Tour de France 2009, who do you like?

That is a good point idig. Lance definitely gets people interested, which is a good thing.

The Team Time Trial should be very very interesting, lot of the team dynamics will come into play here.
 
Should Astana win tomorrow, I expect that Astana will attempt to let a breakaway succeed on Thursday so some nobody can wear yellow for a week, and so the teammates won't be tempted to attack each other on Friday.
 
"I am not OK with that theory saying there can be only one team leader," said Armstrong.

"I have won seven Tours de France, I will have to be counted in."
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Doesn't sound like a "domestique" to me
 
Can someone who knows more about this sport explain how today's events happened? For example, why weren't the Astana riders closer together when the Columbia break occurred? And don't the team directors communicate every little tactical move to its team via radio? How is it that the rest of the team, in particular Contador, was taken by surprise?
 
It's interesting that the rider who is probably closer to Lance than anyone participating in this years tour (Hincapie), knew Columbia was going to drop the hammer before they did it.
 
In a crosswind the riders will ride in echelon, they follow behind and to the side. A new line has to form again on the windward side behind the first echelon, with the lead riders facing the full headwind instead of being protected as they would in a headwind.

Team Columbia timed the attack near a turn in the road and many of the following riders were not prepared for the effort needed to lead an echelon into the wind.

With a well timed attack and an entire team at the front prepared to work together for 5 kilometers it was a pretty simple process to make the split. Maintaining it is another issue, but they did it.
 
This is pretty isignificant in terms of the larger picture, for Astana or the peloton as a whole. Lance happened to be in the right place at the right time. Contador wasn't. That doesn't have much bearing on who the stronger rider is and the 41 second shouldn't be much of a factor between them. Whoever is strongest when the mountain's come wiill be the Atana leader. If Lance is holding back to stay with Contador, Bruyneel will make the call.
 
The closest situation I can think of is 86 with Lemond who should have won the year before being "supported" by 5 time winner Hinault who attacked him at every opportunity.
 
Cadel Evens 2:59 back
Sastre 2:44
Frank Schleck 2:17
Andy Schleck 1:41
Kreuziger 1:31

Astana holds 2nd, 3rd 4th 5th and 7th place. What a huge day for Astana. That podium sweep some people mentioned looks like it may be more than a dream.
 
Great ride by Astana. Man, that was close at the end. Lance was the fifth rider across the line, so if he had designs on wearing yellow tonight, that's all on him.

As expected, Cadel Evans was the big loser today. He's now 2:59 back on GC. Good luck with that, mate. Also, what the hell happened to Columbia today?

If he's physically able to stay with him, I don't see Lance letting Alberto out of his sight on Friday. They'll most certainly drop Cancellara, and if Lance can finish with (or within 19 seconds of) Contador, he'll have the yellow jersey. Good Stuff.
 
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