Voeckler retains the Maillot Jeune!

[BiggJawn]

Wow! Dropped 6 times and fought his way back every time.

NOW they're RACING!

[floridaguy]

1. Wasn't today awesome?

Lance's sprint, and Voeckler gutting it out to keep the yellow jersey. C'est magnifique, n'est pas?

Guys like Acevedo who paced Lance deserve big kudos.

[Dudley_DUright]

2. Excellent race

Can't wait for the time trial on L'Alpe d'Huez on Wednesday!

[Davis_X_Machina]

3. There's a growing Anybody-But-Armstrong movement...

...in some of the European sporting press. Don't know if it's politics or an "Everybody hates the (baseball) Yankees" effect, or an "Old Guard v. Young Guns" thing.

The Postal Train Bleu is one of the most outstanding team efforts I have ever seen. It's like putting one of Red Auerbach's old Russell- era Celtics squads on bicycles.

[BiggJawn]

4. Same thing happens every year.

I think it may be some sour grapes. After all, he's winning *THEIR* race. AGAIN. The French tried to prove he was a doper for 5 years before they had to admit they couldnt prove shit.

Le Train Bleu rides like the East German Olympic teams of old, don't they? Flawless.

[HuckleB]

6. Hmmmmmmm.

That's probably not a great comparison if you're trying to drown the shouts about doping!

:)

[HuckleB]

10. That's just what happens.

And it's not just in sport, the press likes to build folks up 'cause it sells papers and magazines, and it loves to tear them down 'cause it sells papers and magazines, and it loves to build them back up 'cause it sells papers and magazines. And it probably makes their jobs a little more interesting. Besides, I think that many people instinctually root for the underdog, though that doesn't necessarily mean that they "hate" the dominating force, as is so often claimed by another section of the population: the fair-weather fans.

[HuckleB]

5. Watched today on the big screen.

Incredible. If you're not a Voeckler fan, you're probably a Republican.

Hopefully Basso will continue to push Armstrong in the mountains and keep it interesting. He'd be a true threat if he could compete with Lance in the final TT, but, alas, his only chance is to find a way to grab the lead beforehand. If Basso falters, it could be a very anticlimactic last week, which is exactly the opposite of what the Tour designer hoped for when they designed this year's run. Ooooops. The best laid plans...

[Flaxbee]

7. Could you give me a quick run-down of the race so far...

... would you mind? I'm interested in what's happening, and saw a segment of the race last Tuesday (quite cool to watch, I rarely watch any sports but was captivated). What's the deal with Armstrong, does he have a chance to win or is he still firmly lodged at 9 & some odd minutes behind? Is that very difficult to overcome? What's the strategy? I know he's supposed to be almost unbeatable in the Alps section of the ride, but enough to make up that time?

[Flaxbee]

8. kick! Please - -- anyone? Anyone?

Care to inform a novice viewer?

[HuckleB]

9. Here you go.

A recap through stage 12:
http://www.velonews.com/tour2004/news/articles/6592.0.html

Stage 13:
http://www.velonews.com/tour2004/details/articles/6594.0.html

[Flaxbee]

14. Thanks, HuckleB, and BiggJawn, too, for the recap...

sounds like one hell of a race I missed today!

[BiggJawn]

11. Difficult to overcome? Yes.

Will Lance overcome it? Sure looks that way. He took over 9 minutes out of Voeckler today, now only 22 seconds back.

I think we are seeing the strategy unfold before our eyes now.

What a race! Basso and Armstrong wheel-to-wheel, Lance zipping up his jersey before the final blast (I had NO doubt that he was going for it then) That sprint, Voeckler clawing his way up the mountain to keep the Maillot Jeune one more day...Mayo so far back he'll prolly die from shame...

What a RACE!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

12. Isn't it "jaune"?

jeune="young"
jaune="yellow"
jawn="bigg" :-)

[BiggJawn]

13. Yeah, I only had 1/2 a semester of French

Well, "Jeune" might work. I think they silkscreen the team logo on the front and put it on the winner hot off the press.....

[HuckleB]

15. And, again, for another day, as expected.

Heck of a break today, not that the peleton cared to chase it down.