Le Tour de France

[Nanon]

That means T-Mobile are reduced to only 6 men. They lost Rogers, Sinkewitz and Cavendish, all three in yesterday stage. Wow.

Yes. Yesterday was a really bad day for T-Mobile. I think they won't have any chances now for the overall ranking, because Gerdemann ist still too young and inexperienced.

[Wim]

I can't unterstand the "tactic" of the Astana Team and I think it wasn't a sporting decision but an instruction of the sponsor or something like that.

Could be Nanon, but..this was only the first serious test in the mountains. Tomorrow is a heavy one with l'Iseran, Telegraphe and Galibier. End of the week the Pyrenees, looking very tough this year. So nothing lost yet and a lot to come. Vino keeps insisting - in his interviews - he will be ok. It could be a calculated risk from Astana. We' ll see in the coming days.
Indeed Geldermann 'riding in red alarm' on the last climb a little too long on Saturday. He doesn't have the physical strength yet I m afraid.

[Caroline]

I predict Vino will at least have a podium position this year; I am yet very impressed by Rasmussen and Discovery Chanel's Contador, maybe this is the dark horse. But really have no idea who will win the tour at last...

[Wim]

I can't unterstand the "tactic" of the Astana Team and I think it wasn't a sporting decision but an instruction of the sponsor or something like that.

I gave this a second thought and in my previous reply about it I underestimated it somehow. But indeed Kazzinc, Kazachstan's largest zinc producer, is a major sponsor of Astana. Knowing that Vino is Kazach...yeah could be very possible indeed. Well seen Nanon.

This is the top of the standings of the teams - no surprises at all
1 RABOBANK 119:02:30 00:00:00
2 CAISSE D'EPARGNE 119:03:48 00:01:18
3 ASTANA 119:05:07 00:02:37
4 DISCOVERY CHANNEL TEAM 119:06:51 00:04:21

[elvaago]

Go Rabobank!!

[Nanon]

I gave this a second thought and in my previous reply about it I underestimated it somehow. But indeed Kazzinc, Kazachstan's largest zinc producer, is a major sponsor of Astana. Knowing that Vino is Kazach...yeah could be very possible indeed. Well seen Nanon.

Thanks Wim. I'm not a cycling-expert but I've only thought Astana would rather see a kazach driver on the podium than a german driver. I am sorry for Klöden because without his job to help Vino he has a good chance to win the Tour.

I predict Vino will at least have a podium position this year

I don't think that Vino can manage a podium position because he is not strong enough. And he had lost too much time on other strong drivers - nearly 5 minutes.

[Wim]

Thanks Wim. I'm not a cycling-expert but I've only thought Astana would rather see a kazach driver on the podium than a german driver. I am sorry for Klöden because without his job to help Vino he has a good chance to win the Tour.



I don't think that Vino can manage a podium position because he is not strong enough. And he had lost too much time on other strong drivers - nearly 5 minutes.

I' m going trough the results and first conclusion is, indeed Nanon, a big mistake from Astana : Kloden waisting efforts with Vino yesterday, Vino won't come back.

[Wim]

What a day in the Tour !

Standings this evening :

1 Michael RASMUSSEN....DEN..RAB......00:00:00
2 Alejandro VALVERDE....ESP...GCE.....00:02:35
3 Iban MAYO................ESP...SDV.....00:02:39
4 Cadel EVANS..............AUS..PRL......00:02:41
5 Alberto CONTADOR......ESP..DSC......00:03:08
6 Christophe MOREAU.....FRA..A2R......00:03:18
7 Carlos SASTRE...........ESP..CSC......00:03:39
8 Andréas KLÖDEN.........GER..AST......00:03:50
9 Levi LEIPHEIMER.........USA..DSC......00:03:53

- Discovery Channel looking strong : Contador and Leiphemer not disapointing.
I didn't expect Contador this year - given his age (24) a little early but what
a talent. He is the one I want to win.
- Rabo bank: Rasmussen in the yellow tonight, very surprising
- Moreau strong, but his team AG2R is one the weakest, so i don't think he
will win.
- Kloden, a sad story on Sunday, supporting Vino - but still in the race the
German
- Caisse d' Epargne with Valverde - his strong team could bring him to Paris in
the yellow, and I think it will be that way

Tomorrow could be a day for the sprinters. If Tom Boonen has recovered from the Alps - which I doubt - he is in for another victory. And the green jersey shoud be his as McEwen is out of the Tour and Zabel must be 48 by now I think

[Caroline]

Landis did come back last year.

[Blondie]

What a day in the Tour !

Standings this evening :

1 Michael RASMUSSEN....DEN..RAB......00:00:00
2 Alejandro VALVERDE....ESP...GCE.....00:02:35
3 Iban MAYO................ESP...SDV.....00:02:39
4 Cadel EVANS..............AUS..PRL......00:02:41
5 Alberto CONTADOR......ESP..DSC......00:03:08
6 Christophe MOREAU.....FRA..A2R......00:03:18
7 Carlos SASTRE...........ESP..CSC......00:03:39
8 Andréas KLÖDEN.........GER..AST......00:03:50
9 Levi LEIPHEIMER.........USA..DSC......00:03:53

- Discovery Channel looking strong : Contador and Leiphemer not disapointing.
I didn't expect Contador this year - given his age (24) a little early but what
a talent. He is the one I want to win.
- Rabo bank: Rasmussen in the yellow tonight, very surprising
- Moreau strong, but his team AG2R is one the weakest, so i don't think he
will win.
- Kloden, a sad story on Sunday, supporting Vino - but still in the race the
German
- Caisse d' Epargne with Valverde - his strong team could bring him to Paris in
the yellow, and I think it will be that way

Tomorrow could be a day for the sprinters. If Tom Boonen has recovered from the Alps - which I doubt - he is in for another victory. And the green jersey shoud be his as McEwen is out of the Tour and Zabel must be 48 by now I think

Hey Wim,

....."And ce qu'un grand Wim de mise a jour, fantastique, et un jour merveilleux hier pour la tournee de France.".

And an incredible stage 9 win yesterday for Soler Hernandez and Barloworld in the last stage of the Alps, and can't wait to see who wins stage 10, Tallard to Marseille.

"Marseille - la plus vieille de France, la terre de generosite et de fraternite. France deuxieme plus grande ville, et un de mes endroits preferes dans le monde."

And the climbers have had their fair share of the stage wins, so let's hope as well today is the day for the spinters..

Lol....xx

[elvaago]

Landis came back last year, but he's a dope fiend, so that doesn't count.

And is Moreau seriously a contender for the #1 spot this year? Did they ban all the top cyclists in an attempt to have the first French winner? in 20 years?

[Wim]

Landis came back last year, but he's a dope fiend, so that doesn't count.

And is Moreau seriously a contender for the #1 spot this year? Did they ban all the top cyclists in an attempt to have the first French winner? in 20 years?

Moreau won the Dauphiné this year ! But his team AG2R can be considered weak and he is already 36, not so young and the Pyrenees are more explosive than the Alps this year. So I don't think he will win the Tour.

[elvaago]

I think I am onto something. The French are simply going to ban every cyclist until there's a French winner of the Tour de France. Mark my words!

[Wim]

Hey Wim,

....."And ce qu'un grand Wim de mise a jour, fantastique, et un jour merveilleux hier pour la tournee de France.".

And an incredible stage 9 win yesterday for Soler Hernandez and Barloworld in the last stage of the Alps, and can't wait to see who wins stage 10, Tallard to Marseille.

"Marseille - la plus vieille de France, la terre de generosite et de fraternite. France deuxieme plus grande ville, et un de mes endroits preferes dans le monde."

And the climbers have had their fair share of the stage wins, so let's hope as well today is the day for the spinters..

Lol....xx

Hi Blondie

Great, not only some technical comments on the Tour but also interesting cultural anecdotes from you. You are right Marseiile is a fascinating city (where it can be very hot in summer) and with a very multicultural mix of French and North African people. I remember being there a couple of years ago. There is so much interesting to do.

For the anecdote there is/was this tremendous picture in the city I noticed http://www.isle-sur-sorgue-antiques....e-Im003353.jpg

Anyway let's see and wait what the stage of today will bring.

[Portugal-Fan]

As Patrik Sinkewitz has been tested positive for testosterone (like Landis), ARD and ZDF, the German TV stations, are stopping their broadcasting of Le Tour.
Sad, sad...