Tour De France

[Redskin in Canada]

I must admit that having invested massive time watching this race, and supporting Rasmussen, that I feel riped off.

You and about every other fan who still was following the race in Europe.

The news coverage in Europe has been devastating. They call it a "self-destructing" sport. The race will go on next year but the real remaining hard-core fans have been cheated again. It is too sad, really.

The only positive thing that can come out of this is the fact that tests need to be even more advanced if cycling, and other less scrutinised sports, are ever to recover from these series of devastating blows.

[UK Skins Fan]

I must admit that having invested massive time watching this race, and supporting Rasmussen, that I feel riped off.

You and about every other fan who still was following the race in Europe.

The news coverage in Europe has been devastating. They call it a "self-destructing" sport. The race will go on next year but the real remaining hard-core fans have been cheated again. It is too sad, really.

The only positive thing that can come out of this is the fact that tests need to be even more advanced if cycling, and other less scrutinised sports, are ever to recover from these series of devastating blows.

I'm no great fan of The Tour, but I actually see it as a positive that action is finally being taken. Certainly, the sport and the event can be held up to ridicule whilst these stories are coming out, but actions are being taken that needed to be taken 20, 30 or even 40 years ago.

The only thing I would change about the disqualifications is that I would keep quiet about the test results, let the riders finish the race, and then put a huge jumbo screen at the finish line, with the words "Well done for finishing this year's race, but you're disqualified, and you've just wasted the last three weeks of your life, you sorry lump of horse dung".

[Gibbs' Hog]

What a devistating blow to cycling. The Tour leader, Rasmussen, missed two drug tests prior to the Tour. Today, after he won the stage, and all but secured his victory in Paris, Rasmussen was fired by his Team Rabobank, and withdrawn from the Tour. He had apparrently lied to the team about where he was when he missed the drug tests. The last two days have seen two positive drug tests, one from Vinokourov (who had one two stages in very dramatic fashion), and the other a no-name Cristian Moreni.

I must admit that having invested massive time watching this race, and supporting Rasmussen, that I feel riped off.

I'm pretty sure I read a few articles that pegged Rasmussen for missing 4 drug tests over the last few months (I believe 2 related to the UCI, and 2 through the team). Anyway, it's been a weird couple of days - especially since "Chicken" hadn't tested positive for anything in this tour - but it is what it is. Also, really sad to see Vino get sucked into all of this. I just can't comprehend how all the biggest names keep coming up when this stuff happens.

Anyway, I've been rooting for Levi and the Disco team since the start, and now it looks like the youngster Contador might have a good chance to put on yellow in Paris. He'll have to watch out for Cadel Evans in the TT, but it's sure to be a tight battle down to the wire. Contador's amazing on the climbs, but Evans is sure to take a chunk of time out of him in a flatter TT like they'll ride tomorrow.

[Gibbs' Hog]

What a devistating blow to cycling. The Tour leader, Rasmussen, missed two drug tests prior to the Tour. Today, after he won the stage, and all but secured his victory in Paris, Rasmussen was fired by his Team Rabobank, and withdrawn from the Tour. He had apparrently lied to the team about where he was when he missed the drug tests. The last two days have seen two positive drug tests, one from Vinokourov (who had one two stages in very dramatic fashion), and the other a no-name Cristian Moreni.

I must admit that having invested massive time watching this race, and supporting Rasmussen, that I feel riped off.

I'm pretty sure I read a few articles that pegged Rasmussen for missing 4 drug tests over the last few months (I believe 2 related to the UCI, and 2 through the team). Anyway, it's been a weird couple of days - especially since "Chicken" hadn't tested positive for anything in this tour - but it is what it is. Also, really sad to see Vino get sucked into all of this. I just can't comprehend how all the biggest names keep coming up when this stuff happens.

Anyway, I've been rooting for Levi and the Disco team since the start, and now it looks like the youngster Contador might have a good chance to put on yellow in Paris. He'll have to watch out for Cadel Evans in the TT, but it's sure to be a tight battle down to the wire. Contador's amazing on the climbs, but Evans is sure to take a chunk of time out of him in a flatter TT like they'll ride tomorrow.

[BnGhog]

I have a mountian bike.

[Gibbs' Hog]

I have a mountian bike.

Interesting, Bn....

I'd like to see a picture of a mountian bike sometime - I've only ever seen those of the 'mountain' variety.