14 July, 2008

...and the Agony of Defeat...


magnus backstedt's heartbreaking picture says it all (he didn't make the time cut) hence the hand from above taking his number and ultimately him out of the greatest spectacle on earth-the TdF. garmin-chipotle's an american team (the other's team columbia) invited to race for the first time. go yanks!!

4 comments:

Groover said...

That is heartbreaking. Just like the French guy crashing in the first stage of his first tour and breaking his wrist. I knew that Backstedt failed to make the time cut but I hadn't seen this photo before. Says it all, doesn't it?

...it's me!... said...

your boy cadel seems like the virtual winner. i don't see any other hillclimb specialist knocking him down the g.c. unless maybe christian van velde gives him a run. denis menchov maybe? but he can't climb. oscar friere might. the schleck brothers can't go for too long at their pace. nobody at csc-saxo bank has a pure climber either.

Groover said...

How about Sastre? And Schleck only has a second to make up. I don't know how well he time trials. Cadel is a good time trialist, too. It will probably be close.

...it's me!... said...

yup you're right sandra, shleck could do it but it's not going to be from tt'ing; if he's going to take time out of cadel it's because he'll have to do his best pantani imitation! it's exciting. i hope cadel's wounds aren't too bad in the high alps/pyrenees. i don't have cable tv so i have to get my news from live text feeds from boulderreport & velonews. yeah sastre could be a spoiler too. valverde's out although he's talking trash about your boy's team. i don't see menchov climbing well consistently. how 'bout vande velde? can he podium?