Tour De France

[Sir Mackel]

Just found out that the Tour De France leader was eliminated for doping.

Any comments.(I'm not sure what his name is):concerned

[tiplax]

i was just talking to my friend about it
it's sort of sad that people would use HGH or other preformance enhanceing drugs to get an advantage, when they should just be practicing

but it's funny that the guy was caught and he's now humiliated

and personally if i was gonna use steriods, i wouldn't waste my time with some stupid event that isn't really popular( i guess in europe it is), but i would play lax, or football or even soccer

[roycegracie47]

http://sports.yahoo.com/sc/news;_ylt=AqAP4SK1VOrnonksVAB_7wo5nYcB?slug=ap-tourdefrance&prov=ap&type=lgns

Both Michael Rasmussen (the now former wearer of the yellow jersey) following Alexandre Vinokourov who also dropped out (along with his entire team) due to doping allegations,

[RazzMaChazz]

Michael Rasmussen was not pulled from the Tour for Doping.

Michael Rasmussen was pulled from the Tour by his Team, not by the TDF Officials. Rasmussen was reported to UCI Officials in May and June of 2007, for missing Drug Tests. Rasmussen told his team, along with UCI Officals that he was spending time in mexico with his Wife. Today UCI and the Rabobank Found out that, Rasmussen was actually in the Alps of Italy alone, for High Altitude training. He Was fired for not following internal rules, which he was well aware of for several years.

Now, Alberto Contadore takes the Maillot jaune, and as long as Saturday's Time trial goes well, and Levi don't have too strong a run. Contadore will ride into paris with the Yellow Jersey.

[MainLax28]

Who cares anymore. The Tour comission has made it so incredibly hard for anyone to compete in it, it isn't even fun. Every single person dopes at some point, and it just pissed them off when they couldn't prove it against Lance. If you notice there are hardly any american racers compared to year's past. It seems like they only want French Cyclists to have a chance.

If I am wrong on any of this, it is because I don't really care abou the tour anymore, and this is just info I picked up from reading the local newspaper, which isn't the best source.

[RazzMaChazz]

They're making it so hard because of the Doping problem. Not Everyone Dopes. They want to get this doping out of the sport because all it does is give cycling a bad reputation. And it's not just the French. The French have no say at all in what tests are conducted, or how/where/when they are conducted. All that is done by USCF, and it's affiliates.

Everyone and the Dog point the finger at Lance Armstrong, because of what he's accomplished. And because of the Fact that he's American.

And Lance isn't the only Great American Cyclist. Look at Greg LeMond. Greg LeMond is argued to being one of the greatest cyclist's in the world. Winning the Tour Three Times. And being only 1 of Eight people to win the Tour 3 Times or more. Max Steel. At world Class sprinter who road 7 Tour De Frances, With team Mapei (Now known as Quick-Step). Levi Liphimer, Who's currently Sitting in 4th Place, 2 minutes behind Contadore. He's an amazing Climber, his results in the Alps, and the Pyrenees Showed just how strong he is. Not Only is he a strong climber but a strong time trialist also.

And Lets not forget Floyd Landis. Granted right now he's on trial for his alleged doping. Last Year he was also a strong climber. Although he's on trial for taking Testosterone (which, honestly don't hely you at all in the world of cycling, which is why i believe that he still never doped, especially because of the fact thathe's an american, holding the Maillot Jaune, the year after Lance win's his 7th. Obviosusly he's going to be under the spotlight hardcore, but that's just my opinion.)

I Care about the tour. Cycling has be as close to me as lacrosse, if not closer. And i take the tour, and my own road racing very serious.

[RYU]

If you notice there are hardly any american racers compared to year's past.There were six American riders at the start of this years TdF, which is a healthy amount. I don't think there has ever been more than [maybe] nine entered. Just b/c Lance is retired, doesn't mean there aren't other American riders competing.

[truste1]

There actually isn't that many Americans. Anyway I'm kind of torn on this, I was rooting for Contador just because he's an amazing rider for his age and it'd be great to see him win since I don't think Levi will catch up; but I wanted Contador to overcome Rasmussen in the race not due to a technicality.

Anyway cycling is a great sport. My grandfather was state champion/tri-state champion (VA, MD, DC) in his younger years. He's still active in it for recreation in his 60's and still does 100 mile rides and such, like at Lance's Ride for the Roses in Texas. It's much harder than people give it credit for though.

[RazzMaChazz]

After Yesterday's Stage win by Rasmussen, If he wasn't pulled from the tour, Contador would have no chance at all, unless Rasmussen was involved in a crsh and lost a sever amount of time, which is unlikely. But i am excited for the time trial just to see how much time Levi will pick up. I'm almost certain he'll overcome Cadel Evens, but i dont think he's strong enough to get Contador.

[LiquidMercury16]

He would have had a chance, because Rasmussen wasn't terribly great at time trialing. I'd honestly like to see Levi win it all and contador get 2nd. Hopefully Levi can have one heck of a time trial and pull out the win. Either way it's going to be exciting if he truly gets close to contador to see who exactly disco will back.

[RazzMaChazz]

Rasmussen is a better time trialist then Contador. Alberto did terrible in the prologue. So Rasmussen would have had him beat.

I'm am a fan of Levi, and have thought him to be strong for awhile. One reason i'd like to see him win, is to infuriate the French like nothing else. To have an American win the tour 9 years in a row, Would tear them apart.

But i do believe that Contador is going to take it away. Hopefully Levi can make it interesting, especially know that Yohan told them both to battle it out to see who's stronger. I'm Excited.

[LiquidMercury16]

I think that if Levi can get within under a minute or so than he'll try and recruit team members from other teams and maybe one or two on disco for a break away from contador and try and take the stage. That would be unbelievable

[RazzMaChazz]

That would be amazing, and I wouldn't doubt that he'd do that. I'm sure he'll get backing from Popovych. Seeing as Levi is very close to the end of Career, Seeing as he's 33 now. and Contador still has 8 good years left.

[LiquidMercury16]

If they're that close, it'd be a good sport of contador to let levi take it even though it'd be pretty sweet to see a rookie win a tour

[RazzMaChazz]

I Can't wait for saturday to see what'll go down.

[ItalyLaxer11]

Ya, my father and I is a big supporter of cycling. I am about to try out for a team sponsored by BMW. It is truly sad to see the decline in the quality of competitive cycling in the past few years due to performance-enhancing drugs. What was once a proud sport has become a shell of its former self. Hopefully the shame this athlete is going to have to bear for the rest of his life will serve as a warning to all cyclists, including myself.

[MainLax28]

There were six American riders at the start of this years TdF, which is a healthy amount. I don't think there has ever been more than [maybe] nine entered. Just b/c Lance is retired, doesn't mean there aren't other American riders competing.

Yeah, I know there are a few, but I didn't see a postal service team (american based team), and there just didn't seem to be the numbers of years past. Maybe it was just my imagination.

[ShockerAutc]

The point of the competition is the to crown the best rider. I'd rather have the rookie win it then have a feel good story about a fellow winning it at the end of his career in his last chance, if he wasn't really the best rider.

[Irishlax22]

Yeah, I know there are a few, but I didn't see a postal service team (american based team), and there just didn't seem to be the numbers of years past. Maybe it was just my imagination.

Its not Postal Service. They have not sponsered the team for 3 years. Its the Discovery Channel team. I have watched every stage from this years tour de france. Its just something i do after i go on my run. If anybody watched it as much as i did, you could clearly see Rasmussen was not doing it with out help. The last 3 stages in the Pieranies(sp). Discovery attacked him again and again, and he showed no signs of slowing down. Its a shame but im glad hes finally out. Contador has rode an amazing tour. Levi has been a bit of an dissapointment this tour but he will get a podium finish any way.

[RazzMaChazz]

The Good Ole Days of the USPS.

[kgncoughlin]

with all of the people against doping i think its gonna clean the sport up and by the way how is levi doing so much better than last year

[RazzMaChazz]

Good Question. Maybe he and Yohan came up with a better training program than last years. Maybe he's adapted better to the pressure? Last year was his first year have any team work for him. And when you go from working for lance armstrong, to being the team leader, That might add a little bit of Pressure.

And i have to say, Sandy Casar's attack was simply perfect with less than 1 km to go. It was perfect timed and he couldn't have picked a better place to do it.

[2ifbyc]

Levi is doing better this year for a number of reasons not the least of which is spending the year training under Johan. Of course having the Discovery Team Johan assembled around him has helped tremendously. Levi simply did not have the support last year with Gerolsteiner. Last year, Levi also had a terrible stage 7 time trial that simply took him out of contention (despite that he still finished 13th). Levi has spent much of his time with Discovery working on his time trial riding and it has shown in his other races this year (1st in the Prologue TT at Tour of California, and 1st in the stage 5 individual TT at the TOC, and 1st in the stage 4 individual TT at the Tour de Georgia). It will be interesting to see how it all plays out. Vive le Tour!

[RazzMaChazz]

Levi Takes the Time Trial, no Surprise.

I'm happy to see Contedor still in yellow on the ride to Paris. Cadel Evens is a smart man, and he knows he'll have to attack hard on the Sprints for Time Bonus's to Gain enough time to take back the Yellow. Hopefully Hindcapie Will be able to hold him off, Along with the other big sprinters like Boonen, and Zarbel.

[ptlax24]

Did everyone see those two dogs get hit.
The one guy who hit the dog was on a breakaway with 3 others and he won the stage.

[RazzMaChazz]

Sandy Casar You're talking about.

Some people just dont use their head these days.

[LiquidMercury16]

I'm telling ya, Levi is going to get help from papovich, hincappie, and others from other teams that will help him out to take the tour from contador and evans. Levi isn't going to just allow contador to take the tour, I guarantee he'll make a run at it and since he has been on the team longer I bet a few of the older members will help him out to do it.

[kgncoughlin]

this is his first year on discovery

cantador has it won because levi has more class than to take out a team mate like that

and evans wont have a chance unless he starts a breakaway early to get the time bonuses and discovery wont let him

i do hope that levi gets 1 or 2 bonuses to put him in at least second though i just dont think that he will take it from contador

[RazzMaChazz]

Levi Said in an interview he's not going to go for the time bonus's. But i wouldn't be surprised if he changes his mind.

Cadel Evens still has a fighting chance, it'll take a lot of work, and he'll have to battle off the other team discovery riders first. I dont think it's possible, but you never know.

[truste1]

Contador, Evans, Leipheimer as expected

[Irishlax22]

Contador rode an amazing tour. He deserved it.