Fuse Science Inc (DROP)

[HSmith]

In all fairness, you may not understand how the TDF works. It really boils down to the prologue (a short start), two time-trials and the mountains. Lance won the same way each time: ride a decent prologue, then relinquish the maillot jaune until the mountains. There were many times where LA was hours behind the leaders and their teams. No worries, they crumbled as soon as the ascents began. Riding behind doped-up lieutenants like Hincapie and Leipheimer, he never tasted the wind, and if you have ever road-raced, it's a walk in the park.

No time can me made up on flat stages unless the Peloton (group) lets you go. If you have no chance of winning, they may let you go. If you are a contender, you will get run down like a rat. In order to avoid crashes, the TDF awards the same time to all finishers within two minutes. Cavendish gets the glory, but his time is the same as Lance's.

So it comes down to the two Time-Trials, usually about an hour. Lance was wicked at these: EPO and testosterone literally lighting him up. He flew through these, a man on fire. No way he was losing significant time. For all Lance's failings, he was a gifted rider.

So you see, 7 minutes could have been an hour, really didn't matter.