Never mind looking like Luis, he rides like Lance!! Did you see him today- 4 attacks in about 4 minutes! I don't think Rasmussen can do it in all honesty. I think after the rest day Contador will crack him and go and get about a minute and a half, and then do a better time than him in the final time trial.
It's a shame McEwen was eliminated- he's one of my favourites, and the final week won't be half as interesting without the McEwen/Boonen rivalry for Green.
And i really don't think Vinokourov is on anything. I just think he really wants to be remembered. What a performance today and on saturday though! Gona miss him if he's not in it next year. All the big guns are dropping out, it's exciting and a shame all at once
I guess Zabel is definitely out of the race for the Green one. Boonen will take it, provided he also gets over the mountains on Wednesday.
Being patriotic, I believe in Rasmussen. But he certainly has to do well on the time trial, and stick like glue to Contador's wheel. The two of them have been like siamese twins the past two days just before the goal line. It's like they're both trying to shake the other one off but they can't do it.
And you're right about Vino and the rest of them... I don't know whether they're on something, I seriously hope that they're as clean as they come. But all these discussions and not least actual cases of doping just makes me cynical sometimes.
I guess Zabel is definitely out of the race for the Green one. Boonen will take it, provided he also gets over the mountains on Wednesday.
Being patriotic, I believe in Rasmussen. But he certainly has to do well on the time trial, and stick like glue to Contador's wheel. The two of them have been like siamese twins the past two days just before the goal line. It's like they're both trying to shake the other one off but they can't do it.
And you're right about Vino and the rest of them... I don't know whether they're on something, I seriously hope that they're as clean as they come. But all these discussions and not least actual cases of doping just makes me cynical sometimes.
It's just as well that there's no Team TT this year, or Rasmussen would be well finished. Discovery always get that one, and that would mean the tour would be Contadors! It definitely looked like Rasmussen was about to crack today. Why didn't Contador attack earlier in the stage than the last 3km- i think he'd have taken Rasmussen. He was definitely struggling! I'd love to see him win more than the White jersey you know. It'd be pretty spectacular, you must admit (if you can get passed your patriotism...) ;)
Boonen has got the Green wrapped up, as much as i want Zabel to get it! Haha.
It was funny on the UK coverage- they asked Rasmussen whether he denied the claims, and he said "No comment", so the reporter said "You know, you wouldn't look so guilty if you came out and denied it rather than just declining to comment on the matter". Rasmussen thought for a minute, and then said "Yes, of course i deny it- i have done from the start". And the reporter said something like "Well if you'd said that from the beginning, there mightn't have been as much of a fuss". He's right!
And they interviewed some of the riders and one american was very forward "If there's any doubt, just get em out. We don't need that. Doesn't matter if there's nothing proven. If there's doubt, just get rid of em!". Ah, i love American cyclists! lol
It was funny on the UK coverage- they asked Rasmussen whether he denied the claims, and he said "No comment", so the reporter said "You know, you wouldn't look so guilty if you came out and denied it rather than just declining to comment on the matter". Rasmussen thought for a minute, and then said "Yes, of course i deny it- i have done from the start". And the reporter said something like "Well if you'd said that from the beginning, there mightn't have been as much of a fuss". He's right!
And they interviewed some of the riders and one american was very forward "If there's any doubt, just get em out. We don't need that. Doesn't matter if there's nothing proven. If there's doubt, just get rid of em!". Ah, i love American cyclists! lol
That's the spirit, you're guilty as charged if you're charged with anything. Full stop. Rasmussen has been known before to ignore rules if he didn't like them so I'm sure this is what he's doing this time. Anyhow, it's strange that the information didn't get out til the past week, seen that the Danish Cycling Association had known about the warnings since late June. Hmm.
As for Rasmussen/Contador, you're right that Contador did look stronger today. I guess Rasmussen had no choice but to hang on cos he knows that Contador is his biggest rival. The others, like Klöden and that crowd, fell even further behind today. I don't really know what kind of time trial Contador can do but I do know that the yellow jersey isn't Rasmussen's yet. However... this is Contador's first ever Tour, personally I think that he should just let Rasmussen win. He's got years ahead of him! Ok, just kidding... but it would be nice hehe.
Ok, I'm off to bed as I should have been an hour ago. Talk tomorrow!
That's the spirit, you're guilty as charged if you're charged with anything. Full stop. Rasmussen has been known before to ignore rules if he didn't like them so I'm sure this is what he's doing this time. Anyhow, it's strange that the information didn't get out til the past week, seen that the Danish Cycling Association had known about the warnings since late June. Hmm.
As for Rasmussen/Contador, you're right that Contador did look stronger today. I guess Rasmussen had no choice but to hang on cos he knows that Contador is his biggest rival. The others, like Klöden and that crowd, fell even further behind today. I don't really know what kind of time trial Contador can do but I do know that the yellow jersey isn't Rasmussen's yet. However... this is Contador's first ever Tour, personally I think that he should just let Rasmussen win. He's got years ahead of him! Ok, just kidding... but it would be nice hehe.
Ok, I'm off to bed as I should have been an hour ago. Talk tomorrow!
Well Contador did a good Time Trial on saturday- a quicker time than Rasmussen by about 40 seconds i think (i don't know exactly, and wouldn't have a clue where to look for the actual time!) so he's slightly stronger there. I think no matter what Contador is going to be on the podium in Paris. Cadel Evans is struggling, and the others are too far behind him to catch the top 2 now. Although Leipheimer and Kloden can both time trial well, so we'll just have to wait and see. All in all, it's a bloody good race this year!
Well Contador did a good Time Trial on saturday- a quicker time than Rasmussen by about 40 seconds i think (i don't know exactly, and wouldn't have a clue where to look for the actual time!) so he's slightly stronger there. I think no matter what Contador is going to be on the podium in Paris. Cadel Evans is struggling, and the others are too far behind him to catch the top 2 now. Although Leipheimer and Kloden can both time trial well, so we'll just have to wait and see. All in all, it's a bloody good race this year!
Btw, when I said I was kidding, I didn't mean I was kidding about Contador having many years left, but about him letting Rasmussen win. I'm not such a bad person to wish a premature end of Contador's career :oP
Anyhow, as you say yourself, Contador and Rasmussen seem like the only ones who can win this, and they will both be on the podium, I'm sure. I just checked the Prologue and the TT results, and they've been about 40 seconds apart each time. If Rasmussen stays glued to Contador's wheel, then Contador has to do really well, while Rasmussen must at least repeat, or do worse, than two years ago where he spent just as much time hugging the pavement, as he did on the bike.
I don't watch the Tour de France, but we have a very good cyclist right now: Alberto Contador (by the way, we were born on the same hospital :p) I wish he can win the Tour, but if he doesn't, he will next year. And don't forget he was diagnosed a cerebral cavernoma on which he had surgery, so, he's a very strong man. ¡Ánimo, Alberto! ;)
I don't watch the Tour de France, but we have a very good cyclist right now: Alberto Contador (by the way, we were born on the same hospital :p) I wish he can win the Tour, but if he doesn't, he will next year. And don't forget he was diagnosed a cerebral cavernoma on which he had surgery, so, he's a very strong man. ¡Ánimo, Alberto! ;)
As you might have read in the thread, I'm all for Rasmussen as a winner for patriotic reasons :o) But Contador is definitely his closest rival, and at least as strong. If Contador doesn't win this year, he's got plenty of chances and I'm sure he's gonna nail it!!
Yesterday, the first madrileño of history won the tour:
I'm so happy for him! And when I listened to the national anthem I almost cry! But I didn't :p Anyway, congratulations to Alberto, he deserved this! ¡Enhorabuena, campeón! ;)
