Tour de France

[Steve]

Originally Posted by bonggoy

Just looked at what happened yesterday and today. Ignore the Verbier stage. He was able to hang with the strongest climbers when they are doing a fast tempo in order to shed the pack. But when they (AC, Schelck brothers) attacked, he can't respond anymore. He can out climb the other contenders but not the strongest climbers. He said so himself.

Was he unable to respond, or do you think he was waiting to see if they could keep up the pace (there by picking his place and time to respond)? I don't know much about the statagy of bike racing, but I know he sure looks pretty comfortable out there when some of the rest are looking haggard. I also think he a a cagy ol' fart!

Just my $0.02

[Noodles]

Originally Posted by steve

Was he unable to respond, or do you think he was waiting to see if they could keep up the pace (there by picking his place and time to respond)? I don't know much about the statagy of bike racing, but I know he sure looks pretty comfortable out there when some of the rest are looking haggard. I also think he a a cagy ol' fart!

Just my $0.02

When AC attacked during the last climb at the Verbier Stage, you can argue that Armstrong sat up. I think that's the normal team strategy. However, his comments after that stage ("AC showed he is the strongest") and his comments after after yesterday stage ("That's what I should have done") led me to believe that Astana's leadership was still up for grabs at that time. He could have gone up with AC and/or counter attacked if he can or wanted to. He just wasn't able to.

If AC is not with Astana, I can believe this is still part of his strategy. Cycling rope-a-dope.

LA seems to be getting better as the week progress. He proved me wrong there. I thought with his age and absence from elite racing will be detrimental for his body towards the end of the TDF.

We will know for sure tomorrow.