Tour de France 2006

[Mark57]

It is really wide open, isn't it? How different would it look today with Ivan and Jan in the race?

T-Mobile had to most to lose, so let them do the work to limit those loses. There are still a lot of hills to get over yet, it's never been decided on the first mountain stage.

[Mark57]

DAMMIT!!! I knew I should have stayed home this morning!

[ODB]

Landis moves to Yellow! I haven't seen yet where George is, damn it!!!

[Mark57]

They haven't put up the full results on Velonews yet, but I did see this:

American George Hincapie (Discovery Channel) also fell out of contention.

[Mark57]

Toasted. Overall standings after Stage 11, you'll have to scroll down a bit, though.

Overall
1. Floyd Landis (USA), Phonak, 2057km in 49:18:07 (41.722kph)
2. Cyril Dessel (F), Ag2r Prevoyance, 00:08
3. Denis Menchov (Rus), Rabobank, 01:01
4. Cadel Evans (Aus), Davitamon-Lotto, 01:17
5. Carlos Sastre (Sp), CSC, 01:52
6. Andréas Klöden (G), T-Mobile, 02:29
7. Michael Rogers (Aus), T-Mobile, 03:22
8. Juan Miguel Mercado (Sp), Agritubel, 03:33
9. Christophe Moreau (F), Ag2r Prevoyance, 03:44
10. Marcus Fothen (G), Gerolsteiner, 04:17
11. Haimar Zubeldia (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, 04:26
12. Patrik Sinkewitz (G), T-Mobile, 05:38
13. Levi Leipheimer (USA), Gerolsteiner, 05:39
14. Michael Boogerd (Nl), Rabobank, 05:54
15. Inigo Landaluze (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, 06:33
16. Georg Totschnig (A), Gerolsteiner, 06:47
17. Vladimir Karpets (Rus), Caisse d'Epargne-I.B., 06:48
18. Azevedo José (P), Discovery Channel, 07:27
19. Ramiro Ivan Ramiro (Col), Cofidis, 08:11
20. Frank Schleck (Lux), CSC, 08:37
21. Axel Merckx (B), Phonak, 08:39
22. Gilberto Simoni (I), Saunier Duval, 08:52
23. Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr), Discovery Channel, 09:00
24. Tadej Valjavec (SLO), Lampre, 09:37
25. Christophe Rinero (F), Saunier Duval, 11:18
26. Pietro Caucchioli (I), Credit Agricole, 11:20
27. Marzio Bruseghin (I), Lampre, 13:07
28. Christian Vande Velde (USA), CSC, 13:41
29. Christophe Brandt (B), Davitamon-Lotto, 13:48
30. Sylvain Calzati (F), Ag2r Prevoyance, 13:57
31. Benoit Salmon (F), Agritubel, 14:35
32. Patxi Vila Errandonea (Sp), Lampre, 15:06
33. Damiano Cunego (I), Lampre, 16:17
34. David Arroyo (Sp), Caisse d'Epargne-I.B., 17:55
35. Mickael Rasmussen (Dk), Rabobank, 17:56
36. Mirko Celestino (I), Milram, 19:31
37. Ruben Lobato (Sp), Saunier Duval, 19:32
38. Xabier Zandio (Sp), Caisse d'Epargne-I.B., 20:25
39. Luis Jose Luis (Sp), Ag2r Prevoyance, 22:49
40. George Hincapie (USA), Discovery Channel, 23:01

[ODB]

yeah, yeah, I saw it. Guess I'll have to just pull for Landis. Not so bad, he did come from the mountain biking world, that's kind of cool.

[Kaiser]

George is out, but what's up with the Disco boys? What is Johan's big plan? You know he has one..... Maybe he just doesn't have the big horse to fulfill the plan this year.

[Mark57]

Azevedo and Popovych aren't completely out of it yet, but it would take one hell of an effort to come back from that far down. I doubt if they'll be working for George anymore, either way.

[Kaiser]

It's funny that we see a 5 or 6 minute gap and are conditined to think 'well, that's a do-able gap' for any rider. We have been so used to Lance and his team keeping him within striking distance and then imposing his will, that we forget other riders are probably not able to do that. Makes for exciting rough and tumble stage races, that's for sure!

Looks like Floyd put the T-Mobile boys in a world of hurt today. Can't wait to see it tonight. Speaking of which, does anyone find Al Trautwig really annoying this year? I love Bobke, but Al is grating on my nerves this year with his one line quips (to which Bob does not respond).

[ODB]

I'm not sure if they were ever working for George. After he faultered in the last time trial they seemed to be working for themselves. That team has the strength and experience to put anyone they want on the top but they need to pick someone. Of course there is still a lot of mountains between now and Paris...who really knows.

[Mark57]

I've always found Al extremely annoying, but he doesn't seem any worse this year. Same old dumbass making stupid remarks. Not sure why they pay that idiot just to annoy people, but maybe they think it draws viewers or something. I'd rather see whats-her-name in a tight t-shirt, but that's just me.

[Kaiser]

Kirsten Gum. Yeah, the year she was in the studio with Bob, I looked forward to their reports, even if she knew nothing about cycling.

Who knows where she is know - maybe shacked up with Tyler? Actually, she's probably looking hotter to ODB right about now since she was last seen doing the Primal Quest race as part of the official media team.

[Mark57]

Wasn't she blond one year?

[Kaiser]

Yep. She looked totally different. It was like they had a different girl there in a tight tee! :p

[kuri]

Now that was a Tour stage gents!

Floyd is looking hard to beat but I wouldn't count T-Mobile out just yet. As Phil said the Alps could be a different story.

Unless Azevedo has an unbelievable time in the Alps then Discovery is out of it.

Al is annoying and I'm glad he is doing the play by play. It's pretty funny when Bobke ignores him - there was one lame jokey yesterday followed by a couple seconds of crickets then Bob was on to another subject.

[Kaiser]

Just saw the last climb replay. Oh yeah....

[Mark57]

I missed it, I'll have to wait for the "expanded primetime" replay. DAMN I wish I'd have stayed home this morning.

33mph wind on my way home slowed me down. It was tough cross wind most of the way, but the last mile was straight on. There's a short very steep hill in there that almost made me cry, sure glad I got a triple front. I might replace my 23 with a 25 if this happens again, though.

[ODB]

Okay, my free OLN is over damn it!!!