Is the Tour de France essentially over?

[Ride the Pine]

So after the Sunday stage of the Tour de France, Lance Armstrong moved up to 2nd place, with Alberto Contador in 1st, a minute and thirty seconds ahead of Lance. Due to this, Lance has all but admit defeat, saying that he just didn't have it this year, but saying he believes maintaining 2nd place is a more than attainable goal. With that in mind, does that mean Contador essentially has the whole thing won, barring some sort of unforseen collapse?

[sox5123]

Its over. Armstrong has just gotten too old to compete with the younger guys. He made a good show out of it this year though.

[Ride the Pine]

Yeah, Lance is still pretty fit for a guy who has been out of his sport since 2005. From what I understand, it is one of the toughest types of sports to make a comeback in due to the strenuous amount of conditioning required for different types of stages.

[chris riley]

Yeah thats it Lance is just to old to compete with the younger guys. Which Tour de France, Giro de Italia, Tour Down Under or even the Tour of California have you been watching. Seriously....the guy is sitting second to a team mate. Granted some say rival but whatever, never the less its his team mate. Johann Bruyneel stated that he had three maybe four high caliber riders that could compete for the podium....No one can compete with Contador on the climbs. Look at old 2002 tapes of Lance "dancing" on his pedals. They both run a high cadence with similar riding styles. If anything Contador is the future. So for someone to say well Lance your just to damn old or washed up or whatever all the other critics say...he's sitting in second place at 37 years old......

I am not a huge Lance fan. I am a fan of cycling. I do respect him. But for someone to come out of retirement. Ride in the tour, not receive a pay check and do it just to promote his foundation. Amazing.......

Watch this link...http://www.nike.com/nikeos/p/nike/en_US/?

Not to mention but a minute and a half can be made up by one little mistake by Contador. Go google Contador bonk at Paris-Nice.

[Ride the Pine]

Originally Posted by chris riley

Yeah thats it Lance is just to old to compete with the younger guys. Which Tour de France, Giro de Italia, Tour Down Under or even the Tour of California have you been watching. Seriously....the guy is sitting second to a team mate. Granted some say rival but whatever, never the less its his team mate. Johann Bruyneel stated that he had three maybe four high caliber riders that could compete for the podium....No one can compete with Contador on the climbs. Look at old 2002 tapes of Lance "dancing" on his pedals. They both run a high cadence with similar riding styles. If anything Contador is the future. So for someone to say well Lance your just to damn old or washed up or whatever all the other critics say...he's sitting in second place at 37 years old......

I am not a huge Lance fan. I am a fan of cycling. I do respect him. But for someone to come out of retirement. Ride in the tour, not receive a pay check and do it just to promote his foundation. Amazing.......

Watch this link...http://www.nike.com/nikeos/p/nike/en_US/?

Not to mention but a minute and a half can be made up by one little mistake by Contador. Go google Contador bonk at Paris-Nice.

Yeah Contador looks like a solid force for years to come. Either way, what Lance has done is impressive, especially in the light of all the doping allegations that have shadowed cycling since he retired in 2005.

[Taydeezy]

To say that Lance is too old to compete with the younger guys is ignorant. If he finishes in 2nd place than he would have exceeded expectations of most. He's out riding the best cyclists in the world right now with the exception of one.

[Ride the Pine]

The biggest problem is that these two guys are teammates. I say problem because at the end of the day, it becomes difficult for the team to back one or the other. At this point, they all (including Lance) have to back Contador. Lance claims to have a sponsor for a team next year, so that tells me he is planning on riding again and that we may see an even more competitive Tour de France next summer.

[Ride the Pine]

Also, I'd like to add that Lance proved that if Contador has a bad day, it could all turn around. Armstrong showed he still has the drive to keep up with the best of them. I still believe Contador will take home the prize.

[chris riley]

ok here we go again. do you guys watch the tour or catch the highlight on sports center.

Contador has bonked before....(bonk is running out of fuel) he did this in the Paris-Nice race. Got cocky and his ego took over. He didnt eat during the one day classic....huge mistake.

Lance know this. The team knows this. The time trial is coming up. One minute is nothing to gain or loose. (Cadel Evans)

Johann Bruyneel is a brilliant man. The team will support Lance and Contador. Why you ask??? Good question. Wouldnt you want to have first and second place maybe even third. Astana is strong enough to support to GC contenders.

Ok what happend on 16 was that Lance was in a group...they were too slow for him. He left them in the dust. The dude stood up and took off. Now that is saying something. Go do some research on how Lance plays mind games. He has several examples.

Now here is what I think he is thinking. Put all the pressure on the cocky Contador (I do like contador) and wait for him to crack. If he does its yours for the taking. If he doesnt then second looks great and maybe even a third of the team.

[chris riley]

I feel Lance is holding back. Listen to him talk. Doesnt tell you everything.....holds back. He still has the fire....