Dauphine Libere

[tmac]

Helloooo Ouuut Therrrreeee. . . .

Am I the only one glued to my computer (don't tell the boss) while Cyclingnews.com spouted live reports from yesterdays stage?

If you missed it here a recap:

Individual Mountain Time Trial.
21 Kilometers up Mont Ventoux - you know where Lance "let" Pantani win during the Tour day France a few years back?

Iban Mayo shattered the record set by American Jonathan Vaughters by over a minute.

Tyler Hamilton beat the record by half a minute.

Lance Armstrong finished 5th about 2 minutes behind Mayo.

Definitely a nail biter - showing that this years tour is going to be one hell of a challenge with half a dozen riders who have a legitimate shot at the win.

For those of you in the "I want anyone but Lance to win the Tour" it should really get you going.

For those of us that want there to be a close race with Armstrong finishing on top, it was a stressful day.

I wanted to see Lance win it just to see one cyclist have a chance to win a mountain Time Trial on Mont Ventoux and L'Alpe Duez in the same year. A chance that does not come around too often.

So while it is raining every friggin day here, go dust off that roadbike/crossbike/or pair of slicks, and go find the tallest hill around here that you can - AND GO CONQUER IT. If you can't find a steep enough hill, post here and we'll tell ya. Or pack up the car and head to Iowa for a 200 mile slog with Grizzly and me.

[tmac]

Check out Cyclingnews.com and velonews.com to stay with all the action.

[noise_is_life]

So what do you think, is he pulling his punches to psych out the competition or is it finally over for him?

He has gotten pretty wily in his old age...and I think this year the focus on the Tour is stronger than it has ever been, and for Lance that is saying something.

[tmac]

[QUOTE=noise_is_life]So what do you think, is he pulling his punches to psych out the competition or is it finally over for him?
[QUOTE]

This is why it is such a great question. I do think that he is definitely a big actor when it comes to how fit he is and how good he feels (maybe Jan is learning this too).

He is also such a competitor, that it is amazing to me that someone with enough drive to win the tour 5 times in a row, also has enough self control to hold back when records are at stake on races like Thursday's time trial.

It wont be over until the tour is through the Alps.

[grizzly adam]

Maybe Sheryl made him some training tapes... :)

[jaybird]

So while it is raining every friggin day here, go dust off that roadbike/crossbike/or pair of slicks, and go find the tallest hill around here that you can - AND GO CONQUER IT. If you can't find a steep enough hill, post here and we'll tell ya. Or pack up the car and head to Iowa for a 200 mile slog with Grizzly and me.
Where are you guys headed to in Iowa?

[tmac]

Where are you guys headed to in Iowa?
TOMRV - Tour of the Mississppi River Valley
Bettendorf to Dubuque and back.
I'm told it is quite hilly.

[SPR]

Check out Cyclingnews.com and velonews.com to stay with all the action.Also if you get OLN then you road fans should be catching Thursday evenings lineup.
I've been watching (and taping) the Lance Armstrong Chronicles. They are quite interesting when you look beyond the propaganda. Following the chronicles is an update on all the Tour contenders and racing action of the last week. Should be a very interesting Tour and as I've said before watch out for the Spaniards, there are going to be some surprises.:etard: