2012 Tour De France --Post Your Comments Here!

[flying]

Frank Schleck has tested positive for a diurectic and been booted from the tour.

Speechless. Bloody <deleted>!

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Yeah I know how you feel

For years I got depressed as hero after hero turned a positive

But these days I pretty much accept the fact that they probably all dope at some point.

It is nice to think otherwise but after decades I tend to see it go all the way back to Anquetil

In short Anquetil said even then..." We run on Dynamite"

I remember when Delgado got popped for Probenecid<sp?>

He did not get ejected as it was on the Olympic ban list but not the tour

same probably as Schleck ...a masking agent of sorts

At the end of the day I got tired & accepted the fact that drugs are a part of it.

If not tell me how the avg speed never drops year after year when compared to supposedly dope fueled years.

Even the shear volume of work expected of the riders.

I use to do Ironman distance Tri & see the TDF as 20 IM's in basically a row.

with 2 days rest. I am not saying I compare to them but I have a view & never see folks blow in spectacular fashion

as they once did. Bonk is almost unheard of these days in TDF

Yes training has advanced but the rule of averages cannot disappear completely

Anyway........Did not mean to sidetrack into drugs subject but.....I just don't care as much anymore

where as I use to get so upset to find out XX used.

[T_Dog]

Frank Schleck has tested positive for a diurectic and been booted from the tour.

Speechless. Bloody &lt;deleted&gt;!

Sent from my GT-I9003 using Thaivisa Connect App

Yeah I know how you feel

For years I got depressed as hero after hero turned a positive

But these days I pretty much accept the fact that they probably all dope at some point.

It is nice to think otherwise but after decades I tend to see it go all the way back to Anquetil

In short Anquetil said even then..." We run on Dynamite"

I remember when Delgado got popped for Probenecid<sp?>

He did not get ejected as it was on the Olympic ban list but not the tour

same probably as Schleck ...a masking agent of sorts

At the end of the day I got tired & accepted the fact that drugs are a part of it.

If not tell me how the avg speed never drops year after year when compared to supposedly dope fueled years.

Even the shear volume of work expected of the riders.

I use to do Ironman distance Tri & see the TDF as 20 IM's in basically a row.

with 2 days rest. I am not saying I compare to them but I have a view & never see folks blow in spectacular fashion

as they once did. Bonk is almost unheard of these days in TDF

Yes training has advanced but the rule of averages cannot disappear completely

Anyway........Did not mean to sidetrack into drugs subject but.....I just don't care as much anymore

where as I use to get so upset to find out XX used.

Yeah, it may be a sidetrack. Maybe someone should start a new thread on Armstrong's usage. A pro rider I know that rode as Lance appeared on the scene sure has an opinion.......

[flying]

Yeah, it may be a sidetrack. Maybe someone should start a new thread on Armstrong's usage. A pro rider I know that rode as Lance appeared on the scene sure has an opinion.......

Agreed too much sidetrack but........

I am curious....did you mean to say a pro that rode with Lance?

If so yeah please start a thread as I bet it is interesting too.

Thanks

[burgdawg]

Stage 16: Pau to Bagneres-de-Luchon (July 18)

Very hot today and a tough stage in the Pyrenees. A break-away of 38 rides whittled down and a triumphant

Thoma Voeckler (frog Team Europcar) really did a hellva fine day of climbing.

Gutsy perfomance, giving France something to cheer about and forget about the economic wolf at their door.

I wish I had what he has in his gas tank! No matter what, a Frenchman has won a 5th Stage in this Year's Tour and it was an impressive sight.

All of us daredevil descenders must give a tip of the cap to Voeckler's bike handling skills rocketing down the mountains, very sweet!

Wickedly fast.

More important was Voeckler's snaring the lead of the Polka Dot jersey by 4 points. This jersey race is far from finished. Voeckler will have to ride strong tomorrow.

BTW, the Polka Dot jersey got its inception from a French ice cream company that sponsored the hillclimb portion of TdF many decades ago.

They had a popular ice cream with a polka wrapper logo, which made its way onto the jersey and a classification on its own.

Cadel Evans cracked, hard. Bad day, stomach issues. Evans lost approximately 5 minutes and instead of being +3:19 is now +8:06 behind Wiggins.

Ouch.

TJ Garderen was cut loose from shepherding Evans and he rode a very strong stage. TJ is in 6th place, 7:55 behind Wiggins.

Wiggins has a nice, quiet, steadying force about him. I love the way his turns over his pedals.

He appears to be on a track no matter what the terrain. I rarely see him stand up and pump the pedals.

And his elipitcal front sprocket in the time trials.

He doesn't freak, panic or point fingers. Maybe this will be the first of many tour victories for Wiggins?

Or are we seeing a future shootout between Froome and Wiggins?

The core team leaders consisting of Wiggins, Froome and Nibadli(Team LiquiGas) stayed locked together.

Nibaldi attempted a few break-aways, quickly countered by the 1-2

punch of Wiggins and Froome.

Tip of the cap and much respect to Jens Voigt of Germany who came in 6th place today! The guy oughta get the Awesome Jersey.

Peter Sagan, who has the green jersey wrapped up came in 22 minutes after Voeckler.

Stage 18 tomorrow is 143km with a killer hillclimb at the finish.

[David48]

^^ Nice wrap above ...

Is this your summary?

Do you write professionally elsewhere?

Evans concedes his Tour bid is over

Reporter James Bennett is at the Tour de France, where Cadel Evans lost almost five minutes to yellow jersey Bradley Wiggins on the toughest stage of the 2012 race.

Video report here.

Can someone confirm that the above video loads in Thailand?

Might be a touch slow, but not sure about crossing continents?

.

[GuestHouse]

An epic ride by Voeckler - and remember he did this without a race radio.

That final 'now or never' attack was his decision, he didn't have someone sitting in a car, tapping data into a computer to tell him the odds - It was his choice to attack and go for a long lead into the stage win.

Hats off to Sorensen too, a superb chase after Voeckler - The term 'RACE' comes to mind.

Absolutely epic and precisely the kind of stuff that inspires kids to take up racing.

I know, Wiggins and Sky are playing their strengths and I know its going to be the first British win of the TdF - but honestly watching Wiggins is like watching paint dry.

Yoohoo Wiggins makes a 500 meter effort 'RESPONDING' to Nibali and the commentators are screaming how strong he looks - Well yes, he's been sitting behind his team mates day in day out. Froome chases down Nibali for Wiggins, we see the effort it takes him and we are again told how strong Wiggins looks.

Wiggins is almost certain to win now, and well done to him and sky..... But I doubt many are watching the tour to see the race for the Yellow Jersey this year.

[apetley]

Yes awesome performance by Sky. Quite simply easily the strongest team there. They can't be blamed for others shortcomings. I suppose Nibali made an attempt, he had to, but the speed at which it was snuffed out must have been devastating for him.

Voeckler was wonderful to watch and it's great he got another stage.

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[burgdawg]

david...

thanks for the compliment. I enjoy writing. I'm a carpenter and tile setter.

And plumber.

The writing I do in my head when I work or ride a bicycle.

Yes, Voeckler without his radio, thanks for that clarificaton G House.

The guy really soaked up his victory the last 2km.

Big handshake with Hinnault as well.

Loved the bit about watching Wiggo and "drying paint..." faf....

Evans is toast, stick a fork in him.

Wonder what tomorrow will bring?

Seems like many of the riders are thinking about the Olympics in London?

This year's race lacks the urgency of past Tours.....

[burgdawg]

apetley posted:

<<

Frank Schleck has tested positive for a diurectic and been booted from the tour.

Speechless. Bloody &lt;deleted&gt;!

Sent from my GT-I9003 using Thaivisa Connect App>>

Am I missing something in the pharmacology dept? Diuretics like HCTZ, furorsemide(lasix), and many others strip moisture from one's body.

The idea with diuretics is thus: the less liquid that one's heart has to pump, the less strain. This is illegal?

I can see it having a dehyrdrating effect on one's body. Performance?

Now take a beta blocker like Inderal or Atenolol which regulates the beta (or rest phase) of one's heartbeat. Think governor on any engine: the beta blocker

refuses to allow the heart to race, lowering bp. It is an invaluable bp med in any doc's arsenal. One unintended side effect of beta blockers is for actors and performance folks

who suffer from stage fright: beta blockers are issued for that condition in addition to high bp.

Swedish heart specialists pioneered beta blockers in the mid 1960s: they administered bb after a coronary "event."

They reasoned "why wait?, let's administer bb as a prophylactic measure."

Dunno how a duiretic could improve one's perfomance, or not.

Anyone?

[apetley]

It's main use is as a masking agent to hide performance enhancing drugs in the system.

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[burgdawg]

apetley...

oh!

That explains things.....shows you how clueless I am about such matters....

[el jefe]

So much for that "race" between Wigans and Froome. Wigans cost his loyal teammate the stage win.

[downtown]

mixed feelings for me.. great to see a win for my team but the biz between froome and wiggins was quite comical

[downtown]

if the tour is boring its because of wiggins "rivals" not taking a chance, as shown perfectly by nibali just now

Edited July 19, 2012 by downtown

[burgdawg]

Stage 17: Bagneres-de-Luchon to Peyragudes (July 19)

Last tough mountain stage of the tour.

Many spectactors lining the route's uphill sections.

High speed descents, cloud-socked course, overcast.

Spanish rider Alejando Valverde(ESP Team MoviStar) is streaking to the hilltop finish.

Valverde broke away solo early in today's Stage and made it work.

Wiggins unleashes Froome to get his own stage win, did not work.

Last climb was brutal as other riders began dropping off the rear.

Great performance by Wiggins-Froome

Evans showed up and actually had a strong ride.

Too little, too late. Evans in 6th place in the Tour overall.

Nibaldi and American Chris Horner got dropped by Wiggins/Froome on the final hill, yet rode quite well.

Huge hometown cheering for their homeboy. Quite a fine Stage win by Valverde(his 4th stage win in various Tours).

Yet Valverde has not been in a Tour since 2008, hmmm?

Thibault Pinot(Fra/Team BigMat) finished the stage in 4th slot behind.

Valverde

Froome

Wiggins

Pinot

TJ Garderen and 40 year old Chris Horner with strong rides.

TJ from 6th in 5th place in overall standings.

The finish line locale appeared like some forlorn ski developer's scheme run amuck.

Not an established old mountain town.

I wonder how much is in receivership? Yet all ski chalets look abandoned during the summer months.

I kinda miss the Alp d'Huez terrain.

222.5 km in tomorrow's Stage

[burgdawg]

...just re-watched Valverde's descents around the broad sweeping curves...

His front chainring is 53T and rear cog 11T, hitting speeds in excess of 100 kmph!

Valverde's gutsy moved paid in a Stage win. Yeah, if Froome was unleashed earlier.....?

[downtown]

even though he rides for my team, i found it hard to cheer valverde on - dont like any drug cheats. so it looks like wiggins will win his first tour. i think it will be a one-off. next year's tour, the 100th, will be much more mountainous, probably with mount ventoux. and with contador and schleck back, if wiggo wins that then i'll be impressed

[T_Dog]

mixed feelings for me.. great to see a win for my team but the biz between froome and wiggins was quite comical

Where are you seeing that biz? It seems from this news report that they are both agreeable on the conservative (yeah boring) strategy. Post a link if you can.

http://www.sbs.com.au/cyclingcentral/news/38068/froome-insists-tour-bid-can-wait

[el jefe]

mixed feelings for me.. great to see a win for my team but the biz between froome and wiggins was quite comical

Where are you seeing that biz? It seems from this news report that they are both agreeable on the conservative (yeah boring) strategy. Post a link if you can.

http://www.sbs.com.a...ur-bid-can-wait

T-Dog, you should come into town and watch the race. it was pretty sad (or comical) watching Froome implore Wigans to go faster. i was surprised that Wigans didn't tell Froome to go ahead and take the stage win. Worst case scenario is wigans would have drifted back to Nibali. Would have been a fitting reward for all the hard work Froome has done the last few days.

Next years race should be quite a battle between Contador, Froome, Andy Schleck, and maybe TJ Van Garderen.

[T_Dog]

mixed feelings for me.. great to see a win for my team but the biz between froome and wiggins was quite comical

Where are you seeing that biz? It seems from this news report that they are both agreeable on the conservative (yeah boring) strategy. Post a link if you can.

http://www.sbs.com.a...ur-bid-can-wait

T-Dog, you should come into town and watch the race. it was pretty sad (or comical) watching Froome implore Wigans to go faster. i was surprised that Wigans didn't tell Froome to go ahead and take the stage win. Worst case scenario is wigans would have drifted back to Nibali. Would have been a fitting reward for all the hard work Froome has done the last few days.

Next years race should be quite a battle between Contador, Froome, Andy Schleck, and maybe TJ Van Garderen.

I figured something like that was going on. Too bad "the team" can't let the right guy get on with it. Would love to have seen Frome trying to get Wiggins to kick in. Denying a stage win for the likes of Wiggins sure must be tough on him no matter what he says to the reporters. Thanks for the answer, and yes, I am deeply missing watching it!

[downtown]

agreed. wiggins should have let froome go, im pretty sure he would have caught valverde who was slowing up.

[burgdawg]

Stage 18: Blagnac to Brive-la-Gaillarde (July 20) 222.5 km

Fast pace, in excess of 60-70kmph

Minor hills, cat 4.

Waiting game played by the leaders to stay safe and conserve energy for tomorrow's time trial Stage.

Coolish temps, overcast. Great race day conditions.

Voeckler has a lock on the Polka Dot competition.

At the end of one stage, the Tour rules is that the top 20 get a helicopter lift to the start of the next day's stage.

The rest take a bus en masse, no exceptions.

Peter Sagan tried to rent a helicopter, not a chance. A bus or he gets bounced from the Tour.

Several break away attempts, captured.

Slight rain commences as the race ends....slick conditions.

Cat fight at end of the Stage

Cavendish stalking Wiggins at the end!

Sagan in the mix, Griepel!

CAVENDISH WINS!

WOW!

One of Mark's best victories in his fine career!

You've gotta view the footage, no one was taking Cavendish's at the end.

He looked like he was launched by a JATO unit.

Wtg Mark!

[apetley]

Yes superb sprint by Cav.

Went from along way out too and then kicked again.

Shot from a barrel!!!!

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[downtown]

over the moon for Cav today and showed that he can do it on his own and launch from the back, the manx missile indeed. sagan isnt fit Cav's cleats

[GuestHouse]

agreed. wiggins should have let froome go, im pretty sure he would have caught valverde who was slowing up.

Yes but he would have eaten a minute and a half into Wiggin's lead and that just would not do would it.

I felt for Froome on this finish - he's going to spend the rest of his life thinking 'What if?' - he did as he was told and handed over a stage victory and perhaps the best chance he'll ever have of winning the tour.

[GuestHouse]

over the moon for Cav today and showed that he can do it on his own and launch from the back, the manx missile indeed. sagan isnt fit Cav's cleats

I agree, a great ride by Cavendish. But his interview after was telling - Sky ready to concede the stage and only talking about keeping Wiggins GC time, when Cavendish puts his hand up and says "give me a chance I can win this in a sprint"

Yes Wiggins is going to win, but its costing the others dearly.

[flying]

Yes but he would have eaten a minute and a half into Wiggin's lead and that just would not do would it.

I felt for Froome on this finish - he's going to spend the rest of his life thinking 'What if?' - he did as he was told and handed over a stage victory and perhaps the best chance he'll ever have of winning the tour.

History repeats?

Remember Lemond entering a similar deal with Hinault

The promise of help the next year instead the 1986 TDF turned into a bitter feud

http://www.cyclingre...5/top25-19.html

Also like Lemond later did, Froome could have a unrelated problem later this year & perhaps this was his one chance to

grab the ring.

I am all for team loyalty when threatened.

But in this case Wiggins & Froome & in this case Team Sky had it sewn up

Let the cards fall where they may Sky would still be the beneficiary

An Elite Athletes window of opportunity is tiny at best. A tour win makes a lifelong

difference. Froome should have just jumped. IMHO

Well...who knows eh? There is one chance left & that would not be considered mutiny

If Froome could pull off the ride of his life in the TT

Another Lemond comparison...Lemond vs Fignon 1989 TDF final TT

Ok that was only 58 seconds or so

http://www.telegraph...ht-seconds.html

But if Froome had chased Valverde sooner there is a good chance that is what the

difference going into the final TT could have been....All speculation I know

But Oh what a ending that would have been for this otherwise mild TDF

Edited July 21, 2012 by flying

[GuestHouse]

^ I agree entirely.

Froome should have attacked he would have easily taken the stage and lit up the final stages of what has been a pedestrian tour (not in anyway comparable with last year).

[burgdawg]

..flying

I read the links you posted about Tours past.

Oh yes, I recall Hinnault's betrayal quite well. He tried convincing LeMond "...your turn will come another year."

I still look away when the camera pans on the Badger's grinning, corpulent face.

But "another year" never comes.

Yeah, I was wondering to myself "...so Froome is a good lieutnant, does he have the killer instinct?"

Far from me to state. Where was Froome last year? One hit wonder?

Recall how earlier this season Andy Schleck "...so no way how he could not win the Tour?"

A professional athlete's window to shine is painfully short.

[apetley]

Lemond was no angel himself. Try looking at videos of the 1982 world championships when he chases down his own team mate and sets up a win for Saronni who came off his wheel.

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