Tuesday's tdf stage 70k to go

[huw williams]

Is anybody else watching this torture - they've been averaging less than 30kmph on the flat for over an hour - that's slower than the club run - its like watching paint dry

[adrian]

Made for a cracking finish, though, I thought

[huw williams]

That's one of the strangest finishes you're ever likely to see.

Cancellara rides out of a group already doing 55kmph in order to discourage breakaways and stays ahead of sprinters??? Amazing

[Stu Merckx Man]

ive seen Cancellara try this before a few times. he did it in the giro aswell but got bought in 50m from the line.

it was great to see him get it though. his legs looked like pistons just pumping away at his pedals. what a sight! he timed it perfectly! i got an adrenalin rush just watching it! and it was just brilliant to see the yellow jersey doing something like that.

those breakaway riders were so foolish. 600m from the line and they practically stop! if one of them had been selfless and just gone for it and taken the others to the line, he still could have got a 4th place, i know i would be willing to do it if we were going to get bought it...but know they would rather come 100th place.

[Sylv]

I wish I never have to ride a sprint as long as this

[adrian]

Wouldn't their sponsor be that much happier if they'd finished in the frame? Seems they were close enough to the line to stay away if they'd just kept going.

'Course, I do realise that, just as with life itself, things are never quite as simple as this.

[Graham O]

Its quite good that they are not going balls out for the whole ride.

Maybe just maybe the continued efforts to get rid of the drugs is starting to work.

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

And why didn't Millar's team bring back Auger - the ONLY threat to DM in the KOM competition

Cancellara was mighty impressive tho'

[Andrew G]

Couldn't understand Millar or his team not pulling Auge back immediately either. Would have taken little effort as they should have been sitting on his wheel all day anyway. Pre stage 2 & 3 = DM talking about it's good having all the flat stages so he can have the jersey to the Alps.

The win is everything, that's why they faff about. Publicity is already gained from a day long break. Once that's done and you're near the end then it's only who crosses the line first that matters. He's the only one to go on the podium, and the only one who goes in the record books. No (or negligable) publicity for either him or his team for finishing 2nd, 3rd, or 4th.

As some wise soul once said about competing at the top: "Winning is everything, second is nothing".

[adrian]

[quote]As some wise soul once said about competing at the top: "Winning is everything, second is nothing".