I have won a lot of $$ wagering on Lance when He was on his 7 year run. 5.6/1 is a decent wager if you can find it. This guy is an incredible cyclist but He has more than just his age going against him in this year's race.
First and foremost is the fact that in his past victories, He was the team leader and everyone on the team were there to help Lance win the Tour. This year the team leader is Spain's Contador who won in 2007. Secondly his recent crash that broke his Collarbone has limited his conditioning. Third I would list his long layoff and obviously his age. He is 38 but there have been other winners in their thirties and Lance is not just another rider.
In summary I would say that if Lance was the declared team leader and if He had more time to get in top condition.... He would be my pick. However He isn't the chosen team leader and his conditioning for such a grueling race is less than ideal. Therefore I believe He will be a very valuable team asset especially in the Mountains to Contador. However look for the time trial Saturday to tell us if He is in top shape. It's possible that if Contator should fall behind early that the team will rally behind the 7 time Champ. Then Lance will have a chance. 5/1 is not a stupid wager but I will take a pass and see what happens Saturday in the time trial. Lance just recently won the Nevada City Classic on June 22 by sprinting to a easy victory pulling away from the peleton in the last 6 laps and Levi Lepheimer was in that race. It's not the Tour but to say He has no chance ...... He is Lance Armstrong after all !!
![1036316054 :103631605 :103631605](https://images.virginia-us-east-1.therx.com/smilies/v1/1036316054.gif)
:toast:~~:<<
KERMIT- thanks for your input. Looking at these stage 6 matchups, if you had to pick one- which rider would you choose here?
<table bgcolor="#003366" border="0" bordercolor="#000000" cellspacing="0" width="620"><tbody><tr><td align="center" width="580">
Cycling - Tour de France - Stage 6 Matchups</td> <td width="20"> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" bordercolor="#000000" cellspacing="0" width="620"> <tbody><tr bgcolor="#003366"> <td valign="top" width="120">
7/9/2009 5:50 AM</td> <td valign="top" width="500">
Romain Feillu vs Lloyd Mondory</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" bordercolor="#000000" cellspacing="0" width="620"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center" width="55">
101</td> <td width="300">
Romain Feillu </td> <td width="65">
-135 </td> <td width="200"> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" bordercolor="#000000" cellspacing="0" width="620"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center" width="55">
102</td> <td width="300">
Lloyd Mondory </td> <td width="65">
+110 </td> <td width="200"> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" bordercolor="#000000" cellspacing="0" width="620"> <tbody><tr bgcolor="#003366"> <td valign="top" width="120">
7/9/2009 5:50 AM</td> <td valign="top" width="500">
Jose Rojas Gil vs Leonardo Duque</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" bordercolor="#000000" cellspacing="0" width="620"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center" width="55">
103</td> <td width="300">
Jose Rojas Gil </td> <td width="65">
-150 </td> <td width="200"> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" bordercolor="#000000" cellspacing="0" width="620"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center" width="55">
104</td> <td width="300">
Leonardo Duque </td> <td width="65">
+125 </td> <td width="200"> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" bordercolor="#000000" cellspacing="0" width="620"> <tbody><tr bgcolor="#003366"> <td valign="top" width="120">
7/9/2009 5:50 AM</td> <td valign="top" width="500">
Kim Kirchen vs Jerome Pineau</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" bordercolor="#000000" cellspacing="0" width="620"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center" width="55">
105</td> <td width="300">
Kim Kirchen </td> <td width="65">
-145 </td> <td width="200"> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" bordercolor="#000000" cellspacing="0" width="620"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center" width="55">
106</td> <td width="300">
Jerome Pineau </td> <td width="65">
+120 </td> <td width="200"> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" bordercolor="#000000" cellspacing="0" width="620"> <tbody><tr bgcolor="#003366"> <td valign="top" width="120">
7/9/2009 5:50 AM</td> <td valign="top" width="500">
Kenny Van Hummel vs Danilo Napolitano</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" bordercolor="#000000" cellspacing="0" width="620"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center" width="55">
107</td> <td width="300">
Kenny Van Hummel </td> <td width="65">
-130 </td> <td width="200"> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" bordercolor="#000000" cellspacing="0" width="620"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center" width="55">
108</td> <td width="300">
Danilo Napolitano </td> <td width="65">
+105 </td> <td width="200"> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" bordercolor="#000000" cellspacing="0" width="620"> <tbody><tr bgcolor="#003366"> <td valign="top" width="120">
7/9/2009 5:50 AM</td> <td valign="top" width="500">
Andy Schleck vs Lance Armstrong</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" bordercolor="#000000" cellspacing="0" width="620"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center" width="55">
109</td> <td width="300">
Andy Schleck </td> <td width="65">
-120 </td> <td width="200"> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" bordercolor="#000000" cellspacing="0" width="620"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center" width="55">
110</td> <td width="300">
Lance Armstrong </td> <td width="65">
-105 </td> <td width="200"> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" bordercolor="#000000" cellspacing="0" width="620"> <tbody><tr bgcolor="#003366"> <td valign="top" width="120">
7/9/2009 5:50 AM</td> <td valign="top" width="500">
Frank Schleck vs Jens Voigt</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" bordercolor="#000000" cellspacing="0" width="620"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center" width="55">
111</td> <td width="300">
Frank Schleck </td> <td width="65">
-135 </td> <td width="200"> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" bordercolor="#000000" cellspacing="0" width="620"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center" width="55">
112</td> <td width="300">
Jens Voigt </td> <td width="65">
+110 </td> <td width="200"> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" bordercolor="#000000" cellspacing="0" width="620"> <tbody><tr bgcolor="#003366"> <td valign="top" width="120">
7/9/2009 5:50 AM</td> <td valign="top" width="500">
Rigoberto Uran vs David Arroyo</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" bordercolor="#000000" cellspacing="0" width="620"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center" width="55">
113</td> <td width="300">
Rigoberto Uran </td> <td width="65">
-140 </td> <td width="200"> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" bordercolor="#000000" cellspacing="0" width="620"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center" width="55">
114</td> <td width="300">
David Arroyo </td> <td width="65">
+115 </td> <td width="200"> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" bordercolor="#000000" cellspacing="0" width="620"> <tbody><tr bgcolor="#003366"> <td valign="top" width="120">
7/9/2009 5:50 AM</td> <td valign="top" width="500">
Tom Boonen vs Marc Cavendish</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" bordercolor="#000000" cellspacing="0" width="620"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center" width="55">
115</td> <td width="300">
Tom Boonen </td> <td width="65">
-120 </td> <td width="200"> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" bordercolor="#000000" cellspacing="0" width="620"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center" width="55">
116</td> <td width="300">
Marc Cavendish </td> <td width="65">
-105 </td> <td width="200"> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" bordercolor="#000000" cellspacing="0" width="620"> <tbody><tr bgcolor="#003366"> <td valign="top" width="120">
7/9/2009 5:50 PM</td> <td valign="top" width="500">
Roman Krueziger vs Vincenzo Nibali</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" bordercolor="#000000" cellspacing="0" width="620"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center" width="55">
117</td> <td width="300">
Roman Krueziger </td> <td width="65">
-135 </td> <td width="200"> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" bordercolor="#000000" cellspacing="0" width="620"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center" width="55">
118</td> <td width="300">
Vincenzo Nibali </td> <td width="65">
+110 </td> <td width="200"> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" bordercolor="#000000" cellspacing="0" width="620"> <tbody><tr bgcolor="#003366"> <td valign="top" width="120">
7/9/2009 5:50 AM</td> <td valign="top" width="500">
Vladimir Efimkin vs Vladimir Karpets</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" bordercolor="#000000" cellspacing="0" width="620"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center" width="55">
119</td> <td width="300">
Vladimir Efimkin </td> <td width="65">
-165 </td> <td width="200"> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" bordercolor="#000000" cellspacing="0" width="620"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center" width="55">
120</td> <td width="300">
Vladimir Karpets </td> <td width="65">
+140 </td> <td width="200"> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" bordercolor="#000000" cellspacing="0" width="620"> <tbody><tr bgcolor="#003366"> <td valign="top" width="120">
7/9/2009 5:50 AM</td> <td valign="top" width="500">
Francesco Pellizotti vs Rinaldo Nocentini</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" bordercolor="#000000" cellspacing="0" width="620"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center" width="55">
121</td> <td width="300">
Francesco Pellizotti </td> <td width="65">
-140 </td> <td width="200"> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" bordercolor="#000000" cellspacing="0" width="620"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center" width="55">
122</td> <td width="300">
Rinaldo Nocentini </td> <td width="65">
+115 </td> <td width="200"> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" bordercolor="#000000" cellspacing="0" width="620"> <tbody><tr bgcolor="#003366"> <td valign="top" width="120">
7/9/2009 5:50 AM</td> <td valign="top" width="500">
Sandy Casar vs Cyril Dessel</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" bordercolor="#000000" cellspacing="0" width="620"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center" width="55">
123</td> <td width="300">
Sandy Casar </td> <td width="65">
-165 </td> <td width="200"> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" bordercolor="#000000" cellspacing="0" width="620"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center" width="55">
124</td> <td width="300">
Cyril Dessel </td> <td width="65">
+140 </td> <td width="200"> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" bordercolor="#000000" cellspacing="0" width="620"> <tbody><tr bgcolor="#003366"> <td valign="top" width="120">
7/9/2009 5:50 AM</td> <td valign="top" width="500">
Oscar Freire vs Thor Hushovd</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" bordercolor="#000000" cellspacing="0" width="620"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center" width="55">
125</td> <td width="300">
Oscar Freire </td> <td width="65">
-185 </td> <td width="200"> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" bordercolor="#000000" cellspacing="0" width="620"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center" width="55">
126</td> <td width="300">
Thor Hushovd </td> <td width="65">
+160 </td> <td width="200"> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" bordercolor="#000000" cellspacing="0" width="620"> <tbody><tr bgcolor="#003366"> <td valign="top" width="120">
7/9/2009 5:50 AM</td> <td valign="top" width="500">
Gerald Ciolek vs Tyler Farrar</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" bordercolor="#000000" cellspacing="0" width="620"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center" width="55">
127</td> <td width="300">
Gerald Ciolek </td> <td width="65">
-155 </td> <td width="200"> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" bordercolor="#000000" cellspacing="0" width="620"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center" width="55">
128</td> <td width="300">
Tyler Farrar </td> <td width="65">
+130 </td> <td width="200"> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" bordercolor="#000000" cellspacing="0" width="620"> <tbody><tr bgcolor="#003366"> <td valign="top" width="120">
7/9/2009 5:50 AM</td> <td valign="top" width="500">
Yuri Trofimov vs Nicholas Vogondy</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" bordercolor="#000000" cellspacing="0" width="620"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center" width="55">
129</td> <td width="300">
Yuri Trofimov </td> <td width="65">
-155 </td> <td width="200"> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" bordercolor="#000000" cellspacing="0" width="620"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center" width="55">
130</td> <td width="300">
Nicholas Vogondy </td> <td width="65">
+130 </td> <td width="200"> </td> </tr> </tbody></table>