Re: French tour etiquette
On 08/07/2009, at 2:41 AM, dsummersmi...@comcast.net wrote: Well, IMHO, today was pretty exciting. Do you remember when a rider had the best time on tour without wearing the yellow jersey before? Um... he doesn't. It's 22/100s gap to Cancellara. They just round the score to the nearest second 'cause nearly all the time seconds are good enough to measure gaps in stage races, but they do measure the time a bit more precisely. I'm not complaining as an American, it seems to me that having only 1 yellow jeresey wearer is reasonable, and going to the hundreths of a second to determine which of the two who are tied for the yellow actually wears it is the most logical thing to do. It's not just the logical thing, it's what they do. But, it's unique in my experience for this to happen... Not in mine. I've seen riders tied on time to the second before. OK, not 1 and 2 in Le Tour, in memory, but in other positions and races, and I've certainly seen individual time trials going to 10ths of a second. It's just the way it goes. But then, this is my 23nd Tour de France (that I've watched properly), so I've seen a fair bit of cycling if you just include Le Tour, and I've seen the other Grand Tours quite a few times and a lot of the classics (Paris-Roubaix being my fave) over the years too. Plus been to the Tour Down Under 3 times since I've been in Australia... so I think it's fair to say I've seen most of what can happen, happen. That said, you couldn't make up the script this year. Amazing stuff. .and it is expected to last for several days because, IIRC, all riders who finish in a bunch finish get the same time, so it will be mountain time before we get a new yellow. All in all, I enjoyed today's coverage. Presumably your coverage has the ubiquitous Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen doing the commentary? Anyway - high points so far - Lance still has what it takes so it's going to be very interesting, Cavo is *astonishing*, and it's shaping up to be a great Tour. Low points - what the hell is up with Silence Lotto??? It's such a shame to see Cadel's team acting like clowns. They've had two people fall in today's stage alone. Bring on Andorra. Charlie. ___ http://mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l_mccmedia.com
Re: French tour etiquette
On 07/07/2009, at 11:05 AM, Dan M wrote: stuff about the greatest show on earth You got it - as team leader, Contador is serviced and protected by his domestiques. But team leader or not, if you're in yellow, you're the leader of Le Tour, and you have every right to expect your team to help you defend it. And as it's looking like it was Contador's inexperience or inattention that facilitated the split, he should probably keep his head well in until the climb to Andorra. Charlie. GCU Go Cavo!!! first brit to defend a green jersey ever class ___ http://mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l_mccmedia.com
Re: French tour etiquette
Original Message: - From: Charlie Bell char...@culturelist.org Date: Tue, 7 Jul 2009 19:02:24 +1000 To: brin-l@mccmedia.com Subject: Re: French tour etiquette ... the greatest show on earth Well, IMHO, today was pretty exciting. Do you remember when a rider had the best time on tour without wearing the yellow jersey before? I'm not complaining as an American, it seems to me that having only 1 yellow jeresey wearer is reasonable, and going to the hundreths of a second to determine which of the two who are tied for the yellow actually wears it is the most logical thing to do. But, it's unique in my experience for this to happenand it is expected to last for several days because, IIRC, all riders who finish in a bunch finish get the same time, so it will be mountain time before we get a new yellow. All in all, I enjoyed today's coverage. Dan M. You got it - as team leader, Contador is serviced and protected by his domestiques. But team leader or not, if you're in yellow, you're the leader of Le Tour, and you have every right to expect your team to help you defend it. And as it's looking like it was Contador's inexperience or inattention that facilitated the split, he should probably keep his head well in until the climb to Andorra. Charlie. GCU Go Cavo!!! first brit to defend a green jersey ever class ___ http://mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l_mccmedia.com mail2web - Check your email from the web at http://link.mail2web.com/mail2web ___ http://mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l_mccmedia.com
French tour etiquette
I have a general question for those interested in the Tour. It seems that Armstrong has stolen a march on his official team leader, Contador, and is now ahead of him. After team time trials tomorrow, Armstrong could/should be in yellow...since Astana is thought to be the strongest team and he's only 40 seconds off the lead and in 3rd right now. Contador would remain 19 seconds behind Armstrong. If I understand tour etiquette properly, the narrow margin puts the team in a gray zone. Armstrong said after the race it doesn't take a genius to know that you have got to be there at the front when it is windy because anything can happen. If he wearing yellow, will he be expected to fetch bottles for Contador? My understanding is no. The team would/should let both stay up front, have neither fetch bottles, and let the mountains decide who the real leader is. Dan M. ___ http://mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l_mccmedia.com
