I just started following this year, after having passivly heard about guys like Lemond, Armstrong, Indurain, etc.

I have to say that this sport, this event, is awesome. I watch it on OLN (58, Rogers cable in Canada) and I'm just blown away by the entire spectacle. RThe scenic shots are incredible, the history is amazing (Le Tour's been going on since 1903), the strategy is fascinating and the sight of dozens of cyclists careening down the road at 50+ MPH in huge groups is very exciting.

Give it an opportunity. If you cycle at all, you will probably get hooked like me and you don't have to wait every 4 years, like the World Cup.

Bike on!

Did you see the dog that knocked one of the guys off his bike? Crazy stuff.

Haha..yeah, I saw the clip. I don't know if you noticed, but the guy managed to turn his front wheel so it didn't hit the dog dead on and, because the wheel was carbon fibre, it practically disintegrated, most likely saving the dog's ribs, if not life. If the wheel was a normal one, the dog would have been smoked.

Started to follow it this year? You're 2 years too late..

No Lance, no Tour De France

Well, I know what you're saying, but it's kind of refreshing to look forward to someone winning it for the first time. Also, there seems to be clear regulations regarding doping. All riders have to sign a waiver that will cost them a year's salary if they're caught.

I'm french... The Tour de France just passed in my region (I live in grenoble, a 300K people city in the Alps).
But when you live in this country, it's really boring watching hours of TV with landscapes you already know.

And everybody know they're ALL doped. Don't tell me they signed up a paper, because it's worth nothing : when a test is found to prevent doping, another illegal product is already on the market.

But if you really like watching this, you should come here.
I watched "Friends" for years, but then I decided to go and see NYC by myself.

Ah, the phlegmatic French. I'll light up a Gitane and have a Pernod in your honor, sir.

Well I prefer to watch 24 while eating my big mac, but whatever.

The constant doping scandals are hard to take, but the scenery is beautiful and all respect to any of the Athletes that aren't doped to the eyeballs.








I would love to see France one day but don't you guys hate all foreigners??

Of course. That's why we're the most visited country of the world.

In fact when I came in the US 2 years ago, I thought U americans hated foreigners. But then I realized that you almost all liked Europe a lot, especially France.
It's true a few people here are quite rough, and don't like foreigners, but as in every place of the world.
But it's also true that it's a really beautiful country, with amazing food, a lot of cultural places, etc...

If you come here though, please don't stay only in Paris or in the Cote d'Azur. IMHO, the most beautiful place here is the Alps, and I'm not saying that because I live in this region. North of France is not worth anything. Don't bother to go up there.

If you decide to come, MP me, I could give you some help finding the good spots.

Wash your mouth out! Not that there is anything wrong with it ( being american that is ) but I'm actually Australian. Only joking about the French hating everyone, I have had friends spend time in the south of France that absolutely loved it.

Where are you from exactly ?
My girlfriend lived for a year and 1/2 in Australia (Perth). She loved it.

A shame it's so far from every place I'd love to live in. (US or Europe)

I live in Sydney, which is on the east coast (other side of the continent) roughly 4000kms from Perth. About the same distance as New York to Los Angeles I believe.

I haven't been able to watch it this year. I agree that the scenery is awesome. I'm always amazed at how close to the people and vehicles the riders get.

Quite a weekend! Rasmussen and Contador to the wire on Sunday's stage and Vino smoking the field in the time trials...

Funny I'm the French here and yet I can't force myself to watch this show.

Vino out...dope

Like all the others. 200 kilometers per day, 3 or 4 mountains to climb, just one day of rest per week...

Give them some realistic-human-sport to practice, and maybe they'll quit doping themselves.

Looks like Rasmussen won another stage.

err...
From the looks of it, he won the Tour

From the looks of it, he's done..

This is sooo disappointing.. today's stage was amazing, Rasmussen truly looked like a champion

But of course..

Tour de France Leader Michael Rasmussen Pulled From Race


By Kirsten Begg,
July 25, 2007

Tour de France leader Michael Rasmussen was removed from the Tour de France by his Rabobank team late Wednesday. The Dane, who was already under a cloud of suspicion for missing out-of-competition drug tests in May and June, was found to have lied regarding his whereabouts during those tests.

Having initially claimed to have missed the tests due to being in Mexico, the team discovered that the rider was in fact in Italy. Rasmussen was fired by his team immediately.

"He broke team rules," said a team spokesman. "It is not even sure if the team will carry on in the race," he added.

It is unknown if reports of sightings of Rasmussen training in Italy’s Dolomite mountains during the same period he claimed to be in Mexico had anything to do with Rabobank’s decision.

Rasmussen’s removal from the race crowned one of the bleakest periods for the sport of cycling. Still reeling from the recent doping-related expulsion of Kazakh rider Alexandre Vinokourov, riders delayed the start of Wednesday’s stage 16 to protest doping in the sport.

During the course of the day another positive drug control was announced and Cristian Moreni was escorted from the finish line by police having returned a positive test for testosterone in a random drug control after stage 11. Moreni admitted his wrong doing and waived his right to a ‘B’ sample analysis which was rapidly followed by the withdrawal of his heavily anti-doping French Cofidis squad.

As news of the French withdrawal settled the Dutch Rabobank team announced the removal and subsequent firing of Rasmussen for violation of internal team rules. The Dane had been leading the Tour de France for the past 9 days having won stage 8 and also Wednesday’s stage 16. The race lead now passes to 24-year old Spaniard Alberto Contador.

Wow, did not know that...
go Discovery I guess...

How disappointing is this? First, a couple of "lesser" riders fail doping tests, then Vino gets bounced and now Rasmussen. I thought we were in for a fairly clean Tour this year, but it's clear that some teams and some riders have not yet learned any lessons. Personally, I'd rather ride drug-free and finish 150th overall than ride "enhanced" and win, particularly if I was going to be caught, stripped of my title and ushered out in disgrace.

Boo...

This definitely sucks. I was really getting into the battles Rasmussen and Contodor were having through the Pyrinies (sp?) and looking forward to it being a close finish. I guess I don't understand why they kicked Rasmussen off his team because he was training in a different country than he said that he was, and he missed some team drug tests because of it. That was months ago why is it being brought up after he has been leading the race for nine days in a row? Just totally frustrates me and I wish all the nonsense in the sport, and all sports for that matter would stop.

Never thought that his team knew he's doped, and prefer to let him go before he's caught ?...

I think it ended up being a good Tour, regardless of the doping with Rasmussen and Vino.

Highlights:

Alberto Contador winning overall and also grabbing the White jersey. Superb Tour from a splendid young rider who'll be around for another 5-8 years.

Levi Leipheimer for having an awesome time trial to give the end of the Tour a 1-2-3 finish (never before seen) of 31 second differential. And for riding a great Tour.

Cadel Evans, for proving he's more than a time trial specialist.

Juan Mauricio Soler, for winning the King of the Mountain without any serious challengers and emerging as another young rider who will be a serious factor in the years to come.

Txurruka (can't recal his first name). Yet another young rider. Voted Most Aggresive of the Tour and spent in excess of 500 KM in various breakaways.

Tom Boonen, for winning the coveted Green jersey.

It's my first serious look at the Tour, so I'm sure I've missed some acheivements. Kudos to all who raced, esp those who finished well.

lol...

http://www.theonion.com/content/news/non_d..._finish_tour_de