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The Best Tour in Years - Stage 17

Tribro's picture
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started by Tribro on July 20, 2006

Holy crap. This has been one unbelievable tour. Just when you thought it was over for Floyd he kicked arse. Unreal.

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Tamara posted 2 years ago.

Wow! I wasn't sure I was going to get to watch tonite, so I was following the play-by-play on olntv.com. Now I'm DEFINITELY watching. Multiple times I had to restrain myself from shouting out loud in the office based on something I read.

Floyd just rode himself back into contention.
Will the next two days sort it out, or does anyone think they'll be racing towards Paris with the final outcome still undetermined?

"It's very hard in the beginning to understand that the whole idea is not to beat the other runners. Eventually you learn that the competition is against the little voice inside you that wants you to quit." ~George Sheehan

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Anton posted 2 years ago.

Doesn't it say something about the past 7 years that many folks are saying this is the best tour since the late 90's?
I said yesterday I thought it was every man for himself...and today Floyd proved...he is that MAN. It ain't over till it's over but he has a chance.
I think it will be a punch up all the way to Paris.

"What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?" - Vincent Van Gogh
My Blog: http://agingsuperhero.blogspot.com

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Tribro posted 2 years ago.

I think he'll take it in the time trial. He's only 18 seconds of Sastre who isn't much of a time trialer and 30 seconds off Piere who I think knows Floyd is going to win. The better time trialers like Kloden are now around 2 minutes back of Floyd. Considering he put minutes into most of these guys in the first TT even with a mechanical issue, I think he's got it unless something crazy happens, which certainly can...

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wesmeyer11 posted 2 years ago.

WTF was that all about!!!!????? AWESOME! Floy rode like a possessed man today...I think I might start using a beer as my recovery drink as well:D . Quick question...how much did FLoyd beat Sastre by in the last TT? Trying to make predictions, which I guess I should know by now is totally futile. Missed my tempo run this morning cause I turned on the TV and saw the drama starting to unfold.

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Tribro posted 2 years ago.

1:27 over Sastre and 1:57 over Pereire. That was 52k, Saturday is 57k.

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TBRAVO posted 2 years ago.

Wow. I wouldn’t have believed it if I didn’t see it myself.
Talking about coming back with a vengeance.
Yesterday it was how Landis blew a chance to keep the TdF winning streak in the US…today is it all about one of the greatest comebacks in TdF history.
I wonder if T-Mobile will try something tomorrow. No way can Klöden beat Landis in the ITT by 2 minutes.
- T

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bluebirdbiker posted 2 years ago.

All I have to say is WOW! The best tour in like 10years!

BBB
There are no excuses - so don't look for them. As a product of your own choices, you directly determine your life outcomes.
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tri_newbie_nerd posted 2 years ago.

tribro wrote:
I think he'll take it in the time trial. He's only 18 seconds of Sastre who isn't much of a time trialer and 30 seconds off Piere who I think knows Floyd is going to win. The better time trialers like Kloden are now around 2 minutes back of Floyd. Considering he put minutes into most of these guys in the first TT even with a mechanical issue, I think he's got it unless something crazy happens, which certainly can...

Yeah, I think (hope) Floyd will blow them away in the TT.

But wow, what an exciting tour! I'm glad that I have this message board, because NOBODY else at my school is interested in the Tour, so I'm left feeling like a moron getting all giddy about Floyd's comeback!

I didn't get to see the finish this morning because I had to go to class, but at every break, I was down in the computer lab checking the latest updates!

(I too would have missed my tempo run if I would have turned the Tour before I left...luckily I didn't!;) )

"You cannot run away from a weakness, you must sometimes fight it out or perish, and if that be so, why not now and where you stand?" ~Robert Louis Stevenson

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Tikal Dog posted 2 years ago.

Before Lance I was somewhere near a couch potatoe and didn´t care about any sport for that matter.

But I have to agree.....of the Tours I have witnessed this is the one that has been more exciting!!!!!

Let´s see how Floyd works the next couple of days!!!

Hyperactive Trifueler!!!! (I refuse to let the status go :p)

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jdav0520 posted 2 years ago.

"It's not whether you get knocked down, but whether you get back up"

Floyd exemplified this today. Now we have to wonder if the other contenders made a mistake to let him attack in the fashion he did today, just as he "made a mistake" giving away the Yellow when Phonak allowed the 30 minute break away. Saturday's going to be awesome.
Question: When was the last time the tour was decided on the last day? I know a few have come down to the last TT, several that were in the LA era. But letting it come down to the ride to Paris, has it happened?

"The faster you run, the quicker you'll be done."

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ggalvao posted 2 years ago.

Floyd is gonna win! I was cheering for him since the 1st TT!

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Anton posted 2 years ago.

It ain't over till the podium girl sings!
Lots of drama,pain,angst,horror,blood,toil,sweat and tears left...
I'll call it when I see who ends up on the final podium.
Very happy about the KOM and that looks like a lock.

"What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?" - Vincent Van Gogh
My Blog: http://agingsuperhero.blogspot.com

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RV posted 2 years ago.

Truly a great performance by Floyd. It was inspiring to witness.

RV

It takes a long time to get good. - Scott Molina
Slow is smooth; smooth is fast. - Rich Strauss

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thehitman posted 2 years ago.

jdav0520 wrote:

Question: When was the last time the tour was decided on the last day? I know a few have come down to the last TT, several that were in the LA era. But letting it come down to the ride to Paris, has it happened?

How about Greg Lemond's 1989 TdF victory, when he overcame a 50 second deficit on the final day to win by 8 seconds?

Floyd's in position to reclaim the yellow jersey on Saturday, and be drinking champagne as he rides the streets of Paris. :cool:

thehitman

“Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest.” Mark Twain
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jdav0520 posted 2 years ago.

thehitman wrote:
How about Greg Lemond's 1989 TdF victory, when he overcame a 50 second deficit on the final day to win by 8 seconds?

Floyd's in position to reclaim the yellow jersey on Saturday, and be drinking champagne as he rides the streets of Paris. :cool:

Wow, that's impressive. What will be almost impressive is if Floyd pulls this thing off saturday, after just about everyone wrote him off after his bonk yesterday.

"The faster you run, the quicker you'll be done."

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marzian posted 2 years ago.

i'm at the edge of my seat!!!
today's stage was awesome.
can't wait for tomorrow and the TT!!!

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Atropos posted 2 years ago.

Anyone know what time the race is live here on the west coast? Might try to catch some of the TT before work if I can...

[URL="http://lincolnp.blogspot.com"]Sprinting to Ironman

The breakdown that happens at the seven-hour mark often starts 200 meters off the beach
--Gordo

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TBRAVO posted 2 years ago.

Atropos wrote:
Anyone know what time the race is live here on the west coast? Might try to catch some of the TT before work if I can...
It starts at 5:30 AM on the West Coast according to the OLN schedule. Man the French are going to hate the fact that another American has won the Tour!
- T

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christri25 posted 2 years ago.

i just about fell over ... i am impressed with landis now.

Chris

``It's not as if I'm going to sit around and be a fat slob,''
Lance Armstrong 2005

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Atropos posted 2 years ago.

Quick question: why is it said that Landis has already won the Tour, despite there being one stage left. Couldn't the other guy (can't remember how to spell name :P) sprint like crazy to make up the minute deficit, or does that just not happen on the last stage?

[URL="http://lincolnp.blogspot.com"]Sprinting to Ironman

The breakdown that happens at the seven-hour mark often starts 200 meters off the beach
--Gordo

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jdav0520 posted 2 years ago.

It's a flat stage which makes it really tough to do. It's not like a mountain stage where you can attack and put a big deficit between yourself and the Pelaton. I think, with the exception of a couple rare instances, the last stage is reserved as a victory ride for the one in yellow.

and...Lance WHO?

"The faster you run, the quicker you'll be done."

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Triguy98 posted 2 years ago.

Atropos wrote:
Quick question: why is it said that Landis has already won the Tour, despite there being one stage left. Couldn't the other guy (can't remember how to spell name :P) sprint like crazy to make up the minute deficit, or does that just not happen on the last stage?

It would be poor form to try and win it in the final stage. Unless the deficit was 5 seconds or so. I doubt Phonak and most of the peloton would let it happen, even if it was attempted. Tomorrow is for those who are still battling to get a stage win. The Green jersey was decided a while ago with the demise of Tom Boonen.

Life is short. Play hard and get dirty doing it.

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thehitman posted 2 years ago.

As I mentioned earler, Greg Lemond overcame a 50 second deficit on the final day in 1989 to claim the victory. Its hard to believe that Floyd would lose a minute tomorrow, and I don't see that happening, barring a crash. Floyd's THE MAN.

As for jdav0520's question, "Lance who?", I'll refresh your memory ---he's the guy who did it seven years in a row. :)

thehitman

“Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest.” Mark Twain
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jdav0520 posted 2 years ago.

Haha, I know hitman ;)
As for Lemond's victory, that happened because the final stage was a time trial, giving him the opportunity.

"The faster you run, the quicker you'll be done."

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christri25 posted 2 years ago.

i am waiting for the french papers to proclaim landis " THE CHEAT AND DOPER" ha.

Chris

``It's not as if I'm going to sit around and be a fat slob,''
Lance Armstrong 2005

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Anton posted 2 years ago.

My question is this: How many tri geeks will be in the garage tonight jacking up their aero bars like Floyds to see if they can go faster tomorrow?
Where IS that allen wrench...;)

"What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?" - Vincent Van Gogh
My Blog: http://agingsuperhero.blogspot.com

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catwood posted 2 years ago.

Heehee I actually was there near the top of le col du saisies watching!! That was the first climb of the day and where I was there was a few riders up front from the early break then super-floyd, then the group maillot jaune then the bus. It was incredible!
Way to go Floyd!!

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PJT posted 2 years ago.

Anton wrote:
My question is this: How many tri geeks will be in the garage tonight jacking up their aero bars like Floyds to see if they can go faster tomorrow?
Where IS that allen wrench...;)

Hey, some of us who have less-than-perfect form already had our aero bars that high! :D

Anyway, what a race. I liked that the guys who dared to go all out when the time was right were the ones in contention at the end. (Both Landis and, earler, Periero.) What more could you want?

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speedster67 posted 2 years ago.

I didn't know Floyd came from Amish descent, and was raised a Menonite. They interviewed his parents on the news and both of them missed watching the finish because they were at Church? Seems kind of strange, but they didn't seem like they really cared for their son competing on a world stage like that.....they almost seemed disinterested in the whole thing during their interview?

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jdav0520 posted 2 years ago.

That's just their faith. Anything that brings praise and glory upon yourself is looked down upon as a major sin. Missing church to see their son glorified would be a sin on their part. From the Outside interview, they pretty much told him he was selling his soul to the devil to race bikes as it is.

"The faster you run, the quicker you'll be done."

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Anton posted 2 years ago.

Faith is always first with the Mennonite.
I do several rides in the Pa Dutch area every year and often see they, and the amish, riding bikes (acceptable). I'll stop and chat about bikes and they think its all cool to see people riding... and believe me they can SPANK ya on their one speeds!
How many of us have parents who are disinterested in what we do.My Mom (god rest her) didn't give a rats ass I could run or bike all day.

"What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?" - Vincent Van Gogh
My Blog: http://agingsuperhero.blogspot.com