Tour de France - Stage 18 - SPOILER
- Thread starter Keith Oates
- Start date
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Glover Fan
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Almondsbury, Nr Bristol
I was listening to Talksport earlier as I usually do, but some French sports journalist was on with Danny Kelly and they were talking a lot about the tour.
The French guy reckoned this tour was so good because the UCI have got the doping procedures spot on and that it is now really hard to dope yourself without being caught so for the first time in ages you are seeing people actually struggling and being dare I say it "human". Who'd have thought Contador would be dropped on the Galibier after wheelsucking most of the way up?
I've only been watching the Tour for the last few years, but I think maybe (and hope) that journalist was right. He was actually saying that in general cycling is lightyears ahead of other sports when it comes to anti-doping and the 24/7 365 days of the year blood monitoring that is done. Sad that it has got that far but at least it will make the sport cleaner and fairer.
No doubt now i've opened the can i'll wake up to headlines that Voeckler and Cavendish have been banned for drug use.
The French guy reckoned this tour was so good because the UCI have got the doping procedures spot on and that it is now really hard to dope yourself without being caught so for the first time in ages you are seeing people actually struggling and being dare I say it "human". Who'd have thought Contador would be dropped on the Galibier after wheelsucking most of the way up?
I've only been watching the Tour for the last few years, but I think maybe (and hope) that journalist was right. He was actually saying that in general cycling is lightyears ahead of other sports when it comes to anti-doping and the 24/7 365 days of the year blood monitoring that is done. Sad that it has got that far but at least it will make the sport cleaner and fairer.
No doubt now i've opened the can i'll wake up to headlines that Voeckler and Cavendish have been banned for drug use.
tigger
Über Member
Ah well, my hope for the 2 Amigos blowing away the Lacklustre Luxenbourgers didn't even get off the ground! What a shame none of the GD contenders got together earlier. Still, a great tactics by Leopard Trek and a great ride by Andy. But I still can't warm to him
I'm rooting for the bland wheel sucker and TV now!!!!
"Whinge, whinge, its not fair... no one wants to see dare-devil dangerous decending decide the tour." No Andy, we want to see the most complete rider win the tour... not someone who can't sprint, can't decend and can't TT.
I'm rooting for the bland wheel sucker and TV now!!!!
"Whinge, whinge, its not fair... no one wants to see dare-devil dangerous decending decide the tour." No Andy, we want to see the most complete rider win the tour... not someone who can't sprint, can't decend and can't TT.
RedRider
Pulling through
- Location
- Location Embrocation
Is there a comparable event to the tour/feat such as Voeckler's in UK sport/life?
Dave Davenport
Guru
- Location
- Hampshire
Well the darts takes over from the tour next week on itv4 so I'm sure one will emerge.
Angelfishsolo
A Velocipedian
- Location
- Cwmbach, South Wales
Darts. I can hardly contain my
RedRider
Pulling through
- Location
- Location Embrocation
Gary Imlach couldn't keep his face straight trailing the darts after that stage. Chris Boardman was sniggering, too.
Baggy
Cake connoisseur
- Location
- Where the chevrons are
I enjoyed that bit! Wish they had the chance to do the commentary on a whole stage...
Angelfishsolo
A Velocipedian
- Location
- Cwmbach, South Wales
I noticed that
. They made some comment about excitement levels iirc.
Quality today, chapeau to Andy Schlek for going that early and keeping out there, on his own for much of it. Voeckler was heroic in keeping yellow and a fair old pull from Evans. I wouldn't mind seeing AS or CE win it now, but no-one could deny the former as a worthy winner after that today, simply awesome.
No doubt a lot of you read this. Voeckler didn't even ride the week before the Tour, nor did he recce a lot of the stages.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/voeckler-to-reconsider-tour-de-france-approach
I just looked back over his TT times. They're abysmal. Mind you, if he is riding for a reason, who knows but he was in the region of 5-10 minutes down on the winner, depending on stage length.
On the same note, I wonder if brother bland the younger (with acknowledgment to Baggy for that tag) has done enough today. A rolling 40K TT course might only see him lose a minute to Evans, maybe less, especially if Evans has to extend himself again tomorrow. I reckon Evans should pray for bad weather at the ITT.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/voeckler-to-reconsider-tour-de-france-approach
I just looked back over his TT times. They're abysmal. Mind you, if he is riding for a reason, who knows but he was in the region of 5-10 minutes down on the winner, depending on stage length.
On the same note, I wonder if brother bland the younger (with acknowledgment to Baggy for that tag) has done enough today. A rolling 40K TT course might only see him lose a minute to Evans, maybe less, especially if Evans has to extend himself again tomorrow. I reckon Evans should pray for bad weather at the ITT.
aberal
Guru
- Location
- Midlothian
The TDF official website is currently showing podium places as 1. Andy Schleck. 2. Frank Schleck. 3. Cadel Evans. No Thomas.
Makes sense...
Makes sense...
HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
aberal
Guru
- Location
- Midlothian
Where on the site is that, all I see is 1.Voeckler
Well, whaddya know? It's gone and changed hasn't it... They were showing what I said around an hour or so ago.
Angelfishsolo
A Velocipedian
- Location
- Cwmbach, South Wales
Yer, yer we believe you.
