[Don Ro]

Originally posted by einreb
Postal would never admit to this, so all I can do is offer the following...

One key for the teams is to get off the mountain tops as soon as possible. High $ teams will fly the riders off since there is usually only one road down. If lance had won that stage ( La Mongie), it would have meant at least an hour and a half additional time at altitude for the podium, press conference, et cetera.

The following stage at Plateau de Beille (that Lance won) didn't matter as much to get off asap, because the next stage was flat and pretty much looked at as a recovery stage. He also somehow managed to still be a few seconds behind Voeckler to not have to take the yellow jersey. I wont bother to suggest that he did that on purpose, but it was to his advantage.

There's no way to prove this... it just makes for interesting internet banter

I read something similar last year. I think it was on the Discovery Channel's web site.
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"Read recently that L. Armstrong prefers to not win the early stages because the winners are obligated to participate in all manner of interviews and post-stage appearances. He'd rather immediately go to his massage and rest."
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http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?threadid=172547&highlight=Armstrong
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Sure is fun to watch the races.