Tour de France

**Dodge** · 14/07/2004, 3:41 PM

Scanlon's doing a dairy in the star newspaper. The other day was a rest day and he was saying he didn't really know what to expect in the mountains. The longest race he;s done before was tour of denmark at that was 11 days so he's in new territory here.

If he gets through the next couple of days he should be ok

**pete** · 14/07/2004, 4:11 PM

I'm sure he'd take it easy in the first few mountain stages as would be unsure how he'd recover as no real experience of...

**Metrostars** · 16/07/2004, 1:55 PM

First of the mountain stages today....should see a shakeup in things...

**Schumi** · 16/07/2004, 2:03 PM

Postals pushing the pace on the first slope because of rain. Guys dropping back at a fierce rate. Voeckler still there though.

**the 12 th man** · 16/07/2004, 2:24 PM

Originally Posted by Schumi

slope because of rain. Guys dropping back at a fierce rate. Voeckler still there though.

it would be a miracle if he keeps yellow today.
ulrich is going to have to do something soon if he is to have any chance

**Macy** · 16/07/2004, 2:26 PM

Ulrich won't be doing owt in the wet. Loads of Mountain stages left.

**Schumi** · 16/07/2004, 2:27 PM

Originally Posted by the 12 th man

it would be a miracle if he keeps yellow today

You'd imagine so. He's lasted the first of the two big climbs today though so if can keep his deficit to Virenque and Armstrong down on the last one he might be able to hang on. He'll lose it tomorrow if he doesn't today anyway.

**pete** · 16/07/2004, 2:28 PM

Originally Posted by the 12 th man

it would be a miracle if he keeps yellow today.
ulrich is going to have to do something soon if he is to have any chance

Sure Voeckler has almost 7mins on Virengue...could he lose that much on last climb?

**Macy** · 16/07/2004, 2:32 PM

Could, but apparently the not going as high as the hardest part of the mountain.

**the 12 th man** · 16/07/2004, 2:38 PM

i forgot it was a time trial today,alpe d uez is normally a long man breaker of a stage.

**Schumi** · 16/07/2004, 2:39 PM

Originally Posted by the 12 th man

i forgot it was a time trial today

Not a time trial today, ordinary mountain stage.

**the 12 th man** · 16/07/2004, 2:45 PM

Originally Posted by Schumi

Not a time trial today, ordinary mountain stage.

i have it as individual time trial 15 k from bourg doisans (on the lower l alpe dheuz) to the top ??

anyone near a telly ??

**Schumi** · 16/07/2004, 2:49 PM

STAGE 12 Castelsarrasin > La Mongie
In the Pyrenees.

L'Alpe d'Huez is on Wednesday. It is a time trial this year alright.

**pete** · 16/07/2004, 2:50 PM

Originally Posted by the 12 th man

i have it as individual time trial 15 k from bourg doisans (on the lower l alpe dheuz) to the top ??

Thats correct but thats for next wednesday 21st.

**the 12 th man** · 16/07/2004, 2:53 PM

got the dates mixed up there guys.

today is the 16 th and i looked up stage 16.

**Schumi** · 16/07/2004, 2:56 PM

Ullrich's in trouble. He's about 20'' down on Armstrong now.

**Metrostars** · 16/07/2004, 3:26 PM

Armstrong finishes second and puts some distance between him and the other contenders. Ullrich 2:30 behind and Hamilton 3:30 behind. Voeckler keeps the yellow jersey for another day.

**pete** · 16/07/2004, 3:32 PM

VOECKLER still has yellow jersey by almost 5 1/2 mins.

Overall Armstrong over 3mins ahead of Ullrich, 4mins on Hamilton & Mayo 6mins+...

Read like good stage on web, stupid NTL feckers dropping eurosport

**WeAreRovers** · 16/07/2004, 3:47 PM

Originally Posted by Conor74

Wonder will Armstrong sue LeMond for defamation? I mean, he's pretty much said he believes Armstrong is on drugs. Doesn't do much for the sport, seems to be going the way of heavyweight boxing. If only Stephen could get a new manager and return to the game...

LeMond writing in Le Monde. Confusing eh? Armstrong's going to have to sue at least one of these chancers (Walsh, LeMond, most of the French Nation, etc) just to keep his good name. Which is totally fooked up when you consider that he's never been caught doping.

As for the French, total and utter drug cheat Richard Virenque is well on his way to record-breaking 7th King of the Mountains. And not a peep out of Les French.