Official Tour de France Thread - DPChallenge Forums

07/03/2006 11:02:33 PM · #26

Oh, and Rikki - I put 3500 miles on my bikes last year - top speed was a hill this spring at 41 freakin' scary mph! My biggest worry wasn't how fast I was going, but whether we'd have to go back up it - we didn't, which was good.

Haven't been riding nearly enough this summer, though. Work's been too annoying and it's been a bit on the warm side. Really need to get back out there, though. Maybe I'll take the bike to run errands tomorrow morning - I only need small stuff that should fit in the backpack. :-)

Cam

Sony DSC-F717

07/03/2006 11:15:15 PM · #27

Originally posted by jusdino4it:

CHILL...It was a joke...we all know lance dopes anyway

Whatever.

Message edited by author 2006-07-03 23:18:39.

Carl Zeiss 50mm ZE f/1.4 Planar T for Canon

07/03/2006 11:17:07 PM · #28

That's a whole 'nuther thread. This one's for discussing the Tour - the one that's currently underway... :-)

Message edited by author 2006-07-03 23:57:31.

yanko

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

07/03/2006 11:20:16 PM · #29

Is there a particular reason why this tour is so popular and every other tour isn't?

07/03/2006 11:23:41 PM · #30

Originally posted by yanko:

Is there a particular reason why this tour is so popular and every other tour isn't?

Actually it's not because it's popular this year. It's primarily due to the fact that the Top 5 from last year excluding Lance has been kicked out or forced out of this year's Tour.

Vino would have been a great rider to watch this year but since his entire team was obliterated by the scandal, he was forced out. By far, he has shown to be the most aggressive rider in the Tour de France the last few years.

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

07/03/2006 11:25:01 PM · #31

Deb 3500 miles is great! I wish i could do that. I've been working too many long hours nowadays that it's hard to squeeze in some time to ride.

I think my 5500 misses me a lot ;)

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

07/03/2006 11:25:34 PM · #32

Originally posted by yanko:

Is there a particular reason why this tour is so popular and every other tour isn't?

This one's the original. It's like the Wimbledon or the British Open of cycling. It's just what it is :-) It has a mystique.

R.

Carl Zeiss 50mm ZE f/1.4 Planar T for Canon

07/03/2006 11:27:32 PM · #33

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Originally posted by yanko:
Is there a particular reason why this tour is so popular and every other tour isn't?

This one's the original. It's like the Wimbledon or the British Open of cycling. It's just what it is :-) It has a mystique.

R.

Correct Mr. bear. There are three grand tours during the course of the year. The Giro d' Italia, Vuelta a Espana and the tour de France. The "Tour" is the mother of them all. Winning the TdF is akin to the British Open or the Wibledon :)

yanko

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

07/03/2006 11:29:28 PM · #34

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

But you still have the US Open, Australian Open and French Open just seconds off the pace with Wimbledon to use a cycling comparison. With the Tour de France there is no second place unless you count whowever is 40 minutes behind. :P

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

07/03/2006 11:33:28 PM · #35

Originally posted by yanko:

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Originally posted by yanko:
Is there a particular reason why this tour is so popular and every other tour isn't?

This one's the original. It's like the Wimbledon or the British Open of cycling. It's just what it is :-) It has a mystique.

R.

But you still have the US Open, Australian Open and French Open just seconds off the pace with Wimbledon to use a cycling comparison. With the Tour de France there is no second place unless you count whowever is 40 minutes behind. :P

Well, I'd disagree with that; first, Wimbledon is the OLDEST of them, and second, I think very few tennis players would choose anything other than Wimbledon if told they could select one, and only one, major title to win in their career...

R.

yanko

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Carl Zeiss 50mm ZE f/1.4 Planar T for Canon

07/03/2006 11:36:52 PM · #36

Ok, maybe a minute off the pace. :) My point is those other opens get A LOT of press in their own right but there is nothing I ever hear about in cycling except for the Tour de France.

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Nikon

07/03/2006 11:54:08 PM · #37

Originally posted by yanko:

Ok, maybe a minute off the pace. :) My point is those other opens get A LOT of press in their own right but there is nothing I ever hear about in cycling except for the Tour de France.

That's because you live in the good ol' US of A. Were you to live in Europe, you'd know of the Giro and the Vuelta, as well as the Spring Classics and a few others. We have Mr LeMond and of course Mr Armstrong to thank for the fact we actually get television coverage of the Tour de France.

blemt

Nikon D70

07/04/2006 10:47:58 AM · #38

Oh my!

And there goes Valverde! Looks like the collarbone...

WOW!

You know, I am really starting to think All American podium this year. Wow.

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Nikon

07/04/2006 10:51:50 AM · #39

Originally posted by blemt:

Oh my!

And there goes Valverde! Looks like the collarbone...

WOW!

You know, I am really starting to think All American podium this year. Wow.

Very sad. I hate to see any rider go down, and Valverde is an awesome rider. Also lost Dekker and Freddie Rodriguez earlier today, too, also probably due to collarbones.

blemt

Nikon D70

07/04/2006 10:54:24 AM · #40

This is just a gnarly stage. And the finish looks to be bothersome. Here's thinking good non crash thoughts.

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 35-135mm f/3.5-4.5

07/04/2006 11:10:22 AM · #41

Sweet justice!!

I do have my favorites but I always love to see a good finish, and especially when someone goes for it and gets it. :)

C_Steve_G

Apple iPhone 12

07/04/2006 11:14:02 AM · #42

Originally posted by Melethia:

Sweet justice!!

I do have my favorites but I always love to see a good finish, and especially when someone goes for it and gets it. :)

Uh-huh!

blemt

Nikon D70

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Nikon

07/04/2006 11:15:29 AM · #43

Man, SERIOUS statement for Tmobile today.

That was a wonderful finish.

Panasonic DMW-LTZ10 1.5x Teleconverter

07/04/2006 01:07:26 PM · #44

Sheesh! I can't believe Valverde, Dekker, and Fast Freddy are out!

I had hopes for Alejandro but kinda like last year when he had to pull out due to a knee injury. Damn bad luck :(

BTW, anyone know what happened to Petacchi this year?

KiwiShotz

Panasonic DMC-FZ20

07/04/2006 01:19:35 PM · #45

So how come nobody rates Tom Boonen?

Brett

Message edited by author 2006-07-04 13:21:30.

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

07/04/2006 01:24:06 PM · #46

Originally posted by KiwiShotz:

So how come nobody rates Tom Boonen?

Brett

Boonen is a great rider. Actually, he's currently wearing the rainbow jersey of a World Champion. However, for me, Boonen isn't the all around rider like most. Let's just say he cracks in the mountains kinda like how Petacchi quits once he sees the Pyrenees and the Alps. I'll give Boonen credit though of slugging it out with the rest of the peloton often finishing 20 minutes behind the leaders :)

alexgarcia

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

07/04/2006 01:24:14 PM · #47

OMG, Valverde says goodbye... He was my best bet, so maybe all of you that think about hincapie are right at last...

Ã�lex

07/04/2006 01:26:20 PM · #48

Originally posted by alexgarcia:

OMG, Valverde says goodbye... He was my best bet, so maybe all of you that think about hincapie are right at last...

Ã�lex

Ya that was a bummer Alex. Iban Mayo is still in there but his team is not so good. You could be a greta rider like Iban but if you don't have a strong team, unfortunately, you get lost in the mix :(

07/04/2006 01:29:29 PM · #49

The intermediate points along the course are being contested a whole lot more than I recall in past Tours. It certainly makes the day's stage more exciting. Anyone think this is because the Tour is wide-open, with no clear "leader" this go 'round?