BS: Tour de France, Anyone?

Subject: RE: BS: Tour de France, Anyone?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 Jul 06 - 11:06 PM

From Stewie O'Grady's diary entry at cyclingnews:

It was a very hectic sprint finish and Boonen found himself in front with about 350 metres to go and he obviously wasn't going to keep going from there so that baulked the bunch up a bit and caused some riders to move right next to the barriers and that's where Hushovd ended up hitting something.

It's getting to the stage where you really have to think twice about sprinting right down near the edge of the barriers. People have been waiting around all day and they collect these handouts from all the sponsors like big hands and blow-up balloon sticks. They are going to wave them, that's why they're there.

It was quite ironic that it was a green paper hand from PMU who sponsor the Green Jersey that did the damage to the overnight leader of that competition.


See, the riders take the responsibility on themselves-- to not get too close to the crowd.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Tour de France, Anyone?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 Jul 06 - 07:01 PM

But Bill, it WAS a hand. A big green one.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Tour de France, Anyone?
From: Bill D
Date: 02 Jul 06 - 04:23 PM

yes, indeed, Kate...I cringe at the impunity with which idiots are tolerated..(I think I have early posts in this thread about it)

Maybe this injury will at least get them to PLEAD with spectators to **let the guys race!** and keep themselves and banners and plastic hands BEHIND the barriers & off the road.

Subject: RE: BS: Tour de France, Anyone?
From: KateG
Date: 02 Jul 06 - 04:16 PM

So when are they going to rein in the spectators? Here's poor Thor Hushovd with his arm sliced open by a promo gizmo, and the mountain stretches have become a form of dodgeball between the cyclists and the nutters.

Subject: RE: BS: Tour de France, Anyone?
From: Folkiedave
Date: 02 Jul 06 - 03:40 PM

Damn. To me the "look" at Ullrich was one of the great sporting moments of all times. Another illusion shattered.

Subject: RE: BS: Tour de France, Anyone?
From: Bill D
Date: 02 Jul 06 - 03:08 PM

(saw a long interview with him about his career and the T d'F....he says the famous 'look' at Ullrich wasn't actually 'at' him...just a look to see where his team was and what was happening....also that the fall from catching a bag held by a spectator was his own fault...just misjudged.)

Subject: RE: BS: Tour de France, Anyone?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 Jul 06 - 01:53 PM

slurppp

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Tour de France, Anyone?
From: Bill D
Date: 02 Jul 06 - 01:51 PM

pureé of Lance? To absorb some of those high-energy genes?

Hardi was purty smart...

Subject: RE: BS: Tour de France, Anyone?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 Jul 06 - 01:26 PM

I tried to run him through a food processor, but Hardi wouldn't let me plug it in.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Tour de France, Anyone?
From: Bill D
Date: 02 Jul 06 - 01:13 PM

pooh! The last 7 winners was tested, followed, examined, accused, REtested and just flatly put under a microscope....he simply rode, trained, planned better and picked better teammates....and was lucky to boot.

Subject: RE: BS: Tour de France, Anyone?
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Jul 06 - 04:26 AM

Pity they didnt catch the last seven winners

Subject: RE: BS: Tour de France, Anyone?
From: Bill D
Date: 01 Jul 06 - 11:23 AM

It is said that a trial is a court procedure to determine who has the best lawyer...in the same way, a bike race has become a physical test to determine who has the cleverest doctors.

Subject: RE: BS: Tour de France, Anyone?
From: ard mhacha
Date: 01 Jul 06 - 07:57 AM

Well I have been telling you for a long time that this "Sport" has a long association with drugs.
I was told by a young Irish cyclist a very promising amateur, that he had to come home from Holland, due to the drug problem with his fellow riders, and this was nearly twenty years ago.

What do the powers that be in the cycling world do about this?, it seems very little, what a terrible indictment on the sport.

Subject: RE: BS: Tour de France, Anyone?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 30 Jun 06 - 05:29 PM

Vino NOPE, his team has withdrawn:

Astana-Würth leaves the Tour

Dutch television's sports anchorman Mart Smeets has just reported that the Astana-Würth team has left the Tour de France. The team had five of its Tour riders officially named in the Operacion Puerto affair (Sergio Paulinho, Isidro Nozal, Allan Davis, Alberto Contador, Joseba Beloki), as well as several others (Michele Scarponi, Marcos Serrano, David Etxebarria, Angel Vicioso, Unai Osa, Jörg Jaksche), and of course ex-team manager Manolo Saiz. The team therefore wouldn't have had enough riders to start.

In an official statement, Active Bay, the team's management company, confirmed the news. "In view of the content of the dossier sent to Spanish authorities, Active Bay has decided, in accordance with the Ethical Code signed between the UCI ProTour's teams, to withdraw from the Tour de France those riders that appear in the above-mentioned dossier.

"This decision is adopted without prejudice of the respect to the right to the presumption of innocence of these riders and of that Active Bay will exercise the actions for the defence of its rights and those of its workers. This measure does not concern the team's riders of the Tour de France that are not included in the dossier: Alexander Vinokourov, Andrey Kashechkin, Carlos Barredo and Luis León Sanchez. Nevertheless, the withdrawal of the riders that appear in the above-mentioned dossier implies that the Tour of France team will not have the minimum number of riders demanded by the UCI rules, which means the team will not be able to take the start tomorrow morning in the Tour de France."

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Tour de France, Anyone?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 30 Jun 06 - 02:36 PM

Alexandre Vinokourov...

~s~

Subject: RE: BS: Tour de France, Anyone?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 30 Jun 06 - 09:58 AM

Wow, that was fast-- the last news before I posted had been that Ullrich was a go. Now I see why the "Provisional Start List" cyclingnews had posted was nowhere to be found yesterday.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Tour de France, Anyone?
From: Bill D
Date: 30 Jun 06 - 09:49 AM

oh, my....not good news. Wonder why this investigation couldn't have been done sooner. The timing of the announcement right before the tour is a heavy blow. I guess they have pretty serious evidence to suspend so many.

Subject: RE: BS: Tour de France, Anyone?
From: Folkiedave
Date: 30 Jun 06 - 09:40 AM

Full story here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/cycling/5132320.stm

Subject: RE: BS: Tour de France, Anyone?
From: Wolfgang
Date: 30 Jun 06 - 06:55 AM

Quite likely, Ivan Basso and Francisco Mancebo (and roughly 50 lesser known) will also not start. They will not be replaced.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: BS: Tour de France, Anyone?
From: Wolfgang
Date: 30 Jun 06 - 06:42 AM

Oscar Sevilla, once winner of the Tour's white jersey, has been suspended as well (same reason) by T-Mobile.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: BS: Tour de France, Anyone?
From: Wolfgang
Date: 30 Jun 06 - 06:38 AM

Ullrich has been suspended by his team for being a suspect in the Spanish doping scandal. He is a non-starter. His name is on the same doping list as Basso's.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: BS: Tour de France, Anyone?
From: GUEST,buspassed
Date: 30 Jun 06 - 05:51 AM

Just got the gearing on the sofa dead right for the next couple of weeks watching those madmen [but oh so glorious madmen!] make those supposedly fit soccer players look like tired old men.

As the man said "Do you want to try doing this ride just on mineral water?"

Subject: RE: BS: Tour de France, Anyone?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 29 Jun 06 - 08:22 PM

Yeah, it sure would.

Well, we'll see....

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Tour de France, Anyone?
From: Bill D
Date: 29 Jun 06 - 08:18 PM

Wouldn't it be great if Hincapie did well after years of helping Lance?
You never can tell...it's a long race.

Subject: RE: BS: Tour de France, Anyone?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 29 Jun 06 - 04:18 PM

Another year, another doping scandal.

CYCLINGNEWS has a good handle on the Tour:

Home
Route & mtn stages
Stage details
Results
Live reports
Photos
News
Features & tech
Map
Past winners
2005 Results

REVIEW OF DOPING DIRT


My heart is with Valverde and Hincapie, but my head says Basso or Ullrich.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Tour de France, Anyone?
From: Ebbie
Date: 24 Jul 05 - 02:53 PM

A little kid - about 5 years old - excitedly waved down a friend of mine, telling her "LAMP Armstrong won! Lamp won!"

Subject: RE: BS: Tour de France, Anyone?
From: Bill D
Date: 24 Jul 05 - 01:49 PM

did you see the documentary about Lance and his preparation and the technology?...and especially his physiology? Almost double the average heart's ability to pump blood, 40% better usage of oxygen, slower build up of lactic acid and faster removal.

Add to this his drive, training techniques, riding skills and items like a 'dimpled' riding suit that air moves by more efficiently, like on a golf ball...it's no wonder that a little being careful and some good luck and careful choice of team mates led to 7 in a row!

He is, however, no wonder at extemperaneous speaking *grin*...that little talk on the winners podium was kinda awkward...

still, it IS an amazing record....wow.....

Subject: RE: BS: Tour de France, Anyone?
From: gnu
Date: 24 Jul 05 - 12:33 PM

Amazing... seven times... amazing.

Subject: RE: BS: Tour de France, Anyone?
From: Bill D
Date: 20 Jul 05 - 11:38 PM

guns? nawww...but one of those water bottles loaded with Eue de Toilette might deter a few of the closest ones...

my REAL point is, if a non-waving spectator that close is a possible danger, the running, darting, patting, pushing, flag-in-the-face waving ones are even worse...

Subject: RE: BS: Tour de France, Anyone?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 20 Jul 05 - 11:12 PM

Lance did cut too close. I was wrong about the barriers, but the spectator in question was not in the roadway at all, and there was plenty of open road.

Bill, the cyclists are just going to have to carry guns.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Tour de France, Anyone?
From: Bill D
Date: 20 Jul 05 - 10:11 PM

"Lance cut too close"...hmmm...not, "spectator STOOD too close"...thought the road and environs was for the riders!

well...it happened again, I see. Rider had nose bloodied by 'fan' swinging some plastic? souvenir.

(well, dehumidifer & fans is all we 'should' need, but I'll confess I'm spoiled last few years. (and we moved TV out of living room many years ago so anyone who wanted could avoid it....books are everywhere)

Subject: RE: BS: Tour de France, Anyone?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 19 Jul 05 - 09:12 AM

Bag strap WAS from the edge, over a barrier I believe. Lance cut too close IMO.

AC/puder-- yeah! To top that, AC is in MudCamp attic, not main house. Main house has dehumdifier and exhaust fans, good most days except 4-6PM. Attic-- no puder, no TV, no radio...... peace. And quiet. And books.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Tour de France, Anyone?
From: Bill D
Date: 18 Jul 05 - 09:53 PM

*trying to think of another sports event where that kind of spectator crowding is tolerated*

I can JUST imagine a bunch of zealots crowding around Tiger Woods, waving flags and leaving him just a narrow path as he tries to putt in the British Open...and that's not even dangerous!

Subject: RE: BS: Tour de France, Anyone?
From: Dani
Date: 18 Jul 05 - 07:57 PM

Hey, I'm with you, Bill. It scares and infuriates me to see people putting their hands on the riders. My daughters hate to watch those parts with me, 'cause I can't control myself: "Those *(^%$$# IDIOTS!". And, I admit to cheering when the asshole got hit with the bike. Sure glad there wasn't a pileup!

That said, it's such a fun, classy thing to watch and thrill to. The history, scenery, great characters. We're hooked! Had so much fun cheering for Hinkapie yesterday.

It's got all the right elements of individual bravery, courage, determination, and the teamwork and (so un-American) idea of subordinating yourself to a leader when it's the best thing to do.

Dani

Subject: RE: BS: Tour de France, Anyone?
From: Bill D
Date: 18 Jul 05 - 05:33 PM

boy, I am SO happy for (and impressed with) Hincapie! He was both smart & lucky yesterday...and had the legs to do anything necessary. I like stories like that!

sorry you are sick...after you read this, turn off the puder and ON the AC..(really can't run both? arrrgghhh..)

anyway, I know all the reasons they 'tolerate' the crowds...I just plain don't LIKE the worst of 'em...I watched about 9 guys pat/push the Spanish riders butt in less than 100 yards yesterday...you can't tell me that is encouraged or safe! A couple years ago, I watched a rider run INTO a tourist with a camera who didn't judge what his zoom lens showed quite right. And we all saw Lance get caught in a bag strap. Let 'em yell and wave from the EDGE of the road says I!

so...I should pray for safety, should I? To Thor, for a few lightning strikes to inhibit those testosterone laden runners???? (obligitory sceptical rejoinder)

Subject: RE: BS: Tour de France, Anyone?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 Jul 05 - 02:20 PM

Bill, Bill, Bill. Where do I begin..... warning yiu in advance, there will be typos....

Let's see, well, first, if you focus your attention on the overhead camera shots, the people in the roadway are almost always much farther ahead of the riders than it appears from the motorcycle shot taken from behind the riders. The riders complain about the loudness of the noise, not the closeness of the people.

Second, if the people want to be there, they will be-- wherever there are no barriers of cops..... they will just adjust. You really would have to patrol the whole route, 24/7-- a lot of them are camping and getting there a day or so ahead of the race.

Point 2.5, the towns of the finishes and the route LOVE the tourist bucks-- and are not likely to dial down the crowd's opportunities by contributing 24/7 gendarmes out of their small town budgets.

Third, many of the roadsiders ARE cyclists-- club riders who have ridden up there themselves or who have arrived via tour but who do road-ride at home and know what the sitruation is. Notice, BTW, they wave arms and implements up where the riders' bodies are, not at the wheels or gears. Riders can withstand bumps from there-- see them whack at each other in the sprint finishes.

Fourth, there is a little concept called freedom of speech. Those folks rightly feel that this is a people's sporting event that has wanted their participation just as it is, for a very long time. It's only our recent culture that wants to make everything unnaturally "safe" and, above all, "fair." The history of the Tour is that it is for the people, as much as for the commercial interests. I believe if you censored that in any way, there would be a backlash far surpassing the little threads we get here about censorship. (And the riders would be on the people's side. So would the TV people and sponsors, who sell all that dramma.)

Fifth, try thinking of the whole Tour phenomenon as a giant organism-- a self-currecting ecology of riders, commercial interests, people, and alocohol. (Vive la France!) A self-correcting mechanism, as much as a place like Mudcat is.

NO ONE forces the riders to ride through those folks..... they get as much of a buzz from the crowd as we do wathcing it. We're worrying-- but for them it is a positive buzz, a heightened rush of adrenaline.

Seventh, iunjuries to riders in Le Tour have tended to have occurred from descents and other derring-do-- not crowd interference.

Sixth-- I'm sick, why are you "making me type so much"? ;~)

Besides, if you're really worried about the riders' safety, you know there is always recourse to prayer. (mandatory shot)

Anyhow, how about that Hincapie?!?!?!?

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Tour de France, Anyone?
From: Bill D
Date: 18 Jul 05 - 01:58 PM

don't have to "control it all" ...we are talking about a couple of KMs on a few (5-6) stages...2-3 rotating groups of Gendarmes stationed at strategic spots and a few well-publicized arrests/fines of serious violators might make 'em reconsider running between riders waving flags..(what if one trips and falls in FRONT of the race leader?)

Sorry...I appreciate enthusiastic cheering, but if they want to be IN the race, let 'em get a bike and practice. Those guys in the Devil costumes don't add much to my enjoyment of a BIKE race.

I have more than once seen riders wave off and gesticulate angrily at rabid fans (didn't one get repremanded for whacking a fan last year?)

Subject: RE: BS: Tour de France, Anyone?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 Jul 05 - 01:33 PM

PS, I think the motorbike enforcement will be a good deterrent. They don't even need to set a bounty-- the cameraman gets $$ for the pix. I do hope the guy wasn't injured, but public humiliation for stunodity is a time-honored approach.

In our country, there'd a lawsuit against the motorbike driver, the TV station, Le Tour, etc. Over there-- more likely the "victim" will be prosecuted!

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Tour de France, Anyone?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 Jul 05 - 01:27 PM

All part of Le Tour, Bill. Can't control it ALL-- too many kilometres to cover.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Tour de France, Anyone?
From: Bill D
Date: 18 Jul 05 - 01:12 PM

I saw that happen! I gather that there were lots of fanatical Basque spectators yesterday....I know I worried constantly that those flag-waving, back-slapping hoards would seriously impede the race or hurt a rider. The one thing I want changed is crowd control on the mountain stages. You do not NEED to shove your favorite rider on the butt to get him to the top, thank you! What idiots!

Subject: RE: BS: Tour de France, Anyone?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 Jul 05 - 12:12 PM

PRICELESS

Be sure to catch the subsequent post with the Speedbump Theme Song linked, too!

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Tour de France, Anyone?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 12 Jul 05 - 09:21 PM

Bill! You, proselytizing?!?!?!?   Holy Batfuck, Shitman! (Sorry, it was a mandatory)

I liked your verse in the KJV translation, myself: Bible Online + Study Tools

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Tour de France, Anyone?
From: Bill D
Date: 12 Jul 05 - 05:35 PM

Proverbs 13:3 (lots of interesting verses in the Bible)

Subject: RE: BS: Tour de France, Anyone?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 12 Jul 05 - 03:38 PM

Oh, it was a GREAT answer, and even on quarter-power I could appreciate the subtlety. Or perhaps ESPECIALLY on quarter power. :~)

And I am not in charge of how much typing you do! :~)

(It IS in the Bible BTW-- taming the tongue)

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Tour de France, Anyone?
From: Bill D
Date: 12 Jul 05 - 01:23 PM

"brain on ¼ power" that would 'splain you nibbling on that piece of creativity...

I left out the part that a friend of mine used to use to precede his answers...

(actual example)
"Dwain, what is that statue on top of the Capital dome?"
"You don't know what that is?"
"Uh...no."
"You really don't know?"
"No, that's why I'm asking..."
"Well, then...it's....."


I figgered that anything that seemed to explain Bob Roll's pronounciation would be a FINE answer.

so...get well! and save me all this typing!

Subject: RE: BS: Tour de France, Anyone?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 12 Jul 05 - 12:12 PM

Really, or are you just terribly creative today? (Link to verify?)

I'se all sicked up-- brain on quarter power at best, so splain me Lucy!

Or-- is it in the Bible somewhere? :~)

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Tour de France, Anyone?
From: Bill D
Date: 12 Jul 05 - 12:10 AM

"Maganga" is a disease of the tongue, originally from Uganda, that makes it impossible for someone to pronounce French words....thus, "Tour DAY Fraance"

Subject: RE: BS: Tour de France, Anyone?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 11 Jul 05 - 10:22 PM

It's mentioned in a Bob Roll commercial. Not the Bobinthebuff.com one, a Trek Lucky 7 one.

See? :~)

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Tour de France, Anyone?
From: Bill D
Date: 11 Jul 05 - 09:10 PM

??? ask a question with some meat to it Susan...*grin*....these out-of-context quizzes confuse my little head.

(always some interesting stuff in the race, though, huh?...Lots of strategy going on)

Subject: RE: BS: Tour de France, Anyone?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 11 Jul 05 - 08:41 PM

But can anyone tell me, what is Maganga?

~Susan