Will Lance Armstrong take his 7th consecutive Tour de France win?

[Flubber]

Stage 17 complete

Pretty typical of the flatter stages really. people attempted breakaways until there was one composed of folks that no one cared enough to chase down ( best placed was somethinmg like 38 minutes behind in the GC with none of the contenders for green jersey). That break got a big lead and held an 11 minute gap to the end. There were a couple of short but steep climbs at the end that broke up the groups but the 10 man breakaway took the top 10 places.( all finishing within 2 and a half minutes of the winner)

On the last climbs Basso attcked and again only Armstron and Ullrich responded with Cadel Evans -- EVANS ???- - the guy has been inspired the last two stages and this latest result allowed him to pass Vino in the standings for 7th overall.

Rasmussen, leipheimer, Vino and Mancebo finished 37 seconds back of the Armstrong group.

Congrats to Serrano on a hard fought stage win

[Lawrence of Arabia]

yet again, the boss keeps control. since no one seems willing to change the status quo, hes gonna win again.

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Lawrence of Arabia
yet again, the boss keeps control. since no one seems willing to change the status quo, hes gonna win again.

since no one seems ABLE to change the status quo, hes gonna win again.

Basso keeps trying-- I think he is willing but when you are more than 2 minutes behind someone that matches your every acceleration and shows no difficulties, your ABILITY to change things is what is in question

[CerberusIV]

So, once Lance retires, who's going to win next year based on their performance this year?

[Zopperoni]

Ivan Basso looks to be favorite then, he has the skills and the team to accomplish it.

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Zopperoni
Ivan Basso looks to be favorite then, he has the skills and the team to accomplish it.

He does look to be the heir apparent but Ullrich will have a pride thing going and apparently Vino is team-shopping for a team where he can be the clear leader and have sufficient support. Apparently he wasn't too happy when Kloden and Ullrich helped chase him down on some of his break attempts

[Zopperoni]

Well, yea, Kloeden and Ullrich pursuing Vino looked incredibly stupid...

I wonder where Vino will end up. He's asking for a fair share of money, and the team will need a good budget if they want to compose a good team around him. Ullrich has always lacked the proper discipline to win it again.
Basso has his team in place, and is ripe with regard to age. What I'm more interested in is the proliferation of some of the younger riders like Mancebo, Popovych, and Evans.

[Lawrence of Arabia]

Apparently he wasn't too happy when Kloden and Ullrich helped chase him down on some of his break attempts

dont expect popvych to do as well next year as trhis year. last years maillot blanc winner is now two hours behind lance armstrong. he finished in the top 10 last year i think.

[Lawrence of Arabia]

yesterday it was funny wactching <<'ti blanc>> taking the inside of a switchback where the commentators said the grade reached 25%. he just hit a wall and everyone passed him on the echappee. ooops, francaise des jeux prolly forgot to tell him that.

[Timexwatch]

Originally posted by Lawrence of Arabia
grade reached 25%.

[pchang]

Valverde is the future.

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Lawrence of Arabia




dont expect popvych to do as well next year as trhis year. last years maillot blanc winner is now two hours behind lance armstrong. he finished in the top 10 last year i think.

I don't see how the result of a single young rider has any influence on the prospects of another young rider. I haven't followed popvych closely emough to truly assess his chances but I have noticed that he has finished well in most stages. He sits a solid 13th about 15 minutes back of Armstrong, which is quite a good placing considering his role is to primarily to support Armstrong.

I thought I heard that Discovery was considering making him their team leader next year. He finished a respectable 17th in the first time trial and he does seem able to climb pretty well also and has finished in the top half of the field in EVERY stage.

[alva]

I wonder where Vino will end up.

AG2R

[Lawrence of Arabia]

I don't see how the result of a single young rider has any influence on the prospects of another young rider. I haven't followed popvych closely emough to truly assess his chances but I have noticed that he has finished well in most stages. He sits a solid 13th about 15 minutes back of Armstrong, which is quite a good placing considering his role is to primarily to support Armstrong.

I thought I heard that Discovery was considering making him their team leader next year. He finished a respectable 17th in the first time trial and he does seem able to climb pretty well also and has finished in the top half of the field in EVERY stage.

thomas voeckler also had the maillot blanc until the last time trial, and this year he is also like two hours behind.

[Lawrence of Arabia]

ITS ALL OVER!!!! LANCE ARMSTRONG WINS THE TIME TRAIL, HE HAS WON THE TOUR DE FRANCE AND IS THE GREATEST CYCLIST OF ALL TIME. 7 IN A ROW. INCOMPARABLE.

USA USA USA USA USA USA!!!!!!