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The cycling world is reeling . . .operating under a black doping cloud . . . Ullrich and Basso banned . . . Vinokourov out because he can't field a team . . .but the world's greatest sporting event started with a very short, intense prologue today.

Norway's (Credit Agricole) Thor Hushovd nipped Discovery's new captain Big George Hincapie by just 7 one hundreths of a second . . . American Zabriskie finished 3rd. Crazy Floyd Landis missed the start. Got to the gate 8 seconds late. HOW can that happen? Counting the delay, Floyd was only off by one second when it was all said and done. Showed everyone he's got the legs and must have nerves of steel.

It's going to be an interesting three weeks. Discovery came prepared. Two of the top ten slots belong to them. Salvoldelli looked great. They got four of the top 50, too. Great confidence booster for them.

Disappointment for me was Levi. Should have been stronger. But, maybe he just wanted to cruise today and let the others fight it out.

Thought I would miss Lance more. Nope. It's the spectacle that is the Tour de France that does it for me. Lance was just the icing on the cake.

Getting up early on a Saturday was worth it.

another fan here. It should be an interesting year. Endurance sports and doping go hand in hand unfortunately.

Wow. Hadn't heard about Ulrich and Basso

ETP, will you be the official Tour correspondent for BN? Great posting

How did Adam from Mythbusters do???

I don't normally wish ill on anyone, but I hope Team CSC doesn't do well.

Just found out that Floyd flatted right before the start. Amazing that he got out in under 9 seconds.

Am still stunned that Hincapie did so well in such a short ride. He's not known to be a prologue rider. He must be in the shape of his life. So glad he's back after that horrible crash earlier this year. Handlebars came off his bike on the cobbles...he separated his shoulder.

Looks like the mountains and the final ITT will be crucial this year. Am so glad Alp d' Huez is in there...and Col du Galibier . . . there's a new Alp this year, too.

Bob and Paul think it's going to be won in the mountains. Phil thinks the ITT will tell. With no pure all-around rider like Lance in the group, it's going to be interesting.

ragtopW wrote:How did Adam from Mythbusters do???

Stoppit.

phjrsaunt wrote:I don't normally wish ill on anyone, but I hope Team CSC doesn't do well.

Zabriske rides for CSC....but Basso was their leader. He's out for doping. Ironic, huh? Doping/CSC?

Great sprinter Stuart O'Grady (from Jenny's part of the world) also rides for them.

That's about all they've got. Basso was supposed to take it all.

However, I *knew* something was up with him when he didn't even break a sweat at the Giro.

I *hate* that these guys, especially the Spanish medical community, have dirtied the sport. I thought it was getting cleaner. Oh, well.

IMHO: Ullrich looked in great shape in all the film clips. I think he was poised for a history-making comeback. It will be so sad if he's not dirty and missed his chance.

East Texas Parrothead wrote:

phjrsaunt wrote:I don't normally wish ill on anyone, but I hope Team CSC doesn't do well.

Zabriske rides for CSC....but Basso was their leader. He's out for doping. Ironic, huh? Doping/CSC?

Great sprinter Stuart O'Grady (from Jenny's part of the world) also rides for them.

That's about all they've got. Basso was supposed to take it all.

However, I *knew* something was up with him when he didn't even break a sweat at the Giro.

I *hate* that these guys, especially the Spanish medical community, have dirtied the sport. I thought it was getting cleaner. Oh, well.

IMHO: Ullrich looked in great shape in all the film clips. I think he was poised for a history-making comeback. It will be so sad if he's not dirty and missed his chance.

Well, THAT gives me some slight sense of evil satisfaction then. Maybe they can take some of ALL THAT MONEY they were paying me to put their guy in rehab.

What a sad deal and terrible timing for the sport...some great names gone from the ride.

I'll look to catch some of it but the antics of the week have taken some wind from the sails....how sad.

I think it is interesting that all these riders were suspended before the race. With all the accusations about Lance over the years, if officials really believed they were true, and if the evidence was solid, wouldn't they have done the same with him?

ejr wrote:I think it is interesting that all these riders were suspended before the race. With all the accusations about Lance over the years, if officials really believed they were true, and if the evidence was solid, wouldn't they have done the same with him?

There's never been a raid/investigation like this one. From what I've read on the cycling sites, the Spanish authorities have conclusive proof (something they never had against Lance and others) this time around. It was called Operation Puerto.

Also, it was the TEAM managers that pulled the riders who were implicated, not the Tour officials. That twist is new. I think what the teams are trying to do is clean up their sport before the doping kills it . . . at least in Europe.

gotta love the BN TdF coverage . This years event is going to be very very interesting...As everyone is saying...in the "Post Lance" generation the yellow is totally up ffor grabs. Now that Basso and Ullrich are out it's really going to be a turkey shoot. I love it though....Can't say I'm going to love waking up early everyday for the next couple weeks...uggh

LPO: What's your take on today's action?

I hear the crosswind was brutal and the heat was a factor, too. I really don't like short prologues ... would rather see something around 20k instead of 7.

This is just so sad. They say Tyler Hamilton possibly faces a lifetime ban from pro cycling. He's linked to the Spanish doping doctor.

I *love* that kid and just hate that he felt so pressured . . . he's got such great talent . . . it seems he didn't know just how good he was.

Dadgum.

East Texas Parrothead wrote:LPO: What's your take on today's action?

I hear the crosswind was brutal and the heat was a factor, too. I really don't like short prologues ... would rather see something around 20k instead of 7.

Long story cut really short but I had dinner in Colorado Springs years ago with Thierry Marie, who some of you old timers will remember won the Prologue several times during the years when the French and Greg Lemond were a force. Nice guy, spoke very little English, but it was surprising what a celebrity that he was among French fans who had journeyed to see the World Championships that year. After all, he was a time trial specialist and there wasn't much of a chance that he would do well during the World's Road Race, which was being run the next day.

The Prologue is that ever popular thing called "tradition" and while a short Prologue isn't much of an indicator of who is going to be around for the mountain stages, it does allow the folks who are time trialists and pursuiters to showcase their talents.

The Tour, at least as presented on US television, seems to be all about the Yellow Jersey these days. Back in the olden days of Merckx et al the winners of the Green Jersey (points, which favors sprinters) and the Polka Dot Jersey (mountains, which favors climbers) were celebrities in their own right.

In most years the overall winner is the guy who can time trial, climb, and sometimes even sprint with the best of 'em. Yesterday's Prologue showcased a specialist (Thor) but followers of the race had to sit up and notice that a climber (Hincapie) who had won a mountain stage in a previous Tour was almost as fast as the specialist.

As the man said, this could be a very interesting Tour indeed.

East Texas Parrothead wrote:
That's about all they've got. Basso was supposed to take it all.

.

Does anyone know if the Basso of today is Marino Basso's son?

PirateJohn wrote:

East Texas Parrothead wrote:
That's about all they've got. Basso was supposed to take it all.

.

Does anyone know if the Basso of today is Marino Basso's son?

Yes. They're not related.

Welcome to the madness!

Seems the wind is a factor again today.

It's not all about the yellow to me. I love the whole spectacle...even the back of the peleton is interesting.

First it was a musette bag in 2003 on Luz Ardiden . . . now a stoopid green foam hand thingee being swung by an over zealous fan.

Prologue winner Thor Hushovd sustained a horrific cut to his upper right arm . . . right at the end of a terrific sprint finish. No word on his condition, but there was blood everywhere. Crossed the finish line covered in blood. I sure hope Tour officials take swift and decisive action against all the hoopla along the barriers.

Cheeky move in a sprint out on the road puts Hincapie in yellow at the end of the day. First GC yellow for Hincapie . . . ever. He's in the lead by 2 seconds. He's one smart bike rider.

Americans have 3 in the top five. Discovery has 2 in the top 10. I think.

I hope Hushovd can come back. It's doubtful. The cut was very, very deep.

Stoopid. Stoopid. Stoopid.

Look at the yellow jersey's upper right arm. Ghastly. Send some phin power that way. The kid could use it.

Landis is currently in 9th place. Hincapie is in the yellow. There is another American in the top 10, but I am not sure what position. I think from Discovery?