I hate this year's Tour de France !

With the scandal that eliminated some of the best bikers out of the Tour de France, I am just not interested that much in this year's Tour de France. I was really hoping for a showdown of the best against Ivan Basso, now I guess the best might be Floyd Landis?

How many people are disappointed in this year's race? Vote on the poll.

I won't be buying this year's Tour de France DVD, and I can't see it on cable.

Well, it's still a race with lots of spice. If you think that Ulrich and Basso were what the tour was all about, then, well, you're wrong.

For the first time in a long time, it's an unpredictable race. There aren't any robots riding off alone. **** is happening to everyone and anyone. Where else have we seen the following?

Two of the three favorites pulled the day before?
Guys coming from nowhere with big-ball moves to win stages? (Kiessler from Mobile has been the most impressive so far but today's break was way cool)
Sprints that are amazing to watch develop. Sure Boonen is off form but McEwen, Hushovd and even Freire have been very entertaining. And how does Robbie appear at the last minute? He's freaking invisible until it matters.
All the big boys, with the exception of Floyd, failing to perform at the first big TT.
Discovery doing alright but falling down big over the last few days. Although Salvodelli will be big in the mountains.
T-Mobile, with their big gun out and their most experienced man hobbled, have picked it up big and are the underdog to root for.

This race is the greatest cycling spectacle in the world. We're finally seeing what happens to real people and how fatigue affects guys who aren't on dope. The reality is that they just can't be on form every day. This year's race is more about tactics and strategy and it's been great to watch. True cycling fans are loving this.

This race is the greatest cycling spectacle in the world. We're finally seeing what happens to real people and how fatigue affects guys who aren't on dope. QUOTE]

Chris, I think that's a very naive assumption.

Man, your loss if you hate this year. Aside from the huge names being kicked out, all the 'pre' race favorites completely blew it in the first ITT (aside from Landis), so all bets are off.

The mountain stages are going to suuuuhweeeet.

It is any rider's race now...

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It has been crazy so far! I am enjoying it.

Any cycling on tv is better than none at all. Its great, unpredictable. Reminds me of the days before Indurain when no clear cut favorite

Sorry you can't see Tour de France on TV. The race has been a suprise everyday. It's no surprise the Robbie has won 3 stages, the surprise is that Boonen has been up to challenging RMc.

Outside of Yesterdays ITT, nothing would be different at this point if Ullrich, Basso, Vino, were in the race. So you should have enjoyed the race sofar.

What really bums me out is Bobbie Julich and Al Valverde going out with injuries.

Lw

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I think the Tour is interesting this year. It's unpredictable and this makes it very interesting. No clear cut favourites although FL is getting lots of attention. Cant wait for the mountains! Its going to get even more interesting now that we kind of have a top 10. Lots of defending and attacking will take place!!

Its going to be fun and enjoyable and thats what draws me to cycling as a whole!

Before the doping scandal, I thought the tour was going to be fought between Ulrich and Basso... which was stronger, Ulrich's time trialing or Basso's climbing?

Since they are no longer in, I don't see anyone even close to a sure thing and that adds an element of surprise to the entire tour that has been lacking the last 4 or so years.

Jimmy Casper winning a sprint finish??? Kessler's attack in... what was it, the third stage? Calzatti's attack in stage 8. Yeah, good stuff! I'm enjoying this one.

Its fun to watch knowing that they somewhat leveled the playing field, in a doping sense.

I assume you meant to say 'the scandal that eliminated some of the best drug assisted bikers out of the Tour de France'.

The unpredictablity is great.

I've changed tunes a bit...

Straight after the Basso/Ullrich/Sevilla/Mancebo removal I was rather pi$$ed and decided to boycott the Tour de France completely - now I'm starting to enjoy it....

The plus side is the unpredictability.

The down side is the best man will not win.

I still go by the "innocent until PROVEN guilty" line - not the "media crucified so throw them out" line. Fuentes said it best when he said they threw out people he had never met and there were still riders he assisted in the Tour de France. Knne jerk reactions removing implicated rather than guilty riders helps nobody.

I will be watching though - kinda like watching the commonwealth games - exciting but not quite the olympics.

Even with the scandals, and loss of a handful of impressive cyclist. I am still really enjoying it, because I would love to see who the next winner is, in the "Post-Lance Era"

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Scandals aside, it's nice to see a grand tour that's not finished after the prologue.