Le Tour De France

[Bof]

Will anyone else be following it this year, and maybe being inspired to get back on their bike. I hope that I'll be cycling again by the end of the Tour.
Meanwhile, I'll have a few hours of TV coverage to watch every day.
Go the Aussies! :pibo:

[harper]

I listen to it online at work. Unfortunatley the only serious TV coverage it gets around here is on a cable network and I don't have cable :( It's amazing what these athletes can do. Sometimes my bike ride to work seems killer and that's nothing compared to what they ride!

[Trivegelete]

Yes, I'll be following it on the internet every day!

[Diana]

I hope no-one will be inspired to dope themselves... which is what the Tour de France is mainly about. It's a huge farce.

Apart from that, I love my bicycle!

[Bof]

I hope no-one will be inspired to dope themselves... which is what the Tour de France is mainly about. It's a huge farce.



So, we'll add the TDF to Dianas list of organisations that she writes off in her usual cavalier manner.

If you don't know / understand something, write it off with a sweeping, nonsensical generalisation. Brilliant.

[hopi100]

Well, all the same, I'll be watching. :) Maybe the TDF will give me some inspiration to make it over all the hills I'll be tackling on the bike this weekend!

[Bof]

I hope no-one will be inspired to dope themselves... which is what the Tour de France is mainly about. It's a huge farce.



No, the TDF is about a bunch of incredibly fit athletes exerting themselves over a three week period, often displaying great courage and sportsmanship. :yes:

I hope that TDF sue Diana for her ridiculous and defamatory remark.

(mod edited to remove attack)

[Diana]

So, we'll add the TDF to Dianas list of organisations that she writes off in her usual cavalier manner.

If you don't know / understand something, write it off with a sweeping, nonsensical generalisation. Brilliant.

Hehe!!! If you had been reading the articles in most newspapers by sport journalists this year, they too, are getting weary of the Tour de France due to the doping. I have yet to read one article which does not speak of the magic having been worn away. One journalist who has been covering the Tour de France for years said he didn't even feel like covering it this year.

It used to be, a long time ago, a great event. It is now a sad one.

[Bof]

If you had been reading the articles in most newspapers by sport journalists this year, they too, are getting weary of the Tour de France due to the doping.

No, I haven't read most newspapers and nor have you. :no:

Yet another sweeping generalisation.

Over a million people turned out in the UK to watch it live, millions are watching it on TV worldwide(In Aus. we have several hours of live coverage of every stage, which we haven't had in the past, so, it would seem that there's actually an increased interest.)
And the crowds along the route are much the same as they have been for as long as I can remember.

[Diana]

Hmmm... with your bolding which is a euphemism for shouting, I have this suspicion that I am starting to get under your skin. May I suggest that you put me on your ignore list, as this may be better for your emotional health.

Yes, I agree I have not read all newspapers. Do you always take things so literally? I mean, if someone said to me "I've read all the newspapers", I would understand that they would have read about 12 or maybe 20 that are available to him/her, but it would be obvious that he/she were not talking about all the newspapers in the world. It's logical.

Yes, the crowds are the same as before... crowds usually are.

[organicmomma]

We follow the tour on SBS and our dream is to watch the tour live. A big Aussie supporter!

[Diana]

This article calls the Tour de France the epitome of the world's most drugged out sport.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19462071/

There are dozens more out there to be found. And most of these article are written by people who, unlike me, are interested in sporting competitions but who have lost faith in professional cyclists.

[organicmomma]

This article calls the Tour de France the epitome of the world's most drugged out sport.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19462071/

There are dozens more out there to be found. And most of these article are written by people who, unlike me, are interested in sporting competitions but who have lost faith in professional cyclists.

I agree, bike riding has had a drug problem, but so had most sports. At least the cycling federation is now stepping up to the plate to fix this problem or at least try.

Let's not forget, it is still a wonderful sport and great to watch.

[Honeysuckle]

I'm driving down to Cognac towards end of le Tour to see a stage and the time trials the next day ... getting really excited. there's nothing quite like seeing a bunch of super fit blokes in colourful tight lycra to brighten up your day!

Fingers crossed my dog doesn't bark too much or I'll have to lock her in the boot!

DON'T READ THIS IF YOU ARE WATCHING HIGHLIGHTS ON TV TONIGHT!!!




As of today - looks like O'Grady is out of the race following crash, Rogers has abandoned (looks like he's done his collarbone in after a nasty crash). Para and Cavendish have also abandoned.


And don't bother telling me off about locking my dog in the boot - it was a joke, I adore my dogs and they live the life of riley!

[Bof]

Hmmm... with your bolding which is a euphemism for shouting,


No it's not!
Bolding, by me, is to emphasise certain words or phrases. If I were speaking, it would be said in (quite a subtly) different tone of voice.

SHOUTING IS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT MATTER! :yes:

[Bof]

I'm driving down to Cognac towards end of le Tour to see a stage and the time trials the next day ... getting really excited. there's nothing quite like seeing a bunch of super fit blokes in colourful tight lycra to brighten up your day!



I am so jealous. (Don't worry Honeysuckle - I wasn't shouting at you! :no: :D)

It was sad to hear that Stewie was taken to hospital and Michael Rogers crashing out. I'm still waiting to hear if Robbie managed to finish in time.

[Honeysuckle]

It was sad to hear that Stewie was taken to hospital and Michael Rogers crashing out. I'm still waiting to hear if Robbie managed to finish in time.


OH NO!!! Robbie was outside the time limit. I'm so sad! He's such a tenacious rider and is one of my faves.

I've only been into Le Tour for 4 years (hubbie is a rider and a big fan and I watched it one day on TV. I thought the guy way off on the front was going to win the stage and was sooo upset when the peloton caught up like a bunch of vultures! I was shouting at the TV and have been hooked ever since.)

Robbie is such a great rider - you never see him until a couple of seconds before he launches and grabs the stage. It won't be quite the same without him. Ah well, he'll be back next year.

[Bof]

I've been following Le Tour since the 50's, when I was a racing cyclist, and people like Bobet, Anquetil and Coppi were winning, and it's something I really look forward to watching every year
I started this thread, as I said, for people interested in the race and who might be inspired to ride more themselves. (I've had serious health problems which have kept me off my bike for a couple of years but am hoping to get back into it soon)
It's very sad that one person feels the need to use this thread (which was intended as a support thread) to continually rubbish the event by making the widest and wildest of allegations, for reasons known only to her.
(There are many threads on the forum with subjects I have no interest in, so I simply don't post on them).
Maybe we need to start another thread, specifically for supporters of the Tour de France?

[Diana]

Oh, I didn't realise it was a support thread.

I thought message boards were for giving opinions and for hearing other people's opinions.

Yes, I suggest that you start up a new thread and make quite sure that NO-ONE who is not enamoured by the Tour de France posts on it. If that makes you happy, please go ahead.

I will give my opinion where and when I want to, on this thread or or any other, unless a moderator PMs me to tell me I'm going against the rules.

[veg*nrunner]

whose gonna get busted this year?:sleep:

[Honeysuckle]

whose gonna get busted this year?:sleep:

Nobody hopefully - let's hope they've learned a lesson from last year's scandal (not that it was the first). I can't understand how they think they can get away with it ... there's such massive testing in cylying for drugs. I suppose the risk/rewards is worth taking. That's always how it is when big money/big business get involved - the essence gets sullied.

I prefer not to focus on the negative and just enjoy it for what it is.



I've been following Le Tour since the 50's, when I was a racing cyclist, and people like Bobet, Anquetil and Coppi were winning, and it's something I really look forward to watching every year

My husband and his friends have been telling me stories about the race in the 'old days' (no offense!) .. how they'd all have a big steak and red wine the night before a race, and they didn't have the support cars they have now (one guy was disqualified because a lad blew the bellows in a forge as the cyclist welded his forks back together!) It's amazing what they did with next to no money or support.

On another note ... this chap, the Blade Runner (I can't remember his name) ... what's everyone's opinion on whether he should be permitted to run with able bodied atheltes? I'm in two minds. The man is amazing and it seems churlish to say he can't run with others... but then again, studies are showing that he runs differently, and doesn't suffer fatigue in the same way.

[veg*nrunner]

blah someone got busted http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/tdf2007/news/story?id=2940506

[Diana]

TV channels in Germany who were transmitting the Tour de France have stopped transmitting to protest Sinkewitz's doping.

A sport journalist in one newspaper I was reading today said that the cyclists are killing cycling and that it may soon be time to compose a requiem.

[Bof]

The death of cycling when the TDF has a daily TV audience of 150 million and tens of thousands along the route? I don't think so!

Diana. For someone with no interest in the TDF, you seem to have a remarkable interest in it.

[Diana]

Diana. For someone with no interest in the TDF, you seem to have a remarkable interest in it.

I am interested in the world I live in. Is that surprising?