over the bars came later. Not sure I have the order right as I missed the first crash on live coverage, not sure about the flat and they kept cutting back to him from the other guys for yet another bike/tire/wheel/crash/near crash issue. It was painful to watch but I'm sure nothing compared to what it was for him.

[L7]

OLN is obviously going to focus on Lance, even his interviews were pretty short, it did seem like there were not alot of interviews with other riders, even American riders.

I realize they are going to focus on Lance but an interview with Ullrich on the topic of Lance would have been interesting. Just as Armstrong's praise and respect of my favourite squarehead was good I would have been interested to hear similar sentiments from Ullrich. Maybe he won't talk to them or speaks no English or slags Lance (I don't think that's the case).

As much as Lance's dominance is a great story I think a great rivalry is what makes the story even better. Especially when that rivalry comes with mutual respect.

[Artie Fufkin]

First tour for him, Saunier Duval, and SCOTT bikes.
Knowing some people involved in all that, it was fun to cheer for them.
They had a good showing in the early stages, getting their name known.
I'm looking forward to their return next year.

I saw an interview with Horner and he said that he had alot of support from the Spanish/Basque fans, he was surprised that they even knew his name. Horner has shot his mouth off in the past, but he backed up his talk in the Tour. For some reason he didn't do to well in his initial attempt at Euro road racing, but after alot of success in the US he has shown he is a TdF caliber racer.