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Tour de France

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zero said:
can we look forward to the winner all over the backpages in a drugs scandal again?

Tour de Farce more like.
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No, they now have a 'blood passport' system, which from what I gather essentially means they have a more comprehensive record of blood levels. So any slight change from the norm and they'll be all over it like flies to a [Poor language removed].

The Tour has broken from the UCI and now governs itself. It is extremely strict this year, Tom Boonen isn't allowed to race as he was caught with rectreational drugs. The whole Astana team (including Contador, last year's winner) aren't racing, despite it being essentially a whole new team with Lance's old boss Johan Bruyneel (sp?) running the show.

Cycling is one of the best sports for drugs testing. Yes last year's Tour was a bit of a disaster, but for me all that's done is proven that if you use drugs, you're going to get caught. Which can only be a good thing. Pisses me off a bit when people just **** it off without knowing the first thing about it. Greatest sporting event in the world.

EDIT - DANNY???? How is s.lag not allowed?! :lol:
 
By far the best sporting event in the world for me too. People crow about the doping but there are very few sports with such rigorous testing. I dare say that if football had such regular testing that many more would be caught out. As it is the sport seems to have a lassez faire attitude to doping. After all, no one really seems to care that Davids and Stam have doped in their careers, and both had pathetic 3/6 month bans for it, which nicely coincided with the close season.

As for the race itself, I thought Evans would struggle after his crash, as the race is hard enough without injuries to contend with on top. Showed what a gutsy guy he is to ride into yellow yesterday. The romantic in me would like to see someone else win though because gritty though Evans is, he seldom attacks on the climbs, and the Tour for me should be won by a great attack in the mountains. He could end up winning the race without winning a single stage and that can't be right. CSC look in good shape but I've been really disappointed with Valverde. He's got a blinding team and has done very little thus far.
 
well it's good too see it's getting sorted with this blood passport system. Perhaps they should introduce similar systems in other major sports as Bruce says the doping laws in football seem to be a bit lax. Rio Ferdinand was allowed to not turn up for his drugs test he got a lengthy ban for it but it makes you wonder why he didn't just turn up for it if it was only recreational drugs.
 
Yeah I see your point about Evans, but with no Contador (or Rasmussen for that matter....) I don't see anyone who is strong enough to attack consistantly in the mountains. Fully expect to see Contador back next year and most probably winning it again.
 

zero said:
well it's good too see it's getting sorted with this blood passport system. Perhaps they should introduce similar systems in other major sports as Bruce says the doping laws in football seem to be a bit lax. Rio Ferdinand was allowed to not turn up for his drugs test he got a lengthy ban for it but it makes you wonder why he didn't just turn up for it if it was only recreational drugs.
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It is very lax. In cycling it's common for testers to simply turn up at riders homes unannounced to take a sample. When Manuel Beltran was removed from this years event he was done so by numerous policemen in a proper raid, and I believe doping now carries the possibility of a criminal sentance. The operation Puerto thing a few years back suggested lots of athletes from a range of sports were doping, yet it was only cyclists that had any press from it.

With so many footballers complaining of burn out during the season, is it realistic to expect them all to be clean when maintaining physical conditioning can give them such an advantage?

Anyhoo, probably best to have a seperate discussion on doping rather than distract from the race :) I wonder if Cavendish will retire after his tumble yesterday so he can recover for the Olympics?
 
Hoban needs to make his mind up. There he says the Olympics don't mean much, I've read elsewhere him saying that if it rains in Paris he shouldn't race hard in case he tumbles and puts himself out of Beijing.
 
Big news today, winner of two stages Riccardo Ricco has failed a drugs test and his team Saunier Duval are out of the tour. Stunned really, why oh why do riders still think they can get away with doping?! It's been perfectly clear over the last two years that if you take drugs, you're going to get caught. No two ways about it. As I fan I find this so infuriating, the stupid **** should be banned for life.

The only redeeming factor is that at least there's been no controversy surrounding riders going for the GC (yet...), like there was last year.
 

Bruce!!! Don't read this if you don't want to know today's stage winner :)

































Right, now that's out the way..... YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSS GET IN THERE CAV YOU BEAUTY!!!!

4 stage wins!!! 4!!! :D :D :D

Forget Lewis Hamilton, Andy Murray etc, this guy is the real deal. (y) (y)

Just a shame he's not getting the same media coverage as the other two :(
 
So hang on, this tour de france is in stages?? whats fun about that?! they should just set them off at the start, and then wait at the finish, let them sort them selves out. Like a normal race!!
 

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