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Post by Topcontender on Jul 12, 2003 18:33:05 GMT -5
Petacchi quits!!!! Man o man i go to hockey and skip watching the tour and the sprinter up and throws in the towel.
the winner today he doesn't expect to be ahead long so i don't think lance is out. we better check he is not using those Michelin tyres to beat up on my boy.
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Post by Henrik on Jul 13, 2003 16:34:00 GMT -5
Good stage today, only I am not really familiar with the winner Mayo. Any chance he might continue this way?
On to the favourites. Lance does not look as dominant as in the previous years, although he did manage to contain several attack attempts by Beloki today. He did however let Vinokurov get away, although not by much.
I'm happy because I feared Lance was going to end the tour today, and he didn't. However, Pabs, I think you can say now that Botero is out. Two mountain stages, and he just can't follow.
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Post by pabs on Jul 13, 2003 22:37:02 GMT -5
Yeah, Botero managed to clear all doubts about his performance rather thoroughly.
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Post by Topcontender on Jul 14, 2003 10:21:12 GMT -5
Beloki down!!!! Man he took one hell of a fall. I hope he is OK. Man that must have been some slick stuff he hit.
Plus, is armstrong allowed to dismount and run that bike like he did? I assume yes
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Post by Henrik on Jul 14, 2003 10:25:42 GMT -5
Whar seemed to be an uneventful stage had its share of drama in the last few kilometers.
Coming down a hill, with Vinokourov having taken a small solitary lead, Beloki slides and wipes out just in front of Armstrong. Beloki is out of the race with an injured elbow and hip, after having been showing some real promise so far. This really sucks as it takes out one of the only potential contenders Armstrong had.
Armstrong almost wiped out too, but instead crosses through a field (10 sec drive through...LOL!!) and rejoins the lead group.
Vinokourov wins the stage and is now only som 20 secs behind Armstrong. Others in a fairly good position are Mayo and Mancebo.
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Post by pabs on Jul 14, 2003 10:40:54 GMT -5
Oh man!! I only watched up until there were some 60 km left. I still have to read the reports but it really sucks for Beloki. The man seemed to really be in shape to give Lance a run for his money.
I wonder if there are any other surprises left in this year's tour.
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Post by Topcontender on Jul 15, 2003 11:46:46 GMT -5
Boring day for the tour. it looks like everyone was tired. However, those damn protestors need to be taught a lesson. As the race gets tighter the last thing we need is a group attacking a rider, or giving someone an advantage. Today it was not bad due to the break away group being so far behind in the standings, but as the race goes these fools are gonna be really disruptive.
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Post by Henrik on Jul 15, 2003 14:59:37 GMT -5
Actually those protester have sworn that if their dispute is not resolved (i.e. if the government does not give in), the tour de France will not make it to Paris. About today's stage, I loved the way Sacchi and Piil shook hands before starting their final sprint. As if to say, okay well done, we got here together, but from now on it's each one on their own. Great fairplay. Here's a cheers to that
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Post by Topcontender on Jul 15, 2003 15:10:42 GMT -5
Yeah i heard that about the protestors. You make that remark in the USA, or if they so much as touch Armstrong they (french gov/ protestors) are gonna have a real problem on thier hands. In the eyes of many making a threat like that can go down a path they don't want and if they resort to violence all hell will break loose.
btw- that handshake was cool. it was just a sign of pure sport and will power to win that stage.
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Post by Henrik on Jul 15, 2003 16:09:42 GMT -5
Yeah i heard that about the protestors. You make that remark in the USA, or if they so much as touch Armstrong they (french gov/ protestors) are gonna have a real problem on thier hands. In the eyes of many making a threat like that can go down a path they don't want and if they resort to violence all hell will break loose. LOL!!! This is France. Protesting is even more of a right (obligation) of the people than carrying guns in the US.....
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Post by julio_montoya on Jul 16, 2003 5:54:56 GMT -5
i WAS IN MARSEILLE YESTERDAY AND SAW THE 2K SPRINT DOWN PRADO STREET RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY EYES AND I ALSO GOT TO SEE THE PODIUM WITH ARMSTRONG KEEPING HIS YELLOW.
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Post by Topcontender on Jul 21, 2003 10:43:48 GMT -5
Ahh good sportsmanship It was very nice to see Ullrich, Hamilton and Rubiero slow for ol lance. I bet if the 2 basque riders were not pushing the pack on they would have stopped.
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Post by Henrik on Jul 21, 2003 13:38:00 GMT -5
It was good sportsmanship, and it was amazing to see the determination of Lance after his fall!
The tour is not over yet though, as Ulrich clearly has a chance in the last time trial. Nice to see the suspense last...
About the two Basque riders, I was actually upset with them how they attacked Ulrich at the finish line, taking away some bonus seconds from somebody who deserved them.
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Post by raptor22 on Jul 21, 2003 14:10:14 GMT -5
Just watched the highlights on ITV2 and it seems Ullrich is just as pissed as you are Henrik. But that's cycling. What peed me off was that they wanted to force the pace while Armstrong was still down. Great sportsmanship by Ullrich and Hamilton in sowing everyone own and insisting that they wait. Thats the way it always was and should be. This is definately the best tour since 1989! I hope it goes down to the wire on saturday. If Armstrong wins it he'll be a very deserving champion. But if Ullrich wins it I'll be just as happy.
Vive la Tour!
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Post by Topcontender on Jul 21, 2003 15:20:13 GMT -5
You know i look at that fall and i swear It looks like that guy did that on purpose. Maybe he had his hat out and tried to pull it in before it hooked ol Lance, but man that might need some further inspection. That was a perfect snag on ol Lance, and if the guy did not mean to do it he should have just dropped it when lance got hooked.
Very odd
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