BuffettNews Official "Tour de France" Tracker

TikiTom · Post by **TikiTom** » July 13, 2005 11:47 pm

East Texas Parrothead wrote:
TikiTom wrote:
East Texas Parrothead wrote:Great ride by the DISCO boys...what about that Big George??? Stayed with 'em all the way over Col de la Madeleine, Col du Télégraphe and the Col du Galibier. Way to ride, George!!!

Vino was fabulous....and Botero hung tough to get 2nd.

Can't figure why Lance sat up and let Moreau win the extra points to move from 4th to 3rd? Puzzling.

Should be a good day for Team Discovery tomorrow!!!
Almost seemed like a walk in the park for Lance today. I'd say that was becuase the TEAM DISCO stuck with him the whole way. Looked very strong, especially after the "infernal" pace that was seen yesterday. BTW, Jens Voight has been eliminated. Funny how things change so quickly sometimes.
TT: Any idea why LA sat up at the end for Moreau???? Did you think that odd or was it just me??? I would have thought LA needed the time bonus against Rasmussen.

What am I missing?

Hmm... very good question, seeing that Moreau is in 3rd place, and the fact that Rasmussen is looking outstanding. A couple possible reasons are Lance didn't think he needed it, but personally I hoping that him sitting up is a sign that he's gonna run away with it tomorrow, I mean like completely crush the competition (at least within the next few days of the Tour).

"Gentle George"..... I'm sure he just loves that nickname

But it did appear to me as if Hincapie was nursing Lance up the climb today... I think Lance'll be at it again tomorrow though.

East Texas Parrothead · Post by **East Texas Parrothead** » July 14, 2005 9:04 am

Tricki abandonded after a crash today. Not good news. He was needed in the Pyrenees.

TikiTom · Post by **TikiTom** » July 14, 2005 5:15 pm

East Texas Parrothead wrote:Tricki abandonded after a crash today. Not good news. He was needed in the Pyrenees.

First rider on an Armstrong team that has ever been forced to quit is what I've heard.

Very easy stage for Lance today... Phil said expect him to blow away the field in the Pyrenees after the flat stage tomorrow.

East Texas Parrothead · Post by **East Texas Parrothead** » July 14, 2005 10:15 pm

From Velo News:

Beltran is the first Armstrong teammate to abandon the Tour since 2001. In a testament to the team's fortitude, all nine members have finished the Tour in 2000 and 2002-04. In 2001, American racer Christian Vande Velde broke his arm in a crash while in 1999, two riders - Jonathan Vaugthers and Peter Meinert - were forced out with injuries.

A sad day indeed. Triki is such a pure climber.

TikiTom · Post by **TikiTom** » July 15, 2005 1:39 pm

I won something on TREK LUCKY 7!!!

I got a Peak Bar!!!

WHAT THE BLOODY HECK IS A PEAK BAR!!??

East Texas Parrothead · Post by **East Texas Parrothead** » July 15, 2005 1:46 pm

Get outta town!

I have Bobke's luck with the scratch off site!

I have no idea what you won, either.

TikiTom · Post by **TikiTom** » July 15, 2005 3:44 pm

those commercials are hilarious!!!! you see phil all decked out in DISCO gear yet Bobke can't win a single thing!!!

I think the peak bar is like a power bar sort of thing maybe, lol

East Texas Parrothead · Post by **East Texas Parrothead** » July 15, 2005 4:22 pm

TikiTom wrote:those commercials are hilarious!!!! you see phil all decked out in DISCO gear yet Bobke can't win a single thing!!!

I think the peak bar is like a power bar sort of thing maybe, lol

Bobke's mojo, gris gris and voodoo haven't helped him one whit, huh?

East Texas Parrothead · Post by **East Texas Parrothead** » July 16, 2005 10:46 am

Who's your Daddy, now?

They ALL tried to crack him today.

Even Basso (no pun intended) couldn't get him at the finish line.

Awesome. Rasmussen ate Armstrong's dust today.

TikiTom · Post by **TikiTom** » July 16, 2005 2:33 pm

East Texas Parrothead wrote:Who's your Daddy, now?

They ALL tried to crack him today.

Even Basso (no pun intended) couldn't get him at the finish line.

Awesome. Rasmussen ate Armstrong's dust today.

Today was exactly the way it should have been. The finish is basically a metaphor for Ulrichs career... he could no longer hang on and is fading i.e. not a humongously major threat anymore. Rasmussen could crack completely soon, and although Basso looked good I don't see him giving Lance a run for his money. Lance has it... I'm expecting a fun one tomorrow.

HOW DO YOU LIKE HIM NOW!

East Texas Parrothead · Post by **East Texas Parrothead** » July 16, 2005 3:10 pm

TikiTom wrote:
East Texas Parrothead wrote:Who's your Daddy, now?

They ALL tried to crack him today.

Even Basso (no pun intended) couldn't get him at the finish line.

Awesome. Rasmussen ate Armstrong's dust today.
Today was exactly the way it should have been. The finish is basically a metaphor for Ulrichs career... he could no longer hang on and is fading i.e. not a humongously major threat anymore. Rasmussen could crack completely soon, and although Basso looked good I don't see him giving Lance a run for his money. Lance has it... I'm expecting a fun one tomorrow.

HOW DO YOU LIKE HIM NOW!

Did you see Casey Gibson's shot of Rasmussen on the podium yesterday? Absolute skeleton...no reserves left...

And, after what Team Mobile did to Vino....I'm thinking there's a very good chance we'll see Vino in a DISCO jersey next year.....

Popo...Salvodelli....Vino....and Danielson (who is riding in Sweden this week, I think....and he's freaking fabulous)....man...what a team that would be!!!

East Texas Parrothead · Post by **East Texas Parrothead** » July 17, 2005 2:33 am

Look for today's ride to be very, very special....

By Agence France Presse
This report filed July 15, 2005

On Sunday, Lance Armstrong will pay tribute to his former teammate at Motorola, Fabio Casartelli, who died in a crash on the descent of Porte d'Aspet a decade ago.

"This is the 10-year anniversary which goes to show just how time flies. It feels almost like yesterday when we were decending the Porte d'Aspet and and I saw him there. Obviously, we pass again and it's always a tough moment to pass that point."

"He was a great guy, great guy and ... I'll ride with his memory on Sunday for sure."

TikiTom · Post by **TikiTom** » July 17, 2005 10:38 am

East Texas Parrothead wrote:
TikiTom wrote:
East Texas Parrothead wrote:Who's your Daddy, now?

They ALL tried to crack him today.

Even Basso (no pun intended) couldn't get him at the finish line.

Awesome. Rasmussen ate Armstrong's dust today.
Today was exactly the way it should have been. The finish is basically a metaphor for Ulrichs career... he could no longer hang on and is fading i.e. not a humongously major threat anymore. Rasmussen could crack completely soon, and although Basso looked good I don't see him giving Lance a run for his money. Lance has it... I'm expecting a fun one tomorrow.

HOW DO YOU LIKE HIM NOW!
Did you see Casey Gibson's shot of Rasmussen on the podium yesterday? Absolute skeleton...no reserves left...

And, after what Team Mobile did to Vino....I'm thinking there's a very good chance we'll see Vino in a DISCO jersey next year.....

Popo...Salvodelli....Vino....and Danielson (who is riding in Sweden this week, I think....and he's freaking fabulous)....man...what a team that would be!!!

what did t-mobile do to Vinokourov?? I must have missed that while watching. I'm gonna have to catch todays stage later on OLN unfortunately, gotta go to PA for the day. I'm hoping to be surprised.

East Texas Parrothead · Post by **East Texas Parrothead** » July 17, 2005 11:29 am

BIG GEORGE WINS THE HARDEST STAGE OF THIS YEAR'S TOUR......

ZeroDuval · Post by **ZeroDuval** » July 17, 2005 11:45 am

Congrats HINCAPIE!!!!!!!!

East Texas Parrothead · Post by **East Texas Parrothead** » July 17, 2005 11:51 am

First TdF stage win in 10 years....always the bridesmaid...working for LA....finished almost 5:00 ahead of his boss today...with LA's blessings!!!

In memory of Fabio.....

East Texas Parrothead · Post by **East Texas Parrothead** » July 17, 2005 12:21 pm

Here's a pic of Big George crossing the finish line today...what a treat!!!

Almost all of the riders had white armbands with FABIO written in black...that's what you see on George's right arm....

In memory of Fabio.....

FFishstick · Post by **FFishstick** » July 17, 2005 1:45 pm

What great stages in the Pyrenees these past two days. Team Disco sure let Lance down on Saturday by not helping him ward off the attacks. Not a single team disco member even made an attempt to block any runs or even keep up with the pack to support Lance. This allowed Team Tmobile to keep Lance under wraps and not allowing him to run away on Saturday's stage. I think Lance's frustration with his team mates is nearing that of last years frustration with Team USPostal. At least Lance has the best support car in the field. The car team was awesome in keeping lance fed and watered. Today was a different story, good stage win for Big George, but once again, Team Disco did not do much to help Lance.

East Texas Parrothead · Post by **East Texas Parrothead** » July 17, 2005 5:11 pm

FFS: How closely are you following the TdF? Are you watching every day or are you reading/watching the daily snippets on the news? The media is quick to pounce on any perceived weakness ... in any team. But they don't give you the full story.

The DISCO boys are made to keep a steady pace, not the blistering pace that T-Mobile tried to set up yesterday.

Lance and Johann played it just right, IMHO, and Lance did what the team leader should have done. The boys would have gone with him if he had asked them, but they would have blown apart like T-Mobile did and had nothing left for today's "Queen" Stage.

Heck, T-Mobile even sacrificed Vino in what Paul and Phil called a deplorable act on the last Col yesterday. My money's on Vino to join Discovery after this season.

Yep. LA was alone. But, I believe LA and Johann made the right choice. The team was with him -- times 5 -- today, unlike T-Mobile, who was spent and couldn't hang with Ullrich very long.

And DISCO had enough left to let Big George fly on today's breakaway. He didn't even have to work up the hills. What a gift.

It's not all about one day in the TdF. It's about what's good in the long run....and letting T-Mobile run themselves out yesterday was good for the DISCO boys. Yeah...it would have been ideal to have his guys with him all day, but after T-Mobile went on attack, but

Lance felt good and knew he could hang.
Lance knew what was coming today, and ultimately
The stage was set it up for Big George to win.

And T-Mobile still doesn't have anyone on the podium. Rasumssen is hanging tougher than anyone expected.

As Bruneeyl said after the race, "People think this team is weak. We have the stage winner. We have the race leader. And, we have the white jersey."

Paul and Phil said, "We'd like to be a part of a team that weak."

FFishstick · Post by **FFishstick** » July 17, 2005 8:13 pm

East Texas Parrothead wrote:FFS: How closely are you following the TdF? Are you watching every day or are you reading/watching the daily snippets on the news? The media is quick to pounce on any perceived weakness ... in any team. But they don't give you the full story.

The DISCO boys are made to keep a steady pace, not the blistering pace that T-Mobile tried to set up yesterday.

Lance and Johann played it just right, IMHO, and Lance did what the team leader should have done. The boys would have gone with him if he had asked them, but they would have blown apart like T-Mobile did and had nothing left for today's "Queen" Stage.

Heck, T-Mobile even sacrificed Vino in what Paul and Phil called a deplorable act on the last Col yesterday. My money's on Vino to join Discovery after this season.

Yep. LA was alone. But, I believe LA and Johann made the right choice. The team was with him -- times 5 -- today, unlike T-Mobile, who was spent and couldn't hang with Ullrich very long.

And DISCO had enough left to let Big George fly on today's breakaway. He didn't even have to work up the hills. What a gift.

It's not all about one day in the TdF. It's about what's good in the long run....and letting T-Mobile run themselves out yesterday was good for the DISCO boys. Yeah...it would have been ideal to have his guys with him all day, but after T-Mobile went on attack, but

Lance felt good and knew he could hang.
Lance knew what was coming today, and ultimately
The stage was set it up for Big George to win.

And T-Mobile still doesn't have anyone on the podium. Rasumssen is hanging tougher than anyone expected.

As Bruneeyl said after the race, "People think this team is weak. We have the stage winner. We have the race leader. And, we have the white jersey."

Paul and Phil said, "We'd like to be a part of a team that weak."

I have followed everyday meaning in California i had to be watching at 4:30 a.m. to catch any of the televised action today. I can't always watch, and your comments about Tmobile and about Vino switching teams next year were taken directly from Saturdays feed, just as my comments about Lance seeming do be disgusted with his team mates and their lack of help and support on Saturday's run, as well as some concerns about lack of team support on a few of the earlier stages. Tmobile did their job yesterday, they sacraficed Vino to keep the Rasmussens chances alive. I'm sure the burnout had a huge effect on Rasmussen today, but Tmobile kept him in the hunt.

Lance has strong opinions on what it takes for a team to win this thing, or have a team member win this thing. Sure he is self serving in his opinions, but he has earned that right IMHO. If Lance does indeed retire, I am sure you will see him playing a lead role in the selection of next years Disco team, and have a lot to say as a Coach/manager role of the team.