Aberlour10

Playing SAYC, P opens 2♠ in first seat holding... ♠K ♥AQxxxx ♦AK ♣KJxx 2 NT response would mean strong forcing, I know. My question: Is it allowed to bid instead 3♥, does it force one round? What do you mean? Robert

I tend to asteroid crash. There are undoubtedly several undiscovered of them, which can teoretically hit the earth. I watched an interesting detailed simulation of such a hit, placed near Yucatan... with terrible short- and long-term global effects. Robert

Lance is not "The Boss" anymore, but he really showed the lion heart at the Mont Ventoux today, fought successfully for every single meter against all these strong young guys. Respect for it! See you all next year, same time, same place...maybe under topic "An American returns to Paris" ;) Robert

and now? you get into virtuell Walhalla? :rolleyes:

So, it remains only arrival at the top of the Mount Painful, all is possible between places 2-7 a day before champagne drinking on the road to Paris. Mount Painful http://www.letour.fr/PHOTOS/TDF/2009/2000/PROFILKMS.gif

He doesn't need it for helding the maillot jaune, but I suppose he plans a "Devils Ride" ;) at the Mont Ventoux, to demonstrate all once again who is the boss in todays cycling. I am curious about who will follow Armstrong to his new team RadioShack, Klöden, or Leipheimer?, maybe both? Robert

Surprisingly for me, how clear Contador beat several time-trial specialists at the relatively plain and short stage. Robert

Reflecting this moment...I ask me what was Contadors primary plan? He decided to attack, he did it, tried it alone. Did he think Klöden is able to follow Schlecks for sure? He knew both brothers are in excellent condition. Why did he try to escape so late ,not far from the last top, knowing the probability they catch him at the down hill was high. Tja, damage to Astana happened, but is it damage to Contador? He knows how strong Klöden can be in time-trial, Schlecks have not a reputation for it. Robert

I don't agree with it. Klödens work today was not spectacular but effective, he did not leave Contador for a second till a few kilometers to the last top, and at this moment Contador did not need him anymore. Alberto talked with Klöden about tactic short before he attacked the Schlecks, he recognized very fast (said in interview) that he has any chance for escape today. I can't imagine that Armstrong would be able to help him more in this situation. Robert

Very strong performance by Schleck Bros. and fairly done by Contador>>>not to sprint and let Frank win, he has done a lot of work in the leading. Robert

This stage profile for tomorrow promises a lot of action. Even if nothing dramatic and deciding will happen, once is sure, this will be pretty exhausting in view of the individual time-trial next day. http://www.letour.fr/PHOTOS/TDF/2009/1700/PROFIL.gif

Did you notice that Carlos Sastre lost immediately contact to the top group at the beginning of the the final climb? Within seconds this distance grew up, it seemed clearly, he was not able to follow anyone of them...but this experinced and sly "fox" did not look to anyone, he climbed his own holding steady tempo and then cashed them one by another, finished far before Armstrong, Klöden & Co. Well done! Robert

Irresistible ride by Contador, Armstrong is still strong, but by far not strong enough. It occurs to me that without Klödens asistance at the last kilometers he would loose more than 1,5 minutes to Alberto.

Angela is like a chameleon. Yesterday conservative, today sozial-democratic, sometimes liberal, often anti-neoliberal, always vaguely. she is masterin of conformity with current public opinion. Any other politican in Germany would be incredible with such a stance, Angela smiles , leads in all possible rankings and will win the next elections by far. Robert

I don't waste my time with following to various conspiracy theories normally, but I must say this one about Kubrick's staging was very entertaining. Robert

We don't know enough about all these nameless heroes like the doctors & the stuff from "Medicins Sans Frontieres" for example... Robert

The team works like a swiss clock till now. It seems they have full control about the race everywhere & everytime. Any single team is able to wear them down, the only way I see,,,,is to build a strong alliance between several squads and try it with coordinate attacks all the time. Carlos Sastre is asked about such a coallition, he meant, this will not happen in necessery size for sure... too many different interests between the teams. Next week plain stages all the time, less chances for significant gains, these in Alps will be finish mostly with down hills, so maybe.. we will watch a real High Noon at the last 20 km monster climb to the finish on the summit of Mont Ventoux, a day before Paris. Robert

Did you realize that after the the top of the Tourmalet there are 90 km downhill till the finish. Bad climber usually compensate by being great downhill racer. When it gets more flat a big field has the usual 1min./ 10 km advantage over any smaller group. Trying to gain tomorrow is a wast of energy. I did not write, it will be the deciding moment, but only the first serious test for individual performence. I think, many conclusions about the real personal trim can be drawn by observing this long climb. Robert

The first Hour of Truth comes soon, tomorrow, during the long climb to the famous Col du Tourmalet. (2115) Robert

Team Astana seems to be a Real Madrid of cycling at the moment, they have another two "jokers" in this fight, A Klöden & L. Leipheimer. In my opinion, Contador should pay more attention to them than to Armstrong. Robert If I were a Real fan, I would take offense to that. What's the list of suspected or convicted doping users on Real Madrid's roaster? Sure, there are probably more cheaters in cycling than in any other kind of sport. But it's a stuff for another discussion. My comparsion to Real, was meant.... both teams are picked with top stars, it's not always a guarantee for a success, we know it from football. The classic hierarchy in a cycling team, one very strong captain, 2-3 loyal lieutenants and several hard working "dogsbodies", this is not a constellation we see in Astana squad. I wonder, how the team work will look like at the really hard mountain stages. Robert

Team Astana seems to be a Real Madrid of cycling at the moment, they have another two "jokers" in this fight, A Klöden & L. Leipheimer. In my opinion, Contador should pay more attention to them than to Armstrong. Robert

He is a fighter. I think he will not quit even if he recognize not to have any chance. Robert

The first week of the Tour has been finished ( still only few seconds between the main pretenders...), does anybody here is interesting in and follow the coverages? Robert

[out of topic] Just out of sheer couriosity.... what is the current +- %-ratio between loggins into the web and Windows client? Robert [PS] I will probably remain the last member who use win-client with classic view so long as it will be possible, I like it this way ;)

I play occasionally handball, skiing & trekking in Alpes or Tatra Mountains, reading and collecting books/expedition reports about climbing in Himalaya/Karakorum, searching in internet for material about various historical reenactments ( currently for ex. about Operation "Catapult" ).....last but not least music, music, music :angry: Robert