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Post by Lukiebakercafc on Jul 6, 2009 22:55:34 GMT
The greatest bike race on Earth started at the weekend and British hope for the Green Jersey (best sprinter) Mark Cavendish has already won 2 stages, a great start.
This is one of my favourite sporting events of the year, a fantastic spectacle with any number of riders in with a chance of winning it. Many stories this year including Lance Armstrong's return and thus the power battle within the Astana team. Should be a very interesting race.
Anyone else give a toss? I seem to remember asking this before and getting a resounding no but I will ask again nonetheless.
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Post by tigertiger on Jul 7, 2009 11:44:03 GMT
Load of blokes in lycra.......not really my cup of tea but each to their own i suppose
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Post by Lukiebakercafc on Jul 7, 2009 15:23:38 GMT
Yep that's why I love it - seeing all the Cyclists in Lycra just like i'm sure you love Rugby League for the tight shirts and shorts.
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Post by lemonpiper on Jul 7, 2009 17:01:17 GMT
Why don't they have a women's Tour de France - it was what lycra was invented for!
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Post by gerry09 on Jul 7, 2009 17:03:46 GMT
Oh I wonder what drug cheat will win this time
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Post by Dawsey on Jul 7, 2009 18:36:45 GMT
I really love my sport, but even I couldn't give a monkey's toss about this event. A combination of every competitor being up to their eyeballs on drugs and the fact it's pretty boring is a poor combination.
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Post by Lukiebakercafc on Jul 7, 2009 19:36:42 GMT
They do have a women's Tour de France Stealth. I can understand your cynicism Gerry, as there are undoubtedly still quite a few drug cheats riding but Cycling is making a genuine attempt to clean-up the sport unlike certain other sports i could mention...
There are now a lot of teams who run their own drugs tests regularly and have stringent anti-doping policies in addition to the numerous official tests, including a test before and after each stage of Le Tour. Drugs is slowly but surely being eradicated from Cycling, as now it is the old guard who are getting caught not the new guys coming thorugh which bodes well. Most other sports could learn a lot from Cycling, including Football.
Fair enough I guess Dawsey, I appreciate it is a minority sport but I love it. I find it incredibly exciting as the teams and individual riders try to outwit each other and watching attacks, counter-attacks and brief allegiances as the riders climb up some of Europe's steepest and most pictureaque mountains, and one by one they get dropped of the back of the group until only the elite remain. I love it and can't wait for this year's to really heat up.
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Post by tigertiger on Jul 8, 2009 12:25:59 GMT
Yep that's why I love it - seeing all the Cyclists in Lycra just like i'm sure you love Rugby League for the tight shirts and shorts. Those short shorts really do it for me
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Post by lemonpiper on Jul 8, 2009 12:50:51 GMT
Do you usually go & watch the British stage Luke? Although I don't think there is one this year is there?
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Post by Lukiebakercafc on Jul 8, 2009 17:34:50 GMT
There's only been 1 year with a British stage (well 2 stages to be fair) and that was 2007 although there is a hope for more in the future. And yes, I went up to London for the Time Trial and then watched the riders when they went through Dartford on the second day. Great experience and i hope the TdF returns here in the future.
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Post by lemonpiper on Jul 8, 2009 18:21:21 GMT
I watched the Milk Race once but I didn't see the Tour de France. Hadn't realised it had only been here the once either Luke - I thought it had become a regular stage because it was so successful.
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Post by Dawsey on Jul 8, 2009 22:09:40 GMT
There's only been 1 year with a British stage (well 2 stages to be fair) and that was 2007 although there is a hope for more in the future. And yes, I went up to London for the Time Trial and then watched the riders when they went through Dartford on the second day. Great experience and i hope the TdF returns here in the future. They went through Brighton in around 1993, it's one of my earliest memories.
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Post by lemonpiper on Jul 8, 2009 22:36:44 GMT
That was where I saw it Dawsey. Drove over from Portsmouth to watch (should have cycled!).
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Post by arover on Jul 9, 2009 9:58:20 GMT
As I think I said last year I used to really love this event but the drug stuff has tainted it for me. If I could be convinced that there was a level playing field I would be back to it tomorrow.
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