Rasmussen sacked by team: All Tour De France stuff here

Sorry, Rams, thought you were being rhetorical. 8700 feet is for instance 25 Ks of 10% gradient. Not too shabby.
 
Would have been nice if Boogert or Merckx could have won today. Both in their final year. Boogert has been immense for Rasmussen and Merckx didn`t has never won a Tour stage.
 
Rumour has it one of jersey wearing riders has delievered a positive urinetest after stage 14. It`s still only a rumour though.

This is a noggie link, but they appearantly have it from a French radiostation.


Contador, Soler and Boonen currently have the yellow, polka and green. So it`s one those or the little puny fella in white.

http://www1.vg.no/sport/sykkel/tour-de-france-2007/artikkel.php?artid=154076
 
Elliott said:
It's Soler.
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Rumour has it that it`s Soler, yes. Still not anything official though. Press conference at 11:00 CET. But that might be about TdF quitting the cooperation with UCI:



http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/27072007/58/tour-de-france-tour-break-uci.html


Tour de France - Tour to break with UCI
Eurosport - Fri, 27 Jul 21:18:00 2007
Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme has vowed to break with cycling's world governing body, slamming the UCI for its failure to combat doping in the sport.

More StoriesTour blames UCI for Rasmussen
Prudhomme, asked by Sueddeutsche Zeitung if he planned to break off cooperation with the International Cycling Union, replied: "Yes, that's the case. Next year we will work hand in hand with WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) and with the French anti-doping agency.

"The UCI never wanted a clean Tour."

The world's premier cycling race was plunged into crisis this week, with two positive tests and the sacking of race leader Michael Rasmussen by his Rabobank team for allegedly lying about his training whereabouts.

Both the Cofidis and Astana teams have dropped out of the Tour amid the widening doping scandal.

However, UCI president Pat McQuaid defended his organisation in an interview with French television.

"We have not provided the riders with banned substances," he said. "We are trying to fight against doping, not only on the Tour de France but also on the other races."

Prudhomme said the UCI had violated its own rules in letting Rasmussen start the race and backed a call by WADA for a summit to discuss how to combat doping in cycling.

"I will definitely be there and will put everything on the table," he said.

The UCI reacted strongly to WADA's offer on Thursday to hold the summit, viewing it as criticism of its own handling of anti-doping procedures.

Tour de France organisers Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) and the UCI have been at odds since 2005 when the ASO refused, along with organisers of the Tour of Spain and Giro d'Italia, to join the UCI-Pro Tour.
 
The rumours are about Soler. Though since there has been no confirmation I doubt if there's any truth in it. Barloworld were invited as the only non pro-tour memeber team (above other pro-tour teams amongst others) because the ASO was impressed by their own internal anti-doping policy. But then again, nothing would suprise me anymore.



I would like Evans to win. He's the only one in the top 10 of which you could safely say he's clean (...-ish probably). Or.. he and his Lotto team are very anti doping and insist on their riders having a doping free history. This becasue of Lotto's demands after scandals in the past which the team suffered from a number of years ago. They are one of the teams the ASO take in high regard in respect of doping. Evans himself is also very critical of doping in sports and in thepast he has been very unpopular in the Peloton with his frank views.. similar to Millar´s nowadays... which is also a very good sign. But as I said, nothing would suprise me anymore...
I can´t trust the Discoveries. Contador would be a tainted winner. Im pretty sure the ASO are hoping for Evans.

Spinoza, I don´t agree with your views on doping. Yes, the advantage of doping like Totestorone and blood doping is exaggerated, but their definilty is an advantage and if there are takers and non/takers then they are not racing on a level playing field. It is cheating and fraud. Sport should be about the one who is the best, without any artificial substances and on a level playing field. Then there is of course the health of the riders to be concerned about. EPO and other doping have large health risks. If you would allow doping there would be deaths within the peloton in no time.
On the other hand, doing the Tour on just cheese sanwiches and mineral water is also very unhealthy. So, certain sustances should be allowed to help the recovery of riders between the races. But then I think certain subtances are allowed as is the case with football for example.
 
Evans was close but not close enough to win tonight would be my guess. I know that the last day is traditionally more or less non-competitive but with only 30 seconds between the top 3 will the teams fight it out?
 
Rams said:
I would like Evans to win. He's the only one in the top 10 of which you could safely say he's clean (...-ish probably). Or.. he and his Lotto team are very anti doping and insist on their riders having a doping free history. This becasue of Lotto's demands after scandals in the past which the team suffered from a number of years ago. They are one of the teams the ASO take in high regard in respect of doping. Evans himself is also very critical of doping in sports and in thepast he has been very unpopular in the Peloton with his frank views.. similar to Millar´s nowadays... which is also a very good sign. But as I said, nothing would suprise me anymore...
I can´t trust the Discoveries. Contador would be a tainted winner. Im pretty sure the ASO are hoping for Evans.

Spinoza, I don´t agree with your views on doping. Yes, the advantage of doping like Totestorone and blood doping is exaggerated, but their definilty is an advantage and if there are takers and non/takers then they are not racing on a level playing field. It is cheating and fraud. Sport should be about the one who is the best, without any artificial substances and on a level playing field. Then there is of course the health of the riders to be concerned about. EPO and other doping have large health risks. If you would allow doping there would be deaths within the peloton in no time.
On the other hand, doing the Tour on just cheese sanwiches and mineral water is also very unhealthy. So, certain sustances should be allowed to help the recovery of riders between the races. But then I think certain subtances are allowed as is the case with football for example.
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I fully agree with all of this, and couldn`t have put it better meself!
 
Wibble said:
Evans was close but not close enough to win tonight would be my guess. I know that the last day is traditionally more or less non-competitive but with only 30 seconds between the top 3 will the teams fight it out?
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I`ve been wondering about that as well. I really don`t think they`ll do anything. Don`t think Evans has any chance now either, Levi could go past him though but they`ll probably just stroll into the Champs and let the sprinters have their party.


Hope Hushovd gets it today, Boonen is probably too strong though.
 
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