It's already been an interesting day.

No surprise that Cancellara won the Prologue followed by Millar and Farrar. I didn't expect to see Tony Martin or Lance Armstrong winning any points that was a nice surprise.

My predictions: Watch out for Hushovd in search for another green jersey. I know he's been injured. But that guy performs in the hills better that Cancellara IMO. That being said Cancellara has improved since last season and he's arguably untouchable in the one day race classics. Look out for Cavendish. Definitely still dangerous, and his team always sets him up perfect for sprints.

As for the coveted yellow jersey: Look out for last years winner Contador. I think he's still one of the most "complete" riders out there. Tom Boonen, Cadel Evans (who had an awesome year BTW) might be contenders, if anyone from Team Radioshack steps up, I see it being Chris Horner not Leipheimer. Team Saxobank has an awesome team and I expect to see Andy Schleck perform in the mountains.

I don't see who may take the polka dot jersey or the best new rider.

Oh yeah, Lance Armstrong. I don't expect to see him on the podium. There are too many factors working against him. Although he has trained intensely and intelligently this season, I just don't see it with this new class of riders.

On the other hand, he's Lance. He always has a shot.

7/3/2010 3:02:26 PM

Trying to help my dad out - He's a big fan of cycling and wants to watch the Tour but they got rid of their cable this year so he has no versus. Anyone know of any sites that have a live stream of Versus, or any torrent sites that typically have the different stages up within a day or so of them airing? He tried paying for some thing on Versus to watch it on their website but its apparently complete garbage.

7/4/2010 1:48:10 PM

Vs. has a $29.95 package you can buy that allows you to stream from their website I think.

7/4/2010 2:55:53 PM

Yeah thats what he got - he said the quality was terrible.

7/4/2010 4:21:46 PM

http://www.justin.tv may help with the online streaming. most international sporting events can be found there.

[Edited on July 4, 2010 at 7:13 PM. Reason : clickable link]

7/4/2010 7:13:23 PM

I've been switching back and forth between links on this page.

http://www.steephill.tv/tour-de-france/#live

I didn't watch any of today's stage but I hear there were several crashes throughout, some of which which took out a lot of the big sprinters to win the stage.

[Edited on July 5, 2010 at 12:10 AM. Reason : I'll be watching stage 2]

7/4/2010 11:59:27 PM

If I remember correctly, Boonen didn't make the Tour due to an injury in the Tour de Suisse. But I don't think he's a GC guy, more of a green jersey contender. I expect Lance to do well. I don't know that he'll win, but he'll be up there. If Andy Schleck would ever improve his time trialing skills (or lack of), I'd put him as favorite. But Contador is the man, and it's going to be hard to take him down. I think this year, we'll find out how good he is, since his entire team from last year basically went with Lance.

7/5/2010 2:03:20 AM

As much as I hate to admit it, Lance looks really good in his leadup to this tour. I wouldn't be surprised at all to see him at the top. Contador has one of the weakest teams for a GC favorite, and although he has looked unbeatable individually at times--especially in the mountains, I could see him losing chunks of time from a surprise attack or something.

I'll be rooting for Christian Vande Velde and Carlos Sastre, although realistically I don't think either has a great shot at winning. Wouldn't mind seeing Cadel Evans make some noise either.

I like Hushovd again for the green jersey.

Quote :

"If Andy Schleck would ever improve his time trialing skills (or lack of), I'd put him as favorite."

Only since the age of Lance were GC contending guys supposed to be beastly TTers AND top climbers. It should take two different body types, and, for the sake of the thread, I won't give my opinion as to why that has changed. Contador and Lance (among many other GC favorites from the past ~15 years) are the anomalies in the history of cycling.

7/5/2010 9:43:40 AM

For those at work who can't do video, this update ticker is pretty solid.

http://velonews.competitor.com/live

7/5/2010 9:45:00 AM

Today was ridiculous. Didn't realize it while I was watching, but apparently something like half of the field wrecked at one point or another today. It's going to be interesting to see how many guys don't make it to stage 3. Tyler Farrar looked really banged up, Andy Schleck might be hurt badly as well.

The cobblestones will probably do even more damage and we should see a major separation tomorrow as the more experienced and technical riders will take advantage of the cobble while the younger riders struggle. Even though it's flat expect a lot of separation tomorrow and expect the GC guys to be up front all day long. I think we could see some very interesting stuff tomorrow.

7/5/2010 5:19:02 PM

There was a stretch on one of the descents that was wet and apparently had oil on it from one of the motorcycles crashing. It was basically impossible to stay on the bike. All of the GC favorites eventually caught back up with the main group except for Christian Vande Velde.

Sucks too because it seemed to be a case of the Garmin race director basically throwing his hands up saying CVV was done and not sending anyone to help him get back. Saxo Bank sent the whole team back to help the Schlecks join the group again.

7/5/2010 5:32:48 PM

Weather was nasty today. Taking quick turns over the crosswalks caused quite a few spills. I've read a lot of those road markers are painted on with thermo-plastic and that shit gets slippery as hell when wet.

It will be interesting to watch tomorrows stage. I know that Team Radioshack raced the classics with the sole purpose of racing on those cobblestones before tour. We'll see if it pays off. I know that Hushovd and Cancellara are some of the fastest on the cobbles. That is before Thor got hurt.

7/5/2010 8:57:48 PM

Quote :

"Only since the age of Lance were GC contending guys supposed to be beastly TTers AND top climbers. It should take two different body types, and, for the sake of the thread, I won't give my opinion as to why that has changed. Contador and Lance (among many other GC favorites from the past ~15 years) are the anomalies in the history of cycling. "

And that's why I said he has to improve to win. They may be anomalies, but the fact is, they are the guys to beat. If Andy doesn't bridge the time trial gap, he simply won't win. I expect him to eventually win the Tour, but not this year. He's young, so he has time to improve. I do think Contador got a big break by not having to do a team time trial. I kind of have a mixed opinion on that.

7/6/2010 12:26:59 AM

^yeah, you're right. I wasn't disagreeing with you so much as it just annoys me that every GC contender is expected to be a monster Time Trialer and a great climber to be a real contender. Of course, that's always been impossible until doping became so widespread.

Big time bummer for Vande Velde...already out. The guy has a nose for getting in wrecks. Like him or hate him, Lance has been the best at avoiding major crashes during his Tours. He is always in the best position to avoid the crashes.

Today's cobble section should be exciting for sure. Wouldn't be surprised to see Team Radioshack and Lance but some time on Contador.



[Edited on July 6, 2010 at 8:59 AM. Reason : d]

7/6/2010 8:48:02 AM

Unbelievable stage today. Frank Schleck is out. Armstrong lost 1 min+ to Contador and Wiggins and 2min+ to andy schleck and cadel.

Spartacus in yellow and hushovd with the stage win. Wow. Been holding my breath for the last 20km.

7/6/2010 11:40:14 AM

I'm pissed I missed the race today. I'm not surprised at the end result, but I did expect Lance to put a gap between him and Contador today. Oh well. Anyone know where I can see a replay of today's race?

7/6/2010 12:11:26 PM

if you have versus, I am pretty sure they always show a replay of the stage in the evenings.

7/6/2010 12:52:00 PM

It was bad timing for Lance today. I may be wrong, but it looked like when Schleck crashed, Armstrong was delayed trying to get by it (I think he's the Radio Shack rider that's having to go by him on the side in the replay). But that blown tire hurt. The difference today was that Contador, who either just ran out of gas or blew tire, had his issue basically at the finish line. He was able to make it without stopping. But it did cost him time that he could have gained on Lance, and not lost to Andy.

7/6/2010 8:59:06 PM

Pretty exciting sprint finish today. I was concerned that it would be too large of a bunch sprint, but that second roundabout sorted things out real quick. Cavendish didn't even make the top ten.

7/7/2010 11:41:11 AM

I suspect that today's stage has put Lance out of the running for a podium position. But look at Evans and Schleck go! You gotta love the upcoming mountain stages.

7/11/2010 12:11:38 PM

Yeah, unfortunately, it looks like Lance is done as a contender. It would have been interesting to see how he would have done if he wasn't involved in all those crashes today. But good job Andy Schleck. He may have shown that Contador isn't quite as strong as we all thought (though he was only about 5 seconds back).

7/11/2010 6:43:03 PM

10 seconds.

7/11/2010 7:23:11 PM

more like Tour de Doping amirite

7/11/2010 9:28:21 PM

Great stage today. Glad to see evans and sastre stay with the lead group. It will be interesting to see if Lance actually works for Levi or if he tries for a stage or something.

I wonder if Contador really couldnt stay with andy or if he didn't try to contest the stage. Can't wait for the Pyrenees.

7/11/2010 9:52:06 PM

It looked to me like Contador couldn't stay with Schleck, but I could be wrong. It just didn't look like he had that last kick. I think the next couple of stages will really sort out the true top 5 from the also ran GC guys. Sadly, Lance is done.

7/12/2010 1:55:36 AM

Another monster stage yesterday. Race is basically down to Schleck and Contador. I guess I am rooting for Schleck now. Can't stand Contador.

7/14/2010 7:26:23 AM

It's a good thing for Schleck that there is only one long time trial in this year's Tour. He needs to be up by at least 2 minutes on Contador. And there are some brutal Pyrenean stages coming up in the final week as they ascend the Tourmalet twice! Still very finely poised.

7/14/2010 7:36:51 AM

Yeah, Contador will definitely make up the small deficit in the ITT. Schleck has definitely shown that he can endure any attacks in the mountains but he's yet to break away. I hope something gives in the following stages leading to the time trial.

7/18/2010 5:29:54 PM

Contador shows his class (or lack of) by attacking when Schleck dropped a chain. What a fucking tool.

I figured he had it at the time trial anyways, but that is just bad form.

7/19/2010 10:58:24 AM

yeah Contador is a classless piece of shit. I realized that watching last years tour. I wouldn't completely count Andy out. If he can drop him in the stages leading up to the TT he can make up some time. But yeah, it's an uphill battle from here. No pun intended.

7/19/2010 11:16:27 AM

schleck is going to attack the shit out of him in the next two mountain stages

7/19/2010 11:37:04 AM

I hope Schleck just blows him out of the water, but I don't know that he'll be able to. These next 2 stages are going to be great.

7/19/2010 4:01:53 PM

I don't think much will happen tomorrow at the top of the standings because the last climb is so far out from the finish.

7/19/2010 6:42:04 PM

Pretty much as expected, Lance and Horner made it into a breakaway group, but they couldn't win the sprint finish. Unreal effort by Barredo and I'm bummed he couldn't hold them off. Schleck better bring his legs on Thursday because he needs to put AT LEAST a minute on contador to have a chance at yellow after the TT.

7/20/2010 12:55:45 PM

Does Schleck wait to attack on the Tourmalet, or go at it through all the mountains Thursday? Also, I've watched in the past, but it's been a couple years since Menchov was a contender. How is he in the time trials?

7/20/2010 7:57:22 PM

He'll wait till the Tourmalet. It's about 40km from the top of the previous climb to the base of the Tourmalet so he'll wait till then. Menchov is a pretty decent time triallist- I think he won the long time trial in the Giro when he won in 2009.

7/20/2010 9:05:14 PM

Yeah, Menchov is a good TTist, but I doubt he is 2 minutes better than Schleck and he probably won't take any time from Contador. IIRC, didn't he crash on the TT in the Giro?

If Schleck is smart, he will make his move early on the Tourmalet. I honestly think he can do it and it would be excellent to see him break Contador off. I'd love to see Saxobank driving a brutal pace for the first third of the climb, then andy going solo and getting the minute+ he needs.

7/21/2010 9:46:34 AM

haha. even if you think the guy is clean, he is still a douchenozzle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQsqS-mY3jI&feature=player_embedded

7/21/2010 2:48:38 PM

Not the way I was hoping the stage would go, but it was an impressive ride by both Contador and Schleck. Nice that AC didn't contest the sprint finish. Still doesn't make up for attacking the yellow after a mechanical, but it was a step in the right direction. I guess anything could happen if it rains for the TT, but not looking good at all for Schleck.

Great ride by Hesjdal as well to finish 4th on the stage. If Vande Velde could ever get his shit together and stop crashing every damn week, Garmin has a great team.

7/22/2010 11:40:25 AM

How the race went today is why I asked if Schleck should go before the Tourmalet. It looked like Contador had the energy to go if needed, but never really was in a terrible situation. My point was they needed to try to wear him down prior to the final climb, and not put all their eggs in one basket. Not sure how that would have gone, b/c Andy may not have had the legs to do that, or at least survive to the end. Of course, not having Frank there to help Andy probably doesn't help much either. But it looks like Contador is in prime position to win again.

7/22/2010 5:12:09 PM

Quote :

"Contador is a classless "

7/24/2010 12:20:16 AM

Contador's margin over Schleck is 39 seconds. Superb ride by Denis Menchov.

7/24/2010 11:43:22 AM

Is there anyone in cycling who isn't on drugs?

9/30/2010 6:52:44 AM

I hope this means that Schleck gets the yellow.....just like Contador did when Landis got busted

9/30/2010 7:37:21 AM

^^cycling's doping controls are MUCH more stringent than anything in any major US sport. The fact they are getting caught means that to me, it's still much cleaner than it was 10-15 years ago.

^ oscar pereiro won it after landis got popped, not contador. Kind of a hollow victory when the second place guy is likely doping too and he knows it.

Hate contador and i knew that dude was doping, but I hate more that cycling stars keep getting into this crap.

9/30/2010 7:58:35 AM

just a little bad meat

http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/cycling/news/story?id=5632256

9/30/2010 10:20:36 AM

lulz, even the first winner was banned for cheating in the 2nd tour. apparently taking a train is against the rules.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurice_Garin

9/30/2010 10:54:00 AM

http://www.sportsscientists.com/2010/10/more-on-contador-transfusion-theory.html

10/1/2010 8:26:51 PM