BuffettNews Official "Tour de France" Tracker

7lords · Post by **7lords** » July 7, 2005 11:47 am

TikiTom wrote:What happened today?? Some big crash or something?? I'll catch it again on OLN again, I missed it the first time though because I was sleeping

Yep, big crash. Christophe Mengin crashed on the wet on the final turn. Vinokourov finished 2nd and cut Armstrong's lead down to :53. Julich and Hincape are :55 back

Lastplaneout · Post by **Lastplaneout** » July 7, 2005 12:23 pm

I'm just griping..but damn. My cable company does not carry OLN on their non-digital lineup. So I get nearly 100 channels, at least 10 of which are friggin' Mexican stations. WTF man, no OLN...first time in 5 years I am not able to see it on TV. I hate having to read the write ups...I want to see it as it happens. I also find it very dissapointing that Discovery doesn't have a highlight show on, I need my TDF fix, not to mention the wise words of Bobke. BAAAAHHH

East Texas Parrothead · Post by **East Texas Parrothead** » July 7, 2005 12:36 pm

7lords wrote:Robbie McEwen won - not a fan of that punks at all

No change in the GC.

On a side note - I went to trekbikes.com to play the Lucky 7 game yesterday and I won a Vacuum Cleaner (valued at $180)

That is just so kewl. I played on-line yesterday, but got zip.

I'll be so glad when they get to the mountains...these crashes are making me nervous.

Vino took 2nd from Big George. He looks pretty strong.

jonesbeach10 · Post by **jonesbeach10** » July 7, 2005 12:42 pm

Lastplaneout wrote:I'm just griping..but damn. My cable company does not carry OLN on their non-digital lineup. So I get nearly 100 channels, at least 10 of which are friggin' Mexican stations. WTF man, no OLN...first time in 5 years I am not able to see it on TV. I hate having to read the write ups...I want to see it as it happens. I also find it very dissapointing that Discovery doesn't have a highlight show on, I need my TDF fix, not to mention the wise words of Bobke. BAAAAHHH

I don't get it all! It's not even on digital cable. Cablevision is run by money-grubbing schmuks who ahve ruined the Knicks and Madison Square Garden!

East Texas Parrothead · Post by **East Texas Parrothead** » July 7, 2005 1:41 pm

I could NOT live without OLN during the month of July. I would have to move somewhere with cable during the TdF.

There is criticism that OLN stands for ONLY LANCE NETWORK, but they have given the sport of cycling a lot of exposure.

And, gotta love Bobke, Phil and Paul. Al? Well, I tolerate him, but doubt he's ever done a road race in his life!

springparrot · Post by **springparrot** » July 7, 2005 1:51 pm

jonesbeach10 wrote:
Lastplaneout wrote:I'm just griping..but damn. My cable company does not carry OLN on their non-digital lineup. So I get nearly 100 channels, at least 10 of which are friggin' Mexican stations. WTF man, no OLN...first time in 5 years I am not able to see it on TV. I hate having to read the write ups...I want to see it as it happens. I also find it very dissapointing that Discovery doesn't have a highlight show on, I need my TDF fix, not to mention the wise words of Bobke. BAAAAHHH
I don't get it all! It's not even on digital cable. Cablevision is run by money-grubbing schmuks who ahve ruined the Knicks and Madison Square Garden!

We don't get digital cable

TikiTom · Post by **TikiTom** » July 7, 2005 1:56 pm

East Texas Parrothead wrote:I could NOT live without OLN during the month of July. I would have to move somewhere with cable during the TdF.

There is criticism that OLN stands for ONLY LANCE NETWORK, but they have given the sport of cycling a lot of exposure.

And, gotta love Bobke, Phil and Paul. Al? Well, I tolerate him, but doubt he's ever done a road race in his life!

It's obvious that the commentators like Lance, but I like that about them. Imagine how terrible it would be to have to listen to the commentators blasting Lance while trying to watch the race... I think these commentators are otherwise very unbiased, and give very objective coverage of the TdF. And they have a great knowledge about the sport... very good commentators are they

East Texas Parrothead · Post by **East Texas Parrothead** » July 7, 2005 2:10 pm

TikiTom wrote:
East Texas Parrothead wrote:I could NOT live without OLN during the month of July. I would have to move somewhere with cable during the TdF.

There is criticism that OLN stands for ONLY LANCE NETWORK, but they have given the sport of cycling a lot of exposure.

And, gotta love Bobke, Phil and Paul. Al? Well, I tolerate him, but doubt he's ever done a road race in his life!
It's obvious that the commentators like Lance, but I like that about them. Imagine how terrible it would be to have to listen to the commentators blasting Lance while trying to watch the race... I think these commentators are otherwise very unbiased, and give very objective coverage of the TdF. And they have a great knowledge about the sport... very good commentators are they

I think Lance OWNS the TdF. Especially after reading LANCE ARMSTRONG'S WAR last week. Great in-depth look at his preparation for the tour. Phil and Paul are steeped in tour history and have great respect for Armstrong and his accomplishments. Paul and Bobke rode the tour, so they know just how impressive LA's accomplishments are.

Phil and Paul are my favorites. I learn something every time I watch them. I love Bobke for color and Carmichael for the training data.

I hope OLN will continue to support cycling after Lance.

East Texas Parrothead · Post by **East Texas Parrothead** » July 8, 2005 2:30 pm

Quote from VeloNews:

"I feel certain that my condition is good enough to follow some attacks," Armstrong said. "In fact, some attacks would be nice so that we don't have a field sprint again."

It's going to be an interesting stage tomorrow!

The crashes have been horrific. Hope they're over now.

East Texas Parrothead · Post by **East Texas Parrothead** » July 9, 2005 10:22 am

Iles Baleres has really broken the back of the peleton this morning...the DISCO boys are right behind them....Salvodelli is leading Armstrong to the summit....will Lance fly down the hill???? Popo's still in white...It's a real race now.

East Texas Parrothead · Post by **East Texas Parrothead** » July 9, 2005 10:27 am

Armstrong goes!

East Texas Parrothead · Post by **East Texas Parrothead** » July 9, 2005 11:09 am

Great stage today. Lance still 1:00 ahead of 2nd. Hincapie falls to 8th.

Lance says "We have some talking to do." The team couldn't stay with him on a small climb.

As Phil said...."I'd like to be a fly on the wall tonight."

ragtopW · Post by **ragtopW** » July 9, 2005 11:13 am

Lastplaneout wrote:I'm just griping..but damn. My cable company does not carry OLN on their non-digital lineup. So I get nearly 100 channels, at least 10 of which are friggin' Mexican stations. WTF man, no OLN...first time in 5 years I am not able to see it on TV. I hate having to read the write ups...I want to see it as it happens. I also find it very dissapointing that Discovery doesn't have a highlight show on, I need my TDF fix, not to mention the wise words of Bobke. BAAAAHHH

********pimping alert********

www.directv.com

TikiTom · Post by **TikiTom** » July 9, 2005 4:50 pm

Thanks for the updates ETP... I've been away the past 2 days so I missed the past 2 stages, might be able to catch up with today's tonight on OLN.

East Texas Parrothead · Post by **East Texas Parrothead** » July 9, 2005 5:09 pm

TikiTom wrote:Thanks for the updates ETP... I've been away the past 2 days so I missed the past 2 stages, might be able to catch up with today's tonight on OLN.

Welcome.

I'm not sure what to make of today.

1. Lance was really p!ssed that his guys couldn't hang on a cat 4 climb.

OR

2. The boys were sandbagging.

Lance was by himself for most of the last part....and the other riders were attacking like mad.

It was either a very crafty way to wear them down (with the DISCO boys way back, the others might have thought LA vunerable) or there really is a problem with the team.

I doubt there is a problem with the team.

Vino took the bait time and time again. It'll be interesting to see how he recovers tomorrow. Ullrich just kept cranking out that funky gear of his. No damage done there, I'm thinking.

Popo lost the white jersey. That really puzzles me...but, as I said, after reading LANCE ARMSTRONG'S WAR....there are no accidents and there is always a PLAN B.

Tomorrow will be interesting.

TikiTom · Post by **TikiTom** » July 10, 2005 6:23 pm

Zabriskie gave up to day. I feel bad, the Tour was looking promising for him up until the crash during team time trials.

http://sports.yahoo.com/sc/news?slug=re ... &type=lgns

Missed today's stage again, hope to catch it later on OLN.

East Texas Parrothead · Post by **East Texas Parrothead** » July 10, 2005 7:30 pm

TikiTom wrote:Zabriskie gave up to day. I feel bad, the Tour was looking promising for him up until the crash during team time trials.

http://sports.yahoo.com/sc/news?slug=re ... &type=lgns

Missed today's stage again, hope to catch it later on OLN.

Hey, TT.

I hated it for him, but he almost abandonded yesterday. Came in just under a minute inside the time limit.

I think the crash really banged him up. He's ridden on adrenaline since, IMHO.

There is speculation amongst TdF experts that yesterday was Lance's way of riding their legs off, while letting his boys rest....and they might be right, since the DISCO boys controlled so well today.

And, the more I thought about it, the more I realized there is NO WAY big George would have let Lance suffer like that. We would have turned himself inside out for LA...rode himself into the ground, to stay near LA. Not at all like big George to let LA twist in the wind like that.

East Texas Parrothead · Post by **East Texas Parrothead** » July 12, 2005 1:50 pm

Well....any unanswered questions now?????

Talk about the sh!t that will kill them!!!

The DISCO boys took it to all of them today.

Kudos to Valverde. The only man who hung with LA. The kid can climb and sprint. He holds the future of cycling.

Big question marks for Vino...Ullrich...Julich...Landis....Basso.

And what about that Popo? Flatted and crashed into a car and still was able to come back and lead LA up the hill. Wow!

Tomorrow will be interesting. Recovery will be difficult.

He rode their legs off...one at a time.

Snowparrot · Post by **Snowparrot** » July 12, 2005 2:13 pm

Here's a tip for those who don't have OLN or Eurosport TV. You can follow the race "live" on the computer, delayed only by the time it takes to type up a sentence or two.
http://www.letour.fr/index.html

TikiTom · Post by **TikiTom** » July 12, 2005 4:22 pm

Oh man was Lance a beast today!!
He controlled the whole field, except for Valverde, and just "tore the infernal mountain apart." "Carnage" is the only word to describe today's stage, as my favorite commentator put it.
I think we know who's winning Numero Siete this year