BuffettNews Official "Tour de France" Tracker

East Texas Parrothead · Post by **East Texas Parrothead** » July 17, 2005 8:29 pm

They've been talking about Vino moving for months. Saturday's ride just added one more check in DISCO's column.

Lance owns a piece of the team. Of course, he's still going to call the shots.

Rasmussen rides for Rabobank. Why would T-Mobile blow themselves up for him?

FFishstick · Post by **FFishstick** » July 17, 2005 8:31 pm

So basically you were just checking to see if I am paying attention, and following along, or just a bandwagon fan eh? Well did I pass???

tikitatas · Post by **tikitatas** » July 17, 2005 8:33 pm

There's no one's reporting that I'd put more faith in than Terry's when it comes to TdF news on BN. She is committed BEYOND! Thank you for filling us in, ETP, fairly and in your original, Lance-loving way! <3

East Texas Parrothead · Post by **East Texas Parrothead** » July 17, 2005 8:35 pm

FFishstick wrote:So basically you were just checking to see if I am paying attention, and following along, or just a bandwagon fan eh? Well did I pass???

No, wasn't checking, just puzzled. Wanted to know what I'd missed.

And wondering why TMobile would blow themselves apart for Rasmussen who doesn't ride for them and why they would slap Vino (who does ride for them) like that on the road.

And trying to explain some of the reasons I thought the DISCO boys didn't chase down the suicide missions.

I'm still learning about the sport...always learning.

East Texas Parrothead · Post by **East Texas Parrothead** » July 17, 2005 8:42 pm

tikitatas wrote:There's no one's reporting that I'd put more faith in than Terry's when it comes to TdF news on BN. She is committed BEYOND! Thank you for filling us in, ETP, fairly and in your original, Lance-loving way! <3

Thank you, Miss Cate!!!

I do love the man...but I love all the good riders....am sooo looking forward to seeing what DISCO does with Popo (best young rider in the tour this year) .... Danielson .... and I hope to see Michael Barry in France, too, next year!

TikiTom · Post by **TikiTom** » July 17, 2005 9:22 pm

I was so stoked today to see Hincapie win it!!!
Didn't catch anything besides Hincapie finishing, but I think expanded coverage is on OLN now and I'll try to catch that.

East Texas Parrothead · Post by **East Texas Parrothead** » July 17, 2005 9:24 pm

I'm watching, too, TT. Awesome. Am sooo happy for Big, Gentle George.

Read somewhere this afternoon that his wife and daughter were at the finish line today, which makes it all the sweeter!

SchoolGirlHeart · Post by **SchoolGirlHeart** » July 17, 2005 9:29 pm

Okay, I don't follow cycling and I'm clueless..... who is (was?) Fabio and why were they wearing armbands for him....

East Texas Parrothead · Post by **East Texas Parrothead** » July 17, 2005 9:31 pm

SchoolGirlHeart wrote:Okay, I don't follow cycling and I'm clueless..... who is (was?) Fabio and why were they wearing armbands for him....

He was the guy who bounced Hincapie off the team (Motorola, then) 10 years ago. From SFgate.com:

Lance Armstrong will have more on his mind than just racing when he completes a rough stretch in the Pyrenees. It's been a decade since Armstrong's friend and teammate Fabio Casartelli died after a high speed crash in the mountains. In Sunday's 15th stage of the Tour de France, from Lezat-sur-Leze to Saint-Lary Soulan, the six-time winner will pass by the spot where Casartelli fell on July 18, 1995, and remember.

"It's going to mean a lot," Armstrong said. "This is the 10-year anniversary, which goes to show just how time flies. It feels almost like yesterday when we were descending the Portet d'Aspet and I saw him there."

Casartelli, the 1992 Olympic road race champion, was traveling about 53 mph when he crashed in a downhill sprint with several other riders after completing the Col du Portet d'Aspet, a difficult climb in the Pyrenees.

"The death of Casartelli was the worst experience ever, by far," Armstrong said. "Bad days on the bike can never compare to someone dying in a race, especially a teammate who you had dinner with the night before."

Armstrong has passed the same spot several times on training runs, but says the grief is still there when he does.

"It's always a tough moment," Armstrong said in a lowered voice. "He was a great guy, great guy and ... I'll ride with his memory on Sunday for sure."

Ten years ago, it was business as usual. Armstrong chatted to the genial, fun-loving Casartelli before they set off to race the stage in the last year of Miguel Indurain's five straight wins.

"Talking to him five minutes before the race ... you can't ever come close to that," Armstrong said. "When you see a guy crashing, you get flashbacks."

Race organizers will place flowers at the site and hold mass, an official said. Armstrong will attend a small ceremony with some of his and Casartelli's former Motorola teammates. He will also be reunited with Casartelli's family.

"His wife and son will be here, his parents will be here," Armstrong said. "Which is incredible, added motivation for me."

When Armstrong visits Casartelli's grave, he does so alone, shielding and preserving the intimacy.

"I tend to not be public about it. When I go to Italy and visit the graveside, I don't have a press conference," Armstrong said. "It's a private, personal visit between me and him."

East Texas Parrothead · Post by **East Texas Parrothead** » July 18, 2005 10:07 am

Rest day. Finally.

SchoolGirlHeart · Post by **SchoolGirlHeart** » July 18, 2005 10:11 am

East Texas Parrothead wrote:
SchoolGirlHeart wrote:Okay, I don't follow cycling and I'm clueless..... who is (was?) Fabio and why were they wearing armbands for him....
He was the guy who bounced Hincapie off the team (Motorola, then) 10 years ago.

Ahhh, okay....

TikiTom · Post by **TikiTom** » July 18, 2005 12:49 pm

East Texas Parrothead wrote:Rest day. Finally.

I know I'm getting exhausted just watching them ride 220 km up mountains all day.

East Texas Parrothead · Post by **East Texas Parrothead** » July 18, 2005 12:51 pm

TikiTom wrote:
East Texas Parrothead wrote:Rest day. Finally.
I know I'm getting exhausted just watching them ride 220 km up mountains all day.

Maggie the dog and I are worn slap out....we've been pushing from the back of the peleton...didn't want any guys to get dropped, you know!

ZeroDuval · Post by **ZeroDuval** » July 18, 2005 1:53 pm

Hey.... is not today a rest day?

7lords · Post by **7lords** » July 18, 2005 2:14 pm

East Texas Parrothead wrote:
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?

My win total is now a Vacuum Cleaner, Water Bottle, Jersey and Hat

East Texas Parrothead · Post by **East Texas Parrothead** » July 18, 2005 5:50 pm

7lords wrote:
East Texas Parrothead wrote:
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?
My win total is now a Vacuum Cleaner, Water Bottle, Jersey and Hat

Bite me. Bobke and I get no respect!

East Texas Parrothead · Post by **East Texas Parrothead** » July 18, 2005 5:51 pm

ZeroDuval wrote:Hey.... is not today a rest day?

Just hush.

TikiTom · Post by **TikiTom** » July 18, 2005 5:58 pm

7lords wrote:
East Texas Parrothead wrote:
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?
My win total is now a Vacuum Cleaner, Water Bottle, Jersey and Hat

That's awesome!! I'm so jealous, all I've won is a Peak Bar

I want to win a DISCO jersey, hopefully it'll happen.

TikiTom · Post by **TikiTom** » July 18, 2005 5:59 pm

East Texas Parrothead wrote:
TikiTom wrote:
East Texas Parrothead wrote:Rest day. Finally.
I know I'm getting exhausted just watching them ride 220 km up mountains all day.
Maggie the dog and I are worn slap out....we've been pushing from the back of the peleton...didn't want any guys to get dropped, you know!

Man and I thought my job handing the riders water bottles from the car was tough!

East Texas Parrothead · Post by **East Texas Parrothead** » July 19, 2005 11:37 am

No changes in the overall GC (General Classification).

Great ride by Cadell Evans in honor of his fallen teamates.

From CyclingNews:

Australian rider Amy Gillett has died after she and five other riders from the Australian women's team were hit by a car during a training ride in Germany on Monday. Three other team members are reported to be in critical condition after being helicoptered to hospital, and the remaining two are also still in hospital, albeit with less serious injuries. The other riders involved are Katie Brown, Lorian Graham, Kate Nichols, Alexis Rhodes and Louise Yaxley. All are being treated in hospitals in Leipzig and Zwickau; Rhodes, Yaxley and Brown are believed to be the most seriously injured.

What a loss. And such sadness.

In my mind, the wonder of this tour has been Michael Rasmussen. He's all but a skeleton, but still clinging to a place on the podium. Neither Ullrich nor Vino seem able to shake him....however, since Rasmussen finished WAY back in the ITT, chances are he will lose his place Saturday.

Which might be why he was so very emotional on the podium today.

Great ride, Rasmussen. You've got the legs and heart of a champion.

Lance said he had "no chain" today. Watch out during the ITT. He's going to be flying.

Whew! We're out of the mountains and on the way to the Champs de Elysees.