Le Tour - 2010 edition

AlexB · 07-09-2010, 05:59 PM

One of the best first weeks I can remember - crashes, controversy and Cancellara

FWIW I thought the idea to regroup on stage 3 was fine, but race from that point on. That episode did absolutely nothing for the race or cycling in general.

The cobbles section was interesting and fun, but not as devastating as maybe people thought. But added another dimension to the race, and I'd like to see it more often.

From then on a brief 'is Cav really all that?' moment followed by a 'OK, yes he is (as long as Mark Renshaw does his job properly)' and a good showing so far from Team Sky (Geraint Thomas, Brad Wiggins & Edvald Boassen Hagen [who is a future Grand Tour star IMO])

A great 1st week, and although it clashed with the World Cup a couple of nights on TV, this was my #1 choice (admittedly mainly because this is the least interesting WC in my memory)

And my interest is particularly piqued as I got a free bet for Cadel Evans @ 33/1 each way! Looking good so far...

Glengoyne · 07-09-2010, 06:56 PM

33/1 each way?

I like Cadel this year. Menchov too, I'm hoping he can return to the consistency he demonstrated prior to last year.

The big question is still Contador and Lance. My head says Contador, although I see the potential for Vino to cause some problems that affect him. My heart is all about Lance. I'm convinced he'll be on the podium again. Higher than last year?

AlexB · 07-10-2010, 04:21 AM

Split bet - one bet on him to win @ 33/1, the other to finish top 3 at a third of the odds. if he wins both come in, but top 3 gets me in effect 11/2

DaddyTorgo · 07-10-2010, 12:11 PM

Good first week - just settling in to watch the first mountain stage here...

PilotMan · 07-11-2010, 02:52 PM

Today sucked. Go Schleck.

AlexB · 07-11-2010, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PilotMan

Today sucked. Go Schleck.

Great day of racing - intriguingly set up now with that last 500m.

whomario · 07-14-2010, 01:30 PM

Have stopped following the tour and cycling the last couple years with all the negativity surounding it (deserved it may be, annoying it still is ...) , but every once in a while you read up on or see a stage and see shit happen that makes you think "holy cow, juiced or not theese guys are incredible", like Cadel Evans riding a whole stage in a world of pain with a freaking ellbow fracture

(after injuring it the stage before and basically not sleeping at all due to pain)

And he´s not quitting either, he keeps riding with that fracture ...

DaddyTorgo · 07-14-2010, 08:08 PM

I'm liking the developing Schleck/Contador duel. I think if anybody really has a chance to take Contador down it's Schleck -- although without his brother it's going to be harder for him I think, unfortunately.

Now to watch Wednesday's stage.

bhlloy · 02-15-2011, 12:33 PM

Contador gets off with the bad steak excuse, despite the fact that only one animal out of 80,000+ in Europe has tested positive for the drug in question in over two years.

Cycling drug testing is an absolute fricking joke. Just let them all dope as much as they want.

DaddyTorgo · 02-15-2011, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhlloy

Contador gets off with the bad steak excuse, despite the fact that only one animal out of 80,000+ in Europe has tested positive for the drug in question in over two years.

Cycling drug testing is an absolute fricking joke. Just let them all dope as much as they want.

Seriously - how fucking ridiculous.

bhlloy · 02-15-2011, 12:59 PM

I hate Floyd Landis but I'm really starting to feel a little bit sorry for the guy. It must suck to be the one guy who gets nailed when you know everybody else is just as dirty and even when they get caught, they can wriggle out of it.

Icy · 02-15-2011, 01:28 PM

I'm Spanish so even when i could be thought to be biased... i'm not.

I don't believe Contador's story about eating an steak who had clembuterol as i don't believe Indurain was clean when his personal doctor was years later found guilty of providing drugs to other cyclists and being one of the best hiding it and as i don't believe Armstrong got that great just after his cancer when he was average before and when he has been accused by team mates.

It's so sad, but probably most of the biggest all time cyclist had doctors that were ahead of the drugs testers so they never got caught, but they would probably now with current techniques.

This decision by the Spanish cyclist organization is an step back in the fight against drugs in sports and could lead to others using them and then using the same excuse and some of the media here is pointing it.

DaddyTorgo · 02-15-2011, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Icy

I'm Spanish so even when i could be thought to be biased... i'm not.

I don't believe Contador's story about eating an steak who had clembuterol as i don't believe Indurain was clean when his personal doctor was years later found guilty of providing drugs to other cyclists and being one of the best hiding it and as i don't believe Armstrong got that great just after his cancer when he was average before and when he has been accused by team mates.

It's so sad, but probably most of the biggest all time cyclist had doctors that were ahead of the drugs testers so they never got caught, but they would probably now with current techniques.

This decision by the Spanish cyclist organization is an step back in the fight against drugs in sports and could lead to others using them and then using the same excuse and some of the media here is pointing it.

Eddy Merckx FTW!!!

MIJB#19 · 02-15-2011, 03:05 PM

Why is it always when somebody in cycling gets cleaned that they receive the opposite of the benefit of the doubt? But when some random soccer player gets tested positive, the whole world does believe all those 'it was in my shampoo!' stories.

bhlloy · 02-15-2011, 03:17 PM

I don't know if that's aimed at me or not, but when a soccer player avoids a ban by claiming he got it from a steak when there's a proven 1 in 80,000 chance that a given steak has the contamination, I'll be just as skeptical I can promise you.

MIJB#19 · 02-15-2011, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhlloy

I don't know if that's aimed at me or not, but when a soccer player avoids a ban by claiming he got it from a steak when there's a proven 1 in 80,000 chance that a given steak has the contamination, I'll be just as skeptical I can promise you.

It wasn't directed to anybody specific. That was my reaction to how it generally goes.

07-10-2010, 04:21 AM	#3
AlexB Pro Starter Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Newbury, England	Split bet - one bet on him to win @ 33/1, the other to finish top 3 at a third of the odds. if he wins both come in, but top 3 gets me in effect 11/2 __________________ 'A song is a beautiful lie', Idlewild, Self Healer. When you're smiling, the whole world smiles with you. Sports!

07-10-2010, 12:11 PM	#4
DaddyTorgo Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Massachusetts	Good first week - just settling in to watch the first mountain stage here... __________________ Get bent whoever hacked my pw and changed my signature.

07-11-2010, 02:52 PM	#5
PilotMan Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Seven miles up	Today sucked. Go Schleck. __________________ He's just like if Snow White was competitive, horny, and capable of beating the shit out of anyone that called her Pops. Like Steam? Join the FOFC Steam group here: http://steamcommunity.com/groups/FOFConSteam

07-14-2010, 01:30 PM	#7
whomario Pro Starter Join Date: Jul 2007	Have stopped following the tour and cycling the last couple years with all the negativity surounding it (deserved it may be, annoying it still is ...) , but every once in a while you read up on or see a stage and see shit happen that makes you think "holy cow, juiced or not theese guys are incredible", like Cadel Evans riding a whole stage in a world of pain with a freaking ellbow fracture (after injuring it the stage before and basically not sleeping at all due to pain) And he´s not quitting either, he keeps riding with that fracture ... __________________ “The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes "Awww!”

07-14-2010, 08:08 PM	#8
DaddyTorgo Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Massachusetts	I'm liking the developing Schleck/Contador duel. I think if anybody really has a chance to take Contador down it's Schleck -- although without his brother it's going to be harder for him I think, unfortunately. Now to watch Wednesday's stage. __________________ Get bent whoever hacked my pw and changed my signature.

07-09-2010, 06:56 PM	#2
Glengoyne Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Fresno, CA	33/1 each way? I like Cadel this year. Menchov too, I'm hoping he can return to the consistency he demonstrated prior to last year. The big question is still Contador and Lance. My head says Contador, although I see the potential for Vino to cause some problems that affect him. My heart is all about Lance. I'm convinced he'll be on the podium again. Higher than last year?

02-15-2011, 12:33 PM	#9
bhlloy Coordinator Join Date: Nov 2003	Contador gets off with the bad steak excuse, despite the fact that only one animal out of 80,000+ in Europe has tested positive for the drug in question in over two years. Cycling drug testing is an absolute fricking joke. Just let them all dope as much as they want.

02-15-2011, 12:59 PM	#11
bhlloy Coordinator Join Date: Nov 2003	I hate Floyd Landis but I'm really starting to feel a little bit sorry for the guy. It must suck to be the one guy who gets nailed when you know everybody else is just as dirty and even when they get caught, they can wriggle out of it.

02-15-2011, 01:28 PM	#12
Icy Pro Starter Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Toledo - Spain	I'm Spanish so even when i could be thought to be biased... i'm not. I don't believe Contador's story about eating an steak who had clembuterol as i don't believe Indurain was clean when his personal doctor was years later found guilty of providing drugs to other cyclists and being one of the best hiding it and as i don't believe Armstrong got that great just after his cancer when he was average before and when he has been accused by team mates. It's so sad, but probably most of the biggest all time cyclist had doctors that were ahead of the drugs testers so they never got caught, but they would probably now with current techniques. This decision by the Spanish cyclist organization is an step back in the fight against drugs in sports and could lead to others using them and then using the same excuse and some of the media here is pointing it. __________________

02-15-2011, 03:05 PM	#14
MIJB#19 Coordinator Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Maassluis, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands	Why is it always when somebody in cycling gets cleaned that they receive the opposite of the benefit of the doubt? But when some random soccer player gets tested positive, the whole world does believe all those 'it was in my shampoo!' stories. __________________ * 2005 Golden Scribe winner for best FOF Dynasty about IHOF's Maassluis Merchantmen * Former GM of GEFL's Houston Oilers and WOOF's Curacao Cocktail

02-15-2011, 03:17 PM	#15
bhlloy Coordinator Join Date: Nov 2003	I don't know if that's aimed at me or not, but when a soccer player avoids a ban by claiming he got it from a steak when there's a proven 1 in 80,000 chance that a given steak has the contamination, I'll be just as skeptical I can promise you.

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