It's Floyd's race now

Voeckler is the most overrated rider in TdF history. The whole story is [censored] awful. Now the Spaniards get what they wanted. They eliminated all top riders, but their report says there are no documents for Valverde, although he had probably a codename in the lab. This is damn ridiculous.

Bro Deal said:

With Ullrich, Basso, Mancebo, and Vino out, my man Landis is going to win the Tour de France. Sure, it will be a farce, but he will still notch a win.

Christophe Moreau will podium and we can put to rest all the
scoffing about two speeds.

Oh, yeah, and go Voekler!!

Well Landis is doping too - the top riders are, or haven't you made that leap in logic yet?

But its strange you get a kick out of him winning the Tour while the [censored] falls out of the race (and possibly the sport)

wicklow200 said:

Well Landis is doping too - the top riders are, or haven't you made that leap in logic yet?

Maybe you should read some of my previous posts and find out what I feel about the prevalence of doping in the sport. Just a few days ago I posted that no one has won the Tour without doping in the last decade and a half, and no one has placed in the top ten without doping in a decade. There were not a lot of believers.

rockinchair said:

Voeckler is the most overrated rider in TdF history. The whole story is [censored] awful. Now the Spaniards get what they wanted. They eliminated all top riders, but their report says there are no documents for Valverde, although he had probably a codename in the lab. This is damn ridiculous.

LOL
The Spaniards get what they wanted? What? The elimination of practically every Spanish rider from the Tour, apart from Valverde in a fiendish plan to errrr......do what exactly?

Tonto said:

LOL
The Spaniards get what they wanted? What? The elimination of practically every Spanish rider from the Tour, apart from Valverde in a fiendish plan to errrr......do what exactly?

Heh, they should have waited until next year when Valverde will be able to time trail better.

Its one doctor, one list, one investigation (albeit a big one). The real shame is that these riders get suspended while we all know there are more doctors, more lists and more riders so very likely on similar programs that will be riding the TDF simply because they havent been uncovered. I think this was where Bruyneel was going with his statement. It doesnt take away guilt from those suspended, but it also implies a certain lack of fairness since there's no doubt it runs deeper than the names on this list.

I think its true to say that this is the tip of the iceberg since riders are forced down these paths to stay competitive at this level and there is a lot of pressure to walk in the grey areas. BroDeal and wicklow200 are right. Its far more pervasive than just this incident. Cycling as a whole as regards doping and testing and programs that dabble in grey areas needed revision and while you cannot fault a court for following the letter of the law and banning riders the sport needed it done in a different fashion than what we're currently seeing.

Tonto said:

LOL
The Spaniards get what they wanted? What? The elimination of practically every Spanish rider from the Tour, apart from Valverde in a fiendish plan to errrr......do what exactly?

A fiendish plan to.. umm.. err.. thinking.. place more French and American riders on the podiums all across the sport? Hmm yeah. Probably not. 🙄

graf zeppelin said:

Its one doctor, one list, one investigation (albeit a big one). The real shame is that these riders get suspended while we all know there are more doctors, more lists and more riders so very likely on similar programs that will be riding the TDF simply because they havent been uncovered. I think this was where Bruyneel was going with his statement. It doesnt take away guilt from those suspended, but it also implies a certain lack of fairness since there's no doubt it runs deeper than the names on this list.

I think its true to say that this is the tip of the iceberg since riders are forced down these paths to stay competitive at this level and there is a lot of pressure to walk in the grey areas. BroDeal and wicklow200 are right. Its far more pervasive than just this incident. Cycling as a whole as regards doping and testing and programs that dabble in grey areas needed revision and while you cannot fault a court for following the letter of the law and banning riders the sport needed it done in a different fashion than what we're currently seeing.

That's a good post and sums it up well. The problem is that the cycling authorities told us after 1998 that they would step up to the plate and deal with doping. What's been becoming clearer ever since is that they lack the will or means to do so and we have relied on the civil authorities to clean up the sport. It's sad, but I'm glad someone's doing it.

graf zeppelin said:

A fiendish plan to.. umm.. err.. thinking.. place more French and American riders on the podiums all across the sport? Hmm yeah. Probably not. 🙄

Man those French are good.

Tonto said:

Man those French are good.

of course Landis is clean, because he was on USPS where nobody doped (not Heras, Hamilton or any others) and he joined Phonak a team which has never had a rider involved with a doping scandal. Does the smiley convey the full weight of my sarcasm?
🙄

rocko said:

of course Landis is clean, because he was on USPS where nobody doped (not Heras, Hamilton or any others) and he joined Phonak a team which has never had a rider involved with a doping scandal. Does the smiley convey the full weight of my sarcasm?
🙄

Absolutely. This is so depressing, I mean we all looked forward to an open tdf this year without lance but this is a joke. Evans must be a chance now but if he wins what legitimacy will it have? Zero. And what a disaster for the sport in the USA, Australia and everywhere else where the Lance halo was working on attracting sponsors and participants.

It could be an American/Aussie sweep of the podium now... look at 2005 results and take out fluke Rasmusen (chicken putz was only there because of an 18 min breakaway) and the riders who are now not riding and you have:
1) Levi
2) Evans
3) Landis

wilmar13 said:

It could be an American/Aussie sweep of the podium now... look at 2005 results and take out fluke Rasmusen (chicken putz was only there because of an 18 min breakaway) and the riders who are now not riding and you have:
1) Levi
2) Evans
3) Landis

I'm with Levi, he's shown steady improvement over the years, and looks especially strong this year. I originally had him picked for 3rd.. but with JU and IB out.. that becomes first.

Yes, Evans and Landis are good choices. Probably Leipheimer in there as well.

Catabolic_Jones said:

Yes, Evans and Landis are good choices. Probably Leipheimer in there as well.

So far Menchov's name not on today's lists... though he was rmored to be on the lists... In any case, if he makes it, he'd be a strong choice to podium.

There All doping, Lance Armstrong cheated too

tcklyde said:

So far Menchov's name not on today's lists... though he was rmored to be on the lists... In any case, if he makes it, he'd be a strong choice to podium.

jlopez2757 said:

There All doping, Lance Armstrong cheated too

Ok dumbass. This isn't about Lance.

i think it is unfair saying that whoever wins this year's tour will have little legitimacy. there are still quality riders and teams competing.

i bet there are a only a handful of people on this entire forum who could ride the tour route in 21 days at their own pace without cracking. if i could finish the route let alone finish it in a race context i would think i am pretty hot. and rightfully so.

any win in any context is well earned and should not be dismissed.

the day i condem any rider for being on the gear is the day it is proven to be in their blood/[censored].

being under investigation does not equal being guilty. i will wait before i start throwing stones.

Bro Deal said:

With Ullrich, Basso, Mancebo, and Vino out, my man Landis is going to win the Tour de France. Sure, it will be a farce, but he will still notch a win.

Christophe Moreau will podium and we can put to rest all the
scoffing about two speeds.

Oh, yeah, and go Voekler!!

What about Levi? Or big George?