Le Tour de France 2008

[DexterPunk]

some cool tour pics

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2008/0 ... rance.html

[norbs]

Excellent stuff Dex. I am loving the coverage this year, just from a photgraphic point of view. I forget how spectacular the French country side is. Ever since I have had an interest in the tour, I have wondered what it would be like to ride over there. Be even better to ride and take photos.

[Duke]

Excellent find Dexter.
Yep Norbs, I have to get over there one day that's for sure just so spectacular.

[norbs]

Even Flickr has some good shots.

[Duke]

I just got an SMS from a mate who said Riccardo Ricco has tested positive to a doping control test.
It is true: http://tdf.sbs.com.au/tdf2008/news/arti ... -de-France
Oh dear not another one and very high profile too. A day after Moises Duenas of Barloworld also tested positive.
Saunier-Duval have withdrawn themselves from the Tour.
I am sad panda now

[Gizmo]

That's such a shame for the team. At least another cheat is gone, it should he a life ban if you get caught! I'm sure that would stop people doing it.

[pixelboy]

Yeah Ricco was a firm fav for King of the Mountain and maybe outright...

His exit makes Cadels quest a little easier.. only Menchov, Sastre and maybe Schleck to worry about now

[DexterPunk]

honestly dont know why they bother trying to beat the system. Even if you dont get caught, would you feel like you won anything?

[Gizmo]

He is in police custody

[norbs]

3 down, 7 to go according to SBS.

[Nigel]

7 ??? When did they say that ?

[norbs]

7 ??? When did they say that ?

They said 10 riders had abnormal tests before the race started. And that they would be keeping an eye on them and doing more tests on them.

[DexterPunk]

its true they did.

[Gizmo]

I concur...

[Duke]

So we are in the middle of the stand-off period while the Tour transverses to the Alps, the next few days will probably be pretty much that same as the last couple. Great to see Cavendish get another stage win, that kid is a rocket. But I have struggled to keep 100% interest at the moment (& struggled to stay awake) as I just want them to hit the climbs again & see if Cadel can continue to show he has what it takes to win it this year and also to see which of the challengers can step up and hurt him.

[Gizmo]

Found this on Cycling Central and made me laugh

This Tour will be dope-free. No really, it will

Mike Tomalaris has made some big calls in the past when it comes to the Tour de France. But this could be the biggest one yet, as he contemplates the wreckage from another round of pre-race drug outings.


The 2008 Tour de France will probably be the cleanest sporting event on record.

It's a big call, but I say that unreservedly.

I'd be suprised if any rider was kicked out for returning a positive dope test in July.

Why I am so confident?

These days the risks are too high and riders would be shamed for life - just as Alexandre Vinokourov was last year.

His career is over - so too his reputation. It's just not worth it.

Such are the doping controls that are in place, many riders are afraid to take an aspirin to clear a headache, for fear of traces of illegal substances which may unknowingly be in their system.



It's a sad indictment, but a necessary evil, if cycling is to keep the faith and restore respect.

There'll be no Tom Boonen at the Tour de France - that's a shame in itself.

Does that mean the race will be devoid of the world's best sprinter?

Probably.

"Big Tom's" suspension emphasises cycling's hardline to seriously clean up the sport once and for all.

There's no indication Boonen is a cheat who has resorted to using performance-enhancing substances.

He's obviously hooked on cocaine, not a banned substance, but certainly illegal.

Had he been allowed to start the Tour, it would have sent out a wrong message to the millions who adore the popular Belgian.

Boonen was very, very stupid to be caught when he did.

Sure, it was out of competition, but here is a multi-millionaire whose fans and sponsors live by his every move in every race in which he appears.

Remember how imoprtant his victory in this year's Paris-Roubaix was for him?

One got the impression the sky would have fallen in had he failed to raise his arms in triumph at the Roubaix Velodrome.

He carried the hopes of an entire nation and thank God he won, otherwise he would've been under more scrutiny and pressure to perform in the lead-up to the Tour had he failed.

The Tour needs Boonen as much as Boonen needs the Tour

[norbs]

Cavendish is a freak!

[DexterPunk]

lol yeah what a champ.

[norbs]

And jesus, what about when Sven Krauss hit the street sign and snapped his bike in half! Jesus!

[Nigel]

Bugger. I fell asleep 40k before the end. Looks like I missed all the action.

[Duke]

So the 2nd half of the battle for the Tour begins tonight, 3 days of huge mountain passes in the Alps however there is a welcomed rest day after tonight's stage. Look for a CSC bombardment on Cadel, hope he can weather the storm he is going to get caught up in...

[norbs]

Reading 1 article this morning, they reckon CSC have already planned at what points they are going to go on the attack, and that Silence Lotto are trying to negate that by attacking earlier. Sounds like an awesome nights racing ahead.

Dont forget, it starts at 9:30PM tonight.

[DexterPunk]

best of luck to him... sounds like some tough riding ahead.

the telecast shits me at times, last stage i watched.. it was all about the spinters, which is fine, but all i wanted was a leaderboard for the tour to see if Cadel was still 1s ahead or whatever, and they didnt even show it. Maybe its cuz i dont know enough about cycling to care about anyone else but an aussie

[DexterPunk]

Dont forget, it starts at 9:30PM tonight.

bugger, F1 starts at 9:40.

[norbs]

best of luck to him... sounds like some tough riding ahead.

the telecast shits me at times, last stage i watched.. it was all about the spinters, which is fine, but all i wanted was a leaderboard for the tour to see if Cadel was still 1s ahead or whatever, and they didnt even show it. Maybe its cuz i dont know enough about cycling to care about anyone else but an aussie

Its probably too damned hard to give that sort of info. In a field that is as dynamic as it is, who knows whats happening as far as overall timings are concerned.

I am loving the coverage. Having this thread gives me other people to talk to about the race and I have found my interest is back to what it was 15 years ago.