Le Tour

[jc155776]

Well I love it, regardless of the drug stigma, has been a big crackdown this year and is wide open.

Hope the aussie gets it.

 

[Big Mick]

Carlos Sastre...I reckon a MASSIVE chance.

 

[phonetic]

Also a big fan.. I'm actually off for 5 days of riding in the Pyrenees at the end of the month.

Can't see Sastre doing it, but there's no telling what's going to happen until they really hit the high mountains. It will be interesting to see how aggressive Cadel is in the mountians.

Shame to see Mauricio Soler go down today. Watching him attack the Alps and Pyrenees last year was one of the highlights for me. His GC chances have been blown away, but I still fancy him for the King of the Mountain classification.

 

[Glory be Lockyer]

gee spaniards are good at sports, nice work Valverde.

 

[Jimbo]

Big stage tonight, a 30km time trial

Cadel is usually pretty good at the time trials, so he has a good chance to jump ahead of Valverde for the effective lead

 

[phonetic]

Can't wait for the first ITT tonight.

Cancellara is my tip for the stage win.

Very important for Cadel tonight. Would be great if he could put some time into Valverde, but he's looking very strong himself.

 

[CliffyIsGod]

I feel a bit sorry for Rob, he has no S-L domestiques to put him in a good position to win the sprints.

 

[Jimbo]

Great result for Cadel, finishing only 27 seconds behind a time-trial specialist. He'd have to be delighted considering all the mountain stages are yet to come

Valverde died in the arse quite baldy...

 

[Engine]

I put $50 on Cadel today. Im quietly confident.

 

[Jimbo]

The next two stages might mix things up a bit, as they're starting to head into the mountains

I'm guessing Cadel will be wearing yellow by Monday

 

[phonetic]

There are two 2nd category climbs at the end of tonight's stage, but they are neither steep or long. I'm predicting a breakway to form on the first climb, and from the breakaway will come the winner, as long as no GC contenders are in it. I doubt the two climbs pack enough mongrel to seperate any of the big guns, but perhaps Valverde will have a lash at getting back some lost time from the TT.

The real racing starts on Saturday. We are going to know a lot more about Cadel's chances by Monday night. Will he defend in the mountains and look to time trial to victory in the penultimate stage? There's still so much racing to go.. I can't wait to find out. I don't think he's as sure a thing as many people are making out.. there's a lot of good climbers around him.

 

[BeeeeeRad]

Nice race last night, Cadel played it nice and safe, stuck behind Valverde and now is only 6 seconds off the lead.

 

[griffo346]

go cadel he will win it

 

[NK Arsenal]

Cadel is in yellow

 

[Jimbo]

I'm guessing Cadel will be wearing yellow by Monday

I was a day off

Oh well

 

[Sood]

The race last night was the most entertaining so far.

 

[NK Arsenal]

cadel is still 1 second ahead of frank schleck

 

[Calixte]

Anyone not familiar with French rugby league might care to have a look at tonight's stage crossing the modern department of Aude.

This is real French rugby league territory and a beautiful part of the world.

 

[NK Arsenal]

thanks for the info caltex

 

[BeeeeeRad]

Good to see the sport finally catching up with the drug cheats. Already 3 booted out including Ricard Ricco who won 2 stages and was holding best young rider and king of the mountains, hopefuly they catch the rest as well for the good of the sport.

Oh and go Cadel!