Tour de France - Stage 19 - SPOILER

[raindog]

Echoes of the Lemond win?

ha! - why not?

But I was thinking more about the fact that absolutely everybody looks wasted and on the brink of exhaustion, instead of cruising up cols with mouths closed etc etc. It's criminal the crap we've been given for the past 20 years when you think we could've been watching racing like we've seen this last three weeks.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

ha! - why not?

But I was thinking more about the fact that absolutely everybody looks wasted and on the brink of exhaustion, instead of cruising up cols with mouths closed etc etc. It's criminal the crap we've been given for the past 20 years when you think we could've been watching racing like we've seen this last three weeks.

Absolutely. There are no doubt riders still getting away with microdosing, but the blatant cheating (a la Floyd Landis) seems to have gone.

 

[Smokin Joe]

Fantastic stage today, just watched the highlights.

I'm tipping Andy to pull out a good one tomorrow and just hang on and Cav must be odds on for green now. Two things have made this year so good, the clampdown on doping has meant no-one can risk taking bucketfuls of the stuff and any who are still at it will be taking amounts so small it makes minimal difference, and the race hasn't been neutralised by a stupidly long TT, either individual and/or team.

Scrap the bloody things completely until the traditional final one on the penultimate day.

 

[NickM]

There have to be time trials in stage races. They force non-testers to attack to gain time on the strong testers, and so animate the racing. Think how many Tours of Britain have been dull processions after the first stage because nobody had to establish a buffer against the time triallists.

I agree that time trial stages should not be so long or numerous as to bias the race unduly favourably towards the specialists against the clock. Whether that means that the only sensible place for them is in the penultimate stage I'm not so convinced.

 

[funnymummy]

#3 has been glued to the highlights all week...

"One day Mummy, i'm going to do that..and win"

 

[400bhp]

Can he sit any closer?

 

[400bhp]

Great today - Got to hand it to Bertie, tried to break things up.

My guess is Andy will hang on but we will have to wait and see.

 

[aberal]

It's been epic this year. No question about it.

 

[monnet]

Absolutely fantastic stage and a thoroughly deserved win. Rolland has been superb in helping TV defend the jersey, so good for him to get his just reward (and for the French to finally get a stage).
Unbelievable stuff. Without doubt the best Tour since 89 for me.

Given Andy's performance in the final test last year (he only lost about 30 seconds to Contador over a longer distance, as I recall) and the fact he'll be in yellow, I reckon he'll do it. Evans second. And then to the Champs Elysee - a hat trick for Cav? I'm getting emotional thinking about it all!

 

[RedRider]

If it comes down to a matter of 10 seconds here or there, is there any way BMC or Leopard Trek could somehow manufacture a gap going into the Champs Elysee and turn it round in Paris or am I living on fantasy land?

 

[Smokin Joe]

If it comes down to a matter of 10 seconds here or there, is there any way BMC or Leopard Trek could somehow manufacture a gap going into the Champs Elysee and turn it round in Paris or am I living on fantasy land?

Highly unlikely.

Ten seconds is a huge margin on a flat circuit when there is a determined chase.

 

[tigger]

Absolutely brilliant stage!!! I've saved the ITV4 highlights with the "keep" button on Sky+ (gutted they cut out Sanchez's amazing decent though??)

Shame Tommy couldn't stay a little closer. Great and thoroughly deserved win for the faithful Rolland, great for the french public too. Very gutsy ride by Bertie. Cuddles still has half a chance for tomorrow too.

Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant stuff. What a tour, what a stage!!!

 

[User482]

I've enjoyed this year's tour more than any other.

A question - under what circumstances would the GC be contested on the final day?

 

[Keith Oates]

I'm disappointed that Contador could not take the stage and that Evans couldn't take time out of the Schlecks but having said that it was a very exciting stage. TV's loss of the yellow jersey was expected and it did release Rolland to make his bid, which he took with both hands. This tour also is certainly turning out to be one for the fans who have had interest and excitement on many of the days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Willo]

Whatever happens, for me the best Tour for a good while. Not personally a huge fan of time trials in terms of watching, but think I'll manage it tomorrow. I'd like to see A Schleck to win on the basis of y'day's heroics in attacking so far out. Delighted for Rolland given all he's given to Voeckler. Just hope Cavendish can hold on to the Green jersey. Agree with others, noticeable that they are all absolutely spent at the end.

A Schleck was done for at the finish today which may have a bearing tomorrow, but saying that they were all pretty much on the limit.

Great tour, I've just had a celebratory burst of Kraftwerk, Tour de France on the pc!