Lance Pissed at Evans???

limerickman

He moved from 9th on GC to 7th on GC, so he gained time on Landis and Vino.

tinks

But my point is, if that was his main priority; why didn't he work with the group and do some pacemaking?

From what I saw, he just sat at the back and sprited over Armstrong in the last 100 for no real reason.

limerickman

I take your point.

I did notice that JU eased up and Basso too as they approached the line.

musette

Evans gained no time on Vino, etc. as a result of his little sprint. They were too close to the finish. To the contrary, it could be argued Evans would have had the chance to gain more time on Vino, had he cooperated a bit more (or otherwise made efforts) before his last minute little antic.

Fortunately, his move is largely seen for what it is -- childish behavior from somebody who has no chance to podium, and who is lucky he was permitted to stay away on certain prior stages enough to be in the top 10.

I don't know if Evans might have had a grudge against JU for Evans' not having been on the Tour team last year. Perhaps he was trying to -- again childishly -- make sure he finished ahead of JU.

mocka58

That's the biggest load of crap I've ever read! Evans had every right to do what he did. Hincapie sat on for 200km and Armstrong had nothing to say about that.
Ten years ago Johan Bruyneel sat on Miguel Indurain for 50km and outsprinted him for a stage win. He never went to the front once and now we all know who's team he manages. Armstrong's attitude was hypocritical
When he asked Evans 'what was that for?" Cadel should have replied 'No gifts!". Ha ha.

mitosis

He felt good and sprinted for the line. I've been in many races where there are sprints for 110th and 111th place, its what cyclist do.

In this case it did Armstrong, and everyone else in the group no harm and in some way Evans was making a statement that he is not overwhelmed by Armstrong's presence.

Perhaps Armstrong was being a little testy or maybe he considers Evans a threat.

mitosis

Here. Here.

Eldrack

I guess CE was trying to get more time on Vino by sprinting for the line. However he left it too late to make sprinting worth bothering about so when he did sprint it must have looked like he was trying to get one over on the group he was with which LA percieved as an infraction of some sort. I think CE didn't judge the sprint right and LA was over reacting.

DV1976

Well accepting for the sake of the argument that it was a childish thing to do, one would expect an athlete of LA's calibre to pay no attention or to laugh about it... "control freak" and "bully" are words that spring to mind...

mitosis

I can't see why you or Armstrong can be offended by Evans move when it did them no harm in the context of the race. In interviews he (Evans) says that he couldn't come around on the climb. It seems that if he could have he would have.

If you are looking for childish you can't go past Armstrong's comment (not the wording but the fact that he felt the need).

mocka58

It was for 11th place for godssake. Lance is a great champion. He surely shouldn't begrudge the lesser lights a few of the crumbs that fall from the table.

mitosis

I don't agree that it was childish - maybe exuberant, he's finished with the big guys why not have a sprint finish.

I do think that Armstrong would have commanded more respect if he had ignored the move and later dismissed it as insignificant considering Evans and Armstrongs relative positions on the GC.

Bully is appropriate.

micron

yet more proof that - whatever Armstrong might have done for cancer, raising the profile of the sport in the US etc etc - he is a complete and utter w*nker

patch70

You are hilarious in your delusions. I can't believe you keep coming up with this crapola.

Do you stalk Lance when he is in the same country as you?