Tour de France

**the 12 th man** · 08/07/2004, 3:51 PM

Originally Posted by Schumi

Quality stage today! Five guys 15 mins ahead with about 12k left. Looks like Thomas Voeckler will be miles ahead of all the favourites after today.

There's commentary off the TV on letour.com, very handy.

big crash today involving 5 us postals (not armstong).the other us postals got to the head of the peleton and slowed it down which helped the breakaway

**Schumi** · 08/07/2004, 4:15 PM

Armstrong about 10 mins down overall now!

**Dodge** · 08/07/2004, 4:28 PM

Yeah but US postal let them away as none of them are in with a shout of winning. IF Scanlon was in that break he'd be in yellow tonight...

**Metrostars** · 08/07/2004, 6:07 PM

Armstrong is 9'35" back now but that doesnt really matter.

But controlling the race lead so early brings pressures along with honors -- and Armstrong's coach said the 32-year-old Texan was willing to give up the yellow jersey temporarily and focus on bigger threats.

"We can't kill the team for a breakaway by five people who aren't a threat in the overall classification," Postal sporting director Johan Bruyneel said. "I'm comfortable with the situation."

This year's Tour is more interesting as the organisers have seemed to have made it more difficult for him to win again with the mountain stages coming later. It should be really interesting.

**the 12 th man** · 09/07/2004, 7:11 AM

today friday,
yet another flat stage.
190 k from bonneval to angers.should be set up nicely for the sprinters

anyone fancy a prediction for today fri ?.

i reckon a semi suprise with (super) mario cippolini winning.
let the lion roar!!!!!!

**sorbothegreek** · 09/07/2004, 7:26 AM

Petachi has to come good sometime soon. On form he has a bike length on every other sprinter in the field.

**Dodge** · 09/07/2004, 9:30 AM

I reckon another breakaway and reckon one of the Rabobank riders will do it. Probably Erik Dekker

**Dodge** · 09/07/2004, 1:10 PM

Well I'm the only one in with a shout today. Pettachi and Cipolinni didn't start today...

**Macy** · 09/07/2004, 1:29 PM

And Armstrong hit the deck earlier... Looks like a bunch sprint at the moment, break not getting the time at the moment.

**the 12 th man** · 09/07/2004, 2:04 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Well I'm the only one in with a shout today. Pettachi and Cipolinni didn't start today...

thats early, even for cippo

**Macy** · 09/07/2004, 2:18 PM

Crash on stage 3 did him, opened up an old cut that's got infected. Not the usual "there's a bit of a slope, think I'll climb in the bus"...

**Dodge** · 09/07/2004, 3:16 PM

Same with pettachi... Fell yesterday

**the 12 th man** · 09/07/2004, 3:24 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Same with pettachi... Fell yesterday

jaysus lads ,talk about the kiss of death

**Macy** · 09/07/2004, 3:29 PM

Wait till you see the numbers down today - last kilometre crash!

**Dodge** · 09/07/2004, 4:14 PM

Yeah but inside the last kilomtre so nobody lost anytime. Only about 20 got away unscathed...

**petef** · 09/07/2004, 6:06 PM

Been quite interesting the times I've got to watch it, Armstrong and Ulrich (mainly Ulrich) have hardly been on the coverage.

**the 12 th man** · 10/07/2004, 10:15 AM

Originally Posted by petef

Been quite interesting the times I've got to watch it, Armstrong and Ulrich (mainly Ulrich) have hardly been on the coverage.

just wait till those yokes they call mountains come into view.you wont be able to get them out of your face

**pete** · 14/07/2004, 2:24 PM

Watching the text commentary on eurosport.com & Virenque is bombing away to another mountain stage win. Will be a popular win on bastille day too.

**joeSoap** · 14/07/2004, 2:47 PM

16 H 43 - Richard Moments Away From Victory
Richard Virenque is surely about to throw his traditional one-armed salute. Expect to see the finger pointing to the sky any moment now...

16 H 42 - Shortest Final Kilometer...
Technical difficulties in contructing the 'Flamme Rouge' which is meant to signal the final kilometer of the stage, has forced the organisers to put the 1km to go sign 850m from the finish...

16 H 41 - Virenque About To Start Final Climb
Virenque is just 2km from the finish. The final ascent is a short but steep one.

16 H 39 - Bettini's Group 20'07" Behind Virenque
The Col du Pas de Peyrol split the peloton. The second main group includes the rider who has worn the polka-dot jersey since stage two. This peloton is 20'07" behind Virenque.

16 H 38 - Richard 5km From Victory
Virenque is 5km from the finish. He has been on the attack since the 35th kilometer. By the end of the stage his escape will have lasted for 202km, 67km of which were were ridden on his own.

**pete** · 14/07/2004, 3:22 PM

Virenque won.
No change yellow jersey.

117 Mark Scanlon (IRL) AG2R Prevoyance 06:24:48.0 +00:24:24.0 but basically joint 78th.

Now 90th overall some 30+mins behind leader.