Somehow, I can't get excited about it this year - Page 4

The field is "interesting" to say the least and regardless of what you think about Astana, you have to admit there's some intriguing drama going on there. But the course is ridiculously lame. No good opportunities for someone like Schleck or Sastre to launch any type of meaningful attack. The potential for an interesting Tour de France was there, but so far, the course has killed it.

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Rebellion with no point or purpose is worse than conformity.

It will be interesting to see how Astana can work out, which rider they intend to back as a team.
I would go with the view expressed that they're probably trying to get two podium places.

As regards Sastre - he always paces himself in week one of the grand tours.
His problem though is that neither weeks 2 or 3 provide any real opportunities as you have said.
Ditto Schleck.
Ditto all the main GC riders!

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.."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.

Perhaps less drugs creates more of a personal challenge and individual pacing issue than past years. Could it be one of the factors along with the course?

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Well having read the interviews with Sastre and Evans it sounds like their hearts are no longer in it. I mean Ok they might be right but its hardly the fighting spirit.

Lim was right. Whilst the Tour started off quite exciting (perhaps because its the Tour) its rapidly going downhill. Looks like the show will be down to the Contador/Armstrong fight unless bears get involved . Interestingly with the benefit of hindsight it looks like the concept of neutralising the first week to keep everyone in the running hasn't worked at all. It seems to have crushed quite a few spirits. Perhaps the Tour Organisers should have thought of that before letting an all conquering team in like Astana.

Go back to the good old days when the riders had no radios. The teams were based around countries. Everyone should ride a Tour bike with the same technology. The teams should be allowed a certain mix of rider (sprinters, puncheurs et al). Salalries should be standardised and fixed depending on age experience palmares and suchlike (they could still be big depending on ones record) and teams should be allowed to spend only so much). I know it would be easier said than done but at least it would mean that the playing field might be levelled a weeny bit.




Make it about the people not the bikes.

Podium places or not, there is a big rivalry between LA and Bertie. LA has already said that he will not ride for Bertie [unless he "proves" himself to be the strongest]. IMO, the Hog will always choose LA over Bertie, especially considering that both LA and the Hog may be out of the team when Vino returns.

I love this post. It's so old-school snobbish and elitist. I can almost see your nose-hairs fluttering as you snort with indignation. Well done, old man.

In the meantime, I'm all for men going beyond their natural physical limits on bicycles for my entertainment. I feel the same way about women in porn.

Still boring.

I'm all for stages where the final climb is 1/HC and it's between 10 and 40km from the finish - a few other 1/2/3 climbs thrown in along the way makes it even better - what were they thinking putting huge climbs 70km from the end?

i think the idea is not have too many mountain top finishes, so that riders are not blowing the field to pieces.

There are still over 160 riders left in the race as of now.

Normally the numbers riding would have been whittled down a bit by now, in prior years.

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.."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.

I'm a big fan of attrition rates - if 90% of the field finishes (and this includes big sprinters!!) then the parcours was too easy. If they're worried about the sprinters increase the % of the winners time they have to finsh in.

Maybe it's just me - I love Paris-Roubaix and any tough spring classic...races are supposed to be about the best of the best not designed to allow all and sundry to finish...

I love bikes and cycling of all kinds.

Growing up in the UK, my first heroes were Tom Simpson, Jacques Anquetil and namesake Raymond Poulidor.

I still love the Tour. It remains the most exciting and demanding sporting spectacle in the world. I care little for the tabloid side shows, either in the press or on the internet. The real show is on the road.

There is definitely something about the 1960's and cycling which is very evocative, for sure.

The jerseys, the bikes, and the riders, from that era look really classy.
Loved the Peuguot jereys and bikes of that era.

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.."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.

Well as seemingly the fans are now shooting the riders the attrition rates ought to go up. Perhaps they should set up machine gun posts at the top of the climb. Forget hot spot sprints. Lets talk real elimination!!! That might hot things up a bit.

IED's on the road in intervals, as well as, snipers in church towers.

Are you thinking straight?

Go back to the good old days when the riders had no radios.
A: It's the only one of your points that makes any sense.

The teams were based around countries.
A: This is your idea to equalize and level the field? Are you on medication? It will be a complete tilting of the scale. Do you really think the teams will be on a more equal level when we have teams like Italy, Spain, France (ok, maybe not the French), Belgium, Netherlands, etc. racing against the likes of Poland, Norway, Uzbeckastan, Portugal, etc, etc??

Everyone should ride a Tour bike with the same technology.
A: Same with clothing, shoes, helmets, gloves, etc. I suppose? What a stupid idea. Do you really think the Tour de France is being won simply by the guy with the best bike?? Bikes don't win Tours, the riders do....Part of the excitement of the Tour is all the new equipment we get to see. It's also an important venue for testing and marketing for the equipment manufacturers. You're basically suggesting that making everyone ride the same logoless, black carbon frames with all black accessories and the same Dura-Ace groupset will improve the excitement factor? Besides, are the teams really using that much "different" technology? They're all human powered bicycles, their differences are a non-factor in the race.

The teams should be allowed a certain mix of rider (sprinters, puncheurs et al).
A: Aren't they allowed that right now? Teams are assembled with certain objectives. As such, they include a mix of riders with certain strengths to accomplish those objectives, be it the GC, the green jersey, polka dot, stages or to just be seen in breakaways.

Salaries should be standardised and fixed depending on age experience palmares and suchlike (they could still be big depending on ones record) and teams should be allowed to spend only so much).
A: Aren't salaries right now based on those very things you mentioned? The rider who wins alot or wins big races or has a valuable role in the team gets to be retained by the team at high salaries?

I know it would be easier said than done but at least it would mean that the playing field might be levelled a weeny bit.
A: Artificially equalizing the teams goes against the very nature of sports. Everyone on a team does their best to achieve a certain goal, which in sports means to win. You also suggested to not invite a team (ie. Astana) because they are perceived as "too strong"? Your logic suggests that all superior riders and teams should be penalized in some way in order for the weaker riders and teams to have equal footing. Why even race then? On that note, at the next World Championships ITT, I propose that the UCI do not invite Cancellara because he is too damn good at the event and crushes the competition....

You must either be a government employee, a union worker or a Commie who hates the notion of achievements through competition.

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