Le Tour de France - Spoilers

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
82

Nah… it’s not the best Tour ever… honestly… it’s not. Not by a long shot actually. Certainly, it’s getting heaps of interest amongst Americans who are coming to the sport for the first time in just the last few years, but true historians will be aware of the other famous races which have preceded the year 2003.

Most pundits agree that the 1989 Tour (which was the 200th anniversary of the storming of the Bastille) is the popular winner of THAT particular claim - namely, best Tour ever.

In 1989, Laurent Fignon took the Yellow Jersy on Stage 6. Greg Le Mond took it back 2 days later in the first ITT. Fignon took it back 2 days later again on a solo breakawy on the flat into Marseilles. Le Mond took it back again 2 days later, and so on and so on. In the mountains, on the flat, solo breakaways from the field day after day. It was awesome. The lead changed hands EVERY DAY in the last week as Fignon and Le Mond rode on solo attacks away from the field.

And it came down to the final stage, which for once was not a bunch finish into the Arc de Triomph, but rather, an individual Time Trial over 17 kilometers which followed the precise route of the Storming of the Bastille.

The organisers could never have predicted a more thrilling finish of course. Fignon held a lead of 53 seconds going into the final stage and was a noted Time Trialist. He was attempting to win his 3rd Tour.

Le Mond, conversely, was on the comeback from his terrible hunting shotgun accident which left him bleeding to death for 40 minutes while his brother-in-law got help. He was attempting to win his 2nd tour.

Le Mond went 2nd last and won the stage comfortably. But Fignon was last, and all the checkpoints indicated that it was going to be close - real close. Fignon was riding to STAY in the yellow - and in the end, he lost the Tour de France by just 8 seconds on the final day, as the final rider to cross the line.

It won’t get better than that.

This is a good tour, but there’s no way anyone could say (save the most biased Texan) that Lance Armstrong has ridden INTO the Yellow Jersey in this edition - far from it. The Team Time Trial put in him the lead and everyone fell away on l’Alpe D’Huez - save for a handful.

Moreover, the lead hasn’t changed hands yet - as it does when there are two giants trading blows.

But that might happen tonight.

83

If Ullrich is capable of staying within 30 seconds of Armstrong, he has to be thinking he has a good chance of taking yellow in the time trial.

84

This is the first time I’ve ever followed the tour, and I love it love it love it (though, let me reiterate, I hate Kirsten Gum). Is Iban Mayo a serious contender? I really like him and hope he wins a stage near the Pays Basque.

85

Iban Mayo realistically has little chance of winning I’m afraid, he is currently over 4 minutes behind the yellow jersey and with a time trial stage to come, that would probably mean he has to gain something over six minutes in the next couple of days in the mountains.

It would be something of a shock for him to get on the final podium, but I guess if one of the front three cracks then he would have a chance, and it is possible.

86

Indeed. Despite my thinking earlier in the week, it appears Mayo is out of serious contention. And, alas, my man Tyler seems to be slipping inexorably. Darn darn darn!!!

As for best tour ever, the '89 tour is probably it for reasons BBF already stated. Plus, there are some of the “old timie” tours that have probably not been considered. But if you’re interested, here’s a link. But if this runs as close as it has down to the very last day, this could well be rated as one of the best tours!!

Oh, and as big a fan of Lance as I am, I again must agree with BBF about hydration. I mean, Lance is a Texan!! He knows about heat! These “extraordinary” temperatures they are seeing in France right now are frankly quite ordinary in Texas this time of year. I guess he’s just been gone so long he’s forgotten the basic rules about riding in the heat …

Still, the race ain’t over yet, not by a long shot, and it should continue to be the most exciting tour since '89!!!

87

Hey Boo Boo Foo - here’s what Phil Liggett wrote in his Stage 14 report:

Stage 15 should be exciting - and may determine the winner.

Too bad for Tyler Hamilton. It’s amazing he’s gone this far and stayed close. I hope he can finish, and maybe he’ll be the USPS leader next year!

88

I had the pleasure of getting to know Phil Liggett when he used to come down to Australia for the annual Pacific Coast Classic each year - which was an 8 day tour for amateurs in the 80’s and early 90’s for amateurs. It was a tour that Jan Ulrich won in 1995 if memory serves me correctly.

Sadly, when the amatuer ranks merged with the pros circa 1996, the feasibility of an amatuer only race kinda died in the arse, and so did the tour too. It has since been replaced with the Tour Down Under in South Australia each January, but the Pacific Coast Tour (aka the Commonwealth Bank Classic) was a really shit hot race. Each year, the best national teams from all over the world would come out each October - including the USA - and it was a great tour. It was perceived for about a 10 year period as being one of the 3 best amateur Tours in the entire world.

Phil Liggett is the consummate professional. He has the ability to describe even watching the grass grow as being a compelling, utterly gripping thing to see.

I would cautiously point out however that every Tour de France, Phil describes at least ONE stage as being “the finest Tour de France in many a long year” and basically, it’s his job, you know? It’s in the mans character to make all of his calls seem the best he’s ever done, or the best he’s ever seen.

Certainly, he’s the Murray Walker of cycling - no doubts.

89

Sorry to bother you, but just out of curiosity, Murray Walker would be … ? The Phil Ligget of something or other, I would gather :wink:

90

wow, apparently Stage 15 was incredible. My wife’s studying in Paris this month, i get a call at work from her right after I was reading the stage updates, she started telling me she was screaming at the TV it was so good.

Can’t wait to watch it tonite.

91

This is a fantastic tour. Today had me on the edge of my seat most of the time, and standing and screaming the rest of the time.

[spoiler]Ullrich is just a mind-blowingly strong rider. He set the pace for himself, Armstrong and Vinukourov rather early, but the other two still kept pace with him during the last climb. About 5 km to the finish, Armstrong took the offensive, and pulled out ahead, with Iban Mayo right behind. A spectator held out one of those yellow lunch bags, it snagged Armstrong’s handlebars, and he went down! Mayo tumbled over him, and Ullrich veered around them. Both riders got quickly back on their machines, and the main pack slowed for them. It reminded me of the time last year (the year before?) when Ullrich went over the side of the road during a descent and Lance slowed to wait for him.

Mayo and Armstrong quickly caught up with Ullrich and the others, and Armstrong passed Ullrich, spinning hard. Essentially, after he got back on his bike, he never looked back. He went on to win the stage and increased his overall lead to 1:07.

Incredible, just incredible. The sportsmanlike, gentlemanly treatment that the riders show to each other brought tears to my eyes. That doesn’t happen in all professional sports, and it was very refreshing.[/spoiler]

92

I can’t believe I missed the ending. The sportsmanship involved is just incredible at times.

93

It really seems like Lance is either fated to win against any odds, OR he is doomed. So many close calls, his battle with dehydration, and Ulrich’s strong performance have made the the 100th Tour more of a challenge for him than anyone could’ve predicted.

I was awoken from a sound sleep this morning by my girlfriend’s screams: “OH NO! OH NO!” Ever since reading “It’s Not About The Bike”, she has become a big fan of Lance’s…she left for work 45 minutes late today in order to see the finish of stage 15.

I have to agree with the observations made here about the chivalry and sportsmanship being displayed by the competitors. You simply do not see that kind of behaviour very often in mega-sports these days!

94

[nitpick]Actually, although it is the 100th anniversary of the first Tour de France, it is only the 90th-something Tour to have been held. Those pesky world wars interrupted the series … [/nitpick]

95

No tour in 1915-1918 and 1940-1946.

That makes this the 90th tour.

96

Murray Walker, a most articulate and learned gentleman, was the BBC caller for Formula One races for something like 28 years until his retirement 4 or 5 years ago. Like Phil Liggett, he was a total institution in the sport of Formula One. Every team owner, and every driver through the ages admired, and respected Murray Walker, and without fail, would give some of their time to the great man if he stopped them for a chat.

Hence, the comparison you see. But Murray was a BBC man and as such, most Formula One races in the USA probably had American commentators, if indeed they were shown at all during that period.

But outside of the USA, Murray Walker was a big, BIG name.

97

It’s late. Not much time. I’ll be quick.

Murray was and is a GOD in F1. Actually, his carreer started in 1949 for BBC Radio, and ended in 2001 with ITV. That’s 54 years of F1 right there, folks. An institute.

As for the tour… I have to bow deeply for the great athlete Lance Armstrong. MAN, what a show, after that fall (which, contrary to some posts here, was entirely his own fault, and he admitted as much after the race). And what sportsmanship from Ullrich et al - although Ullrich certainly had the moral obligation to wait, after what happened two years ago.

It’s all possible in the tour. Great stuff!

98

Thanks for the info on Murray, gang. I guess since I don’t really follow F1, I never ran across the name.

Reading the various post-race interviews it’s clear Lance certainly knew he was getting too close to the spectators. I guess that was one of those “d’oh” moments for him – although as a side effect it certainly seemed to fire him up!!!

Well, there shouldn’t be any more excitement until the stage 19 ITT! Go Lance! Go Jan! Let’s have an epic stage 20 this year!

99

Ponder Stibbons - imagine what it’s like for someone like Murray Walker? And nowadays, for Phil Liggett too. Murray Walker and James Hunt (God bless 'im) used to go to every Grand Prix of the year, and do their commentary from some primo position in the media stands.

Imagine being either of those two? They were so recognisable, and were such amazing institutions that they could walk into any pit lane, any team garage, any driver caravan - without a pass, without permission, and with total unwavering welcome. What a totally cool lifestyle. They could walk into a driver breifing and actually offer advice. And it would be taken on board.

They could walk past another TV network doing an interview with a Lauda, a Prost, or a Senna - and the interview would pause as the driver in question would call out to either Murray or James to say hello - and often - to join in.

Indeed, drivers would actually go up to Murray Walker and ask his advice. How were their lines? How were they comparing to drivers of yesteryear? Should they change teams?

Man, what a lifestyle. Every hotel in the world knew them. Every restaurant. Both Murray and James were gentlemen who were kind of “above it all” and yet, concurrently, deep in the thick of it.

James Hunt would get on the piss with George Harrison the night before a Grand Prix and talk about some awesome party the night before - during the race! Amazing stuff…

In many respects, Phil Liggett is actually a prisoner of the Tour de France. I recall in my conversations with him that it was often a grind - and the moving of hotels every single night really was quite tiresome after a while.

But for Murray Walker, man, that was much more of a breeze. He’d check into the same hotel as the Ferrari team, and move to and from the track in the Ferrari helicopter, or the McLaren helicopter etc. Same hotel for 5 days. Then back to England to visit the family. Then on to the next country.

It was a way, way, WAY cooler lifestyle all things considered. And he must have really loved it too. He was well into his 70’s and going totally strong when he “unexpectedly” retired.

100

Is this Tour over, or what? Assuming Ullrich and Armstrong finish together tomorrow, does anyone think that Ullrich can beat Armstrong by 68 seconds on Saturday? I know he beat Armstrong by more than 90 seconds in the first TT. But I don’t think that Armstrong will give up more than 30 seconds on Saturday.

Question: If the lead is 20 seconds or less after Saturday’s TT, will either one of the 2 contenders go for the stage win (and the 20 second time bonus) on Sunday? I know that the last stage is reserved for the sprinters, but is it remotely possible that Armstrong or Ullrich can win?

101

8 seconds in July!