Tour de France

General classification after stage 12

 
1 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Brioches La Boulangère         51.51.07
2 Lance Armstrong (USA) US Postal p/b Berry Floor          5.24
3 Sandy Casar (Fra) Fdjeux.com                             5.50
4 Richard Virenque (Fra) Quick Step-Davitamon              6.20
5 Andreas Klöden (Ger) T-Mobile Team                       6.33
6 Ivan Basso (Ita) Team CSC                                   
7 Francisco Mancebo Pérez (Spa) Illes Balears - Banesto    6.43
8 Jakob Piil (Den) Team CSC                                6.53
9 Santos Gonzalez (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems             7.23
 

Tomorrow should be the capper - 2 each of the Cat. 3,2, and 1's and finishing on a Beyond Category climb that Armstrong won on in 2002. 

Woo and Hoo.

Frosti, got the cable hooked up yet?  the wife has school tomorrow, you're welcome to come over.  :)

Wow!

Stage 13:
1. Lance Armstrong (USP) 205.5km in 6h04'38" (33.814km/h)
2. Ivan Basso (CSC) at st
3. Georg Totschnig (GST) at 1'05"
4. Andreas Kloden (TMO) at 1'27"
5. Francisco Mancebo (IBB) at 1'27"
6. Jan Ullrich at 2'42"
7. Jose Azevedo (USP) at 2'50"
8. Christophe Moreau (C.A) at 2'51"
9. Pietro Caucchioli (ALB) at 2'51"
10. Gilberto Simoni (SAE) at 3'43"

GC after 13:
1. Thomas Voeckler (BLB) 2,413.6km in 58h00'27" (41.608km/h)
2. Lance Armstrong (USP) at 22"
3. Ivan Basso (CSC) at 1'39"
4. Andreas Kloden (TMO) at 3'18"
5. Francisco Mancebo (IBB) 3'28"
6. Georg Totschnig (GST) at 6'08"
7. Jose Azevedo (USP) 6'43"
8. Jan Ullrich (TMO) at 7'01"
9. Pietro Caucchioli (ALB) at 7'59"
10. Sandy Casar (FDJ) at 8'29"

Voeckler is tough, man he just hangs on and grinds. Basso is gonna be a force, I think Ullrich can still do something. Did Tyler quit today?

I quess he did, after they had to put his dog down;

13 H 09 - Hamilton Was 20th Overall At Start Of Stage
Tyler Hamilton was 20th overall after 12 stages of the 2004 Tour de France. He is now out of the race. He has been very upset for the past two days after his dog, Tugboat, was put to sleep after being diagnosed with cancer.
The director of his Phonak team has explained that the reason for Hamilton's retirement is because of severe back pain.

13 H 04 - Tyler Hamilton Has Abandoned The Tour!
The rider who finished 4th in the 2003 Tour de France, Tyler Hamilton, has abandoned the race at the 84th kilometer mark.

13 H 03 - Hamilton Stops In The Feedzone...
Tyler Hamilton has stopped in the feedzone. We don't know why yet but it's possible that he will abandon the Tour de France...

The wife and I just had a little disagreement about this very issue.

Tyler was glad to ride with his shirt un-zipped last last, and show everybody , (myself included,) just waht a tough little fucker he was, riding the tour with a broken collar bone. And he was happy to parlay the publicity he got into a fat contact, and a team leadership this year.

Now, I'm sure he was very injured, and if it was me I would be in the ICU, not the TdF, but for a guy who "made his bones," on being a hardass, c'mon.

Last June, I lost a close freind and co-worker, and my Father, in the same week. I was rocked, but I soldiered on, I didn't miss a day of work, because my co-workers needed me, and it was my job to be there. My sister died when she was in the forth grade, but my Dad went back to work in three days because, we had to eat.

I have been upset at the loss of a dog, but I would not tank my career because of it, I think Tyler was glad to exploit his injury last year, but when it came to cutting nuts this year, he folded. I think we were scammed.

Ever had a low back injury, guys?  If you have, you would know that it's a cast iron bitch getting your legs swung out of bed in the morning, let alone walking.  Now let's think about hopping on a bike and spinning gears for a few hours.  ICU indeed.  He stated in his interview that he could have finished the Tour, but his team coaches told him that morning that if he didn't feel like he could stay in contention for a good placing to pack it in and save his body.  That's what he did.  He said he got the injury in one of the many crashes he took part in, and that he just couldn't generate any power to his legs because of his back.  It's one thing to have pain in an area that is supporting (collarbone last year) and another completely different thing to have it in an area that is integral to every pedal stroke (his low back this year).   I'm as sad as anybody to see him out, but I completely understand it. 

Maybe next year, Tyler.

Yep, just hope he saved some juice for tomorrow.  going to be crazy.

here's from Tyler's Tunes (TDF diary of T. Hamilton) for more on his injury:

"This is a crazy injury. One that I cannot control or overcome just by willing myself to do so. I would take the pain of two broken collarbones over this any day - and keep riding if I could. But something has come unplugged. So it's time to rest and start thinking about the races up the road. I'm hoping to be well enough to still compete in Athens. And there's always the Vuelta to consider. But first things first, which for now is recovery."

Plus, I was just saying, as it were.

But I remember that even last year, there was enough loose talk about Tyler, that his team felt like they had to show the press his x-rays, to verify his fx.

Oh well, I was pulling for him.

Yep.  Me too.

Well, today looks like a late start, short stage and all.  6:30 and nobody even has their update page up yet.

maybe it will rain tonight...then I can sit home and watch tv.

General classification after stage 16
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</o:p>

    
   <o:p>
   </o:p>
   

   1 Lance Armstrong (USA) US Postal p/b Berry Floor                 67.53.24
   <o:p>
   </o:p>
   

   2 Ivan Basso (Ita) Team CSC                                           3.48
   <o:p>
   </o:p>
   

   3 Andreas Klöden (Ger) T-Mobile Team                           
          5.03
   <o:p>
   </o:p>
   

   4 Jan Ullrich (Ger) T-Mobile Team                                     7.55
   <o:p>
   </o:p>
   

   5 Jose Azevedo (Por) US Postal p/b Berry Floor                        9.19
   <o:p>
   </o:p>
   

   6 Francisco Mancebo Pérez (Spa) Illes Balears - Banesto               9.20
   <o:p>
   </o:p>
   

   7 Georg Totschnig (Aut) Gerolsteiner                                 11.34
   <o:p>
   </o:p>
   

   8 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC                                       13.52
   <o:p>
   </o:p>
   

   9 Pietro Caucchioli (Ita) Alessio-Bianchi                            14.08
   <o:p>
   </o:p>
   

   10 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Rabobank                 
                      15.04
   <o:p>
   </o:p>
   

have I mentioned that formatting in HTML is not my speciality?

Gee thanks.

Heras didn't start today.  Another "challenger" down.

Race note

U.S. Postal fell foul of Tour de France officials after an incident involving their team car and a motorcyclist filming the 16th stage time trial here on Wednesday.

Officials acted after witnesses reported the U.S. Postal team car driving dangerously and blocking in a bike filming Armstrong on the mountain run.

One of the passengers sitting in the back of the car is reported to have seized the motorcyclist's arm.

Tour officials took action, demoting U.S. Postal from the front to the back of the race caravan following the peloton for Thursday's 17th stage.

Fan-tastic.  Thanks!  Care to wager on today's winner?

Your timing is somewhat suspect for betting purposes.  Nice try though.

1. Lance Armstrong (USP) 3,391.1km in 83h36'02"
2. Andreas Kloden (TMO) at 6'19"
3. Ivan Basso (CSC) at 6'40"
4. Jan Ullrich (TMO) at 8'50"
5. Jose Azevedo (USP) at 14'30"
6. Francisco Mancebo (IBB) at 18'01"
7. Georg Totschnig (GST) at 18'27"
8. Carlos Sastre (CSC) at 19'51"
9. Levi Leipheimer (RAB) at 20'12"
10. Oscar Pereiro Sio (PHO) at 22'54"

Absolutely fabulous.  Next year, same time, same place, same result if Lance decides to train again, methinks.

I'm thinking he is going to concentrate on either the Giro, or the Tour de Espana. I think if he does the Giro, we are going.

What's it called again?  Tour de Redneck or something?  Heh.

Yeah, the Tour de Georgia would be nice.  I wouldn't mind a European race either.

I quess that bike racing is kind of a spring/early summer thing, I looked aroud, and think the season is basically over. I know there was some kind of race last fall in NYC.

Any thoughts?

Yeah, here's one thought - I heard recently that they are thinking of revamping the entire professional cycling schedule, so the events are spread out year round.

Say hi to the alley-gators for me.  If you see one of them with my left sneaker sticking out of his mouth, snag it for me wouldja'?

I was telling my mom..that I miss watching OLN late nite for the race...

then she tells me that her best friend's son....(far out--but I kinda know him) is TREK's top machanic...

She said that he was the only employee of TREK that was working there and about 50 reps. out there....

sorry to be a dumb story...

Good story Kitch - maybe next year you should try to get hooked up to get over there.  :)

I just want one of LANCE throw away bikes....

hahaha

Popo to Discovery?

Several European web pages are reporting that U.S. Postal Service is close to signing Ukraine sensation Yaroslav Popovych to a three-year contract. No official word yet from Postal Service, which next year will race under the Discovery Channel banner.

The team is looking to bolster its roster as part of the build-up for the Pro Tour next year, which will require teams to race in all three major stage races. Typically, Postal Service has raced the Tour and the Vuelta a España at the expense of the Giro d'Italia.

Popovych - third overall in the 2003 Giro -- confirmed there have been talks with the team, but said nothing is signed yet.

Levi Leipheimer is another name that's been linked with Discovery, but Leipheimer said during the Tour that he'll make announcement within 10 days on his future.

Just heard breaking news on Fox News.



Lance Armstrong is going to be stripped of his Tour de France win for testing positive for use of illegal substances in France:

 

 

 

Toothpaste, soap and deoterant.

FROSTI!!!!

I just figured out how you can make a TON of cash in this state!!!

a "Ride it again "used" bike store"