sailor

For those that dont know, the Tour de France, the 21 day, 2100 mile sufferfest/ride around France, starts on Saturday, leaving from Liege, Belgium. Lance Armstrong will be going for win number six, something no one has accomplished in the 100 year history of the Tour. It will be broadcast live on OLN from 9-11:30 AM for most of the stages.

Anyone planning on watching? I know Ill be glued to the set for those three weeks, but then again, cycling is a sport rarely seen or even heard about in the States.

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Blackthorn

I'll take an interest in it and look for updates on ESPN Sports Center. Hopefully Lance Armstrong will pull out another victory but for him to win again will take an amazing push the like none in this sport have ever delivered previously.

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sailor

I agree, I think it will be difficult. He is a marked man now, and the peloton is going to try its best to prevent him from getting the win. However, I think he has a better chance than he did last year. He isnt sick like he was, he isnt dealing with a divorce, Jan Ullrich, his chief rival, just lost his primary lieutenant... Things are looking up for The Boss.

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"Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws."
--Plato

ledhead

there is a good article about it in the june 23 sports illustrated. however it did bring up an interesting fact. the other riders who won the tour 5 times never won it again past the age of 32. lance armstrongs age: 33.

i also agree

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BonesCPA

Like he wasn't the past couple of years? I've followed all five his wins, and after the first win, that has always been the case. It just happens that he is the premier time trial rider, and there is nothing you can do to prevent that. Plus he has been murder in the mountains. I think six is possible.

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Back into hibernation.

sailor

What I mean is that last year, they saw his limits. In his previous four wins, he had been invincible, winning with ease. Its pretty demoralizing to be struggling your way through a ride and to see someone else easily eating up the ride. Last year, they saw him crack. Now, everyone and their mother is going to be trying to take it from him, more, I think, than ever before.

And yeah, Lance is unique in that to win the Tour, you must excel in either the mountains or the TT. He exceeds in both, which is rare. Most climbers cant TT, and most TT riders cant climb.

__________________
"Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws."
--Plato

canuckguy

i will be, i watch it every year. I hope lance can repeat but I think that ullrich is on a much better team with better support riders. should be a good race. have to avoid all sports all day so i can catch the repeat showing on at 7-8pm on OLN in my area.