***Cycling Post: Lance's chance's pretty much gone***

[UpTheMiddlex3Punt]

His teammate Contador comes up big today. It's put up or shut up time for his claim on playing a support role if it came to that.

 

[MSUCostanza]

I hope he crashes. Lance, that is, not the other dude.

 

[AssEndDawg]

which means he isn't out of it but I would expect him to move into more of a support role for Contador. There was no doubt today who the strongest man on the mountain was. I think Astana should try for all three podium spots, it would be hard as hell but it's never been done before. The have first, second and fourth now. Thank God we are in the Alps though, the first two weeks were just boring as hell.

 

[patdog]

that Contador was the clear favorite. Armstrong is still one of the best 5 riders on the tour (and maybe one of the best 2), but Contador is the man. How about Team Astana, 3 riders in the top 4 in the Tour de France. If not for Levi Leipheimer's broken wrist a couple of days ago, they'd have 4 of the top 5.</p>

 

[JimHalpert.nafoom]

Watching people cruise for three hours with five minutes of sprinting sucks.

The mountains separate the men from the girls.

 

[msudeltadawg1971]

I think Lance push's Contador, and takes it at the end, he has to prove he wasn't doping.

 

[BriantheDawg]

Thank you.

 

[patdog]

I think he will, unless a real contender goes of the front and for some reason Contador can't join in the chase (not likely).

</p>

Armstrong admitted he was "on the limit" as early as the bottom of the climb and from then on had little else to give.</p>

But after admitting Contador was the better man on the day, the American now appears ready to give the Spaniard his full backing.</p>

"There is no point messing around. I gave everything I had and I wasn't the best," said Armstrong.</p>

"I'm gonna do my best and be a solid teammate."</p>

Last week, Armstrong admitted there were tensions within the Astana team because of his rivalry with Contador but the seven-times Tour champion said on Sunday he would now be happy to be the Spaniard's domestique.

 

[CalNaughtonJr.sixpack]

Can someone Fark Lance drinking the water bottle in the FRS ads and replace the water bottle with a 40 or some other form of a moose tit

 

[msudawg12]

he alluded to coming back for the next tour

 

[seshomoru]

If he can stay within striking distance of Contador, all while playing nice and saying the right things, he will go for it on Ventoux. Lance's ego won't let him play domestique to anybody else.

 

[DerHntr]

pick up the pace right at the end and finish in an extremely close second just to show that he could have won if he had really wanted too.

 

[patdog]

For one, I think he realizes that he can't catch Contador anyway unless Contador is less than 100% for some reason. Contador is just too strong. For another, I think he does respect the sport enough to realize that finishing on the podium while at the same time helping your team leader win the race is a pretty damn impressive feat. He did ride in a completely supporting role in helping Leipheimer win the Tour of California early this year. Of course, that was a whole different race than this one.

 

[msudawg12]

1:37 behind after yesterday. Any word on today?

 

[patdog]

No change today. All the leaders finished with the peloton.

 

[seshomoru]

Most of it is pancake flat, which favors Lance a lot more over Contador. If he puts some time into the lead, Ventoux will be great. Hell, it's gonna be great anyway. Contador probably put way too much time on any other contenders, but the leaders will be attacking constantly to the summit. I certainly don't see him cracking, but you never know. Maybe he gets sick, maybe he misses the feed zone. Who knows, but Andy Schleck and Wiggins will be riding like hell up Montoux.

Speaking of Wiggins, his tour has shocked the hell out of me. Didn't know he could climb like he has.