Somehow, I can't get excited about it this year - Page 3

Like I've said elsewhere - I'm rather stoked about this year's tour - mostly because I've completely given up the art of trying to figure out who dopes... Who really cares anyway? So they do - so they don't - what difference does it make? By the time the media has mashed any doping story into a doping frenzy whirlwind you're probably not getting the full story anyway. The truth about how many people at the tour dope is somewhere between 0 and 100% - does the actual % matter? Hell no. No one will know. Ever.

Stop throwing the Lance fanboy hissy fits, "please dear god can he be busted this year" prayers, finger waggling and indignation and just enjoy the spectacle of 200 chaps riding bikes through one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Better still go and enjoy it personaly - it'll blow your mind.

Suffer less - enjoy more. Do it. Now.

So I watched it. First, nothing, then nothing, then Evans attacks and fails. Finally Conti attacks his own train out of desperation over the other 'contenders' (Schlecklet, Evans, Sastre). Bertie doing a lot of effort to make up those 20s on the Schlong. Also, we learned who the omega ***** is among the Astana 4 (hello Kloden). I admit, it had a certain drama at least for the last 5 km.

Anyway, good win by Feillu. And congrats to Nocentini for the yellow.

And the polka dot podium girls look stupid with their red bunny ears.

ETA: Whoa, you can't say bitch here any more? Weak.

Today's stage was great racing. I was sure excited. Great surprise by yong Feillu!

After Tourmalet, still not excited.

Worst. Tour. Course. Ever.

Two weekend days in the high mountains, and they are both snoozefests where there is no opportunity for the GC hopefuls to do anything but ride like they were on parade.

A 100+ riders went over the Tourmalet together with the yellow jersey.

__________________
"You are like the wind and I like the lion. You form the tempest. The sand stings my eyes and the ground is parched. I roar in defiance but you do not hear. But between us there is a difference. I, like the lion, must remain in my place. While you like the wind will never know yours." -- Mulay Hamid El Raisuli, Lord of the Riff, Sultan to the Berbers, Last of the Barbary Pirates

+1

It was nice to see breakaways succeed but the last two days have been a big disappointment in general, with a rest day tomorrow I really hoped someone would attack going over Tourmalet... shame.

That is what happens when you put the Tourmalet so far away from the finish.

Nothing of substance in regards to general classification is going to happen until the Alps and TT in my opinion. I think that's where we'll see the true strength/or lack of in the GC contenders. The rest will be sort of dull. I think when it does happen it will be extremely exciting, there are still quite a few names that are close enough to fight it out. I think there are too many for Astana to control all of them, but we'll see.

Its very sad. When I was racing as a junior we were all enthusiastic about training equipment and so forth. As a cup half full person I've decided perhaps I need to reconsider the whole doping thing. Perhaps as a fan I should fully embrace it and discuss not only the skills equipment team tactics and such like of my favourite riders but also the drugs to which they might have access. Oh just think how x or y or z could have ridden if only they'd had brand x EPO to call upon plus the help and guidance of Lolo Ferrari (err she might have been a porn star!)

Perhaps the riders should also be rated not just on finish results, time bonuses, points, but also the number of times they been tested clean whilst actually being on drugs.

It would add an extra dimension.

A major problem is that the Alpes are not any better. The stage to Verbier looks slightly easier than the stage to Arcalis. Both climbs are moderate climbs. We are left with the whole race coming down to the ITT and Ventoux. The TTT already eliminated everyone not on Astana with the possible exception of Andy Schleck; but even if the Schlecklet had raging form there is no where for him to take any time except Ventoux.

It is just an increbibly stupid course as far as the GC goes. It looks like it was designed for an old rider. As far as breakaways go, it's gold, though.

__________________
"You are like the wind and I like the lion. You form the tempest. The sand stings my eyes and the ground is parched. I roar in defiance but you do not hear. But between us there is a difference. I, like the lion, must remain in my place. While you like the wind will never know yours." -- Mulay Hamid El Raisuli, Lord of the Riff, Sultan to the Berbers, Last of the Barbary Pirates

While I agree with your observations I think there is another side to consider. Whatever the course may be, there are people whom going to try to win this thing and I don't think that's limited to the Astana group. Due to the course itself I think we may see some unorthodox attacks on stages other than the obvious opportunities. Also the two stages without radios could be exciting as well. Without that instant communication I wonder if the covers will be more spontaneous?

Overall the "fight" for GC has been limited to minimal stages so far which makes it a little less interesting to watch. I'm not sure it's less interesting than already knowing the result after the first mountain series however.

the tour is crap so far.

This tour de france is very poor fare, in my view.

The Tour de France since 2004 has not been exciting to watch, but 2009 has been the worst Tour de France to watch thus far.
The stages have been lacklustre and anaemic to say the least.

__________________
.."But finally the last thing I’ll say to the people who don’t believe in cycling, the cynics and the sceptics. I'm sorry for you. I’m sorry that you can’t dream big. [I]I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles. You should believe in these athletes, and you should believe in these people. I'll be a fan of the Tour de France for as long as I live. And there are no secrets - this is a hard sporting event and hard work wins it" - Armstrong 2005 TDF
morelike hypocrisy.

This years course is a bit strange - only a handful of summit finishes and loads of transitonal stages where the biggest climb is miles from the end. There are probably only 4 stages where any time will be made/lost on GC - the rest are either Cavendishe's or a motley crue break away.

It doesn't make for interesting racing...

Fortunately I'm one of those stupid fan that lovs it none the less

I'll always watch the big races.............just a bit disappointed with the way the race has gone thus far.
I think the course is to blame.

__________________
.."But finally the last thing I’ll say to the people who don’t believe in cycling, the cynics and the sceptics. I'm sorry for you. I’m sorry that you can’t dream big. [I]I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles. You should believe in these athletes, and you should believe in these people. I'll be a fan of the Tour de France for as long as I live. And there are no secrets - this is a hard sporting event and hard work wins it" - Armstrong 2005 TDF
morelike hypocrisy.