Tour de France 2009 Thread

[edinatlanta]

Originally Posted by gomestar

yeah that's the thing, the French and WADA people like Dick Pound (hint: don't google that) are just salivating to bust him. If there was anything odd about any of his tests, and I mean anything, they'd be all over it. Floyd Landis just made the whole situation worse, but seriously WTF was he thinking???

Dick Pound's been out of WADA for over a year now and knowing him personally, there aren't too many people disinterested in catching anyone in particular. More importantly (actually less importantly because WADA doesn't perform individual tests but I digress) is that WADA is completely neutral in targeting athletes in that matter.

What WADA and Pound both disliked was UCI and for good reason.

I've said too much.

 

[Etienne]

Originally Posted by Piobaire

we both know many French would love to topple him
He's actually become really popular here, whereas he was hated in the last few years of his carreer (don't remember how people viewed him in his early years). Go figure. Our president is a big fan.

Originally Posted by 4Mica

What did Fignon admit to taking back then?
I don't know the details, I think he wrote about it in an autobiography. It resurfaced recently because he has just been diagnosed with cancer and urged people not to conclude too hastily that the cancer was doping-related.

 

[gomestar]

Originally Posted by edinatlanta

Dick Pound's been out of WADA for over a year now and knowing him personally, there aren't too many people disinterested in catching anyone in particular. More importantly (actually less importantly because WADA doesn't perform individual tests but I digress) is that WADA is completely neutral in targeting athletes in that matter.

What WADA and Pound both disliked was UCI and for good reason.

I've said too much.

yeah I've been out of the loop for a year or two now, I remember there being some movement at WADA. I just remember Pound saying something along the lines of "30% of NHL athletes dope" and then nobody tested positive in a big random sweep.

 

[gomestar]

up to the mountains today, it'll be an extremely tough stage for everybody. We'll see who steps up, this could easily be the most important stage so far.

 

[Piobaire]

10k to go and break away has about 6 minutes on the pack. Usually, that would be uncatchable, but on a mountaintop finish, maybe.

 

[4Mica]

The question in my mind is: Was Lance actually playing the good teammate or was Contador just stronger than him today?

 

[RedLantern]

Ditto.

 

[RedLantern]

Also, that Frenchman who won the stage today looked solid as hell. Kudos.

 

[gomestar]

perahps just a well executed break for Contador. Granted, I didn't watch the stage, but often times breaks like that are eaten up by the peloton.

 

[marin]

Good stage win for Contador. I sense that Armstrong is waiting. He's playing the good teammate, and if at any point Contador cracks, he'll seize the opening and go for the win.

 

[King Francis]

Originally Posted by marin

Good stage win for Contador. I sense that Armstrong is waiting. He's playing the good teammate, and if at any point Contador cracks, he'll seize the opening and go for the win.

Contador didn't win the stage. As for waiting, you might be right. Armstrong was 19 seconds up on Contador at the start, so he could afford to give his teammate 21 seconds at the end. The Spaniard was strong, no doubt, but two seconds is nothing.

 

[RedLantern]

Anyone think there's going to be a significant attack by one of the GC contenders tomorrow?

 

[dcg]

Originally Posted by 4Mica

The question in my mind is: Was Lance actually playing the good teammate or was Contador just stronger than him today?

Also, Lance out of breath during the post race interview - legitimate, or Lance feigning weakness?

Contador certainly looked like the stronger rider at the end of today's stage.

 

[Merckx]

Originally Posted by 4Mica

The question in my mind is: Was Lance actually playing the good teammate or was Contador just stronger than him today?

Contador was stronger.

 

[Merckx]

Originally Posted by marin

Good stage win for Contador. I sense that Armstrong is waiting. He's playing the good teammate, and if at any point Contador cracks, he'll seize the opening and go for the win.

I think there is a better possibility of Armstrong going off the back rather than Contador.