Floyd is now the overall leader in the Paris-Nice race. Nice Job Floyd!!! No pun intended!!

Nice job floyd, he's got some good early season form. Now lets see if he can hold on to it till the end.

sorry double post

Where was Julich? I never saw him once in the last 20K. Did he crash or was he dropped really early on that cat. 1 climb, or something else?

Not sure but Landis and Errandonea finished 1.16 in front of the chasing group, probably a mechcanical, couldnt imagine him being dropped though

Where was Julich? I never saw him once in the last 20K. Did he crash or was he dropped really early on that cat. 1 climb, or something else?

How did you see the race. Is it on webcast somewhere?

http://www.beelinetv.com/

Find the section that says "Italian TV" and its Rai Sport Hi Speed

http://www.letour.fr/2006/PRN/LIVE/us/0/

What was the ending like? Did Landis "let" the other guy win? Or was he obviously trying not only for the race lead but also for the stage win.

http://www.beelinetv.com/

Find the section that says "Italian TV" and its Rai Sport Hi Speed

Thanks. That's great. I'm watching team handball now. Those guys are pretty good.

What was the ending like? Did Landis "let" the other guy win? Or was he obviously trying not only for the race lead but also for the stage win.

Looked like Landis was set on getting as much time in hand as possible and just let Poncho Villa :) sit on him in the last few kms and then easily outsprint him. Landis also set the pace all the way up the climb with Vila just sitting on him. I don't know if there were time bonuses or not but Vila is less than 10 seconds behind him in the GC.

Looked like Landis was set on getting as much time in hand as possible and just let Poncho Villa :) sit on him in the last few kms and then easily outsprint him. Landis also set the pace all the way up the climb with Vila just sitting on him. I don't know if there were time bonuses or not but Vila is less than 10 seconds behind him in the GC.

Thanks. That's the kind of detail that's inportant to know. I think Landis just might win this!

Wow! and he attacked. That's what I want to see. He's making a fan out of me. I had begun to believe that he as just gonna be some laidback, enjoy the ride, kind of fella, after his USPS-Disco days.

What happened to CSC? Julich 8 minutes down? Big selection day?

What happened to CSC? Julich 8 minutes down? Big selection day?

Schlek was in the first chase group. Cyclingnews.com has an interview with Julich saying he's not even done any specific training yet as his big goal is the Giro this year. WTF? I thought Riis and co. had finally figured it out that he's not good enough to really shine in a GT but good enough to shine in these early season stage races when most of the big hitters are just riding into form. Isn't Basso targetting the Giro as well? Plus the Giro always has more of a climbing to TT emphasis than the Tour and Julich has always blown in the mountains at some point in a GT and lost boat loads of time. If anything the Tour would seem to be suited to his TT strength this year? Doesn't make much sense to me.

What did I say in the Valverde thread? Floyd is going to win P-N. His form is great, and it's Phonak's last year of sponsorship. The riders need to perform.

Schlek was in the first chase group. Cyclingnews.com has an interview with Julich saying he's not even done any specific training yet as his big goal is the Giro this year. WTF? I thought Riis and co. had finally figured it out that he's not good enough to really shine in a GT but good enough to shine in these early season stage races when most of the big hitters are just riding into form. Isn't Basso targetting the Giro as well? Plus the Giro always has more of a climbing to TT emphasis than the Tour and Julich has always blown in the mountains at some point in a GT and lost boat loads of time. If anything the Tour would seem to be suited to his TT strength this year? Doesn't make much sense to me.
BJ is trying to be in the best form for the Giro so he can help Basso, not for his own goals.

I think the Phonak guys are going to be okay. Looks like iShares will take over team sponsorship anyway.

I think the Phonak guys are going to be okay. Looks like iShares will take over team sponsorship anyway.

Hopefully. But until the contract is signed they will want to show Barclay's that they will get their money's worth. After the contract is signed they can take it easy for the next few years. :-)

Looking at today's results, Axel Merckx is good to go for April.

Where was Julich? I never saw him once in the last 20K. Did he crash or was he dropped really early on that cat. 1 climb, or something else?


I just saw that dropped down further than Boonen and he's + 8:44 so something really went bad.

Hopefully. But until the contract is signed they will want to show Barclay's that they will get their money's worth. After the contract is signed they can take it easy for the next few years. :-)

Looking at today's results, Axel Merckx is good to go for April.


I can't help rooting for Axel.

Makes me wonder if he can keep this form up through to the TDF... sure it's a great season for him right now, but I'm not certain he can keep this form for the next 4-5 months.

feels that last year he proved his individual worth. He had his chance to shine and now realizing he's not a GT GC hopeful wants to be the guy to put a guy on the top podium spot. He's basically saying at 34 this season is for Ivan. He's taking the Lombardi route and bravo for him. I hope he gets a couple wins just for fun.

My hat off to FLOYD LANDIS AND HIS TEAM PHONAK. This pro is demonstrating a few more carats in his form, poise and confidence, besides having a superb supporting team. In his P-N post victory interview, broadcasted by OLN this weekend, Landis stated that his ultimate goal is TO WIN TDF 06. I got a gut feeling that he will definitely be a force to contend with this year. Winning the TDC and now P-N, with seeming ease, is better than I had expected from this remarkable professional cyclist and his team. He is now in my list of favorites for the TDF 06! Floyd is now the overall leader in the Paris-Nice race. Nice Job Floyd!!! No pun intended!!

My hat off to FLOYD LANDIS AND HIS TEAM PHONAK. This pro is demonstrating a few more carats in his form, poise and confidence, besides having a superb supporting team. In his P-N post victory interview, broadcasted by OLN this weekend, Landis stated that his ultimate goal is TO WIN TDF 06. I got a gut feeling that he will definitely be a force to contend with this year. Winning the TDC and now P-N, with seeming ease, is better than I had expected from this remarkable professional cyclist and his team. He is now in my list of favorites for the TDF 06!

He's peaked too early. He's going to blow up in July.

That he is "peaking" may or may not play a role as much as having the right or inadequate training goals and strategies, and with team Phonak remaining as cohesive and loyal to Landis, I see nothing but yellow for Landis in the upcoming TDF 06. I would definitely advise him to stay clear from Paris-Roubaix, and to "chill" and enjoy these early races victories as a "warm up" towards TDF 06.He's peaked too early. He's going to blow up in July.

I believe they asked him if he was in good form, and he said "I would sound like a jerk if I said No...". He will likely continue to improve. These guys can have more than one peak a season. Look at Basso last year, if not for gastro in the Giro, he would have come close to a double podium. Not everyone has to do it like Lance.:D Plus, he only had to have one great day in P-N.

That he is "peaking" may or may not play a role as much as having the right or inadequate training goals and strategies, and with team Phonak remaining as cohesive and loyal to Landis, I see nothing but yellow for Landis in the upcoming TDF 06. I would definitely advise him to stay clear from Paris-Roubaix, and to "chill" and enjoy these early races victories as a "warm up" towards TDF 06.

Here we go already.

First, much congratulations go out to Floyd Landis for his wins in the Tour OF California (not Tour de California), and for Paris-Nice. Good early season wins for the man and his team, that's for sure.

Floyd does not have the entire team behind him yet for le Tour. It has been stated time and again, that he is going to be sharing co-leader duties with one Mr. Santiago Botero on the Tour team, or that's the plan so far. You might see nothing for yellow for Landis, but there are some hot contenders out there who will make it dare I say, impossible for Landis to win, this year. He is not going to ride Paris-Roubaix, and if he wants even the slightest chance of winning the Tour this year, he's got to back down for a little while now, go back, do some more specific training. To be saying that Landis is going to win le Tour now, in March is impossible, if not ignorant. There are tons of things that could happen between now and then. Tons. If I remember correctly, about this time last year, even with the past years fresh in people's minds, there were a lot of people who were saying Lance is no good this year, he'll never win the Tour this year. Oops, guess what happened? Paris-Nice and the Tour of California are no indicators of Tour strength.

But, are they good wins for Landis? Oh, undoubtedly. I just hope he can find his peak form for the Tour this year. But right now, it's way too early to be saying he'll be in yellow for the Tour. Jan can still crush him in the TTs, and Basso can still drop him in the high mountains. He's still got plenty of work to do before July.

I think Floyd has a shot at being in the top 5 of the tour. For him to win the tour would be a miracle. He seems to be in really good shape this year and I think it is reasonable to predict an improvement over last years top 10 finish.

I have already stated and supported my point of view. It is radical, DARING, like Floyd Landis is showing us all. I am also brooding for Jan ULRICH. But Jan has "blown up" in the mountains and "cracked" under acceleration pressures, using gears that are not best suited for "jumps" that give you a lead on your opponents. Now, our Landis has just shown all of us, a new TT position that certainly has given him the best advantage, even against top TT master- DZ. And Landis is climbing like a goat this season. Landis MADE IT CLEAR in his post win at P-N interview: "My goal for TDF? To WIN THE TOUR" He seemed SURPRISED at his GREAT FORM and EARLY WINS! Magolia, I like your passion, your competitive spirit, but get ready for the LANDIS REVOLUTION!Here we go already.

First, much congratulations go out to Floyd Landis for his wins in the Tour OF California (not Tour de California), and for Paris-Nice. Good early season wins for the man and his team, that's for sure.

Floyd does not have the entire team behind him yet for le Tour. It has been stated time and again, that he is going to be sharing co-leader duties with one Mr. Santiago Botero on the Tour team, or that's the plan so far. You might see nothing for yellow for Landis, but there are some hot contenders out there who will make it dare I say, impossible for Landis to win, this year. He is not going to ride Paris-Roubaix, and if he wants even the slightest chance of winning the Tour this year, he's got to back down for a little while now, go back, do some more specific training. To be saying that Landis is going to win le Tour now, in March is impossible, if not ignorant. There are tons of things that could happen between now and then. Tons. If I remember correctly, about this time last year, even with the past years fresh in people's minds, there were a lot of people who were saying Lance is no good this year, he'll never win the Tour this year. Oops, guess what happened? Paris-Nice and the Tour of California are no indicators of Tour strength.

But, are they good wins for Landis? Oh, undoubtedly. I just hope he can find his peak form for the Tour this year. But right now, it's way too early to be saying he'll be in yellow for the Tour. Jan can still crush him in the TTs, and Basso can still drop him in the high mountains. He's still got plenty of work to do before July.

It is radical, DARING

More like delusional. I fully expect Landis to do better in this year's Tour, especially with the milder climbing profile. But to get to the top of the podium, he would have to get past Ullrich, Basso, Mancebo, and Vino. Plus there are several riders who appear to be at the same level as Floyd, like Levi and Evans. A win is not that likely.

Anything can happen in the great sports of road cycling. Any of those exceptional contenders have a chance at shining in yellow too. They are not demi-gods, though, and can succumb to the forces that shape destiny just like you or me. You are not brooding for Landis, so you just disagree with my perspective. And I disagree with yours. So, that is not delusional, that is just a plain disagreement in our predilections and predictions. You are not delusional. I am not either. Good day.

They are not demi-gods

Maybe not, but they do have long standing track records that Landis does not have. I would not mind at all if Landis did win the Tour, but so far he has not shown he has what it takes to beat an Ullrich or a Basso. He has not yet distinquished himself as being capable of winning the Tour, other than by the retirement from the race of about half a dozen riders. The sheer numbers make a win improbable without a huge step up in class. I'll give Landis a half step up for this year, but it's still not enough.

If we were talking about Mancebo, then all it would take is for Ullrich to crash and Basso to come out of the Giro with depressed form.

Landis will end up fourth or fifth in this year's Tour de France. In 2007 you will be able to make a reasonable argument that Landis can go all the way.

More like delusional. I fully expect Landis to do better in this year's Tour, especially with the milder climbing profile. But to get to the top of the podium, he would have to get past Ullrich, Basso, Mancebo, and Vino. Plus there are several riders who appear to be at the same level as Floyd, like Levi and Evans. A win is not that likely.

He likely won't leapfrog Basso/Jan but a podium is possible. Doesn't take much for the Tour hopes to be dashed and Mancebo/Valverde/Vino/Leipheimer/Evans are all touchable for Floyd. I doubt Levi has a shot at anything but top5 at best since he's proven he can't hang on the big climbs...Floyd has proven he can and for extended stages...and he can TT better than anyone on that list of wildcards.

Personally...go Jan!