Reach for your recovery drink of choice, grab a little massage if you can, load up on carbs tonight, and get ready for the ultimate showdown for final Tour glory tomorrow to be contested in 41 kilometers contra la montre. I’m talking about the fans, not the riders, obviously. Because these last two days have nearly killed us.
This is anyone’s time trial. At 41km, it’s just long enough for Cadel to pull one out, and it’s just short and hilly enough for Andy to retain enough of his lead. Sure, Evans will certainly beat the Grimplette, but by how much? In last year’s final ITT, Andy almost pulled out the upset, until the wind kicked up and the youngster’s sit up and beg TT position had him more sail that sailor. It’s hilly enough to give the climbers a chance of staying in it, and the long descent to the finish will play to the fastmen against the clock.
Will his new Maillot Juane play Redbull to Andy and give him wings? Or will the scent of Yellow drag the Cadelamonster to his prize? Both Andy and Cadel know what it’s like to stand on the second step of the podium. Neither wants to stand there again. And both riders are different men than they were the last time it happened. Both have been hardened by the bitter taste of defeat that lingers long on the tongue.
I, for one, can hardly take it any more. Vive le Tour.
You know the drill, get your picks in by 5am Pacific tomorrow morning. Good luck.
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View Comments
@mouse
Apologies for the excessive vulgarity but I don't take kindly to personal attacks and some traces of my ghetto youth just won't be washed away by any amount of Yale & UC education. Didn't mean to offend...
As for the rest of your statement, I fully agree... everyone has an opinion and that's fine. I'm not about to tell you that you don't know the sport or that you should give it up because your opinion differs from mine. To me, apart from Andy and Alberto, none of the main GC guys have really stood out and I'd have the same criticism of Frank & Ivan... they've all been mostly following wheels and riding not to lose. I'm not a fan of that type of racing but I have no issue with anyone hoping Cadel, or anyone else, wins. That's my whole point... why a bunch of people got a giant hard-on when I mentioned Andy is entirely beyond me.
@Leroy
Meh, say what you want to. All good until it isn't. For what it's worth, I don't have any probe with Cadel's style versus Andy this year. They've ridden to type. Andy is a climber; he attacked in the mountains. Ballsy attacks, too. Awesome to watch. Cadel is a diesel; he slowly brought Andy back. With Frank on his wheel along with a peleton of 35, it was a badarse way to do it. Awesome to watch. It'll be a deserved win for either of them.
Go Cadel. Beat that creepy fucker.
I'm serious you know...
VSP PICKS:
1. Spartacus
2. Good Cadel
3. Bertie
4. Martini
5. ASchleck!
woah, chill kids, remember, words are temporary, being a cotho lasts for ever...
Good Cadel and Schlecklette have both been awesome.
Doesn't matter who wins, but I'd prefer Andy for Thursday's ride.
VSP PICKS:
1. cancellara
2. eggtimer
3. bossenhagen
4. millar
5. cadel
@Leroy
"If you can't be respectful of other opinions, shut the fuck up."
"good sentences and well pronounced"
"they would be better if well followed"
shakespeare
listen to yourself.
(GO CYCLOPS)
For what it's worth, The Prophet rates the performance of both Andy and Cuddles (as well as that of Bertie) - http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/video-merckx-talks-about-a-spectacular-couple-of-days-in-the-alps
I can live with that.
Sentimental favorite for me is Cuddles, because he's going to run out of chances before Andy does. But whoever wins it, this has been an awesome race, and everyone involved deserves massive kudos for making it so.
Ok... Saturday morning now, red wine goggles off, have realised that this course has hills... Gravity won't be Spartacus' friend today. It's Millar Time!
VSP PICKS:
1. Millar Time
2. Spartacus
3. Tony Martin
4. Cadel Evans
5. Levi L
@al
Wow... Since your reading comprehension seems to be failing you, let me point out yet again that I was perfectly respectful until people, as you yourself are now doing, wanted to make it personal in response to my opinion.
I'm fully respectful of other opinions and have no issue with anyone wanting Cadel to win or thinking his style of racing is the best thing ever, I just disagree. I am not, however, respectful of people insulting me in response to my opinions... or to clueless douchebags who hop on the bandwagon and then quote Shakespeare in some attempt to make a point.
@Leroy
It was me telling you to find a new sport - and it was because you showed such ignorance. ALL GC contenders have been pretty much magnificent in terms of their preparedness to lay it on the line. Not sure how cadel wheel sucked up to Galibier on Thursday. For about the last 9 kms the wheel in front of him was minutes up the road
As for claims of being personal - well I will forgive your immaturity. Although that little cry for attention about being a Yale man was pretty pathetic. This site is all about robust opinions and good humor. Your emotional outpourings may be better expressed at cyclingnews.
Suggest u go race your bike too. U might learn something.
VSP PICKS:
1. Fabian
2. Tony martin
3. Cadel
4. Leipheimer
5. Contador
Leroy, your understanding of bike racing is matched only by your understanding of bike positioning, although both viewpoints are certainly enhanced by your robust debating style and impressive tangential reading comprehension. Obviously your Yale education is a classic example of the old adage "A little learning is a dangerous thing"...
VSP PICKS:
1. Evans
2. Martin
3. Cancellara
4. Millar