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Comments - The art of loitering

August 13, 2009

Thanks a million for the shout out for my pics (Edward Madden - dotcycling)
- Edward, Zug, Switzerland

August 12, 2009

Cycling is a team sport. Yes, Armstrong won the Tour seven times by building a strong team around him. Despite the prophecies "Contador can win by himself", he did not. He was a member of the TTT winning team and the team that kept the pace of most stages high enough to keep other rivals from attacking. I too, believe Contador does not place enough value on a strong team. Next years TDF promises to be even better than this years. Those of you who believe Contador can win without a strong team are in for a rude awakening. Tactically, no one has ever met the brilliance of Armstrong and Bruyneel, so if Contador shows up with a weak team, he will truly be alone. Lastly, Armstrong will certainly up his game for the 2010 TDF. I won't predict a winner, just a fascinating Tour. One last observation. Why is it that every great performance in the Tour has been called into question, from all of Lances seven wins, to the doped up performances of the 2008 standouts, yet I hear no one accusing Contador of doping, even with his strong ties to the Puerto scandal ?
- Ed, Franklin

August 09, 2009

Its funny how the "haters" made all the right calls in 2009. Check the the previous posts and comments made here. Its the "lovers" who were the idiots.
- Jay, Needham

August 09, 2009

LA will have no problem assembling a pro-tour team. Just because you don't like him, don't let that affect your ability to think clearly. AC will likely win the TdF in 2010, but it will be a lot more interesting this time. I love you haters - idiots.
- Phil, Little Rock

August 07, 2009

Given LA's attitutude in 09, he won't be able to assemble anything more than a US "continental" squad. Anyone of caliber will avoid his can't-trust-what-he-says black hole. Having said that, he'll have a tough time in the TTT -- and as I commented previously, the TTT kept him in the top. Also, if I'm right and "The Shack" becomes a domestic-quality squad, LA will be lucky to get an invite to the '10 TdF.
- Jay, Needham

August 05, 2009

Who knew this was a new reference source? Don't use it for book reports kids. http://www.dickipedia.org/dick.php?title=Lance_Armstrong
- ReG, San Francisco

August 05, 2009

I'm generally not into this type of random speculation (especially in type, yikes), but if that last two years of cycling-fandom have taught us anything, it's that @ssholes are often dopers too. Was anyone out there honestly surprised to hear about the postiives for Schumacher, Ricco, Dekker or now Di Luca... now consider the fact that Franco Pelozotti repeatedly refused to kiss the black podium girl at the Tour (I think she was with the Most Combative protocol), even at the final presentation in Paris, and it appears that we have yet another spotted dick. Carlos "Mr.Clean" Sastre commented about how hard it's been to do the Giro-Tour double at such a high level this year - a sentiment seemingly echoed by Menchov's performance in France. And does anyone remember three years ago when Basso so feared the difficulty of the back-half of the Giro-Tour double, that even though he'd just laid waste to the world in Italy, he felt the need to 'prepare' to dope for France... okay, so maybe that last one isn't that great an example. Point is, Pelozotti was the only Giro-notable who didn't seem to be showing any fatigue at all during this year's Tour. Sure it was fun to watch Franco attack endlessly, but eventually it just brought back memories of Schumacher's day-after-day break-away action at last year's tour. The final straw this year was when Franco still had the legs to attack the GC leaders going up the Ventoux - if it's too good to be true, it usually is. All in all, I simply can't cheer for Pelozotti and after looking at these few points listed above, I'd caution anyone else who wants to do so.
- js, Canada/UK

August 04, 2009

Yeah, Contador does need a team. Talking Team TT the time is taken on the 5th guy across the line so he needs at least 4 really fast guys to not lose time. And Armstrong showed more than once that smarts and being in the right place at the right time can put time into rivals. Contador is awesome but he can't do it alone. If he doesn't have riders protecting him they will wear him out and possibly put him in a ditch. Can't wait for nest year's TDF.
- Steve , Tucson, AZ

August 04, 2009

contador doesn't need a team. he proved that this year. should there be a team time trial next year, he'll need one big guy who can tt almost as well as him...and the bodrogis and richs of the world'll work for peanuts....you could put him on vlaanderen-topsport and he'd win every grand tour he wants to next year.
- craig, boston

August 04, 2009

Robust is the new epic
- Harro, los anjealous

August 04, 2009

Good job guys. - John @ realcyclist.com
- John, Salt lake city

August 04, 2009

Here is another one to add to the overused and now little-meaning - "period." People make their points and just say - period. Armstrong is the best tour rider. Period. It completely and utterly (another one out of Sherwin) detracts the point and proves nothing.
- Tom, DC

August 04, 2009

I've always been a fan of the one day races. As you stated, there is an all or nothing component to them that does not exist in stage races like the Tour.
- Peter, Concord, NH

August 04, 2009

Robust...whatever.
- AD, Alex. VA

August 04, 2009

I think that Valverde's watch is a Nike hammer. Defies the sensibilty of wearing a ladies watch for lightweight and petiteness, but way cool and confortable for a big watch. http://www.jomashop.com/nikehammer.html
- Justin , Little Rock

August 04, 2009

Obviously, the current overuse of the word "obviously" makes the overuse of the word "robust" seem, well, less than robust.
- Josh, NY

August 04, 2009

I don't think Contador under-values the importance of a team at all. It's just that he like Armstrong before him demands a team built around him and a DS who is totally committed to putting him in yellow. That's the set-up that took Armstrong to 7 Tour wins and Alberto is intent on getting the same kind of support. Hard to be a team player when your are convinced the team is committed to putting a competitor in yellow. The DS and a good number of the team where going to be dependent on Armstrong for a paycheck next year. Doesn't take a tactical genius to see that might impact their behavior. Right now the Spanish peloton is the strongest in cycling so I'd say if Contador manages to arrive at the 2010 Tour with a strong Spanish squad Armstrong's dream of taking down Alberto for pissing on his 2009 parade will end in tears. Nothing like a little trash talking and a good old fashion sporting blood feud to make things interesting. I'm looking forward to next year's tour. I'm sure Bruyneel and Armstrong will come loaded for bear. I hope Contador manages to find a credible squad in the little time he has.
- Henry, Miami

August 03, 2009

Hincapie's last turn/word of the Tour: Stage 21 on the final lap and Big George explosively derrailed the Garmin attempt to lead out Farrar. Proper out of the Saddle taking yards out of the fastest race in the world to ensure another victory for Cav. Must have felt sweet to show Garmin what the tour's about.
- Cam, London, UK

August 03, 2009

Yeah, Dexter! You beat me to it!
- jIM, TROY,NY

August 03, 2009

yea valverdes watch is a nike
- am, canada

August 03, 2009

"It's almost as though out of appreciation for the 3-hours-of-TV-time-per-day we're anesthetized from judging the quality of the racing itself." -Couldn't have said it better! re: Franco Pelozotti: "Rather than sitting in the pack all day and doing dainty little climber sprints to grab KOM points, it was as though he won the jersey by virtue of his day-in-day-out efforts to win stages." -I didn't know if I was the only one who thought that, too, during the Tour. He was the most deserving I remember. Great post! Your blog has become my new BKW. A no-holds-barred account of bike racing. I love it! Dare I say your blog is "Robust in epic proportions!" haha Keep up the great work!
- Scott, Sparta, TN

August 03, 2009

Let's see, Caisse d'Epargne finished 1:29 down on Astana in the TTT. They didn't have Valverde, Oscar Pereiro has been running on fumes, and they were definitely not fighting for a Yellow jersey. Then you subtract Contador from Astana and put him on Caisse d'Epargne and replace Contador on Astana with Horner and that minute twenty-nine is looking smaller and smaller. Sure go ahead and dream. But if Contador lands on Caisse d'Epargne (which I think is a brilliant move because Caisse d'Epargne will give up sponsorship after next year and Santander/Renault can then step into an established team with a great DS) you can kiss Armstrong's chances of winning the TdF bye bye. Even if Valverde is unable to compete, with the demise of Euskatel it may be that Sanchez will be on the market along with a bunch of Basque riders. No, it's not looking pretty for Armstrong's little power move to win the TdF by taking away the strongest rider's team. Nice try, but no.
- Dexter, Madrid

August 03, 2009

Here's another amazing flickr set by someone on Ventoux: http://www.flickr.com/photos/incuboy/sets/72157621871194528/
- Matt, Portland

August 03, 2009

Valverde watch looks like a Nike. I've got one just because it looked funky. It does look cool, but it is so heavy it hurts to ride with it. http://www.amazon.com/WC0021496-Hammer-Training-Digital-Watch/dp/B000OLV6YY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=watches&qid=1249315574&sr=1-2
- Erik, Atlanta