Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Bicycling.com challenges Lance
Could Lance Armstrong rise to the challenge of becoming the first American Lanterne Rouge of the Tour de France?
I have my doubts, personally. I don't think he's built that way.
I also figured out that he would need to lose an average of 22 minutes per remaining stage, more or less, to make it to Paris as Lanterne Rouge. Not very likely.
In other news, here's a blog post about launching the Lanterne Rouge on the Col de Madeleine.
Labels: Armstrong
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Volatile
Things keep changing every day in this Tour! Stage 8 and we have 6 different Lanternes Rouges already. Stage 8 brings us the second time for Dimitriy Murayev of Team Radio Shack to take the Lanterne Rouge out of 186 remaining riders (including Lance Armstrong who was humbled on this stage). I haven't found any interviews of Murayev from this Tour, but it's a familiar role for him, having finished the 2008 Vuelta a Espana as Lanterne Rouge. (I believe I erroneously posted that it was the '09 Giro before, which was Evgeny Sokolov).
I've been remiss in not posting about each rider - I've been spending the stages twittering as TdFLanterne rather than typing in my blog entries, sadly.
There is, however, an excellent profile of Jesús Hernández here, a good friend of Alberto Contador and holder of the Lanterne Rouge for Astana for two days so far in this Tour.
Labels: Armstrong, Contador, Hernandez, Murayev, Sokolov
Monday, July 05, 2010
Stage 2: Synchronized Skating to Spa
Today's stage was a crashfest on slick descents. When Lance Armstrong says "There was NO WAY to stay on your bike" that means there were probably fairly unfavorable conditions.Andreas Klier of Cervelo finished in the autobus at 19:03 after the stage winner and an unusual rider-neutralized finish to become the new Lanterne Rouge.
Lance Armstrong: bruising and bruising to his elbow and thigh.
Alberto Contador: abrasions and bruises on the right flank.
Andy Schleck: hit to leg and arm after tough tumble.
Frank Schleck: injuries to the arm and leg.
Roman Kreuziger: cases, injuries unknown.
Robert Gesink: folded back on smooth pavement, ulna fracture
Jurgen Van den Broeck: pain in finger and wrist. No fractures.
Kevin Seeldraeyers: complained about everything and anything.Further participation is not compromised.
Bradley Wiggins: abrasions on legs and arms.
Tyler Farrar: bulged to 19 minutes of Winner Chavanel inside. Grabbed the back, immediately transferred to hospital for further investigations, where an elbow fracture was found.
Christian Vande Velde: hapless leader Garmin. Also to hospital.
Mickaël Delage: problem after zygomatic fractures, wrist and collarbone.
Julian Dean: also to hospital
Alessandro Petacchi: hit on the wrist
Paolo Tiralongo: knee pain
Vasyl Kiryienka: heavy bruising
Egoi Martinez: many bruises
Niki Terpstra injuries to right arm.
Robbie McEwen: gaping wound in the elbow should be attached.
Vladimir Karpets: to hospital
David Zabriskie: knee pain after fall
Remy Di Gregorio: knee pain after fall
Andy Schleck: hit to leg and arm after tough tumble.
Frank Schleck: injuries to the arm and leg.
Roman Kreuziger: cases, injuries unknown.
Robert Gesink: folded back on smooth pavement, ulna fracture
Jurgen Van den Broeck: pain in finger and wrist. No fractures.
Kevin Seeldraeyers: complained about everything and anything.Further participation is not compromised.
Bradley Wiggins: abrasions on legs and arms.
Tyler Farrar: bulged to 19 minutes of Winner Chavanel inside. Grabbed the back, immediately transferred to hospital for further investigations, where an elbow fracture was found.
Christian Vande Velde: hapless leader Garmin. Also to hospital.
Mickaël Delage: problem after zygomatic fractures, wrist and collarbone.
Julian Dean: also to hospital
Alessandro Petacchi: hit on the wrist
Paolo Tiralongo: knee pain
Vasyl Kiryienka: heavy bruising
Egoi Martinez: many bruises
Niki Terpstra injuries to right arm.
Robbie McEwen: gaping wound in the elbow should be attached.
Vladimir Karpets: to hospital
David Zabriskie: knee pain after fall
Remy Di Gregorio: knee pain after fall
Monday, December 21, 2009
Greatest cyclist of all time?
That argument has finally been settled once and for all, here.
It's Eddy Mercx, btw, if you're too lazy to click through. That Lance guy is 8th.
I mention it here, though, because the list very appropriately includes 3-time Tour de France Lanterne Rouge Wim Vansevenant.
Labels: Armstrong, Mercx, Vansevenant
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Kenny crossing the line at Verbier
Heart-rending clip that makes me really wish that I spoke Dutch. But you don't need to in order to feel his pain. Final finisher Kenny Van Hummel averaged 22.11 mph on his mostly solo ride on today's 128.9-mi mountainous stage.
Another reaction to Kenny Robert Van Hummel's intrepid finish is at Podium Cafe. "... You know, Lance Armstrong's first professional race was the 1992 Clasica San Sebastian, where he finished dead last. Just sayin'."
Another reaction to Kenny Robert Van Hummel's intrepid finish is at Podium Cafe. "... You know, Lance Armstrong's first professional race was the 1992 Clasica San Sebastian, where he finished dead last. Just sayin'."
Labels: Armstrong, Van Hummel
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Tour Down Under
Yes, of course I'll be watching too on Versus. I just looked up the schedule and thought I'd post it just in case anyone else needs it. I have no idea what time zone this refers to, however - best guess is EST. I hope the second broadcast doesn't conflict with the Obama inauguration because I don't have TiVo!
1/18/2009 4:00 pm - 4:30 pm TOUR DOWN UNDER
1/20/2009 4:00 pm - 4:30 pm TOUR DOWN UNDER
1/21/2009 4:00 pm - 4:30 pm TOUR DOWN UNDER
1/22/2009 4:00 pm - 4:30 pm TOUR DOWN UNDER
1/23/2009 4:00 pm - 4:30 pm TOUR DOWN UNDER
1/24/2009 3:30 pm - 4:00 pm TOUR DOWN UNDER
1/25/2009 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm TOUR DOWN UNDER
It's been fun following Lance's Twitter feed and photo updates of his training on the Big Island. Yes, I'm very envious!
But I won't spend much time on covering his comeback here, just as I don't cover other race leaders and celebrities (they get plenty of coverage elsewhere), unless he ends up in the Lanterne Rouge position one day this year. I'd love that, it might bring a lot of attention to this little lonely niche blog here!
1/18/2009 4:00 pm - 4:30 pm TOUR DOWN UNDER
1/20/2009 4:00 pm - 4:30 pm TOUR DOWN UNDER
1/21/2009 4:00 pm - 4:30 pm TOUR DOWN UNDER
1/22/2009 4:00 pm - 4:30 pm TOUR DOWN UNDER
1/23/2009 4:00 pm - 4:30 pm TOUR DOWN UNDER
1/24/2009 3:30 pm - 4:00 pm TOUR DOWN UNDER
1/25/2009 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm TOUR DOWN UNDER
It's been fun following Lance's Twitter feed and photo updates of his training on the Big Island. Yes, I'm very envious!
But I won't spend much time on covering his comeback here, just as I don't cover other race leaders and celebrities (they get plenty of coverage elsewhere), unless he ends up in the Lanterne Rouge position one day this year. I'd love that, it might bring a lot of attention to this little lonely niche blog here!
Labels: Armstrong, broadcasts, shows, TV
Monday, October 06, 2008
Three-time Lanterne Rouge Wim Vansevenant retires
The Eernegem criterium was the final race in the 14-year career of Wim Vansevenant, who will go down in history not only as a top domestique but also as the distinguished three-time finisher in the Lanterne Rouge position of the Tour de France in 2006, 2007, and 2008. Vansevenant raced his last six seasons with the Lotto team, notably defending the Tour de France podium position of team leader Cadel Evans.
Cyclingnews reported, "The Belgian realized that his Tour de France performances gave his popularity a major boost. "I'm proud that I've written a little bit of history with that Lanterne Rouge. It will always be linked to my name and I hope that I inspired other riders, just like the seven Tour de France victories from Lance Armstrong," Vansevenant said."
Cadel Evans attended to honor his teammate and quipped, "First of all I want to say sorry to 'Sevi' that we couldn't complete the double in the Tour de France this year. The plan was to be Lanterne Rouge in the Tour de France and yellow jersey in Paris and I let him down. Beyond that, I value every rider who contributes to the team whether that's with results or with the work they do for the team. Wim is one of the riders who you always want to have in your team, in every race you do. He's a real team player in every sense of the word and he's only going to be missed in that way."
A photo gallery of the day's festivities is here.
Best wishes to you in your future career in agriculture, Wim!
Cyclingnews reported, "The Belgian realized that his Tour de France performances gave his popularity a major boost. "I'm proud that I've written a little bit of history with that Lanterne Rouge. It will always be linked to my name and I hope that I inspired other riders, just like the seven Tour de France victories from Lance Armstrong," Vansevenant said."
Cadel Evans attended to honor his teammate and quipped, "First of all I want to say sorry to 'Sevi' that we couldn't complete the double in the Tour de France this year. The plan was to be Lanterne Rouge in the Tour de France and yellow jersey in Paris and I let him down. Beyond that, I value every rider who contributes to the team whether that's with results or with the work they do for the team. Wim is one of the riders who you always want to have in your team, in every race you do. He's a real team player in every sense of the word and he's only going to be missed in that way."
A photo gallery of the day's festivities is here.
Best wishes to you in your future career in agriculture, Wim!
Labels: Armstrong, Evans, Vansevenant
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Lance and the USO
I don't usually mention in this blog those pro cyclists who finished up front and attracted all the press coverage, but Lance Armstrong's blog from his USO tour of Afghanistan and Iraq is worth a look.
Many thanks to all those folks over there serving and far away from their families this time of year.
Many thanks to all those folks over there serving and far away from their families this time of year.
Labels: Armstrong
Friday, February 09, 2007
Farewell, Disco boys!
"The team will still race under the Discovery banner in 2007, including the Tour de France, but must find a new sponsor for 2008, Bill Stapleton, Armstrong's longtime agent and general manager of the team, said Friday."Well that sucks. They just got their kit right.
Labels: Armstrong, Discovery channel
Monday, July 11, 2005
What's the Tour de France all about?
Someone new to the Tour de France asked on one of my email lists what it was all about. It's not easy to understand at first glance! Here's how I responded - my Quick 'n' Dirty TdF Guide:
It's a race series that goes on for 3 weeks, comprised of daily stages of varying lengths and terrains that circumnavigates France. The riders all work together in teams. Usually the team is a combination of sprinters and mountain specialists that support an all-around guy who is hoping to win or place well in the all-around competition. The "General Classification" (GC) is the all-around prize, that Lance Armstrong won 6 times and will probably win again. The leader in the GC wears the yellow jersey. They score the GC based on how much aggregate time each rider is behind the winner, from adding up all the daily stages.
There are other competitions going on simultaneously, to keep it interesting for everyone.
There's some other little wrinkles - for example, on one of the stages they have a team time trial where the team goes out on a course on their own and the first 5 riders of the team all get the same score for that day when they cross the finish line - but that's an exception, only happens once per Tour de France.
The riders are each members of corporate-sponsored teams (Discovery Channel, T-mobile communications, bakeries, hearing aid companies, cement companies, you name it) and signed (usually) to multiple-year contracts to them. Yes, many riders out of the field of 180+ are there in the race solely with the job of being support guys for the contender for the yellow jersey (GC/overall). These are often called "domestiques" = servants. Some are even on the team to serve as support people for guys in contention for the sprinter's awards or mountain climbers awards. They do things like lead out the contender guy, protect him from interference, bring him water bottles, etc. This is an honorable role and many of these riders are great cyclists in their own right - and they will win other races during the year, but they are hired knowing that in the Tour de France they will serve a supporting role to the superstar all-around contender rider.
The whole team is coordinated by a manager who usually rides in a car at the back of the peloton all day and screams instructions to all the riders on his own team through radio earpieces they all wear.
On most long (100+ mile) daily stages most of the riders stay together in a group (=peloton) because it's MUCH easier and saves MUCH energy (30%+) to ride in someone's slipstream. But sometimes one or a small group of riders will break away and dash out in front, hoping to gain a stage win or extra points for sprinting. If they are not riders in contention for the overall award (a couple of domestiques out for some publicity for the team that day) the guys like Lance will let them go, because they are not really his competitors and are no threat to him. However, Lance and his team would NEVER let an actual contender get away from the peloton and get ahead, because he could then become a threat. So Lance and his team usually ride up in near the front of the peloton most days to keep an eye on the breakaways, to chase down any that might be a threat to him, and also to stay out of trouble if anyone crashes.
The ticker on the TV (min:sec) that you see shows an estimate of how many minutes ahead of the peloton a breakaway group is located. There's also a guy that rides on a motorcycle with a chalkboard ("Chalkboard man") with the time gap estimate and shows it to the riders too as they go along. Most of the time the guys riding in the front of the peloton will chase down and swallow up these little breakaway groups before they get to the finish line, but not always.
As the greatest bike race in the world, it's followed so closely by millions of fans in Europe and all around the world that "merely" coming across the finish line first and winning a stage on a single day gains a rider much fame and fortune, so every day is hotly contested.
I hope that clears things up a little instead of confusing it more!! Readers, feel free to add any other salient points in the Comments!
Oh yeah, one thing I should add: The Lanterne Rouge (main subject of this blog) is the traditional term for the last-placed rider in the overall standings - the red light on the caboose of the great Tour de France train.
It's a race series that goes on for 3 weeks, comprised of daily stages of varying lengths and terrains that circumnavigates France. The riders all work together in teams. Usually the team is a combination of sprinters and mountain specialists that support an all-around guy who is hoping to win or place well in the all-around competition. The "General Classification" (GC) is the all-around prize, that Lance Armstrong won 6 times and will probably win again. The leader in the GC wears the yellow jersey. They score the GC based on how much aggregate time each rider is behind the winner, from adding up all the daily stages.
There are other competitions going on simultaneously, to keep it interesting for everyone.
- Daily stage winners: First across the finish line each day
- Mountain climbing (polka-dot jersey) based on fastest times to the summits of designated peaks along the way
- Sprinter (all green jersey) based on aggregate points to designated sprinting lines along the way (intermediate points in each stage and the finish line)
If the whole bunch (the "peloton") finishes a stage en masse, they award all the riders in the peloton the same time so there won't be a massive sprint of 100 bikes to the line, just for safety's sake.
Every rider is scored every day by a time behind the first finisher of the stage (stage winner). Their aggregate time for all the days to date added up determines their individual placement in the General Classification (GC = overall/yellow jersey competition).There's some other little wrinkles - for example, on one of the stages they have a team time trial where the team goes out on a course on their own and the first 5 riders of the team all get the same score for that day when they cross the finish line - but that's an exception, only happens once per Tour de France.
The riders are each members of corporate-sponsored teams (Discovery Channel, T-mobile communications, bakeries, hearing aid companies, cement companies, you name it) and signed (usually) to multiple-year contracts to them. Yes, many riders out of the field of 180+ are there in the race solely with the job of being support guys for the contender for the yellow jersey (GC/overall). These are often called "domestiques" = servants. Some are even on the team to serve as support people for guys in contention for the sprinter's awards or mountain climbers awards. They do things like lead out the contender guy, protect him from interference, bring him water bottles, etc. This is an honorable role and many of these riders are great cyclists in their own right - and they will win other races during the year, but they are hired knowing that in the Tour de France they will serve a supporting role to the superstar all-around contender rider.
The whole team is coordinated by a manager who usually rides in a car at the back of the peloton all day and screams instructions to all the riders on his own team through radio earpieces they all wear.
On most long (100+ mile) daily stages most of the riders stay together in a group (=peloton) because it's MUCH easier and saves MUCH energy (30%+) to ride in someone's slipstream. But sometimes one or a small group of riders will break away and dash out in front, hoping to gain a stage win or extra points for sprinting. If they are not riders in contention for the overall award (a couple of domestiques out for some publicity for the team that day) the guys like Lance will let them go, because they are not really his competitors and are no threat to him. However, Lance and his team would NEVER let an actual contender get away from the peloton and get ahead, because he could then become a threat. So Lance and his team usually ride up in near the front of the peloton most days to keep an eye on the breakaways, to chase down any that might be a threat to him, and also to stay out of trouble if anyone crashes.
The ticker on the TV (min:sec) that you see shows an estimate of how many minutes ahead of the peloton a breakaway group is located. There's also a guy that rides on a motorcycle with a chalkboard ("Chalkboard man") with the time gap estimate and shows it to the riders too as they go along. Most of the time the guys riding in the front of the peloton will chase down and swallow up these little breakaway groups before they get to the finish line, but not always.
As the greatest bike race in the world, it's followed so closely by millions of fans in Europe and all around the world that "merely" coming across the finish line first and winning a stage on a single day gains a rider much fame and fortune, so every day is hotly contested.
I hope that clears things up a little instead of confusing it more!! Readers, feel free to add any other salient points in the Comments!
Oh yeah, one thing I should add: The Lanterne Rouge (main subject of this blog) is the traditional term for the last-placed rider in the overall standings - the red light on the caboose of the great Tour de France train.
Labels: Armstrong, chalkboard man, explanations. green jersey, polka-dot jersey, review, Summary, teams
Saturday, July 09, 2005
Stage 8: They made it!
The former maillot jaune wearer, # 29 Dave Zabriskie of the USA riding for CSC, finally arrived at the finish line last in Stage 8 after a difficult ride, 51:12 after the stage winner. He was within one minute of being eliminated. That moves him from first overall at the start of the Tour all the way down to the penultimate position, 179th place in the General Classification. He must still be experiencing the aftermath of his dramatic fall during the team time trial. He described his symptoms: "It's stiff. It's a little hard to breathe, my knee is painful.... That's what happens when you fall off."
Martin Dugard described Dave's day in Stage 8: "David Zabriskie, who was experiencing the ultimate cycling high by winning the yellow jersey a week ago, had a wretched day today. He finished so far behind the field that Lance Armstrong had already changed out of his cycling shoes, answered preliminary interview questions, and completed the length[y] podium ceremony. Zabriskie looked scared before the start today, as if he would rather be anywhere else in the world than here. A few more finishes like today, and he may be."
Other finishers in the back of the pack in Stage 8, perhaps experiencing some difficulties on the climbs today, were Jean-Patrick Nazon (A2R); Jaan Kirsipuu (CA); and Luciano Pagliarini (LIQ).
Returning to the Lanterne Rouge position, in last place overall in the General Classification, #194 Iker Flores of Spain riding for Eukaltel Euskadi. He crossed the Stage 8 finish line at 46:05 after the stage winner. It was reported before Stage 4 that he has some hip and knee injuries. Flores was off the front of the peloton for a while about 5 km into the stage in pursuit of the two breakaway riders, but was caught again within 3 or 4 km.
Former Lanterne Rouge #127 Janeck Tombak of Estonia, riding for Cofidis, despite being a sprinter showed some ability in the mountains and made up time, crossing the finish line in 142nd place for the stage, 17:41 after the stage winner.
Even better, our first Lanterne Rouge #87 Leonardo Piepoli of the Saunier Duval team had an outstanding day in the hills, showing off his climbing skills by finishing in the first pack (along with his American teammate Christopher Horner, Lance Armstrong, Jan Ullrich, et al.) only 27 seconds behind the stage winners.
Labels: Armstrong, Flores, Horner, Iker, Kirsipuu, Nazon, Pagliarini, Piepoli, Tombak, Ullrich, Zabriskie
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
Lanterne Rouge 1999 & 2000
Blasts from the past:
Here's a piece on the battle for the Lanterne Rouge in 2000. (Thanks for the link, Bob!)
And from the 1999 Tour, by Andrew Hood:
"The last-place in the Tour de France isn't a bad place to be. At least you're still in the race, something more than 20 racers can't say midway through the 1999 Tour.
Tour organizers eliminated the "lanterne rouge" prize a few years ago because riders were purposely going slow to finish last in the stage. This year's red lantern is Australia's Jay Sweet, sprinter on the Big Mat team.
The 23-year-old from Adelaide is making his Tour debut and sits in last place in 2 hours, 4 minutes, 17 seconds in arrears. Sweet finished outside the time limit in Tuesday's stage to Sestrieres and struggled up L'Alpe d'Huez after race officials let him start the stage.
"It's been my life's dream to make it through the Tour de France, that's why I keep fighting. I hope to recover a little bit in these next few stages before the Pyrenees," Sweet told ESPN.com before Thursday's stage.
In Tuesday's stage Sweet was absolutely last in the climb to Sestrieres. After Lance Armstrong won the stage, kissed the podium girls and gave a press conference, Sweet was still suffering. It started to rain, then pour. The grupetto, the last group of riders, crossed the line 44 minutes after Armstrong's winning time, and Sweet was still suffering. He finally crossed the line alone, 56:59 later.
"It was raining so hard. There were no spectators at the finish line. Everyone was standing around waiting for me to finish so they could start taking down the barriers. There was no way I was going to stop," Sweet said.
He's still in the race, even it's in last place."
Here's a piece on the battle for the Lanterne Rouge in 2000. (Thanks for the link, Bob!)
And from the 1999 Tour, by Andrew Hood:
"The last-place in the Tour de France isn't a bad place to be. At least you're still in the race, something more than 20 racers can't say midway through the 1999 Tour.
Tour organizers eliminated the "lanterne rouge" prize a few years ago because riders were purposely going slow to finish last in the stage. This year's red lantern is Australia's Jay Sweet, sprinter on the Big Mat team.
The 23-year-old from Adelaide is making his Tour debut and sits in last place in 2 hours, 4 minutes, 17 seconds in arrears. Sweet finished outside the time limit in Tuesday's stage to Sestrieres and struggled up L'Alpe d'Huez after race officials let him start the stage.
"It's been my life's dream to make it through the Tour de France, that's why I keep fighting. I hope to recover a little bit in these next few stages before the Pyrenees," Sweet told ESPN.com before Thursday's stage.
In Tuesday's stage Sweet was absolutely last in the climb to Sestrieres. After Lance Armstrong won the stage, kissed the podium girls and gave a press conference, Sweet was still suffering. It started to rain, then pour. The grupetto, the last group of riders, crossed the line 44 minutes after Armstrong's winning time, and Sweet was still suffering. He finally crossed the line alone, 56:59 later.
"It was raining so hard. There were no spectators at the finish line. Everyone was standing around waiting for me to finish so they could start taking down the barriers. There was no way I was going to stop," Sweet said.
He's still in the race, even it's in last place."
Labels: 1999, 2000, Armstrong, history, Sweet
