My guess and the Parisian weatherpeople have both been wrong. The roads in Paris are dry and the roads at the Time Trial are also in good, dry shape.
Times so far have been pretty fast and we may see no change in the standings.
20 riders left to go, including the top three - Contador, Evans and Leipheimer.
NO SPOILERS TODAY - I'll give the results ONLY after they are official.
Showing posts with label contador. Show all posts
Showing posts with label contador. Show all posts
28 July 2007
27 July 2007
Tomorrow's Time Trial - NOT A SPOILER
This is being written at 10:28PM Paris time, so it can't tell you who will win tomorrow's 55KM time trial or who will win the 2007 Tour de France.
What it will tell you is who I THINK will take this race because of the conditions forecast and because of the circumstances.
Remember way back in THIS POST, how I said that Levi Leipheimer was likely going to be the 2007 winner of the Tour de France? I still feel that way.
Here's how it will shake out...
Levi goes third to last and puts more than a minute into Cadel Evans effectively taking second place.
Then Contador - in the slippery conditions - plays it too safe and loses a chunk of time in the stage so that Levi ends up wearing the Yellow Jersey to start the final stage in Paris.
Discovery Team said at the beginning of the Tour de France that Levi was their leader. They supported him from the get-go and it's only been Contador's valiant riding and happenstance that has put Contador in yellow.
So, the team management will have to make a decision and they will go with Levi in Yellow and Contador in white, finishing 1-2 on the podium on Sunday.
I'll see you tomorrow night after the time trial is complete.
What it will tell you is who I THINK will take this race because of the conditions forecast and because of the circumstances.
Remember way back in THIS POST, how I said that Levi Leipheimer was likely going to be the 2007 winner of the Tour de France? I still feel that way.
Here's how it will shake out...
Levi goes third to last and puts more than a minute into Cadel Evans effectively taking second place.
Then Contador - in the slippery conditions - plays it too safe and loses a chunk of time in the stage so that Levi ends up wearing the Yellow Jersey to start the final stage in Paris.
Discovery Team said at the beginning of the Tour de France that Levi was their leader. They supported him from the get-go and it's only been Contador's valiant riding and happenstance that has put Contador in yellow.
So, the team management will have to make a decision and they will go with Levi in Yellow and Contador in white, finishing 1-2 on the podium on Sunday.
I'll see you tomorrow night after the time trial is complete.
26 July 2007
Two days to decide
Right now Contador is in the lead by about 90 seconds over Cadel Evans and by three minutes over teammate Levi Leipheimer.
The stage that will decide this race - now that Rasmussen is out - is #19. That's a 55.5KM individual time trial.
We could see a 1-2 Discovery Team finish in Paris this Sunday with Contador hanging on and Levi blasting Cadel Evans away.
This is just crazy!!
The stage that will decide this race - now that Rasmussen is out - is #19. That's a 55.5KM individual time trial.
We could see a 1-2 Discovery Team finish in Paris this Sunday with Contador hanging on and Levi blasting Cadel Evans away.
This is just crazy!!
25 July 2007
Rasmussen wins another stage
Rasmussen has taken Stage 16 of the 2007 Tour de France and has added a few seconds to Leipheimer and Contador.
Totals are 25 seconds for Leipheimer and about 12 seconds more than that for Contador.
Well, the only ways Rasmussen can lose this race now are for him to either live up to his nickname of Crashmussen or for him to get a positive doping test.
Wowsa. What a stage and what a finish.
Totals are 25 seconds for Leipheimer and about 12 seconds more than that for Contador.
Well, the only ways Rasmussen can lose this race now are for him to either live up to his nickname of Crashmussen or for him to get a positive doping test.
Wowsa. What a stage and what a finish.
2KM to Go - Three Still Together
Cadel Evans is only about 10 seconds back while the three leaders continue to hammer up the hill.
Now there's 1.7KM to got and there are people everywhere.
The three riders are still hammering to the top of the mountain.
Official gaps right now are 14 seconds for Evans and 00:01:07 for the guy in the Polka Dot Jersey. I'll have to look up his name. He's Mauricio Soler.
What a dirty dog.
Rasmussen jumped with 1KM to go and is hammering to the finish ahead of Leipheimer and Contador by 70 yards already.
He let those two work hard up the entire hill and now is slamming them with time and mental anguish.
I'm annoyed. Levi and Contador are responding, but only 500meters remain to the end.
Now there's 1.7KM to got and there are people everywhere.
The three riders are still hammering to the top of the mountain.
Official gaps right now are 14 seconds for Evans and 00:01:07 for the guy in the Polka Dot Jersey. I'll have to look up his name. He's Mauricio Soler.
What a dirty dog.
Rasmussen jumped with 1KM to go and is hammering to the finish ahead of Leipheimer and Contador by 70 yards already.
He let those two work hard up the entire hill and now is slamming them with time and mental anguish.
I'm annoyed. Levi and Contador are responding, but only 500meters remain to the end.
Top three - 4.7KM to go
It's Rasmussen, Contador and Leipheimer leading Stage 16 of the 2007 Tour de France.
Cadel Evans is killing himself to bridge the gap. He's back about 11 seconds. He can see the riders ahead of him.
4.4KM left to go.
**Sastre is 00:01:08 back of the three leaders.
Leipheimer is setting the pace and Rasmussen made a signal with his hands of throwing in the towel. Odd. We shall see what happens in the next 20 minutes. 4KM to go. Cadel has almost caught them.
Rasmussen patted Leipheimer on the back.
Cadel Evans is killing himself to bridge the gap. He's back about 11 seconds. He can see the riders ahead of him.
4.4KM left to go.
**Sastre is 00:01:08 back of the three leaders.
Leipheimer is setting the pace and Rasmussen made a signal with his hands of throwing in the towel. Odd. We shall see what happens in the next 20 minutes. 4KM to go. Cadel has almost caught them.
Rasmussen patted Leipheimer on the back.
Levi with Cadel, Contador and Rasmussen together
Read the subject line.
There are 5.5KM left and Rasmussen has Contador firmly on his wheel.
This IS the Tour de France.
Levi and Cadel are 13 seconds back right now. They look like they're going to work together and try to catch the other two.
The rest of the riders in the race are a huge distance back. Carlos Sastre is the only guy in view and he's 500meters back.
Levi has jumped and is trying to bridge the gap alone. He's only five seconds back now.
I'm hyperventilating.
There are 5.5KM left and Rasmussen has Contador firmly on his wheel.
This IS the Tour de France.
Levi and Cadel are 13 seconds back right now. They look like they're going to work together and try to catch the other two.
The rest of the riders in the race are a huge distance back. Carlos Sastre is the only guy in view and he's 500meters back.
Levi has jumped and is trying to bridge the gap alone. He's only five seconds back now.
I'm hyperventilating.
More attacks
6.7KM left and Cotnador is keeping about 60 yards on the rest of the four lead riders. He's just hammering.
But here come the other three. Now it's Contador by 10 yards, then Rasmussen, then Evans and Levi has dropped a little.
Rasmussen has lept past Contador and now they're leapfrogging each other.
Both Evans and Leipheimer are back by about 100 yards.
Holy Crap. 6KM to go. Evans has caught up. Levi is still lagging.
But here come the other three. Now it's Contador by 10 yards, then Rasmussen, then Evans and Levi has dropped a little.
Rasmussen has lept past Contador and now they're leapfrogging each other.
Both Evans and Leipheimer are back by about 100 yards.
Holy Crap. 6KM to go. Evans has caught up. Levi is still lagging.
9.2KM LEFT - SPOILER!!
The top four in the GC - Levi, Contador, Rasmussen and Evans - were all leading the race and then right at the other side of a tunnel, Contador took off. He's now got a gap of 20 yards on the group.
Oops, they're back together with 8.1KM left to go.
Like I said earlier, one of these four is going to win today and win the entire 2007 Tour de France.
Holy moses!
LEVI just jumped hard. He's got 50 yards on the group and is putting more space into them.
Oh my, they're reeling him in.
I have no idea what's going to happen when they catch him and who might jump next.
Oops, they're back together with 8.1KM left to go.
Like I said earlier, one of these four is going to win today and win the entire 2007 Tour de France.
Holy moses!
LEVI just jumped hard. He's got 50 yards on the group and is putting more space into them.
Oh my, they're reeling him in.
I have no idea what's going to happen when they catch him and who might jump next.
Stage 16 DELAYED
Most of the riders are rolling in the neutral zone right now, but amid all the interviews and excitement after the positive test of Vinikourov, there are about a dozen riders who refuse to start riding.
Standing astride their bikes at the start line of the neutral zone, these riders delayed the race for about 30 seconds to a full minute and then started riding.
I can only surmise that this was in protest to the way in which testing is handled.
If you're not aware, the way I understand drug testing in cycling is that you are guilty until proven innocent; there are precious few 'baseline' tests done (so if someone has a superhuman day like Landis last year - then there's no way to see if that person's hormones are within an acceptable range of THEIR 'normal'); the appeals process is convoluted and fraught with single chances and riders are seldom if ever allowed to present their own tests or science.
That said, I still think cycling has some dirt in it that needs to be cleaned out.
Right now there's a live interview with the director of the race...but Stage 16 is rolling.
And from a pure sports point of view, this stage should decide with finality the winner of the 2007 Tour de France. I believe it will be Rasmussen, Cadel Evans, Contador or Levi Leipheimer. Maybe I shouldn't go so far out on a limb, but race position seldom changes much this far into a Tour.
Standing astride their bikes at the start line of the neutral zone, these riders delayed the race for about 30 seconds to a full minute and then started riding.
I can only surmise that this was in protest to the way in which testing is handled.
If you're not aware, the way I understand drug testing in cycling is that you are guilty until proven innocent; there are precious few 'baseline' tests done (so if someone has a superhuman day like Landis last year - then there's no way to see if that person's hormones are within an acceptable range of THEIR 'normal'); the appeals process is convoluted and fraught with single chances and riders are seldom if ever allowed to present their own tests or science.
That said, I still think cycling has some dirt in it that needs to be cleaned out.
Right now there's a live interview with the director of the race...but Stage 16 is rolling.
And from a pure sports point of view, this stage should decide with finality the winner of the 2007 Tour de France. I believe it will be Rasmussen, Cadel Evans, Contador or Levi Leipheimer. Maybe I shouldn't go so far out on a limb, but race position seldom changes much this far into a Tour.
23 July 2007
Top 10 in the GC after Stage 15
Here is the list of the top ten in the Tour de France after 15 stages...
1. Michael Rasmussen (DEN) RAB - 2,750.4km in 69h52'14" (39.359km/h)
2. Alberto Contador (ESP) DSC at 2'23"
3. Cadel Evans (AUS) PRL at 4'00"
4. Levi Leipheimer (USA) DSC at 5'25"
5. Andreas Kloden (GER) AST at 5'34"
6. Carlos Sastre (ESP) CSC at 6'46"
7. Haimar Zubeldia (ESP) EUS at 7'27"
8. Andrey Kashechkin (KAZ) AST at 7'54"
9. Kim Kirchen (LUX) TMO at 8'24"
10. Mikel Astarloza (EUS) at 9'21"
and here are the standings all the way back to Big George Hincapie (who, by the way, lead Contador down the descent on the other side of the last climb...cementing the Discovery Team rider's place in second)
11 018 VALVERDE, Alejandro ESP GCE 70:02:55.000 00:10:41.000
12 118 POPOVYCH, Yaroslav UKR DSC 70:04:43.000 00:12:29.000
13 011 PEREIRO SIO, Oscar ESP GCE 70:06:44.000 00:14:30.000
14 219 SOLER HERNANDEZ, Juan Mauricio COL BAR 70:07:14.000 00:15:00.000
15 012 ARROYO, David ESP GCE 70:09:25.000 00:17:11.000
16 015 KARPETS, Vladimir RUS GCE 70:10:41.000 00:18:27.000
17 044 HORNER, Christopher USA PRL 70:11:11.000 00:18:57.000
18 207 MAYO, Iban ESP SDV 70:11:14.000 00:19:00.000
19 052 BOOGERD, Michael NED RAB 70:17:22.000 00:25:08.000
20 153 BELTRAN, Manuel ESP LIQ 70:18:16.000 00:26:02.000
21 051 MENCHOV, Denis RUS RAB 70:18:39.000 00:26:25.000
22 036 SCHLECK, Frank LUX CSC 70:19:00.000 00:26:46.000
23 191 VINOKOUROV, Alexandre KAZ AST 70:20:35.000 00:28:21.000
24 088 VALJAVEC, Tadej SLO LAM 70:21:10.000 00:28:56.000
25 174 GARATE, Juan Manuel ESP QSI 70:25:00.000 00:32:46.000
26 218 SIUTSOU, Kanstantsin BLR BAR 70:25:12.000 00:32:58.000
27 204 COBO ACEBO, Juan Jose ESP SDV 70:27:42.000 00:35:28.000
28 078 TXURRUKA, Amets ESP EUS 70:30:31.000 00:38:17.000
29 014 GUTIERREZ, José Ivan ESP GCE 70:31:39.000 00:39:25.000
30 106 FOFONOV, Dmitriy KAZ C.A 70:32:01.000 00:39:47.000
31 114 HINCAPIE, George USA DSC 70:32:31.000 00:40:17.000
1. Michael Rasmussen (DEN) RAB - 2,750.4km in 69h52'14" (39.359km/h)
2. Alberto Contador (ESP) DSC at 2'23"
3. Cadel Evans (AUS) PRL at 4'00"
4. Levi Leipheimer (USA) DSC at 5'25"
5. Andreas Kloden (GER) AST at 5'34"
6. Carlos Sastre (ESP) CSC at 6'46"
7. Haimar Zubeldia (ESP) EUS at 7'27"
8. Andrey Kashechkin (KAZ) AST at 7'54"
9. Kim Kirchen (LUX) TMO at 8'24"
10. Mikel Astarloza (EUS) at 9'21"
and here are the standings all the way back to Big George Hincapie (who, by the way, lead Contador down the descent on the other side of the last climb...cementing the Discovery Team rider's place in second)
11 018 VALVERDE, Alejandro ESP GCE 70:02:55.000 00:10:41.000
12 118 POPOVYCH, Yaroslav UKR DSC 70:04:43.000 00:12:29.000
13 011 PEREIRO SIO, Oscar ESP GCE 70:06:44.000 00:14:30.000
14 219 SOLER HERNANDEZ, Juan Mauricio COL BAR 70:07:14.000 00:15:00.000
15 012 ARROYO, David ESP GCE 70:09:25.000 00:17:11.000
16 015 KARPETS, Vladimir RUS GCE 70:10:41.000 00:18:27.000
17 044 HORNER, Christopher USA PRL 70:11:11.000 00:18:57.000
18 207 MAYO, Iban ESP SDV 70:11:14.000 00:19:00.000
19 052 BOOGERD, Michael NED RAB 70:17:22.000 00:25:08.000
20 153 BELTRAN, Manuel ESP LIQ 70:18:16.000 00:26:02.000
21 051 MENCHOV, Denis RUS RAB 70:18:39.000 00:26:25.000
22 036 SCHLECK, Frank LUX CSC 70:19:00.000 00:26:46.000
23 191 VINOKOUROV, Alexandre KAZ AST 70:20:35.000 00:28:21.000
24 088 VALJAVEC, Tadej SLO LAM 70:21:10.000 00:28:56.000
25 174 GARATE, Juan Manuel ESP QSI 70:25:00.000 00:32:46.000
26 218 SIUTSOU, Kanstantsin BLR BAR 70:25:12.000 00:32:58.000
27 204 COBO ACEBO, Juan Jose ESP SDV 70:27:42.000 00:35:28.000
28 078 TXURRUKA, Amets ESP EUS 70:30:31.000 00:38:17.000
29 014 GUTIERREZ, José Ivan ESP GCE 70:31:39.000 00:39:25.000
30 106 FOFONOV, Dmitriy KAZ C.A 70:32:01.000 00:39:47.000
31 114 HINCAPIE, George USA DSC 70:32:31.000 00:40:17.000
22 July 2007
GC after 14 Stages
Rasmussen is still in the lead, Contador is in second. Maybe ANOTHER Discovery Channel Team Tour win? Three in the Top 10.
Here's the rest of the GC's Top 10...
3 041 EVANS, Cadel AUS PRL 64:15:19.000 00:03:04.000
4 111 LEIPHEIMER, Levi USA DSC 64:16:44.000 00:04:29.000
5 196 KLÖDEN, Andréas GER AST 64:16:53.000 00:04:38.000
6 031 SASTRE, Carlos ESP CSC 64:18:05.000 00:05:50.000
7 195 KASHECHKIN, Andrey KAZ AST 64:19:13.000 00:06:58.000
8 073 ASTARLOZA, Mikel ESP EUS 64:20:40.000 00:08:25.000
9 018 VALVERDE, Alejandro ESP GCE 64:22:00.000 00:09:45.000
10 118 POPOVYCH, Yaroslav UKR DSC 64:23:10.000 00:10:55.000
Here's the rest of the GC's Top 10...
3 041 EVANS, Cadel AUS PRL 64:15:19.000 00:03:04.000
4 111 LEIPHEIMER, Levi USA DSC 64:16:44.000 00:04:29.000
5 196 KLÖDEN, Andréas GER AST 64:16:53.000 00:04:38.000
6 031 SASTRE, Carlos ESP CSC 64:18:05.000 00:05:50.000
7 195 KASHECHKIN, Andrey KAZ AST 64:19:13.000 00:06:58.000
8 073 ASTARLOZA, Mikel ESP EUS 64:20:40.000 00:08:25.000
9 018 VALVERDE, Alejandro ESP GCE 64:22:00.000 00:09:45.000
10 118 POPOVYCH, Yaroslav UKR DSC 64:23:10.000 00:10:55.000
2KM to go
With two kilometers to go, it's Contador and Rasmussen at the front.
Rasmussen is asking Contador to do the work and he said he would give him the stage win if he worked at the front.
It seems like Contador has agreed to do so and will likely take the stage win. That's just what I surmise.
They're both taking turns with 1.5KM left in the stage.
Leipheimer and Cadel Evans are in pursuing groups and will likely not lose too much time today.
Rasmussen is asking Contador to do the work and he said he would give him the stage win if he worked at the front.
It seems like Contador has agreed to do so and will likely take the stage win. That's just what I surmise.
They're both taking turns with 1.5KM left in the stage.
Leipheimer and Cadel Evans are in pursuing groups and will likely not lose too much time today.
4.4KM left in Stage 14
Contador and Rasmussen are a mere 17 seconds back.
Then there are three chasers.
Then Levi Leipheimer.
Then Kloden.
Then Valverde.
Then the pack...all sucking wind on the side of the mountain.
Then there are three chasers.
Then Levi Leipheimer.
Then Kloden.
Then Valverde.
Then the pack...all sucking wind on the side of the mountain.
Stage 14 - Jeff-flashes
With 5.1KM left in the race, the leader is 34 seconds ahead of Rasmussen, Contador, Leipheimer and four others.
THEN the rest of the pack is scattered all over the mountain.
Contador and Rasmussen are only 28 seconds back now and are trying to bridge the gap. I've lost sight of Leipheimer and am worried he may have dropped off into no-man's land.
More in a second.
THEN the rest of the pack is scattered all over the mountain.
Contador and Rasmussen are only 28 seconds back now and are trying to bridge the gap. I've lost sight of Leipheimer and am worried he may have dropped off into no-man's land.
More in a second.
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