Tour de France [Archive]

Macy

30/06/2006, 9:29 AM

ITV3 have live coverage of the prologue and 1st stage, and then have the highlights 7pm each night on ITV4. Classic combination of Liggett/ Sherwen/ Imlach as well. (both Free to air on Satellite)

TG4 looks like highlights only this year, but I could be wrong. :o

I had fancied Vinokourov with team backing this year, but still doubts about whether his team will be let race. Ullrich suspended from T-Mobile this morning over the Spanish doping investigation, and Basso apparently implicated too. Turning a bit into 1998 all over again, before a pedal turned.

Dodge

30/06/2006, 9:29 AM

Dodge

30/06/2006, 9:36 AM

TG4 looks like highlights only this year, but I could be wrong.
Live when Wimbledon finishes and live streaming on the internet too for all us work shy public servants :)

I had fancied Vinokourov with team backing this year, but still doubts about whether his team will be let race. Ullrich suspended from T-Mobile this morning over the Spanish doping investigation, and Basso apparently implicated too. Turning a bit into 1998 all over again, before a pedal turned.
Vinokourov's team won case in CAS so they'll definitely be in but Liberty Seguros pulled sponsorship so working on a budget that�s 25% of what it was. If basso rides he should win by 10+ minutes. Small e/w bet on Avezado (best team, can TT ok, brilliant in mountains and now doesn't have to look after Lance)

Pauro 76

30/06/2006, 9:36 AM

Thats the 2004 squad Pauro. Check the date

http://www.letour.fr/2006/TDF/RIDERS/us/engages.html
Click above for Provisional squads. None of th Irish lads on them. Scanlon's had another poxy year for injuries

oops... another tour without Scanlon. This years tour seems a bit odd without Armstrong...

Dodge

30/06/2006, 10:31 AM

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2006/jun06/jun30news3

Basso out now too...

Macy

30/06/2006, 11:07 AM

Really makes the race wide open. Interesting the teams pulling people out, without substitutes - normally they deny until found guilty.

finlma

30/06/2006, 11:28 AM

It wouldn't be a Tour De France without all the scandal. Can't believe that Basso and Ulrich are out. I know see Vinikourov, Rasmussen and Avazedo as the main contenders.

Paddy Power have suspended betting anyway - no suprise.

I'm reading Paul Kimmage's Rough Ride at the moment - great read if you've any interest in cycling.

Dodge

30/06/2006, 11:49 AM

Kimmage is a ******. 5 of Vinikourov's team suspended. Ruins any chance he had IMO. Azevado or Floyd Landis for me

The Stars

30/06/2006, 2:08 PM

Sligo man Scanlon was plauged with injuries agian this year and wont be taking part.
He was on standby for some tour a few months back,got called into it but coulnt finish the last 2 stages as he wasnt fit enough as he was only back from injury.
Anyones race this year after the news of Ullrich and Basso.
Fancied Basso to win it aswell.

Macy

30/06/2006, 2:46 PM

5 of Vinikourov's team suspended. Ruins any chance he had IMO.
Sure he did alright last year when he was racing against his own team!Assuming his team make it has a chance now.

Leiphiemer(sp?) may come into the reckoning after winning the Dauphine, as well as Landis. Discovery obviously strengthened by others being weakened...

Risteard

30/06/2006, 6:52 PM

I'm lazy. What happened to Ullrich?
I'm presuming Mario Cippolini is out too or is he still having great starts and then pulling out?

Seagull

30/06/2006, 8:50 PM

I'm presuming Mario Cippolini is out too or is he still having great starts and then pulling out?
:rolleyes:

Dodge

01/07/2006, 11:03 AM

:rolleyes:
Be nice...

Cippolini's job was to win the sprint stages at the start of the race. Whn he did that, he was allowed leave the race having won enough prize money for the team and exposure for the sponsors. he was far too big to make it over the mountains so rather than kill himself trying, he put his feet up and watch the madmen do it on TV

Vino's out as his tema hadn't 5 riders. Mancebo gone now. No replacements allowed for any of the banned lot so Telekom down to 7 and a couple down to 8.

pete

02/07/2006, 11:06 AM

I'm reading Paul Kimmage's Rough Ride at the moment - great read if you've any interest in cycling.

Great read if into sports. No surprise that Kimmage has made a living writing as he has an easy style. Recommended reading to all.

Has cycling finally killed itself? Years of neglect on drugs issues exploding again. I suppose nothing will really be done until sponsors walk away? I'm sure sponsors not happy having their logos plastered all over supected drug cheats?

Dodge

02/07/2006, 12:14 PM

But if cycling has less than a quarter of the people on that list (football rumoured to have over half) why is cycling the only one trying to clean it up?

CollegeTillIDie

02/07/2006, 6:49 PM

Is this not the EPO World Championships?

Macy

03/07/2006, 7:45 AM

As Dodge says, the latest scandal involves far more than cycling. Footballers and athletes make up most of the list.

I don't think cyclings clean, but I honestly don't think it's any more riddled with drugs than any other sport. Most tested, sport people are most cynical about yes (hence all the headlines around this time of the year), but there's nothing that cyclists have been found doing that wouldn't be of "benefit" to other sports, who simply choose not to test for them.

pete

03/07/2006, 1:08 PM

Football has a very poor record in enforcing and punishing drugs offenders. However in cycling i think its probably has been that virtually run by the teams themselves.

Dodge

03/07/2006, 1:21 PM

Football has a very poor record in enforcing and punishing drugs offenders. However in cycling i think its probably has been that virtually run by the teams themselves.
Note really sure what you mean but the teams definitely DO NOT run cycling nor ever have. It would've been easier for the tour to sweep this under the carpet than ban 3 very high profile stars on the eve of the showpiece event

TheOwl

03/07/2006, 1:28 PM

I know nothing about this (doing some work on it today and really don�t know what I am doing). However, I�m working with plenty of experts here who know what they are talking about, and I have asked the one I trust the most to have a look at the odds and he says the value lies with the Discovery Channel riders Popovych (@ 15.0) and Azevedo (@ 40.0). He is not a gambler but has been doing preparation work for the Tour for weeks so his tips are good enough for a couple of small interest bets for me

Dodge

03/07/2006, 1:57 PM

My tip on Azevado not good enough for you :)

TheOwl

03/07/2006, 2:19 PM

Your tip sealed the deal

CollegeTillIDie

05/07/2006, 9:01 PM

Your man's ( he has had the yellow jersey twice so far) arm injury the other day... how did that happen?

Macy

06/07/2006, 8:17 AM

Your man's ( he has had the yellow jersey twice so far) arm injury the other day... how did that happen?
Hushovd? One of the plastic coated cardboard PMU (sponsors of the sprints!) hands. It was held out over the barrier by a spectator. He was hit by a camera just before it as well.

Casar was taken out the day before yesterday by a spectator trying to take a photo on a phone (who his Director then tried to smack). Seems like camera phones are the big risk in the tour so far.

Dodge

06/07/2006, 9:39 AM

Fairly common thing actually. Remember one horror crash when Abdujaparov (phonetic spelling maybe?) nearly lost his career a few years ago when a policeman stepped out to take a head ono photo

Macy

06/07/2006, 11:00 AM

Was it not Jalabert that hit the copper? I thought the Terror of Tashkent ran into the barries of his own accord...

Dodge

06/07/2006, 12:18 PM

Yeah you're right. Disgusted I got that wrong as I was a fan of Jalabert, particularly after that crash when he stopped sprinting and decided to attack on the mountains.

Macy

06/07/2006, 12:37 PM

Googled Jalabert Crash after, and got a link to a DVD of racing crashes - bit grim if you ask me watching Abdu's and Jaja's crashes over and over for entertainment... :eek:

He probably could've challenged if he'd focussed purely on the Tour - maybe a regret he shares with Kelly (who I've heard defend Armstrong et al to the charge of racing once a year - he said he would've if he could've).

Stuttgart88

27/07/2006, 2:36 PM

Just watching it now. Extraordinary news item. Stage 17 - the day he "recovered". A shame if it's true, I really liked Landis'approach to the race despite originally not wanting another US winner.

Danny

27/07/2006, 2:36 PM

confirmed here

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2006/jul06/jul27news3

WeAreRovers

27/07/2006, 2:36 PM

More scandal. According to the BBC website, Landis has tested positive for testosterone.

Oh dear, and after his epic performance on Stage 17 too.

KOH

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/cycling/5221122.stm

Tour de France winner Floyd Landis has given a positive drugs test, according to his Phonak team.
The American, who claimed victory in the Tour de France on Sunday, has tested positive for the male sex hormone testosterone.

The positive test came after stage 17 of the Tour, which saw Landis record an epic victory after collapsing on the final climb the day before.

Landis has been suspended pending results of his B sample analysis.

The International Cycling Union (UCI) announced on Wednesday that a rider had failed a doping test but would not reveal his name.

"The Phonak Cycling Team was notified on Wednesday by the UCI of an unusual level of testosterone/epitestosterone ratio in the test made on Floyd Landis after stage 17 of the Tour de France," said a team statement.

"The team management and the rider were both totally surprised of this physiological result.

"The rider will ask in the upcoming days for the counter analysis (B sample) to prove either that this result has come from a natural process or that this is the result of a mistake."

Phonak have also said that if the second sample confirms the positive test, Landis will be sacked.

NY Hoop

27/07/2006, 2:46 PM

Is it that surprising after he hit the wall after stage 16 that the next day he gains almost 6 minutes by winning a brutal stage?

After his implosion he had a beer that night with his manager. Guess it was spiked?:rolleyes:

KOH

Stuttgart88

27/07/2006, 3:18 PM

Related to the cortezone he takes for his hip?

finlma

27/07/2006, 3:25 PM

Hardly a suprise. To hit the wall completely 1 day and then put in the best ever performace in the Tour De France the following day - it stinks of drugs.

The majority of riders in the tour are up to their eyes in drugs.

WeAreRovers

27/07/2006, 3:46 PM

The majority of riders in the tour are up to their eyes in drugs.

Source? :confused:

Landis "bonked" on stage 16 and recovered for 17. Not strange at all and not any indicator of drug-use. Not a huge Landis fan but it seems this may not be as cut and dried as the anti-cycling lobby will no doubt tell us it is.

KOH

DmanDmythDledge

27/07/2006, 4:01 PM

Did anybody else notice that this got hardly any media coverage now that Armstrong has retired? I didn't even know that it had began when I heard the winner being announced on Sunday.

The Stars

27/07/2006, 4:14 PM

well it was on Eurosport and Tg4 everyday...plus highlights programmes in the evening.

finlma

27/07/2006, 4:19 PM

Source? :confused:
KOH

Read Paul Kimmage's Rough Ride. I know there are people on here that dislike him but he is certain of that fact and continues to say it.

WeAreRovers

27/07/2006, 4:35 PM

Read Paul Kimmage's Rough Ride. I know there are people on here that dislike him but he is certain of that fact and continues to say it.

I wouldn't count Paul Kimmage's bitter rantings as a source to confirm that "the majority of riders in the tour are up to their eyes in drugs."

KOH

NY Hoop

27/07/2006, 4:38 PM

Kimmage is bitter alright but to say Le Tour is drug free is ridiculous.

I love the sport and hope Landis hasnt gone to the dark side but............

KOH

WeAreRovers

27/07/2006, 4:40 PM

to say Le Tour is drug free is ridiculous.

Who said that? I was just pointing out the equally ridiculous they're all on drugs statement.

KOH

Aberdonian Stu

27/07/2006, 4:44 PM

When they test for drugs they don't test for ther drug itself they test for trace elements.

The level required to make a positive test is far above what the body is capable of producing naturally (so theoretically if you cheat only a little you'll get away with it) this is in order to guarantee that there is no doubt it's artificial.

I seriously doubt Landis took much, if anything, on the day as he would have known he would have delivered a positive test were he to do so. Generally the regimen of someone on performance enhancing drugs ends a certain amount of time before competition so as to reduce the chance of recording a positive test.

The best example of why this is done is Ben Johnson who had completed his regimen but panicked after losing to Carl Lewis in the 1988 Zurich meet and took some more (though he maintained it wasn't stananazol). Had he not had the top up he would most likely have recorded a clean test in Seoul.

Macy

28/07/2006, 1:16 PM

Landis "bonked" on stage 16 and recovered for 17. Not strange at all and not any indicator of drug-use.
Aye it was hunger knock on stage 16, brought about by being isolated and not getting the necessary food and fluids. You've also got to take into account the strategy of Telecom and CSC on stage 17 - which many of those so quick to put the boot in haven't (after hearing Kimmage's bitter rants on any media outlet that would take the untc he couldn't have even watched the stage let alone "known" that he was doping)

On the test that Landis has failed, the new lower limits has caught a few out over the last few years, but there is a test that's fairly conclusive as to whether it's a naturally high ratio or a prescription one.

NY Hoop

28/07/2006, 1:49 PM

Kimmage went berserk last night saying "There's no miracles in sport":rolleyes:

It's a miracle he can stand up with the weight of the chips on his shoulders.

Landis' website down. Hope its just a natural high level of testosterne but.........

KOH

strangeirish

28/07/2006, 2:25 PM

According to one of the US News reports last night, the acceptable ratio's for testosterone are 1:1,2:1 and a high of 3:1. They are claiming that his ratio was 11:1, based on the results of his test! Also, Landis did a phone interview from an undisclosed location in Europe and claimed that he is not guilty of cheating and asked that the public wait 'till all the facts are in.

drinkfeckarse

28/07/2006, 2:37 PM

Irrespective of Landis' guilt or not, wouldn't it make a nice change if drug cheats just admitted it straight away?

It seems every time someone gets caught taking performance enhancing drugs they always request the B sample be tested and maintain their innocence throughout no matter how bad the situation looks.

finlma

28/07/2006, 2:45 PM

I hope Landis is exposed as the cheat he is and the Tour is given to the deserved winner Periero.

People can call Kimmage bitter but he's calling a spade a spade - simple as that. I'd take Kimmage's word above any of the sports intellectuals on here spouting their non-existant expertise.

wws

28/07/2006, 2:52 PM