Ok...so its bikes of a different nature...I just had to post somewhere about my disappointment with the ASO decision not to let Astana ride! There goes anyhopes of an american winning it again! With the exception of course being Hincapie, but he is not a contender for the overall winner. Lets hear who everyone...if anyone...is rooting for. Team or individual.
Me - I guess I have to go with Garmin-Chipotle as the team and Hincapie as the rider.
I'm Floyd Landis.... and I do not approve of this thread.
Quote from: bobspapa on July 03, 2008, 12:14:54 PM
I'm Floyd Landis.... and I do not approve of this thread.
Hey...your ban is up in January...its all good!
Quote from: bobspapa on July 03, 2008, 12:14:54 PM
I'm Floyd Landis.... and I do not approve of this thread.
I'M FLOYD LANDIS!
Charlatan. >:(
There can be, but 1!
Quote from: bobspapa on July 03, 2008, 12:26:25 PM
Charlatan. >:(
There can be, but 1!
I took so many steroids that half my body split off and formed another Floyd Landis. He lives in NorCal and sells windows. You must be him.
I'm not Floyd Landis, but I will be watching the tour.
In fact.
I'll be at the last stage of the Tour when it passes through Paris. ;D
Not the most exciting part, but cool nonetheless.
Quote from: Sinister on July 03, 2008, 12:30:08 PM
I took so many steroids that half my body split off and formed another Floyd Landis. He lives in NorCal and sells windows. You must be him.
Nope... I'm the central cal Landis, northren cal Landis drives for Shakeys Pizza.
I don't really know where to go this year, but if I'm picking today, I'm picking Alejandro Valverde.
Quote from: Fresh Pants on July 03, 2008, 12:36:00 PM
I'll be at the last stage of the Tour when it passes through Paris. ;D
Not the most exciting part, but cool nonetheless.
That is very cool...that is one of the most fun though...it is a crit and you will have many opportunities to see them...Besides, with Astana out...there is a good chance that the winner will still not have been decided! Enjoy and have one for me! [wine]
Quote from: elTreesto on July 03, 2008, 12:50:19 PM
I don't really know where to go this year, but if I'm picking today, I'm picking Alejandro Valverde.
I think that is a very solid choice...I hope there are some good mountain stages like the last few years! Last year with Contador and Landis of course the year before!
waht happened with the cali team that was all about the anti-doping. did they not get the invite?
i am admittedly very far behind on le tour.
i'm going to pull for thor hushovd just because i love his name. no he won't be a gc contender, but he might get the points jersey. when they hit the mountains i'll be cheering for him to not be the lantern rouge ;D
i want to see flecha win a stage just so i can see the archer celebration.
and i have to pull for georgie to win a few stages. [thumbsup]
You're all bloody cheats!
Cadel Evans will win.
[thumbsup]
[cheeky]
Quote from: Fresh Pants on July 03, 2008, 12:36:00 PM
I'm not Floyd Landis, but I will be watching the tour.
In fact.
I'll be at the last stage of the Tour when it passes through Paris. ;D
Not the most exciting part, but cool nonetheless.
My wife and I did a 2 week cycling tour a couple of years ago that rode portions of the route the morning of and the watched the stages at different points. Paris was something else during the finish. Seeing Lance win was pretty cool. The highlight was climbing Alpe du Huez with all of those people trying to get situated the morning of the mountain TT. That mtn was a beast on a different bike. Next stop is the Giro, and I will pack my Cervelo.
Quote from: psycledelic on July 04, 2008, 02:49:54 AM
...The highlight was climbing Alpe du Huez ...
Someday I'd love to do that...hopefully sooner than later so I'm not an old man when I try it.
I'm for whoever rides a clean race, both on the road and drug testing wise.
Dana
Quote from: Super T.I.B on July 04, 2008, 01:33:06 AM
You're all bloody cheats!
Cadel Evans will win.
[thumbsup]
[cheeky]
Cadel is my number 2 pick. The question is which team is stronger... Lotto or Yahoo!
Quote from: elTreesto on July 04, 2008, 11:49:06 AM
Cadel is my number 2 pick. The question is which team is stronger... Lotto or Yahoo!
I think Lotto...But we will see! Tomorrow brings a smile to my face!
Quote from: psycledelic on July 04, 2008, 02:49:54 AM
My wife and I did a 2 week cycling tour a couple of years ago that rode portions of the route the morning of and the watched the stages at different points. Paris was something else during the finish. Seeing Lance win was pretty cool. The highlight was climbing Alpe du Huez with all of those people trying to get situated the morning of the mountain TT. That mtn was a beast on a different bike. Next stop is the Giro, and I will pack my Cervelo.
Jealous, that sounds great! [beer] Got any pictures from your trip?
I'm really looking forward to this race.
Even though Cadel is a countryman, I believe he has it in him to do it, just hope his team back him up. I.E Ewen Mcgrady, the green jersey contender.
This is going to be AWESOME!
I love the Tour de France.
[thumbsup]
Quote from: Super T.I.B on July 04, 2008, 10:45:42 PM
This is going to be AWESOME!
I love the Tour de France.
[thumbsup]
+many! But my TV won't turn on suddenly. Gah!
I won't spoil it...but great finish today...someones favorite wins!!! Team Columbia looks good!
Quote from: ducpenguin on July 06, 2008, 08:23:30 AM
I won't spoil it...but great finish today...someones favorite wins!!! Team Columbia looks good!
+1.5! ;) Mac and I watched the prologue while waiting for my header wrap to bake. The attacks at the end were amazing! I'm letting the wife watch it now so we can both watch the following stage (which I recorded) together.
I'm not even a fan, and the finish today was awesome! [thumbsup]
You'll be a fan once we get you a bike! (Can I get some more help over here please with this one!! Randimus needs a roadie!) [evil] ;D
Great finish today! Someday I'll get over there to watch a few stages.... [popcorn]
Tour DAY France!!
What's with the no prologue? No time bonuses I can live without, I suppose, but I miss the opening time trial.
Quote from: ducpenguin on July 06, 2008, 08:23:30 AM
I won't spoil it...but great finish today...someones favorite wins!!! Team Columbia looks good!
i didn't get to watch the live coverage, but i was watching the replay. holy crap. i still don't see how bicycle racing is so exciting, lol.
GOD OF THUINDER FTW!!!!!! [thumbsup]
i predict that team columbia are going to do pretty well. maybe not this year, but in upcoming races and years. (as long as pablo escobar doens't get angry with them [cheeky])
Quote from: elTreesto on July 06, 2008, 11:46:57 AM
Tour DAY France!!
What's with the no prologue? No time bonuses I can live without, I suppose, but I miss the opening time trial.
I agree...I like the opening TT...But, they change it up every so often...I think it has been many years since the last time there was not a TT prologue.
Quote from: KnightofNi on July 07, 2008, 06:53:30 AM
i predict that team columbia are going to do pretty well. maybe not this year, but in upcoming races and years. (as long as pablo escobar doens't get angry with them [cheeky])
I can't wait for Astana to be back next year...Johan is going to have vengence in mind...and Contador and Leipheimer will help him act it out!
How the hell do you spell all of these names anyway!?!?
Quote from: ducpenguin on July 07, 2008, 07:02:39 AM
I can't wait for Astana to be back next year...Johan is going to have vengence in mind...and Contador and Leipheimer will help him act it out!
How the hell do you spell all of these names anyway!?!?
johan doens't seem like a vengeful guy. maybe just really smug if he wins it.
you spell the names incorrectly unless you look them up. ;D
Quote from: KnightofNi on July 07, 2008, 08:06:03 AM
johan doens't seem like a vengeful guy. maybe just really smug if he wins it.
I think you are right...he doesn't seem that way. In fact he said that if the Tour had something against him, that he would retire rathter than hurt the cyclists.
He did say he was upset after last year and not one French official congratulated he or Contador...Kinda f'd up.
As far as the spelling...I will just spell it like it sounds...at least maybe everyone will know who I am refering to... :P
can't wait to see the replay of the finish tonight.
should be an interesting sprint there at the end.
i think that the tour has something against bruneel and everyone from the us postal and discovery days when an american on a US team was dominating their race. it was made worse by the fact that all the charges that were thrown against armstrong never stuck. i'm upset that contador coulnd't compete in the tour this year. he's a good rider. from what i have seen he has the potential to dominate. leipheimer i'm upset about, but he's had his chances in the tour and never seems to rise to the occasion.
Great finish today...local (for me anyway) boy done good! Break away stuck and Frisch finished well...he is from Charlottesville, VA.! Now 3rd in the overall standings...won't hold, but fun none the less!
holy maloley...i expected a shake-up on the GC today, but that was not quite what i was expecting.
vandevelde is looking strong. let's hope he can keep it going and keep his team with him.
do you think it will coem down to the final time trail?
Quote from: KnightofNi on July 14, 2008, 10:09:16 AM
holy maloley...i expected a shake-up on the GC today, but that was not quite what i was expecting.
vandevelde is looking strong. let's hope he can keep it going and keep his team with him.
do you think it will coem down to the final time trail?
Don't say anything yet...I have to wait to get home to watch it! How exciting though...now at least I can expect the unexpected.
I am not sure how the climbs are going to affect this group...I don't really see anyone on Garmin or Columbia being strong enough in the mountains...I hope that I am wrong! Vandevelde does look good and was in a good position yesterday. I do think that the final TT will have a huge inpact on the GC outcome...can't wait!
i was following along with velonews.com
ii need to have the updates. it makes watching it knowing wha'ts developing a bit more interesting at times. it also let's me know what parts i need to watch, and what parts i can miss.
I think Vs. has got it down pretty good...2 hours of replay, and they usually are pretty informative. I hope Vandevelde can hold on for a podium finish!
I'm rooting for Hushovd. I think he has an outside shop of getting the yellow if every single GC contender gets booted for doping or forgets to show up.
Other than that I'm hoping Hushovd gets the green jersey.
Quote from: erik822 on July 15, 2008, 12:11:16 PM
I'm rooting for Hushovd. I think he has an outside shop of getting the yellow if every single GC contender gets booted for doping or forgets to show up.
Other than that I'm hoping Hushovd gets the green jersey.
[laugh] [laugh] [laugh]
if a sprinter could win the yellow that would be great.
he would also need everyone that isn't on his team or a sprinter to drop out so he woulnd't get left so far behind in the mountains. then he might have a shot at yellow.
he can prob pull out the green since kirchen isn't really going for it (at least he wasn't, he might switch tactics now that he is so far behind) he just needs to get out there for the sprints.
i'm having visions of the entire credit agricole team sneaking into the other teams rooms and shutting off their alarm clocks and spiking their water. ;D
everyone but vandevelde that is...i would love to see another american in yellow going into paris.
Quote from: KnightofNi on July 15, 2008, 12:26:07 PM
i'm having visions of the entire credit agricole team sneaking into the other teams rooms and shutting off their alarm clocks and spiking their water. ;D
everyone but vandevelde that is...i would love to see another american in yellow going into paris.
After what they did to Astana...I just pray that it is an american or an american team that wins it!
I think you may be right about Kierchin, heck of a sprinter and what about Mark Cavendish...is he fast or what!
wasn't pretty much the entire team indicted along with vino?
i'm suprised more teams weren't kept out of it.
i was watching highlights the other day and they showed cavendish's win in stage 5. he was still pulling away at the line :o
i forsee another stage win in his future if he can get a couple of teammates to lead him out. i don't think he is a contender for the green though. mainly because kirchen is placed better in the standings by about 40 pts (and in 2nd place overall too) it would be easier to make kim sprint and get him the points than it would be to make up the deficit and then hold the lead. they prob aren't going to get to contest for many intermediate sprints since there will be a break so they can't rely on that to up the total too much.
i'm fine with kirchen gettign green and vandevelde getting yellow. it would be great is hincapie could actually have a good tour and take first in something. even a stage win would be nice for him.
Quote from: KnightofNi on July 15, 2008, 01:58:08 PM
wasn't pretty much the entire team indicted along with vino
Yea...that is why it is crazy...no one on the team was there last year. They are all new and under new management, having them tested twice as much as required.
I too would like to see Hincappie win a stage, or at least finish well...this may be his last tour.
As far as Keirchin and Cavendish, I think you are right...Keirchin will probably end up with the green. And Cavendish was pulling away at the line, and had his hands up!
Quote from: ducpenguin on July 15, 2008, 01:22:18 PM
After what they did to Astana...I just pray that it is an american or an american team that wins it!
I think you may be right about Kierchin, heck of a sprinter and what about Mark Cavendish...is he fast or what!
the only reason why cavendish is winning is that all the fast sprinters aren't there or are aging.
the only really fast guy in the tour for spinters is mcewen and he is getting too old to be fast as its apparent he doesn't have the speed that he used to have, much like zabel and friere.
the fastest guy out ther but not currently riding is obviously petacchi but with his doping suspension he isnt' there. but if he was there cavendish wouldn't be pulling away from him at all.
thor is good but remember he wasn't winning agains mcewen or petacchi in either of their primes.
geez if cadel evans isn't the most boring cyclist to watch i dont know who is, the guy has not ever went on the attach.
before you say you shouldn't have to, that is what made armstrong/landis/contador so fun to watch each of those guys would attack in the mountains to basically put the smack down on the other contenders to basically break them, which made it fun to watch. i don't see evans doing htat at all.
with any luck maybe vande velde will do that to hopefully move a couple of spots, he has to attack like crazy if he wants to even have a shot at winning the tour.
Quote from: ducpenguin on July 16, 2008, 10:20:50 AM
...
I too would like to see Hincappie win a stage, or at least finish well...this may be his last tour.
...
I wish there was a "Best Domestique" jersey. That guy works for such little glory. Everyone expected him to win everything once Lance was gone. But that's just not George. He's an 'all-around' talent and he's the best at that.
Quote from: Desmostro on July 16, 2008, 11:41:11 AM
I wish there was a "Best Domestique" jersey. That guy works for such little glory. Everyone expected him to win everything once Lance was gone. But that's just not George. He's an 'all-around' talent and he's the best at that.
he hands out water bottle's like nobody else [thumbsup]
he's not a great climber so unless he can change that soon, he doens't have a shot at the yellow.
Quote from: ducpenguin on July 16, 2008, 10:20:50 AM
Yea...that is why it is crazy...no one on the team was there last year. They are all new and under new management, having them tested twice as much as required.
I too would like to see Hincappie win a stage, or at least finish well...this may be his last tour.
As far as Keirchin and Cavendish, I think you are right...Keirchin will probably end up with the green. And Cavendish was pulling away at the line, and had his hands up!
it's the team, and the organizers don't want a team that was indicted to come back so easy. the casual observer won't know that the entire team has changed. they will only see the same color and team name that got booted for doping.
Quote from: sbrguy on July 16, 2008, 10:49:14 AM
geez if cadel evans isn't the most boring cyclist to watch i dont know who is, the guy has not ever went on the attach.
before you say you shouldn't have to, that is what made armstrong/landis/contador so fun to watch each of those guys would attack in the mountains to basically put the smack down on the other contenders to basically break them, which made it fun to watch. i don't see evans doing htat at all.
with any luck maybe vande velde will do that to hopefully move a couple of spots, he has to attack like crazy if he wants to even have a shot at winning the tour.
haha. he's playing it safe. we'll see how things work out tomorrow and after the 2nd rest day. there is usually a big break after rest days anyways, so we'll see how things shake out. and no, he doesn't
have to attack, just defend. although attacking would be a great way to make sure you put your rivals behind you. once again, we'll see how things shake out.
i'm waiting for the alps to see vandevelde make his move. there will probably be a group that takes off on stage 16, but i doubt a lot of the GC men will bury themselves because of the next day. i'm hoping for demolition on the slopes of galibier and croix de fer, then a good lead built up on alpe d'huez. that's going to be a long, hard day in the saddle.
despite what i would like to see, i think it's going to come down to the final time trial.
it would be wonderful to see a sprint for the yellow in paris though. (screw tradition...ATTACK!)
My God!!!!! When will they ever learn...more negative publicity due to f*ck!ng MORONS!!!!
Quote from: ducpenguin on July 17, 2008, 07:45:48 AM
My God!!!!! When will they ever learn...more negative publicity due to f*ck!ng MORONS!!!!
it's not as rediculous as the last few years, but it's still bad.
i accept that there will always be dopers and people on steroids no matter what the sport.
it sucks more because S-D was doing pretty well this year. let's hope the rest of them aren't doping too.
i was explaining the doping thing to my g/f who doesn't follow or really like biking. her commetn was this
"wait, it's still going on? how long is this race? jesus, no wonder they dope. the race is too damn long!" [laugh]
Quote from: KnightofNi on July 17, 2008, 07:50:33 AM
it's not as rediculous as the last few years, but it's still bad.
i accept that there will always be dopers and people on steroids no matter what the sport.
it sucks more because S-D was doing pretty well this year. let's hope the rest of them aren't doping too.
i was explaining the doping thing to my g/f who doesn't follow or really like biking. her commetn was this
"wait, it's still going on? how long is this race? jesus, no wonder they dope. the race is too damn long!" [laugh]
honestly i'm quite happy that they are uncovering dopers in teh tdf this year, and i hope they have to throw out another team at least by tours end.
the reasoning, to basically show how stupid the self righteous tour organizers are and that their "doing the right thing" is not doing anything at all, their "high road" approach and such is just that, a high media approach, and taht they should just keep doing the doping controls but stop vilifying everyone that they "dont like" even though they have no proof of doping. serves them right now their "clean tour" is not looking so clean anymore.
the team that needs to get thrown out is someone like "high road" or "slipstream" just so that the whole "holier than thou" attitude both teams are taking can be smacked down back to earth. the self righteousness in the sport is getting sickening more so than the dopers.
look pro athletes take stuff, we ask them to put on a spectacle for everysport taht normal humans can't do, and we expect them to do it like that everytime or else we say "thats not smart" cycling and track and field get the mostheat only because they teest more and actually hand down serious suspensions,not 1 or 2 game suspensions and you are back in a week.. they should be doing what other sports do, which is keep the suspensions on the down low and for much shorter periods of time, that way the sport still grows and the hyporcrate fans won't keep with the standard "i can't believe it, i won't watch is anymore i'm so disallusions" please we are adults stop with all the drama, if you think any sport is clean you really are ignorant in the way the world works.
Ricco's a rat-faced twat. Good riddance!
Quote from: FatguyRacer on July 17, 2008, 09:15:10 AM
Ricco's a rat-faced twat. Good riddance!
Yeah but he is a nasty, fast, strong rat-face twat. Its not a popularity contest. [evil]
Quote from: echelon on July 17, 2008, 08:57:28 AM
A little harsh, I don't wish ill on anyone, but I agree with the sentiment.
The way the tour is designed it unlikely that even the most elite humans could compete to the level expected by the audience and teams without chemical assistance. Read the comments from older riders and they cannot believe 1) the high power/low weight of the riders 2) the difficulty of the stages. I do notice heavier riders this year which I took as a more "natural" training regimen.
I do like the stricter enforcement. I heard in the broadcast today that riders who have higher levels (but below thresholds) are targeted and tested to 3 to 4 times a day! I guess levels can change through the day. Also, it is now a crime in France so the riders get interviewed by the police and charges could be laid. It also looks like the testing is quicker to detect "new" forms of EPO.
BTW, Riccardo's expulsion upset my pick selections for the upcoming Alp stages. Rats.
you are right, i agree that stricter testing is good and such, and things like taking pay away and suspensions is good, but they can do this without having to make it a huge media circus everytime, and then they wonder why the fans are leaving the sport, maybe if they didn't make it like "hey come over look at the train wreck and the bodies, everyone come gather round" each time people would accept it happens and but not make it the major focus of the sport, which its not.
also i personally don't like the whole greg lemond thing, that guy is annoying, yes he won 3 tours but it seems to me that once someone else starts winning and he is overshadowed, he "thinks something is wrong with the tour, its not interesting anymore, suspicious". the guy says this is the first time in years he is watching teh tour, yeah bc basically once armstrong was winning they forgot about lemond, and then he has nothig better to do but start innuendo and such about doping.
the old timers were doping the same or more than current riders, there just werent' any rules against it then and no testingreally. so i see them as hypocritical when they say "we were teh real deal these new guys wouldnt' beat us back then" stop with the sour grapes because guys now make more money than you did in the past.
You know, I was doing so well this year, not following the "race" (which has less and less to do every year with what actually happens on the race course). I figured I'd wait until a couple of weeks after it was over, to find out who'd been declared the legal, mostly-untainted winner. After Tyler, Floyd, Vino and a host of other riders who'd sucked me in and turned me yet again into a broken-hearted fanboy, I figured I was done. But a week ago the old addiction started up again, the constant "refresh" at the VN site, the speculation and rehashing with my old racing buddies, all of it.
But we're over, le Tour and me, for real this time. Whatever news I pick up while stopping by for the PEZ Daily Distraction will be the extent of my contact with this damn circus.
i agree that the dopers need to be caught. however, it would be a serious blow if highroad and slipstream got caught as they are the most vocal about stopping it. i see their attitude as anger that people are doing it and they want to help clean it up, not "holier than thou."
Quote from: echelon on July 17, 2008, 08:57:28 AM
BTW, Riccardo's expulsion upset my pick selections for the upcoming Alp stages. Rats.
who does fantasy cycling? that's just uber-geek!
Quote from: KnightofNi on July 17, 2008, 11:45:31 AM
i agree that the dopers need to be caught. however, it would be a serious blow if highroad and slipstream got caught as they are the most vocal about stopping it. i see their attitude as anger that people are doing it and they want to help clean it up, not "holier than thou."
who does fantasy cycling? that's just uber-geek!
it would only be a blow to cycling if those two teams are cought bc people believe their "holier than thou" approach, basically if you look at them what i mean is that they both came out saying "we are the only teams to test like this, we are so tough, we don't care if we win or not clean is the only way to go"
this implies only one thing "we are goign to lose bc everyone else is doping".. thus the holier than thou approach that i don't like.
Do you mean that no one else plays fantasy cycling?!?!? Ok, I almost got sucked into it, but decided it was too much in addition to my fantasy bowling league...oh well...
Seriously though...
The issue is that they test so much more often and regularly than any other sport in the world...Just look at the Olympics, MLB, NFL, ect. If they caught as much negative media attention, perhaps there would be a change there...but no. You rarely hear of non-superstar violations. I also think that the teams are on board trying to clean it up. The Tour is like the Superbowl, or World Series...imagine that the SF Giants are in the Series and Bonds tests positive for Steroids, and the Giants pull the team. The majority of people involved in the sport of cycling condemn doping.
Just remember...the ones doping are the minority.
Quote from: triangleforge on July 17, 2008, 11:09:10 AM
But we're over, le Tour and me, for real this time. Whatever news I pick up while stopping by for the PEZ Daily Distraction will be the extent of my contact with this damn circus.
Don't give up yet...