2008 Official Tour de France thread ***here be spoilers*

diverg · Post by **diverg** » June 25, 2008 11:40 pm

Staredge wrote:Still do like the AC, just haven't followed the court cases. (figure you'll keep me aware of the important stuff!!!!!!! ) Plenty of big name talent involved, just not many Americans!!!!!

And the wimmenfolk are pretty good looking. Do you read Pez Cycling News?? They have their Daily Distraction. If you don't, you need to.

http://www.pezcyclingnews.com

As for the other scenery, Graham Watson offers free wallpaper on his site. He has some AMAZING shots, which makes sense as he's a world class photog!!!!

I'll let you know what happens if anything tomorrow about the AC. I'll send you a PM and give you a brief update on whats been happening.

East Texas Parrothead · Post by **East Texas Parrothead** » June 25, 2008 11:44 pm

I got to stand in the pit with Watson one time ... he's a piece of work ... and his photos are works of art!

Vive le tour ... and all that goes with it ... well, except the dope.

I'm still not over Landis, either.

Staredge · Post by **Staredge** » June 28, 2008 9:15 am

T-minus one week and counting to Stage 1. No prologue this year....every stage counts. Time bonuses have also been eliminated, so the guy who gets through the fastest WILL win.

Floyd Landis will find out on Monday whether he will be the first TDF winner to be stripped of his yellow jersey, or merely the first to have a very large asterisk next to his name in the record books. Much has been written about the Landis case, and many questions will NEVER be answered.

East Texas Parrothead · Post by **East Texas Parrothead** » June 28, 2008 10:49 am

Staredge wrote:T-minus one week and counting to Stage 1. No prologue this year....every stage counts. Time bonuses have also been eliminated, so the guy who gets through the fastest WILL win.

Floyd Landis will find out on Monday whether he will be the first TDF winner to be stripped of his yellow jersey, or merely the first to have a very large asterisk next to his name in the record books. Much has been written about the Landis case, and many questions will NEVER be answered.

Like I said, I'll never figure that one out ... Floyd is one tough guy ... and the day before's bonk really embarrassed him ... Lance talked about Landis' fearlessness in his books, so when he went out, stayed out and stretched out, I believed.

OTOH ... I can't even imagine the pressure these guys are under to win ...

unclejohn · Post by **unclejohn** » June 29, 2008 11:58 am

I dont believe Landis cheated. I think that he was a victim of the incompetent French lab, and there should be some other way of checking samples. During his first trial it was proved that the lab made several mistakes, why not give him the benefit of the doubt? They showed that the lab had screwed things up. That casts alot of doubt on THEM in my eyes. I hope this verdict is in Landis's favor.

Staredge · Post by **Staredge** » June 29, 2008 4:48 pm

I don't think he did.......except for the exogenous testosterone test. With the history that the lab has, it should have been thrown out. Apparently the panel saw enough to let it stand. We'll see tomorrow how the CAS sees things.

Staredge · Post by **Staredge** » June 29, 2008 9:50 pm

The Europeans held their championship races this weekend, and many of the jerseys won this weekend will be on display in France next weekend. Fabian Cancellara took his 5th consecutive and 6th overall Swiss Time Trial championship. Kim Kirchen will wear the TT jersey of Luxembourg, and Sylvan Chavanel will wear the tricolore of France. The road race championship results are as follows:

2008 European National Road Champions
Elite Men
Germany: Fabian Wegmann (Gerolsteiner)
Belgium: Jurgen Roelandts (Silence-Lotto)
Luxembourg: Frank Schleck
Estonia: Jaan Kirsipuu (CFC Sport Club)
Denmark: Nicki Sorensen (CSC)
Spain: Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne)
France: Nicolas Vogondy (Agritubel)
Italy: Filippo Simeoni (Flaminia)
Kazakhstan: Assan Bazayev (Astana)
Netherlands: Lars Boom (Rabobank)
Russia: Sergey Ivanov (Astana)
Switzerland: Markus Zberg (Gerolsteiner)
Portugal: Joao Cabreira (LA-MSS)
Poland: Marcin Sapa (DHL Author)
Latvia: Normunds Lasis (Dynatek Latvija)

Staredge · Post by **Staredge** » June 30, 2008 1:03 pm

And so it ends. The Court for Arbitration of Sport has dismissed Floyd Landis' appeal of his doping conviction, and ordered him to pay $100,000 of the USADA's court fees. While arguments will rage forever about whether he did or didn't, the decision would seem to be final. The real winners in this case: nobody. The sport is no better for it. Landis himself certainly isn't. Oscar Pereiro never got the opportunity to truly be Tour champion. The fans....well, again, we'll be arguing this out ad nauseum for many years.

Landis will come off of suspension in January 2009. Will he be able to resume his career? Who would hire him? Rock Racing, certainly, if they're still around. If he did dope, he should have followed David Millar's example. Perhaps he would still have a shot at a career. If he didn't, he's the unluckiest SOB in the peleton.

Lightning Bolt · Post by **Lightning Bolt** » June 30, 2008 2:44 pm

Floyd may not have prevailed, but he still has his supporters.
He rode the Leadville Mountain Bike 100 last summer, finished 2nd overall, and from what I was told by my sis (also a participant), was treated like a rock star up there in CO.

Triathlete-Parakeet2 · Post by **Triathlete-Parakeet2** » June 30, 2008 5:45 pm

Though I'm still a huge fan, it seems to me that cycling lately, especially the ASO, have managed to pass down or move around there punishments. I really think that the whole Landis thing was really just a way for the French to nail an American, after seven years of not being able to get Lance. Then came the idiotic decision not to invite Astana to the tour, even though anyone with half a brain knows that they are the Astana team by name only. Astana was involved in a 2006 scandal yet they were allowed back in in 2007. But now that Astana has actually done something about it (new coach, new riders, etc.) the ASO suddenly decides that they need to be punished.

East Texas Parrothead · Post by **East Texas Parrothead** » June 30, 2008 6:06 pm

Damb.

Staredge · Post by **Staredge** » July 1, 2008 7:04 pm

The principality of Monaco has revoked Michael Rasmussen's racing license for two years due to the issues that resulted in Rabobank pulling him from last year's Tour while wearing the maillot jaune. This gives Rasmussen a vacation lasting until July 25th, 2009. Rasmussen conceded that he lied about his location "for personal and marital reasons" ,

but said that the team was aware of his actual location.

Staredge · Post by **Staredge** » July 3, 2008 10:22 pm

Jonathan Vaughters and David Millar showing off the new kit for the argyle warriors. I actually prefer this to the new (now old) Slipstream kit, which was designed and picked via an online contest. Hopefully we'll be seeing a great deal of this kit off the front of the peleton.

Staredge · Post by **Staredge** » July 4, 2008 5:26 pm

Team High Road unveils their new kit for Le Tour, becoming Team Columbia. Anybody else thinks this bears a resemblance to Astana???

East Texas Parrothead · Post by **East Texas Parrothead** » July 4, 2008 11:59 pm

Staredge wrote:The principality of Monaco has revoked Michael Rasmussen's racing license for two years due to the issues that resulted in Rabobank pulling him from last year's Tour while wearing the maillot jaune. This gives Rasmussen a vacation lasting until July 25th, 2009. Rasmussen conceded that he lied about his location "for personal and marital reasons" , but said that the team was aware of his actual location.

I've never been a fan of the chicken man.

Millar looks great in the new kit ...

I have to *work* tomorrow ... can't freaking believe it ... will be checking VeloNews all morning ...

Vive le Tour.

Staredge · Post by **Staredge** » July 5, 2008 10:12 am

Large news coming from Versus: NO AL TRAUTWIG!!!! Not sure how or why, but I shan't argue. Craig Hummer takes the big 'wigs seat behind the desk, lending a certain youthful look to the panel. (Actually, he looks like a kid sitting there, but I digress) We at the BN Official TDF thread wish Al the best in his latest career move, and thank him for taking it.

Actually, I didn't mind Al all that much. We'll see how Craig does over the next three weeks.

Staredge · Post by **Staredge** » July 5, 2008 12:06 pm

Alejandro Valverde storms in from the pack to take Stage 1 and le maillot jaune. Philippe Gilbert and Jerome Pineau finishing up the top 3. Cadel Evans finishing 6th, with the same time as the leader.

Jerseys
Yellow: Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne)
Green: Valverde (worn by Gilbert-FDJ)
KOM: Voeckler (Bouyges Telecom)
White: Ricco (Saunier-Duval)

Most Aggressive: Jegou (FDJ)

Lanterne Rouge: Kuschynski (Liquigas)

Herve Duclos-LaSalle, son of Paris-Roubaix winner Gilbert, crashed in the feed zone, fracturing his wrist and becoming the first withdrawal from Le Tour.

Triathlete-Parakeet2 · Post by **Triathlete-Parakeet2** » July 5, 2008 1:56 pm

Staredge wrote:Large news coming from Versus: NO AL TRAUTWIG!!!! Not sure how or why, but I shan't argue. Craig Hummer takes the big 'wigs seat behind the desk, lending a certain youthful look to the panel. (Actually, he looks like a kid sitting there, but I digress) We at the BN Official TDF thread wish Al the best in his latest career move, and thank him for taking it.

Actually, I didn't mind Al all that much. We'll see how Craig does over the next three weeks.

I'm pretty dissapointed. It just wont be the same without the fishwig's commentary and voice.

Staredge · Post by **Staredge** » July 6, 2008 11:57 am

Thor Hushovd sprints to the line for the win on Stage 2. Cancellara tried the late break, but broke before the line.

Jerseys
Yellow: Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne)
Green: Kirchen (Columbia)
KOM: Voeckler (Bouyges Telecom)
White: Ricco (Saunier-Duval)

Most Aggressive: Chavanel (Cofidis)

Lanterne Rouge: Soler (Barloworld)

unclejohn · Post by **unclejohn** » July 6, 2008 4:28 pm

Anyone playing the game on versus that lets you pick your "fantasy team" for the tour?