Forum menu
So anyone fancy as sweep as to what time in the 30 hours until the start that the sh1t hits the fan? I imagine that there will be a team presentation in Rotterdam this evening so for maximum media exposure I reckon just before that kicks in. My guess is 19:00 local time. I suspect it will be some form of continuation of the Landis claims. Gets a double whammy that way. He hates Lance and I imagine the TdF cos they stripped him of the "win", so he'd get maximum value tonight.
Anyone else fancy a go? Name you time and cause/culprit.
Presentation was yesterday.
Some obscure Spanish/Italian/Eastern European domestique to fall foul of biological passport related targeted testing, probably in the second week.
But hopefully not.
Michael Rasmussen will turn up to the prologue insisting 'William Hill can't be wrong!!!!'
[url= http://road.cc/content/news/18386-bookies-tip-michael-rasmussen-top-ten-finish-tour-de-france ]Read all about it[/url]
No sh1t, no fan.
I hope.
The UCI want to protect the tour, drug tests will be predictable and it will be a 'clean' tour. All of the top boys dope and the UCI turn a blind eye occasionally busting someone to keep WADA happy, its just the way it is.
i think the cobbles on stage three might be the first talking point.
It might make Cav's crash look small fry.
The UCI might want to but the French Antidoping agency and WADA don't and they're going to be there...
I reckon that the customs blokes will be waiting at the borders (since it starts in the Netherlands this year) to do searches - perfect opportunity (and how the Festina affair kicked off IIRC)
Warton, that's the biggest load of rubbish I've read on here for a while!
Cobbles on Stage 3, then a random domestique testing positive towards the end of Week 2.
he UCI might want to but the French Antidoping agency and WADA don't and they're going to be there...
French dope testers have not been allowed to test in this tour, which just shows how much the UCI want to keep it hidden. WADA are there, but only observing, they have no say in how the UCI test.
Its a real shame, cause the french anti doping team use info off customs, and use the police to enforce protocol, UCI are very predictable, even to the extend of unofficially letting top riders know when to expect a test
"I reckon that the customs blokes will be waiting at the borders "
What customs and what borders? There are non-existen these days on the auto routes. Just some oveergrowm tarmac ares and empty buildings.
Warton, that's the biggest load of rubbish I've read on here for a while!
Is it? so the governing body of a sport wants to drag said sport through the mud? no of course they don't.
This years tour will be 'clean' as you say a random domestique will be pulled up, so it looks like they're doing their job. biological passport is flawed, given riders the chance to dope all year round to keep their blood on a consistent level. Until the UCI give up control of dope testing the sport will never be clean
Cobbled stage might be a damp squib.
Not enough classics guys will go on the attack to really rip it apart. Cancellara can't go full bore or he will drop the Shlecks, no Boonen although the other Quickstep boys might give it a dig, no Gilbert, Ballan and Burghardt will have to wait for Cadel.
Columbia and Garmin will probably get stuck in as Wiggins and Rogers should be ok and Farrar and Cav should be able to get to the finish with the leaders. Not sure about Radioshack, Lance could make some time on the other GC guys if his team are strong enough. He might just latch onto Cloumbua like he did in the wind last year.
Can't wait!
Don't think you're right there Warton - well sort of - the AFLD have a legal right to be there and to test people racing on French soil. The UCI are being obstructive and have said that they won't share the information about the teams' whereabouts but since they're all racing the TdF it's not exactly rocket science to work out where they'll be so they can test them...
Cobbles - a belgian relative unknown will go for glory, all the top contenders will just make sure they get round and don't break themselves to get on with the tour 'proper' after its over.
A shame, but that's what will happen.
all the top contenders will just make sure they get round and don't break themselves to get on with the tour 'proper' after its over.
But what that means is that all the teams of the contenders will fight to get to the front to avoid the ineveitable crashes. On narrow, bumpy roads, that leads to crashes and splits... Ironic really.
In recent times, almost every time they'd done cobbles or similar (Passage du Gois) at least one big contender has lost significant time.
Cobbles will take one big name down, hopefully not Wiggo, a climber will make a massive breakaway and get tested. Unless hell freezes over Contador will win, all IMHO 
I win - Landis did it just prior to the Prologue - via the Wall Street Journal.
Whether true or false I just feel it it so sad how he is behaving. It is not so much the effect on Lance. I used to be a supporter but once I read "It's not about the bike" I just went off him. I still admire his will, and all he has done on and off the bike. Just don't think he is a nice person.
No what irritates me is the effect on the whole sport. We all know that the problem persists but what is needed is proper investigation, away from the spot light, at least until so honest solid conclusions have been arrived at. With irrefutable proof.
[i]I win - Landis did it just prior to the Prologue - via the Wall Street Journal.[/i]
Article here:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704911704575326753200584006.html?mod=ITP_weekendjournal_0
Not much new TBH, not exactly a bombshell which I'm guessing is why he released it now where it would get at least some publicity. Same old same old, Landis has no proof and no credibility.