ToC Final Stage POST-RACE Thread
by ursula on Feb 22, 2009 7:04 PM EST
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F Schleck!
Levi Leipheimer!
whoo-hoo!
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Of course you can baby! It is all yours as we know it's that final day that matters. :-)
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
I wish I could see a climb like Palomar lead to the finish
oh whats that? the Blockhaus is just as steep and 10km longer, and the top is the finish…OH YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt
Except that it's stage 17
and they will already have had 3 mountain top finishes, 2 250km stages, the Cuneo-Pinerolo stage, and a 62km TT under their belts….and 18km of 7%climbing by the time they get to 10km to go….umm I’d say they are going to be a bit worn down.
"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt
Yeah it does
but I really think it will casue huge gaps…there wasn’t much that challenged the riders before Palomar today and look at the carnage it caused….yes I know it’s February but still…..even if it doesn’t result in huge gaps it will still be a great spectacle
"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt
That's not until May though
ugh, that seems like an obscenely long time…
It's only 3 weeks until the 13km mountain top finish at P-N
"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt
And it will feature Bert and Levi
the two fittest riders at the moment…internal team battle already in March?
"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt
Eh
I kinda expect they’ll work for Bert in that one. But I wouldn’t mind seeing an internal team battle. Extra fun.
I think it is Bert's race as well
at first I thought he might not go for the win because he said he his first big goal is the Tour of the Basque Country, but if he races to win in the Volta Algarve then he will be racing to win at P-N. With the lack of TTing and a lot of climbing, including the tough mountain finish, this is Bert’s type of race.
"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt
But he will need good lawyers
"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt
True; it is kinda/sorta a bummer to see him
of all people, win.
I think at this point we're finding out who can do it clean and who can't.
It is a virtual certainty, given how common or nearly ubiquitous the doping was, that there are going to be more or less plausible suspicions about most top riders from the past decade or so.
It is also a virtual certainty that only some of those suspicions will lead to convictions and suspensions, and that at least some of the riders who are not convicted and suspended will remain reasonable suspects. Anyone who expects perfect justice to come out of all of this, or for anyone facing the possibility of suspensions that could in any case be career ending to just ‘fess up, is fooling themselves. (Given how many people are likely going to get away scot free, I don’t even think its reasonable to expect any rider not forced into it to confess to what he did.)
That said, and as someone who is very much in favor of the sport being clean going forward if at all possible, it seems to me that, if we have finally gotten to a place where testing, enforcement, and most importantly the attitude of the athletes themselves against doping has become serious and credible, then the best way to reward that change is to actually endorse the riders who can do it clean, irrespective of what we may suspect about what they did before.
I’m not saying Schleck or Mancebo don’t both have nice dark clouds hanging over their heads, but I am reasonably confident that what they did at this race they did clean, and both did some pretty spectacular stuff. So more power to them. The same goes for LA, Basso, Floyd, and the rest of them. So far, Basso and Floyd have some work to do before they merit the adoring attention being paid to them. LA seems to have earned some this race. And Schleck and Mancebo did too.
I just can’t do the ressentiment over what may or may not have happened years ago thing. Its too corrosive.
They are saying that this year's AToC had 2 million people on the side
of the road, making it the most-viewed sporting event in the history of CA! Nice.
"It's official. For the next four years, it will be pronounced 'nuclear' " --Seth Meyers
Good race
Enjoyed it folks! P-N and Classics just around the bend.
"....Up Sestriere on a rental clunker in jeans and loafers? Brother, lemme buy you a beer."
by Rolls on Feb 22, 2009 7:12 PM EST reply actions
Post ATOC musings....
Nice spot for a holiday…good race expanding on the TDU’s fantastic start to the 2009 season…
Levi… bald ,short and had fickle fans.. but he sure can ride fast(lucky he’s not Jewish)
Lance…Well done man, no doubt he’s back now.
Teams…same players as last year with the addition of possibly CTT
Rider of the week….Weeening
Score of the week…anyone who got a snuggie (or a small Asian woman in a backpack)
And unfortunately…my admiration for American ‘Sports’ fans has taken another dive (If I can only get my face on U-Tube, my world is complete!!)…apart from PdCers of course.
See you at het Volk
errrr....am i supposed to sign this??
Well Tiger is coming back Wednesday
so screw you guys and screw cycling….back to watching the thrilling sport of golf………………………Just joking, I could never leave you guys…you complete me :)
"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt
Yeah but he shouldn't have been so obsessed with trying to move up in the gc
and make Frank do more work in the final few km’s…so he could have left with a prize.
"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt
Nibali can't sprint..
It’s his faith to lose them
Some say the best things in life, are one the inside.
I can jjust picture it...
Nibali and Contador together “sprinting” for the line.
Slow as molasses in February.
Levi said
Palomar was HARD, felt like it could be July, surrounded by the best climbers in the world, hard. But Chechu, Popo and Lance caught back up, took control, and Lance put his foot down on the Col Grade and no worries after that. And then spoke about how great it was to win his 3rd title here…
"It's official. For the next four years, it will be pronounced 'nuclear' " --Seth Meyers
Frank wins Most Courageous jersey.
"It's official. For the next four years, it will be pronounced 'nuclear' " --Seth Meyers
I'll give Frank the benefit of the doubt as
he too seems genuinely cool.
Lance
No matter what’s your opinion on him, he did save this race for Astana, I think it was impressive not only because Levi was able to pull it again, but also because of the amount attacks. This must have been THE hardest ToC ever?
According to our Kellu(who dropped out today) this race was too hard and too early….
We Finns are tough!
For me, I really enjoyed this race very much.
Het Volk is less than a week, can’t wait!
He did great, but I think Levi could still have won without him
looking at how strong Astana is, but Lance did all he could for Levi and I give him tons of credit for that….maybe he will actually ride in support at the Tour for Bert….maybe
"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt
maybe, but Lance himself had to (and was willing to)
close some attacks when the rest of the team was burned.
I agree he made it easier
but I think Levi was by far the strongest here and still would have won, just not by as much.
"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt
I kinda hope not myself
I wouldn’t mind seeing flashes of 1986…
You love the drama don't you
internal battle at P-N and at the Tour……Ok, I’m kinda hoping for a bit of drama myself, but not for the whole year.
"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt
LA made a difference in that he was one more than however many more *strong* support guys...
…Astana had than anyone else. Without him, one less strong domestique over and above what everyone else had. Significant, but as Phil says, probably not decisive. Though today, it could have been.
Gesink wins best Young Rider for the 3rd year in a row, too.
"It's official. For the next four years, it will be pronounced 'nuclear' " --Seth Meyers
Happy Mark Cavendish wins Green Points Jersey.
"It's official. For the next four years, it will be pronounced 'nuclear' " --Seth Meyers
What, he already won the sprinter jersey at the Tour?
is it really already July?
"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt
Ok, ok, it's more greeny-chartreusey. :-)
"It's official. For the next four years, it will be pronounced 'nuclear' " --Seth Meyers
Ok, I'm relieved... I thought I went into a 5 month coma there for a moment
"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt
and missed the classics and the Giro?
Now that would be painful…
Painful? How about horrific
I think I will have nightmares of this happening tonight
"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt
Might have to hook up the Rockstar IV
and not sleep until August. Just to be safe.
And J-Mac gets KOM jersey. Yay!
"It's official. For the next four years, it will be pronounced 'nuclear' " --Seth Meyers
Not that much of a Yay seeing how he won it
with Mancebo crashing out, and having a broken hand.
"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt
Yeah, great crowd! And
Levi owns that stage. Chapeau, Levi!
"It's official. For the next four years, it will be pronounced 'nuclear' " --Seth Meyers
My prediction
Rabo takes over the top sponership role and Gesink amazingly wins the Solvang TT event though no one saw him take the start, or on the course. They then change the final mountain stage into a sprint stage because of snow, that amazingly appeared right after Gesink took the overall lead.
"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt
And my VDS picks made it through safely.
Team goes in tomorrow. Or maybe Tuesday. Just not at the very last minute.
Google is my domestique.
Don't you dare!
Unless you can come up with a suitable replacement and justification for Kim Kirchen. I’m agonizing over the next few days.
DZ interview: thanks his team.
Nice to be back after injuries last year. Amazing crowds. Crowds crazy today, especially.
He looks very skinny.
"It's official. For the next four years, it will be pronounced 'nuclear' " --Seth Meyers
I noticed that, too.
(I just had to pull up a pic of him with hair and mustache for my mother…and she noted he looked skinnier in that interview.)
Great ride on Palomar too
I really though he couldn’t keep up with the front 9.
"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt
Cav interview: Barry got me through the tour. Enjoyed it, great crowds, in
a big race with great caliber riders. Finished it!
"It's official. For the next four years, it will be pronounced 'nuclear' " --Seth Meyers
Another mom comment (re: Cavendish)...
“Who’s that? He’s cute.”
I love introducing cycling to a new household.
And Astana gets the team prize.
Finished all 8 guys. Lots of champagne on the podium, Popo sprays a podium girl pretty good. Levi gets drenched.
"It's official. For the next four years, it will be pronounced 'nuclear' " --Seth Meyers
LA interview: stressful a tthe top of Palomar, but we got back. Tough day.
Difficult Tour, in all. Good training for the rest of the season, Bobke mentions Giro and Tour, LA mentions M-SR and Giro.
"It's official. For the next four years, it will be pronounced 'nuclear' " --Seth Meyers
Now the Tour podium: Mick Rogers, DZ, both getting bottles of champagne,
which DZ promptly starts shaking and tossing back and forth……….
"It's official. For the next four years, it will be pronounced 'nuclear' " --Seth Meyers
poor Levi, when the other two join him on the top step for a pic you can barely see him.
Podium girl pulling her dress up.
And Levi takes the top step. Crowd roars!
All three crowd on the top step and then DZ and Levi have ain impromptu champagne fight right away!
"It's official. For the next four years, it will be pronounced 'nuclear' " --Seth Meyers
Just saw this on cyclingfans, a shot against the tourtracker commentators?
Eurosport live audio feeds now playing the Tour of California. So you now have the option of muting the audio on the Tour Tracker and listening to David Harmon and Brian Smith instead, if you prefer.
"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt
Final stage TOC Podium Cafe Snuggies Jersey nominee
Congratulations TOC for being the largest attended sporting event in California and the largest ever attended stage race in the US.
By popular demand, nominated by those on the live thread, today’s PC snuggies jersey nominee goes to Peterfish for his observational skills and comment on Jimbo’s twitterpic
“looks like he has a mini asian girl in his backback”
Also, big news! Sevilla is out – Jimbo is the new MANCRUSH!!
Also some great fashion observations. Good eye Jimbo and is it real or a Veloki photoshop?
Hey you deserve a nomination too
You are the first PC member to attend both East and West PC gatherings in person
You all try climbing that mountain
with an asian dwarf in your backpack in under 1:35 and change… go on… I didn’t think so… and please note that Mancrush does not have his hand on my ass…
The Dude will have a White Russian...
Danielson 9th overall for the TOC
Good for him
Meant to ask
did anyone else hear Craig Hummer say during the signout that Versus would be televising a cycling race every Sunday between now and Le Tour? I could have sworn he did, but the schedule on the website doesn’t indicate it (though they do pick up a fair number of Sundays). Though, OTOH, I don’t remember the website schedule indicate anything about the Tour of Qatar, yet they had a highlight show on Versus just before signing in to the ToC today…
I heard that too.
And I was like, really? EVERY Sunday from now to the Tour? We can hope right?
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
So far, their schedule doesn't reflect that.
Nothing listed for next week, then Paris-Nice on March 8 & 15, then nothing on March 22. Schedule here.
Google is my domestique.
Of course, Craig could have just forgotten his Ritalin and gone massively off script again...
…wouldn’t be the first time.
Just in case
I’ll take a look-see next Sunday to make sure they’re not showing Het Volk after all…
Oh, this makes sense...
From the Cyclysm Sunday schedule:
La Fleche Wallonne is the first of the Ardennes classics, and is often quite a good predictor for Liege-Bastogne-Liege
How helpful, considering they’re showing LBL first, and then Fleche Wallonne.
Google is my domestique.
Am I mistaken?
Is Amstel/ Limburg not technically in the Ardennes??
CQRanking.com, you complete me.
by Chris Fontecchio on Feb 23, 2009 11:50 AM EST up reply actions
Why do they show LBL first?
That makes no sense to me.. That’s eating the desert before your meal
Some say the best things in life, are one the inside.
Loved the tour of california
Thanks for all the entertaining comments and pics.
Got to add i’m chuffed that Frank got a stage win – on my birthday too, i’d like to think it was in honour of me. Yes.
Now loooking forward to some racing that i’ll realisticaly be able to stay up and watch . . .
Well... to be honest... Jens! did fantastically in the time trial...
… because I was yelling “SCHNELL SCHNELL SCHNELL” at him in Los Olivos. Only slightly less amusing than seeing Chris nearly get tenderized by the subsequent Saxo-Bank team car.
Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc.
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