Le Tour de France thread 2009

[Jazzz]

^

would so love to see that pic!

 

[The Boy]

I see Contador has announced he will be leaving Astana at the end of the year.

 

[Struwwelpeter]

You won't see Bertie or LA doing this.

Actually he has: http://www.livestrong.com/lance-armstrong/blog/tag/testing/

although it needs updating. Also, it does not cover the machinations that a rider might get up to whilst the UCI officials are taking coffee with the team management: http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/french-officials-warn-uci-testers-to-be-impartial

 

[Juice Terry]

And so it begins

Astarloza tests positive for EPO, how many other stage winners will follow? No wonder they sprint so hard for second place.

http://tour-de-france.velonews.com/article/96245/astarloza-tests-positive-for-epo-uci-says

 

[The Boy]

No wonder they sprint so hard for second place.

I'm too drunk to grasp who that me be a dig at.

 

[Sigmund Fraud]

Actually he has: http://www.livestrong.com/lance-armstrong/blog/tag/testing/
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I take your point but its not t the same as what Wiggins is doing - we all know he's passing UCI tests anyway so its hardly news. Wiggins data is more comprehensive and gathered by British Cycling and latterly Garmin.

 

[grimble]

I'm too drunk to grasp who that me be a dig at.

I think that the point was that riders are sprinting for second place because they know that at least some stage winners will be subsequently disqualified, and that the record books will promote the second place rider to be official stage winner.

 

[Juice Terry]

Exactly, its so annoying these guys and their sponsors get the glory at the finish line and on the podium and by the time they're found out its too late.

Not that many people even know that Oscar Pereiro won the Tour after Landis had strung it out in various courtrooms for nearly two years. Mind you he was full of salbutamol anyway.

 

[Struwwelpeter]

I take your point but its not t the same as what Wiggins is doing - we all know he's passing UCI tests anyway so its hardly news. Wiggins data is more comprehensive and gathered by British Cycling and latterly Garmin.

But it could be argued that UCI for all its faults does not have the vested interest that Garmin or BC potentially have. Not that I am arguing that - Garmin have risked being so anti-doping that if one of their riders were to test positive then it would be game-over for them.

FWIW, I believe Wiggo is clean. I shall not announce my views on certain other riders as they can afford better lawyers than I/U75 can. It would just be so much better if the UCI kept themselves above reproach by following procedures correctly. The fact that they don't just leads to speculation.

Anyway, coke hasn't done Tom Boonen's performance any good.

 

[Jazzz]

I'm not sure I have any confidence in the UCI any more:

Kohl’s positive sample comes just days after the International Cycling Union made the surprising announcement that Lance Armstrong would be allowed to make his cycling comeback in January's Tour Down Under. The ruling for riders coming out of retirement states that they must be in the UCI’s anti-doping regime for six months before being allowed to race again. Technically this would mean that Armstrong would not be able resume tour racing until the 1st February 2009.

However the Tour Down Under actually commences on the 20th January 2009 and so the UCI ruled that due to improved drug-testing methods they would allow him to return early. That is quite simply an outrageous decision and this blatant disregard of their own policy couldn’t have come at a worse time. The UCI must either stick to the rules they have set for every cyclist or if they feel these no longer apply conceive new ones.

Under no circumstances can a governing body of any sport inconsistently implement their own rules, especially ones surrounding a topic as sensitive as drug testing. The UCI’s decision to allow Armstrong to return early sends out mixed messages regarding their stance on drugs and they have clearly allowed him to return early because of the media coverage he will bring as a result of his return.

UCI Need Stick To Their Drug Testing Rules

 

[mattie]

Interview with Bradley here

How differently he comes across compared to Cav.

I'm a casual rider at best, so not up on the detail - What chances a British team?

 

[London_Calling]

He's 5 and a bit years older than Cavendish at an age when the 'being a dick' meter is at its most volatile.

I read it but wished there was a bit more about how he plans to fit 2012 with the Tour, although he says he'll do both that year it seems . . . ambitious.

 

[twistedAM]

Wasn't able to get on here during the tour but a quick skim through and it seems Cav is a knob and Wiggins a hero.

The green jersey competition is a sham though, almost as much as the Prince of the Mountains. They should load up the points for those who finish first to some massive amount like 50 instead of 35.

Maybe they should bring back the combo jersey?

 

[ericjarvis]

Interview with Bradley here

How differently he comes across compared to Cav.

I'm a casual rider at best, so not up on the detail - What chances a British team?

He's an endurance rider, Cavendish is a sprinter. They are utterly different beasts mentally as well as physically. Sprinting is to a large extent about ego. Endurance is about accepting pain.

There will be a British registered team next season. It won't be a bad line up, but the year after I'd expect it to be a major contender for big races. Brailsford and Sutton know what they are about. They aren't going to hit the road without a plan to succeed just as well as they have on the track.