Question about Race Tradition

"Bruce Johnston" wrote in message
...

"Carl Sundquist" wrote in message
...

"benjo maso" wrote in message

yeah, and before that it must of been a very long time. I will leave
that
one for Masso.


Although my name isn't Masso, I can answer the question.
Benjo Maso


We understand.

Mr. LVM-L Stalker/Name Butcher seems to think the second five-time TdF
winner was Merck.

Stalker nah, name butcher not true. Merckx and Maso wasn't intentional.
Second five time winner... I don't where you get this stuff but if you got
anymore problems with me I guess we could get together and sort it out.

B-



In a Texas second, Tuff Guy?

Corey Green wrote:

I can just see the Lotto guys yelling "Hey - you are breaking tradition! Get
back here!"

My failing memory prompts me to suggest that such comments HAVE in fact
been heard when some neophyte has attempted a break on the final stage.

benjo maso wrote:

There has never been some "grand old man" who tried to prevent it or
something like that. In 1914 Pélissier attacked Philippe Thys and in 1979
Zoetemelk attacked Hinault in the last stage because they hoped to win and
nobody blamed them. Of course teams with a good sprinter will do everything
to impede such actions, but only because they want to win themselves, not
because it's against some etiquette.

The intention of the Champs-Elysees finish was to increase the spectator
potential and (my opinion), the race organizers encourage a parade to
Paris (a bit like the gladiators entering the Coliseum) and the racing
only begins in the 10 laps. There HAVE been breakaways but by and large
a sprint finish is on the cards. I wonder what Sean Kelly will say
about it, if it becomes an issue (it may not).

However, what a mouth-watering prospect a yellow jersey led breakaway
would be. If that raised spectator excitement, then few would criticise
it afterwards.

"Corey Green" wrote in message
...


Armstrong, Ullrich, and Vinokourov aren't necessarily very good sprinters,
but they also don't typically give a **** about sprints because they are
meaningless when you can gain 30 minutes on a sprinter in the mountains.
Time bonuses alone will make the stage interesting.




Those guys are crappy sprinters, as well they should be since they don't
have a lot of fast twitch and they don't train for sprints. They won't be
able to get top 3 in an intermediate sprint vs. the real sprinters.


dream on.

"Stewart Fleming" wrote in message
...


Corey Green wrote:

I can just see the Lotto guys yelling "Hey - you are breaking tradition!
Get
back here!"

My failing memory prompts me to suggest that such comments HAVE in fact
been heard when some neophyte has attempted a break on the final stage.




Spotted Dick has done it.

"Kurgan Gringioni" wrote in
message ...

"Corey Green" wrote in message
...
Very astute. The other problem, though, is that winning the
Champs-Elysee stage is the most prestigious non-jersey
accomplishment
you can manage at le Tour. Since the stage profile is always flat
and
short (just over 150 km this year), every team in the race is
willing
to
attack and nail breakaways in order to neutralize the race until the
10
laps.

It's possible that if the GC is close, there will be an early
attack,
but there is little chance it will succeed, unless USPS or Bianchi
is
a
stronger team than I think.

--
Ryan Cousineau, http://www.sfu.ca/~rcousine
President, Fabrizio Mazzoleni Fan Club



In that case you may see a breakaway that has one of the 3 working
with
others that want a shot at the stage win. The GC contender would agree
to
not dispute the stage in exchange for hauling ass in the break along
with
support from whatever the team can do to slow the chase. However, as
you
point out they would be working against any teams that are left out
and
especially teams with sprinters that hope to take the stage. Combine
that
with any other teams shooting for additional green jersey points and
this
hypothetical break is doomed. Still, my point is that anything goes
when
the
jersey is not well established.



Could be the best one-day race ever....



Goddam, you guys are dreamers.

It's a FLAT, short stage.

The sprinters will want to win it, their teams will help keep it together.
And all 1st place has to do is sit on 2nd place's wheel the entire day.
Him
and his whole team. 2nd place would have no chance of getting away.


I assume you are talking about the last day. If you are, then I agree. I am
not dreaming I am simply pointing out that it is not impossible and it is
not "against tradition". It is simply highly unlikely because it is
virtually impossible to gain anything. If the difference betwen any of them
still is very low then it may be worth the risk.

"Kurgan Gringioni" wrote in
message ...

"Corey Green" wrote in message
...


Armstrong, Ullrich, and Vinokourov aren't necessarily very good
sprinters,
but they also don't typically give a **** about sprints because they are
meaningless when you can gain 30 minutes on a sprinter in the mountains.
Time bonuses alone will make the stage interesting.




Those guys are crappy sprinters, as well they should be since they don't
have a lot of fast twitch and they don't train for sprints. They won't be
able to get top 3 in an intermediate sprint vs. the real sprinters.


dream on.



I am not arguing that - but it won't be a parade. If one is behind the other
by less than 20" they will die trying. Their team and their fans expect
nothing less.

"Bruce Johnston" wrote in message
...

My un-intentional name assassination verses your character assassination.
Seems like there is a gauntlet, usually you or Henry.



I'm not stupid enough to challenge people to fights on usenet.




Others a

http://groups.google.com/groups?q=te...s.racing+au t
hor:bruce+author:johnston&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&selm=3e581701%241%40news.sti.ne
t&rnum=1

From: Bruce Johnston )
Subject: Armstrong, Wife seperate
View: Complete Thread (57 articles)
Original Format
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles.racing
Date: 2003-02-22 16:34:19 PST

Listen you jackass sack of ****. If you were to say that to my face, I would
put you on your back in a texas second. You are a sports marketing executive
that probaby sits on his ass all day. You probably don't even ride a bike.
It's nice to sit behind a PC and talk **** and say things you would not
normally say in public. Do you normally go around telling people in the
office that they have their heads up their ass? I didn't train in Martial
Arts for 12 years to take **** like that from you. I hope I don't run into
your sorry ass, because I am sure I will kick it!!

kiss off sports marketing executive jackass...
--------------------
"Kurgan Gringioni" wrote in
message et...

"Bruce Johnston" wrote in message
...
So Bruce, until you can show some data other than your-head-up-your-ass
opinion, perhaps you should shut up. That would be good for you, but bad
for
me.

What the hell am I talking about? Bruce Johnston knows more about that
stuff
than advertising and marketing executives.

I apologize for challenging your exalted opinion. Please forgive me



K. Gringioni
former rbr troublemaker
now a disciple of head-up-his-ass Bruce Johnston

http://members.aol.com/evank40767/arguing.jpg

On Sun, 20 Jul 2003 18:36:26 -0700, "Bruce Johnston"
wrote:


"Carl Sundquist" wrote in message
...

"benjo maso" wrote in message

yeah, and before that it must of been a very long time. I will leave
that
one for Masso.


Although my name isn't Masso, I can answer the question.
Benjo Maso


We understand.

Mr. LVM-L Stalker/Name Butcher seems to think the second five-time TdF
winner was Merck.

Stalker nah, name butcher not true. Merckx and Maso wasn't intentional.
Second five time winner... I don't where you get this stuff but if you got
anymore problems with me I guess we could get together and sort it out.

B-



How 'bout you "get together and sort it out" by doing a pursuit
against him? Put your money where your mouth is? The loser
never posts to rbr again.


gopher --- wondering if it's that easy to never read a BJ post
again.

From: "Bruce Johnston"

My un-intentional name assassination verses your character assassination.
Seems like there is a gauntlet, usually you or Henry. Why don't you two guys
look into seeing if usenet would change the rules for RBR and then you guys
could decide who enters or leaves RBR. Moderator, you and Henry can take
turns. I mean really, what is the problem Carl? I don't go around trashing
you like some do to Pappy. I happen to think Pappy is cool, he takes a lot
of heat but he is never uncivil. Sorry Carl if I rubbed you the wrong way, I
never meant to.

B-



This is one of the most rational posts I've seen here in a while. I guess that
Bruce will now catch **** from all directions with some thrown at Ken just for
being a decent human being.
Bill C