#11
|
|||
|
|||
Will Lance quit?
"Fred Marx" wrote in message ... the OLN video from the end of the evening coverage sure didn't look good as they compared LA to JU.. Lance looked spent and Jan looked like he'd had a good workout... That's what winning looks like. -WG |
Ads |
#12
|
|||
|
|||
Will Lance quit?
"NS" wrote:
His (Lance's) overall lead has increased 13 seconds or so as of today. The only difference is Ullrich is in second instead of Vinokourov. Second place on back doesn't matter in the big picture. Why would LA want to burn himself out? I say he is being conservative. He certainly didn't look like he was taking it easy, when he finally appeared on the finish line 1:35 down. AFAIK it is tactically dumb to hold back in a time trial. The only riders who you see doing it are the ones who are simply not racing for a good general classification position (like Virenque yesterday). Lance and the USPS Team can't be sure what Ullrich's or Vinokourov's form is in the Pyrenees. They didn't dominate like everybody's used to in the Alps, either, so being conservative would be plain stupid. Lance was never conservative in the TT's before, even when the race was much more firmly in his and his team's hands. Mayo and Zubeldia are also too close and too strong to be forgotten. Lance lost valuable time yesterday, although he's obviously still a big favourite. ...Did Ullrich get spent trying to win the stage like Patacchi did after that big sprint? Will he have enough to stay in contention while racing through the mountainous stages? I don't think recovering from a short TT is a problem for riders at this level. -as |
#13
|
|||
|
|||
Will Lance quit?
On Sat, 19 Jul 2003 01:40:28 GMT, "Corey Green"
wrote: Have to agree with you there. He already proved he could gain time on Ullrich in the mountains - tomorrow through Tuesday we should see more of the same. Yeah but that was when he gained time on him in ITT's too (2000 and 2001). While that doesn't mean it will be reversed this year, it certainly shouldn't be inferred from 2000/2001 that the same will happen this year. In the Alpe d'Huez, Ullrich was recovering fom a nasty stomach problem |
#14
|
|||
|
|||
Will Lance quit?
NS schreef in berichtnieuws
... His (Lance's) overall lead has increased 13 seconds or so as of today. The only difference is Ullrich is in second instead of Vinokourov. Second place on back doesn't matter in the big picture. Why would LA want to burn himself out? I say he is being conservative. The big question is ...Did Ullrich get spent trying to win the stage like Patacchi did after that big sprint? Will he have enough to stay in contention while racing through the mountainous stages? NS If Armstrong is counting on Ullrich to have a bad day, he's making a big mistake. I don't believe that Ullrich will lose considerable time - if any at all - in the next four stages. Ullrich is riding with confidence and knowledge about his own abilities. On Alpe d'Huez I was amazed by his ability to ride in his own pace and still minimize his loss towards Armstrong. Ullrich knew what he was doing. At the same time, he has shown in the past that he can improve as the tour progresses, and I don't see why this year would be an exception. In 2001, he was attacking Armstrong in the stage to Luz Ardiden, setting a pace that was hard to keep up with. Armstrong had been able to attack the previous day, and finished with a minute. How good are their relative individual strengths this year? Perhaps it is true that Time Trials don't lie, as Johan Bruyneel said. That would mean that Ullrich is better, who has the added advantage of the victory at the TT, which brings a definite psychological advantage. In the best possible scenario for Ullrich, his climbing speed will be too much for Armstrong. I don't think this is an impossible scenario. Ullrich might lead so hard that a serious jump away from him would be impossible and consequently he could pick up Armstrong and then leave him behind. Anyone who considers this impossible is terribly underestimating Ullrich. The best possible scenario for Armstrong is that he finds the form he has been missing these two weeks. He needs to attack like he has done the last couple of years, accelerating to a speed that Ullrich cannot keep up with. After gaining time, he must consolidate, and minimize the time that Ullrich would gain back. Armstrong used to be capable of this, but on Alpe d'Huez he failed, even though he was clearly counting on attacking on that final climb. He would not have let his team work so much if he did not expect important results that day. They have been working for some days now, and another effort like the one on the 8th stage will be more difficult for him. The US Postal team, however, is very strong this year, and they might be capable of more miracles. Jonathan. |
#15
|
|||
|
|||
Will Lance quit?
On Sat, 19 Jul 2003 08:11:25 GMT, Keith wrote:
Pettachi (check your spelling dude) It's Petacchi, *dude*. |
#16
|
|||
|
|||
Will Lance quit?
Antti Salonen wrote in message ...
"NS" wrote: His (Lance's) overall lead has increased 13 seconds or so as of today. The only difference is Ullrich is in second instead of Vinokourov. Second place on back doesn't matter in the big picture. Why would LA want to burn himself out? I say he is being conservative. He certainly didn't look like he was taking it easy, when he finally appeared on the finish line 1:35 down. AFAIK it is tactically dumb to hold back in a time trial. The only riders who you see doing it are the ones who are simply not racing for a good general classification position (like Virenque yesterday). Lance and the USPS Team can't be sure what Ullrich's or Vinokourov's form is in the Pyrenees. They didn't dominate like everybody's used to in the Alps, either, so being conservative would be plain stupid. Lance was never conservative in the TT's before, even when the race was much more firmly in his and his team's hands. Mayo and Zubeldia are also too close and too strong to be forgotten. Lance lost valuable time yesterday, although he's obviously still a big favourite. There is no way a rider who is trying for the podium would ever give less than the maximum effort in an ITT. A Time Trial is simply the best way to win time against one's rivals. Let's look at the facts: -- LA looked whipped after the Time Trial -- He admitted that he suffered in the heat -- He only gained scant time against other rivals...only about 30 seconds over Vinokourov, and the Spanish riders are still too close for comfort. -- It is much more difficult to gain time in the mountain stage, since Ullrich has the prospect of marking him, and the climbing specialists can attack him --Armstrong himself emphasized the seminal importance of the time trial. Unlike Merckx, Armstrong only races flat out on just a few stages. A time trial is definitely one of them. He needs to win a stage in the Pyrenees, since otherwise he faces the prospect of winning the TDF, yet without winning a single stage. A win is a win, but surely Lance would like to show to the world that he can still dominate, at least on a given day. ...Did Ullrich get spent trying to win the stage like Patacchi did after that big sprint? Will he have enough to stay in contention while racing through the mountainous stages? I don't think recovering from a short TT is a problem for riders at this level. Just so. If Lance were indeed **trying** to rest by racing conservatively on the time trial, then it was a Fool's Errand. He have to expend that much, and more, in the upcoming Mountain stages, just to make good the time that he lost. Tactically speaking, he'd be MUCH better off if he still had his 2 minute lead over Ullrich. THEN, Armstrong could afford to ride conservatively. Lance is in real jeopardy. This is not to say that the situation is hopeless. He has the better team. He is a better climber than Ullrich. He still holds the lead. Those are some nice trumps to hold. In the next few days, we will find out what comprises the rest of his hand. He better find his legs in the next couple of days, or he won't shake Ullrich, and he'll find it difficult to hold him off in the 2nd Individual Time Trial. Ever since Alp D'Huez, there has been a litany of excuses: The record heat, a virus, dehydration, an "off day", bike crashes, brake problems, bad pacing by his teammate (Beltran), constant attacks by his rivals, the other teams ganging up on him, the structure of this year's Tour (entering the Alps relatively early, having a late 1st Individual Time Trial). Armstrong is running out of days to prove that he is a Champion. Every day that ticks by without a stage win entails a greater and greater chance that Lance won't be able to pull it out in the end. -as |
#17
|
|||
|
|||
Will Lance quit?
Slider2699 wrote:
"Callistus Valerius" wrote in message ... I've heard Lance say that if he can't win the tdf, that he would quit. If it becomes evident in the next couple of stages, that Lance can't win, will he quit? The man doesn't have any quit in him. Geez, he overcame CANCER, and you think he'll quit a bike race if he gets behind? Get a clue. He *could* think about the Vuelta. But I believe you're right. |
#18
|
|||
|
|||
Will Lance quit?
"Jonathan v.d. Sluis" wrote:
If Armstrong is counting on Ullrich to have a bad day, he's making a big mistake. Ullrich is allegedly having a bad day. (Waiting for the proof on the first climb however) |
#19
|
|||
|
|||
Will Lance quit?
Isidor Gunsberg wrote:
Unlike Merckx, Armstrong only races flat out on just a few stages. A time trial is definitely one of them. He needs to win a stage in the Pyrenees, since otherwise he faces the prospect of winning the TDF, yet without winning a single stage. According to letour.com: 2003 not ranked o Wore the yellow jersey o 1 stage victory : Stage 4 : JOINVILLE - SAINT-DIZIER (the TTT) |
#20
|
|||
|
|||
Will Lance quit?
"David Ryan" wrote in message ... Ullrich is allegedly having a bad day. Listening to Virenque on France 2 after the race Ulrich had to stop with a bad case of the runs. His shorts were put straight into a plastic bag at the end of the stage. Pretty sure sign of dehydration (well not so pretty)... A demain Dan |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Bad Journalism - Bicycling Lance Article | WillW | General | 26 | July 31st 04 05:14 AM |
Lance Armstrong's mother promotes federal funding of bike/ped accommodations | Brent Hugh | General | 5 | September 4th 03 05:37 PM |
How Jan or Lance can win | warren | Racing | 10 | July 20th 03 12:01 AM |
In defence of the Lance era | Bret Wade | Racing | 5 | July 15th 03 11:11 PM |
How long has it been for Lance Armstrong? | NobodyMan | Racing | 2 | July 10th 03 10:06 PM |