Onno
07-25-2005, 02:19 PM
While we're looking for ways of filling the hole in our lives now that the Tour is over, what do you all make of Rasmussen's spectacular collapse on Saturday--two falls and at least 3 bike changes? I guess the changes weren't his fault--problems with real wheel apparently--but wiping out twice and finishing in 76th or 77th place for the day! Very sad. It was a little surprising to me to see a former mtb biker look so clumsy on the bike, but I guess this is an example of one set of handling skills not translating.
Bike handling is one of Armstrong's under-reported skills, imo. It really isn't just luck that he's avoided crashes over all these years. He looked superbly confident in all sections of the TT that I saw, in contrast to Rasmussen and Basso.
Does Rasmussen have the potential to be a real GC contender, or will he never be a great time trialist? He looks pretty scrawny to really be a power rider, but he looked great on that long break away, and he did show real guts in the mountains.
Are there other surprises in the tour this year, signs of future GC contenders?
Onno (who really is now getting back to work)
Bike handling is one of Armstrong's under-reported skills, imo. It really isn't just luck that he's avoided crashes over all these years. He looked superbly confident in all sections of the TT that I saw, in contrast to Rasmussen and Basso.
Does Rasmussen have the potential to be a real GC contender, or will he never be a great time trialist? He looks pretty scrawny to really be a power rider, but he looked great on that long break away, and he did show real guts in the mountains.
Are there other surprises in the tour this year, signs of future GC contenders?
Onno (who really is now getting back to work)